Yonghe Road

Chapter 22 Admission
Unlike Wang Zian and Zhong Ziqi, Lei Sheng had never played basketball since he was a child. Lei Dingwu called him from "Tian Mi Mi" in the mountains to the playground of Baile Village Primary School to participate in the basketball selection, which was completely forced upon him.

The selection was nearing its end, and the villagers rushed home to cook and eat dinner. The crowd on the playground had almost dispersed, with only a few elderly people left who had not yet returned to the nursing home and insisted on staying to watch the last bit of excitement.

The security guard, Lao Xie, diligently helped to clean up the equipment on the playground, gathered the small cone buckets together, picked up the basketballs scattered on the ground one by one, and put them into the basket.

The sound of a car approaching was heard at the school gate. Lei Dingwu knew it was Lei Sheng, so he quickly took out a basketball from the basket. When Lei Sheng parked the car and walked in from the school gate, he ran up with the basketball in his arms and stuffed it into Lei Sheng's arms.

"Hurry, hurry, Shengsheng, throw a ball to An'an and Ziqi." Lei Dingwu smiled shyly and looked at his son eagerly. His eyes were full of flattery and a few traces of admiration. It was not the look that an elder should give to a younger person.

When he looked at Lei Sheng, his eyes were smiling and sparkling, as if he was looking at his idol. But Lei Sheng didn't catch his ball, and the basketball slipped directly from Lei Sheng's hands. Lei Dingwu nervously grabbed Lei Sheng's hands to check: "Sheng Sheng, what's wrong with you? How come your hands can't even hold a basketball? Did you get hurt while harvesting honey?"

"How is that possible?" Lei Sheng was a little annoyed and pulled his hand back from Lei Dingwu's. Lao Xie had already thrown him another ball from the basket. He instinctively reached out to catch it, then dribbled the ball and ran to the basketball hoop on the side of the playground. He made a three-step layup and shot -

Of course, you can't hit the target.

The ball bounced out of the basket and bounced all over the playground. Lei Dingwu hurried to catch the ball, brought it back, and handed it back to Lei Sheng. Lei Sheng shot again, missed again, and Lei Dingwu picked up the ball again and handed it to Lei Sheng again...

After busying around for a long time, Lei Dingwu was exhausted and sweating from picking up the ball, but Lei Sheng didn't make a single shot.

Lei Sheng didn't want to shoot anymore. When he saw Zhong Ziqi, he thought of Zhong Chunshui, and his head hurt. He turned and stumbled out. Zhong Ziqi's voice came from behind him: "Lei Sheng, you're invited to join the Baile Village basketball team!"

Lei Sheng was stunned for a moment, then turned around and looked at Zhong Ziqi in disbelief. He hadn't even made a single shot just now. How could he be admitted with such poor basketball skills?

Lei Dingwu ran over and said to Lei Sheng excitedly, "Shengsheng, they admitted you because they have good taste. My son is so tall and handsome, and he's doing so well in business. Playing basketball is a piece of cake for him."

He would not tell Lei Sheng how he had persuaded Wang Zian and Zhong Ziqi before Lei Sheng came. No matter how well Lei Sheng played basketball, he must be admitted because Lao Lei would always sponsor the basketball team.

Seeing Lei Sheng still confused, Wang Zian walked over and added Lei Sheng on WeChat and said, "I'll add you to the basketball team group later."

Lei Sheng finally believed that although he didn't score a single goal, he still became a basketball player with honor.

"Son, you're awesome! You got accepted. Dad will treat you to a late-night snack in the city to celebrate."

Lei Dingwu said he wanted to pull Lei Sheng away, but Lei Sheng stood still. Finally, he pushed Lei Dingwu aside and walked towards Zhong Ziqi. The sun had already set over the mountain, and the sky suddenly darkened. The expression on Lei Sheng's face was full of the tragic and majestic feeling of the mountains rustling and the Yi River cold.

"Zhong Ziqi, did you admit me because of Chunshui? To make it up to me for Chunshui." Lei Sheng asked.

Zhong Ziqi wanted to say, "Don't be so self-indulgent," but Wang Zian stopped him.

Wang Zian said, "Lei Sheng, our Baile Village wants to form a basketball team to participate in the city's 'Village BA' basketball selection tournament. You are young and a Baile Villager, so you should do your part." Lei Sheng looked at Wang Zian, and thought of Chunshui's escape from marriage. He was still angry, but when he questioned Wang Zian, his words turned into humble inquiries: "Where did Chunshui go? Is she doing well now? Can you tell her that I don't need to marry her, as long as she comes back safely..."

"I don't know where Chunshui is either." Wang Zian told the truth.

"Wang Zian, you kidnapped Chunshui. If anything happens to her, I will never forgive you." Lei Sheng suddenly became excited and grabbed Wang Zian's collar. Zhong Ziqi hurried over to stop him. Lei Dingwu also came over to pull Lei Sheng away.

Zhong Ziqi said, "Lei Sheng, it's none of your business to meddle in our Chunshui's affairs. Whether she comes back or not is none of your business. Our family didn't take your betrothal money, and you two didn't have an engagement in the first place, okay?"

How could Lei Dingwu allow others to slander his son like this? He was about to roll up his sleeves and teach Zhong Ziqi a lesson, but he was pulled away by the sound of thunder.

"Let's go to the city for a midnight snack." Lei Sheng dragged Lei Dingwu out. Lei Dingwu didn't understand why his son was willing to suffer in silence. He was usually very domineering in front of his parents.

Lei Sheng said, "Chun Shui just ran away from home, she's not not coming back. What if Chun Shui comes back in the future and changes her mind and is willing to marry me? Now that your relationship with Zhong Ziqi is strained, how can I marry Chun Shui in the future? He is Chun Shui's biological brother."

It turned out to be the case.

Lei Dingwu gave Lei Sheng a thumbs up: "My son is far-sighted and patient. He is a man who can accomplish great things."

The car started, and Lei Sheng and his son left Baile Village Primary School. Zhong Ziqi and Wang Zian helped Lao Xie move basketballs, cone buckets and other equipment to the sports function room. After thanking Lao Xie, the two walked out while reviewing the list.

They had to take the team list to the village committee to report to Secretary Wang Kai.

At the village committee, Secretary Wang Kai was preparing to follow Clerk Xiaoliang to the Rural Revitalization Hotel. In the evening, there would be a visiting and studying team from the province there, and he needed to receive them.

Seeing Wang Zian and Zhong Ziqi coming, Secretary Wang Kai asked clerk Xiaoliang to wait for him in the car downstairs, while he stayed to take a look at the list brought by Wang Zian and Zhong Ziqi.

"How many people are there?" Secretary Wang Kai pointed at the list again and again with his fingers, frowning. "Director Mei said that we need a coach, a team leader, and ten more players besides you two, but there are only seven or eight people..."

"Uncle, you don't know. Although there are many people in our village, there are really not many who can play basketball. Although the security guard Lao Xie scored a goal, it cannot be counted in the assessment. He is a lame man and so old. We can't let him play in the game." Zhong Ziqi explained.

"But this number is obviously not enough..."

Wang Zian said, "Dad, five players are actually enough. Most of the twelve players are on the bench, so we don't need that many substitutes..."

"That won't work. It's better to be prepared. We have to get twelve players anyway." Secretary Wang Kai said, stuffing the list in his hand back to Wang Zian, and left domineeringly, leaving Wang Zian and Zhong Ziqi looking at each other in bewilderment.

(End of this chapter)