"Did you guys hear? This training camp of ours was specifically set up to accompany the crown prince. We were all handpicked to help the world's richest man's son enter the World Cup!" Upon entering the two-week preliminary training camp, the children were quickly assigned to various dormitories.
Each dormitory housed eight trainees.
Some might find it strange. The previous plan clearly stated four trainees per dormitory, so why the sudden change to eight?
The plan itself hadn't changed. After the final list of 1000 participants was confirmed, each trainee was indeed assigned to a four-person room.
However, during the preliminary selection phase, they were deliberately placed in eight-person rooms. This was a calculated move to observe the trainees' behavior within the dormitories and to assign them scores, which carried significant weight.
If a trainee displayed overly domineering behavior or appeared timid and solitary when interacting with eight people, they would lose many points. Unless the trainee possessed exceptionally astonishing talent in other areas that compensated for these shortcomings, they would likely be excluded from the 1000-person roster.
This design was implemented with the future unity of the entire team in mind. Individuals with overly aggressive or overly subdued personalities could be detrimental to the team's cohesion. Therefore, unless their talent was truly exceptional, they would not be included in the final list.
These children likely hadn't realized that the preliminary assessment had already begun. In the center of one of the dormitories, a tall, burly boy was boisterously sharing various pieces of information he had heard from his parents.
This boy was already 10 years old. The selection process had included many children around this age, and there was a hidden bonus for the 10-year-olds.
The reason was simple. Huang Fan was five years old. The entire plan was estimated to last for about 10 to 20 years, with the real results expected around the 15th year of its execution.
At that time, Huang Fan would be 20 years old.
Numerous data indicated that a player's peak competitive state occurred between the ages of 20 and 30, when both physical fitness and skills were fully developed.
Beyond the age of 30, physical functions inevitably declined, and peak performance could no longer be replicated.
Even a strong player like Messi, after turning 30, was in a state where even dogs wouldn't favor him. His World Cup victory at 34, besides divine intervention, was primarily due to a large number of young players around 25 years old on the team who idolized Messi and were willing to die for him. These young players carried Messi forward.
There was a saying at the time that Messi was ready to descend the mountain, but he encountered a group of young people eager to climb it, so Messi joined them on their ascent.
While it sounded touching, it contained a harsh truth: football is a youth-driven sport. If one failed to achieve desired results by the age of 30, they would have to rely on their teammates who were still under 30.
This was why the children around 10 years old received bonus points. In the 15th year, Huang Fan would turn 20, entering his prime competitive period.
The other 10-year-old children would be 25, at their absolute peak. Thus, Huang Fan would have his first opportunity to challenge for the World Cup, when he was 20 and his main teammates were 25.
Of course, one opportunity wouldn't be enough, hence the contingency plan.
This involved the next World Cup four years later. At that time, Huang Fan would be 24, nearing his peak. His previous 25-year-old teammates would be 29. Although at the tail end of their peak, they would possess rich experience, serving as the team's commanders and anchors.
Simultaneously, a group of young players around Huang Fan's age, also 24, would become the team's primary attacking force. This would represent China's strongest generation.
Finally, there would be another wave when Huang Fan was 28, and his main teammates were also 28. This generation might not be as strong as the previous two, but they would have extensive experience. Winning against formidable opponents would be difficult, but if the opposition was weak or internally divided, like the French team in 2022, then this experienced team would have a higher winning probability.
In summary, this age arrangement planned for three waves of World Cup challenges. If one failed, there were still others, a continuous series of three attempts.
Naturally, some argumentative individuals might ask, "What if all three waves fail?"
Then, of course, they would wait for the fourth wave. The training camp would restart every four years, continuously recruiting fresh talent and providing players between 20 and 30 years old at their peak.
Therefore, Huang Fan was now considered old, but he was the only one. It wasn't impossible for other young players to work hard and carry this aging elder brother to challenge for the World Cup.
Even if Huang Fan didn't play the full match, playing for about half the game would naturally earn him World Cup honors. These players were trained with Mr. Huang's own money; a certain degree of dedication should be expected.
Alright, back to the point. This tall, burly boy was continuously instilling the idea in his roommates that they were there to accompany the crown prince, causing a sense of righteous indignation in the dormitory.
After all, those who made it this far were athletes, not necessarily scholars. They felt the person speaking made a lot of sense and began to unite in their indignation.
However, one person in the dormitory had a very troubled expression. He looked at the tall guy with confusion and bewilderment, not understanding how he had offended him.
"What are you trying to say with all this talk?" suddenly, a roommate stood up and asked.
"You... what do you care what I'm trying to say? I'm just stating facts!" the tall boy replied, momentarily stunned, then retorted aggressively.
"Books say that everyone speaks with a purpose, whether intentional or not. Speaking is about achieving one's goals.
"What benefit do we get from you coming in here and instilling this idea of 'accompanying the crown prince'?"
"Actually, there's no benefit at all. It only makes us angry and less likely to participate well in the tests and training."
"But if you train diligently and perform better than all of us, wouldn't that mean you get into the final thousand-person roster, while the rest of us, incited by you, are forced to withdraw and leave in disappointment? Are you trying to clear the path for yourself by provoking us?"
"Interesting. Do you think this little fellow came up with these tactics on his own, or did his parents coach him?" Mr. Huang, who had been watching the monitors from the back, chuckled and asked Hu Jing beside him.
"Which one are you asking about?" Hu Jing replied.
"Uh... both!"
"It's obvious the big guy was coached by his family. This child is 10 years old, but judging by how he resorts to fists when something is wrong, his brain is not as sharp as our Fanfan's. Someone like him couldn't possibly come up with these words on his own; it must be a tactic taught by his parents!"
"As for the other one, it's most likely his own idea."
"How can you be so sure?" Huang He asked curiously.
"Because I've reviewed his profile. Among the 14,000 participants in the preliminary selection, he's the only one who won the provincial elementary school Olympic competition and the elementary group of the New Concept Composition Competition. I deliberately placed such a person in Fanfan's dormitory. I'm very curious why someone like him would choose to play soccer!" Hu Jing said with a frown. "He clearly has many better options; research is his best path."
"Why ask? It's obviously because his family is poor!" Huang He said casually. Hu Jing opened her mouth, finding herself speechless.
Meanwhile, the situation in the dormitory had taken a new turn. The questioning by the double-champion of math olympiads and new concept composition had rendered the big guy speechless. He quickly turned red and raised his fist, ready to strike the person who had spoken.
However, before his fist could land, he was forcefully pushed onto the bed by someone.
"You dare hit me!" the big guy said angrily, looking at the person who had suddenly appeared. He soon realized he couldn't muster much aggression because the other person seemed even taller than him.
"I didn't hit you. I was merely preventing you from endangering someone's safety. I acted in self-defense and defense of others!" the person who intervened stated.
"Fine, you want to play tough? Then I'll teach you both who you can't afford to mess with!" the big guy uttered a line only an antagonist in a minor web novel would say, and prepared to resolve the issue directly.
Just then, two teachers rushed in and quickly subdued the big guy. One of them stated, "Xu Hai, you used violence within the training camp, violating the camp's rules. I now announce your expulsion from the training camp. I will notify your parents to pick you up. For now, you will come with me to another room to calm down!"
With that, the two teachers prepared to escort Xu Hai away.
"I refuse! They also acted. Why are you only taking me?" Xu Hai shouted angrily.
"One of these students did not initiate any physical contact, and the other merely acted to prevent you from committing violence. Neither of them is at fault!" the teacher quickly replied, then lifted Xu Hai onto his shoulder and took him away.
"Thank you for helping me just now. I'm Cao Yi!" the double-genius extended his hand.
"I'm Huang Fan. That guy seems to have called me the crown prince!" Huang Fan said, scratching his head.