Every morning, Ollie would get up early and give Jiang Ping a warm hug whenever she saw her. Jiang Ping felt very awkward the first couple of days, but then she got used to it.

It wasn't bad to express her feelings this way.

Over the next few days, Ollie carefully and diligently followed Jiang Ping to learn how to cook.

Of course, she was learning very poorly. A foreign woman who could wrap dumplings into the shape of turds would find it very difficult to learn Long Country cuisine in a short period of time.

After a few days of getting along, Jiang Ping's impression of Ollie was pretty good.

A lively, cheerful, and smiling girl would always be endearing.

The family didn't travel far; they only visited some famous attractions in Lianhai.

Ollie looked very surprised and delighted every time she went to a place.

At first, Jiang Ping thought this girl was a bit pretentious. In Jiang Ping's opinion, the way she expressed her feelings was a bit exaggerated, as if she was deliberately acting.

Only after slowly observing her did she realize that this was just Ollie's personality. She boldly spoke out and expressed her feelings of joy and happiness and didn't deliberately suppress her emotions to appear low-key and calm.

This was different from Zhao Gang and even most people in Long Country.

There was no right or wrong between the two personalities; everyone had their own preferences.

Jiang Ping didn't dislike this more direct and passionate temperament. She just hoped that this girl wouldn't say Zhao Gang was strong and mighty in front of others. It was really embarrassing and would make people think that this girl was too bold, even shameless.

…

On the evening of October 11th, the World Cup qualifier between Long Country and Syria kicked off at Long Country's home stadium. Zhao Gang and Zhao Ziyou sat on the sofa together to watch the game.

"Wang Mingli came to me," Zhao Ziyou said suddenly.

Wang Mingli was the person in charge of sending Zhao Gang and Dong Lu to the Manchester United youth training camp. However, he wasn't the one responsible for communicating with the parents of these children. Instead, it was his assistant's assistant.

Neither these children nor their parents had ever had the opportunity to meet this highly regarded manager before. The parents had only heard of this big shot in the football world.

"Did he return the money you gave him?" Zhao Gang asked casually, looking at the TV while grabbing grapes.

Zhao Ziyou looked at his son in surprise. How did he know about the money?

The living room suddenly became quiet. Zhao Gang suddenly realized this and quickly made up for it by saying, "I'm not an eighteen-year-old kid anymore. How could I not know about these things?"

Yes, he wasn't eighteen anymore; he was nineteen.

Zhao Ziyou was amused by this cold joke, and Zhao Gang chuckled along with him.

Zhao Ziyou nodded, feeling both gratified and sad.

It was gratifying that his son had grown up.

But it also meant that he would no longer be the simple football-loving boy he used to be.

"He came in person and returned the money to me, saying it was a subsidy or something. Anyway, he found a pretty good reason.

He also solemnly assured me that if he still had the authority, he would definitely get you selected for the national team to win glory for the country.

He said you were the future of Long Country and would definitely become a world-class football star. The future of Long Country football would depend on you to make a name for itself.

He also said that he had delayed your future. If it weren't for him, you would have been selected for the national team long ago.

It was all because he let you go abroad to play football and had some connection with him, so some people couldn't stand him doing well and didn't call you up to the national team."

"So, he means I have to remember that he helped me go abroad to join Manchester United's youth training, and if I join the national team in the future, I have to stand with him," Zhao Gang said calmly. Zhao Ziyou felt that his son had really grown up a lot and saw things very clearly.

"I just want to play football, for Long Country, for the fans, but..." Zhao Gang shook his head, feeling a little depressed. Did he still have to get involved in these messes?

But there was also good news. Wang Mingli saying this meant that those people couldn't withstand the pressure anymore and were going to call him up to the national team.

Once the national team's performance continued to decline at this stage, it would accelerate this process.

"Xiao Gang, there's always a gap between ideals and reality. If you want to accomplish something, you always have to compromise on some things. I think you'll slowly accept these things as you grow up.

You want to simply play football and win glory for the country, but there are always some people who will obstruct you, some out of jealousy, some just plain bad, and some for their own benefit.

No matter the reason, I just hope that you don't become one of those people, no matter what the final outcome is.

If you are selected for the national team in the future and you're not happy playing because of some people or things, don't force yourself for the sake of winning glory for the country.

I don't want you to become a bad person and hurt others.

I don't want you to become a saint and hurt yourself for others.

Do you understand?"

Zhao Ziyou rarely talked about such bullsh*t principles of life with others. He hated being preachy.

But this was his son. He wasn't trying to teach him how much sense to make, he just hoped that his son would be happy and have the right values, even if he was just an ordinary person.

"Don't worry, Dad, I have my bottom line. I really hope that I can join the national team and serve the country.

But the fact that I haven't taken the initiative to contact them to join the national team shows my attitude."

Zhao Ziyou nodded, yes, that was good.

I have a sense of honor, but you can't use that to disgust me.

The father and son watched the live broadcast, and Ollie hid behind the door, peeking in.

Since the last time the father and son were sitting on the sofa and she suddenly appeared and sat on Zhao Gang's lap, Zhao Ziyou had silently gotten up and left. Since then, she had been afraid to appear casually again.

She was afraid of giving Zhao Ziyou a bad impression.

The game was without suspense. The Long Country team lost to Syria 0-3 at home.

This puzzled Zhao Gang a bit. In his memory, this game should have been lost 0-1, and it was a pity that they lost due to a fatal mistake by the goalkeeper.

If they were lucky, it should have been a draw.

How could they have been defeated so miserably now?

The players on the field were not only devoid of fighting spirit, but also played extremely chaotically, without any tactical literacy.

It was like they were playing a fixed match.

After this game, the Long Country team traveled thousands of miles, taking a luxurious plane to Uzbekistan.

Compared to playing football and winning glory for the country, they were more like they were on vacation.

They suffered a crushing defeat of 0-5!

The loss felt somewhat dreamlike. This was also different from the score of 0-2 in Zhao Gang's memory.

In this game, Uzbekistan was playing like they were playing with kindergarten kids.

The Long Country team's attack was terrible, and the defense was full of loopholes.

Head coach Gao Bo's tactical arrangements were simply baffling.

After this game, the Long Country fans finally rioted.

The curses on the Internet escalated.

Before, they were only cursing the coach and the players for being useless.

Now, some extremist fans were already cursing them, hoping they would die soon!

"Disband quickly!!!"

"Scammers!!"

"People are at war, and they temporarily organized a group of athletes, and you can't even beat them???"

"Trash national team, wasting our feelings, scamming us for decades!"

"Even if you put eleven pigs on the goal line, you can't let people kick like this!"

"You eat sea cucumber every day, and use your strength on women's bellies??"

"I can do it too, isn't it just losing? Who can't do that?"

"I don't need a salary of ten million a year, give me fifty thousand! I can act better than them!!"

"Dumbass, you won't live past twenty-five."

"F*ck you, Zhao Gang's defense is not good? With these dumbass defenders, Zhao Gang would be better than them if he played defense!!"

"Have you seen Zhao Gang hook the ball back from the goal line? Which of these pigs has this kind of fighting spirit??"

"Zhao Gang is better than you even if he uses his d*ck to kick!"

"Trash, still have the face to say it's a whole? Zhao Gang will destroy the chemical reaction?

He's just one person on the field, he doesn't need you pigs, and it's impossible to kick two goose eggs!"

"Gao Bo, get out!! Get down on your knees and apologize to Zhao Gang! Go ask Zhao Gang to come!!"

"Is it so corrupt? Is it so blatant??"

…

Not only the fans on the Internet, but also all the commentators with some reputation, the previous generation of football players, and even the media led by the Central Media, were questioning, why has Long Country football become like this now?

It's acceptable that they can't beat Sakura Country and Stick Country, but they can't even beat Uzbekistan and Syria?

Are they going to lose to Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos too?

Will they even be able to beat Hong Kong and Taipei in the end?

How many football associations will there be in Asia in the future, and how many will Long Country rank?

The Football Association, unable to withstand the pressure, had no choice but to take drastic measures and dismiss Gao Bo.

This did quell the anger of the fans for a short time, but they would definitely start spraying again in a few days.

At the same time, someone immediately released news that the Football Association was in contact with the coach of the Hengtai Club, the world-famous coach Lippi!

And they put forward the most critical condition: after Lippi takes office, he will have complete control over the selection of the national team, and no one can interfere!

This extremely suggestive clause made the fans' minds race.

The meaning was already very clear.

A famous coach is coming, and there will be no pressure to interfere with his selection of national football players.

What does this mean?

Zhao Gang will definitely be selected for Lippi's national team!

For a time, the fans were full of hope, and the Internet rioted again. This time, it was not scolding, but endless longing for the future of the Long Country national team.

Lippi, a world-famous coach, led the Hengtai Club to sweep the Long Super League and Asia, winning Long Country's first Asian championship and first Triple Crown.

Zhao Gang, the hottest player in the Premier League, scoring goals like chopping vegetables and assisting like slicing melons.

The cooperation between these two people, even with a group of pigs who can only defend, has the hope of winning the game!

The Football Association has finally done something right!

Even if they had one draw and three losses in four games, only taking one point, there were still six games left!

It was very likely that they would get twelve or thirteen points.

The hope was very, very high.

The level of discussion on the Internet even exceeded the level of cursing before.

The fans' unprecedented expectations and enthusiasm erupted.

No one was spraying Gao Bo, no one was scolding sea cucumber anymore, and the Football Association's pressure was gone.

Fans are so easily satisfied. Give them hope, and they will forget their past pain.

In some people's eyes, this is stupid.

In Zhao Gang's eyes, this is lovely and pure.

Of course, Zhao Gang also knew about this news. Lippi's concurrent position as the national team coach was almost a certainty.

Although the salary was very high, it was worth it.

Among so many coaches in the national team, Lippi's record was indeed the best.

His tactical thinking and on-the-spot command ability were worthy of the name Silver Fox.

Zhao Gang felt that his national team career was about to begin soon.

At the same time, he received another piece of good news.

His fellow villager, and also his idol, Sun Jihai, who was also from Lianhai, came to his hometown, found some connections to get Zhao Gang's contact information, and really wanted to meet him.

Zhao Gang did not hesitate at all and immediately agreed to Sun Jihai. The two agreed on a time and place.

Sun Jihai is Zhao Gang's only idol among the players.

Regardless of Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Zidane, Beckham, or even the recognized ball kings Maradona and Pele, Zhao Gang respects them all, but they are far from role models.

Only Sun Jihai is his idol.

In his heart, Sun Jihai is the highest level player in Long Country.

Regardless of his skills or spirit, he has reached the peak that an Asian player can reach!

Low-key, hardworking, brave, fighting, and tenacious!

Not only football, but also the perfect embodiment of the Long Country spirit.

If Long Country had another Sun Jihai in the same period, even if there were only five, Long Country would have rushed out of Asia long ago.

Even in the world, it would be a team not to be underestimated.

Sun Jihai is the ball king of Long Country in his heart.

When Zhao Gang finally met his idol, he felt that he was somewhat different from the Sun Jihai in his memory.

He looked like a refined teacher, wearing glasses, smiling and very kind.

Zhao Gang hugged Sun Jihai tightly. Sun Jihai smiled and nodded, his heart full of hope for this junior.

Seeing Zhao Gang, he seemed to see the hope and future of Long Country football.

Zhao Gang's performance and Zhao Gang's personality were very reassuring. As long as the Football Association didn't hold him back, even if they didn't say a word, with Zhao Gang's charisma, he would definitely be able to influence some people and make those muddleheaded players burst out with fighting spirit.

What he was afraid of, what he was afraid of was that Zhao Gang would enter the dye vat and everything would be over!

Zhao Gang did not hide anything and told Sun Jihai about Southgate's invitation, the European Cup, the World Cup, the Ballon d'Or, and the World Footballer of the Year.

These are the things that players dream of most.

But he still chose to refuse and was quietly waiting for an invitation from the national team.

He also talked about the shady things about spending money to go abroad, as well as the various hardships and difficulties in Manchester United's youth training camp.

He also chatted about him and Ollie.

Sun Jihai looked at Zhao Gang, who was talking eloquently, and looked at the light in his eyes, feeling his love and fascination for football.

Even with corruption, filth, and difficulties, he still persevered in his purest dream.

Sun Jihai slowly exhaled. He felt that his worries were unnecessary.

Zhao Gang's ability to reject Southgate said it all.

He has experienced hardship and encountered temptation along the way.

Rejecting Southgate and his stable and dedicated relationship with Ollie gave Sun Jihai full confidence.

Fame, fortune, and women, the two most deadly things for men, have not made him lose himself.

Like hemp growing among weeds, it stands upright without support!

Sun Jihai believes that this child will definitely stick to his dreams and ideals, and make the Long Country team, which has no fighting spirit, become one of the most competitive teams in Asia!