Chapter two hundred and eighty seventh before the expedition
Xia Xiaoyu, who was standing outside his home, knocked on the door but did not hear any movement. He felt strange that he had notified his parents on WeChat before coming back, and they also said they would be at home by then.
Why is it that no one answers when I knock on the door now?
Did he go out?
Xia Xiaoyu felt a little disappointed because his father and mother didn't keep their word and let him go!
He took off his backpack, rummaged around and found the key and opened the door.
The room was dark and there was really no one...
He sighed softly and turned to turn on the light.
As a result, as soon as I turned on the lights, I suddenly heard the sound of "bang bang bang bang" and at the same time...
"Congratulations Xiaoyu!"
"congratulations!"
"Xiaoyu is really promising!"
All kinds of voices came out.
Xia Xiaoyu stared blankly at the dense crowd in front of him and his parents standing in the center of the crowd, who were looking at him with smiles.
"How are you, are you surprised, Xiaoyu?" Cousin Xia Wu jumped out from the side, holding a hand-twisted salute gun. It was obvious from the popping sound just now, and the colorful colors that were now sprinkled all over his head and all over the ground.
The plastic paper sequins were sprayed out from the thing in his hand.
Xia Wu winked and said, "I thought I heard you sigh just now?"
Xia Xiaoyu blushed and waved his hands quickly: "No, no, brother, you must have heard wrong!"
Xia Wu laughed and did not expose it further.
At this time, Xia Xiaoyu's parents also came out and explained: "They want to give you a surprise. Congratulations on your participation in the World Cup."
Xia Xiaoyu looked at the relatives and friends crowded into his living room and smiled: "Thank you everyone, welcome everyone!"
"Xiaoyu must work hard to perform when the World Cup comes!" Grandpa, who was surrounded by the crowd, stood up to cheer Xia Xiaoyu up.
Xia Xiaoyu quickly explained: "Grandpa, just because I'm on the roster, it doesn't mean I can play in the World Cup..."
Grandpa seemed to have not heard his explanation at all and waved his fist: "Don't embarrass our Xia family!"
Xia Xiaoyu nodded helplessly: "Okay, Grandpa. It's definitely not embarrassing..."
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The corridor of the teaching building of Qingyang No. 1 High School was crowded with people and noisy.
Everyone was putting their feet up and looking in one direction.
There, in the innermost part of the crowd, a relatively empty space was separated.
Zhou Zijing and Lin Changzhi, the principal of Qingyang No. 1 High School, stood in front of the corridor wall. Behind them, on the middle wall, was something covered with red silk.
Vice-principal Xie Huaqin was speaking passionately to the invited media reporters: "... As we all know, as a national key middle school, Qingyang No. 1 High School has produced countless outstanding graduates in its history. Some of them have become scientists, and some have become scientists.
There are people who are engaged in business and politics, and there are also people who have achieved outstanding results in the fields of literary creation and performing arts. They are outstanding alumni of our Qingyang No. 1 High School, and they are also the precious wealth of Qingyang No. 1 High School... So the teaching building of our Qingyang No. 1 High School
The corridor is also a 'wall of honor' that displays the demeanor of these outstanding alumni. Today, another outstanding alumni of ours will be added to this wall of honor!"
At this point, she made a gesture to Lin Changzhi, and the latter and Zhou Zijing pulled off the piece of red silk.
As the red silk slipped, Zhou Zijing crossed his arms over his chest, and a half-length photo of him wearing the Chinese national team jersey appeared on the wall.
There is also a line of introduction below the photo:
Zhou Zijing, a 2023 graduate of this school. He once led the Qingyang No. 1 High School football team to participate in national competitions three times and won the runner-up. He is now a member of the Chinese national men's football team and will participate in the 2026 U.S.-Canada World Cup.
The corridors were filled with cheers, whistles and applause from the students.
They have also seen celebrities return to school and hang their own photos on the walls.
But it was Zhou Zijing who impressed them the most. After all, he was not much older than them, and the World Cup was the hottest topic nowadays. Their school had a national football player who could participate in the World Cup, and all the students in Qingyang No. 1 High School were immediately connected with him.
Rong Yan.
When I introduce my alma mater to others in the future, I don’t need to mention “national key middle school”. After all, there are quite a few national key middle schools across China.
He said, "Does Zhou Zijing know? Those who participated in the World Cup graduated from our Qingyang No. 1 High School!"
After the cheers died down, Zhou Zijing took the microphone and said: "Thank you to my alma mater for giving me this honor... It has always been my dream to be listed on the honor wall of my alma mater! Now this dream has come true... But I still feel
I deserve it, because I only participated in the World Cup, but did not help the Chinese team reach the World Cup... I hope that in the next four years, I can become a hero for the Chinese team to reach the World Cup!"
"Okay!!" The students applauded enthusiastically and cheered loudly.
Four years later, if the Chinese team can participate in the World Cup again, it will definitely be a good thing worthy of loud applause.
Amid applause and cheers, Zhou Zijing stood under his own photo and completed this somewhat special group photo.
From now on, every student from Qingyang No. 1 High School will turn around and take a look when they pass by this photo, knowing that their school has a national football player who has participated in the World Cup.
Although he is not as good as Hu Lai, he is indeed the pride of Qingyang.
Zhou Zijing looked back at his photo and thought to himself: Sooner or later, one day, he will have to remove the phrase "Although it is not as good as Hu Lai"!
Yes, this day will definitely happen!
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Zhang Qinghuan stood in front of his father's tombstone, turned to his mother next to him and said, "Mom, you go down first, and I'll have a few words with Dad."
"You can tell me what you want, I'll be right next to you." Ren Changmei didn't leave.
Zhang Qinghuan clicked his tongue: "You are here, I can't say..."
"Ouch, what are you doing? Is there anything you can't say in front of your mother? Are you looking for a girlfriend?"
"What? If I really find a girlfriend, I will be the first to notify you...Mom, just think this is a conversation between two men, my father and I." Zhang Qinghuan pushed her mother away.
"Okay, okay, don't push, don't push, I'll go by myself." Ren Changmei muttered and turned around and walked away.
Zhang Qinghuan kept watching his mother walk down the steps in the distance, thinking about going downstairs, then he looked back and looked at his father's photo on the tombstone again.
The original color photo has faded slightly.
"Dad..." Zhang Qinghuan called out and then got stuck. He didn't know what to say next. After a while, he let out a long sigh.
"I miss you again..."
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After Ren Changmei walked down several rows of cemeteries, she turned back and looked up.
Looking from her side, she could only see her son's small back, but could not hear what he said at all.
So she did not continue walking down, but stood here, looking at where her son and husband were, and waited patiently.
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"We entered the World Cup... The dream that I thought was difficult to realize before has become a reality... and not only will I go to the World Cup, I will also go abroad to play football... The path you planned for me before,
I finally started walking again... Some people say that parents should not let their children live the way they want, but I just want to live the way you expect, dad... I'm sorry, I waited until I was twenty-six to finish you.
The goals set for me... I have taken some detours over the years, and I never dared to tell you... I was afraid you would scold me... But now, I can finally talk to you, Dad, about how I got here these years.
Yes, because I have achieved the goal you set, I am not so afraid of you scolding me... For the sake of the World Cup, dad, you won't scold me, right?"
Zhang Qinghuan smiled.
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Ren Changmei got tired of standing. She leaned over the steps and blew a breath to blow away the dust. Then she sat down. She occasionally looked back and continued to wait.
Fei Qingming's cemetery was very quiet, with only the mountain breeze blowing, blowing the treetops nearby and blowing the hair beside her ears.
She waited like this for who knows how long, and her son's voice came from behind her: "Let's go, Mom."
Ren Changmei then raised her face from her hands and looked back to see her son smiling at her: "Have you finished talking to your dad?"
"Well, we're done talking."
"Okay." She stood up and patted the dust on her butt, "Let's go."
"What did you and your dad talk about?"
"can not say."
"Can't even tell me?"
"It's a secret between men, Mom."
"It's like he secretly took you to eat ice cream..."
"Ha! Just think of it like that, Mom."
"Hey, if you don't want to say it, don't say it. I'll ask him myself when the time comes!"
"Mom, you have to wait..."
The two people just climbed down the stairs and walked farther and farther side by side.
Behind them, the wind blew through the pine forest and the sound of the waves sent them flying.
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When Li Ziqiang left the school and walked to the parking lot, he saw workers hanging a banner above the gate of Dongchuan Middle School under the command of the vice principal.
He looked back:
"Warmly congratulate our school alumni Hu Lai, Luo Kai, and Xia Xiaoyu for participating in the World Cup!!"
Well, the old principal can show off all summer again...
Li Ziqiang did not stop at the school gate to take photos like other students and teachers, but shook his head and left.
I drove home from school, parked the car, took the elevator to the tenth floor, opened the door and put my bag on the sofa in the living room, then turned around and went out, knocking on the door next door.
It was his daughter Li Qingqing who opened the door for him: "Dad, are you back? Come on, come on!"
After saying that, she turned around and ran back with a bound.
Li Ziqiang looked at her happy back and sighed helplessly.
When he turned around again, he saw Hu Lixin greeting him: "Are you off work, Lao Li?"
Li Ziqiang responded quickly: "Well, it's time to get off work. Sister Xie has made so many delicious food again? Don't forget to make the World Cup set meal for Hu Lai..."
Xie Lan's voice came from the kitchen: "I didn't forget! I was about to make it!"
Hu Lai, who was coming out of the "Honor Room" with Li Qingqing, heard this conversation and his expression changed.
Seeing his expression, Li Ziqiang finally had a smile on his face.
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After the 23-man roster was announced, Shi Wuyin gave all Chinese team players four days off.
Let them go home and spend time with their families, put aside the stress and fatigue during the training camp, and enjoy life to the fullest.
Then come back again, regroup, set out from the mountains and seas, cross the mountains and seas, carry the ardent hopes and trust of the people across the country, and go to a grand appointment.