Sitting in the living room of Jose's house, Wang Ai unceremoniously encouraged his theoretical "wife". This was not only because the two families were familiar with each other, but also at this special moment, the less Wang Ai saw anyone else, the more comfortable they were.
He was once full of ambitions but came back empty-handed. This is how Jose feels now. It is heart-warming to have a former team member deliver him to his doorstep without hesitation or even visit him at home.
Mathilde smiled and offered a cup of fragrant coffee. After Wang Ai took it with both hands and thanked her, Mathilde consciously took the child out of the living room. It was just different from the child running to the backyard to play carelessly.
Facing the backyard, she quietly stopped in the corridor behind the living room, intending to listen to the conversation between the two.
She doesn't interfere much in her husband's career, but as her husband is undoubtedly the pillar of the family, she will also provide some advice. What Wiwi said at the door today is of great significance.
Jose collected the belongings he brought back and returned to the living room and sat on the sofa opposite Wang Ai without saying a word. His eyes were solemn and sharp with a hint of exhaustion and relief. Wang Ai didn't say anything, but drank coffee and shouted at him.
wink.
Jose smiled and shook his head: "The Chinese national team wants to invite me? You can't make the decision on behalf of your National Football Association, and you can't predict today long in advance. So, you are sending a tentative invitation, right?
"
Wang Ai shrugged and put down his coffee cup: "That's half right, I did not get the authorization. At the same time, I am not inviting you on behalf of the national team, but on behalf of the Olympic team, the Olympic football team."
Jose frowned: "Youth team?"
Seeing Wang Ai nodding, Jose smiled bitterly: "You actually invited me to coach the youth team?"
"It's not a guide." Wang Ai shook his head seriously: "It's a technical consultant."
Jose stopped talking and leaned on the sofa to look at Wang Ai. Wang Ai took out his mobile phone and put it on the coffee table: "Coach, do you have any work to do today?"
"I have a media interview this afternoon. You know, I can't turn it down."
"So, you have time in the morning? There is no team for you to take care of now, right?"
Jose picked up a candy and threw it at Wang Ai. Wang Ai smiled and picked up the candy, peeled off the wrapper and stuffed it in his mouth: "So, you should have the time and patience to listen to me?"
Faced with such a lazy Wiwi, Jose had no choice. He sighed and leaned on the sofa, crossing his legs: "You tell me, I have good patience."
"The story begins more than a hundred years ago..."
"Wait!" Jose stopped decisively: "I told you, I have something to do in the afternoon."
"You can treat me to dinner tonight."
A chuckle came from the corridor, and Jose couldn't help but smile and stroke his forehead: "Okay, okay, dear wiwi, for the sake of my blocking your transfer, I will listen to you all day long.
Are the arrangements ready?"
"Thank you." Wang Aizhi said proudly: "More than two hundred years ago...hey, more than two hundred years ago, Europe started the Industrial Revolution amidst the turmoil of war. At that time, China was entering the strictest period of feudal rule, so Europe started to develop natural
With the great development of science, China has entered the peak of the previous stage of social science. I think you should know what happens next. I think you have read the Portuguese version of China’s Modern History that I gave you.”
Jose nodded: "The Opium War, and...Macau."
Wang Ai shrugged: "We won't talk about unhappy things today. In short, before that, China was a central empire that had been glorious for thousands of years. After that, it almost collapsed. A magnificent building collapsed to the ground.
The people here suffered bloody injuries, and tens of millions of people were devoured by the flames of war. It was in these ruins that a new China was established. Half a century later, it is far from returning to its former glory, and more than one billion people are still in hardship.
Keep trekking. You know the concept of the world's factory. Chinese workers have to work twice as much and still earn less than one-fifth of American workers."
Jose pursed his lips and nodded without saying a word. When the Portuguese Empire collapsed, the Portuguese also suffered and missed it. However, Portugal did not fall as deep as China.
"At this moment, the Beijing Olympics are coming." Wang Ai looked directly into Jose's eyes: "In Asia, we Chinese used to have a shameful nickname called the Sick Man of East Asia because of our nutritional problems, just like Europe once called Osman
The same as the sick man in West Asia. But for us, it refers not only to the country, but also to the people. Therefore, in China, the long painful memory and the great desire for national rejuvenation have given the Olympic Games, especially next year's Beijing Olympics, unique significance."
"I can understand." Jose straightened his posture.
Wang Ai nodded and said: "Let me deepen your impression and let you know what kind of attachment ordinary Chinese people have to this. I have told my friends in the past that if the Chinese Olympic football team can win the gold medal next year,
I would rather pay the price of a broken leg. Even today, I am willing to sign this contract with the devil."
Jose opened his eyes wide and looked at Wang Ai up and down in disbelief.
Wang Ai's eyes were frank and clear: "José, as a European, you may not understand the Chinese people's thoughts in this regard. From ancient times to the present, the Chinese people are collective first, and we are willing to make greater concessions for the collective.
Greater protection. Me too, don’t think I have the opportunity to touch the gold cup of two major awards, have the opportunity to become, become..."
"King of the ball." Jose added in a low voice.
Wang Ai was embarrassed: "In short, I am willing to give up my career to safeguard the national honor and obey the collective will. I can't compare to my seniors. They don't even hesitate, but I have to think about it more or less."
.”
At some point, Matilde had already walked to the door of the living room. Jose frowned and shook his head: "You have almost a military temperament. I have read the literature on the Korean War, and I know that your army is as stubborn as stone.
Same."
"The people's army protects the people. Behind the positions is the home of parents, wives and children."
Jose nodded silently.
"In short, next year's Beijing Olympics is extraordinary for the Chinese people. It is a national event and a national event. As the most influential sport in the world, football, our youth team has been given a different meaning."
Jose suddenly laughed in the heavy atmosphere: "Is there a political commissar? Will he be shot if he loses?"
Wang Ai didn't pay attention to the ridicule: "There will be no penalties, at least not for the players. But what if everyone is like me? What if we want to win?"
