Chapter 057: Substitute Forward

This story is purely a work of fiction.

On the training grounds of the Great River Football Club, the Red and Yellow teams were engaged in a practice match. Fan Wei, who had long been a substitute forward, had never been given the chance to play in a real game.

But today, on the training field, Fan Wei scored a hat-trick for the Yellow team. Such a scene was not uncommon during practices at Great River.

Fan Wei had lost his parents at a young age and was raised by his aunt. Her husband died in a car accident, leaving Fan Wei’s aunt to struggle through life with great difficulty.

When Fan Wei’s father entrusted him to his aunt, Fan Wei was barely ten. His aunt supported them by running a breakfast stall at the entrance to their neighborhood. Whenever Fan Wei was free, he would help his aunt at the stall. Except for attending football training, he was often seen at the neighborhood gate. Fortunately, the principal of the football school had been a friend of Fan Wei’s late father and turned a blind eye to Fan Wei’s occasional absences from practice.

Gifted in football and diligent in his efforts, Fan Wei’s performance in the football school was among the best. Because of his outstanding abilities, he was selected by the Great River Club as a professional player.

Although his training level at the school was always high, when he joined the first team, he realized there was still a considerable gap between himself and the regular players. Understanding this, he consciously intensified his physical training. Long after his teammates had left the field, Fan Wei would still be there, drenched in sweat.

Through relentless effort, Fan Wei’s skills improved remarkably. Previously, he wasn’t even considered for the club’s tactical drills, but once the head coach noticed his progress, he intentionally included Fan Wei in offensive and defensive exercises.

With each session, Fan Wei’s abilities grew. In time, he became an essential part of the team’s tactical drills, even an indispensable member. The head coach greatly appreciated Fan Wei’s performance. Privately, the coach would often pat Fan Wei on the shoulder and say, “Well done. Keep it up—and be ready to come off the bench.”

Every time he heard the coach mention being ready to play, Fan Wei’s heart would race with excitement. Yet, as each match drew to a close with no sign of the coach making a substitution, his spirits would sink, sometimes to the point of despair. Gradually, his desire to come off the bench faded away entirely. Playing in a real match seemed a distant fantasy.

Even after nearly a year with Great River, Fan Wei never uttered a word of complaint. The head coach noticed this, coming to admire the young man’s steadiness.

After another training session, Fan Wei sat alone on the club’s lawn, flipping through photos of his aunt on his phone. Lost in thought, he didn’t realize the head coach was standing behind him until he noticed a long shadow stretching across the grass. Embarrassed, he stood up quickly, brushing the loose grass from his pants.

He slapped at his trousers several times, but some grass clippings stubbornly clung on. The head coach reached out to help brush them off, and when he was satisfied, he asked, “You’ve been sitting here alone for a while. Is something on your mind?”

Fan Wei didn’t answer directly; he simply gazed at the man before him, eyes clouded with confusion. His feelings were complicated, a mix of emotions. Usually, no one spoke to Fan Wei, making him, already withdrawn, even quieter. He knew well what weighed on his heart—the desire to repay his aunt’s kindness as soon as possible, and the only way to do that was to play in matches and earn some money.

But he couldn’t tell the coach outright that he wished to play, even just for a minute, rather than warm the bench. Fan Wei shook his head. “No, nothing really. Just passing the time, looking at my phone.”

“I saw you looking at a photo of yourself and a woman. Is that your late mother?” the coach asked with concern.

“No, that’s my aunt. Before he died, my father entrusted me to her. She raised me with great hardship and sent me to football school. It wasn’t easy, but I finally made it to Great River. Yet, I don’t even qualify as a substitute, let alone earn money to repay her. So, yes, I feel a bit discouraged. Before I joined the club, I thought my chance had finally come, that my aunt would no longer need to work so hard before dawn. But after nearly a year, I am thoroughly disappointed—perhaps even hopeless.”

Hearing this, the coach’s heart ached for the young man before him. He thought, This player has outstanding talent, but the club is always fighting to avoid relegation. Even though I want to give new players a chance, I can’t be that bold—the club’s stability comes first, and I must heed the wishes of the management. My authority is limited by many factors. Helpless, he simply reached out, patted Fan Wei’s head, and comforted him: “You are truly a filial child. Your chance will come.”

Fan Wei was surprised by the gesture, tears welling in his eyes. As they threatened to fall, he hurriedly wiped them away, trying to hide his pain. When he looked up, shy and embarrassed, he said, “I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“It’s all right, it’s all right. If you want to cry, just cry—it might make you feel better. There’s no one else here,” the coach consoled him, gazing westward and pointing to the distant sky. “Look, we’re here at Great River, and your aunt is in the West Bank. We’re in opposite directions—a good thirty kilometers apart, at least?”

“Yes, nearly thirty kilometers. Usually, because of training and the club’s strict rules, I can’t find the time to go home. It’s not convenient, since I have to transfer buses. I visit far less than when I was at the football school. My aunt, seeing me so rarely, often makes my favorite dishes, even travels all the way to the club just to bring me extra food, saying it’s to supplement my nutrition. But honestly, the club’s meals are already very good, full of nutrients. She’s not doing it for the food—she just wants to see me.” Fan Wei shook his head as he spoke.

“Yes, such is a parent’s heart. Having an aunt like her is a blessing for life. If I get the chance, I must meet her and see what makes this woman so remarkable,” the coach said seriously.

“You’re exaggerating. My aunt is an ordinary woman, nothing more. For me, she’s a blessing, but since she took me in, her life has been far from lucky. She’s poured her heart and soul into raising me, yet I haven’t been able to repay her in the slightest. That’s what frustrates me. I envy the other players, Coach—seeing them dash across the pitch, giving their all.”

“Is that so? Don’t be envious. Your chance is just around the corner. When you get to play, you must seize the moment—don’t let me down!” The coach’s words were earnest, and Fan Wei could tell he meant them sincerely.

After speaking, the coach glanced at his watch, as if in a hurry. Sensing this, Fan Wei said quickly, “If you have something to do, don’t let me keep you. But I’ll take your words to heart!”

Hearing this, the coach remembered his errand. “Yes, I really do have something to attend to. As it happens, I need to go somewhere near your aunt’s home. Why not come with me?”

Fan Wei was so delighted he almost leapt with joy. In truth, even if the coach hadn’t suggested it, he had planned to ask for leave and visit his aunt. Now, he could accompany the coach, strengthen their relationship, and visit his aunt—all at once. He was overjoyed.

“Can I really go to the West Bank with you?” Fan Wei still found it hard to believe.

“Of course. Would I lie to you?” the coach replied.

“That’s wonderful!” Fan Wei, like an overgrown child, lifted the coach and spun him around.

“Put me down! I’m not exactly light, and you don’t look that strong, yet you’ve got quite the grip. You’re making me dizzy!” the coach shouted, a bit disoriented.

Startled, Fan Wei quickly set him down on the grass.

The coach, unsteady from dizziness, staggered but soon regained his footing. He held his forehead with one hand, the other on his waist. “You spin hard, boy. I’m getting old, not what I once was.”

“You’re in your prime, Coach—there’s no talk of getting old,” Fan Wei said, more talkative than usual and eager to please. “You’re like a battle horse, still eager for the long road ahead!” The idiom slipped from his lips unexpectedly.

“You really think I’m old? A battle horse past its prime? I’m only in my forties—still at my peak. Your flattery could get you in trouble if you use it on the wrong person,” the coach laughed.

“You’re right, I’ll be more careful. I won’t flatter the wrong people again, you can be sure of that!” Fan Wei’s face flushed with embarrassment.

Though he said this, Fan Wei thought to himself that he wasn’t the type to flatter anyone. He didn’t even know why he’d said what he did—it just slipped out.

“Come on, let’s head to the West Bank. I’ll take you for a drive,” the coach said.

Still lost in thought about his earlier words, Fan Wei didn’t catch what the coach said. When he realized, he looked up and asked, “You mean now?”

“It’s two o’clock in the afternoon. I’ll give you twenty minutes—go wash up, and I’ll wait for you in the parking lot,” the coach replied.

“All right, I’ll be right there!” Fan Wei called out as he grabbed his training jersey from the grass and sprinted toward the club dormitory.

(To be continued)