Next day.
Afternoon at 1 pm.
Dong Xuebing was still thinking of how he could earn XuYan's trust.
Li Qing, who was in wearing his sports attire entered the GeneralAffairs Office. "The bus is here. Those that are participating in the matchshould change, or you all can choose to change at the stadium. The color is thesame as yesterday's match. The top must be white, and the shorts do notmatter." Li Qing's face changed." Everybody listen up. There are only 2 morematches, including this afternoon's game left. The higher-ups and Chief Xu hadgiven us a mission. We must not lose again. Put in your best performancelater!"
"Ah? Cannot lose?" Everyone was groaning.
Li Qing replied firmly. "You must treat this as a politicalmission! Do you understand?"
"Yes, Sir!"
"Yes, Sir!"
Guo Panwei and Zhuang Zhi replied immediately. But they werenot confident.
Dong Xuebing was glad that he had escaped this fate. He hadheard from Tan Limei that their team had not won a single match out of the past6 games and they had lost badly for every game they played. The scores werelike 5:0, 3:0 and even 7:0. They had yet to score a single goal. This was whythe Bureau's higher-ups gave this "political mission" to them.
Dong Xuebing, Tan Limei, and Old Yan remained in the office.Changjuan, Zhuang Zhi and the rest followed Li Qing out of the office.
There was not a lot of work in the afternoon. Dong Xuebingmade himself a cup of tea and watched a movie online.
During the National Day Holidays, their working hours wereuntil 3 pm. It was 5 minutes to 3 pm, and Tan Limei started packing her things.She cheerfully patted Dong Xuebing's back. "Bing Zhi, let's go to YuetanStadium to watch their match. This time, the Bureau is anxious to get a win. Ifthey were lost all the matches in this tournament, they would surely bescolded."
Dong Xuebing had nothing to do at home, and he nodded. "Ok,let's go and have a look." Xu Yan was also there. Maybe there will be anopportunity to get closer to her.
Yuetan Stadium.
The Bureau had booked this stadium. Dong Xuebing and TanLimei showed their work pass and were allowed to enter the stadium. They walkedthrough the entrance tunnel, and they could hear cheers. Under the scorchingsun, over 20 State Security members were running on the field. Zhuang Zhi wassweating and panting near his goal post. Guo Panwei was running aroundaimlessly and shouting "Pass, pass to me!" Guo Shunjie was also holding on tohis soccer boots and sitting by the side of the fields. It seems that he was areserve.
"Defence! Defense!" By the side of the field, Xu Yan in hersports attire was shouting instructions to her team. "Everyone get back anddefense! Mark that no. 21!"
"Don't let him pass! Stop him!" Li Qing was carrying XuYan's bag by her side and was also shouting to the players.
Tan Limei whispered to Dong Xuebing. "Our Chief Xu is veryserious. Seems like she means what she said. Let's go. Sister Juan is overthere. Let's go over."
Dong Xuebing stopped for a while. "Shouldn't we greet theleaders first?"
"Can't you see the leaders are busy?"
Dong Xuebing looked at Xu Yn's back view helplessly andfollowed Tan Limei to where Changjuan was sitting. Changjuan was sitting withsome young men and women from the Political Section and Finance Department.They were cheering listlessly for their team. "Go forward and shoot!" But theircheers were too soft. Compared to the other team, their cheers could not beheard.
"Xiao Dong, Xiao Tan, you all are here?" Changjuan turned tothem and was holding a fan to block the sun.
Dong Xuebing casually asked: "Sister Juan, how's the match?What's the score now?"
Changjuan replied: "This time, we are playing much betterthan the previous few matches. The score is 0:0, and there are 10 minutes left.Seems this match would be a draw. At least we fulfill Chief Xu's requirement ofnot losing."
Tan Limei gasped. "We are playing well!"
It was coming to the end of the match, and all the playerson the field were tired. They were running slowly after the ball without anytactics or strategies. The Western District Branch Bureau's team was not of thesame standard as Chaoyang Branch Bureau's team. Most of the time, they wereplaying defensively. Their opponent was trying to score from far.
Xu Yan shouted with her hoarse voice: "Defence properly!There are only 10 minutes left!"
Li Qing also shouts: "Run faster! All of you, run faster!"
Chaoyang District Branch Bureau's no. 21 forward received apass from outside the penalty area, and he turned to shoot at the goal. Zoom!It was an awkward angle, and the ball missed the goal post by inches. No. 21held his head in anguished and then gave a thumbs up to his teammate who passedhim the ball.
Dong Xuebing blinked/ "Who is that guy? Why is he so good?"Dong Xuebing had played soccer with his University classmates. Although he wasnot good at it, he could tell the difference between a good player and anovice. This no. 21 was on a different level from the rest.
Changjuan replied: "I heard that guy was formerly from thenational youth team. He is more professional than the rest. He had almost brokenour defense several times."
Not far away, Xu Yan was shouting angrily. "Mark that no.21! Don't let him get the ball!"
These few days, Xu Yan was in a bad mood. She thought thesewere all friendly matches to let the staff workers participate in some sportsactivities. That's why she took on the role of the team manager and coach. Butthe rest of the branch bureaus were trying their best, and her team had beenlosing since the start of the tournament. Xu Yan was too embarrassed by her side.This was why she gave out the orders that they must not lose today. Even a drawis good enough.
8 minutes left...
5 minutes left...
The score was still 0:0.
Xu Yan was relieved. She looked at a middle-aged woman watchingthe match not far away and frowned.
The bespectacled woman also saw Xu Yan and returned a sneer.
Dong Xuebing was observing Xu Yan and watching the game whenhe noticed this detail. He asked Tan Limei if she knew who that woman was. "Whois that person? Chief Xu does not seem to like her. Is she the team manager forChaoyang team?"
Tan Limei looked at that direction. "I had never seen herbefore. Sister Chang, do you know that person?"
"Who?" Changjuan looked towards the direction where DongXuebing was pointing. "Why is she here?"
Dong Xuebing asked: "Who is she?"
Changjuan looked around her and dragged Tan Limei and DongXuebing to the side. "That person's name is similar to Chief Xu. Her name is XuYan too. She is the Deputy District Political Commissar of Eastern DistrictBranch Bureau. Oh, I know why she is here. Tomorrow our last match is against theEastern District Branch Bureau. She should be here to watch our team."
Dong Xuebing was puzzled. "Isn't this a recreationaltournament? Is there a need to be so serious?"
Changjuan laughed. "There are many things you don't know.Chief Xu and Political Commissar Xu are not on good terms. To others, thismight be a friendly match. But for both of them, it's not. I heard that both ofthem were often arguing during the City Bureau's meeting. Hmmm.... I will tellyou all another secret. Keep it to yourself." Changjuan lowered her voice. "Doyou know Chief Xu is a divorcee? Her ex-husband remarried, and his new bride isthat Xu Yan. Because of this reason... Hehe..... Do you all understand now?"
Tan Limei said: "Oh... I was still wondering why Chief Xugave out such orders. She does not want to be looked down by her rival!"
Dong Xuebing also understood.
Changjuan replied: "Don't talk about this anymore. It is notnice if this is spread around. The match is ending soon. Come, let's cheer forour team!"
There were only 3 minutes left on the clock.
Tan Limei waved her hands excitedly: "Western District Team!Go, go go!"
Dong Xuebing was also influenced by the atmosphere andstarted to cheer loudly for their team: "Defence! Defense!"
Dong Xuebing and the rest were only hoping for a draw.
But things did not go as they wished. Guo Panwei, who wasplaying defender, accidentally knocked into one of his teammate outside thepenalty area and both of them were slowed down. This gave no.21 a chance tobreak through their defense. He ran into the penalty area with the ball andtricked the central defender into the wrong direction with a feint. Hecontinued onwards, and only the goalkeeper was left standing before him!
The goalkeeper was Xiao Gao, from the Political Section. Hedoes not know how to play soccer. He was chosen to be part of the team becausehe was taller. He rushed forward to try to block no. 21, but he accidentallytripped no. 21 to the ground. Before no. 21 fell to the ground, he kicked XiaoGao with his boots!
Both Xiao Gao and no. 21 were rolling on the field in pain.
Beep! Beep!
The referee from the City Bureau blew the whistle and points to the spot! Penalty!