Volume One: Our Own League Chapter 32: A Tremendous Danger Is Approaching

“Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!” A voice brimming with anger echoed through the classroom office in the teaching building, almost shaking the roof off.

A middle-aged man with a receding hairline, dressed in a black suit, stood in the office. In his fury, he slammed his hand on the desk, producing a thunderous bang.

“What are these kids up to? Fooling around instead of studying! Wasting their time on pointless pursuits.”

It was clear he was truly incensed.

Suddenly, a deep voice sounded from behind him, at the office door. “Old Lin, what’s going on here?”

Hearing this, the balding man turned around at once. Standing before him was another middle-aged man, but this one had a full head of hair slicked back into a shiny pompadour, reminiscent of the legendary gambler Ko Chun—something that filled him with envy.

He immediately put on a fawning smile. “Director Chang, hello! Please, come in and have a seat.”

The newcomer was Chang Derong, head of the seventh junior high school’s first-year division in Jin’guan City. The balding man was Lin Hanwen, homeroom teacher of Class Five, Grade One.

Chang Derong nodded faintly and walked in with the measured steps of a man in authority.

Lin Hanwen hurried about, offering him a seat, pouring tea, and serving with all the proper courtesies.

Chang Derong said, “No need, no need, you don’t have to fuss,” but he made himself comfortable, sitting squarely and showing no intention of moving.

Lin Hanwen carefully brewed a pot of premium pre-rain Longjing tea, then respectfully presented it with both hands. “Director, please enjoy some tea. This was specially brought back for us by the father of one of my students, who was on a business trip to Suzhou and Hangzhou. The finest pre-rain Longjing.”

Chang Derong nodded approvingly, took the cup, sipped delicately, savoring it for a long moment before finally speaking. “Excellent tea, truly excellent! Old Lin, you’ve got good taste.”

Lin Hanwen replied at once, “Director Chang, you know I’m clueless about the art of tea. Having such fine tea is wasted on me, like feeding pearls to swine. Only in your hands does it truly shine; only then does it have real meaning…”

Saying this, Lin Hanwen pushed the prepared tin of premium Longjing tea toward Chang Derong.

Chang Derong smiled broadly and said, “Old Lin, you always make such a fuss over nothing.”

He ended with a hearty laugh.

Lin Hanwen didn’t mind, continuing to smile obsequiously.

After another look at the tea before him, Chang Derong asked, “Old Lin, you seemed angry just now. What happened? Which student got on your nerves this time?”

At this, Lin Hanwen’s anger flared up again.

“It’s not just one student—it’s a whole group of them.”

Chang Derong’s heart skipped a beat; he immediately grew serious, his gaze sharpening. “What’s going on?”

A whole group of students—this was no small matter.

If a large number of first-year students were causing trouble, it would be a considerable headache for him as grade director, possibly even affecting his performance and reputation.

He had to take this seriously.

Lin Hanwen spoke at once. “Today I went to the playground and, by chance, discovered a large group of students playing a football match on the field. There were plenty of others crowded around watching.”

Chang Derong frowned slightly. “Did the school organize a football match?”

Football had never been much of a priority at their school. Why would there be an official match?

Lin Hanwen shook his head. “No, absolutely not. This must have been organized by the students themselves!”

Chang Derong’s frown deepened. “How many students were gathered?”

“A lot, from the looks of it, probably students from three or four classes.”

Hearing there were so many, Chang Derong grew angry as well.

“Outrageous! Utter misconduct! What are these kids thinking? Do they care nothing for their studies? School is a place for learning, not for games and fooling around!” Chang Derong was furious.

These days, the rate of advancement to higher schools was a crucial metric—indeed, the only one by which a school’s quality was judged.

Their school was putting a strong emphasis on this, hoping to compete with the famous 479 School in Jin’guan City.

And now these students were playing around on the playground instead of studying—how could that not make him angry?

Lin Hanwen continued, “I looked into it. These brazen kids have actually formed a so-called First-Year Football League Association and organized a First-Year Football League. They intend to play football matches on a regular basis…”

“Brazen! What are they trying to do, turn the school upside-down?” Chang Derong was incensed.

These kids won’t focus on their studies, but instead indulge in such nonsense?

What is their aim? Are they deliberately challenging the school’s authority?

Lin Hanwen recounted everything he had witnessed for Chang Derong. When Chang learned that a great many girls, all dressed in matching uniforms and waving support banners like crazed fans at a pop concert, were cheering them on, he could no longer stay seated.

This was a school, not a concert for idol worship.

Such negative influences…

“Wasting time and learning nothing!” Chang Derong was truly enraged.

The image of those schoolgirls, behaving like irrational, frenzied fans and singing "Ode to the Motherland" in unison, nearly made his blood boil.

These budding flowers of the nation should be studying diligently in their classrooms. How could things have come to this?

Chang Derong’s eyes flashed sharply. “This unhealthy trend must be dealt with severely. Our school cannot allow such things to happen. We must put a stop to it.”

Lin Hanwen wholeheartedly agreed.

Students should study earnestly and do what is expected of them.

“This truly needs to be handled properly. From what I hear, half the first-year classes are involved. Most of the students are aware of it and are extremely enthusiastic.”

The situation was grave.

If this so-called First-Year Football League was allowed to continue, the entire grade could be swept away by it, and overall academic performance would suffer.

This was a major issue—an intolerable one.

Chang Derong said sternly, “This must be stopped. Find out who is behind it. At Monday’s assembly, I’ll address this matter thoroughly. They must understand that this is a school, not an amusement park.”

Lin Hanwen nodded repeatedly, fully supporting Chang Derong’s approach.

After saying this, Chang Derong, still fuming, told him, “Very well, go and investigate. Report back to me when you have the details. I’m leaving now.”

With that, he picked up the tin of Longjing tea on the desk and strode out.

Lin Hanwen kept nodding. “There’s no way this ridiculous football league can be allowed to continue. It must not interfere with the students’ studies.”

Meanwhile, Xu He and the others had no idea that a great storm was heading their way—their football league was about to face a disaster.

At that moment, Xu He was practicing his skills in his neighborhood.

It was the weekend. Unlike his classmates, who were off to various tutoring and interest classes, Xu He was playing in his residential compound.

Their neighborhood had a sizable open area, where children often played football, skateboarded, or danced. Xu He was a regular there.

Yesterday’s match had made Xu He keenly aware of his shortcomings. He now had to quickly improve his shooting skills, or he’d soon lose his place in the starting lineup.

Yang Xin’s presence put a lot of pressure on him.

In training, Yang Xin frequently scored, showing exceptional efficiency. Even as a substitute in yesterday’s match, he managed to score and helped the team to a comeback victory.

If Xu He didn’t improve his shooting, things would become very difficult for him.

So now, Xu He was training seriously.

Over and over, he reviewed the key points of shooting, practicing again and again, but he just couldn’t find the right feel—something seemed off.

He frowned, thinking hard.

He tried recalling Zhang Zhen’s shooting technique, hoping to learn from his approach, but no matter how he thought it through, he couldn’t grasp the essentials.

This made Xu He anxious.

Clearly, he needed to ask Zhang Zhen for guidance and hoped Zhang wouldn’t hold back in teaching him.

Gazing at the horizontal bar in front of him, Xu He took a deep breath and recited to himself, “Take a run-up, adjust your steps, watch your stride, check the distance between your standing foot and the ball, swing your leg, follow through, strike the ball firmly…”

With a thud, Xu He’s right leg struck the ball hard.

The ball flew off, but not as fast as he had hoped, and the angle was a bit off—it missed by a little, skimming past the upright of the horizontal bar.

Xu He frowned, realizing he still hadn’t found the right method.

Sometimes he shot accurately enough, but the power was never as he expected.

He sighed. “Seems I still have a long way to go.”

Not far off, Xu Tie watched all this, shaking his head. Xu He’s shooting really was problematic. But he didn’t intervene, just watched from a distance.

Xu Tie agreed with his wife—studying was more important than football.

Of course, he wouldn’t stop Xu He from playing, but he didn’t particularly want his son to pursue a career in professional football. Treating football as a hobby was just fine; after all, it’s a team sport and can teach children many important values.

So he supported Xu He’s playing.

He watched for a long while, quietly, as if seeing a glimpse of his own past. After a while, he shook his head and smiled awkwardly.

“Xiao He, your mother’s calling you home for lunch!” he called out.

“Okay, Dad, I’m coming!” Xu He replied, hugging his football.

With that, he ran home, ball in arms.

He had made up his mind—when he returned to school, he would definitely ask Zhang Zhen for tips on shooting. He refused to believe he couldn’t master it.

After lunch, Xu He sat down at his computer, searching online for tutorials on football shooting, studying them carefully.

Suddenly, Tang Qian called out, “Xiao He, have you finished your homework? How come you’re on the computer?”

“I’ve finished, Mom!” Xu He replied at once.

She nodded. “Good—then play for a while. But not too long, all right?”

“Got it!”

Once Tang Qian left, Xu He focused on his studies, eager to improve. He also looked forward to the coming week and the next match, hoping he would once again earn a place in the starting lineup.