Dong Xuebing was still thinking of how he could earn Xu Yan’s trust .
Li Qing, who was in wearing his sports attire entered the General Affairs Office . “The bus is here . Those that are participating in the match should change, or you all can choose to change at the stadium . The color is the same as yesterday’s match . The top must be white, and the shorts do not matter . ” Li Qing’s face changed . ” Everybody listen up . There are only 2 more matches, including this afternoon’s game left . The higher-ups and Chief Xu had given us a mission . We must not lose again . Put in your best performance later!”
“Ah? Cannot lose?” Everyone was groaning .
Li Qing replied firmly . “You must treat this as a political mission! Do you understand?”
“Yes, Sir!”
“Yes, Sir!”
Guo Panwei and Zhuang Zhi replied immediately . But they were not confident .
Dong Xuebing was glad that he had escaped this fate . He had heard from Tan Limei that their team had not won a single match out of the past 6 games and they had lost badly for every game they played . The scores were like 5:0, 3:0 and even 7:0 . They had yet to score a single goal . This was why the 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 Xuebing made himself a cup of tea and watched a movie online .
During the National Day Holidays, their working hours were until 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 Yuetan Stadium to watch their match . This time, the Bureau is anxious to get a win . If they were lost all the matches in this tournament, they would surely be scolded . ”
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 an opportunity to get closer to her .
Yuetan Stadium .
The Bureau had booked this stadium . Dong Xuebing and Tan Limei showed their work pass and were allowed to enter the stadium . They walked through the entrance tunnel, and they could hear cheers . Under the scorching sun, over 20 State Security members were running on the field . Zhuang Zhi was sweating and panting near his goal post . Guo Panwei was running around aimlessly and shouting “Pass, pass to me!” Guo Shunjie was also holding on to his soccer boots and sitting by the side of the fields . It seems that he was a reserve .
“Defence! Defense!” By the side of the field, Xu Yan in her sports attire was shouting instructions to her team . “Everyone get back and defense! Mark that no . 21!”
“Don’t let him pass! Stop him!” Li Qing was carrying Xu Yan’s bag by her side and was also shouting to the players .
Tan Limei whispered to Dong Xuebing . “Our Chief Xu is very serious . Seems like she means what she said . Let’s go . Sister Juan is over there . Let’s go over . ”
Dong Xuebing stopped for a while . “Shouldn’t we greet the leaders first?”
“Can’t you see the leaders are busy?”
Dong Xuebing looked at Xu Yn’s back view helplessly and followed Tan Limei to where Changjuan was sitting . Changjuan was sitting with some young men and women from the Political Section and Finance Department . They were cheering listlessly for their team . “Go forward and shoot!” But their cheers were too soft . Compared to the other team, their cheers could not be heard .
“Xiao Dong, Xiao Tan, you all are here?” Changjuan turned to them 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 better than 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 of not losing . ”
Tan Limei gasped . “We are playing well!”
It was coming to the end of the match, and all the players on the field were tired . They were running slowly after the ball without any tactics or strategies . The Western District Branch Bureau’s team was not of the same standard as Chaoyang Branch Bureau’s team . Most of the time, they were playing 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 a pass 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 . 21 held his head in anguished and then gave a thumbs up to his teammate who passed him 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 was not good at it, he could tell the difference between a good player and a novice . This no . 21 was on a different level from the rest .
Changjuan replied: “I heard that guy was formerly from the national youth team . He is more professional than the rest . He had almost broken our 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 these were all friendly matches to let the staff workers participate in some sports activities . That’s why she took on the role of the team manager and coach . But the rest of the branch bureaus were trying their best, and her team had been losing 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 draw is 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 watching the 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 when he noticed this detail . He asked Tan Limei if she knew who that woman was . “Who is that person? Chief Xu does not seem to like her . Is she the team manager for Chaoyang team?”
Tan Limei looked at that direction . “I had never seen her before . Sister Chang, do you know that person?”
“Who?” Changjuan looked towards the direction where Dong Xuebing was pointing . “Why is she here?”
Dong Xuebing asked: “Who is she?”
Changjuan looked around her and dragged Tan Limei and Dong Xuebing to the side . “That person’s name is similar to Chief Xu . Her name is Xu Yan too . She is the Deputy District Political Commissar of Eastern District Branch Bureau . Oh, I know why she is here . Tomorrow our last match is against the Eastern District Branch Bureau . She should be here to watch our team . ”
Dong Xuebing was puzzled . “Isn’t this a recreational tournament? 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, this might be a friendly match . But for both of them, it’s not . I heard that both of them were often arguing during the City Bureau’s meeting . Hmmm…… . I will tell you all another secret . Keep it to yourself . ” Changjuan lowered her voice . “Do you know Chief Xu is a divorcee? Her ex-husband remarried, and his new bride is that Xu Yan . Because of this reason…… Hehe… . . Do you all understand now?”
Tan Limei said: “Oh…… I was still wondering why Chief Xu gave 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 not nice if this is spread around . The match is ending soon . Come, let’s cheer for our 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 and started 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 was playing defender, accidentally knocked into one of his teammate outside the penalty area and both of them were slowed down . This gave no . 21 a chance to break through their defense . He ran into the penalty area with the ball and tricked the central defender into the wrong direction with a feint . He continued onwards, and only the goalkeeper was left standing before him!
The goalkeeper was Xiao Gao, from the Political Section . He does not know how to play soccer . He was chosen to be part of the team because he was taller . He rushed forward to try to block no . 21, but he accidentally tripped no . 21 to the ground . Before no . 21 fell to the ground, he kicked Xiao Gao 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!
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