Chapter 25: The Covenant
It was a pleasant conversation with Rudy Garcia. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ο½ο½ο½Uο½Eγ The two had lunch together, and spent more than two hours in the French restaurant near the Lille training base.
When industry elites from different regions get acquainted, they inevitably express a sympathy for each other. Without competition, friendship can come pure.
They talked about the history of French football all the way to Albert Camus, the master of French absurdist literature, and even talked about several French impressionist art giants, Monet, Ray Noah and Paul CΓ©zanne. Sure enough, as long as the taciturn French talk about art, they will immediately become literate.
Presumably, in terms of football skills and tactics, "magician" Garcia will also have high artistic attainments.
After drinking coffee, Zhang Lihua hugged Rudy Garcia. The two agreed to have a friendship dinner together after the season about Hazard's official transfer. The location will be chosen in the small courtyard of Garcia's house. Before the end of this exchange, in order to fulfill the friendship of the landlords, Garcia also took the initiative to promise to give Zhang Shaoshuai a CD of the tactical drill of the Lille team.
Newcastle was pleased with the gift and saw it as Hazard's instruction manual.
When the two returned to the Lille training ground and nestled in the tactics room to analyse Hazard's running habits, the team's captain, Mavuba, ran in nervously and interrupted: "Rudy, something terrible you need to understand. Edang is missing! β
"What?" Garcia's eyes widened, and his expression froze.
"When they saw him leave the training ground, they thought he was going home. But his family said he didn't go back. The mobile phone blocked all signals, and he could not be reached in any way. The guys have gone their separate ways to find it, and there is no trace! β
Ma Wuba said the matter very mysteriously, but Zhang Lihua seemed calm enough, and only asked: "He may go to find his girlfriend, then maybe." Did you get noticed? β
"We didn't even think about it. Sir, I'm not John Terry, and I'm not familiar with his girlfriend. The kid rarely brought his girlfriend to the court. The team had only seen each other once or twice from afar. β
"Don't delay the training yet, the afternoon schedule will continue as usual. After resting, tell everyone to return to the team in time. Leave him alone. Garcia said so, turned his back, but looked at Zhang Lihua blankly.
"He wasn't so headstrong before. I don't know what's going on lately. I couldn't communicate with him deeply. I'm afraid this kid has gone astray. β
"Rudy, don't be in too much of a hurry. Then let me go to him first. I've taken your gift. I also promise you one more thing, to make sure that you will be able to change back to your original self during Hazard's loan spell. Please trust me. Zhang Lihua's expression was very calm, his tone was calm, and his eyes were clear.
"Okay. Zhang, I believe in you! Let me tell you, when Hazard is angry or sad, he can't do without football. Follow this clue and you should find him. β
With that, Rudy Garcia dialed Chairman Seydoux's phone. For the time being, the team's top management will send a special car to send Newcastle Marshal back to Pamudo Manor.
Zhang Shaoshuai immediately dialed the phone that Kiki had written on the palm of his hand, and this was the first time they had talked on the phone (in Chinese). β
"Kiki, can you hear me clearly? Eden Hazard, the little guy is missing. Can you reach his girlfriend? β
"Hey, Uncle Zhang, you speak slowly, my Chinese is average." Grandpa called me, and he asked me to treat you well. I've made lunch at home and waiting for you, so come back soon. I make my own Peking food! Kiki said obediently.
"Kiki, did you hear me, I mean Hazard, Hazard is missing, you have to find his girlfriend quickly. I'm going to find him and sign the short-term lease agreement today. Zhang Lihua was a little puzzled.
"What? That's what you say? All right...... I'll do as you say. I...... I hung up first. Kiki hung up the phone in a hurry.
β¦β¦
A French-made Citroen SUV pulls up to the gate of the Pamudo estate.
Kiki is now greeting her mature and handsome uncle Zhang with a gentle face.
Obviously, Kiki has been well-dressed. The stunning long hair was pinned to the chest, a plain cheongsam in a blue and white porcelain model, and a retro version of the white suede shawl wrapped. Her beauty is elevated to the extreme, and it instantly brings people an incomparable sense of amazement.
The veteran drivers of the Lille club are rightfully in the spotlight. But after Zhang Lihua got out of the car, he just asked anxiously: "What's the matter, have you been contacted?" Where the hell did Eden Hazard's stinky boy go? β
"What! How do I know where he is, huh! Uncle Zhang, yes. His girlfriend isn't me, I don't know! It's you, where did you go at noon, people have worked hard to prepare a big table of Chinese food, just waiting for you to come, but what about you? Do you just want to tell me this as soon as we meet? Really. Hum! β
Qiqi pouted, with her hands behind the cheongsam, and at a certain moment, Zhang Lihua would burn the softest feelings in the depths of her heart.
In fact, Uncle Zhang's tone was a bit far-fetched. He was definitely hiding something. It's a virtue to be with the kind of "uncles" who are called extraordinarily intimate by little girls. Normal men are like this, and they always have to maintain a weird seriousness in front of beautiful women.
Of course, finding Hazard in time is indeed the most important thing at the moment.
Rudy Garcia handed over the training tasks to the assistant coaching staff, and he and the club's staff split up in six ways to find almost the entire field in Lille, at the prompting of Hazard's girlfriend Natasha. But the figure of the "little scum" is still like air, evaporating in the cold and windy urban area.
Zhang Lihua just took Qiqi's hand and ran into the garage. Grab a high-powered Lamborghini Estoque, start it, and rush towards the spot suggested by Natasha.
The first location is in the riverbank community on the outskirts of Lille. Outflank the search from the suburbs to the city center, from the outside in. This strategy is correct.
Eden Azar is just a few minutes' walk from the city by subway β the riverbank community, a traditional slum.
It's not much different from the neighborhood where the French superstar Ribery grew up as a child. There are dense 6-story houses, and the doors of each house are close to each other, similar to the tube buildings in the Northeast Block. Most of the streets are filled with running children, and the few vehicles you can see are mostly motorcycles and bicycles.
At the end of the afternoon, the children changed into their old sneakers and gathered in the concrete clearing between the two houses to play 7-on-7.
Born into a middle-class family, Hazard's parents were both athletes. It stands to reason that he has no connection to the slums, and it is hard to imagine that when he was young, this little boy who had no food and clothing would run to the slums to play.
But Hazard is essentially such a simple and simple person. Soon, Zhang Lihua and Qiqi met him.
The "little scumbag" of Lille's core who plays barefoot with the little devils seems to be too relaxed, and actually sings Belgian folk songs and teaches the boys to play fancy juggling.
The little devils surrounded him, some became his admirers after watching the TV broadcast, and some even mistook him for Messi. The story looks beautiful.
Many European and South American stars will not forget the neighborhood where they were born and raised after they become famous. I am afraid that only China lacks outstanding stars, and even there are very few adults who know how to share happiness.
The smile on Edan's face could be seen in the distance. Kiki giggled heartily and hurriedly waved to him.
Hazard saw Qiqi and Zhang Lihua, and he didn't want to pick up any more worries at this moment.
"Hey! I said, Lamborghini can't drive in here, it's going to be scratched! That would only bring disaster to the imps here, and their parents can't afford to pay for it! Hazard kindly admonished.
"Hey! Chinese, do you know how to play? Come with me, these kids are just missing a leader. How about 8 vs 8? Eden Hazard cheered and waved, sweeping away the displeasure on the training ground.
Looking back on Zhang Lihua's mind at this moment, it will undoubtedly be the classmates running on the playground of Shenyang No. 17 Middle School, the lively "Vialli", "Mancini", "Conte" and "Barty".
"What are you thinking, Uncle Zhang? Go ahead, I'll cheer you on! β
"Forget it, I haven't played in years."
"What. If I were a boy, I would play with the kids. How happy do you see them? In France, girls can also play freely, but unfortunately I wore a cheongsam today. Anyway, you should go, Uncle Zhang. Qiqi dragged her delicate voice, which made Zhang Lihua's heart numb stupidly.
Xiao Nizi's voice is so sweet that it is. Well, Uncle Zhang kicked off his Chelsea boots, took off his trench coat, rolled up his shirt, and also trotted barefoot in the direction of the imps. His feet were hard, and he didn't feel any pain when he kicked away the stones in the street.
In doing so, Hazard reached out and high-fived him, and they both laughed out loud.
Let's group up and play the game. Four stone stacks with parasols were moved from a nearby shop and placed to form a goal. Kiki gets out of the car to cheer Uncle Zhang, and Hazard quips, "Friend, Kiki is friendly to you." You can't live up to her love. β
When Zhang Lihua heard this, he felt awkward in his heart, and he couldn't tell whether it was comfortable or embarrassing.
It's a fun game. Hazard led his little fat boys against the tall boys led by Zhang Lihua - fighting in a small space - and the sound of stepping on stones was like the sound of table football.
Eden Hazard took the lead in the attack, but he didn't expect the pass to be tackled by a black boy with buckteeth called "Ladia".
What made Hazard even more unexpected was that the "Chinese" in his eyes was amazingly good! The dribbling is unusually stable, and the name of Shenyang Baggio is really not covered.
The coquettish ox tail is outstanding, the skillful rainbow pick, the butt pouting Marseille roundabout, Zhang Shaoshuai is very slippery in everything. This really does not match Hazard's impression of Chinese and Chinese football.
Is this still the Chinese who was kicked by Brazil in the World Cup with 4 goals, defenseless scores, and chaotic attack?
What impressed Hazard even more was the subtlety of Zhang Lihua's passing to the boys.
The long-legged, tall boys seemed very comfortable holding the ball, and almost every time they passed, Zhang Lihua was able to deliver the ball to the boys secretly, lightly and smoothly. Hazard may not be able to do better than him.
However, the five Zhang Lihua add up to one Hazard. Because Hazard has passed Zhang Lihua 5 times, Zhang Lihua has passed him less than twice. It seems that it was deliberately releasing water, and Zhang Lihua's team lost 7-8 and only lost by one goal. The 13-year-old Bucktooth Radia scored five goals on her own.
Zhang Lihua was a little tired of playing, so he said, "Do you want me to invite you and soda?" β
Hazard was pleased to say: "Okay, but the winning side should be more obliged to treat. β
"Oh? In my country, you don't have to treat yourself if you lose. That's a punishment. β
"How can you force a losing player to be treated? That would make the disappointed despair. Then the children of your country are too ignorant. Hazard's eyes widened innocently and said without mercy.
"Hmm. You're right. I have a new understanding of you. Edang, you can make me feel the kindest side of your heart. β
Zhang Lihua reached out and high-fived Hazard. Hazard hesitated for two seconds before responding to his salute.
"I also have a new perspective on China. I heard that your country has a population of more than a billion people. But why are there fewer people playing in Europe's top league than Estonians? β
"My country, as you say, always makes people who are disappointed despair. I want to change. It takes a lot of effort. Saying this, Zhang Lihua was in a low mood.
Hazard hastened to explain: "I didn't mean to. I beg your forgiveness for not knowing about your country and not wanting to offend. I'm not as annoying as you think. I've been in a bad mood lately. The same is true for Rudy. That's rude and unfair. β
"Rudy says you're one of the most amazing players he's ever had. He wants you to be the greatest name in the eyes of all coaches, comparable to Leo Messi. β
"Haha! I also want. Messi is more talented than me, I feel like this, I always feel a lot worse than him. "Eden Hazard is never modest, it seems, he is saying what he really feels in his heart.
"As a professional footballer, you can have a clear conscience if you try. Including me. God does not ignore everyone who works hard. When I was a teenager, I gave up football. Until now, the vocational education Premier League, oh! Do you believe in miracles, Edang? β
"Haha! Okay, then I'll trust you for once. At the end of the season, I'll go to Newcastle with you. β
"You will be loaned for a month for a short period of time during the winter window, will you accept it?"
"A month? OK, no problem. You can rest assured that I don't speak English as well as French. By the way, man, what should I call you? β
βThe-King.β
βKingοΌ OK! YesοΌThe-KingοΌ β
Hazard shook hands with Zhang Lihua and then added in his ear: "I hope you can let me win like Messi and win everything......"