Chapter 82: Homecoming

As the game progressed, the players from Tiancheng Institute of Technology grew braver and more formidable with every play, while the athletes from Wanlong Institute of Transportation grew increasingly frustrated, their shooting accuracy plummeting under the relentless, swift double-teaming from Tiancheng. During the match, Geng Haoshi replaced Xu Gaofeng for a few minutes and managed to score twice.

…

The final buzzer sounded.

76 to 59, Tiancheng Institute of Technology emerged victorious.

"Ten thousand! Ten thousand! Ten thousand!" Geng Haoshi raised his hands and cheered ecstatically.

Meanwhile, the players from Wanlong Institute of Transportation stood there in a daze, unable to comprehend that they had been defeated by the team that had ranked at the very bottom last year—and by a margin of seventeen points, no less! The coach of Wanlong’s varsity team looked even more miserable, his features contorted in agony as he glanced back at the stack of red bills on the table courtside. His heart ached terribly. Who told them to come without a single main player? The coach shook his head with a sigh, leading his crestfallen team away. Geng Haoshi couldn’t resist a parting jab, shouting after them, “Come back next time! And don’t forget your first string!”

Once the “guests” had departed, Geng Haoshi dashed impatiently to the stack of bills, running his hand lovingly over their surface.

Watching Geng Haoshi’s greed-stricken face, Manman Yu couldn’t help feeling both exasperated and amused. “You all can split the twelve thousand yuan prize among yourselves,” she said.

Geng Haoshi had already noticed that the stack consisted of twelve bundles, each the same height. The moment Yu Manman gave the order to divide the money, he reached out and grabbed a bundle.

The satisfying heft made Geng Haoshi lick his lips unconsciously. “Ten thousand yuan!”

That evening, Manman Yu treated the entire team to a lavish meal. The next morning, the team members packed their bags, preparing to head home for the New Year.

Although everyone had purchased tickets for the same day, their destinations varied—some left in the morning, others at noon, and a few on late-night trains.

Geng Haoshi’s train was at 9:20 in the morning.

As usual, Li Shishi prepared breakfast for the team. Throughout the meal, she sat beside Geng Haoshi, her gaze never leaving him for a moment.

“Have some more, senior,” she said, tears welling in her big, sparkling eyes like clear springs on the verge of overflowing.

“Shishi, it’s not like this is his last meal,” Zhu Di teased from across the table.

“Pfft! You’re the one having your last meal!” Li Shishi puffed her cheeks and glared at Zhu Di.

“Little cutie, I’m your senior, you know…” Zhu Di began, but before he could finish, Li Shishi entwined her arms around Geng Haoshi’s, sticking out her tongue at Zhu Di.

Geng Haoshi, who had never been in a relationship, was utterly defenseless against Li Shishi’s gentle, persistent affection—he could only let her do as she pleased.

After breakfast, Geng Haoshi slung his bags over his shoulders and climbed into the taxi Li Shishi had called for him.

“Senior, I’ve already paid the fare.” After months of getting to know him, Li Shishi understood how frugal Geng Haoshi was. He had originally planned to take the bus to the station, and if she hadn’t called the cab in advance, he would never have taken one on his own.

“When you get home, remember to call me,” she said. As she spoke, two crystal tears slid slowly down her flushed cheeks.

Geng Haoshi couldn’t bear to see a girl cry and quickly promised, “Alright, alright, I’ll call you as soon as I get home.”

After saying his goodbyes to his teammates, Geng Haoshi set off for the train station.

Not long after he left, a “thump thump thump thump” sounded above the Chen Zhi Sports Center.

“A helicopter?!”

The team looked up, mouths agape, as the helicopter drew closer.

Moments later, under their astonished gaze, it landed smoothly in the open plaza before the sports center.

“I should be heading home too,” Li Shishi said, climbing aboard without looking back. As her helicopter took off, the rest of the team stood there in shock for a long time before exchanging looks and shouting in unison, “That’s just too rich!”

…

After seven hours by train, three hours by bus, and two hours by ox cart, Geng Haoshi finally arrived at his family’s doorstep at nine o’clock that night.

The so-called “doorstep” was really just wide enough for two people to pass through at once.

Looking at the simple, single-story house, Geng Haoshi felt a long-missed sense of warmth and belonging.

“Mom, I’m home!” he called.

At his shout, the somewhat worn wooden door creaked open. It was his mother, Miao Xiaohua.

Not having seen her son for half a year, Miao Xiaohua was so excited she threw her arms around him. “Son, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’ll make you something delicious!”

Soon, Miao Xiaohua had laid out a hearty meal. As Geng Haoshi ate with gusto, she watched him fondly. “Son, how many days are you home for this time? You’re not in a hurry to go back, are you?”

“I’m leaving at the end of the month,” he replied between mouthfuls.

“The end of the month? That’s only nine days! Why so soon?” In the past, winter break wasn’t long, but at least it lasted a couple of weeks.

“Mom, I told you on the phone, didn’t I? I’m on the school basketball team now, so I have to go back early for training.” Geng Haoshi grinned foolishly. “Getting on the team means I have a bright future.”

Mentioning “future,” Geng Haoshi turned to his large bag, opened it, then a smaller bag inside, then another layer. Inside, something wrapped in newspaper and wound round and round with clear tape, resembling a brick, emerged.

He fetched scissors from a drawer and quickly cut through the tape and paper. Inside was the ten-thousand-yuan prize money from the recent friendly match.

“Here, Mom, this is for you.”

Miao Xiaohua took the bundle of cash from him, looking uneasy. “Son, where did this money come from?”

Seeing the worry on her face, Geng Haoshi hurried to reassure her. “Mom, what are you thinking? This is the prize money I won from the competition!”

“You mean you can earn money by playing basketball?” Miao Xiaohua had never left the county in her life. Though they owned a black-and-white TV, she seldom turned it on to save electricity, so she knew little about the world outside.

“Not everyone can win prize money—you have to be good at the game.” Geng Haoshi laughed. “Your son is pretty great, you know!”

“That’s good,” Miao Xiaohua said, gently stroking his head. “As long as you’re healthy, that’s all that matters to me.”

“Oh, right—Mom, there’s something else…”