The Golden Age of Basketball

Chapter 25 Little Brother
Xu Xun would obviously have a hard time defeating Gan Guoyang; a person's skills cannot be improved qualitatively in a short period of time—unless you are Gan Guoyang.

Gan Guoyang possesses extraordinary nerves and physical constitution, qualities that others lack, and Xu Xun is no exception.

The two are more than 20 centimeters apart in height, and Xu Xun is not at an advantage in speed and agility.

Even if you are more skilled than someone who is taller, stronger, and faster than you, you cannot win a one-on-one fight.

Moreover, in terms of skill, Gan Guoyang is already a semi-professional player.

"Your dribbling start is problematic. You need to clean up your footwork and not just blindly pursue speed."

"Make good use of your deputy, that's right, block me, block me! You did a good job, but you're still a little short."

"A beautiful crossover dribble, but..."

Xu Xun almost got past Gan Guoyang with a crossover dribble.

But Gan Guoyang caught up with him in one stride, and under his shadow, the basket was completely invisible during the layup attempt.

After a series of unsuccessful attacks, Xu Xun also had to endure Gan Guoyang's "lessons."

However, Gan Guoyang did not hurl insults at this impolite Korean guy. Instead, he gently pointed out his problems and corrected his technique while they were fighting one-on-one.

"Next time you should ask Mr. Bellman about his feints and techniques for threatening with the ball. I'm not too good at that either, but I have height and strength..."

Gan Guoyang dribbled the ball and attacked, backing down Xu Xun and then spun to the basket for an easy two-point layup.

9-0, just one more goal and Gan Guoyang could end this one-sided massacre.

Gan Guoyang tossed the ball to Xu Xun and said, "Try again, buddy, don't give up."

Xu Xun took the ball, stepped back two paces, and dribbled it heavily, like an angry bull, accelerating towards Gan Guoyang.

The breakthrough was a straight shot, without any fancy moves. Gan Guoyang dodged to the side to avoid being blocked, then stayed close behind. The two jumped at the same time, and Xu Xun tried his best to reach out for a layup, attempting to avoid Gan Guoyang's block.

At the last moment, Gan Guoyang's hand slipped past the basketball; he failed to block Xu Xun's layup.

Goal! Xu Xun finally scored despite Gan Guoyang's defense, making it 9-1.

Due to the immense inertia, he flew off the baseline, lost his footing, and slipped to the ground.

However, a hint of relief finally appeared on his face, which had been somewhat angry.

Gan Guoyang held out his hand to him and said, "Give me five!" (high five in celebration)

Xu Xun stretched out his hand, but pulled it back halfway through, saying, "The competition isn't over yet."

"It will be over soon."

As he spoke, Gan Guoyang dribbled to the outside and suddenly unleashed a long-range shot, which went in.

He easily defeated Xu Xun 10-1.

Xu Xun finally admitted in admiration, "You're really amazing."

Gan Guoyang said, "You're pretty good too, your physical fitness is really good. By the way, can I ask you now, what do you do on the second floor after your extra training every day?"

Xu Xun said somewhat embarrassedly, "I...I'm going to practice...practice Chinese Kung Fu..."

Gan Guoyang remembered that there was a martial arts dojo on the second floor of the sports center. It turned out that this guy was a kung fu enthusiast.

"And the wound on your back?"

"It was from falling, and...and from practicing nunchaku."

"Haha, nunchucks? So you can use nunchucks? You like Bruce Lee?" Xu Xun's eyes lit up instantly at the mention of Bruce Lee. He nodded and said, "He's my idol. I've persevered because of him. Some of the scars on my back are from my school in Korea..."

Seeing Xu Xun's increasingly serious expression, Gan Guoyang didn't ask any more questions.

After the two finished their extra training and changed their clothes, Gan Guoyang asked Xu Xun where he lived.

Xu Xun said, "My family owns a Korean restaurant, on... on Ellis Street."

"So your family also runs a restaurant and lives in Tiandelong District? That's great! Let's have dinner at your place."

As he spoke, Gan Guoyang went to a public phone booth and made a call home, asking Gan Guohui and Chen Xing to come to a Korean restaurant on Ellis Street for dinner, saying that someone was treating them.

Xu Xun had no choice but to take Gan Guoyang back to his family's Korean restaurant.

Gan Guoyang met Xu Xun's father—a serious-looking Korean man.

He was clearly surprised that his son had brought his classmates home for dinner, but after learning who Gan Guoyang was, he decided to give them a free meal.

When Xu Xun's father learned that his son had joined the school basketball team, his expression changed. He raised his hand to slap him, but Gan Guoyang stopped him, saying that Xu Xun was a very good basketball player and that the basketball team could not do without him (in reality, they could not do without anyone).

During the meal, Xu Xun's gaze towards Gan Guoyang was no longer angry. He took the initiative to help Gan Guoyang grill meat and pour water, which surprised Gan Guohui and Chen Xing. When did this stone become so polite?

On the way back, Chen Xing and Gan Guohui were puzzled. How come this troublemaker was subdued by Gan Guoyang in just half a day?

Gan Guoyang said, "I fought him in a bullfight this afternoon and beat him into submission."

Gan Guohui said, "I knew it! Koreans are just like Japanese. Whoever cripples them, they'll submit to that person. You have to beat them hard."

Gan Guoyang didn't say much. Of course, he knew that Xu Xun hadn't been subdued by him.

Gan Guoyang was all too familiar with the inexplicable anger in his eyes; it was present in many children at the welfare home, including himself.

That's the emotion often felt by children who are helpless and deprived of love. That anger is their last foothold in this world. Only when they fight against the world on their own can they find some meaning in their existence.

At this moment, if just one person stands up and says, "You're great, I admire you," their anger will easily dissipate, and they will then give their all for that little bit of encouragement and recognition.

Aldous Huxley, author of "Brave New World," once said: "Controlling people by punishing those who misbehave is not very effective, but it is more effective to give small favors to those who behave well... Governing society by manipulating the environment, the thoughts and feelings of individuals in a nonviolent way is very effective."

Gan Guoyang had not read the book, nor did he understand such profound principles, but he had figured out these techniques on his own at the welfare home. Therefore, he rarely used violence, yet he was able to subdue some troublemakers.

Of course, the premise is that you have the confidence to destroy your opponent with violence.

On Saturday, the North China Water Clock team played their first game since the team's inception, against another Chinese school team in Chinatown – the Lih Wah High School Tigers.

Lihua has a longer history than Beiqiao, having been founded in 1888, almost a century ago.

They've always had a basketball team, which is only average in San Francisco, but it was already one of the best Chinese teams—before Gan Guoyang arrived.

As for why they didn't invite Gan Guoyang to join the team, it's because Lihua Middle School mainly has students from Hong Kong and Taiwan, which has political differences with schools like Beiqiao Middle School, which mainly has students from mainland China.

The Chinese Endeavor Association helped Beiqiao Middle School establish a basketball team so that it could compete with Lihua Middle School.

Both sides attached great importance to this game, setting the venue at the Kaizare Gymnasium in the city center. Before the War Memorial Stadium was built in 1958, this was the home court for the University of San Francisco's NCAA games, as well as the home court for many professional and amateur basketball teams.

The match was scheduled for 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The players gathered at the school after lunch and took a minibus to the match venue.

Before getting on the bus, Bellman noticed that Xu Xun actually offered to help Gan Guoyang carry his luggage. Had this troublemaker been tamed by Gan Guoyang?

When Bellman asked Xu Xun why he did this, Xu Xun simply replied, "He is a senior."

Looking at Gan Guoyang, Bellman realized that this kid was no ordinary person. Frank Alok was right; he had the ability to control people's minds.

(End of this chapter)