Returning to '97, creating a new life

Test, test, and more test.

There was no environment for achieving corresponding rankings in competitions, but individuals with exceptional talent and ability were selected. Xu Kai was fortunate that the selection of sports special admissions for similar team sports was in the 1990s, when the schools' subjective will was dominant and their own standards were the selection criteria. In a super prestigious high school in the city like No. 1 High School, the top-tier students had no rivals, and the standards of the local education department were equivalent to the school's own standards.

Therefore, Park In-ji's recommendation was equivalent to reaching the highest levels of government, and Xu Kai directly took leave to go to a high school to undergo comprehensive testing and internal assessment.

Xu Kai's current height is sufficient for a high school-level sports recruitment program if he were a guard or forward. Of course, if he could grow even taller, expectations would be even higher.

Dong Bin was also included in the selection of reserve players. His height and strength are advantages, but he also needs to match the results and performance of Tieyi Middle School in some competitions to finally confirm whether he can enter a prestigious school like No. 1 High School. If it is an ordinary high school, his height alone can get him a spot as a sports special recruit.

Xu Kai's shooting skills, which surpassed those of a high school player, and his physical abilities, which were terrifying even for an adult, made his other assessments relatively weaker. Park In-ji even stated in an internal discussion within the assessment team that this child had the potential to become a professional basketball player. Even with his current abilities, he could be recognized by some professional teams. Even if he couldn't become a starter, he would be an important rotation player on the bench. His three-point shot could be used to break through defenses.

To ensure the fairness, impartiality, and transparency of this special recruitment, the process lasted for two days. On the afternoon of the second day, a special test was even conducted specifically for him.

Recommended by Liu Duosheng, and with Park In-ji's willingness to let him make an appearance, Xu Kai demonstrated Stephen Curry's shooting practice to the high school's assessment team. Afterwards, he also participated in a 40-minute game training assessment. During this time, he played the full 40 minutes, only taking time off due to regular fouls and during halftime to catch his breath. For the rest of the time, he was always on the court playing the game.

On Friday, Sun Xiuyun took leave. In disbelief, she first went to Tie No. 2 Middle School, feeling somewhat lost and unable to believe it. She called her older brother and sister at home to ask for their advice. At noon, they met at home to welcome the home visit from the assessment team of a high school.

Everyone was stunned until they arrived at the high school in the afternoon, signed some admission documents, and officially confirmed on paper that as long as Xu Kai obtained his junior high school graduation certificate normally, he could be specially admitted to the high school to continue his high school studies.

Xu Kai is required to stay healthy and participate in the training of a high school basketball team over the next six months to adapt to the atmosphere of high school basketball in advance.

What wasn't written down was that a high school admissions officer spoke privately with Sun Xiuyun and Xu Kai, hoping that Xu Kai could improve his middle school entrance exam scores as much as possible. He didn't need to be exceptionally high; a score of three or four hundred would reduce any potential gossip or minor troubles for both of them. Of course, if Xu Kai really didn't have the time or ability to improve his scores, it wouldn't prevent him from becoming a student at the high school next September.

It's a top high school in the province, a unique institution in this city. No one in my family has ever been admitted to such a school.

You can score just by playing basketball?

The lack of knowledge left the family members somewhat bewildered after leaving the school, feeling confused and unable to believe it was real. How could such a thing exist? But the facts were there, leaving them no choice but to believe. The eldest and second uncles found a public phone booth and made calls to people they knew who were knowledgeable, only then realizing how difficult this incredible thing was.

"My sister-in-law's cousin works at the Education Bureau. They said he was able to get into a top high school through a special admission program based on his athletic talent. He must be one of the best high school students in the entire city, which is even harder than getting in through the regular entrance exam..." Uncle Sun Mingren's expression was somewhat complicated. As the eldest brother in the family, whose family was relatively well-off, he had a certain sense of superiority. He was quite emotional about this matter. He was happy for his sister and nephew, but he also felt a little envious and jealous. His own child was the first college student in the family, which was something to brag about and satisfy his vanity. Now, according to that Teacher Park, his nephew's path was about to surpass that of an ordinary college student.

"We have to celebrate for the child, this is a big deal." Second Uncle Sun Mingyi patted Xu Kai's shoulder with a smile. He was less than 170 cm tall, so he had to raise his arm high to pat his nephew's shoulder.

"Tell Mom and Dad, let them be happy too." Uncle Sun Mingli's envy was even more undisguised. His son got into a high school with a premium, but it's still just an ordinary high school.

With the words "I still have training," and Saturday being the daytime celebration for the Sun family, Xu Kai only needed to return around dinner time. He didn't need to go to his maternal grandparents' house during the day to stir up resentment among his siblings. Although they were close relatives, the title of "the only one who stands out among other people's children" would definitely make the envy, jealousy, and hatred between the siblings manifest in their immature minds.

Mother can go and have some fun, and that's enough. There's no need for me to go; it might just make everyone unhappy.

………………

Xu Kai has become quite famous in the schools under the jurisdiction of the railway bureau these past few days. He even received special permission to set up a stall on one side of the school gate, and the school also instructed the gatekeeper to keep an eye on him. This kid's family is quite poor, and it's not easy for him to set up a stall. They don't want him to be bullied by those thugs outside.

Song Ge, Ma Xin, and the others had all heard about it. They gathered over at noon under the guise of celebration, with a hint of teasing. Xu Kai remained as respectful as ever, showing the appropriate deference without any hint of servility. With his current height and physique, plus the foundation from that battle, they still gave him face, calling him "Brother Song" and offering him cigarettes. They also addressed Ma Xin as "Brother Ma." Surprisingly, this made the group of thugs feel very prestigious. Instead of bothering Xu Kai to show off their awesomeness, they were more willing to put their arms around him and show him that he was their brother.

When people ask them if their school has a particularly good basketball player, they can proudly reply, "You mean Xu Kai? He's my brother."

Dong Bin didn't expect that Xu Kai would actually come to the gate of Tieyi Middle School with his bag to set up a stall.

Although Tieyi Middle School is not as prestigious as the key Fifth Middle School, it still holds a morning of make-up classes on Saturdays. At noon when school is over, Xu Kai sits on a "temporary chair" made of red bricks, showing none of the modesty or embarrassment that should be present among his peers. He shouts to the students coming out of the school gate.

This one shout is something that 90% of people of the same age couldn't do, and some of them would even feel ashamed and lose face.

That's just how Dong Bin is; he can't go there, and he can't stay away either.

"Here." Xu Kai saw him and waved, so Dong Bin had no choice but to go over. Even standing in front of the stall, he felt a little embarrassed. It was a common feeling among teenagers of this age. Looking back on it when he was an adult, this nameless vanity seemed quite ridiculous.

Hey guys.

Xu Kai could handle some things, but he just found them troublesome. Wouldn't it be better to prevent trouble from arising in the first place? So he took the initiative to greet his opponents on the basketball court. A group of tall guys from the Tieyi Middle School basketball team surrounded his stall, providing a safeguard against the boring trouble for his peers who were trying to make money by setting up a stall.

Never underestimate the toughness of these young people in Northeastern cities in the 1990s. An ordinary old lady pushing a cart and setting up a stall wouldn't have any bad intentions, but if it were someone of the same age, she would really be a target, being targeted by these idle young people and hooligans from inside and outside the school.

Even if they don't intend to get money from you, someone like Xu Kai, if a girl takes a liking to him and glances at him a few times, can easily make him a target of hatred. What's more, there's also a rudimentary version of the delinquent girl; if Xu Kai doesn't date them or keeps a certain distance, they'll feel they've lost face and might try to find someone to target him.

Beating him up doesn't necessarily mean hurting him. Slapping him a few times, kicking him a few times, making him lose face among the students will give them a unique sense of accomplishment. A very few might even use this as an excuse to run back to Xu Kai and say, "This time, do you still dare not date me? Do you still dare not go out with me?"

Xu Kai was speechless at the thought of such a thing happening to him. He didn't want it to happen to him, otherwise he wouldn't have bought cigarettes for Brother Song, wouldn't have directly retaliated against Ma Xin's provocation, and wouldn't have maintained a distant relationship with everyone later on.

Ultimately, he didn't want to get involved in such ridiculous trouble. To establish a reputation as someone not to be trifled with, he would handle such situations in a more adult way. For example, right now, with a bunch of tall people standing here, his stall near the entrance of Tieyi Middle School would at least deter the local thugs who frequented the area from easily provoking him.

"Hey guys, whoever smokes, come and smoke yourself."

Smoking as soon as you leave the school gate is a way for some people in this era to show off their uniqueness. It seems that only in this way can they appear to be awesome.

"Beautiful lady, this hair clip suits you perfectly..."

"Hey beautiful, hair ties are 1.5 yuan a bundle, pick whichever you like."

"Bro, this lip balm can be used by men too. Otherwise, your lips will peel every day and bleed. I'm like that. Look at me, I applied it today too."

"Yo yo yo, here comes a beautiful lady, Dong Bin's classmate? No doubt about it, pick whatever you like, and I'll give you a cost price."

"All at cost price? No problem. I'm extremely grateful for all these beautiful ladies who are here today. Hair ties are one yuan a bundle, nail polish is five yuan, and lip balm is also five yuan..."

Dong Bin was stunned, as were everyone else. Even the girls who were chatting and joking with Xu Kai around the stall were completely dumbfounded.

Shouldn't it be in the style of Rukawa Kaede? A cool and aloof campus basketball star, a handsome guy who keeps everyone at arm's length.

You could say you're in Fujima's style, right? A basketball star with a warm smile but who keeps his distance from you.

A handsome basketball star who runs a small business and reeks of money?