Chapter 1 Though Complicated

"Although it's a bit complicated, it doesn't mean it can't be cured. I have a complete set of post-operative recovery plans that can heal your left foot. However... I must explain in advance, as a doctor, I must let you know what price you will have to pay for this method. I can guarantee that your left ankle will be as strong and flexible as before for the next seven or eight years, as long as it doesn't suffer too much injury. But after that, if you insist on playing football, I can't guarantee what will happen. Maybe it's just a normal case of being unable to bear the strain on your ankle and having to retire from football, or maybe you'll have to live with crutches and a wheelchair for the rest of your life." Feng Qing looked at Zhang Jun with a serious expression.

Sophie gasped. Live with crutches and a wheelchair? Wouldn't that be the same as being crippled?

Zhang Jun was also silent.

Feng Qing glanced at the silent Zhang Jun. It was indeed a difficult choice, the future or the present. If he chose the glory of the present, he would have to compensate with his future. If he chose the comfort of the future, it would mean giving up the present.

For a moment, the room was silent.

As Zhang Jun thought, he thought of someone. Wasn't his situation similar to today's? Giving everything of tomorrow to today without reservation, fighting with all his might, not considering what the future would hold, just for the present. Even if he couldn't play football in the future, as long as he worked hard now, there would be nothing to regret in the future, right?

Having experienced so much, what else couldn't he see through, couldn't he let go of?

Did this question even need an answer? It clearly only had one.

Zhang Jun smiled, then looked up at Feng Qing and said, "Okay, I accept your treatment plan, no matter what happens in the future."

Sophie was a little surprised, but when she saw Zhang Jun's expression, her heart also calmed down. The current Zhang Jun would never make any impulsive decisions; they would all be the result of repeated consideration. He must not have slept well last night to be acting like this today.

But Feng Qing unexpectedly became a little agitated: "Are you kidding? You accepted so easily? Have you thought about it seriously? What impact will this have on your future?"

But Zhang Jun still just smiled faintly: "I have thought about it, and I have thought about it very seriously. Since I have chosen to continue playing, then no matter what awaits me, whatever the future holds, I will persevere. I'm not one to go back on my word. Whether I'm disabled in the future or unable to walk, it doesn't matter. As long as I can play football now, play football like I used to."

Zhang Jun turned to look at Sophie, who was sitting beside him: "You said you would support whatever decision I made, Sophie. What about this time?"

Sophie nodded silently.

"I might only be able to sit in a wheelchair like this in the future, and you'll have to push me around. Is that okay?"

"No problem," Sophie said with a smile.

What two big fools! Feng Qing cursed in his heart. Such a major event concerning future happiness, a fork in the road that was difficult to choose in a lifetime, they two actually decided it as casually as if they were just chatting! Did these two know the weight of exchanging decades of happiness for this short ten years of football career? Was it worth betting so much just for football?

"Doctor, that's my answer," Zhang Jun said, looking at Feng Qing.

"Um... I'll ask you one last time, are you really not giving up?" Feng Qing really valued that one million pounds. If Zhang Jun refused with a pained expression, he would do his best to persuade him to accept the treatment. But now that Zhang Jun had calmly, even somewhat nonchalantly, agreed, Feng Qing was afraid. The one million pounds now felt like a hot potato that he didn't dare to touch. "Let me ask you, why do you have to return to the field? Like before... is it to make money, or because you want to contribute to the rise of Chinese football?"

But Zhang Jun shook his head gently: "My family isn't poor, and my salary is enough for my family to live comfortably. I'm not a person who likes money very much. Likewise, I have never considered what will happen to Chinese football—maybe you won't believe it when I say this, that the person called 'the hope of Chinese football' would say such a thing. But this is indeed my true feeling. I want to go back on the field just because I love football. Even if the time is short, I want to enjoy the happiness that football brings me to the fullest. As for the future you mentioned, hehe! I haven't thought that much about it, let nature take its course. If I work hard now, the future can't be that bad, right?" Zhang Jun scratched his head and smiled embarrassedly.

Feng Qing's face flushed slightly. On the plane, he had only said he liked football casually to deceive Sophie, but unexpectedly, it had touched her. He was indeed a football fan, but he never watched Chinese football, and his feelings for football were almost negligible compared to Zhang Jun's. It seemed that he couldn't casually say he liked football in the future, otherwise, he would feel embarrassed. It was strange that Feng Qing, who considered himself shameless to a certain degree, would actually feel shy. This Zhang Jun was indeed not simple.

It seemed that he had made up his mind, and he couldn't stop him at this point, otherwise, he would definitely be suspected. "Okay! I've fulfilled my duty. Since you still insist so much, then I will treat you. In addition, since I took the initiative to come to you, I won't charge you a penny for the treatment."

Zhang Jun was a little surprised at the free treatment. He had always thought that this doctor insisted on treating him for nothing more than fame and profit, but he didn't expect the other party to not want a penny at all. So, was it for fame?

"Um, I have another request. Regarding the treatment, if anyone asks, please only say that a Chinese medicine practitioner treated you. Also, please don't agree to any interviews or filming requests from them. I'm a laid-back person and don't like to show my face in public," Feng Qing continued.

"It's not for fame, and it's not for profit. Then why did you have to take the initiative to find me and spend so much time persuading me to accept your treatment plan?" Zhang Jun really didn't understand.

"It's very simple, because I'm your fan!" This was Feng Qing's true feeling, not acting. He had only become Zhang Jun's fan from just now.

Seeing that Zhang Jun no longer had any questions, Feng Qing continued, "Okay! Let me introduce myself. Maybe Sophie has already told you, but to be more formal, I'll introduce myself again. My name is Feng Qing, Feng (wind) of the big wind, Qing (youth) of youth. A Chinese medicine practitioner, but without any reputation in China. I like to travel and go everywhere. I won't say any more unnecessary words, let's get down to business. You know your injury very well, and you heard what I said yesterday. My method is actually very ordinary. It's not some mysterious, all-powerful medical skill, but something that any Chinese medicine practitioner who is proficient in Chinese medicine would know, but some people just don't think of it in this situation. Moreover, in the Netherlands, or even in Europe, there aren't many people who are proficient in Chinese medicine. They have advanced equipment, but their ideas are different from ours. I just combine their advantages with Chinese medicine."

"Combine the West and the East?" Zhang Jun asked.

"Yes. It would be a pity not to use their good equipment," Feng Qing said. "Sayan has made a plan for you, so you still follow his plan. My method is in between, and the two don't conflict. I will use acupuncture to stimulate the Daxī (Great Ravine) point, Jiěxī (Stream Divide) point, and Shangqiu point to stimulate the body's internal abilities, so that they can accelerate the regeneration and healing of decaying tissue. Then, I will use cupping, and at the same time, use an infrared instrument to irradiate the surrounding area to promote blood circulation, so that the injured area has sufficient nutrition and accelerates growth. Secondly, I will combine Sayan's exercise therapy with our Chinese bone-setting massage to promote the recovery of the injury and maintain athletic life."

"Bone-setting massage?" Zhang Jun felt as if he were in a martial arts world.

"Yes, bone-setting massage," Feng Qing explained. "It is to promote blood circulation by massaging the muscles, ligaments, and acupoints near the medial malleolus, preventing scars and adhesions. At the same time, it is combined with functional exercise therapy of the ankle to promote recovery. It is 'living therapy', not 'dead therapy'. Bone-setting massage belongs to the category of massage. Zheng (整) means correct and reasonable; gu (骨) refers to all bone, muscle, tendon, ligament, joint, and other motor tissue systems. The technique is..."

Sophie coughed lightly. Feng Qing was digressing again. He was just talking about Zhang Jun's specific treatment plan, and now he was introducing bone-setting massage in detail.

Hearing Sophie's cough, Feng Qing realized that he had gone too far again, and quickly smiled, then returned to the topic. "When the above methods are carried out, it is also necessary to use Shujin Huoxue San (Tendon Relaxing and Blood Activating Powder) fumigation and washing. Fumigation and washing means boiling the decoction, and then pouring it into a bucket while it is still scalding hot. Under the premise of not touching the decoction, the inner ankle is fumigated with the steam emitted by the hot decoction. Be careful not to burn yourself, and keep a certain distance. If the decoction is cold, it can be heated again."

"Shujin Huoxue San?" Zhang Jun once again strengthened his view that he was in a martial arts world.

"Oh, that's the name I made up on purpose. How is it? Sounds cool, right? Haha!"

Seeing that Feng Qing had a tendency to digress again, Sophie quickly pulled him back. "What about the prescription? The prescription for Shujin Huoxue San?"

"Um, the prescription... Quan Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis), Sheng Chuanwu (Radix Aconiti), Sheng Caowu (Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii), Chuan Fangfeng (Radix Saposhnikoviae), Wei Lingxian (Radix Clematidis), Huajiao (Pricklyash Peel), Wu Jiapi (Cortex Acanthopanacis), Zhangnao (Camphor), Pixiao (Mirabilite), Ruxiang (Frankincense), Moyao (Myrrh). Basically, that's it. Acupuncture, cupping, bone-setting massage, and medicinal fumigation. Do you feel a little disappointed? Too ordinary?" Feng Qing smiled, "But I tell you, as long as it is well-coordinated and treated with care, there will be a miracle. Your foot will definitely be able to return to the state it was in before the injury. However, because I am using methods to promote the growth of your muscle tissue and promote metabolism, the side effect of this method is that it will cause certain damage to your future health, especially the health of the injured area. The better the effect, the greater the side effects. It can be said that you are pre-paying for your future health."

"It's nothing, spending tomorrow's money to buy today's things is in line with today's consumer trends," Zhang Jun shrugged and joked.

Feng Qing shook his head with a wry smile and continued, "In fact, ligament tears, because they belong to the joint capsule membrane ligament, can mostly heal on their own without surgical repair. So far, there is no evidence that surgical repair of acute lateral ankle ligament rupture is better than non-surgical treatment. However, whether treated surgically or non-surgically, about ten to thirty percent of acute sprains are transformed into chronic or habitual sprains. The main reason is the laxity of the lateral ligament, or the deteriorated proprioception or local reflection. But your situation is different from what I said, you have a ligament tear accompanied by a fracture. Ankle fractures are intra-articular fractures and are prone to secondary traumatic arthritis. The treatment is early surgical fixation and late-stage Chinese medicine fumigation. That is, first surgical reduction, removal of bone fragments, and repair of ligaments—because football players must use different methods from ordinary people for the repair to be effective. Then use a plaster cast to fix the fractured lower end of the tibia. The plaster cast should not be fixed for more than two weeks, and then the stitches are removed—your time has already been long, it is best to remove the stitches immediately—after removing the stitches, you cannot immediately perform bone-setting techniques, you must first take Chinese medicine internally and externally, Chinese medicine fumigation, acupuncture, and physiotherapy to promote blood circulation, accelerate local recovery, and prevent adhesions. In the later stage, one month later, bone-setting massage can be performed. Do you understand?"

Seeing the two of them nod and shake their heads blankly, Feng Qing smiled and said, "I've said so much in one breath, you definitely can't accept it. Forget it, these will be explained to you in detail during the treatment process."

"So, when will I be able to get better?" This was what Zhang Jun was most concerned about now.

"Time to return... I don't know either. I can't guarantee this, not even roughly. The most important thing in recovery treatment is that you must not be impatient. Don't think about when you can return. As long as you seriously complete the treatment tasks every day, you will naturally get better when the time comes, haha!"

"That's right, Zhang Jun, you have to take it one bite at a time!" Sophie said from the side. After listening to Feng Qing's treatment plan, although she didn't fully understand it, she still heard some information, that Zhang Jun's foot was not an incurable disease, but just a bit complicated. Zhang Jun's foot had hope, and her mood also relaxed a lot. "Let's all have dinner together tonight, I'll cook myself!" she said happily.

"Ah! No!" Zhang Jun couldn't help but shout, but he quickly realized his gaffe and quickly explained, "Tonight I want to take you to see someone, he is the closest person to me in the Netherlands. He owns a restaurant, and we'll have dinner there then."

"But... isn't it too much trouble?" Sophie was unwilling.

"No, no trouble! No trouble, hehe! Uncle Wang is a very enthusiastic person. If he asks you to stay for dinner and you refuse, he will be very sad. Besides, I've already told Uncle Wang."

"... Okay!" Sophie pouted a little dejectedly, extremely cute.

Zhang Jun secretly breathed a sigh of relief, his stomach would finally be spared from being ravaged tonight.

Feng Qing looked at the two of them and found it very amusing. Then he thought of Zhang Jun's expression when he made this choice... he really was a stubborn kid, haha!

In any case, the plan had finally been initially realized, and the one million pounds was getting closer and closer to him, haha! Heaven treats me well! When I get the money, I must donate incense money to every god I can worship to show my sincerity. Jesus God, Sakyamuni, Allah... one thousand for each... Italian lira.

※※※

"What? Another Chinese medicine practitioner?" Hua Fang learned about this from the phone call Zhang Jun made to her.

"Yes," Zhang Jun nodded.

"But, Zhang Jun. Have you thought carefully about how much you know about that Feng Qing? Aren't you afraid of being deceived again by trusting him like this?"

"Hehe! Sister Hua, I have already decided to let him treat me. I believe him. Even if he is a liar, this decision was made by me, and I have no regrets."

Only then did Hua Fang know that Zhang Jun had already agreed, and the phone call was just to inform her and let her know the situation. She sighed. When would this teenager, who needed her to make all the decisions, be able to face such choices alone and make his own answers?

"Okay, since you have agreed. I believe in your judgment. But..." She didn't say the words after "but". She thought it was best not to say it, it was unlucky.

※※※

In the evening, Zhang Jun went to Uncle Wang's house and introduced Sophie to Uncle Wang. After Sophie learned that Uncle Wang was a chef and had opened a Chinese restaurant here, she clamored for Uncle Wang to teach her how to cook, and finally slipped into the kitchen, stealing lessons under the guise of being an assistant.

Zhang Jun and Feng Qing were left in the living room. Feng Qing flipped through the locally published English newspaper. Reports about Zhang Jun's return for recuperation occupied a lot of space. It seemed that he was indeed very popular here. "You are very popular," he said, pointing to the newspaper to Zhang Jun, who was reading a book on the side.

Zhang Jun closed the book, looked up, and smiled: "The people here are very nice."

Feng Qing discovered that the book Zhang Jun was reading was actually Jin Yong's famous martial arts novel *Tianlong Babu* (*Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils*)! "You read this too?"

"Yes, when I was in school, I spent all my time studying and playing football, and I didn't have time to read. Now that I have plenty of time, I have to make up for what I lost before."

"Then who is your favorite character in it?" Feng Qing also liked martial arts novels, and he asked Zhang Jun as if he had found a kindred spirit.

"Um, because I haven't finished reading it yet, it's hard to say who I like."

"It doesn't matter, just say who you like now?"

"Um, it should be Xu Zhu..." Zhang Jun pondered.

"Oh? Why him?" Feng Qing couldn't understand, he thought Zhang Jun would choose Xiao Feng. After all, in *Tianlong Babu*, Xiao Feng's brilliance was too dazzling.

"This, I don't know either. But when I look at Xu Zhu, I always unconsciously substitute myself into him. But I don't have this feeling with other people," Zhang Jun shook his head.

Feng Qing was stunned. He suddenly thought of the figure from the day before yesterday.

"He really is stubborn..." Feng Qing looked at Zhang Jun's departing back and said to himself.

Stubborn? Oh right, based on what he had seen in the past two days, Zhang Jun was indeed very stubborn. And Xu Zhu also seemed to be a little stubborn, sometimes stubbornly unreasonable. Could it be that they had this in common, which made Zhang Jun feel a sense of substitution when reading the book?

However, why was he so successful in Volendam? Was it just his football skills? There were many football stars with better skills than him, but it was rare to see a football star with such a level of support in a team, almost comparable to Baggio and Van Basten.

If it was stubbornness, then what was the relationship between stubbornness and success?

Feng Qing couldn't figure it out.

"The dishes are ready!" Sophie walked out of the kitchen like a waiter, carrying a steaming plate of dishes.

"Did Uncle Wang make this?" Zhang Jun asked, looking at the spicy chicken cubes that looked and smelled delicious.

"No, I made it!" Sophie smiled.

"Believe you... I don't think so!" Zhang Jun made a face at Sophie.

Feng Qing decided not to think about the question just now. Anyway, Zhang Jun had agreed to receive treatment, and the one million pounds was also likely to be in his hands. Everyone was happy.

This meal was indeed a happy one, eaten in a warm, friendly, and harmonious atmosphere. Uncle Wang's cooking was appreciated, Sophie also learned some cooking methods, Zhang Jun finally didn't have to suffer from stomach problems, and Feng Qing was constantly fantasizing about his one million pounds.

※※※

Shoot!

The speed was very fast, but it was still saved by the opponent's goalkeeper.

"Damn it! Is that goalkeeper a god?"

The striker who took the shot cursed anxiously. It was no wonder he was so anxious. He had at least four opportunities to face the goalkeeper directly in the match, but he had not been able to seize a single opportunity. It wasn't that his shooting skills were poor. He was, after all, the team's number one scorer. It was just that the opponent's goalkeeper was too brave!

"This Borussia Dortmund youth team's defense is simply trash! If they didn't have this goalkeeper, I could have scored a hat trick at least! Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!!" He cursed in his heart.

The goalkeeper jumped up from the ground and shouted loudly: "Wedeler! You're too far back! Such a big gap behind you is too dangerous!"

The defender called "Wedeler" waved apologetically. He had indeed been too impulsive just now, which led to the opponent hitting a gap behind him. Fortunately, the goalkeeper had performed well, otherwise, the opponent would have definitely scored. Although it was a friendly match, it was never good to lose.

The goalkeeper looked at his reckless teammate and sighed helplessly: "Come back and defend, they still have a corner kick."

Reinherd, who was directing the match, noticed that there was an extra person beside him. "Mathis?" He was a little surprised because Sammer hadn't said that he was going to watch the youth team's match today.

"I suddenly remembered that the youth team had a match today, so I came to take a look. But, I have to say,冯 (Feng), the people the youth team sends up are deemed unsuitable, they don't meet the requirements of the Bundesliga." Standing next to Reinherd was none other than Mathis Sammer, the coach of the Borussia Dortmund first team and a former German international.

Reinherd's old face turned red.

"The club is also in trouble now, and it looks like we have to solve the budget problem by selling players. Under the current circumstances, we must dig up talents from the youth team. Do you have any new players to recommend to me?"

As Sammer spoke, the opponent launched another attack, quickly passing through the Borussia Dortmund midfield and facing the defenders directly.

"The midfield defense is simply useless!" Sammer cursed in a low voice. He spoke his mind and didn't care whether Reinherd felt good or not. After all, he had to be responsible for the entire Borussia Dortmund first team, not Reinherd's face.

Reinherd's face turned red again. The youth team was playing against the first team, and a score of 0:0 was already very good. This friendly match was initiated by the other side, and it was clear that they were there to find confidence. He thought at the time that this was an opportunity to train, so he agreed. Who knew that Sammer would come today.

"Idiot! What are the defenders standing there for? Waiting for someone to shoot?" Sammer cursed in a low voice.

Seeing that no one was coming up to stop him, the opponent's striker unceremoniously swung his leg and shot hard!

The football went right through the gap between the defenders and flew straight towards the goal!

But the goalkeeper saved Borussia Dortmund again. He made a diving save and pressed the football firmly in front of the goal line, then quickly curled up to protect the football under his body to prevent the opponent from having a chance to follow up.

"Not bad, this goalkeeper," Sammer said. As a former defender, he paid more attention to defense.

"Oh, I was just looking for a suitable opportunity to recommend him to you," Reinherd said. "He's a Chinese, and I discovered him in a friendly match. Oliver said he had the talent to be a goalkeeper, so he pulled him over for training for almost a year. When he was handed over to me, he was like this. Now he just lacks first-team experience."

"Oliver? That drunkard?" Sammer was a little moved. If he was trained by that person...

"That's right, he hasn't taken on any apprentices for a long time, but that day he was so eager and used all kinds of means to take the other party as his disciple..."

"How many matches has he played for you here?" Sammer was also a little impatient and interrupted Reinherd's words.

"Uh, ten youth league matches and three friendly matches. He didn't concede a goal in five of them. If he still doesn't concede a goal in this match, it will be his sixth consecutive match without conceding a goal."

Sammer admitted that he had developed a strong interest in this unfamiliar "transfer student." "Give me a copy of his detailed information. First, ask what his name is?"

"An Ke."

"An Ke? An Ke, An Ke..." Sammer kept repeating the name as if he wanted to remember it firmly. "Feng, cultivate him well. When I need him, I hope he won't let me down."