Li Ang watched with interest as Ribéry quarreled with the foreman.
The French player's resume floated in his mind. Li Ang remembered that he had "once" read a small article about Ribéry's inspirational growth story.
Using time as an axis, the story of a top star player from a poor family was spread out.
On April 7, 1983, Franck Ribéry was born in Boulogne, the poorest town in France. It was a rundown town with overflowing sewage, garbage everywhere, and unemployment always exceeding 50%. The young people there had nothing to do except play football. There was only one picture in his bedroom: two younger brothers and a younger sister were playing football with him.
To be honest, other than playing with his siblings, he did not even have a football partner because he had a hideous and terrifying face. A lightning-like scar occupied one-third of the right side of his face. This was a memorial left to him by a tragic car accident when he was two years old.
When he was nine years old, his father sent him to a youth football club so that the "silent" child "would not go down the wrong path." It was as if he was a fish in water. However, he soon sadly discovered that his companions had no interest in him other than giving him nicknames rather than playing football with him. They did not like the boy who was as silent as a piece of clay, but played with the ball like a little lion playing with his life. They always whistled sharply and called him, "Ugly face!"
Mocking and cursing, his heart surged with waves of pain, but other than football, he had nothing. He always fought harder and harder, crazily eager to change everything, and this destroyed his sincerity toward football. He was impetuous, and for a few years, he made no progress.
On his twelfth birthday, his father said to him, "You'll never improve like this." Then, he gave him a saxophone and said, "Play this." With soothing music, his anger gradually subsided. Soon, he fell in love with the saxophone, and every weekend, he would go to the church to consult the teacher. From then on, the saxophone and football became his spiritual support that he could not live without.
At the age of 13, he said to the manager with youthful vigor, "I'll definitely succeed!" Then, he went to Lille's youth academy. Regrettably, after three whole years, he didn't receive the attention of this French Ligue 1 club. He quickly returned to his hometown and became a member of Alès in the French Ligue 3.
However, he soon lost his job again and could only play in the semi-professional league. Ribéry, who was in dire straits, was driven out of the house by his landlady because he could not afford the rent.
The ugly face that followed him like a shadow had long made him unfazed by honor and disgrace.
In 2002, it was all because of love. He had a girlfriend.
The first time they met, the ordinary-looking girl called Vasilba, who had a pair of big eyes, stared at him for a long time. Then, she held his face and said, "You look very special."
The girl's words were like a power that he had never had before, causing his heart to shine brightly.
Then, in the summer of that year, he changed teams again and came to a Third Division team. His salary was reduced again … The figure of the young man with the ugly scar began to appear frequently at the construction site.
However, Ribéry firmly believed that everything would get better. A long period of hibernation was just the waiting of a hot summer.
*****
In the end, Ribéry did not let the foreman's plot to deduct five euros from his salary succeed. The price he paid was that the construction site paid him all his salary and then drove him out.
"Get out of here, you. Get as far away as you can." The foreman waved his hand, his face full of disgust.
"You'll regret it sooner or later." Scarface hooted. "Don't come to my games in the future if you have the guts!"
"Even if you pay me fifty euros, I won't watch your games." The foreman, Hawahid, spat.
Ribéry's reaction was: he took out a bird, peed on it, then quickly took the bird cage and pants and ran away.
Behind him were the workers who chased after him, waving shovels and wooden sticks.
Li Ang and Banderas were stunned.
"This is the player you value?" Banderas asked.
"F * ck." Li Ang was speechless. He did not expect to see such an 'unruly' side of Ribéry before he became famous …
Then, Li Ang shouted at Banderas and began to run. They were not running because they were being chased, but because they were chasing the guy who ran away.
Then, on the 10th of May, 2004, in a construction site in Brest, such a scene appeared. A guy with a knife scar on his face was running for his life. Behind him were more than ten burly men yelling for him to be killed. Behind the burly men were two men in suits chasing after him ….
The sun was setting in the west. It was a beautiful scene.
*****
The workers at the construction site chased for a distance and finally stopped. They were all tired and panting. That kid ran too fast, and it was just for a pee. It was not worth it to work so hard. At worst, the next time they met that guy, they would beat him up again.
Li Ang ran so fast that Banderas could not keep up. Li Ang gestured to Banderas behind him to call him, meaning that he could not keep up with him. He would call him later. The latter nodded, panting.
Then, Li Ang sped up to give chase.
As he chased, Li Ang cursed in his heart. This bastard can really run. He's really fast.
However, when he thought of Ribéry's speedy run on the football field and the scene of his pursuers blowing dust all the way, he was happy again.
Baby, don't run. Come to my bowl!
Ribéry ran for about two miles and felt that he had reached a safe distance. He stopped to catch his breath. Then, he heard a sound behind him. Then, he saw a man desperately chasing after him not far away.
The young man from Boulogne cursed a French slang and was about to run.
He had just run two steps when he heard the man behind him shout, "Hey, you dropped your wallet."
Ribéry almost slammed on the brakes. Then, he hurriedly looked at his feet and the road behind him, looking for the shadow of his wallet.
Li Ang caught up and breathed a sigh of relief. His method was not bad.
"You lied to me?" Ribéry, who realized that he had been tricked, glared at Li Ang.
"If I didn't say that, you would still have to run." Li Ang took a breath and said with a smile.
"When did Hawahid find an Asian to work for?" Ribéry first looked at Li Ang in confusion.
Then, Ribéry stretched his neck to look behind Li Ang. Seeing that no one was chasing after him, he was sure that Li Ang was alone. He sneered. It had to be said that when he smiled, the scar on his face was extremely hideous. Li Ang felt that Ribéry did not even need makeup to act as a villain.
"Kid, you're finished." Ribéry cracked his knuckles. "Let me tell you, I'm crazy when I fight."
Li Ang saw this scene and laughed.
This laugh angered Ribéry. He wanted to pounce on this guy and teach him a lesson.
*****
"Let me introduce myself." Li Ang said, "I'm the manager of a football club —"
Before Li Ang finished his words, Ribéry, who was about to pounce on him, stopped. His expression changed quickly and he squeezed out a scary smile. "Really?"
"Really!" Li Ang nodded.
"You're the manager?"
"Yes!"
"You're not a scammer? Let me tell you, I don't have the money to pay the intermediary fee. "
Li Ang glanced at Ribéry. He did not feel speechless. He just sighed. The future Scarface was so … down and out now.
"I'll treat you to a meal. Let's talk slowly." Li Ang said.
"Okay!" Ribéry nodded immediately and then asked for confirmation. His eyes were shining. "You're the one treating? I'll decide on the location? "
"Yes, it's my treat." Li Ang nodded.
"30 euros." Ribéry stretched out his hand.
"What 30 euros?" Li Ang was surprised.
"Wasiba's Material Shop, the best buffet restaurant in the area. 15 euros per person." Ribéry smiled proudly. "Wasiba, my wife."
Li Ang's eyes widened. This guy actually didn't forget to solicit business for his family's restaurant. The most excessive thing was that he even included his own share in it.
At this time, Banderas ran over, panting.
Ribéry glanced at Banderas, as if to confirm that this person was with Li Ang. Then he said, "45 euros."
*****
Li Ang glanced at Ribéry. He understood that this guy did not believe that he was the manager at all. He was teasing him.
Fortunately, he was prepared for this. Li Ang handed over a file bag.
"What is it?" Ribéry asked.
"My coaching certificate and some photos to prove that I'm coaching the team," Li Ang said.
Ribéry was skeptical. He opened the file bag and looked carefully. The photos were correct. It was the person in front of him, but …
"I don't understand," Ribéry said.
"That's Spanish." Li Ang patted his head. "Sorry, I forgot about that. Let me introduce myself again. I'm from a professional club in Spain, Sporting de Gijón. It's a Segunda División team. I'm the manager of the team. This time, I came to France to look for you. "
"Spain?" Ribéry was stunned. "You came to France from Spain just for me?"
"Yes." Li Ang nodded.
"You're the manager? The manager of a Segunda División team? "Ribéry asked.
"Yes." Li Ang said. At the same time, he was a little proud. Kid, we came all the way here just for a nobody like you. You must be touched.
"Liar!" Ribéry's eyes widened. "Shameless liar!"
The smile on Li Ang's face froze …
Next to him, Banderas looked at this scene in a daze. If it were not for the fact that he did not understand French, at this moment, Banderas would have bent over laughing …
PS: Second update. Guaranteed 1.
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