Chapter 61: It is not because there is hope that we persist, but only persistence can bring hope

[You have achieved cell regeneration, and your body functions have been restored to their best condition]

[Successfully complete the mission, and your physical strength will be slightly enhanced...]

"call--"

Jiang Yuan lay on the grass of Gaya Training Center, with rain from the sky hitting his face.

The winter in Portugal is not cold. Jiang Yuan, who had just finished training, only wore a long-sleeved training shirt and felt the changes that the system brought to his body.

There seems to be nothing more refreshing than suddenly regaining energy after being exhausted.

Jiang Yuan wanted to lie on the grass for a while longer, but the rain was getting heavier. Jiang Yuan had no choice but to pack up and run back to the dormitory.

"Jiang, you're finally back, someone outside wants to see you!"

When the cleaner Melissa saw Jiang Yuan coming back, she hurried over.

Jiang Yuan shook off the rain on his body and asked in surprise, "What's wrong? Who wants to see me?"

Jiang Yuan thought about everyone he knew in Portugal, but he didn't know who would come to him at this time. It should be dinner time for the Portuguese.

Mother-in-law Melissa pouted and said, "I don't know him, but he looks like an Asian. I've been waiting outside for more than an hour, but I still can't find you."

"Asian? Where is he?"

Jiang Yuan was even more surprised to hear the answer from Mother-in-law Melissa, because he didn't know any Asians in Porto at all.

"He's at the gate. I saw him waiting outside for a long time and wanted to let him in, but I don't have the authority to do so..."

"Hey? Why are you running so fast, Chinese boy? Bring an umbrella with you!"

Jiang Yuan ran out for more than ten meters before he realized that he didn't bring an umbrella. He hurried back and borrowed a small rose-red umbrella from Grandma Melissa.

“Mother-in-law Melissa, I’ll treat you to paella next time!”

Jiang Yuan had a smile on his face. Paella is one of the classic Portuguese delicacies. There is a seafood restaurant called ADM next to the Gaya Training Center. Jiang Yuan often goes there for a big meal after training.

"Boy, are you Portuguese or am I Portuguese? I'm tired of eating Porto's paella!"

Mother-in-law Melissa was right. Paella is one of Portugal's traditional delicacies and as a local, she has eaten it no less than 100 times.

Jiang Yuan spread his hands and said, "Okay, Grandma Melissa, tell me what you want to eat. It can't be too expensive. My weekly salary is less than 600 euros!

Although he joined the first team, Jiang Yuan was still on a youth contract and his salary did not change. Jiang Yuan also discussed the salary with Enrique.

But Enrique's reply was: The salaries of the first-team players are not something I can control. If you want to change your contract and get a pay raise, you must perform well.

What else can Jiang Yuan do now that Enrique has said this? Just keep kicking!
"Um……"

Mother-in-law Melissa looked at the ground, seemingly recalling something. Suddenly, her eyes lit up: "I heard that you Chinese have a dish called... fried tomatoes?"

"..."

Jiang Yuan imagined the names of ten thousand dishes that Melissa's mother-in-law would say, but he just didn't think of fried tomatoes.

"Mother-in-law Melissa, how did you know there is such a dish in China?"

"Well, my son ate this when he was studying in China. He thought it was delicious, so I want to try it too. Can you cook this dish?"

Jiang Yuan touched his head and said, "Mother-in-law, this is not a question of whether or not you can make it. Your son may have remembered it wrongly. This thing is called scrambled eggs with tomatoes."

"No, no, no, it's called fried tomatoes. I heard that there are two dishes with the same name, but the taste is very different!"

Mother-in-law Melissa stuck to her opinion.

Jiang Yuan was also speechless. He probably understood why Mother-in-law Melissa had such a misunderstanding.

But the problem was that Jiang Yuan didn't know how to explain the difference between "tomato" and "tomatoes" to a Portuguese, so he just answered, "It's just fried tomatoes, Granny Melissa. I'll make it for you next time. But I have something to do now, so I have to leave first!"

After that, Jiang Yuan took the umbrella and ran away without looking back, fearing that he would be caught by Granny Melissa and continue talking. When he arrived at the main entrance of the training center, Jiang Yuan didn't see anyone. Just when he thought the people waiting for him had left, a familiar voice sounded next to him.

"Is it Jiang Yuan?"

Damn it?

This was the first time that Jiang Yuan heard such authentic Chinese in Porto. He quickly turned his head and saw an uncle standing on the fence next to the gate. The uncle held an umbrella in one hand and a box of Mimosa milk in the other. This is pure milk produced in Portugal. It has a light taste but a sweet aftertaste.

"I am Jiang Yuan, yes. May I ask... who are you?"

"Haha, my name is Gao He, and I'm from Jiang Province just like you!"

Gao He's clothes and shoes were wet, but he looked very happy.

"Are you from Jiang Province too?"

As the saying goes, when fellow countrymen meet, tears well up in their eyes. Jiang Yuan didn't expect to meet a Chinese person so soon in Porto, and they were from the same province!

"Jiang Yuan, I came here to give you..."

"Wait, it's not good to talk across a fence like this."

Gao He was about to speak when he was interrupted by Jiang Yuan. Jiang Yuan threw the umbrella over the fence and then jumped over.
After jumping down, he was next to Gao He.

"Hahaha! Jiang Yuan, I'm your fan. Here, take this!"

Gao He stated his purpose directly, held an umbrella for Jiang Yuan, and handed the milk in his hand to Jiang Yuan.

"Have you been waiting for a long time?"

Jiang Yuan took the milk. It would be really unreasonable for him to refuse it.

"Not long ago, I just got here too, hahaha!"

Gao He waved his hand. Jiang Yuan glanced at Gao He's pants which were completely wet, smiled and did not expose him.

“Are you a Porto fan?”

Jiang Yuan asked.

Unexpectedly, Gao He shook his head like a rattle: "No, no, no, I'm not a fan of Porto, I'm a fan of the Chinese national football team, and I became a fan of yours just a week ago!"

"A fan of the Chinese national football team? Are you Chinese?"

"I am a native Chinese. I came to Porto with my wife and children 8 years ago. You know, the climate here in Portugal is good and it's quite suitable for living. I opened a small supermarket here. You can see it about 3km away from the main gate of the Gaya Training Center and turn left once. I can't help you with anything else. If you need anything, just tell me directly. It doesn't cost you money."

"Besides, I'm quite free on weekends, and this place isn't far away, I can deliver the stuff to the training center!"

Jiang Yuan was somewhat surprised by Gao He's enthusiasm, and he stammered, "You're not... gay, are you?"

"Hahaha, you think too much. I just want to help you. If you drink more milk, you will perform better on the court. Don't worry, I will definitely save the freshest Mimosa in the store for you!"

Gao He patted his chest and made the promise.

Jiang Yuan was so touched. He didn't expect to meet such supportive Chinese people in Porto.

"You seem to have high hopes for the Chinese national football team. You are a fan of the Chinese national football team... plus the Chinese national football team's performance, aren't you tired of persisting without seeing any hope?"

Hearing Jiang Yuan say this, Gao He's expression suddenly froze: "Xiao Jiang, in fact, in my opinion, it is not because there is hope that we persist, but because only by persistence can we see hope."

"I'm just an ordinary person, there's not much I can do to help you, but I will definitely make sure you have enough milk!"

Gao He's words directly wet Jiang Yuan's eyes. The two stood in the winter rain in Porto, speechless for a long time.

……

(End of this chapter)