Chapter 688 The boss’s treat
During the team's resumption of training the next day, before Hu Lai could find the boss, the boss took the initiative to find him:
"Don't leave in a hurry after training. I'll take you to Red Chili Pepper for dinner."
Hu Lai was very happy: "Boss, you are an honest and trustworthy person!"
When Tony Clark heard what he said, he couldn't laugh or cry: "Do you think I will default on my debt?"
"No, no, how is it possible? How could the head coach of a dignified Premier League team default on his debt? That's not possible. If he defaults on his debt, what will other players think? If people's hearts are broken, it will be difficult to lead the team. So, boss, you It's absolutely impossible to keep your words!" Hu Lai shook his head like a rattle.
Why couldn't Clark hear the implication? He patted Hu Lai on the head and said, "Okay, okay, I'll definitely treat you as my guest. I'll remember that. It's just you and I and Matt tonight." , the three of us. After training, you can take my car and ask your agent not to pick you up.”
"No problem, boss. I'll call him right now!"
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The resumption of training on the last day of the season was very relaxed, everyone was laughing, and the quality of the training was actually not to mention. But even Tony Clark doesn't care about these problems. He has been tightening his string for a season, and if he is still tightening it now, he is afraid that it will be broken. So relax appropriately and lower your requirements, which is good for your physical and mental health and good for everyone.
After the training, everyone began to discuss how to spend the holidays.
Charlie Potter came over and put his arms around Hu Lai's shoulders and put his mouth next to his ear: "Hey, Hu, we are having a party tonight. Do you want to come to join us and celebrate our success in relegation!"
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Hu Lai glanced at the bastard who said he was stingy behind his back, and then smiled brightly: "Okay! I'll bring the boss with me."
The smile on Potter's face froze: "I'm sorry, Hu, I didn't hear you clearly just now. What did you say?"
"I said I would bring my boss with me to your party, Charlie." Seeing the change in Potter's expression, Hu Lai smiled even brighter.
"Hell!" Porter complained in a low voice, "You know we never ask coaches to our player parties!"
Hu Lai spread his hands: "I can't help it, Charlie. I have an appointment with my boss tonight. If I go to your party, I have to take him with me."
Potter's eyes widened: "You have an appointment with your boss? What is the appointment?"
"He invited me to dinner."
As if he had seen a ghost, Potter couldn't suppress his voice: "The boss invites you to dinner?!"
A group of people in the locker room cast surprised and curious glances at Hu Lai upon hearing this.
"What? The boss wants to invite Hu Lai to dinner?!"
"Damn it! That's not fair! The boss has never invited any of the players to dinner!"
"Hu Lai, why can you be treated by the boss?"
Everyone gathered around, as if Hu Lai would not let him go until he spoke clearly today.
"Uh..." Hu Lai first glared at the big-mouthed Charlie Porter, and then explained to the other teammates: "Before I played on behalf of the team for the first time, the boss promised me to encourage me, if If I can score five goals this season, just treat me to a meal of red pepper..."
"Red-hot-pepper?!" There was a louder noise in the locker room.
Charlie Potter, who was right next to Hu Lai, grabbed his clothes suddenly, as if he was afraid that he would run away: "That's not fair, Hu Lai! Three of your eleven goals were assisted by me. It can be said that you can score so many goals that the boss invites you to dinner, okay? So why can you go to dinner, but I can’t?”
"I think what Charlie said makes sense." Pete Williams, who had been watching the excitement with his arms crossed, also gave a rare nod, expressing his approval of Charlie Potter.
Hu Lai knew why he nodded in agreement, because this kid also assisted several of his goals...
When he said this, others also expressed their support.
Anyone who had assisted Hu Lai in the game jumped out and said that they should be qualified to eat.
Even Falek Quinn stood up shamelessly and asked Hulay for credit for his assist in the last game.
And those teammates who did not provide assists also had their say: Although the last pass was not made by me, the last pass, two passes, and three passes before the last pass... I participated, and I was also considered a participant in this offense. who.
Even teammates who were not involved in the offense were very convincing: If we hadn't defended with all our strength in the backcourt and helped you block the enemy's offensive, where would you have had the opportunity to attack? So I should eat this meal too!
Everyone just blocked Hu Lai, and Charlie Potter even held onto Hu Lai's clothes with both hands. He would do whatever it took to get food.
Seeing this, Hu Lai defended himself: "It's not me who's treating me, but the boss. It's useless for you to block me!"
Charlie Potter had a mean smile on his face: "Whatever you said...do you think we dare to block the boss?"
Hu Lai was speechless.
"So if you don't block it, who are you blocking?"
In desperation, Hu Lai had no choice but to take out his mobile phone and prepare to ask for help from the audience outside the venue.
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Just as Matt and Matt were getting together to discuss treating Hu Lai to dinner that night, Tony Clark received a call from Hu Lai. After he put down the phone, he had a very strange expression on his face.
"What's wrong, Tony?" Matt asked curiously.
"Nonsense there was a riot in the locker room..."
Matt heard the word and nervously stood up from his chair, knocking it over.
However, he didn't care about the chair that fell behind him at all, but stared at Clark solemnly: "A riot? What kind of riot? Why would a good team riot? Is it internal strife? Or..."
Clark quickly raised his hand to stop him from thinking further: "No, it's just those boys who heard that I wanted to treat Hu to eat red pepper, and they all became jealous and wanted to eat with them. If we don't agree to their request, they will …”
"What are they doing? Are they tearing up the vote?"
"Ha, no, they won't let Hu Lai go. It's normal for young people to make trouble. In fact, I think Hu Lai created a good opportunity for me."
"What good opportunity?"
"I have been with the team for one season. Apart from training and games, I have really had too little contact with the players. When I first arrived, I needed to establish and maintain my authority, so it is normal to use some tough tactics. But we can't continue to be so tough. . So this is a good opportunity to get closer to the players. Although I don’t like Lauren Galli’s bottomless tolerance and concessions to the players, it doesn’t mean that I want to alienate myself from the team. Come.”
Tony Clark explains.
"Today's incident just gave me an opportunity. And it was the players who took the initiative - they wanted me, the head coach, to treat them to dinner, which shows that they are willing to get along with the head coach."
Matt also reacted and nodded: "This is a good thing. It means they are accepting you as their new coach. After successfully leading them to avoid relegation, your reputation in their minds has also increased."
"Yeah, so I plan to take advantage of the situation and agree to their request and simply invite all the players to go to the Red Hot Chili Peppers."
Matt was originally going to agree, but suddenly he remembered something and looked strange: "Tony, you invited the whole team to have Chinese food. If Ms. Schmidt knew about this... I'm afraid it wouldn't be good, right?"
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Clark's smile also solidified on his face.
After a while, he waved his hand and said, "It's okay. We'll just increase the intensity of the physical training during the pre-season training."
Matt sighed: "That's all we can do..."
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One after another, various cars parked on the roadside where the Red Pepper Chinese Restaurant is located, and some figures that could make Leeds City fans scream came out one after another.
The media reporters who had received the news in advance and rushed over pressed the shutters of their cameras to record every Leeds City player who appeared in front of the "Red Pepper" Chinese restaurant.
This kind of collective off-field activity can be considered a big deal for the small team Leeds City. After all, it is not a wealthy team. When the stars go out for a stroll, they can attract paparazzi to follow them. Most of the players in Leeds City are not yet at the level of "stars". Off the court, they are just normal people.
Without celebrities, there is naturally much less gossip off the court.
Now that the entire Leeds City team has come to the Red Chili Peppers for dinner, it is certainly a big local news.
Even the local TV station had people coming. The host was facing the camera and with his back to the door of the Red Chili Pepper restaurant to record a news program: "The entire Leeds City team suddenly arrived at the Red Chili Pepper restaurant. Yes, it was the whole team. Our reporters were on the roadside. Sit down and confirm that every Leeds City player is here... It is speculated that it may be related to the team's successful relegation. This should be a celebration within the Leeds City team. After the season is over, they can finally relax completely. Let’s celebrate...”
The Leeds City players, who still don't know what awaits them at next season's pre-season training, let out a roar of excitement when they saw the door of the Red Pepper restaurant.
"Have you never eaten red pepper?"
Hu Lai, who had never eaten red pepper before, was surprised by this.
Although he has never eaten here, he has heard the name of red pepper. You know, this is a famous restaurant that has been selected as one of the top ten Chinese restaurants in the UK for two consecutive years.
The main store is in Leeds, and it also has branches in London and Birmingham. It is very famous.
"No, it's mainly because it feels so good to eat Chinese food openly, hehe!" Charlie Potter explained to Hu Lai beside him.
Hu Lai suddenly understood and immediately understood the excitement of his teammates.
It's like if a father who has disagreed with him playing football for many years suddenly says one day: "Let's go, son, daddy will take you to play football!"
The excitement is definitely completely different from playing football secretly.
Hu Lai set his sights on the famous Red Hot Chili Peppers restaurant.
Unlike those restaurants that like to use Chinese elements for decoration so that everyone can tell what kind of restaurant they are at a glance, it is impossible to tell that this is a Chinese restaurant from the outside of Red Pepper Restaurant.
There is only a small light box sign above the door, with two crossed red peppers on it, and below it is Chinese: Red Pepper Restaurant.
This is probably the only thing that identifies it as a Chinese restaurant.
At the door, the manager of the Red Pepper Chinese Restaurant came out to greet him personally.
When he saw Hu Lai, he was particularly enthusiastic: "Hu Lai, you are awesome! You have brought glory to the country!"
Hu Lai was a little surprised: "Are you Chinese?"
The manager chuckled: "Of course, I have not given up my Chinese nationality!"
"This shop...is it old?" Hu Lai looked up at the signboard (Note 1).
"Having been open for almost thirty years... Hey, I'm not stupid. It's easy to give up Chinese nationality, but it's difficult to naturalize it again." The manager held Hu Lai's hand and shook it: "I've known you for a long time. I was looking forward to having you come to our place for dinner, but in the end I was looking forward to the stars and the moon but not to you..."
Hu Lai quickly explained: "Well, I just came here and I'm still in the physical training stage. The team won't let me eat Chinese food."
"I understand, but it's okay to come here for a meal once in a while. Let me tell you, more than one person from the Leeds City team has come to eat here..." The boss lowered his voice, covered his mouth with his hand and said to Hu Lai .
The first thing Hu Lai thought of was Charlie Potter, and he chuckled.
"Today you come with all your teammates, and I'll give you a 50% discount to make sure you look good!" The manager patted his chest and said very proudly. "Just...I hope you can take a photo together in my store then? Don't worry, I'm not using it for commercial use. It just hangs it in my store so that my shabby restaurant can shine!"
Hu Lai waved his hand: "It shouldn't be a problem to take a group photo. There is no need to discount, and it is not easy to do business. You still have to earn the money you should earn. Besides, today is our boss's treat. If you give a discount, then you are Looking down on him shows that he is not sincere in treating guests..."
Hearing this, the manager turned to look at the team's head coach Tony Clark, who had just gotten off the car, and he nodded thoughtfully.
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In order to meet the dining requirements of the Leeds City team, the Red Pepper Chinese Restaurant will be closed this evening and will not accept individual customers.
So the entire restaurant was booked out by the Leeds City team.
Everyone sat at different tables and enjoyed the same standard Chinese food.
The manager was right, many of them had eaten here.
Including the team's head coach Tony Clark, when he first coached Leeds City, he also had a meal here with Matt. After all, "Red Hot Chili Peppers" is famous and is not only loved by international students in Leeds, but also by the majority of locals.
But things are slightly different today.
Hu Lai became the focus of the team's attention.
After each dish is served, everyone will let Hu Lai taste it first, and they will all stare at Hu Lai nervously, waiting with bated breath for him to give an evaluation.
After all, Hu Lai is the only player on this team from China, and Red Pepper is a Chinese restaurant that has always been known as authentic.
But how do these people who have never been to China know whether the food here is really authentic?
Well, now that a real Chinese is here, we must let him try the dishes for everyone.
Hu Lai put down his chopsticks, chewed the Kung Pao Chicken carefully, closed his eyes and felt... Actually, he couldn't feel anything. This is not a food article. Nothing exploded in his mouth, and there was no light pouring out from his mouth, nose, and eyes, nor was he so excited that he had hallucinations in front of his eyes like he had taken drugs...
But you still have to play well, especially when so many teammates are looking at you expectantly.
When he finally opened his eyes, the teammates surrounding him widened their eyes and asked impatiently: "How is it? Does it smell like that?"
Hu Lai raised his eyebrows, his eyes lit up, and he nodded: "Yes, that's the smell!"
“Bah!!!”
The Leeds City players surrounding him burst into cheers and applause, as if they had won something in a bet.
Before Hu Lai went abroad, he had seen some ridiculous behavior of foreigners on the Internet. It seemed very boring. You couldn't understand why they could be so excited.
For example, a group of people can gather under a large screen in a shopping mall, and then watch the "DVD" screensaver logo on the screen wander back and forth on the screen, and bounce back when it touches the edge of the screen. When this logo falls perfectly on the four corners of the screen, everyone present will burst into cheers, throw their drinks into the sky, and hug each other warmly... just as if they have witnessed something amazing. .
But after he went abroad, he could somewhat understand these ridiculous behaviors.
The emotions of foreigners are more outgoing. To put it bluntly... they are more like a group of grown-up children.
Not to mention that professional players are all big kids themselves, and they often do things that others think are particularly childish.
For example, sneaking up behind you on the training ground and then taking off your pants when you're not paying attention...
This kind of childish joke can make everyone laugh - except the person whose pants were taken off.
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As night falls, the Red Chili Pepper restaurant is brightly lit, and through the glass windows, people outside can clearly see what's going on inside.
A reporter looked up at the situation in the restaurant, lowered his head and typed quickly on his mobile phone:
"... After the league just ended, the Leeds City players gathered together, led by head coach Tony Clark, to the Red Pepper Restaurant for a meal... The joy of successfully relegation was on the faces of every Leeds City player The overflowing and joyful scene will definitely make every Leeds City fan happy - I hope we can often see such joyful scenes and smiles next season..."
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Note 1: Most of the descriptions about Red Chili Chinese Restaurant are made up by me. After all, I have never been to Leeds or eaten Red Chili, so the information on the Internet is limited. If there are friends who have eaten red peppers in Leeds and find something inconsistent with your knowledge, just laugh it off and know that it is fiction. Don’t worry about the truth or falsehood. (End of chapter)