Chapter 064: Visiting the Hexi Family

This story is purely a work of fiction.

Fan Wei took out his phone and called his aunt. “Hello, Auntie?”

“Yes, it’s me, I’m listening,” came his aunt’s voice from the other end.

“Auntie, in a while, our head coach and I will come to Hexi to visit you. Could you pick up some snacks to go with drinks at the market? Peanuts, wind-dried tofu, and some cold beef—these are our coach’s favorites. For other dishes, just get whatever you think is good.”

“There should be two bottles of white liquor in the sideboard in the living room. Please check, and if there’s none left, could you buy another bottle on your way?” Fan Wei reminded her.

“There’s still liquor. No one drinks what you left here. The phone broke this morning, and I just had the telecom technician fix it. Otherwise, how could I have received your call? The liquor is still in the cabinet. I’ll hurry and get some dishes to properly host your head coach,” his aunt replied. She hung up in haste, grabbed a shopping basket, locked the door, and headed for the market.

Fan Wei saw the head coach walking toward the car and quickly ended his call, turning his attention to him.

The head coach looked out of sorts, visibly troubled. He got into the driver’s seat with a heavy sigh, opened the sunroof, took out a cigarette, and struck his metal lighter a few times before lighting up. He inhaled deeply, lowered the window, and turned on the car’s music system. Smoke curled up inside the car, drifting out through the sunroof.

The sound system was a modified import, currently playing Zhang Zhen’s song “When a Cigarette Falls for a Matchstick.” The deep bass filled the car’s limited space.

Sitting in the passenger seat, Fan Wei knew the head coach only chain-smoked when something weighed on his mind. Seeing the coach so silent, Fan Wei stayed quiet too, but finally couldn’t help but ask, “Did something happen at home?”

“No, it’s just that my elderly mother’s Parkinson’s is getting worse. Her caretaker can’t leave her for a moment. I heard she wandered off in the yard yesterday and no one told me. When people grow old, it really makes you worry,” the coach replied with a sigh.

Fan Wei felt a deep empathy. He remembered hearing from the adults that his great-grandfather had suffered from the same illness when he was little. He sympathized with the coach’s situation. Thinking of his own aunt, he realized she was in a similar predicament. He’d always urged her to find someone to marry, so there’d be someone to look after her, but she never listened, and he had no way to change her mind.

Lost in thought, he couldn’t make out the lyrics of Zhang Zhen’s song. “A cigarette in love with a matchstick? Well, of course that’s doomed to failure!” He shook his head in exasperation.

“I thought you’d quit smoking. Why are you at it again today? It’s really bad for your health!” Fan Wei asked with concern, knowing the coach’s lungs weren’t in great shape.

The coach said nothing, continuing to smoke in silence, his eyes filled with the confusion of a middle-aged man.

The cigarette was soon spent; he stubbed it out in the ashtray on the center console.

Fan Wei noticed the ashtray was full of cigarette butts. When he opened the lid, the sharp stench of smoke flooded the car. The coach waved his hand, trying to disperse the haze.

“That won’t help much. If you start the car and let the wind blow, the smoke will clear right out. Since something’s on your mind, maybe we should cancel the plan to visit my aunt today and go back to the club to rest,” Fan Wei suggested.

“Oh, I’d forgotten about visiting your aunt in Hexi. I must be losing my mind,” the coach admitted, a little embarrassed.

“It’s fine. I can go another day,” Fan Wei replied.

“No, I promised to visit your aunt with you, and I’ll keep my word. Since we said we’d go, we’ll go. Let’s head off,” the coach said, starting the engine.

The modified car roared to life and sped out of the residential complex, tearing down the deserted Hexi corridor like a gust of wind.

Along the riverside promenade, lush trees lined the way. Sunlight reflected off car windows, sometimes so dazzling it was hard to see oncoming traffic, nearly causing the car to veer into the river.

“That was close! My mind must have wandered. If we’d gotten into an accident, the club would be in big trouble,” the coach said, still shaken.

“Of course. You’re the club’s treasure. As for me, it doesn’t matter. But with your driving skills, nothing will happen. I know you’re a racing enthusiast—on roads like these, you’d never have an accident,” Fan Wei said, full of confidence in the coach.

Soon, they reached the Hexi Bridge and passed a village.

At one end of the village was a massive market, supplying nearly sixty percent of the city’s fresh vegetables.

At the market exit, Fan Wei spotted his aunt from afar, carrying two large shopping bags. He quickly asked the coach to stop. “Wait, that’s my aunt at the exit, buying groceries. Her house is still about two kilometers from here. Let’s give her a ride.”

The coach braked hard, the car lurching forward and then back as they came to a stop.

“Aren’t you going to help your aunt with her bags? I’ll pull over so we don’t block traffic,” the coach reminded him.

Fan Wei got out and jogged toward the market exit, calling out from a distance, “Auntie, wait! Let me help you with those!”

Hearing her nephew’s voice, Fan’s aunt set down her bags, wiped the sweat from her brow, and looked at him with delight.

She stood at the market entrance, her large bags filled with vegetables.

“I thought your head coach was coming for a drink with you. Where is he? Don’t tell me you tricked me into buying all this food—I’ll never finish it in a week!” she teased.

“See that sports car over there? The coach is waiting for us in the car,” Fan Wei replied.

“Oh, I thought he didn’t come. You scared me! I was dreading having to eat all these vegetables myself. Good, he’s here, that’s all that matters,” she said, glancing toward the car and waving as the coach waved back.

Fan Wei picked up the heavy bags. “You only needed to buy a few dishes. There’s no way we can finish all this in one meal.”

They walked quickly toward the car. “The market is so lively—crowded and bustling, such a thriving scene,” his aunt remarked.

“True, it’s always busy now, especially during the evening rush. Most people only have time to buy groceries after work. You’ve worked hard, Auntie!” Fan Wei said, showing genuine concern.

“It’s nothing. Your head coach rarely visits. Don’t you want to become a starter on the team? Today’s your chance—do you understand? Silly child!” She grinned from ear to ear.

Perhaps because of his troubled mood, the head coach had planned to return to the club before lights out, but after an argument with his ex-wife at home, the thought had vanished. Now, he was on the phone with someone.

As Fan Wei approached, he overheard the coach tell someone he wouldn’t be back at the club tonight. The coach was so focused on the call he didn’t notice Fan Wei standing beside him. “It’s fine, Fan Wei’s with me tonight. He’s not going back either. Don’t worry,” the coach said before hanging up.

Fan Wei realized the coach was asking for leave from the club. The prospect of not having to return to that cage-like place for the night filled him with joy. He placed the big shopping bags in the trunk, lowered the hatch, and opened the door for his aunt.

She sat in the back seat, stealing glances at the man before her—her nephew’s head coach. She’d often heard stories about him from Fan Wei, but seeing him in person, she found that, though he had the air of a middle-aged man, there was a gentle sorrow in his eyes.

When their eyes met, her cheeks instantly flushed.

“I’m Fan Wei’s aunt. I’ve seen you on TV during league broadcasts—your tall figure from afar. In person, you’re even more handsome. It’s truly our honor to have you as a guest in our home,” she said warmly.

“Oh, you flatter me. I’m nothing but an old has-been now! I’ve long wanted to meet the remarkable woman who raised Fan Wei so well. What kind of strength must you have to overcome life’s hardships and bring him up so excellently?” the coach replied with genuine admiration.

“You give me too much credit. I’ve only done what any elder should. Fan Wei’s had a hard life. On his deathbed, my brother entrusted him to me. I couldn’t let my brother down,” she said, her eyes growing moist with emotion.

Fan Wei simply sat there, foolishly observing the exchange.

“Go make some tea for your coach—don’t just sit there like a fool,” his aunt said, turning to him.

(To be continued)