One Year Left to Play-Chapter 119 - 38: Da Zhi Arrives in America
Even if they just become ordinary players in the NBA, they’re still extremely valuable resources.
Not long after, Wang Zhizhi appeared pushing several large boxes of luggage into Zhang Hao and the group’s view.
Looking at this pile of stuff, Zhang Hao wondered how much of it Wang Zhizhi would have to throw away, and how much he would never use. It’s often said that all mothers in China are the same; when their child is about to travel far, the mother will always stuff the luggage with things she thinks will be useful.
Wang Zhizhi saw the staff holding signs and also saw Zhang Hao, then walked towards them.
Another chubby guy?
Looking at Wang Zhizhi, who was over two meters tall and still had baby fat on his face, Zhang Hao thought the talent was great—after all, he was freshly crowned the best center in the World Youth Championship—but with this build, you could guess his body fat rate was quite high... Probably that steel-blooded coach at Georgetown, John Thompson, would train this chubby kid until he vomited.
"Hello, Da Zhi, I’m Zhang Hao, you can just call me Aix," Zhang Hao casually took over the cart from Wang Zhizhi.
The cart was taken away by Zhang Hao, leaving Wang Zhizhi somewhat at a loss. Faced with Zhang Hao’s enthusiasm, he didn’t know how to respond. Scratching his head, he said, "I’m Wang Zhizhi, hello, Aix, thank you for picking me up."
Looking at the incredibly inexperienced Wang Zhizhi, Zhang Hao smiled, pushed the luggage, and led Wang Zhizhi towards the shop for storing luggage.
Aprile Clark and the media did not approach; the cameraman kept looking for the best angle to shoot, while Xu Jicheng stood nearby handing over the audio recorder.
Zhang Hao proactively started a conversation: "You chose Georgetown University, that was a great choice, the coach there is very good at training centers, guys like Moning, Mutombo, Ewing all came from there. They can train any type of center really well, plus Georgetown University is in Washington D.C., the capital of the United States. Our embassy is there, so if you encounter any issues, you can go to the embassy for help..."
Wang Zhizhi listened to Zhang Hao, who was selected at ninth in the NBA draft right out of high school, without interrupting, and kept nodding.
Just arriving in the US and having someone who speaks the same language pick him up, and also being a basketball player, Wang Zhizhi’s anxiety dissipated a lot.
Wang Zhizhi had boarded the plane as per Beijing time yesterday morning and arrived in the US while it was still morning... He was both sleepy and felt he could still go on, mainly he was tired. He was about to study at a university and play in the NCAA; after understanding the level of this league, he was extremely excited, having not slept for the entire ten-hour flight. But stepping off the plane and seeing people who looked different, had different skin colors and nationalities around him, the loneliness and unease of being in an alien country filled his heart. Now, he felt much relieved.
Listening to Zhang Hao, Wang Zhizhi started to look forward to the upcoming college life...
After storing the luggage, they had lunch together for a break, and in the afternoon, Wang Zhizhi had to fly to Washington D.C. The next day, Wang Zhizhi had to go register at Georgetown University.
They got into the car at the parking lot and went to a booked restaurant for lunch, which was Western food. Since Wang Zhizhi had come to the United States, he definitely had to adapt to the American way of life, Zhang Hao didn’t intentionally look for a Chinese restaurant, which would be expensive, not to mention the dishes tailored to American tastes were practically unbearable.
However, when ordering, seeing Wang Zhizhi’s confused expression, Zhang Hao noticed a problem...
"Da Zhi, do you speak English?"
Wang Zhizhi shook his head.
"..." Zhang Hao was speechless.
Back then, Zhang Hao’s dad had long planned to send his son to this basketball powerhouse to study, having hired a tutor early on to help him practice his spoken English, so there was no major issue in basic communication once he arrived in the US.
But looking at Wang Zhizhi... it’s likely other than words starting with H and F, or phrases like ’come on baby’, he didn’t know anything else.
Wang Zhizhi had no real choice here, he joined the army at a young age and didn’t have much salary.
Originally, in the timeline, he went to the NBA draft in 1998, after playing in the Chinese Jia-A League for three years, had saved some money, and since his first year in Jia-A, he had started planning to enter the draft, earnestly learning English. By 2001 when he entered the NBA, his English was not a big issue.
Now Wang Zhizhi realized—he couldn’t speak English!
Getting an interpreter was definitely impossible; if he were here to play in the NBA with the extraordinarily high salary compared to domestic athletes, hiring an interpreter wouldn’t matter. But Zhang Hao knew Wang Zhizhi was studying abroad on public funds, so how could a translator be provided?
Once in the United States, he naturally had to learn how to survive here; surely, he couldn’t go through four years of college without learning English?
Thinking it over, Zhang Hao said to Xu Jicheng, who was holding the audio recorder, "Brother Xu, do you have anyone in Washington?"
"Of course, the comprehensive news department has a branch over there."
"This way, let’s discuss. When Da Zhi doesn’t have courses or games, isn’t training during free time, can you find someone to teach him English? Just teach him basic communication; over time he can learn on his own, and in the international student curriculum, there should be English subjects... Although I think that’s unlikely, it’s better if you help. If any cost is needed..."
Initially, Xu Jicheng felt Wang Zhizhi studying in the United States and playing in the NCAA seemed like a good thing. He was just realizing Wang Zhizhi turned blind and deaf once in the States... Hearing Zhang Hao’s plan, Xu Jicheng thought it feasible. Abroad, mutual support is how it should be.
When Zhang Hao talked about the costs, Xu Jicheng urgently replied, "No need for costs, I will apply for it, to assign a reporter who’s good in English and familiar with life in Washington as a companion for Da Zhi, and I think the higher-ups will agree."
Although Wang Zhizhi was a soldier, he was just 18 years old, and arriving in America with excitement only to find himself weak, pitiful, and helpless in a foreign land, he could only rely on Zhang Hao and Xu Jicheng’s arrangements, feeling both joy and gratitude...
However, from Xu Jicheng’s perspective, his impression of Zhang Hao improved even more. Compared to Wang Zhizhi, Zhang Hao was much more seasoned in handling matters, resolving Wang Zhizhi’s first major issue in the US.
Nonetheless, Xu Jicheng knew, things start difficult, middle difficult... the challenges Wang Zhizhi would face were plenty.
Seeing Wang Zhizhi’s current honest demeanor, Xu Jicheng predicted Wang Zhizhi would soon encounter society’s hardships... But that’s life; he recalled the year he ran beneath the setting sun, a memory of his lost youth...
...
They had a quick meet-up, a lunch, mainly to resolve Wang Zhizhi’s initial biggest problem—language.
Of course, this only solved the initial issue; whether it could be thoroughly resolved depended on Wang Zhizhi’s determination to practice his spoken English.
After lunch, Wang Zhizhi went to handle registration formalities, pushing a big pile of luggage, followed by more solitary flight time, spanning almost the entire United States.
Meanwhile, Zhang Hao returned to the airport’s exit to wait. American universities generally have three semesters in a year, from mid-August to mid-December, mid-January to mid-April, early May to early July. Tomorrow is the day many universities begin registration; such matters are better done early, as Zhang Hao, Pierce, and Aprile Clark all thought.
By afternoon, around two o’clock, a dragging suitcase Pierce appeared in Zhang Hao and Aprile Clark’s sights.
The face... still quite round, but with Pierce intentionally wearing a vest, he could actually see muscles!
Following reducing a layer of fat the last time, this time, he managed to sculpt muscle lines!
Appearance dictates temperament; although Pierce’s face shaped rather round, his looks were quite fierce. When he used to look like little round melon, unless he was fighting, it was hard to tell his fierceness. Now with muscle bulk, his fierce temperament instantly became apparent.
Seeing the two friends, Pierce exclaimed excitedly, "Aix, Aprile, I’m finally back! Gosh, these 8 weeks were torture! Those football players are simply not human, they’re beasts! Look, my accumulation over more than ten years—oh, that’s right, Aix said, wealth accumulated over more than ten years—just like that, gone..."
Zhang Hao: "..."
Aprile Clark: "..."
It’s him again!
The untouched Pierce, still that familiar chatterbox!
