Translator: dapotaturs
Release Date: 09/04/2023
As Su Bai and his group returned to the Asian Games Village with excitement still lingering, the official social media account of the National Athletics Team had just released the good news about the 400-meter event in the Asian Games.
National Athletics Team: 【#JakartaAsianGamesAthleticsMoment# In the men's 400-meter semifinal that concluded at 9:00 PM Jakarta time tonight, our athletes Zhang Ziyi and Qiu Wen achieved qualification for the final with the first and second positions in their respective semifinal groups! This marks the first time in history that two athletes from our country's men's 400-meter sprint have simultaneously entered the finals of the Asian Games. It's also the first time that an athlete has advanced to the finals as the first-place finisher in the semifinal group! Let us sincerely congratulate these two athletes who have made history for our country's 400-meter event and wish them all the best to create more miracles in the finals!】
During this period, when the Asian Games were a hot topic, compared to news about other events winning gold medals and such, the news about the men's 400-meter sprint might seem like "two athletes entering the final," and it might not appear to be a big deal to most passersby. However, for those who truly understood athletics, this achievement was a remarkable advancement!
In the domestic athletics community, especially in the track and field aspect, after seeing the team's achievement, the spirits were lifted. Among them, the members of the S Province Athletics Team were almost itching to hang an exciting banner outside the athletics team's base after watching the live broadcast of the event.
【Did you see it? Two athletes from the national athletics team simultaneously entered the men's 400-meter sprint finals! One of them is from our team!】
【Did you see it? Giving such great results to the national team in the 400-meter event, and having such a amazing coach, they are also from our team!】
He Yishen, Zhao Heping, and Li Peisheng, the director of the s Province Athletics Team, were all watching the live broadcast with satisfied smiles like proud fathers.
They had witnessed Qiu Wen's journey from competing in the 100-meter and 200-meter events to his transition to the 400-meter event. They had seen his progress from not performing well before the transition to a burst of improvement after the transition. This change in performance was like witnessing the birth of a miracle.
On the internet, after the official social media account of the national team sent out the announcement, this piece of news was initially drowned out by other Asian Games-related information. However, suddenly, the number of people reading this news skyrocketed, attracting many passersby.
It turned out that the athletics enthusiast who had engaged in a back-and-forth with passersby on Weibo had bought a premium placement for this news post, along with something else unknown. In any case, compared to before, the discussion's intensity on Weibo increased significantly.
Clicking into the Weibo account named "Dasheng Runs Fast," one could see that he had already forwarded the official team's Weibo post.
Dasheng Runs Fast: 【Zhang Shuai is awesome!! Xiaoyu is awesome!!! I won't say much, I just went downstairs for a run around to calm down, and this time's 400-meter semifinals in the Asian Games were the most exhilarating I've seen our domestic athletes run! I admit that Coach Su's interview might not have been empty talk. He has achieved half of the goal he set, and I'm also extremely excited about the other half! As long as the remaining half of the goal can be achieved... No, as long as our 4x400-meter relay team can break into the top four in this competition, I will honor all the reckless bets I made before! Today, I'm giving our national team a wave of headlines and shares. No doubt, Zhang Shuai and Xiao Qiu, go for it in the finals tomorrow! Go, China's sprinting!!】
After this athletics enthusiast posted his content, many passersby recalled the recent Weibo bet between him and other athletics enthusiasts. Upon reflection, everyone realized that, "Oh, both athletes from the Chinese team's 400-meter event have made it to the finals, and this seems to be the first time in history!"
Those who had caught wind of this story on the internet laughed heartily in the comments below Dasheng's post. As well-known iron-blooded fans in the athletics community chimed in after Dasheng's post. Most of them were jokingly wishing him luck with his video recording, and in return, he playfully retorted with explosive head-bashing emojis.
While discussions about the 400-meter event were gaining momentum on the internet and in China, Su Bai and his group were already seated in a small restaurant within their building in the Asian Games Village. This time, it wasn't just the 400-meter project's athletes, but also some familiar faces like Wang Shen, Cui Luoheng, and the others. Jiang Wentao, Pei Jin'an, Wang Ting, and a few others had taken the same ride back, and since they hadn't had enough time to chat on the way, they had come together to the restaurant.
The national team's staff had gone out earlier in the day to purchase various ingredients. At this hour, Zhang Ziyi, Qiu Wen, and Pei Jin'an, among a dozen or so people, chatted in the restaurant. Meanwhile, Su Bai was busy in the restaurant's kitchen.
The ingredients in the kitchen were directly purchased by the national team's staff after receiving the procurement list in the morning. Therefore, there were no worries about the quality of the ingredients. They had bought some local specialties like coconuts, among others, as part of the shopping list. At the moment, it was past 10:00 PM, which was considered late. Pei Jin'an and the coaches didn't mind, but Su Bai intended to prepare some simple, easily digestible, and non-stimulating food to fill their stomachs and provide a slight energy boost for the athletes.
In the restaurant, while chatting, Jiang Wentao mentioned Su Bai, who was still in the kitchen.
"Ah, we brought Coach Xiao Bai along, but who would have thought we also brought along a chef for the team?" Jiang Wentao turned to look at Su Bai, who was busy in the kitchen, with a gleeful smile on his face.
Hearing Jiang Wentao's words, Zhang Ziyi also chuckled alongside him. He added, "Seems like it's not just a team chef but also a chef for state banquets on the team."
"Ha! Team banquet chef?" Jiāng Wéntāo raised an eyebrow. "Seems like you guys have a high opinion of Coach Su's cooking skills."
Hearing this topic, Qíu Wén immediately lifted his head proudly. "Our Xiaobai is a cooking genius!"
With Qíu Wén's statement, the 400m project athletes nearby nodded in agreement. During this training period, Su Bai's culinary skills had left a lasting impression on them, making it hard to categorize him as either an angel or a devil.
Calling him an angel, Su Bai's initial introduction to the national team left a memorable impression. Calling him a devil, the nightly midnight snacks he prepared were irresistible and unforgettable.
Péi Jìn'ān also chuckled from the side. "Actually, after Wú Shèngpíng went to the S Province track and field team for a few days, he came back praising them to no end. He said their chef was amazing, not just in culinary skills, but even in evaluating 400m runners."
Of course, that person Wú Shèngpíng was praising was none other than Su Bai.
"Haha, then we should really look forward to Coach Xiao Su's cooking skills!" Jiāng Wéntāo laughed.
As they talked and laughed, about fifteen minutes passed. Gradually, a faint aroma started emanating from the direction of the small restaurant's kitchen. Among them was a hint of sweet coconut fragrance, along with other fresh aromas.
Starting from the kitchen, the conversations in the restaurant began to wane as the aroma spread. Qíu Wén, who was looking a bit down earlier, seemed to be awakened by the scent. His spirits lifted again.
Seeing Qíu Wén regain his energy, Zhāng Zǐyì was relieved. Qíu Wén had not only secured a spot in the finals tonight, but he also broke the 46-second barrier, achieving both the finals and a personal best. However, Qíu Wén had seemed a bit down. Originally, Zhāng Zǐyì thought it was because Qíu Wén didn't secure first place in his group. But Qíu Wén's concern wasn't about that at all.
"Umm, this is my first year training in the 400m project. I should be happy with the results, but I regret overthinking things before the race. Coach Su told me not to overthink and just focus on the race. During the semifinals, when I stopped thinking about everything else, I felt my performance improved... Sigh, I regret it. If I hadn't overthought things from the beginning, it would've been better..."
These words...
Zhāng Zǐyì thought that Qíu Wén was upset about his performance or rank, which he could have consoled. But it turned out that Qíu Wén's disappointment was purely due to his own rivalry with himself, which made it difficult for Zhāng Zǐyì to know what to say.
Luckily, it seemed that Qíu Wén had recovered.
Beside him, Wáng Shēn, who had no relation to the sprinting events and was simply here for the food, noticed Zhāng Zǐyì's concern. He grinned and patted Zhāng Zǐyì's shoulder, saying, "Don't worry about Qíu Wén. He's a dog in the Chinese zodiac. Whatever unhappy thing he has, he just needs a meal cooked by Xiao Bai to fix it. If there's anything a meal can't solve, he can just have another."
...
Although Zhāng Zǐyì found Wáng Shēn's words a bit outlandish, he couldn't help but agree as he saw Qíu Wén's eager gaze directed toward the kitchen. Sometimes, things really did seem to work that way.
Lost in his thoughts, Zhāng Zǐyì's peripheral vision caught sight of Cuī Luòhéng, who had been quiet the whole time. Although they were just walking to the cafeteria together, Cuī Luòhéng hadn't said much on the way.
However, at this moment... he had a serious expression, but his peripheral vision was also focused on the kitchen. Zhāng Zǐyì, a mere mortal, suddenly felt that perhaps there was more than one dog in the track and field team.
Wait, both of these dogs are from the S Province track and field team that Su Bai brought here. Could this be a characteristic of the S Province track and field team?
The fragrance from the kitchen wasn't overwhelmingly strong or heavy. Perhaps it was due to the use of coconuts in today's ingredients, creating a light coconut fragrance that enveloped the entire restaurant. Occasionally, a hint of lemon's slight acidity mixed in, adding a unique touch to the sweet fragrance.
As Su Bai began cooking in the kitchen, he opted for simple and easy-to-digest dishes. By the time all the food was served, it wasn't too late.
When the personally crafted midnight snacks were placed on the table, everyone at the table couldn't wait any longer. They immediately grabbed their portions and started eating.
The simple meal consisted of three dishes: Sweet and Sour Lemon Shrimp, Coconut Egg Custard, and a bowl of Seafood Noodles. The shrimp, cleaned and opened by Su Bai, were layered with a special sweet and sour sauce, creating a bright and tempting appearance. Next to the plate was a dipping sauce made with sea salt.
The shrimp were tender and juicy, with a satisfying crunch when bitten into. A subtle hint of lemon fragrance mingled with the sweet and sour sauce, providing a refreshing and appetizing taste.
The coconut-infused egg custard was a dish Su Bai often made. It was simple, nutritious, and easy on the stomach, making it a perfect addition to a midnight snack. The difference this time was the incorporation of coconut milk, adding a delicate coconut aroma to complement the flavor of the eggs. The coconut milk balanced the slight egg aroma, resulting in a delightful and palatable dish.
Among the three dishes, the Seafood Noodles had the largest portion. It included squid tentacles, fresh shrimp, clams, and greens. The goal of this dish was pure freshness. The light broth combined with perfectly cooked fresh ingredients created a burst of freshness with each spoonful. The soup had a touch of white pepper's fragrance, adding a subtle kick that combined with the broth to create a refreshing sensation.
Drinking a mouthful of the steaming seafood broth and then taking a bite of the chewy round noodles, along with the tender and smooth squid tentacles, was like experiencing the first summer breeze after a satisfying workout. It was truly invigorating.
Sipping the deliciously warm and flavorful seafood broth, followed by a mouthful of springy and flavorful squid, the sensation was both tender and slippery. It was an experience that was hard to stop enjoying.
A bowl of seafood noodles, a serving of sweet and sour lemon shrimp, and finally a portion of coconut milk egg custard – although the variety of ingredients was not extensive, the experience of eating each dish was distinct and uniquely satisfying.
Among the people at the table, some preferred to alternate between bites of noodles and the tangy lemon shrimp, experiencing the transition from hot to refreshing flavors, and then finishing with a mouthful of coconut milk egg custard. Others chose to finish one plate before moving on to the next.
Regardless of their eating style, everyone enjoyed the meal wholeheartedly, yet they were left with a feeling that the experience was too brief.
Initially, when hearing the discussions among the track and field team about Su Bai's cooking skills, Jiang Wentao thought they were exaggerating. However, after experiencing Su Bai's meal firsthand, he understood that these praises were not exaggerated at all. Indeed, only by tasting these dishes could one truly appreciate their allure.
After finishing the last spoonful of coconut milk egg custard, Jiang Wentao put down his spoon and looked at Su Bai with a profound expression. "Coach Xiao Su, your late-night snack is beyond words, impressive!"
Sitting next to him, Pei Jin'an and Wang Ting had just finished eating. Wang Ting, after finishing his meal, thought of something and turned to his protégé, Zhang Ziyi.
"...Ziyi," Wang Ting addressed him, "you guys were implying that Coach Xiao Su prepares these late-night snacks for you every night?"
Zhang Ziyi, after sipping the last bit of soup from his bowl, hesitated momentarily and then nodded.
Wang Ting, with a trace of envy, continued to gaze at his protégé with a subtle smile.
Even Wang Shen, after finishing his meal, turned to Su Bai with a grin. "Xiao Bai, how about you check if I have any sprinting talent? Why don't you take me under your wing as well?"
Clearly, Wang Shen was joking, but just as he spoke, Jiang Wentao reprimanded him with a word, "Nonsense."
After finishing the food in front of him, Qiu Wen continued to gaze at Su Bai, his eyes brimming with hope. "Xiao Bai... I've been emotionally wounded today. I feel like I need two portions of late-night snacks to soothe my wounded soul!"
Saying this, he raised his hand, forming the gesture of the number "2."
Seeing Qiu Wen pitifully appealing, Zhou Xu beside him couldn't help but comment with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Xiao Qiu, you're feeling emotionally wounded because you didn't take first place in the semi-finals of your group? Then, how is the guy you surpassed, McNair, supposed to live?"
In today's competition, McNair had performed excellently in the first half, and his semi-final time was 46.03 seconds. It could be said that if it weren't for Qiu Wen's sudden improvement and performance beyond expectations, McNair would have certainly broken the 46-second barrier this season during tonight's competition.
Qiu Wen's train of thought was unusually clear at this moment. He earnestly shifted the blame, "My emotional distress is because I wasn't in the best shape at the start. It has nothing to do with others. So, McNair's issues shouldn't be attributed to me!"
Zhang Chang chuckled upon hearing this. "Hmm? Xiao Qiu, that's not quite right. After the semi-finals ended, I saw someone on the field who was constantly observing Roger."
Qiu Wen persisted, "Roger is someone I definitely want to defeat in the future! I need to remember his face so I can recognize him when I beat him!"
In the dining hall, the atmosphere was relaxed and harmonious after the successful semi-finals of the 400-meter event that night. When Su Bai casually turned his head, he noticed that Cui Luoheng's usually calm face seemed to show a subtle change in expression upon hearing Qiu Wen's words about shifting blame. For a fleeting moment, his gaze seemed to reflect contemplation of the meaning behind those words. However, in the next instant, Cui Luoheng's determination became even stronger.
Later that evening, everyone returned to their dormitories after the late-night snack, and the leftover food and kitchen cleanup were taken care of by the staff at the Asian Games Village. Su Bai, as a coach, walked back to the coach's dormitory floor with Wang Ting, Pei Jin'an, and others.
As they walked back, Pei Jin'an's eyes were still filled with anticipation. "Coach Xiao Su, the 400-meter finals are tomorrow night. Do you think we have a chance to compete for medals with both Zhang Ziyi and Qiu Wen making it to the finals?"
The prospect of a medal in the 400-meter event at the Asian Games was something Pei Jin'an had never even dared to think about in the past. But now, with Zhang Ziyi and Qiu Wen both making it to the finals, especially considering Zhang Ziyi's personal best of 45.52 seconds, Pei Jin'an couldn't help but wonder if they could finally reach for those three coveted medals.
Hearing this question, Su Bai fell into a momentary silence. He understood very well that the pursuit of medals in the 400-meter sprint was a dream that had been nurtured for a long time. However, in the world of competitive sports, one of its charms lies in its limitless possibilities.
After reviewing the list of finalists again, Su Bai finally said with a furrowed brow, "Consistency. Tomorrow night's final will mainly depend on how consistently each athlete performs at their level."
"It's foreseeable that our two athletes entering the finals, a situation we've never had before, will definitely raise the alertness of other competitors. It might even stimulate their competitive state, leading them to perform better than we expected," Su Bai explained.
Upon hearing Su Bai's words, Pei Jin'an's expression turned serious. The interaction between athletes and their competitive states is reciprocal. Zhang Ziyi and Qiu Wen would likely be excited by the Asian Games stage, running better times than they ever had before. Similarly, other athletes might become wary of Chinese competitors due to their performance.
Pei Jin'an and Jiang Wentao, who had been excited by the results of the semi-finals, now furrowed their brows, reining in their excitement.
Jiang Wentao concluded, "Our task for the men's 400-meter individual event has already been more than fulfilled. Since that's the case, let's not put too much pressure on the athletes tomorrow. As long as they give their all, embody our sportsmanship, perform in good form, and show their charisma, that's commendable!"
With this mindset and an undeniable trace of anticipation, the night of this day quietly passed. As the sun rose on the next day, the evening of the men's 400-meter final at the Jakarta Asian Games would begin!
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