It was already late at night . At this hour, everyone was asleep in their beds . Other than occasional passing cars on the roads beneath them, there were no sounds .
The fans whirred noisily in the house; there was no air-conditioner . It wasn't that they could not afford it . It was just that summer here was not too hot, especially when they slept with open windows at night . It was even cooling if there were gentle evening winds blowing .
Despite the soft cooling winds, Tang En, who lay on the sleeping mats, was not asleep yet . He turned over . The mat was placed right beneath the windows and he could clearly see the starry sky outside .
This was his home, or had used to be his home . Right now, however, he lay on the guest bed . It had felt strange the whole day .
"Tony?" Dunn, on the other bed, suddenly called out to him .
"Yeah?"
"I knew you haven't fallen asleep yet . "
"Can't sleep . "
Shuffling noises could be heard from his back . Dunn sat up on his bed .
"If you can't sleep, let's go out to get some air . "
Tang En took a backward glimpse at Dunn, who stood in front of his bed, and then sat up as well .
The two put on their jackets and left the house quietly .
"Where to?" Tang En asked .
"Anywhere . " Dunn walked in front, leading . The two walked over a small hilltop and saw paddy fields and a dam behind the slopes .
Where they reached was a city still brightly lit in the late of night . There were no neon lights or street lamps . Surrounding them were short houses painting a slab of darkness . A full moon shone above their heads, casting moonlight as pure as snow across the ground, lighting it up brightly . They did not have to worry about tripping on their path .
"I've almost forgotten that natural light can be this luminous . " Tang En raised his head to look at the round moon hanging in the sky . "I still remember when I was very young… At that time, we didn't have our own bathrooms, and everyone had to go to the public ones, the kinds like pit latrines . At night around this time, I had needed to go to the toilet . But I didn't dare to go to the public toilet on my own . It was pitch dark there, and I was afraid there would be ghosts . So, I peed standing in front of my own house . The sky was clear then . The full moon was shining . I was only semi-conscious, having been asleep . I saw the ground covered in white, shining brightly, and thought it was snowing . In the end, there was nothing at all when I woke up the next day . Before going to college, I had never seen snow with my own eyes . The moonlight made it seem as if the grounds were covered in a layer of snow . "
He pointed to the dam not far away . "When I was younger, it felt like the dam was very, very big . We could even play football and watch movies there . Now it seems… tiny . "
"The water paddy on that side…" he pointed to a point even further, "in primary school, we didn't have classes on Tuesday afternoons . Our teacher would organize for us to come over here to fish for lobsters . We would place the ones we caught into a small bucket and roast them on the spot after we were finished . There wasn't any seasoning, but the group of us ate so happily…"
"The mountaintop even further back is rumored to be unmarked graves . People were buried there . On spring outings, we would go there as well . Young children had little courage, but can still be bold sometimes . Playing on top of the grave mounds without any respect for the dead… I still remember a classmate who was very fashionable . He danced something of Michael Jackson's for us and was popular with the girls then . Now that I think about it, it was just a segment of moonwalking… At such a young age, he already knew how to get girls . Meanwhile, I was just sitting in a daze at a corner . In the memories of the others, I was probably forgotten . "
Dunn stood beside him without saying a word . He quietly listened to Tang En talk about his own past .
"I had thought I can't possibly remember such little, mundane things, and I did forget them later . But, with the trip back this time, seeing the familiar scenery, it's all come back . Our memory is such an amazing thing . "
He fell silent . Standing on the small village road, he looked far away towards the dam and water paddy lit under the moonlight . The sounds of crickets gradually became louder .
"I don't think I've said sorry to you?" Dunn suddenly said as he stood next to him .
Tang En looked back at him oddly .
"You're the real Dunn, who was born and raised here . I know you really want to call them mum and dad . I was the one who robbed you of things that belonged to you . "
Tang En laughed . "We can't really say it's a robbery . We just exchanged bodies . If you must say you robbed mine, then I've also robbed you . "
"There's nothing good about what I have . It doesn't matter even if you rob me of them . You saw it too, in Eastwood's graveyard… If you're referring to your current success, that has nothing to do with me . " Dunn shrugged . "So, I'm the one who owes you more… I wished very much to have a warm home . And I'm very sorry I have taken yours . "
Seeing Dunn's sincere face, Tang En quieted briefly before saying, "To tell the truth… before this, I wasn't someone who would miss home . 'Home' had never been such a strong feeling as I feel now . Maybe it's because I got it so easily in the past, so I didn't know how to cherish it . Now that it's gone, I feel differently . Without this, without you, I might have continued without knowing how to cherish it . Everything has a price . Now that I've learned to cherish it, the price is that I no longer have a home . But where on earth would you be able to find something so perfect? A successful career with no financial worries, a lovely wife with obedient kids at home, healthy and happy parents in their late years, a harmonious family . I would be a successful manager, successful son, successful husband, and a successful father… a person admired by the world… How is it possible for us to have anything and everything we want? I can't possibly monopolize all the good things, can I?"
Tang En said this to Dunn with a smile .
"You're right . There isn't anything in the world that's completely perfect . When you gain something, you'll necessarily lose something else… but Tony, your problem, in fact, can be easily solved . "
"Hmm?"
"I can't give you a successful career, or a lovely wife and good children . But I think I can return you a home . "
"Ah?"
"Would you be willing to be my godbrother? To be my parent's godson?" Tang En was stunned . Dunn continued . "To begin with, they're your parents . Only, after establishing this relationship, you won't have to call your own mum auntie . And… we're so much in sync, don't you think it feels like we're brothers? We share each other's memories . You'll always be there in my life and I'm always in yours . We don't have any secrets from each other, just like true brothers who grew up together since youth . "
Dunn finished saying this and looked at Tang En .
Tang En also looked back, staring at him for a long while before he slowly replied . "When I had found myself transmigrating from China suddenly into an Englishman's body, I cursed God and Fate, believing that they were playing a huge joke on me . I felt I was the world's unluckiest person . And now, I feel that perhaps we should have been linked together to begin with . This wasn't some draw in a random lottery . This is something that has long been decided upon… Do you believe there is another pair of hands acting behind Fate? I didn't used to believe it . But now I do . Why was it you swapping with me and not someone else? Like the world's richest man, the head of a nation, a movie superstar… Why you, and why me? It appears coincidental, but it's in fact inevitable . Everything has a cause and effect; an effect must have a cause… Are you feeling dizzy yet?"
Dunn shook his head .
"Anyway, this is what it means: we're destined to be together . Otherwise, how else would I be able to meet you amongst the throngs of people on a trip back to Chengdu? Chengdu has more than 10 million people . Why did I meet with you of all people? So… hey, is there any ceremony needed to recognize them as my godparents?"
Dunn shook his head with a smile . "We don't need anything . "
Hearing Dunn say so, Tang En nodded vigorously . "I don't want to pretend to be strong anymore . I'm not going to put up a front . I'll do it . "
He yawned as he finished his words . "Let's go back to sleep, I'm tired . "
"Because the timezone switched over?"
"It's been switched over for a long time; since Beijing!"
※※※
Tang En only woke up nearing to noon time . By the time he got up from bed, Dunn had already returned from helping his parents .
"You're up? How did you sleep? Are you comfortable?" His mother asked when she saw him .
Tang En nodded furiously . "Yes, I slept very well . And I feel extremely comfortable!"
Of course, he was comfortable . This was a place he had stayed in for 20 years…
Dunn threw him a look, signaling that he had already made preparations .
Over lunch, Tang En talked about his own life experiences and expressed his wish for them to accept him as their godson . The two elders were not at all surprised . It seemed like Dunn had really mentioned this to them beforehand .
They were very happy to have a foreigner as their son, readily agreeing to it .
Very simply, in that manner, Tang En once again became his parents' son . Only this time, he had to add a "god" before the title . However, he did not care about those little details in the name . He was overjoyed he could finally call his mother "mother," and his father "father" without worry .
Initially, he only hoped to have a more reasonable excuse to get closer to his parents when he followed Dunn back here . In that way, he would already be satisfied . He did not expect himself to get more than that; he had gotten back his parents and found what he had lost .
He could wish for nothing else . This had been a perfect vacation .
In the following few days, Tang En was finally able to throw off the burden in his heart and live in his own home in a relaxed and joyful state . He could go out to climb the mountains and search for those times in his youth . He still attracted a lot of curious gazes scrutinizing him wherever he went, but he did not care .
※※※
After staying at home for half a month, when they had to leave, Dunn decided to come clean with his parents . He told them what he was really doing in England .
"A manager?" His father was not someone who knew nothing . Of course, he knew what a professional football manager did . He only asked this because he was so surprised . He did not expect his own son to be working as a manager overseas, in the highest level of the league .
Dunn nodded . "Tony asked me to help him out, so I did . "
His mother sat to one side without saying anything .
"My son…" His father turned to look at Tang En . "Can he really be a manager?"
Tang En nodded firmly to prove he was not lying . "He's very talented . Within two years, he rose from an ordinary manager in the Youth Team to become their assistant manager . In the latter half of the year, I plan to transfer him to the First Team to be my helper . "
Hearing Tang En's words, his father turned to look at Dunn again . "I only knew that you liked football very much when you were young… I didn't think you would be able to find work in it now . Then, your work in Chengdu…"
"I quit before I left… I'm sorry I kept that from you . "
Tang En sat next to them quietly . This was a matter between Dunn and his father . Even with Tang En's understanding of his own father, he did not know what answer he would give . Would he agree or disagree? What if he disagreed? Should he try to persuade him? After all, Dunn was truly the best candidate to be his assistant manager . Tang En would certainly be unwilling to lose such a capable helper… Should he use the fact that a manager could earn a lot of money annually to persuade his own father?
His father fell silent for a period, and said slowly, "Anyway, work is work, regardless of where you are . There isn't any difference working as a manager or running sales . Of course, it's even better if you like the job . "
"Thank you, Dad!"
"Anyway, just keep this in mind . No matter what work you're doing, you have to do your best . "
"Yes, Dad . I will remember that . "
And then he turned to look at Tang En . "You're older than him and more familiar with what's over there . I'll have to trouble you to take care of him . "
Tang En smiled . "No need to worry, Dad . "
"You have to take care of yourself over there…" Dunn's mother finally voiced out, having stayed quiet the whole time . A reluctance lingered in her voice .
"Mum . There are vacation periods every year . I will come back to see you both . Or, I can even bring you over to reside in England . "
"It's fine to enjoy a trip overseas, but staying there? Never mind that, I think…" His father waved his hands . "I still like it here . "
The two elders did not see being a football manager as any great career . They did not even ask questions such as how much money he could earn in a year . In their hearts, there was no difference between being a manager or working a sales job in Chengdu… This relieved Tang En .
He also discovered something . His decision to follow Dunn back to his old home was absolutely the correct choice . It allowed him to notice some things he had unintentionally neglected in the past .
To him, this trip was not a vacation in China . This was coming home .
※※※
After saying goodbye to their parents, Tang En and Dunn began their new journey, leaving the small town filled with countless memories from when he was a child, and which had nourished and birthed him .
A flight from Chengdu to Beijing, and then from there directly to Germany .
That was their plan . They were not going to stay and take a leisure trip in either Chengdu or Beijing . Neither Dunn nor Tang En were interested in such things; they weren't fond of shopping, and they found it unnecessary to tour around . Only when they were back in their hometown did Tang En go out shopping for local specialty products for Shania and Sophia . It was the only time he shopped since his return to China .
When they had arrived, both Tang En and Dunn only brought a suitcase each . In it were changing clothes, toiletries, and presents for their parents; they could be considered lightly packed . When they left, other than the two suitcases they brought with them, they had another two huge luggage bags filled with local specialty goods from their hometown .
After they got their plane tickets and checked-in their luggage, the two, now lightly packed, casually strolled along the waiting area .
With the World Cup looming, they could see several tour groups in the airport waving the 'Visit Germany and watch the World Cup' flag . Even within the Beijing Capital International Airport, there was a thick atmosphere of football in the air .
"The world's number one sport…" Tang En shrugged . "The fans going to Germany are going there to cheer for another country . This is a situation that happens maybe only in China . Hey, Dunn . You've been in China these few years . You know what China's soccer is like, right?"
Dunn nodded .
"They got eliminated even before entering the top 10… what a pity… having played in JiA and JiB domestically for several years . They ended up walking out into the world to find that their best skills were still below par in comparison to people in Western Asia… it's tragic . How pitiful Chinese football is…"
Dunn silently listened to Tang En grouse . In terms of knowledge on China's football, he certainly could not measure up to Tang En . Their feelings towards it, as well, was not something he could compare with the "foreigner" before him .
"Never mind . Let's stop talking about something that spoils my appetite . When we get to Germany, we won't be moving around together anymore . I'll be working on the commentary for the live match broadcast by BBC . Your main objective is to take note of which players we could bring in during the summer . "
Dunn nodded . "Yes . "
"Let's go . I think we should be boarding the plane . "
The two walked to the boarding gate to wait .
At this point, Tang En suddenly heard someone calling his name .
"Tony Twain?"
He turned back on reflex, finding himself looking at a rather familiar face .
It was the female reporter who had come to interview him when he had wanted to buy Chinese player Sun Jihai, and even got dissed by him . He had met her a few times after that again in various sorts of interviews . It was Tang Jing .
Chapter end
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