CHAPTER 750: CHAPTER 301: QUARRELS

"Gao Xiang didn’t go to the Provincial City?" He is the main player of this year’s U17 runner-up team, and the Provincial City basketball club is planning to sign a contract with him..."

He Tiantian remembered very clearly, just the other day, there was gossip about it in the class group chat.

Gao Xiang started playing basketball when he was in middle school and could only enter County First Middle School because of his athletic talent.

After joining County First Middle School, his focus was mainly on training. His father was a businessman with some connections.

In his first year of high school, Mr. Gao pulled some strings and sent Gao Xiang to the Provincial City, where he joined the basketball club’s Youth Training Class and played in the U17 basketball competition that year and the following year.

In the national competition that ended this May, Gao Xiang’s team won the runner-up championship. At the time, there was discussion in the class:

"With a situation like Gao Xiang’s, is it possible for him to be recruited directly to a university?"

There are several scenarios in which an athlete may be directly recruited to a university, and with Gao Xiang having a Second-level athlete’s certificate and finishing in the top three in a national competition, he should be eligible.

If he chooses a non-sports major, he would still need to take exams.

But if he goes to a sports university, he would only need to pass a single subject test.

Recruitment!

There is also the possibility of being admitted to a university without exams, which is the dream of countless high school students.

Gao Xiang became a celebrated figure in County First Middle School not just because of his looks and talent but also because of the possibility of being directly recruited to a university.

People always have an inexplicable longing for "privileges."

"Right, I went to work at our school’s printing factory this morning and happened to hear a few teachers discussing Gao Xiang."

Chen Nan stuffed food into her mouth quickly as she chatted with He Tiantian, "I heard he’s officially signed the contract and is preparing to join the new season’s games."

"Even though he’s only a substitute, he’ll only be eighteen next month, definitely a promising young player."

"He came back this time just to ask for leave."

"In fact, for him, going to school isn’t that important anymore. He’s already been recruited to the sports college in the Provincial City and has signed with the club to become an official player; he even has a job—"

Chen Nan rarely gossiped like this, and when she mentioned Gao Xiang, there was a touch of envy in her words.

Yes, for ordinary students like them, going to university is definitely the best route.

And being an athlete doesn’t seem too bad either. Especially in major sports like soccer and basketball, even if their grades aren’t the best, the treatment for players is quite good.

If they perform well, they might even go abroad to play ball or sign endorsement deals and do advertisements, easily earning more money than ordinary people could make in their whole lives.

Gao Xiang was even more impressive; not only could he be a player, but he could also go to university.

Even if he retires later or doesn’t make a name for himself, he still has a fallback.

Not to mention, Gao Xiang’s family runs a business, and he is an only child. As long as he stays clear of any red lines, he can live a worry-free life.

Both seventeen or eighteen years old, Gao Xiang already had multiple options, each allowing him to lead a very good life.

In contrast, Chen Nan herself had no other option besides studying hard and getting into a good university.

Thinking of this, the gossiping spirit that Chen Nan had barely managed to muster was instantly extinguished.

She spat out a chicken bone, finished off the rest of her rice in just a few bites, quickly cleaned up the trash, told He Tiantian something, and then buried her head back in her test prep.

If she couldn’t have a good family background, then she would have to work hard herself!

The truth is, Gao Xiang also had more choices because he played basketball well.

Thinking this way, the bit of resentment in Chen Nan’s heart disappeared, and she was left with one thought: Study! Study hard! To fight to get out of this small county at any cost!

He Tiantian couldn’t hear Chen Nan’s inner voice, but seeing her focused appearance, she knew this was someone who understood what she wanted and was willing to fight with all her might.

That’s exactly the spirit young people should have: to exert themselves and strive, never wasting time!

He Tiantian once again admired Chen Nan’s diligence and clarity of mind.

She also thought that Gao Xiang was a serious and hardworking person.

He Tiantian and Chen Nan had similar thoughts—Gao Xiang was able to secure a recruitment slot because he was good at basketball and achieved excellent results in competitions.

But many classmates from County First Middle School and High School Grade 2 Class 7 saw only Gao Xiang’s "luck."

And with Gao Xiang’s return, topics about him and about direct recruitment were never-ending.

Not just the students, even more mature parents and teachers wished their children could enter higher-level educational institutions.