Cycling: Racing into the Headwind

She didn’t give Huang Chong a direct answer, only said:

"Let’s go upstairs and eat first. After that, you have to rush off to see your friend, and then you still need to catch the high-speed train home!"

...

Huang Chong had been to Chen Junyi’s home more than once. Coupled with the change in Chen Mingyuan’s attitude toward him, he no longer felt nervous.

Besides, after returning from Yunnan Xichou, he had gone to the local market and bought many local specialties. So this time, he came well-prepared instead of empty-handed, which made him feel even more at ease.

Zhang Wanqing was already used to Huang Chong bringing gifts every time he visited.

After the Tour of Qinghai Lake, he had even bought a large pile of local gifts for her and her husband, asking Chen Junyi to help mail them back.

In short, the young man genuinely cared for the two elders. It wasn’t just forced courtesy, and that made her very pleased.

At the dinner table, Chen Mingyuan, of course, already knew about Huang Chong’s impending trip to Europe. His old friend, Zhang Guowei, was a top official and would inform him immediately of any developments in Huang Chong’s career. He was basically a living, breathing informant.

"I hear you’re about to join a World Tour Team and head to Europe. Once you get there, you must take good care of yourself."

"For example, if your body is overloaded during training and you can’t take it anymore, tell the team directly. Don’t try to tough it out."

"The training intensity in Europe is on another level compared to here. I was fortunate enough to be sent to Europe by the country for training back in my day."

"That level of intensity is truly not something an ordinary person can handle."

"Remember, it’s good to pursue career advancement, but your health is your most important asset."

"Especially as an athlete, pushing your limits in training is practically unavoidable."

"You need to find the right balance. You can only achieve great things if you’re healthy. That’s more important than anything."

When Chen Mingyuan said this, both Zhang Wanqing and Chen Junyi, mother and daughter, were stunned.

They were completely surprised that Chen Mingyuan would speak such heartfelt words to an outsider.

After all, the head of their household was usually quite reserved in his interactions. It was rare for him to offer a few words from the heart to just anyone.

Huang Chong was also a little surprised to hear Chen Mingyuan show so much concern for him.

The man’s attitude toward him had gotten better and better each time, which couldn’t help but make him feel a bit secretly pleased and touched.

His expression turned serious as he replied:

"Thank you for your concern, Uncle Chen. I will remember your words and take good care of myself."

...

After lunch, Chen Junyi knew that Huang Chong had to rush home in the afternoon after seeing Dewey, so she immediately drove him to his friend’s house.

When she returned, she started packing her luggage, passport, and other things in her room.

Seeing this, Zhang Wanqing knew exactly what her daughter was up to. She couldn’t help but ask:

"Nannan, are you going abroad early too?"

"There’s still more than half a year until the second semester starts."

"Besides, if you leave now, the Spring Festival is just around the corner. Will you be back for the New Year then?"

Hearing her mother’s words, Chen Junyi—who wasn’t a dense fool like Huang Chong—immediately sensed that her mother was reluctant to let her leave so early.

Especially since after graduating from university and returning to the country, she had barely been home for a few days before Zhang Guowei had called her to be Huang Chong’s assistant coach.

After that, she spent the whole year traveling all over the country, barely spending any days at home.

As parents, they had finally waited until their daughter graduated and returned home. Their greatest wish, naturally, was for her to get married, have children, and stay by their side.

Who would have thought that they would soon be separated by a great distance again.

Zhang Wanqing only had this one obedient daughter; of course she was reluctant to let her go.

Chen Junyi felt bad too.

Especially every time she came home, she could clearly feel that her parents had aged a little more than how she remembered them.

That sense of time slipping away, visible on her parents, sometimes filled her with guilt for not being able to stay by their side.

But she was still young, and this was the age to be ambitious and strive for more.

Besides helping Huang Chong, going abroad early was also for her own master’s thesis, to make it more complete.

So, since she had to go abroad anyway, she didn’t mind leaving half a year early.

She thought for a moment, then could only use a gentle tone to comfort her mother, saying softly:

"Mom, I know you and Dad don’t want me to go, and I don’t want to leave you either."

"But my temporary departure now is so that our family can have a more stable reunion in the future."

"I already did my four-year undergraduate degree in Birmingham, and the university gave me the opportunity to go straight into a master’s program. I definitely have to go and further my studies to improve myself, so I can better contribute to the country in the future."

"This is Dad’s wish too, isn’t it?"

Hearing this, what else could Zhang Wanqing say? She could only sigh to herself.

...

Huang Chong came to see Dewey, of course, to say goodbye.

If all went as planned, after talking to his parents about going to Europe, he would have to fly directly to Germany.

When he would come back next was uncertain.

In any case, given the density of the World Tour race schedule, he wouldn’t be able to come back until the end of next year, after the season was over.

Or he could come back to compete in the Tour of Guangxi, representing the Bora Team.

But if he were to participate in the Tour of Guangxi next year, it would be different from being invited as a wildcard entry this year.

By then, he would be returning to his home country to compete as a World Tour Cyclist, which would be a glorious homecoming.

It’s also a common occurrence for Professional Road Cyclists to participate in races held in their own countries.

This serves as a way to give back to the local fans for their support, like a bonus, and also to influence more amateur enthusiasts to get involved in the sport of road cycling.

Only when more people get into the sport will it create a ripple effect, and only then will more people move toward professional careers.

Seeing Huang Chong come to say goodbye and hearing that he was joining a World Tour Team, Dewey felt truly reluctant to see him go.

He was happy for his brother for achieving his dream, but also felt a strong sense of sadness that they wouldn’t see each other for a long time.

The worst part was that his and Wu Fang’s wedding was set for the eve of the Spring Festival. He had thought Huang Chong would be on vacation and able to attend, but now that he had successfully joined the World Tour Team, he had to go abroad immediately for winter training to prepare for next year’s new season.

"Sigh, brother, it really hurts to see you go."

"I remember last year, when you told me you wanted to become a Professional Cyclist, I thought you were just dreaming."

"But in the blink of an eye, you’ve actually reached the level of joining a World Tour Team and are about to go to Europe—"

"But in the end, this is a fantastic thing. As your big brother, I can only look forward to seeing you on the live broadcast of next year’s Tour de France."

"You said it yourself, that you want to compete on the same stage as those top cyclists in the three Grand Tours and the five Monuments,"

"You’ve got your ticket in now, so you have to keep pushing forward!!!"

"As long as you can make it to the Tour de France, I’ll be your number one fan from now on. Even Pogačar will have to step aside!!"

Hearing Dewey’s words, Huang Chong didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He could only nod and reply:

"Don’t worry, Old Du. I can’t say for sure how many of the Grand Tours or Monuments I’ll get to race in next year, but I’ll definitely appear on camera."

"You just sit tight in front of the TV and watch me wipe the floor with all those foreigners in the World Tour!"

Hearing Huang Chong’s bold declaration, Dewey didn’t tease or argue back. After all, now that his friend could enter a World Tour Team, he was like a god-tier figure, someone Dewey had to look up to.

He went along with Huang Chong’s words, patted his friend on the shoulder, and, for once, didn’t trade barbs, replying:

"Alright, then I’ll be waiting for your performance, to see you dominate the world of road cycling."

After a brief chat with Dewey, Huang Chong headed straight for the high-speed rail station and took the train home.

Things were urgent this time, so he definitely didn’t have time to cycle home.

And when he got to Xianyun County and walked through the door of his home, he found the table already laden with a full spread of delicious food, even more lavish than a New Year’s feast.

This was the kind of doting love you get from family.

No matter how old he got, in his parents’ eyes, he would forever be their precious, gluttonous son who was always clamoring to eat this and that.

Now that he had finally made a rare trip home, how could Liang Xiaomei and Huang Yuda not buy a whole table’s worth of good food and wait for him in advance?