On July 14th, Gan Guoyang got up early and helped with chores at Ganjia Restaurant, such as washing pots, washing vegetables, preparing vegetables, and cleaning up garbage.
The business in the store is still not good, but we still have to try our best to maintain it before the store is sold out or a new way out is found.
In the morning, there will be some white-collar workers passing by for a quick breakfast. At noon, there will be a call to order some stir-fry dishes. At this time, Gan Guoyang or Gan Guohui will need to take action to package the meals and deliver them to the address given by the guests.
Gan Guoyang has been very active in delivering food recently. When he goes out, he carries a lunch box in one hand and a basketball in the other, dribbling the ball on the street to his destination.
A 2-meter-tall Chinese food delivery boy shuttled through the streets of San Francisco while shooting a basketball, attracting the attention of many people.
San Francisco is a mountain city, and the roads here are rugged and winding, making it difficult to walk. How to keep the ball and the lunch box in hand is a big challenge.
Fortunately, Gan Guoyang's hands were big enough. He was able to control the ball with one hand several times when it was about to roll away, or when he encountered an obstacle and almost fell down. He then used his body's balance to protect the lunch box, and the ball flew away. Did not happen.
"The SP points for dribbling will be small at the beginning, but if you want to be a street player, your dribbling ability is essential and you need to develop it in an all-round way."
Although it is dangerous, Gan Guoyang enjoys it. Through such training, he is developing his sense of the ball and making up for the missing lessons before. He is already far behind his peers.
Today he successfully delivered three meals without any trouble. When he returned to the restaurant, he threw the ball to Gan Guohui, who was sitting at the counter taking the ordering call, and said: "Guohui, let's go? At this point, we won't do it again." Someone has ordered food."
However, Gan Guohui looked troubled and said, "Are you really...really going to play a game?"
"Of course, what are you afraid of? I'm here."
The three of them made an appointment to go to Hunters Point to play a game today. If they win, they will get money. If they lose, they will also lose money.
Gan Guohui was a little frightened. Although he loved basketball, he knew how much he weighed, and he had no idea how much he was going up against the Americans.
"Brother Guoyang, how about I lend you the money? If I sell some more cassettes, I can get 150 yuan."
Gan Guoyang saw his brother's lack of confidence, patted him on the shoulder and said: "The best way to deal with fear is to face it head-on. It's just playing basketball, not a war. There's no shame in losing. Let's go. If you don't go, It’s time for Chen Xing to laugh at you.”
Thinking of Chen Xing mocking him for being as timid as a mouse, Gan Guohui changed his clothes and shoes without saying a word, and went out with Gan Guoyang.
"Hey! Where are you two going? You have to play ball again! Playing ball can be a meal!"
Gan Youtang saw the two of them running away again and chased them out of the restaurant, but they had already run away and only their backs could be seen.
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The two brothers took a bus from the Tenderloin District to Hunters Point on the Bay, which is a well-known sports center in San Francisco where many experts play ball.
Chen Xing was already waiting for the two of them at the entrance of the sports center. When he saw Gan Guohui coming with Gan Guoyang, he smiled and said, "Fat Hui, you really dare to come."
Gan Guohui said: "What are you afraid of? It's just a competition. If you lose, you won't die."
The reason why they chose to start their team competition here is not only because it is close to Chinatown, has complete facilities and a safe environment, but also because it is the most Asian-friendly sports center in San Francisco.
In addition to basketball courts, there are also a large number of table tennis tables here. In the summer, many table tennis summer camps are held here, and most of the signups are Asian children and a small number of white children.
Table tennis is very popular in San Francisco, and there are many amateur table tennis competitions held here.
So when Gan Guoyang and three people entered the center, the management here thought they were here to play table tennis and asked them if they wanted to rent rackets.
When he learned that the three of them were here to play basketball, the administrator looked surprised and let them in after charging a small fee.
There were people on several courts in the stadium. Chen Xing led the two of them towards the court in the northeast corner and found a white player named Jason.
The two met at the basketball summer camp. Yesterday, Chen Xing contacted Jason and said he wanted to form a team to play a paid game, so he made an appointment to have it here this afternoon.
Seeing Chen Xing and his people coming, Jason and his teammates stopped and looked towards Gan Guoyang and the others.
Their team is called the "Tearers", with two white players and one black player. The black player wears a green vest, while the white player's shorts are very conspicuous.
Their heights are very average, all above 180cm. The tallest green vest is close to 190cm. With the afro on their head, the visual effect reaches 195cm.
However, in terms of height, they are both shorter than Gan Guoyang, which makes everyone's eyes linger on Gan Guoyang from time to time.
On the basketball court, especially at the amateur level, height is often the greatest talent that cannot be compensated for by hard work.
Jason was still wondering why Chen Xing, an inconspicuous Chinese boy with four eyes, wanted to play a paid match with the Ripper.
It turns out they brought in a reinforcement.
However, the three of them still did not take Gan Guoyang and others seriously.
Because in the United States, basketball is already dominated by black people, and some white players can also occupy a place.
Only Asians with yellow skin have no trace in the professional basketball arena. A very small number of Asians have the opportunity to appear in the NCAA arena, but none of them have made a name for themselves.
To put it bluntly, Asians, especially Chinese Americans, cannot even get a pinch of cream in the huge pie of American sports.
They are only suitable for playing table tennis.
"Guys, did you come to the wrong venue? The table tennis court is next door."
The tall black man in the green vest joked, and the other two people also laughed, not taking Gan Guoyang and the others seriously.
Gan Guohui was worried, but Gan Guoyang was expressionless. He warmed up for a while on the sidelines, took off his coat, and stood on the court.
Basketball games are familiar yet unfamiliar to him. He has watched and studied many high-level games, but has never actually played one.
He seems to be a virgin with a head full of theoretical knowledge, and now it's time to put it into practice.
There was no referee, the game started, and Gan Guoyang team served first.
Chen Xing is the shortest and has good ball-handling skills, so he naturally shouldered the burden of point guard.
At the beginning, he dribbled the ball and observed carefully. Jason, who was opposite him, didn't take it too seriously and just stared at him two steps away.
The three of them did simple coordination training at Cameron House.
Gan Guoyang stood near the three-second zone and quietly raised his hand to point to the sky. Chen Xing understood.
He threw a high pass to the inside, and Gan Guoyang suddenly turned around and walked towards the basket.
The green vest, like Jason, did not defend well at all, and was immediately thrown away by Gan Guoyang.
Gan Guoyang jumped high, caught the ball in the air, made an alley-oop, and gently put the ball into the basket.
Turning, jumping, catching the ball, putting the basket, and landing, the whole process was done in one go, quite perfect.
Gan Guoyang looked at the green vest with a surprised expression, shook his head slightly, pointed at his eyes with two fingers, and said: "Pay attention, Ping Pong boy."
The green vest felt that he had been greatly humiliated, and his originally dark face looked even darker.
Because it was a paid game, the ball rights were exchanged after the goal was scored. The green vests immediately wanted the ball and forced Gan Guoyang to regain the field one-on-one.
After receiving the ball and facing the basket, he tried to use the impact to squeeze out the space, but was bounced away after physical contact.
It felt like hitting a steel plate. Gan Guoyang's body didn't seem to be strong, but it was as hard and powerful as iron.
He still forced a shot under the basket, but was slapped away by a big block from Gan Guoyang!
The ball flew directly out of the sideline, an amazing block.
"Huh, you are right, I am indeed quite suitable for playing table tennis."
