Chapter 2012 Premature Birth

The future can never be predicted.

Even Zhao Fusheng, who had traveled through time once, was no exception.

Because by changing the present, he could create a new future.

This was beyond doubt.

Thus, Zhao Fusheng had no idea what would happen at the future London Olympics.

Perhaps it was the inertia of history that made Liu Xiang repeat his mistake.

Perhaps it was the flap of his own little butterfly wings that changed Liu Xiang's fate.

None of this could be clearly explained.

Just like Chen Shijie back then.

Even Zhao Fusheng himself hadn't expected things to turn out that way.

The world is unpredictable.

Zhao Fusheng now deeply understood these four words.

After comforting his rather disappointed father, Zhao Fusheng went back to rest.

As for the media and the internet turning the world upside down with their scathing criticism of Liu Xiang, in Zhao Fusheng's own words, what the hell did it have to do with him?

Everyone has things they care about and things they don't.

And clearly, Liu Xiang's matter fell into the category Zhao Fusheng didn't care about.

In fact, Zhao Fusheng felt that those who chased after Liu Xiang to curse him were simply fools, unable to see the truth and essence of the matter.

They didn't even know who to blame the most, just chasing after an athlete who followed orders and hurling abuse—what was the point?

Liu Xiang was just an isolated case; the real issue was the problems in the entire Chinese sports circle.

Of course, Zhao Fusheng had no intention of breaking that window paper.

He couldn't afford the backlash.

Cutting off someone's livelihood is like killing their parents.

For Zhao Fusheng, if he exposed this dark side of the sports circle, he would effectively offend a large number of vested interests closely tied to it.

In that case, the counterattack he would face would be beyond ordinary imagination.

China's national sports system has always been controversial, but many who benefit from it believe it remains the key to China's sporting success.

In the pyramid-shaped talent development mechanism, there are a total of 230,000 athletes funded by the state.

Every gold medal we win at the Olympics is a product of this system.

The base of the pyramid consists of many sports schools, of which sports academies are one. The youngest athletes there are only six years old, each harboring dreams of becoming world champions.

Students entering sports academies, from the moment they start training, are supported by the state; athletes only need to focus on training.

Of course, not entirely.

Among the students in sports academies, about half are self-funded, while the other half are reserve teams for professional squads, with their training fees, tuition, and accommodation covered by the state, amounting to tens of thousands of yuan per person per year.

The best students from sports academies have the opportunity to enter provincial teams and become nationally registered athletes. Top players will then enter the national team to represent China in international competitions.

Of course, it also depends on the sport the athlete pursues. For example, in China, becoming a professional table tennis player is extremely difficult.

After all, provincial team members in China often qualify for national teams in other countries.

But in China, they aren't even considered top-tier.

For athletes, entering the national team and achieving success on the international stage brings them fame and wealth. However, most fail to reach the top of the pyramid.

A large number of athletes leave sports academies lacking cultural knowledge and social skills.

Then, when these people enter society, they find they know nothing except sports skills.

Lack of education not only leaves them disconnected from society but, more importantly, most of them, if they fail to get a ticket to the national team or win a championship, face a future of poverty and hardship.

The state only funds training, not lifelong support.

After retirement, there are far too many athletes who end up in miserable circumstances.

Some of them even include former champions.

And the chain of interests within is even more complex.

A spot on a provincial team or even the national team is often openly priced in many places.

Under these circumstances, if Zhao Fusheng exposed this dark side, he would become a target of public criticism.

Unless he planned to emigrate, he could only let things continue as they were.

As always.

Zhao Fusheng was no deity, nor was he a savior; he could only help those within his limited reach.

As for more, Zhao Fusheng was certain he was powerless.

……

……

The competition was over, but life had to go on.

Whether for Zhao Fusheng or others, it was the same.

For China, although this Olympics had some unsatisfactory aspects, it was more about glory and brilliance.

A perfect opening ceremony, a lively closing ceremony, diligent volunteers, enthusiastic spectators, and beautiful sports venues—if you also counted the outstanding performance of the Chinese Olympic delegation athletes, then this year's Olympics could be considered flawless and spectacular.

On the day of the closing ceremony, Zhao's father and mother and the others went, and when they returned, they were all excited.

A total of fifty-one gold medals and one hundred medals in total plunged all Chinese into a frenzy of celebration.

Zhao Fusheng was naturally happy too.

But he wasn't as exaggerated as others; after all, having experienced the same thing once, his feelings were naturally different.

More importantly, Zhao Fusheng knew that with the retirement of a large number of veteran athletes, when the next Olympic cycle arrived, China's sports industry would inevitably hit some lows.

By then, those who were now singing praises might well be the ones cursing the loudest.

This wasn't Zhao Fusheng's alarmism; it was a fact.

Since ancient times, China has had such a tradition.

Or rather, it's the same worldwide.

Why is it said that ordinary people need leaders?

The reason is simple: without leadership, these ordinary people always end up doing things that are both pitiable and hateful.

Like those keyboard warriors on the internet—no matter how fiercely they spew abuse, if you actually uncover their identities, they might just be ordinary office workers venting their dissatisfaction. You simply can't tell them that a single word from them might drive the person they slandered to thoughts of suicide.

Another example: in later years, a girl sat on a rooftop wanting to commit suicide. Firefighters had already worked hard to communicate with her and persuade her.

But the onlookers below shouted things like, “Why haven’t you jumped yet?” and “Just jump, stop dawdling.” As a result, the girl lost her will to live again and jumped to her death.

Are such people hateful?

But you can only condemn them morally; you can't punish them by law.

In fact, even exposing the personal information of such cold-blooded individuals is illegal, and you'll be denounced by hypocrites like Yao Dazui for violating human rights.

Human rights my ass!

Whenever Zhao Fusheng thought about this, he truly believed the country should enact strict laws to punish those so-called ordinary people.

Because it is these so-called clear-sighted ordinary masses who are often the most hateful.

In their eyes, they haven't done anything wrong—at most, they watch the excitement, make a few idle comments, gawk, or vent online and dance in the square.

“I haven’t committed murder, arson, or any heinous crime—how dare you blame me?”

This is the true reflection of many people.

But the problem is, they don't know what harm their actions cause to others.

Just like that “Juvenile Delinquent Protection Law.”

Many scumbags clearly tell the police: “I’m under fourteen, protected by law!”

(The author has a friend who is a police officer; he personally caught several under-fourteen offenders, all repeat criminals. They blatantly did it, and when caught, told the police, “I’m young, what can you do?” You can’t hit them, you can’t sentence them—truly scum.)

So, Zhao Fusheng had to admit that the elite strategy was not wrong.

At the very least, without the leadership of these elites, the entire society would fall into chaos.

Those who shout about democracy all day are, in fact, just stirring up public opinion and should really be arrested and shot.

“Kid, why aren’t you happy?”

Returning home, seeing Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao watching the televised closing ceremony, Zhao's father asked with some surprise.

“Yeah, the audience is overjoyed.”

Zhao's mother also said with a smile.

Zhao Fusheng shook his head: “I’m not unhappy; I’m just thinking, how will these cheering people react in a few years when they find the athletes they cheered for have declined in performance?”

“Well…”

Zhao's father fell silent.

Clearly, he understood what Zhao Fusheng meant.

At Zhao's father's age, having been tempered by the business world, he naturally realized that his son's words were profound.

Or rather, they hit the nail on the head regarding certain dark sides of the public.

Only results matter, only champions matter!

That was the biggest problem in Chinese sports today.

No matter the athlete, as long as they won a championship, they were pursued and placed on a pedestal.

Conversely, if you didn't win a championship or produce results, then sorry—whether superiors, media, or the masses who supported you would immediately and mercilessly abandon you.

As for human touch?

Even that fat guy who didn't understand table tennis but made significant contributions to Chinese table tennis was kicked out of the national team—what couldn't happen?

In the end, everyone was clear about the root of the problem.

“Oh, Mom, my stomach hurts a bit!”

At that moment, before Zhao Fusheng could speak, Fan Baobao's exclamation broke the silence at home.

She was about to give birth!