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Ping Pong

This show is the selected drama by NRTA

in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the PRC,

and was funded under the 2019 Art Creation of Hubei.

Episode 21

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance is purely coincidental.

For this year's Manchester World Table Tennis Championship,

Year 1997

the European has once again defeated

China's teams in the semi-finals of the men's singles.

The Belarusian player, Samsonov,

defeated four China's players in a row

and entered the finals.

And the previous popular champion,

the best chopper in the national team, Qin Zhen,

is just a supporting role in front of

the talented Samsonov.

Do you think you are still the national team's favourite?

Wake up!

Chopper is outdated now and so are you!

Let's drink.

You are mad?

Who do you think you are?

It's 300 in total.

You have the right amount.

Be careful on your way home.

Who is it in the middle of the night?

Mr. Qin.

You are drunk again.

We are almost there.

We are here.

Train now.

Mr. Qin, I...

I'm just wearing this.

Let me change into my sportswear.

Then, I'll come back and train.

You can't play without your sportswear?

Train now.

Okay.

Not enough spin.

It needs to be fast.

Faster!

It needs to be fast!

Fast.

Faster!

Serve.

Stomp and Spin

This is it.

Master.

I want to learn this.

You want to learn this?

You want to learn this with your level now?

Tell me. What is a chop shot?

Let me tell you what a chop shot is.

The chop shot is already here

since the birth of ping-pong.

Until today,

it has been here for 106 years.

People are still learning it now.

It means that it's not forgotten yet.

It's still alive!

Defining a chop shot with the standard of doubles.

What a nonsense.

A chop shot

is like performing magic.

When you want to attack, move forward.

When you want to defend, move backward.

You can use the long pips as short pips.

You can attack with your forehand from all sides.

When I stomp,

I can make it spin

and I can make it stop spinning.

When there's a chopper, no one else will matter!

What is a chop shot?

Chop shot is the king of singles.

They said that chop shot

is outdated and useless now.

But I don't agree.

Do you want to learn?

Good!

I'll teach you.

It's so painful.

Stop complaining.

I'm in pain too.

Hurry up.

Hello?

Finally, you pick up my call.

You came back yesterday.

Why didn't you contact me?

I had a lot of things to do.

And I had extra training at night.

You are not free?

It's okay. I have time.

Are you at the training centre now?

I'll go and find you now.

No.

I'm not there.

Well,

my father came to visit me.

Yes. He came to visit me.

Did he say anything?

No. He didn't say anything.

Where are you now?

I'll go and find you.

No.

Don't come and find me.

I...

Let's talk later, okay?

Call me.

Son.

Use my name.

Son!

My father is calling for me.

I have to hang up first. Bye.

Why didn't I know about it before this?

You are quite the opportunist.

No.

Why are you hiding from her?

How can I bring you along to meet her?

You'll be the third wheel.

Let's go, son.

Do the drive.

You are good in that, right?

You want me to hit you?

Your return shot was so bad.

You left me wide open.

You took up such a huge space

and I had this tiny space.

How could I do a good shot?

I gave you space last time, right?

But did you come over?

But you didn't give me space this time.

You could've said that you did it last year.

Why are you talking about last year?

Do you know how to play doubles?

Do you know how to play doubles?

Did boxing make you dumb?

No.

Why did you push me?

How dare you pushed me.

You want to fight?

Let me tell you. Boxing is my...

If you want to fight, do it!

I can tell.

You've been wanting to get into a fight.

I think it's best if both of you can fight it out.

Xu Tan.

Before Mr. Lei left,

he told me in earnest that

you are a talented person.

He asked me to guide you well.

Your father, Yu Ge,

is such a proud person.

But for you,

he put down his pride

to call me so often

in secret

to ask about you in a roundabout way.

You can see it too.

Other members are punished when they make a mistake.

But when you made a mistake,

Mr. Fu would always try his best

to get you into more special trainings.

He did it because

he saw the talents that are hidden inside you.

I've decided now.

I don't want to guide you anymore.

Mr. Teng, I...

No need to apologise to me.

You don't owe me anything.

You should cherish your own future.

If you think that you can't solve this problem

without a proper fight,

good.

But let me warn you.

Don't ever think about getting into the first team.

You are not even qualified to stay in the second team.

In the end,

you'll just go back to where you came from!

Why are you standing here?

Go back to rest!

All of us are from the second team.

But why are they given this kind of special treatment?

Every time they make a mistake,

their coaches will do their best

to give them extra lessons.

They sent them to go boxing,

play football

and become the training partner for the women's team.

I think

the only thing they haven't do is to

let the top three players of the first team to play with them.

Why aren't you saying anything?

Don't you think I'm right?

In my opinion...

Zhai Jia Chen.

Can you stop acting like a log?

Don't say that.

They played quite well

just now.

Whatever.

We've been spending a lot of time

on our secret gestures.

Before they can learn our gestures,

we'll have new gestures already.

Of course they can't figure us out.

But to be honest,

the training just now

was the most fun that

I had in a long time.

Do you know?

When I was in Ji'an, my home town,

I was the city champion.

After that, I joined the Jilin Provincial Team.

I used a month

to become the champion

in that provincial team.

That time,

all the coaches told me this.

Xu Nuo.

You are the most talented player.

You'll become a champion in the future.

You'll become the world champion.

Wait.

In this team, all of us were the champions of our own provincial teams.

I was the champion of Yichang, Hubei too.

We are all the same.

Coming.

My daughter.

If I weren't your father,

I wouldn't be able to put up with

a scatterbrain like you.

I'm even more patient than that female player.

I haven't seen you for so long.

I can't get used to it so suddenly.

You...

You haven't changed much.

I think you look

even younger now.

You look quite well too.

I didn't bring anything back this time.

I just brought you some supplements.

They are all good for your liver.

You need to control your temper better.

Thank you.

This one too.

This is a product from my own brand.

The only thing that

I've achieved after all these years.

Where's Lei Lei?

She'll be back soon.

She went to buy some noodles.

After all these years,

I haven't improved much.

I just know how to cook soybean paste noodles.

Usually,

Lei Lei is the one who cooks.

I went to her school two days ago

and talked to her teachers.

They said that Lei Lei is quite problematic when it comes to

her studies and other issues.

I'm quite busy recently.

Her teachers had reached out to me too.

When I'm not so busy,

I'll find a time

to go and have a talk with her teachers.

Lei.

I'm back this time

to discuss about Lei Lei's future.

You still remember, right?

Before I went abroad,

I said that when I'm more capable,

I'll be back to take her with me.

I had talked about this two years ago.

But she was still young.

Back then...

She has grown up now.

I think

it's time.

What is the meaning of this?

Don't misunderstand.

I'm not trying to take away our daughter from you.

With her situation now,

in terms of her studies,

she'll have more opportunities and choices abroad.

In terms of her living condition,

I can better provide for her.

All these years,

we have been living quite well in China.

We don't need a foreigner to take care of us.

I know how

you take care of others.

How well do you know about Lei Lei's results in school?

How well do you know about her situation in school?

Ask yourself.

Are you taking care of her

or is she doing her best to take care of you?

This relationship between us

is a kind of

tacit understanding.

To better put it,

you can call it patriotism.

You won't understand.

Yes.

I don't understand.

You've been using this excuse

for more than 20 years.

A person's views on life will forever be his driving force.

I can't let it go on like this.

I've already thought about it.

This time, I have to take Lei Lei with me.

If this is how you want to talk,

I'll have to send you out then.

It's my responsibility to give her a better life!

You want to talk about responsibility?

When you went to the other side of the world

to live with another man,

why didn't you think about your responsibility then?

Now, you suddenly remember that

you have a daughter because

you think you are

a rich businesswoman?

Father.

Here are the noodles.

Lei Lei, I'm here today to...

I'm not free!

Looks like Teng is really mad today.

We will be doomed if this continues.

What is the meaning of this?

We have to think of a solution.

Hello?

Hey, Xu Tan.

What are you doing?

Well. I...

I'm in the middle of training now.

I...

When are you free then?

Well...

Well...

He's free at five in the evening tomorrow!

You...

Who are you?

You'll know when we see me tomorrow. Bye.

Five in the evening tomorrow?

What are you doing?

Solving the problem.

The only way to do so is to face it.

You can't back out.

Especially if it's about a woman.

You have to do the same then.

Hello, Cai Wei.

Now, you remember to call me?

You are free now, right?

If you have something to say, just say it.

Mr. Teng has already told me about it.

It's nothing.

Let's get it over with.

After your training in the afternoon tomorrow,

meet me on the track.

Don't be late.

Hello?

What time is it already?

Is she going to stand you up?

Who is it?

Only you are kind enough

to come out with him to meet me.

If I were you, I wouldn't have cared.

I'm here to meet a friend too.

Besides,

I have no choice.

You should at least drag this out.

Don't let him do as he pleases.

Look at how arrogant he is now.

Why are you so mad?

Can you tell me about it?

I...

Why do I need to be mad at you?

You make your own decision.

I have no rights to interfere.

But even if you regret this,

you should tell me about it.

Why did you have to run away from me?

What do you mean?

Did I say that?

I didn't regret this.

So, you didn't see

any of my missed calls and messages?

There's no signal in that village.

As soon as Mr. Teng saw me,

he sent me to the pigsty.

How should I tell you?

How could I tell you that

your boyfriend was sent to the pigsty?

Why are you laughing?

As soon as Mr. Fu saw us,

he cuffed me with him.

How could I meet you then?

You would just laugh at me, right?

I'm embarrassed even if he's not.

Then, why did Mr. Teng...

He went to look for you?

She's here.

I'm not done yet.

Tell me.

You need to pick her up, right?

I'll help you.

Thank you.

You didn't even send out your lover letter

and she's already yours?

She's Mr. Lei's daughter. Stop this nonsense.

What are you doing?

You are here.

Finally, I know

why Lei had to leave the national team.

He wouldn't be able to think of this.

He's too different from the other coaches.

This is from Lei.

Inside it are some videos.

Maybe they'll be useful for you.

When can they be uncuffed?

When can they be uncuffed?

They will be uncuffed when they can get along.

Mr. Teng and Mr. Fu know them well.

Now, they need to

reflect on themselves.

Or else, they are the ones who'll suffer from this.

What do you mean by that?

Let me tell you as a person who has gone through this.

Don't even go against your coach.

Or else, you'll only bring trouble to yourself.

I'm only telling you this because it's you.

If he was alone,

I would've kept this from him for a few more days.

There are so many people here.

Can you give me some respect?

Come. Have a seat.

What happened to you yesterday?

Actually, it was nothing.

I just think that it's pointless to go to school every day.

Now, I just want to graduate soon

and find a job.

I want to live however I want.

You must be stressed from the exam.

After I uncuff myself,

we can go out to have fun.

Why did Teng Biao look for you?

Nothing.

What did he say to you?

Nothing.

Stop being mad.

There is no signal in the village.

I could only toss and turn in bed

while looking at our chat history.

You deserve it for being too proud.

That's why I'm reflecting on myself now.

Stop being mad.

Stop being mad.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry.

Continue with your chat.

Continue with your chat.

No.

We are already done.

What do you mean by you are done?

Didn't you write a love letter for her?

Why aren't you saying anything now?

No.

No such thing.

No. He...

He has many things to tell you.

Xu Tan, I'll leave first then.

Okay.

Continue with your chat.

I'll go with you.

Cai Wei!

Goodbye.

-No, Cai Wei. -Bye.

Reflect on yourselves.

Goodbye.

Don't mind them. The men's team is always like that.

Wait...

You have a big mouth.

You are quite strong now.

Let's train well.

Ma Chuan!

Leng Yi.

Mr. Qin.

Your performance as a team in doubles is stable.

The team has decided

to let you represent the national team

in the Kuwait Open Tournament.

Get ready for it.

Yes, Mr. Qin!

Yes, Mr. Qin.

Kuwait Open Tournament is an important competition.

Play well.

Don't embarrass the national team's men's doubles.

Do you hear me?

Yes!

Come. Look over here.

Put it down.

Stop looking at it.

The contestant of the men's singles

for the ITTF Tournament

in Kuwait is you,

Liu Shi.

I'm really chosen?

I know your capability.

Do you still remember what I told you?

Now, luck is with you.

It's here. Don't shy away from it.

Face the hardship head-on.

Don't worry.

Men's singles.

It's just a piece of paper.

Hurry up and train.

Hurry up.

Mr. Zheng.

I need to improve my world ranking too.

How about

I join you

for the open game?

No need to do that.

You don't need to collect your marks from this minor competition.

Besides, the time between

this open game and the World Ping-Pong Tournament

is too close.

It'll be a waste of your effort and energy.

You'll gain nothing out of it.

In the first team,

you should know who to look up on

and who to ignore.

You can't be like them.

Your main goal now

is the World Ping-Pong Tournament.

Be like the people in the first team.

No need to join the competition that they'll not join.

To be able to enter

the World Ping-Pong Tournament is way better than those open games.

Understand?

From tomorrow onwards, add this training to your routine.

Take a look at it first.

Go back prepare yourself for it.

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Time to eat.

Xu Tan.

Use this.

It's okay.

Isn't it hard to eat like this every day?

That's why we switch place every day.

Both of you

remind me of a song.

What song?

♫ Your body smells like his glue ♫

♫ This is my nose's fault ♫

Enough.

By the way, how does it feel to be in the first team?

In the past, I didn't realise it.

But now that we are in the first team,

we really noticed

how different they are from us.

Those players really pack a punch.

You can't even apprehend their skills.

Especially Fang Yue and Xia Ke.

When I trained with Xia Ke yesterday,

I couldn't even

hit his serve.

But,

Liu Shi and I will participate in

the Kuwait Open.

This is what I think now.

As long as Mr. Qin is here,

Liu Shi and I will have a bright future.

Don't panic.

You can enter the first team too if you can play well in the doubles.

We have to be able to play well first.

Now, we can't play that well together yet.

It was fine two days ago.

We trained with Xu Nuo and Zhai Jia Chen today.

After they made a secret gesture during the interval,

we became a mess.

What?

Gesture?

Wait. What?

We just have a few fixed gestures, right?

Short topspin, short backspin,

long topspin, long backspin,

spin and no spin.

It's not a usual gesture.

I know it now.

They make up the gesture themselves.

They are not talking about what they are going to serve next.

They are talking about how they are going to play next.

This is like

a preset strategy.

Understand?

Those gestures

are specially made between you and your partner.

It's the same for me and Leng Yi too.

What are you gestures then?

Our gestures are...

Are...

Look. This is what I think.

I'll be participating in

an international tournament, right?

So,

they are considered as national secrets, right?

Don't.

I really can't tell you about it.

I really can't.

Fine.

Fine.

No, Xu Tan. I...

I don't mean that.

If we happen to compete with each other

in the future,

you'll know all of my secrets.

Well...

Actually,

you can make up some gestures for yourselves too

according to your own playing styles.

Look. It's against to rule to talk too much in the competition.

It's easier to communicate with gestures.

Ping Pong Little Drama

Master and Disciple

Master and disciple.

China's ping-pong teams

can dominate the world

because of

the tight liaison between

the coach and the players.

The personal coach of the national ping-pong team

is very close with

their players.

Usually,

they have this master-disciple relationship.

Most of the athletes

enter the national team to train

when they are just over 10 years old.

No matter it's during their daily practice

or in their private life,

they spend most of their time with their coaches.

A coach

doesn't only guide you in terms of skills.

A coach is responsible

for his player's

mental development and private life too.

Their relationship

is built on trust

and the achievements between the both of them.

Of course.

Everyone has different styles.

So, the way they get along is different

for every master-disciple pair.

For example, Lei Cheng and Xu Tan

treat each other like father and son.

Teng Biao and Yu Ke Nan

are like quarrelsome friends.

They are friends

and they are a family too.

As for Zheng Hao,

he's the typical

strict coach.

But because he's strict,

he has an outstanding disciple.

You can say that

behind every successful player,

there's a coach

who is always with him.

Ping Pong