Chapter 58: Double Eleven, Extra Huabei Limit?

The Utrecht Evening News front-page headline: Team management places absolute trust in Erik ten Hag, and the manager is very likely to be granted a generous transfer budget in the upcoming winter transfer window.

Dongqiudi: Nine consecutive league wins! Ten Hag sets a new club record for the longest winning streak by a newly appointed manager in Utrecht history.

De Telegraaf: Chelsea is closely monitoring Utrecht head coach Ten Hag. Due to poor performances in the new season, club executives have completely lost faith in José Mourinho.

...

[Daily Task: Crunches * 150]
[Reward: Counter-attack Points * 3]

Waking up from bed, Tang Ye received his daily task for today.

However, Tang Ye was not in a hurry; he chose to check his current balance first.

Account balance: 69 points.

69 points!

Tang Ye chuckled softly. Two goals and one assist in the previous match had directly earned him 35 counter-attack points.

Since he had so many counter-attack points, the daily task could wait for a moment.

Wait!

Tang Ye suddenly remembered something and opened his system shop.

[Do you want to spend 40 counter-attack points to unlock a new item?]

Indeed!

When unlocking the broccoli and hot chocolate milk previously, Tang Ye had spent 10 and 20 counter-attack points respectively.

Following this rule of doubling each time, unlocking a new item now required 40 counter-attack points.

Considering his current balance of 69 points, unlocking a new item was indeed a hefty expense for him.

Yet, every time he unlocked something new, Tang Ye felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

He was truly hooked on this system!

40 counter-attack points were a bit pricey, but he had to grit his teeth and go for it!

[You have spent 40 counter-attack points to unlock a new item in the shop.]
[Eden Hazard's Tartar Sauce Burger: If you do not undergo any training within the next 48 hours, your ball control will be slightly improved.]
Price: Counter-attack points * 25

"Eden Hazard's Tartar Sauce Burger?"

Tang Ye's eyes lit up, as he immediately noticed the burger's effect of improving ball control.

Tang Ye was already 16 years old; trying to improve ball control at this age was still possible, but quite difficult.

Eden Hazard's Tartar Sauce Burger solved this exact problem perfectly!

However...

Tang Ye felt somewhat displeased.

48 hours without training just to improve ball control?

Damn it, he was only occasionally late for training—did this idiotic system really take him for a slacker?

Using such a despicable method as avoiding training to enhance ball control was a grave insult to his noble character!

Tang Ye was going to train!

Recovering from his thoughts within the system, Tang Ye lay back down on the bed and rapidly started doing crunches.

His balance was 69 points, and after unlocking the new item, only 29 points remained.

Since a single burger cost 25 counter-attack points, Tang Ye needed to save up more funds!

...

Arriving at the training ground, Erik ten Hag and Mitchell van der Gaag surrounded Tang Ye as he was changing his clothes.

"Mr. Erik, Mr. Mitchell... why are you looking at me like that? It's making me awkward."

Being stared at like that by two Dutch uncles made Tang Ye feel a little nervous.

Ten Hag glanced at the training pitch and then turned his gaze back to Tang Ye: "We want to make you awkward. You're late every single time—can't you set an earlier alarm?"

"I did set an alarm! But there were special circumstances today!"

Tang Ye explained: "It really was special, otherwise I wouldn't have been late today."

Tang Ye was telling the truth; if he hadn't spent his morning opening the new item in the dorm's system shop, he definitely wouldn't have been late.

After all, he hadn't even planned on doing his daily tasks.

"Okay, I get it. You don't need to explain anymore. Now hurry up and warm up, practice your ball control for a bit, and then head to the gym for strength training."

Ten Hag gave Tang Ye a light kick on the backside, and the latter tied his shoelaces and scurried onto the grass.

A ball-work warm-up, a quick practice of ball control, and then off to the gym!

Tang Ye looked around the training pitch and immediately spotted Sofyan Amrabat passing the ball back and forth with Bart Ramselaar. He ran over, turning the two-way passing drill into a three-way drill.

"Sofyan, we're doing strength training this morning, right?"

Tang Ye passed the ball to Amrabat, chatting as the two exchanged passes: "You're happy about going to the gym, aren't you? In a minute, Erik's going to throw you straight onto the treadmill."

"Really?"

Tang Ye was startled, his upper body instinctively leaning back, letting the pass from Ramselaar slip right past him.

"Haha, come on, Tang, he's obviously tricking you. We already ran yesterday afternoon."

"That's good, that's good."

Tang Ye nodded, refocusing his attention on the passing drill.

It started as a three-way passing exercise, followed by a seven-person rondo. Since Tang Ye had arrived rather late, he felt the warm-up session passing by much faster.

Inside the gym, the players were undergoing training under the direction of the fitness coaching staff. Ten Hag sat on a chair, observing the players as he spoke.

"Our recent results have been good, but I need you all to know that now is not the time to be happy."

"Right now..."

Ten Hag looked down at his wristwatch: "It is already November 11th. We have about 10 days until our next match, and we must..."

"What date is it?"

Tang Ye, who had been silent until now, suddenly asked.

"November 11th. Why do you ask?"

Ten Hag had no idea why Tang Ye had abruptly interrupted him, but answered nonetheless.

"Oh, nothing."

Tang Ye shook his head, leaving both the players present and Ten Hag feeling somewhat baffled.

The guy probably felt like time was flying by too fast!

Strength training continued. Sitting on a barbell rack, Tang Ye quietly summoned the system.

He remembered that his system featured a credit pay function (Huabei). Tang Ye hadn't used it in a long time, but he still remembered the favor it had done him.

Although Tang Ye hadn't used Huabei in real life, many of his family's tenants were e-commerce merchants who often discussed internet-related topics during their chats.

Just this past summer, Tang Ye had overheard a particular phrase:

"During the Double Eleven shopping festival, Huabei limits get heavily increased."

The meaning behind this was roughly that, in order to boost consumption, Taobao would grant certain Alipay users an extra credit limit during the Double Eleven event.

These users referred specifically to individuals with good credit standing and no default records.

Tang Ye had previously borrowed 100,000 counter-attack points without repaying them yet, but since the repayment date hadn't arrived, he currently had no record of default.

Should he give it a try?

Tang Ye skillfully opened his personal profile panel.

Tang Ye (Age 37)
[Ball Control: 72; Passing: 78]
[Shooting: 58; Heading: 39; Set Pieces: 56]
[Speed: 59; Stamina: 63; Physical Contact: 63]
[Defending: 56; Vision: 91]
Overall Rating: 69
Account Balance: Counter-attack points * 32

These were his current stats. Compared to the last time he checked his panel, Tang Ye's overall rating had increased by 3 points.

If not dragged down by his heading ability, Tang Ye's overall rating would probably have already reached the 70+ level.

The progress was obvious, but this wasn't what Tang Ye needed to focus on right now.

He needed to check his Huabei credit!

[Credit limit used: 100,000. Remaining limit: 20,000 (Temporary Double Eleven limit, 29 days remaining)]
[Credit Status: Good]

Indeed!