Chapter 996: Chapter 28: Underfoot_4
During the process of constantly creating brilliance, one will attract more and more attention.
Some of this attention comes from admiration and affection, while some is just waiting to see you fall.
As the saying goes, the higher you climb, the harder you fall.
Of course, fans in Oregon and Portland still believe in Gan Guoyang, and in the Trail Blazers.
In 1977, they encountered the same situation, trailing 0:2, but ultimately managed to turn it around.
However, if miracles always happen, they wouldn’t be miracles, and people have a big question mark in their hearts.
The day before the third game of the Finals, Gan Youwei arrived in Portland, brought there by Gan Guohui driving.
He brought a lot of things with him, fresh chicken, fish, eggs, meat, vegetables, and also his own pickled vegetables, preserved eggs, beef, and so on.
Upon reaching home, Gan Youwei went straight to the kitchen to cook and even asked Gan Guoyang to help him, saying it had been a long time, and he wanted to make some delicious food for his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson.
"Dad, aren’t you tired? Traveling so far, you should rest."
"Cooking meals is my old profession, how could I be tired? Are you tired playing basketball?"
These words left Gan Guoyang speechless, so he could only assist his father in the kitchen.
Gan Youwei asked Gan Guoyang what he wanted to eat, and Gan Guoyang said, "I want to eat Chinese food, but also want Western food, Italian food, Mexican food is good too, can you handle it?"
Gan Guoyang was deliberately making it difficult for his father, but didn’t expect Gan Youwei to say, "Everything’s fine, I know a bit of each, I’ll make them for you."
In these ten years, not only had Gan Guoyang improved in basketball, but Gan Youwei, as a chef, didn’t stagnate but continuously integrated dishes from various countries, refining his culinary skills.
In San Francisco’s Tenderloin District, Gan’s Restaurant was no longer just an ordinary Chinese restaurant, nor a celebrity restaurant relying on Gan Guoyang’s fame, but a genuine, most popular upscale restaurant among locals.
Gan Youwei’s superior, exquisite cooking skills made significant contributions; the dishes he made could cater to the tastes of people from different countries, cultures, and nationalities. The sweat and extensive learning put in were imaginable.
"Slice the meat."
"Prepare the ingredients."
"Peel the garlic."
"Crush the spices."
It had been a while since Gan Guoyang assisted his father in the kitchen. He had been extremely busy every day, and kitchen affairs felt increasingly distant from him.
"Dad, how many dishes are you planning to make? Enough for how many people?"
Seeing the scale Gan Youwei was working on, Gan Guoyang felt he could prepare a feast for two tables.
This reminded Gan Guoyang of when he got married, and Gan Youwei cooked a flowing banquet for everyone in the community.
"Don’t worry about it, just do what I tell you. I notice your knife skills have regressed."
"No, it’s just this knife isn’t handy."
"I think it’s because you haven’t been in the kitchen for too long."
"I’m not a chef."
"Playing basketball is like cooking; you have to satisfy everyone’s tastes, and all the ingredients must perform their respective functions...cut faster."
Gan Youwei was rarely this stern. Gan Guoyang didn’t know what his father was up to, so he quickened his pace.
For a great chef like Gan Youwei, preparing two tables of large dishes was no problem at all, just a bit of effort.
To Gan Guoyang’s surprise, Gan Youwei was indeed able to whip up a few foreign dishes; steak, tacos, pasta sauce, all with ease.
"Dad, are you pursuing some foreign old lady, learning to cook to win their favor?"
"Don’t talk nonsense, I’ve only had your mother in my life. In America, you must learn a bit of everything, learn throughout your life."
Halfway through the cooking, Gan Guoyang’s home suddenly became lively. The Trail Blazers teammates—Sabonis, Petrović, Lewis, Robinson, Porter, Kossie, and even retired players like Sampson and Walton—all arrived in succession.
When asked, they said Gan Guoyang invited everyone over for a meal.
Gan Guoyang was bewildered; he hadn’t invited everyone for a meal.
"I invited them." While brushing sauce on the duck, Gan Youwei said.
"You invited them?"
"I called yesterday and asked Fuxi to send out the invitations."
"You... what are you planning to do, do you think I’m going to lose the championship, inviting everyone over for a meal to win tomorrow’s game? If eating can win games, I’d be hosting meals every day."
Gan Youwei put down the duck he was holding and looked at Gan Guoyang with a serious gaze.
To be honest, Gan Guoyang had never been afraid of anyone in his life, but he had a reverent fear of Gan Youwei.
He rarely saw such a serious expression on Gan Youwei’s face, and immediately put away his smile.
"Recently, I spoke with John on the phone, asked him something, and casually talked about you. He said you’ve been quite troubled lately, feeling you’ve reached your peak level and want to go further but can’t. Is that true?"
Gan Guoyang didn’t expect that Gan Youwei would talk with Stockton on the phone, and even discuss his affairs, thinking that John was really talkative, saying everything.
"That’s true. But you know, once the technical level reaches a certain point, you want a breakthrough, so..."
"So you aim high, your eyes always fixed on the sky, wanting to go to higher places, right?"
"I...I..."
For the first time, Gan Guoyang felt like a child who made a mistake at school and was being scolded by his father at home.
He didn’t know how to explain.
"Do you know why a person can climb so high, walk so far? Because that person focuses not on the heights or distances, but on their feet. By taking every step at their feet well, over time, they become higher, farther. I know, your achievements are something most people can’t reach in a lifetime. Some call you the Basketball God, venerating you like a Bodhisattva, but that’s their business. Others can think this way and worship you, but you can’t. You must always look at your feet, walk steadily, to be able to keep on going."
