After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

As the plane landed on the wet runway of Birmingham International Airport, Yan Yuan looked out the window at the familiar gray sky, and a strange sense of belonging instantly enveloped him.

Those glorious achievements on the green field were carefully folded up and placed deep in my heart.

Now, he is just a wanderer returning home.

With longing for home and carefully prepared gifts, they embarked on their journey home.

Yan Yuan didn't have much luggage. He had a carry-on suitcase containing his personal belongings, and two extravagantly heavy high-end shopping bags that he had specially brought back from Germany.

One was for his mother, a classic Chanel tweed jacket that he specially picked out during his layover in Frankfurt. It was simple, elegant, and sophisticated, and cost over 12,000 euros.

The other one was for my father: a top-quality, perfectly tailored, dark gray bespoke suit. It was sophisticated and elegant, and also quite expensive, costing close to 15,000 euros.

As he bought the two gifts, he imagined the expressions on his parents' faces when they received them, and his heart felt as if it were filled with warm sunshine.

He didn't linger at the airport; he didn't even change out of his comfortable hoodie and jeans.

Taking a taxi, I familiarly made my way to "Yipinju," a place that holds my childhood memories and my family's struggles, located in the Chinatown near downtown Birmingham.

This is a Chinese restaurant that my parents have run for over ten years. The name was chosen by my father, Yan, and it means that the restaurant can make the best Chinese food.

The car came to a stop at the street corner I remembered.

Looking up, the three characters "Yipinju" on the storefront, the signboard of this Chinese restaurant that embodies the family's years of hard work, radiate a warm light under the gloomy sky.

As I pushed open the door, the familiar aroma of food mixed with a hint of cooking fumes wafted out.

There weren't many customers in the store today. At this time of day, coupled with the rainy weather, it felt rather deserted. Behind the counter, Aunt Yan was bending down, sorting through receipts.

"Boss, do you have liangpi (cold skin noodles) and roujiamo (Chinese hamburger)?" Yan Yuan asked, deliberately lowering his voice, but he couldn't help but want to laugh.

Without even looking up, Aunt Yan habitually replied, "Yes, yes, please wait a moment, young man..."

Before she could even utter the word "sit," she raised her head.

When she saw the tall, smiling figure standing in front of the counter, Yan Ma's expression froze instantly, then she was overwhelmed with immense surprise and disbelief.

"Son?!" Her voice rose instantly, trembling and choked with sobs. She didn't even bother to drop the receipts on the counter.

"Oh dear, my good son! You...you're back! Why didn't you tell me beforehand!"

Tears welled up unexpectedly. She rushed out from behind the counter in a flurry of activity and hugged her son, who was a head and a half taller than her, tightly, as if afraid he would fly away again in an instant.

Yan Yuan hugged his mother tightly, feeling the familiar warmth and comfort emanating from her.

"Mom, this was just to surprise you! I'm back!" He gently patted his mother's back, his voice softening.

Aunt Yan was both crying and laughing, and she kept muttering to herself:

"Surprise! Surprise! Mom was almost scared!"

She held her son's hand as if she couldn't get enough of looking at him, examining him from head to toe: "Have you lost weight? Were you tired from the competition? Is your injury healed? Are you getting used to the German food?" Her concerned questions came out in a barrage.

"Don't worry, Mom, the competition wasn't tiring, and my injuries have healed long ago. I can handle German food; with the appetite you nurtured since I was little, I can eat anything!" Yan Yuan comforted her with a smile, then quickly added:

"Mom, call Dad and tell him to come home for dinner too."

"Yes, yes, yes!" Only then did Mrs. Yan remember, and she immediately pulled out her phone to call her husband, her voice trembling slightly with excitement.

"Old Yan! Hurry! Hurry! Stop doing anything! Forget about your orders, come back now! Yes, it's our son! He's already at the restaurant!"

Mr. Yan on the other end of the phone was clearly stunned for a moment, then reacted, his voice filled with barely suppressed joy:

"Really? Okay! Okay! I'll be right back! Immediately!"

Without asking any further questions, Yan's father immediately hung up the phone, quickly assigned the remaining tasks to his employees, and was eager to return home.

The few regular customers in the restaurant recognized Yan Yuan and greeted him happily, their eyes filled with goodwill towards the football star who came from Birmingham.

Yan Yuan also politely responded to the customers' greetings.

Looking at the limited number of guests, Aunt Yan made a decisive decision and said...

"Everyone, I'm so sorry. My son is finally back from Germany, and we're closing the shop today for a family reunion. We're waiving your meals today. I'm truly sorry!"

She apologized while quickly waiving the bill for the customer.

The guests were very understanding, and even left with a bit of envy. The atmosphere of family reunion on the eve of Christmas is always very enjoyable.

Aunt Yan closed the shop door, gave the kitchen helpers a day off, and then hung up the "Closed" sign. Yipinju instantly became quiet, with only the lingering aroma of food in the kitchen and the pitter-patter of rain outside the window.

Not long after, the sound of screeching brakes and the sound of car doors opening and closing came from the doorway.

Yan's father practically ran into the restaurant, still carrying the chill and moisture from the outside air.

Seeing his son standing beside his wife, taller and stronger than before, Yan's father's eyes reddened with emotion. He stepped forward and patted Yan Yuan's shoulder forcefully, his voice deep but with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor:

"Good lad! You're really back! Good! Good! You've grown handsome and strong!" Dad Yan said, patting his son's chest.

"Dad," Yan Yuan replied with a smile; the unspoken understanding between father and son didn't need many words.

"Let's go home! Your mom has definitely been thinking about making a big feast!" Dad Yan waved his hand.

A family of three, holding umbrellas, walked into the fine winter rain towards their home not far away. The restaurant was temporarily left behind. At this moment, they were simply a family of three reunited in a warm home.

Back in her familiar home, Aunt Yan plunged headfirst into the kitchen.

Yan's father and Yan Yuan immediately washed their hands and followed them in. The kitchen quickly became bustling with activity.

Today, Yan's mother was the head chef, skillfully directing and coordinating the cooking. Yan's father and Yan Yuan assisted her, picking and washing vegetables, cutting meat, and peeling garlic, working together seamlessly.

Yan Yuan grew up surrounded by the kitchen, and his culinary skills are quite solid.

She cut potatoes into shreds quickly and evenly, and her knife skills were so impressive that even Aunt Yan couldn't help but nod in approval. She also peeled shrimp with remarkable speed and efficiency.

"Hmm, it seems your culinary skills haven't deteriorated in Germany; you still have the knives." Mr. Yan praised his son's knife skills while picking chives.

"That's right, it's a skill my mother taught me, I can't lose it. After our coach and teammates ate it, they all said my cooking was delicious." Yan Yuan replied with a smile, his hands still busy.

The family chatted and laughed, the kitchen was filled with the clatter of pots and pans, steam rising and the aroma of home-cooked dishes—a warmer smell than any top restaurant.

Several of her signature Cantonese roast meats, a plate of stir-fried beef noodles (Dad Yan's favorite), a pot of braised beef brisket with radish (Mom Yan's specialty), stir-fried shrimp tails (Yan Yuan's favorite), and steamed shrimp with garlic and vermicelli (Yan Yuan himself cooked)...

A sumptuous dinner was quickly laid out on the small table.

Bathed in warm light, the family sat together, their warmth overflowing.

During the meal, Yan Yuan's parents inevitably asked him about all aspects of his life in Germany: Was the training tough? Was the coach strict? How did he get along with his teammates? Was the German winter cold? How did the matches go? ...

Yan Yuan patiently answered all the questions, sharing anecdotes and the pressures of the court, and also listening attentively to his parents' advice. The atmosphere was relaxed and harmonious.

Halfway through the meal, Yan Yuan put down his chopsticks, looked at his parents, and his expression became serious:

"Dad, Mom, there's something else I want to tell you since I came back."

Yan's mother and father also put down their chopsticks and looked at their son.

"It's like this, I want to help Mom renovate the restaurant," Yan Yuan stated his idea directly.

"Our shop has been open for years, so the kitchen equipment needs to be replaced, the tables and chairs in the front are old, and the lights and other things need to be upgraded. A better environment would make it more comfortable for you to work inside, and it would also be more comfortable for the customers to see."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Yan quickly waved her hand:

"Oh, no need, no need! We can't afford to spend your money! You've only just started earning this much, it's not easy for you, keep it for yourself! As long as the restaurant can stay open, your dad and I are used to it, no need for all that fancy stuff."

"Mom," Yan Yuan said, looking at his mother with a determined gaze.

"My current weekly wage is 50,000 euros. Since the start of the season, including goal and assist bonuses, I haven't had much to spend money on. I've already saved over 700,000 euros." The figure he quoted made Yan's father raise an eyebrow slightly, clearly surprised that his son had saved so much.

"This money is enough to renovate the restaurant and make it look like a brand new place!"

"Over seven hundred thousand..." Aunt Yan was shocked by the number, then felt a pang of heartache. "That's even worse! That's money you worked so hard to save for when you're away, or for buying a house or getting married later. House prices in the UK are already so high..."

"Daughter-in-law, our son's thoughtfulness shows that he is sensible and cares about this family." Yan's father's steady voice rang out as he looked at his wife with gentle eyes.

"You know our son's personality. Once he sets his mind on something, it's like the ball he wants to score on the field—he'll definitely do it."

Our son wanted to do something for us, to make our lives better; he wanted to contribute to the family he grew up in.

Father Yan spoke even more earnestly to Mother Yan:

"If we forcefully stop our son from spending this money, he will truly be heartbroken."

When our son earns money and becomes capable, spending it on his parents and the family will only make him feel a greater sense of belonging and give him more motivation. This feeling is more important than you saving money for him.

Yan Yuan hadn't expected his father to explain his thoughts, and even the deeper meaning, so clearly.

He nodded vigorously: "Mom, Dad is absolutely right, that's exactly what I think! Every time I'm tired after a competition or miss home, I think about our restaurant and I always want to make it even better."

I contributed to the restaurant renovation, and now I feel more at ease when I play football! Money spent can be earned back. With our family business doing well, I'll have more energy and motivation to play football!

Listening to her husband and son's words, and seeing the sincerity and urgency in her son's eyes, Yan Ma couldn't bring herself to refuse.

Tears welled up in my eyes again, this time tears of relief and emotion.

She reached up and wiped her eyes, finally revealing a smile. She playfully tapped her son's forehead: "Fine! Fine! I can't go against you two! Mom will listen to you, I'll listen to you!" Her tone was full of happiness and the warmth of being surrounded by love.

"That's right!" Mr. Yan laughed heartily, raising his teacup. "Come on, let's toast to our family reunion, to our son's sentiments, and to the restaurant's revival!"

"Cheers!" Yan Yuan happily raised his glass, the crisp sound of clinking glasses echoing in the small house.

……

In the following days, Yan Yuan's "renovation plan" was quickly launched with the full support and coordination of his father.

Yan's father is in the foreign trade business and knows many friends in the engineering and building materials fields, so he is extremely efficient.

Yan Yuan became the "supervisor" of the restaurant's renovation.

The family of three followed the master craftsman in charge of the project, and Yan Yuan carefully inquired about every detail.

"Master Wang, let's replace these eight tables in front with solid oak ones. They're sturdy, durable, and look clean and refreshing."

"Mr. Griffin, the kitchen ventilation system must be replaced with the latest model! My mother spends a lot of time in the kitchen, so the fumes need to be completely removed; we can't let her be bothered by them."

"Uncle Liu, is this freezer not big enough? How about we get three larger ones? Keeping food fresh is very important."

He is meticulous and has a keen eye for detail.

It's not just about aesthetics; practicality and comfort are also important considerations.

As Yan's mother watched her son handle all sorts of trivial matters in an orderly and professional manner, her eyes were filled with pride, and she truly understood the weight of her husband's words.

This money was well spent!

After spending this money, Yan Yuan truly felt a sense of accomplishment in supporting his family.

The workers got to work with great enthusiasm.

The old tables and chairs were moved away, and the new tables, made of fresh wood, exuded a fresh scent; the walls were repainted a warm beige color, and the lights were replaced with bright and soft LED light strips; the floor was relaid, clean and bright.

What makes Yan's mother happiest is the restaurant's kitchen.

The brand-new stainless steel worktop is gleaming, several huge commercial freezers are radiating cold air, the fume purification system is quiet and efficient, and even the stove has been upgraded, with stronger firepower and smoother operation.

The entire kitchen has been completely transformed, as if it had been reborn.

Seeing these earth-shaking changes, Aunt Yan couldn't stop smiling.

Touching the brand-new kitchen counter, she exclaimed, "This kitchen is almost the same as the kitchens of those big hotels I see on TV. It will be so much more convenient to cook from now on."

"Of course, it must meet the highest standards." Yan Yuan stood in the center of the newly renovated lobby, hands on his hips, a proud smile on his face.

Outside the window, the weather in Birmingham was still gloomy, but under the bright lights, the brand-new restaurant looked like a bright and hopeful beacon.

Here, there is sweat, the warmth of everyday life, and even more so, the deep bond of blood and a youthful pride.

Looking at his parents' satisfied and happy faces, and at this place that held countless childhood memories for him and had become even better because of his efforts, Yan Yuan felt a warm current flow through his body.

The tangible improvements he created for his family brought him a great sense of accomplishment and happiness, which made him very satisfied.

He loves football; playing football is his dream and his career.

He loves this family more; it is where his struggles have found meaning and where he feels his deepest sense of belonging.