Chapter Four: Wearing Their Names

Northern Ridge nearly scored three times after halftime. Zhou Yan spilled a shot and Zhao cleared from the line. Left back Chen Fang blocked the second with his chest. In the seventy-eighth minute, with Zhou grounded, substitute Du Feng slid the third away. [Goal-line clearances: 3/3. Remaining: no fouls for fifteen minutes.] Northern Ridge began provoking them. In the eighty-fourth minute, a forward stamped Zhao's foot and whispered, “Next month none of you will have a club.” Zhao clenched a fist. “Look inside your shirt!” Shen yelled. Near Zhao's heart was the name of his father's long-closed fishing shop, added by a supporter vote. Zhao opened his fist and returned to the defensive line.