Chapter Twenty-Eight: Ma Dongmei’s Minor Injury and Surprise

The Republic Women's Volleyball Super League is currently the world's premier women's professional volleyball competition. Although its overall commercial value can't compare with men's football and basketball super leagues due to a relatively smaller audience, its level, strength, and market worth still surpass those of other nations' women's volleyball leagues by a considerable margin. With the Republic's massive population base, even if the number of volleyball fans is less than in the other two big sports, this league still boasts the largest global viewership among women's volleyball leagues.

The league's schedule is quite reasonable. Apart from a six-week summer break and a six-week winter break, the women's league runs for thirty-six rounds. Factoring in the cup competitions and the Asian Women's Volleyball Champions Cup, top teams in the Republic must play over fifty-five matches per season. This poses a significant test for each club's backup squad and logistical support.

For members of the Republic's national team, the physical demands are even higher.

As the dominant force in the league, the Yangtze River Women's Volleyball Team boasts the strongest medical staff in the competition. Maintaining such a vast, multifunctional training complex requires the Yangtze River Group to invest heavily in developing their own medical team. Compared to the investment, the reputation and positive impact on athletes are well worth it—every athlete is regarded as a vital asset by the Yangtze River Group.

Upon returning to the Yangtze River training base, Ma Dongmei underwent a thorough examination by the medical staff. The team bases their reports on each player's physical condition, and these reports are crucial in determining whether a player is fit to take the court. Even if the coach wishes to field a certain athlete, it's impossible without medical clearance.

Ma Dongmei did not forget Wang Lei's advice and specifically mentioned her condition to the supervising physician. She was indeed experiencing discomfort in her right elbow, which drew the medical team's attention. However, after an extremely detailed examination, they found no abnormalities.

After undergoing physical therapy, Ma Dongmei's discomfort vanished, and she soon put the matter behind her.

Due to her absence, Ma Dongmei missed the team's away match in the twenty-second round against the Northwest United Women's Volleyball Team. She could only wait in Jinling for the team's return and prepare for the crucial twenty-third round match against Beihai Agricultural Commercial Bank Women's Volleyball Team.

In the petroleum city of Miha in the northwest, Yangtze River Women's Volleyball encountered fierce resistance from Northwest United. Although head coach Fu Sansheng managed the game well, the home team played with extraordinary tenacity. Several Tajik players on their roster defended and counterattacked with incredible resolve. Lacking Ma Dongmei's powerful offensive presence, Yangtze River couldn't break through. Backed by fans from four northwestern provinces, United's superior endurance prevailed in a grueling five-set battle, wearing down Yangtze River.

As a result, after the twenty-second round, Yangtze River had lost one more match than the league leaders, Beihai Agricultural Commercial Bank. This meant their upcoming head-to-head in the twenty-third round could very well decide the season's championship.

Surprisingly, Coach Fu Sansheng did not scold the players upon their return from the northwest, nor did he increase their training. Instead, he gave his anxious squad two days off. In truth, Fu Sansheng himself bore some responsibility for the previous round's loss—though the high-intensity training during the break had improved team cohesion and individual abilities, it had also exhausted the players physically. Their fatigue finally showed, and Northwest United capitalized.

As the decisive match approached, tension gripped the entire Yangtze River team, including Ma Dongmei. They were so preoccupied that they forgot to ask about Wang Lei, whose name had been trending online recently.

On October 6th, Yangtze River hosted their greatest league rivals, Beihai Agricultural Commercial Bank.

Fu Sansheng, a first-generation immigrant from the Beihai Special District, was set to lead Yangtze River against a team from his "hometown."

From the opening whistle, Yangtze River, energized by the cheers of nearly ten thousand home fans, surged forward with impressive momentum.

Ma Dongmei's powerful attacks from position four put immense pressure on Beihai's defense. Even with triple blocks, Beihai failed to contain her; her spikes, surpassing the typical standards for women's volleyball, thrilled the crowd.

Yangtze River smoothly claimed the first two sets. As the third began, Ma Dongmei's form unexpectedly faltered.

In the match, Ma Dongmei once again felt discomfort in her right elbow—this time, the pain was sharper. She struggled to execute her spikes, her right arm's movement distorted, causing a series of errors.

Beihai seized the opportunity to counterattack, not only clawing back the third set but also tying the score at 25-all in the fourth.

During the break, Ma Dongmei reported her condition to the coach, and the sideline medical crew provided swift treatment.

Yangtze River failed to close out the fourth set. The score dragged on to 32-32 before Ma Dongmei made another mistake, mishandling a serve receive and sending the ball out of play. The match entered a decisive fifth set.

In the tiebreaker, with Ma Dongmei sweating from pain, Coach Fu Sansheng substituted her out, following the medical staff's recommendation. Her departure for treatment caused anguish among the home fans and deep concern for Wang Lei, Li Weihong, and Ma Pingtong watching on television.

At this moment, Wang Lei no longer marveled at his uncanny intuition; his only thought was for Ma Dongmei's well-being. It seemed he would have to return to Jinling ahead of schedule.

Deprived of Ma Dongmei, Yangtze River seemed to find new courage. The two days of rest had paid off; rather than collapsing, the team worked in seamless harmony, the fruits of Fu Sansheng's summer training showing at last.

Yangtze River emerged victorious in the deciding set, winning 15-13 and reclaiming the top spot in the league by a narrow margin.

Meanwhile, in the medical room, Ma Dongmei was filled with astonishment, nearly forgetting her pain. Wang Lei's warning echoed in her mind—she hadn't expected his intuition to be so accurate.

The medical staff ultimately determined that her injury was not severe, merely a sprain to the right elbow's ligaments, requiring only rest for recovery. However, this served as a wake-up call—they realized they had not taken Ma Dongmei's warnings seriously enough before.