Chapter 4 Himmelstoss After everyone changed into their military uniforms, they all started walking out the door, waiting for the truck that would take them to the military camp. They would undergo a ten-week training in the military camp. Everyone's face was filled with excitement and anticipation. When everyone walked to the gate, they saw Kantorek standing at the door waiting for them. What surprised them most was that their parents were also there. They all ran to their parents. During their medical examination, Kantorek informed their parents of their enlistment. When their parents heard the news, they immediately put down their work and rushed here. When the fathers of those students saw their children wearing military uniforms, they all smiled with relief and pride in their eyes. Their mothers, unlike their fathers, began to cry with their faces covered. Tears rolled down their cheeks, expressing their endless worry and reluctance. Kemmerich's mother was especially weeping, and she hugged her son tightly, as if she could protect him from the impending danger. But all this has nothing to do with Lu Mingfei. He is now an orphan and no one will see him off before he goes to the battlefield. Perhaps this is also the reason why the original owner of this body, William Hans, filled in his name on the draft registration form without hesitation. There is no one he loves here, and no one who loves him. Perhaps he can achieve success on the battlefield and find the meaning of life.
Just when Lu Mingfei was daydreaming, Kemmerich's mother, the fat woman who was crying, grabbed Lu Mingfei's hand. Her originally round face was now swollen and swollen from crying. She was a little unsteady due to the extreme sadness, but she still held Lu Mingfei's arm tightly and begged. "Hans, can you take care of Kemmerich on the battlefield? He is still so young... my poor child... his shoulders are so thin, how can he carry such a long gun and such a heavy marching bag..." "Mom, don't be like this..." Kemmerich felt embarrassed and sad when he saw his mother crying so hard that she could hardly stand up, but his mother still held Lu Mingfei's hand tightly. Lu Mingfei looked at Kemmerich's mother's red and swollen eyes and her pleading tone, and hesitated. He didn't think he could take care of others on the battlefield. But in the memories he received, Kemmerich's mother was a very kind person. When he didn't have enough food in the orphanage, he would run to Kemmerich's house for a meal, and Kemmerich's mother would always entertain him warmly. Lu Mingfei felt that since he had inherited everything from William Hans, he should repay his previous kindness. Finally, under the pleading gaze of Kemmerich's mother, he reluctantly agreed. "I will take care of Kemmerich as best I can on the battlefield." "Thank you so much, Hans!" Kemmerich's mother grabbed Lu Mingfei's hand and wanted to say something, but the truck to take them to the military camp had already arrived. Helplessly, Kemmerich's mother could only use the last bit of time to say a few words to Kemmerich, and finally stuffed a package into Kemmerich's arms. All the students reluctantly left their families and boarded the trucks. Under the happy or sad gazes of their parents, the trucks slowly drove toward the military camp. Every roar of the engine tells of the impending separation and uncertain future. The group of more than 20 people were divided into different platoons, with four to five people in each platoon. In the same platoon as Lu Mingfei were Kropp, Mueller, Kemmerich, and Paul. Lu Mingfei, Kropp, Mueller, Kemmerich and Paul came to the barracks where they would stay for ten weeks. There were more than ten beds in the barracks, and several people were already lying on them. Lu Mingfei found an empty bed and put down his luggage. He saw Kemmerich sitting down on the bed beside him and taking out a pair of yellow leather boots and a watch from the package his mother had just handed him. The boots were shiny and looked like high-quality goods, and the watch was a Lange watch. How many boys dream of owning such a Lange watch? Lu Mingfei looked at him with some envy, but he was not envious of the nice boots and the nice watch, but he was envious of the fact that he had such a mother. Lu Mingfei's parents are archaeologists who travel around the world all year round, leaving him in the care of his uncle and aunt. If they hadn't sent living expenses to his uncle and aunt every month, Lu Mingfei would have thought they had disappeared long ago.
He hadn't seen his parents for so long that he couldn't even remember their faces. And the owner of this body, William Hans, had never seen his parents either. "Kemmerich, you shouldn't bring such a nice watch to the battlefield." Paul also put his things away, and then approached Lu Mingfei and Kemmerich together with Mueller and Kropp. They were a little envious of Kemmerich's watch and boots, and kindly reminded him. Kemmerich just smiled and didn't say anything, and put the watch on his hand. Paul and the others didn't say anything else, but changed the subject and started talking about what kind of person their platoon leader would be. "What kind of person do you think our platoon leader will be?" Paul said. "He should be a tall and majestic man," said Mueller. Mueller was short in stature, but a very righteous man. "I just heard someone say that our instructor is a very hateful guy." Kropp whispered. Kropp was very smart, the best student in their class, and often read the philosophical works of Plato and Hegel. While Lu Mingfei and his group were discussing, the door of their barracks was kicked open forcefully. "Bang!!!" A loud noise startled everyone, followed by a voice yelling: "Assemble!!!" Only then did Lu Mingfei and the others see clearly that there was a short, muscular middle-aged man standing at the door of the barracks. He had two waxed reddish-brown mustaches at the corners of his mouth, which were slightly tilted upwards. He put his hands behind his back and looked at Lu Mingfei and the others with a haughty look. "Are you Himmelstoss?" Paul asked uncertainly. Lu Mingfei also had some impression of the name Himmelstoss. In the memory he received, Himmelstoss used to be a postman who often delivered letters in their area. But a few years ago, he seemed to have quit his job as a postman and joined the army, and there has been no news since then. I didn't expect to see him here today, and he is in charge of their recruit training. "Himmelstoss, it's really you. I'm Paul! You used to deliver letters to our house, do you remember?" Paul looked carefully and found that the man was actually Himmelstoss, whom he knew. He immediately shouted in surprise, then walked forward and greeted him excitedly. "See my rank?" Himmelstoss pointed to his shoulder straps. The edge of the shoulder strap was woven with a silver-white line, representing the rank of corporal. (End of this chapter)