Chapter 186: Repaying Kindness with Enmity
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Recalling the bitter and the sweet, though our living conditions have improved, we mustn’t forget that during the Long March, we martyrs survived on roots and even lacked those.
Everyone must consume these two steamed buns this morning. If anyone dares to squander them, they’ll go without sustenance during training!”
Beside the unit, Wu Jianfeng pulled out a megaphone and proclaimed.
The cold, dense steamed bun was indeed hardly palatable. The main issue was its lack of sweetness. When chewed, it crumbled like dry flour. Those recruits unfamiliar with this sustenance found it quite a challenge to swallow.
Nonetheless, no matter how challenging, it had to be ingested.
Among the troops progressing at a standard pace, each individual gripped a steamed bun in one hand and a water bottle in the other, nibbling and sipping.
Wang Ye was no exception. At this instant, the instructor still held the flag while allowing him to eat first.
From behind, Wu Jianfeng’s voice echoed, “1 understand some of you might be thinking, what era is this?
However, 1 wish to convey.
Remember, the true battleground isn’t our current environment.
Once we’re in combat, losing our supplies means reverting to the standard of living of that era.
For no matter how advanced society becomes, wilderness won’t yield canned food. Self-heating military rations don’t grow on trees.
When you’re thrust into such a situation, this steamed bun becomes an extravagant hope.
Tree bark, grass roots, insects—anything that sustains the body, you must consume!”
Marching while consuming cold steamed buns served as an educational lesson and a facet of training. It wasn’t an arduous task, but it felt somewhat wasteful.
Wang Ye consumed two steamed buns and drank at least half a flask of water.
Although they didn’t taste great, they did satiate hunger.
With just those two steamed buns, Wang Ye felt slightly full.
However, this sensation was fleeting.
Soon, the digestive training commenced.
Out of nowhere, a few smoke grenades descended from the hillside adjacent to the troop.
“Enemy assault, gas attack!”
Wu Jianfeng bellowed.
All the squad leaders hollered at the top of their lungs, instructing everyone to don protective masks.
They weren’t ordered to engage the enemy.
Instead, after donning their gas masks, they were directed to swiftly traverse the blue zone.
Yet, Sixth Brother raced ahead of everyone, leaving cigarettes on the path.
After covering at least 200 to 300 meters, Wang Ye, who had recently consumed quite a bit of water, sensed his stomach churning and his breath growing labored.
After all, he was running while wearing a gas mask.
Nonetheless, this wasn’t the climax of the discomfort but merely the initiation.
Thirty minutes later, Wu Jianfeng pointed to a mountain ahead, declaring it to be the enemy’s position.
Assault training.
Across the mountainous wilderness, thorns and grass blanketed the ground.
All had to advance by crawling. Their short spears maneuvered in circles, tumbled, and vaulted…
Field training constituted a baptism for the fresh recruits.
This marked the process of imbuing a recruit who had previously acquired fragments of military skills and tactics with comprehensive knowledge through field training.
Concurrently, it constituted the transformation of an individual clothed in military uniform from a civilian into a soldier.
Though the time was relatively brief.
A span of four days and three nights paled in comparison to the three months of the recruits’ tenure.
Yet, these few days held unparalleled significance for the entire recruit company.
They represented a brief window for collective metamorphosis.
“Brother Wang, do you still have those?”
Following lunch on the third day, amidst the wild expanse, everyone took a respite.
Just as Wang Ye returned to his seat, Yan Zhiming approached.
“Hmm? Which ones?” Wang Ye gazed at him, momentarily puzzled.
“Those… the ones for your shoes!”
An eighteen or nineteen-year-old lad lacked Wang Ye’s seasoned astuteness. Despite having purchased the item and now being an adult, discussing it still managed to make him blush with embarrassment.
“Oh, the shoe pads!
Yes, why? Are you running low?”
By the third day, they had marched nearly a hundred kilometers. This item indeed consumed a substantial amount of energy.
However, Class 5 had acquired two packs per individual.
The service center supplied packs containing 10 pads each.
In theory, this should have sufficed for changing two or three times a day.
“No, it’s just… the sides of my groin have chafed, so… well, you know…”
The more Yan Zhiming spoke, the quieter his voice became, and his face reddened.
Wang Ye, on the other hand, was a bit flabbergasted.
Heavens, he was using it in the wrong place!
“Pfft!”
A chuckle escaped Wang Ye, prompting Yan Zhiming’s cheeks to redden even more.
In actuality, this was also due to Wang Ye’s relatively carefree situation. Additionally, he was leading the unit with the flag, which meant he spent minimal time with his comrades trailing behind. Thus, he remained relatively unaware of their circumstances.
In reality, someone’s crotch had already given way on the first day.
The army-issued undergarments were of good quality, but comfort-wise, the material left something to be desired. Furthermore, not everyone received the best-fitting specifications.
Coping within the confines of the camp wasn’t an issue, even during a five-kilometer run.
However, this wasn’t a mere five kilometers.
Each day, they traversed a minimum of 4.0 kilometers.
The Long March, combined with the local hot and humid climate, exacerbated the situation.
In such circumstances, experiencing chafing and tearing was not uncommon.
Yet, it was far from ordinary. When this affliction struck, the pain was genuine.
Once a tear transpired, every step sent searing agony through the wound.
Without addressing it, proper marching was virtually impossible.
Hence, recruits grappling with this issue would clandestinely procure shoe pads and fasten them around the wound.
Certainly… the outcome was notably effective.
No more rubbing, as the sweat was absorbed by the pad, relieving the pain.
The sole downside lay in the slightly awkward gait and heightened pad consumption.
Running low on his own supply, Yan Zhiming sought to obtain some from Wang Ye.
“Alright, I’ve got an unopened pack here!” Wang Ye grinned and glanced back at his backpack.
“No need for so many. Just give me a few for tomorrow!”
Yan Zhiming was genuinely embarrassed.
For a man to employ this item for his groin!
“If you need more, you can fill in the gaps!” Wang Ye retrieved an unopened pack and tossed it to him. However, as he did so, he uttered something that caused Yan Zhiming to splutter.
“Splat, consider it a covering service!”
“Haha!” Wang Ye burst into laughter.
Shortly after, Yan Zhiming returned to Class Five.
Wang Ye stowed his backpack once more and reclined against the flagpole firmly planted in the ground. Having settled into a reclined position, he shifted to his side and cradled the firearm within his arms. He not only held it with both hands but even secured it between his legs before daring to shut his eyes.
The incident of the stolen firearm remained vivid in Wang Ye’s memory, especially since it had occurred again the previous afternoon.
Resting now, it served as a rather potent reminder for Wang Ye.
In the afternoon, they endured another 20-kilometer training session.
Prior to nightfall, the entire company reached a township elementary school.
The food cart had already been stationed on the school field and illuminated.
Ouyang Mingyue and the other two female military doctors had also arrived.
However, what took Wang Ye and the others by surprise were the presence of two young girls.
This caused the recruits to covertly steal glances at him.
But it remained at that.
Any soul who dared approach would surely receive a swift kick from the class monitor…
No need to tarnish the soldier’s image.
Hence, even when dismissed from the field, all eyes remained directed toward that area.
Only those genuinely unwell or injured sought out the team medics.
Led by the proactive squad leader, they set off to locate the two military doctors.
Of course, the idea of approaching was inconceivable.
The team medics had already supplied Vaseline. Applying a bit and using a sanitary pad could resolve the issue.
“Hey, Brother Wang, why are there two girls here?”
After planting the flag, Wang Ye returned to the vicinity of Class 5. His first clandestine move was to approach and converse in hushed tones.
“How would 1 know!”
Although Wang Ye marched at the helm of the formation, interactions had remained minimal, leaving him clueless about the origins of these two girls.
Truthfully, there weren’t merely two young girls present; a middle-aged woman in her fifties was also among them.
Wang Ye surmised that these individuals might be teachers from the school.
And his presumption was accurate.
Post-dinner, it was announced that they would present an entertainment for the company.
Two young girls, one singing and the other dancing. During their introduction, they revealed themselves as teachers hailing from the school.
Educators who had journeyed here to teach.
Ah, courtesy begets courtesy, prompting the recruits to reciprocate.
Despite their exhaustion over the past few days.
However, tonight, four women were in attendance… All, including the lady who identified herself as the principal, there were a total of five.
Roused by the stirrings of youthful fervor, the recruits were brimming with energy.
Those gifted in song willingly ascended the stage and shared their voices.
Take Gu Yingnan from Class Five, for instance. Despite having incinerated his criminal record, he skillfully showcased his singing and dancing prowess…
“Do you want to step up there and flaunt your talents? You’re shining in every corner of our recruit company. Can’t afford to lag behind in this department, can you?” Seated beside Wang Ye, Ye Sanshi suddenly turned toward him, whispering with a grin.
“Class monitor, my military serenades are reserved for the company’s amusement,” Wang Ye replied sotto voce, a smile playing on his lips.
Swiftly, a pat landed on Wang Ye’s back…
Ah, well, that’s because Wang Ye had promptly bent and evaded. If not for that, the pat might have graced his head.
The military serenade went something like, “Is this how it’s done?”
Tears would doubtless grace the field, and perhaps she’d manage a tad more sleep tonight, reducing the morning’s potential class count by one.
Even Ouyang Mingyue, the military doctor, graced the stage with a song.
The impromptu celebration held fleeting existence. By around eight in the evening, the two schoolteachers ushered the two female military doctors back to their quarters.
The elder principal enjoyed a personal room, while the fresh recruits were allocated three classrooms on the second floor.
One row equated to one room.
No lights illuminated the classrooms; the primary school abstained from nocturnal classes. Yet, all were equipped with flashlights.
Light sources were not lacking.
As they entered the classroom, Ye Sanshi directed his flashlight toward the blackboard.
Instantaneously, the words inscribed on the blackboard entered the view of everyone in the second row.
“A warm salute to Uncle Soldiers!” Spanning the center were these few words.
An abundance of doodled smiley faces and petite, slanting characters adorned the board.
“I’m Liu Ziming. Good night, military uncles!”
“I’m Li Yun. Soldiers hold my heart.”
The entire blackboard was near-full with words and sketches.
In that instant, Wang Ye found himself momentarily dazed.
He glanced at the abstract smiley faces on the blackboard, then at the skewed script and heart-shaped blossoms.
During that juncture, Wang Ye seemed to witness a throng of children frolicking beneath the blackboard. They earnestly penned and drew. He even caught sight of a small child not quite tall enough dragging a stool over, ascending it, and proudly presenting the words and illustrations they wished to leave behind.
His heart swelled.
In truth, at that precise moment, those more emotional among the recruits found it tough to hold back tears when confronted by the abrupt content on the blackboard.
The past three days and two nights had proven profoundly exhausting.
The fleeting delight just now had been purely kindled by the opposite gender’s presence.
But presently, deep within, everyone resonated with the conviction that the preceding tribulations were worth it.
Tightly gripping the steel spear, Wang Ye experienced a release of tension. Then, he let out a soft laugh, a gentle touch of his nose as he whispered with a smile to the side, “These kids are so enthusiastic. I’m tempted to get them some exercise books as a token of gratitude!”