Chapter 194: Zhang Ping’an Can’t Tell Left From Right
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Certainly.
Strictly speaking, he was someone who had experienced death once.
However, he had never penned such thoughts in his previous life.
What should he put down on paper?
After pondering for a brief moment, Wang Ye began to write.
“Dad, Mom, 1 hope this doesn’t come to your eyes.
Sigh, that would imply that I should have died a hero now.
Yet, if you truly wish for heroics this time, then 1 can only say, Mom, Dad, while you’re still youthful, you should bring another child into this world.
Nevertheless, I doubt 1’11 be a hero. Perhaps I’ll merely toss a grenade.” At this juncture, Wang Ye chuckled to himself.
Upon witnessing Wang Ye’s expression, Qin Li swiftly leaned in, taken aback.
He felt immense curiosity regarding what Wang Ye had inscribed, especially considering he could still smile after composing what essentially was a farewell.
However, when he noticed Qin Li’s inquisitive look, Wang Ye promptly halted him. “What’s this? Write your own!”
Having said that, Wang Ye shut the notebook.
He ceased to write.
As an individual equipped with a system, he lacked even this modicum of confidence. It would be quite the embarrassment if he managed to extinguish his own life with a grenade.
Even if such a possibility existed, Wang Ye wasn’t inclined to elaborate further.
He was already departed, so what purpose would a will serve? It would merely augment the melancholy.
Qin Li raised his gaze and resumed his writing.
The others followed suit.
Even Wang Ye’s eyes grew moist upon observing someone else’s writing.
“Finished writing?” In this instant, Ye Sanshi directed his gaze at Wang Ye and inquired.
“Yes, I penned a few sentences.” Wang Ye responded in a nonchalant manner.
Yet Ye Sanshi didn’t respond with a laugh. “Show earnestness. Write more about your regrets.
We are soldiers, prepared to lay down our lives at any time and in any place.
Perhaps this will hold no significance this time, but it could prove pivotal next time.
Given that the current circumstances offered no occupation, one could consider this as a form of journaling.
However, should a day of glory ever dawn upon you, this journal would become your final testimony in this realm.”
Wang Ye was momentarily taken aback.
In reality, Wang Ye wasn’t the only one affected by this. Those residing in the dormitory naturally caught wind of it too. Initially, penning down their wills was something they didn’t take too seriously this time around.
Just like Wang Ye, she jotted down a few lines in a casual manner and was prepared to put down her pen.
Yet, in this very moment, they found themselves unable to simply let go of this matter.
“Very well.”
Wang Ye didn’t indulge in any nonsense. He wiped the smile from his face and turned around to open the notebook once again.
Regrets? Even after his rebirth, Wang Ye remained a privileged heir of second-generation wealth. While he didn’t have an abundance of regrets, there were still a few. It’s just that his familial circumstances had experienced a drastic transformation in this lifetime. Wang Ye contemplated writing about it, yet he came to realize that there wasn’t much that truly warranted expression.
After deliberating for a moment, Wang Ye complied with the intent of the will and quietly inscribed some sentiments he wished to convey to his family in the event of his actual sacrifice.
It wasn’t that Wang Ye lacked confidence but rather that he held profound respect for his role as a soldier.
For a brief span, the dormitory returned to a hush.
One by one, they commenced writing. Even Ye Sanshi unexpectedly fetched a pen and paper and began to write.
At five o’clock, the entire company assembled and embarked on a five-kilometer run before congregating at a training ground situated behind the camp.
A crate was brought forth by the platoon leader and placed adjacent to Kang Hua.
Today, Wu Jianfeng had left and not yet returned.
Currently, he held responsibility for the training of everyone.
Surveying the assembled group, Kang Hua’s countenance carried a smile as he addressed them, “You’re all aware that there will be a grenade drill next Monday, correct?”
“I am!”
“Yes!” Kang Hua’s grin affirmed the responses. “I understand that many of you might be feeling anxious, but let me reassure you.”
Due to a delay in grenade production and rigorous factory inspections prior to their release, there’s no need to overly concern yourselves.”
Having stated this, Kang Hua maintained his smile as he continued, “Of course, to alleviate any nervousness, we’ll conduct training today!”
As he spoke, a platoon leader unsealed the crate he had transported.
Wang Ye’s gaze fell upon a container of red firecrackers.
These were the type that possessed a girth akin to a thumb, with a fuse resembling a miniature green rope.
Kang Hua directed his smile toward the group. “The year has moved on, today happens to be the seventh day of the seventh month a day associated with festivities. Thus, today we’ll indulge in firecrackers.”
Upon uttering this, he gestured toward the training area behind a barricade of sandbags.
“Just ignite the fuse and toss it in later.
I’m certain some of you have engaged in this at home!
However, prior experience is of no significance. Those unfamiliar with it would undergo the experience today.
But do heed this: despite these being firecrackers, if one were to accidentally have it detonate in their hand, it would unquestionably lead to injury or even finger mutilation. So please, pay close attention, alright?” Kang Hua’s final statement bore no trace of a smile, a stark contrast to his previous demeanor.
A firecracker, not a grenade. It sounded like child’s play when compared to training soldiers.
However, it was apt for recruits who had yet to handle a grenade.
This was mainly because a firecracker with a green fuse took roughly five seconds to ignite and explode.
Coincidentally, this aligned with the time it took for a grenade to do the same.
Now, let’s proceed to the grenade throwing area.
This would serve as the training method for everyone.
Shortly thereafter, the training commenced.
Not sequentially, but concurrently across all nine squads.
The sandbag wall extended at length, with each squad stationed roughly two meters apart.
Assuming the role of safety officers, squad leaders stood alongside. Recruits approached them individually and, under the squad leaders’ watchful eyes, proceeded to ignite the firecrackers using lighters.
“Bang!”
“Bang!”
Resounding explosions echoed through the training grounds.
The power of firecrackers certainly didn’t rival that of grenades, but the noise they generated was likely louder than a real grenade.
“Hey, why are you crouching there? You didn’t even ignite it!” A squad leader reproached the recruits.
In the initial round, only three bursts were heard.
Two more followed suit.
Yet, three individuals still clutched unlit firecrackers.
Hmm… There was another notable occurrence. The firecracker in someone’s possession hadn’t ignited, even though it was thrown.
Ye Sanshi’s countenance darkened, not due to the fact that someone still clung to an unlit firecracker, but because the individual who tossed it without a sound was Zhang Ping’an.
His actions exceeded everyone else’s antics. While the few individuals initially hesitated before igniting their firecrackers, eventually shielding their ears and even squatting down upon observing the rest’s actions, Zhang Ping’an took it to another level. Not only did he fail to ignite the firecracker at the first opportunity, but he also threw it away before squashing down to cover his ears.
While Wang Ye and the rest stifled their laughter, Ye Sanshi’s expression grew graver.
After a deep breath, Ye Sanshi composed himself and addressed Zhang Ping’an in a gentle tone, “Ping’an, muster your courage. Don’t let your nerves overcome you. You hadn’t even ignited it; why did you toss it?”
Um… Squad leader…I…I’m nervous!”
Zhang Ping’an appeared deeply embarrassed as well.
“It’s alright. Have another try!”
Ye Sanshi didn’t reprimand Zhang Ping’an for the failed attempt; instead, he handed him another firecracker.
“Steady your hands. Relax. This object won’t detonate immediately. The fuse burns quite slowly. Look, they all lit theirs and threw them out long before they exploded.”
He exerted his best efforts to alleviate Zhang Ping’an’s apprehension while observing the latter approach the firecracker’s fuse with trembling hands.
“Hiss!”
Finally, the fuse caught, and Zhang Ping’an reacted in the nick of time.
“Fuck!”
In that very instant, Ye Sanshi’s expression altered, as did Wang Ye’s and those of the others.
All of them witnessed the fact that Zhang Ping’an had flung the lighter and still clung onto the firecracker, holding it close to his ears.
This individual, when training commenced, had struggled to distinguish between left and right while practicing the Half-Turn Technique. Rectifying that had been no small feat at the time, yet they hadn’t anticipated a similar mishap to recur.
Ye Sanshi attempted to intervene urgently, but he was too late to intervene verbally.
“Bang!”
A deafening explosion resonated.
Ye Sanshi snatched the firecracker and hurled it less than two meters away before it detonated midair.
At that moment, Ye Sanshi’s complexion could rival ink in its opacity.
“What the hell were you thinking? Do you want to lose your hand?”
In that moment, Ye Sanshi roared at Zhang Ping’an, his patience at its limit.
Meanwhile, Zhang Ping’an remained rooted to the spot, his countenance befuddled.
It was clear he had been taken aback by the recent turn of events.
“Alright, it’s alright. It was merely a firecracker. I’ve already tossed it.”
At that instant, Wang Ye and the others converged around him.
Wang Ye patted Zhang Ping’an’s shoulder in an attempt to console him.
“I…1…Squad leader…Brother Wang…I…”
In this instance, Zhang Ping’an, thoroughly bewildered, found himself overcome with tears.
“Are you alright?” Kang Hua rushed over at that moment.
In truth, he experienced both anxiety and relief concurrently.
Thankfully, he’d initiated firecracker exercises in advance, circumventing the need to wait until Monday for grenade throwing.
If this had involved a grenade, both Zhang Ping’an and the safety officer could have suffered incapacitating injuries or worse.
After all, the explosion occurred just two meters away in midair, well within grenade range.
“I’m okay!”
Ye Sanshi patted his rapidly pounding chest, took a deep breath, and answered Kang Hua.
“Alright, as long as you’re alright.” Kang Hua then shifted his attention to Zhang Ping’an.
In that moment, he recognized Zhang Ping’an. His expression softened slightly, and he addressed Ye Sanshi, “The rest of you, continue your training.
Zhang Ping’an, come here. Don’t be nervous. There’s no blame.. Follow me!”