Chapter 200: Wang Ye’s Parents Arrived at the Army
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Wang Ye was unaware that the army had extended an invitation to his parents. This detail had escaped the notice of all the class monitors, including Wu Jianfeng, who only became aware of it three days ago.
This marked the first instance of such an event being organized by the Iron Bones Hero Regiment. It could be said that if it weren’t for Wang Ye’s exceptional dedication, having earned two third-class merits and a commendation even before completing his training, this year’s event wouldn’t have seen any alterations compared to previous years.
The challenges of accommodating family members within a field army considering matters such as medical facilities, reception conditions, and transportation—would have likely kept the tradition unchanged.
However, Wang Ye’s outstanding contributions prompted discussions among the regiment commander and other higher-ups, leading to a direct appeal for the initiation of this activity.
As a recruit, it was naturally Wang Ye’s duty to help publicize the event. In terms of publicity, it was crucial to highlight the core aspects and devise strategies to maximize its impact.
“Can you imagine the reaction of those Americans when they unexpectedly encounter his parents today?”
Within the company commander’s office, Wu Jianfeng had finished his meal and was enjoying a cigarette while discussing this matter with Kang Hua.
“It’s bound to be a delightful surprise,” Kang Hua responded with a smile.
Reflecting on his own past as a recruit, Kang Hua added, “If 1 had experienced a similar event during my time in the recruit company, with my parents suddenly arriving to see me, I would have been overjoyed!”
“Haha! But the circumstances are different now. Our batch never had the opportunity for such an event!” Wu Jianfeng chuckled. “I achieved a third-class merit back then too,” he continued, his smile lingering. “If my parents had been present to witness the ceremony as I received the merit, their pride would have known no bounds!”
“You’re absolutely right!” Kang Hua responded with resolute agreement. Then, he mused, “In truth, we discovered this concept rather belatedly. Additionally, our unit isn’t ideally suited for such an endeavor.”
“If our conditions matched those of the urban forces, where the families of all recruits could be accommodated, we could genuinely organize an event to invite the parents of all recruits to attend the assessment and award ceremony. By informing the recruits from the outset that their parents would be present to witness their achievements, I’m confident that many would be motivated to work even harder over these three months!”
“Indeed, but…” Wu Jianfeng’s thoughts drifted to the guest house within the regiment’s family compound, his expression taking on a touch of bitterness.
Such a plan was conceivable only for units with advantageous conditions. As for the Iron Bones Hero Regiment, the guest house would scarcely accommodate more than a dozen individuals unless it adopted bunk beds akin to those allocated to new recruits.
In the afternoon, the assessments carried on seamlessly.
The evaluation included exercises in basic semaphore, sign language, and light communication. The criteria for assessment revolved around the accuracy and clarity of the signals transmitted.
Wang Ye found this round relatively straightforward and breezed through it effortlessly.
Even without boasting, Wang Ye had full confidence that his performance would merit an outstanding evaluation, even if he didn’t openly disclose his results. His skill was well-honed, and he was confident that he had nailed the task.
The only uncertainty lingered in whether there might be any minor mistakes that could lead to deductions and where he might rank within the entire company.
The subsequent session in the afternoon was centered around the operation of automatic rifles.
In essence, it was a fusion of the 81 Bar training and a blindfold challenge.
A cloth was spread across the ground to demarcate the assessment area.
The benchmark for passing was to complete the exercise in under one minute and thirty seconds.
Beyond just physical prowess, this round was also a stringent examination of one’s mental state. With the extent of training everyone had undergone, maintaining composure should have rendered the task feasible within 30 minutes.
However, haste could easily lead to confusion during disassembly, jeopardizing the ability to reassemble the components correctly.
“Start!
The ten trainees of Class Five were collectively evaluated. After blindfolding and thorough inspection, the examiner issued the command.
Wang Ye’s hand swiftly found the firearm, relying solely on his memory, not even needing to touch it. His fingers moved deftly.
Ye Sanshi had divulged to Wang Ye that the record among Iron Bones Hero Regiment recruits for this event stood at 24.86 seconds.
Recently, Wang Ye had surpassed that record during his training.
Given his proficiency in Level 3 T-81 manipulation, Wang Ye could dismantle and assemble a rifle in 14 to 15 seconds without the need for a blindfold.
Even with his eyes covered, Wang Ye could accomplish the task in around 20 seconds.
The components were methodically taken apart, placed nearby in organized positions for convenience. Wang Ye worked at a brisk pace, yet his movements remained composed.
It was vital to maintain stability, especially while blindfolded.
Unbeknownst to Wang Ye, his actions had captured the scrutiny of all the invigilators present.
Some experienced personnel even found their brows twitching as they observed Wang Ye’s actions.
This recruit was astonishing, their own dexterity paling in comparison.
Done!”
In no time, Wang Ye declared his task complete with an affirmative tone. The chief examiner glanced at his watch, promptly relaying the time to a colleague by his side in hushed tones.
19.83 seconds.
As he reported the results, he couldn’t help but cast another look at Wang Ye, who had removed his blindfold after uttering his affirmation.
This individual was nothing short of remarkable!
The chief examiner’s gaze swept across the scene, briefly landing on Wang Ye. At that moment, he noticed Ye Sanshi standing off to the side, wearing an air of pride with an ear-to-ear grin.
An involuntary twitch touched the corner of the examiner’s eye.
Could this audacious fellow be any more smug? Was showcasing a proficient soldier reason enough for such arrogance? The examiner’s inner thoughts revealed a hint of jealousy. If only he had been responsible for shaping this soldier’s abilities.
“Don’t let it bother you; focus on your own task,” Kang Hua, who had been observing nearby, couldn’t resist offering advice.
Wang Ye’s vocal announcement had, unsurprisingly, rattled the rest of Class Five. Despite their awareness of Wang Ye’s exceptional abilities, his prompt completion of the task while shouting out his success put the others slightly on edge.
This presence of doubt among the participants hadn’t escaped the notice of the regiment’s head examiner. Though it stretched the norms slightly, he refrained from comment. While unconventional, it wasn’t an enormous transgression.
Wang Ye, too, observed his peers’ growing impatience beside him.
However, he had no control over this aspect. The assessment was graded on a class and unit basis. Fast finishers would naturally influence the pacing of their classmates. There wasn’t much he could do about it.
This particular challenge concealed an additional layer beyond the surface. Similar to the formation assessment, where recruits took turns to exhibit their formation skills, it also served as a test of their mental resilience.
By having individuals go up one by one, the evaluators could glean insight into the recruits’ psychological fortitude.
The current scenario was no different.
“Done!”
Finally, after over ten seconds had elapsed since Wang Ye’s declaration, a second voice echoed through the air.
Wan Baojiang, though generally on the slower side, excelled in firearms handling and physical fitness. Were it not for Wang Ye’s rapid ascent, he might have held the distinction of being the top student in Class Five.
Certainly, when it came to grenade throwing, he paled in comparison to the likes of Liang Fan or Zhang Ping’an.
But in other domains, his performance was far from subpar.
“Done!”
Following Wan Baojiang’s announcement, another voice chimed in moments later, promptly followed by someone else.
By the 40-second mark, several recruits had achieved the class average in this challenge.
Eventually, even Zhang Ping’an managed to complete the entire exercise in under a minute. The slowest time clocked in at 58 seconds.
These results far surpassed the passing benchmark.
Naturally, this was partially due to the leniency of the passing criteria for this particular event.
Comparatively, it was akin to a 3,000-meter unarmed suppression challenge, with the current passing time for recruits set at 14 minutes and 30 seconds.
Yet, in reality, if anyone truly presented such a time, their class monitor would whip them into shape to the point where they could perform such a feat while practically asleep.
Three months had elapsed, and as far as Wang Ye knew, no one clocked in above thirteen minutes anymore, all thanks to the regiment’s daily five-kilometer runs as infantrymen. This aspect of their training remained robust.
“Comrade, how much longer do we need to wait?”
As Wang Ye’s Class 5 returned to their dormitories for a quick change before heading to another class for the physical fitness assessment, Wang Ye’s mother, who was in a nearby town, glanced at the situation and couldn’t help but inquire of the first lieutenant in the front passenger seat.
“Auntie, we’re almost there. Just a few more minutes, and everything will be ready. Please wait a little longer!” The first lieutenant reassured her.
“Comrade, is there really no way we can go and see Wang Ye first?” Wang Jianjun asked again, unable to suppress his impatience.
They had asked the same question when they were picked up earlier, but Wang Jianjun felt compelled to inquire once more.
Uncle, it’s not that we don’t want you to see him, but the regiment has a specific plan in place.” The first lieutenant’s response carried a tinge of helplessness.
He had already explained the situation earlier.
For this visit, nine sets of parents were brought in, one for each squad.
However, due to varying routes and modes of transportation, the arrivals were staggered in terms of both time and location.
The regiment’s intention was to gather everyone on the same day before coordinating a group visit to the recruit company.
Wang Jianjun sighed, his feelings of longing for his son evident. “Sigh, 1 really want to see him. It’s been three months since he left home. I wonder how that rascal has been faring!”
Wang Jianjun was candid about his yearning for his son this time around.
In the past, it was a different story. Whenever he considered Wang Ye’s lackluster performance, frustration would quickly overtake his yearning.
However, Wang Jianjun’s perspective had shifted since the New Year when Wang Ye announced his commendable achievements, and even the army contacted them to extend an invitation to attend a ceremony.
The anxiety had persisted since then.
In fact, over the past few days, whenever he met with friends or business partners, he would invariably mention one particular phrase.
“Yes, yes… My schedule is quite tight these next couple of days. I have a commitment to the military.
You see, I’ve sent my somewhat wayward son off to the army…
Surprisingly, he’s changed a bit this time around. He made a contribution while in the army. The higher-ups praised his performance and even invited me and his mother to attend a ceremony!”