The First Book: Reborn from the Fire Chapter 11: Pointed Words Against Each Other

  The next day, although still sore all over, we got up very early. Looking at the gloomy weather outside, I found myself intact and couldn't help but mutter a silent prayer to God for protection.

  To know that after the formal start of physical training, our training intensity is getting stronger day by day, and 'Qiao Yanwang' has higher and higher requirements for us. My mood is just like Beijing in late winter, it's really cold.

  "Big Brother Hai, help me out again, I just can't get these corners right, teach me and I'll go get some water!"

  Rubbing his still sleepy face, Peng Ze was also folding the bedding very naturally. Seeing that I had already folded the bedding quickly, while his was still soft and sloppy, he thought of 'Qiao Yan Wang's stick and shivered with fear, then looked at me pitifully and said:

  "Otherwise I would have been in trouble again today!"

  I sighed and nodded, alas, who made you my fellow countryman? Who let my father and your father say that I should take care of you? Moreover, who let you get me on the thief boat and form some kind of solidarity group with you? For this clever and mischievous kid, I really have a feeling of treating him as a naughty little brother.

  This poor kid has never done any household chores at home, he's used to a life where everything is served to him on a silver platter, now you're asking him to do his own laundry and fold his own bed sheets, that's really too much for him.

  "Don't splash water around, that's a stupid way to do it, use this instead!"

  I sighed, fetched some water to wet the quilt, and then came up with a plan to stack it again. However, that was an extremely stupid plan. Poor me, I fell for "Qiao Yan Wang"'s scam, sleeping on a damp quilt for almost a week before using my body heat to dry it out. It's all because of my good physical constitution that I didn't even get the chance to fall ill.

  But with such a high-difficulty activity, I'm really worried that the delicate and tender Little Peng can't hold on, of course he can't be allowed to suffer like this again.

  I took a square wooden board from under the bed and climbed onto his bunk, looking at him saying:

  "Remember, you must press it flat, use force to press it down, and the lines I drew for you must not be mistaken, otherwise your 'tofu' will be skewed."

  I opened his quilt, helped him tidy it up again, stared at him, making sure he listened to what I said, then put the board on that line and pressed hard.

  "I'll press you out a bit with the wooden board, making it harder here and easier for you to fold into four corners. You should do this often in the future, and it will be fine after a while."

  In fact, Peng Zhen has been doing much better in handling his own affairs and personal matters recently. This clever and resourceful young man, if he uses his talents for good instead of evil, will make noticeable progress.

  It's rare for Peng Jiu to be so well-behaved, carefully watching everything I do. I think he's never been so careful in his life. His parents would feel relieved seeing him like this, but actually, it's all thanks to 'Qiao Yanwang'.

  As long as he knew that there would be an inspection the next day, he would secretly stay up every night until the lights were out before going to bed, finding a reason not to sleep. In fact, this kid's quilt had never been opened. Then, after waiting for the long queue to finish checking the bedding, he would run into my quilt to warm up. As soon as it was almost time for the morning whistle, this kid would get up early and pretend to be serious about doing his chores. He might even receive praise. However, this kind of cleverness only worked a few times before being discovered by 'Ge Yan Wang'.

  Maybe after three to five times, seeing that no one noticed this matter, the kid's guts got bigger. Probably because he found out that there was someone in my quilt to help him warm his feet, it was more comfortable. One day, he even didn't wait for 'Qiao Yan Wang' to check the shop and slipped in, resulting in a big commotion.

  What are the new recruits most afraid of? What they fear most is that the new recruits cannot bear the hardship and run away. If such a thing happens, when investigating the responsibility, not only will the runaway soldiers have no good consequences, but also the company commanders and platoon leaders who led them will not be spared either. At best, they will be criticized in the whole regiment, at worst, they may face disciplinary action.

  As for Peng Jue, this master with a particularly developed tear gland? In fact, he has long been viewed by "Qiao Yan Wang" as the key to defense. In terms of endurance and hard work, in terms of daring to think wildly, the city soldiers are fundamentally different from the rural soldiers. Although the city soldiers have relatively high cultural quality and are the necessary talents for military modernization, their management has always been a major problem for the troops!

  Every night, the platoon leader "Qiao Yanwang" would make his rounds with a flashlight, scanning each bed to see if anyone was sleeping dishonestly. If someone's quilt was not properly covered, he would cover it for them. If someone was snoring too loudly, he would gently tap their shoulder to avoid disturbing others. But when he reached Peng Ze's bed, his face turned white.

  "Where's he? Where has this little brat gone?"

  Seeing the situation above made 'Qiao Yan Wang' immediately think of the worst plan in his mind, but as he often said that he had seen more battles than us, for him, although a bit nervous, years of work experience still allowed him to hold the flashlight and carefully observe Peng Zhuo's bed.

  The training suit and down jacket that had been taken off were still on the bed, and the pungent smell of stinky socks could be smelled as soon as the clothes were lifted. Below was his training pants twisted into a ball. All this made 'Qiao Wang' let out a sigh of relief. He knew that this little kid absolutely hadn't left. He just didn't believe that this yellow-haired kid had the nerve to venture outside in the cold and dark wind wearing only his underwear.

  A sudden chill swept in, so cold that I shivered and woke up from my sleep. As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Qiao Yanwang's sharp gaze. Then, I turned my head and saw Peng Ze muttering to himself: "Big Brother Hai, why are you hitting the quilt? I...I'm cold!"

  Bastard! This guy's mouthful of saliva splattered all over my shoulder, I saw in 'Qiao Jing Wang's eyes countless sparks flying like cannonballs, my face immediately turned green, and with one slap, this stinky brat was slapped awake.

  "Put on your clothes and come out with me!"

  Looking at all of this in front of him, 'Qiao Yan Wang' naturally understood everything and also knew why Peng Zuo was particularly strong in internal affairs every time he came to inspect.

  He lowered his voice, but it was full of suppressed anger. He held in his hands the warm and comfortable cotton blankets that we had been longing for, as well as Peng Ze's neatly folded blanket. His tone didn't give us any chance to refuse. In one step, he strode out of the dormitory and into the opposite cultural room. The lights inside the cultural room were already on, just like when we were having our ideological and political education class.

  "You two are so united and friendly, then let's repeat the household chores a hundred times here tonight!"

  I glared at Peng Ze with a gaze that could kill, forcing him to put on his clothes and come to the rest room. As soon as he arrived, 'Qiao Yan Wang' stared at me with fiery eyes, seemingly trying to wake up the sleeping brothers in the dormitory. He almost suffocated, rarely speaking in a low voice:

  "Lin Dahai, you're so rich in love, then let's form a united mutual aid group from now on. You'll be in charge of military affairs and internal matters. If this kid doesn't pass the test, I'll skin you alive!"

  He stared at me fiercely, if the flames in 'Qiao Yanwang's' eyes could really ignite, I dare say that Peng Zuo and I would have turned to ashes on the spot. All I heard was his cold voice saying:

  "If you guys pull my leg, after the new recruit training is over, I'll send you two kids to the vegetable field and make you dig for feces every day. If you don't do a good job tonight, don't even think about sleeping! And before we start cleaning up, give me 300 push-ups first!"

  "Report to the squad leader, I think your approach has infringed upon my rights, I can report to the platoon leader that you have given me an unjust punishment!"

  I was sleeping soundly, woken up by 'Joan of Arc', and I'm already not in a good mood. Now looking at this guy targeting me like that, and even making me do a thousand push-ups, is this still letting people live? If I can still sleep tonight, it's a miracle.

  What! I thought it was still the 80s, new recruits were beaten to death by you old veterans and no one cared. Now it's the 90s, you don't dare to openly hit me, even if the punishment is known to the superiors, you'll be criticized too. Usually, I'm afraid I've given you too much face. Now you're messing with me, I fearlessly stare back at him.