The First Collection Chapter 24 The Knife

  After dinner, Instructor Meng took the soldiers to run 5 kilometers again. Unfortunately, they didn't have a chance to fulfill their appointment with Chen Yang because Captain He returned from the military district. As soon as Captain He arrived, he called away two instructors and the soldiers finally got a chance to relax.

  The two instructors, however, inexplicably felt a surge of pressure because He Qiu was chain-smoking, finishing one cigarette in just three to five puffs. The atmosphere in the room became somewhat oppressive, with only the sound of breathing remaining, until He Qiu finally stubbed out his cigarette butt in the ashtray and asked, "How were the results of the assessment?"

  Officer Meng said expressionlessly: "Four people have reached the team's physical standards, and three are barely passing in combat."

  He nodded, but it was unclear whether he was very satisfied or just acknowledging that he understood. Instructor Ji continued: "In terms of shooting, two people barely passed, and there is no one who can compare to the team members. Team leader, to be honest, I think we're wasting our time. With their current abilities, it's too difficult for them to join the team. Who knows how long it will take to train them? It would be better if..."

  He didn't say a word, just stared tightly at Instructor Ji until Instructor Ji was speechless and said: "You little wing is hard, speaking up is also rough, but don't forget, when you first joined the army, you were not as good as them. I don't want to say more, in two months, what you need to do is teach them well, as for how they will turn out, it's not necessary for you to say."

  The instructor Ji looked a bit embarrassed and rubbed his nose, not saying anything else. Instructor Meng suddenly said in an unusual tone: "There's one person who's not bad, I think he can join the team."

  "Who?" Coach Ji and Team Leader He couldn't help but ask hastily, because they were very clear that Meng FanYu was a person who rarely spoke, and his vision was extremely high. If he could determine that someone could join the team in just one day, then this person must be exceptional.

  Chen Yang.

  The instructor Ji laughed: "Old Meng, you must have made a mistake. Look, this is Chen Yang's shooting data when he was shooting. Take a look."

  The document handed over by Meng's instructor, Instructor Meng pointed to a purple mark on his face: "He did it."

  Ji instructor only then noticed that on Meng instructor's left cheek, there was a not very obvious mark, and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "Impossible, you're one of the top three free combatants in the entire team, how could you be injured by his hand."

  "His Muay Thai is very powerful."

  He smiled, but his smile only stayed on his face for a few seconds. Then, Instructor Meng coldly said: "However, his physical ability is not up to par."

  Coach Ji and He Qiu were stunned. Not passing the physical test? If someone who didn't pass the physical test could leave a mark on the faces of the top three players in the entire team, then what would happen if he passed the physical test?

  "I'll go take a look at them." He Qi stood up and left, but for some reason he walked back to the door, picked up two bottles of liquor from under the bed, and rushed towards Chen Yang and Sun Erpao's barracks.

  In the barracks, Sun Erpao stared at the all-black paratrooper knife in his hand, his eyes burning with increasing heat: "Chen Yang, is this your war trophy? It's really beautiful, I don't know when we can get equipped with this thing."

  Chen Yang smiled slightly: "Do you like it? I'll give it to you if you do."

  "Are you serious?" Sun Erpao's eyes became somewhat strange: "When that person sneaked in, you had already helped me, and I was scolded by you. Now you're giving this to me, aren't you trying to make me owe you a favor?" Chen Yang smiled: "Is a broken thing worth thinking so much about?"

  Sun Erpao laughed: "Alright, this one's for you. Next time I'll get one for you too. Dammit, don't know if they're coming tonight or not. If they do, I'll take care of it right away."

  Chen Yang smiled slightly.

  Just then, footsteps sounded and He Qiu walked in. Sun Erpao hastily hid the paratrooper knife behind his back. He Qiu swept a glance over them but didn't pay attention to it, and pressed down on Chen Yang and Sun Erpao who were about to stand up, saying: "No need to get up, you two sit, I just came to casually chat with you." As he spoke, he walked over to the side of their 'bed' and sat down.

  Chen Yang and Sun Erpao exchanged a glance, somewhat unclear about He's intentions. He pulled out two bottles of strong liquor from his pocket, then fished out a bag of peanuts and casually tossed them onto the ground, saying: "You two accompany me in drinking some wine."

  Chen Yang shook his head: "I don't drink."

  He didn't force anyone, looked at Sun Erpao and said: "You won't either?" Sun Erpao swallowed his saliva: "This isn't very good." He smiled and handed the wine to Sun Erpao's hand: "There's nothing wrong with it, I'm in charge here."

  Sun Erpao took the wine and drank it, completely unaware of Chen Yang's gaze turning slightly cold. It wasn't that Chen Yang couldn't drink, but he was clear about one thing: Hei Dui had mysteriously come to find them here, and there must be something fishy going on. If his guess was correct, it should be related to what the middle-aged man said last night.

  Although only peanuts were served with wine, after half a bottle of strong liquor was consumed, Sun Er Hao had become increasingly enthusiastic in his conversation with He Dui. They talked about their hometowns, going up the mountain to chase rabbits, wild chicken, and fishing in the river... Suddenly, He Dui asked: "What did you hide behind your back when I came in just now?"

  Sun Erpao hesitated for a moment, but then glared and said: "He Du, this is a war trophy given to me by Chen Yang, you can't have it." He Du laughed: "Take it out and let me see." When he saw that Sun Erpao was holding a paratrooper's knife in his hand, He Du was stunned, and remained stunned for a long time.

  "Chen Yang, have you really decided to give this knife to Sun Erpao?" Without waiting for Chen Yang's response, He Dui muttered to himself: "I think you still don't understand the meaning of a comrade giving a knife. A weapon is a warrior's second life, giving a knife means giving one's life..."

  Chen Yang and Sun Erpao were stunned, looked at each other for a moment, then suddenly turned their heads to stare at He Dui.

  "Take a sip of sorghum liquor... Climb the platform to gaze at our hometown... A lifetime of friendship... Two sworn brothers... The military knife sends off our comrades..." He Qiu's words suddenly became heavy, but what shocked them even more was that He Qiu slowly drew out a gleaming bayonet from his body. It could be seen that this bayonet should have been an antique, but in He Qiu's hands it was spotless and shining brightly. Obviously, He Qiu must have often wiped it clean. Then, He Qiu slowly poured some liquor onto the bayonet and said: "Comrades, let us drink..."

  In the somewhat hoarse voice, a hint of unimaginable sadness was revealed. At this moment, Chen Yang and Sun Erpao were really stunned, because they had already felt He Qiu's intense sorrow and nostalgia from his words...