Chapter 11: Training in Throwing Hand Grenades

  That day, we new recruits were all taken out for training in grenade throwing.

  When gathering, one deputy class leader is drawn from each row to stay behind.

  All of our new recruits know that this is to inspect our sanitation and hygiene.

  We were taken to the training ground and after separate training, our class leader began to explain to us the essentials of throwing hand grenades.

  The monitor bent down and picked up a hand grenade from the ground, explaining to us: "Comrades, when you hear the command 'Prepare hand grenades', take the grenade with your right hand, use both hands to twist open the cap, tear off the waterproof paper, pull out the fuse ring, put the fuse ring on the base of your little finger, and hold the grenade with your right hand. The method for holding the grenade is: four fingers wrapped around it, with your little finger curled around the end of the wooden handle."

  The class leader paused for a moment, then continued carefully: "With the thumb of the right hand pressing on the index finger or with the thumb and index finger touching each other, comrades who hold the pistol with their left hand do the same as those with their right hand."

  The monitor explained to us in professional military terms while demonstrating to us.

  We learned from our class monitor's actions and have also reached this point.

  The monitor, seeing that we have all reached this step, continued to demonstrate and explain: "Hold the bow well after drawing, place the arrow in front of your right shoulder, with the arrow body roughly at the same height as your shoulder. Fix your eyes on the target ahead and assume the ready stance."

  "After the monitor stopped, he turned around and looked at us. Seeing that we were all doing the movements in a standardized way, he continued to say: 'When you hear the command "throw", take a big step back with your right foot, move the ball from the front of your body through the side of your body to the back, stretch your right arm naturally, and keep the ball slightly lower than your right shoulder. Your left side should face directly towards the direction of the throw, your left forearm should be bent in front of your abdomen, your left leg should be straight, and your right leg should be bent. Lean your upper body backwards, with most of your weight on your right foot.'"

  Then the class monitor threw the coach's note far away.

  "After completing the lead-in action, the right foot quickly kicks back and forth, straightening the right leg while sending the hip forward to turn the body, chest out and head up. With the large arm driving the small arm, swing the arm with force. When the arm swings over the shoulder, the left foot quickly kicks back, violently retracts the abdomen, and locks the wrist, throwing the ball in the direction of the target."

  One morning, we were all practicing the action of throwing hand grenades.

  The monitor told us that the qualified score for grenade throwing of new recruits is above 30 meters, and the qualified standard for old soldiers is above 40 meters.

  I looked at the 30-meter length and didn't feel it was that long. I felt like with just a casual swing, I could easily reach 50 or 60 meters.

  But in fact, I was wrong. It wasn't until the hand grenade assessment that I discovered throwing a hand grenade isn't as easy as it seems.

  In the whole morning, we didn't throw a single practice grenade. The squad leader only made us repeatedly practice our movements. Only when our movements are practiced well can we throw further.

  After the morning training session ended, all of us got on the military vehicle and returned to the barracks.

  Just as I had put down my luggage in the dormitory, the assembly whistle blew.

  After assembly, the company commander stood in front of our new recruit formation with a blue file folder.

  Opening the blue folder, Lian Chang looked at the folder and announced today's evaluation results to us.

  "First row, Class 1 new recruit Liu Zhi-xiang's metal cabinet is not neatly arranged, deduct two points. Second class bed frame is not wiped clean, deduct five points... Sixth class Hu Xin-wei has socks on his leather shoes, deduct one point. Seventh class... Eighth class Zhang Yu-bai's white bed sheet has hair threads, deduct one point. Bed frame overall has dust, deduct five points. Eighth class... Ninth class... Twelfth class..."

  Overall, every class had points deducted. Fortunately, our class only had Hu Xingwei deducted one point. In the end, classes 6, 3 and 12 received the mobile red flag.

  After the dissolution, we were very excited and hung the flowing red flag on the prominent wall of our sixth class room.

  The monitor was also delighted, and our class commended everyone except Hu Xingwei.

  When I was carrying a water bottle to give water to the comrades of Class 6, I discovered a scene that made me somewhat tongue-tied. At this time, outside the barracks, all the new recruits who were named and deducted points today were running laps around the barracks with their backpacks on (note: wearing a backpack means tying up the quilt and carrying it on one's back).

  I grabbed Zhang Yu who was running past me and asked him in confusion: "Yu Zi, what's going on?"

  "Ugh, today I was scolded by the whole class. As soon as I got back to my dorm, my monitor had a black face and told me to pack up my bag and run 20 laps around the barracks with it on my back." Zhang Yu explained to me with a wronged tone.

  "My god, that's too much, it seems others also enjoyed the same treatment as you." I said pointing at other new recruits from different classes who were still running.

  Zhang Yu glanced at the new recruit who was also being punished and said to me, "I'll continue." Then, he continued running around the barracks.

  Watching my comrades running in circles, I felt a little relieved that I wasn't punished. Fortunately, before the assembly today, each of us in our class took turns checking every place, and I finally figured out why we didn't find the socks in Hu Xingrui's leather shoes.

  Because Hu Xingwei had severe athlete's foot, every night before lights out, the class monitor would make Hu Xingwei soak his feet outside for 10 minutes before entering the dormitory.

  He didn't check his leather shoes because this guy's feet really stank. I reckon he couldn't stand the smell of his own feet, and not even he himself dared to take a closer look.

  If our class hadn't won the internal affairs mobile red flag, I reckon Hu Xinkui would have been running around with a backpack on his back like them.

  From that day on, we forced Hu Xingwei to check his leather shoes every day, just in case there were socks stuck inside again.

  Although he repeatedly assured us that the socks would be washed away on the same day, in consideration of our class's internal affairs and hygiene honor, we all shook our heads and rejected his request.

  Every day I am training, and I have been expecting to be able to wield the sacred steel gun.

  Gun, oh gun, when can I hold you...

  Every day is looking forward to Lian Chang announcing the next training subject.

  These days, we have also been continuously training in hand grenade throwing.

  Lian Chang also announced to us that a week later, the brigade will conduct an assessment on the training subjects of new recruits in each company. If the pass rate is less than 80%, the company commander will be held accountable and make a self-criticism in front of the whole brigade.

  We still haven't thrown a single new soldier up to now. Every day is spent repeatedly training the throwing motion.

  That day after assembly, the company commander finally announced that we would be having a hand grenade proficiency test.

  After being pulled to the training ground by a truck, the company commander had us line up and throw in turn. Each person threw three hand grenades, taking the farthest one as our score.

  The first row was cast, and we all waited behind, after one row finished casting, it was our turn for the second row.

  After the fifth class finished voting, it was finally our turn in Class 6. I excitedly lined up as the first one in Class 6.

  I picked up the hand grenade and threw it out with a motion.

  The first grenade landed 30 meters away, barely passing.

  I'm speechless, I didn't think throwing a hand grenade would be so difficult.

  Some were unwilling, I picked up the second one and threw it out again. This time, the hand grenade fell at a distance of 33 meters.

  Still not reconciled, can my strength only be on the qualified line? Unwilling, very unwilling, I suddenly picked up the last coach shell, assisted in running, "Ah" I shouted angrily, and threw the grenade out with all my might.

  But hand grenades...