Chapter Five

  I'm a bit unsure of how to write this now.

  It seems that there are too many people in this world who think that the training of new recruits is just a repetition of familiar things.

  If I don't write it, then it won't be mine anymore, right?

  Let's just keep talking then.

  Let's put aside some common things and talk about something that left a deep impression on me, such as our elimination system.

  At that time, I didn't know that the camp was actually a temporary training ground, specifically used to select suitable personnel from among the thousands of new recruits.

  So on the first day, when it was still pitch black in the morning, everyone got up to go for a run. I took the lead and rushed out, standing upright in front of everyone, then waited for the last brother to come out before we started running as a team.

  That was the first time I learned what running is, or rather what running in the army is.

  Elementary school students who start taking physical education classes often like to gather together and run to a certain point, listening to the sound of the teaching building's glass shaking with a humming noise, they laugh foolishly.

  Unexpectedly, the military is also like this, and no matter how many people's footsteps must be at one point, it's best to run with a loud noise that shakes the ground to show their spirit. So although they haven't undergone training, most people's footsteps are in sync, and others unconsciously follow suit.

  Then just run, as if running without a destination forever.

  At that time, I was considered a pioneer, so the corner of my eye could see that little white face wearing an armed belt and running around with a suspicious look. I'm not saying that Kuangming's movements were not standard or his attitude was not serious, but looking at Kuangming's expression, it seemed like he was gloating over others' misfortunes and had a feeling of being afraid that the world would be too peaceful.

  After running for a full half hour, the difference in physical fitness was revealed.

  City soldiers, after all, are not used to physical activity, even if they are athletic, can't withstand this kind of running, and soon one by one starts to fall behind, some simply lie on the ground, panting heavily, vomiting, and so on.

  In comparison, the physical advantages of rural soldiers quickly emerged.

  The villagers were all from poor families, and who wasn't following their parents to work in the fields as soon as they could walk. Even if it was just picking up wheat ears, that would still be wandering around in the fields for a whole day.

  The number of city-born soldiers in the first echelon began to dwindle rapidly, until finally only two brothers from a military school were left at the forefront, while all the others were rural kids.

  As for me, it's not just the second team, even if I were in the eighth team, I still wouldn't get a turn.

  Every night is singing and smoking, plus irregular life, overeating and laziness for a few years, what physique can I have?

  I'm not afraid to lose face, I'll tell the truth. At that time, I ran for less than 10 minutes and then knelt down by the side of the road, spitting out phlegm. My whole lung felt like someone was scrubbing it with a brush, both cold and painful.

  The most infuriating one is this guy Huang Ming!

  Can't you just see that I've vomited and be done with it? Why are you still standing behind me hehehe sneering at me? Haven't you ever seen anyone vomiting after running before?

  Turning around to look at Jiang Kuan and Yang Ke, they weren't much better off than me either.

  Yang had already fallen down early on. That guy's physical condition is even worse than mine, and before joining the army, his X life was too frequent, so his physical condition was probably ruined earlier than mine.

  Jiang Kuan is actually a good kid, he was a top student since he was young and learned from Lei Feng, one of the ten outstanding youths. I guess in school, he often played basketball and football, so he still insists on running stupidly, but I think at most five minutes that big silly guy will also collapse.

  Then I heard the person next to me let out a cold laugh and say, "This literary soldier is really something else! Even when he's squatting down, his posture looks better than others. When he spits, it even sounds like he's singing an aria. That's what you call 'hanging a kettle on a plane' - a real high-flyer!"

  At that time, I didn't know where the evil fire came from, but hearing Kuang Ming's words, I felt a sudden surge of anger in my heart, and with the temperament of a Hunanese, I stood up and rushed forward in a daze.

  I didn't expect to come up with such a move. Until I saw me fall down and get up again, Kuangming ran a few steps and kicked my knee pit.

  I fell so badly at that time...

  The whole person flew out horizontally!

  Then I heard Kang Ming humming and saying "You damn bastard, you're still not obedient! I don't believe I can't control you!"

  It's a good thing that Kuang Ming said that one sentence which stimulated me and I ran out of the room in a daze.

  At that time, several observers standing next to me had already marked a note under my name, planning to eliminate me. However, seeing how nervously I ran around like an idiot, two of them crossed out the note again.

  It's strange to say, I don't know if all Hunan people have such a foolish and reckless virtue?

  At that time, there were about thirty Hunan soldiers who ran with their mouths foaming and crawling all over the ground, making breathing sounds like a bellows, but they all got up after falling and continued to run.

  Nature, Kangming and others did not really plan to let us run away once and for all.

  Anyone who looked like they were going to die if they kept running was slapped on the back of the head by Huang Ming and sent flying to one side. Except for those two brothers from a martial arts school, everyone else was slapped down like flies and sent tumbling to the side.

  Here I have to mention those Shandong brothers of mine.

  Children from the Yimeng old district, each one is sturdy and strong. After running for a while, those guys' faces were red like the apples on the national flower tree, their complexions were more attractive than one another.

  So after three days, at least thirty brothers from Yimeng Old District got together with us Hunan folks and stayed in the training camp.

  In fact, there are many other routines for elimination, and using running to observe physical ability is just one of them. As for the others, I'm too lazy to say, anyway, those who should be kicked out haven't run yet!

  For example, those soldiers who were driven out of the way and made the instructors extremely resentful were all taken out one by one by the instructors with tears and cries, and thrown into other more bitter troops.

  They are all old soldiers who have been through the army, and with just one glance at their eyes, they can still tell which ones are not doing well at home, thinking that the troops are a big melting pot and also a free big melting pot. Parents can't take care of their children, and the troops help to manage them. It's better than committing a big crime and being caught...

  I'll just say one more thing!

  The troops are a big melting pot, can teach people, can cultivate people and also temper people.

  But if you don't want to accept this kind of tempering at all, the three years in the army will only lock up your treacherous thoughts with iron discipline. Once retired, those cunning and crafty ideas will grow wildly like bamboo shoots that have seen sunlight and rain!

  So, those parents who really can't manage their kids, don't take the army as a free melting pot to discipline your children!

  Otherwise, you're waiting for disappointment!

  Let's just talk about one of them that left a deep impression on me.

  To be honest, the army is not a monolithic entity, so some bad habits still exist.

  For example, some soldiers who entered the military camp through the back door.

  This just proves what I said earlier.

  Some of the soldiers, like that famous artillery major who was known nationwide, had walked through the back door of a wealthy family at a young age and were trained to become model soldiers in the army.

  I really wish I could have as many as I want and go wherever I want with such a backdoor.

  There is also another kind, which is this purely mixed breed grandson I've seen.

  Our training camp had been open for two weeks, and that day a camouflage jeep brought in a soldier.

  His name is Jia Ming. He's the son of a high-ranking official from somewhere, and he never studied hard since childhood, especially likes to mess around with men and women relationships, and still uses his power to bully others.

  It's estimated that if he continued playing like this, even his high-ranking father wouldn't be able to hold on, so he thought of a way to get him into the army.

  Such a bird-like person, the instructor's intention is absolutely not allowed, but the instructor really has no way to refuse!

  Don't the officers and soldiers in the army have families and relatives? Don't they want to make a living and eat? Relying on that little military pay, the wives and children at home can barely afford to eat coarse grains.

  Sometimes, on someone else's land, there is no way...

  So the instructor was furious.

  Jia Ming is also asking for trouble!

  In the military camp, there's an old saying that goes like this: "Either a dragon is coiled here or a tiger is lying in wait, and damn it, not a single cow!"

  It's all right to accept training, anyway, as long as you've gone through regular training, you can hang a suitable sign and then play tricks to save the country. Just find a leisurely department to stay in.

  He even ran into the training camp and showed off in front of everyone!

  It's probably Jia Ming's grandson who thinks that several brothers from Yimeng Old District are honest and kind, and just moved in a few days ago, which means he wants to cultivate a diligent soldier among these brothers?

  That morning, we brothers all got up early to tidy up. Jia Ming was still fast asleep. After we finished making our beds, he suddenly got out of bed and grabbed our quilts, then threw his own quilt at us and tossed over 100 yuan.

  I guess those brothers in the old district of Yimeng didn't understand what was going on at that time, and they looked at Jia Ming with a bit of foolishness, asking "Brother, what are you doing?"

  Jia Ming's grandson hummed and said, "From now on, you make my bed every day, and I'll give you 100 yuan a week!"

  At that time, his brother's face changed color!

  The brothers in the Yimeng old district are thick and sincere, if you really ask for their help, they will truly help you with all their heart. Sometimes when they see you're having a hard time, even if you don't speak up, they'll quietly get things done for you.

  Even the most honest and kind-hearted person would get angry at this, right?

  The brother then threw the money onto Jia Ming's bed and didn't say a word before taking his quilt back.

  I told you Jia Ming's grandson is looking for death.

  So many brothers' faces changed, but he still didn't know how to read the situation and behave accordingly. He actually went up and kicked someone's quilt with one foot, scattering it everywhere, and then looked at that brother with a very provocative and arrogant attitude.

  Even mud people have their own personalities!

  Brothers, let's get started!

  At that time, it was just a group of brothers from our class who went up to beat up Jia Ming, and I was the main force. I was the one who covered his eyes, while two other brothers covered Jia Ming's mouth, and the rest of the brothers took turns punching him.

  He's finished, Jia Ming that guy can't even shout anymore but his mouth is still hard and he's humming and saying you guys wait for me to find my dad to clean up you bunch of bastards! Who's my dad? Who who who!

  Still dare to be stubborn?

  Another hammering!

  Brother Kangming just came in and separated us, then this matter needs to be handled.

  New recruits learn to fight and brawl, and it's even a group fight. This should be a more serious matter. The person in charge came to investigate, and the brothers in the class all had the same tone, saying that Jia Ming was bullying people with his power and took the initiative to hit first. Then, the instructor immediately gathered materials, and after we gave Jia Ming another beating, he slunk away and took off his military uniform.

  Our class is quiet now.

  It wasn't until much later that I found out that when we had just started fighting, Brother Kuangming was already standing outside the door.

  I remember there's a trick in Thirty-six Stratagems called "Kill with a borrowed knife".

  But this time, I'm happy to be the knife!

  But Brother Kangming, can't you also tell me?

  At that time, as soon as it was said that a fight would be sent back, my little heart was really scared and thumping...