Chapter 21: Transformation

  Qiu Lin had never eaten anything so disgusting before. She spat out the wild vegetables from her mouth while shouting at Sun Qifan.

  Sun Qifan ignored Qiu Lin, just sticking out his tongue at her before putting down his bowl and chopsticks, turning to glance at his uncle Sun Fan, then walking towards the railing. With both hands on the railing, Sun Qifan gazed out at the endless sea in front of him, and he couldn't help but think of what Zhao Hu had said to him three days ago, also at this time, on the 157 warship.

  Although he didn't know what tricks his uncle would use next to tease everyone, Sun Qifan had already somewhat understood his uncle's train of thought in his heart. Thinking about it, Sun Qifan couldn't help but take a deep breath, and the upcoming suffering might be unbearable for most people.

  Looking at Sun Qifan's thoughtful face, Zhuo Yi couldn't help but feel a little curious and walked to his side, smiling and asking: "Little boy, why are you looking so deep? This doesn't look like you."

  "So I have to find out what's going on between you two, that's the only way I can be Sun Qifan?" As he spoke, Sun Qifan gave a cold glance at Zhuo Yi.

  After being said by Sun Qifan, Zhuo Yi couldn't help but smile awkwardly, but she didn't respond to Sun Qifan's teasing and instead asked: "Do you still want to leave here now?"

  Sun Qifan took a deep breath, "What? Sun Fu has sent you here as an envoy again?"

  "He's still your uncle, after all; it's not right to address him by his first name."

  Sun Qifan found it laughable and laughed, following Zhuo Yi's words: "What? You haven't even crossed the threshold yet, and you're already being protective. So should I call you Master in the future or Second Aunt?"

  Listening to Sun Qifan's completely out-of-tune words, Zhuo Yi could only glare at Sun Qifan, knowing that although he now looked much more subdued on the surface, in his heart he had not fully submitted to Sun Fu's intentions, and so she didn't say anything else and turned to leave.

  Watching Zhuo Yi leave, Sun Qifan couldn't help but turn his head to look at his uncle Sun Fan. After a while, he couldn't help but think of something in his mind that even he found terrifying - was it possible that Uncle Sun Fan, who was almost forty and still single, was because of Zhuo Yi? Thinking about this, Sun Qifan couldn't help but be frightened by his own thoughts, and his heart sank at the thought that if Zhuo Yi really became his aunt, then he would truly have no good days ahead.

  After a while, when Qiu Lin finally swallowed the last mouthful of wild vegetables with difficulty, Sun Fan raised his hand to look at the time, which was already 1:01 in the afternoon.

  It was just the hottest time of day, and Sun Fu couldn't help but lift his head and squint at the white sun in the sky.

  Sun Buran looked up at the sun, and Qiu Lin's heart couldn't help but think that Sun was going to do something again. Now, she thought it would be better for her to eat a bit more, or else she would soon be dizzy with hunger and wouldn't be able to take it. Thinking this, Qiu Lin continued to wolf down the thin porridge mixed with wild vegetables.

  Zhuo Yi came back and saw Qiu Lin had refilled her bowl, couldn't help but tease Qiu Lin: "Isn't it not delicious? Why are you still eating more than others?"

  "If I don't eat my fill, how can I withstand your and Captain Sun's torture? Besides, this wild vegetable isn't that hard to eat. Next time, let the chef remove the hairy parts on top, add some red chili oil, and put in some fermented bean paste, and I can finish a whole bowl!" Responding to Zhuo Yi's words, Qiu Lin stuffed another mouthful of wild vegetables into her mouth.

  Qiu Lin's words made Zhuo Yi burst out laughing, thinking that there was still such a treasure.

  Zhuo Yi smiled, and Qiu Lin was also stunned, staring at Zhuo Yi without blinking.

  Qiu Lin stared at her own eyes wide with fear, Zhuo Yi quickly stopped laughing and asked: "Wha...what's wrong?"

  "You actually laughed!" As she said that, Qiu Lin felt an excitement that was too unbelievable, as if she had discovered a new continent.

  After being said by Qiu Lin like that, Zhuo Yi immediately pulled down her face and asked Qiu Lin back: "Am I not a normal person too?"

  Qiu Lincai didn't care about Zhuo Yi's sudden coldness, she felt that deep down, Zhuo Yi was still a woman, and women wouldn't like being cold. A woman's sixth sense is very accurate. So, she went on to say: "Officer Zhuo, you actually look pretty when you smile, why do you always put on a long face in front of us? It's such a waste of your handsome face!"

  "Hey, can't even fill your mouth with food? Am I beautiful or not, what's it got to do with training you guys?"

  "Of course, who doesn't like to look at beautiful women? Beautiful women can be a pleasure to behold. In this way, when we train, our mental state is also relaxed, right?"

  "Spare me the nonsense, don't think that by saying this I'll go easy on you!" Although Zhuo Yi said this with her mouth, in her heart she couldn't help but feel happy because of Qiu Lin's words.

  Sun Qifan looked at Qiu Lin and said, "Zhuo Yi is a bit embarrassed now, can't help but smile." The atmosphere that was originally made too serious by Sun Fan was also relaxed a lot after Qiu Lin's teasing. Turning around, Sun Qifan walked to Zhuo Yi's side, not forgetting to cooperate with Qiu Lin and said to Zhuo Yi: "If you're happy in your heart, don't pretend to be serious, it's tiring."

  After being said by Sun Qifan, Zhuo Yi's face turned red and she couldn't help but kick Sun Qifan's butt. "You little brat are asking for a beating, huh?"

  Sun Qifan was also startled, and when he came to his senses, he jumped up, turned his head and rushed towards Zhuo Yi, saying only two words: "Heart empty!"

  Zhuo Yi was so angry that she couldn't help but scold Qiu Lin, "Do you still want to eat wild vegetables with red oil chili and bean paste?"

  "Really!" Qiu Lin heard that she could eat something delicious and quickly nodded.

  "Shut up!"

  "Oh!"

  Responding to Zhuo Yi's words, Qiu Lin stopped mentioning Zhuo Yi's sudden smile and instead quietly started eating.

  Sun Qifan looked at the wild vegetables with added ingredients and couldn't help but sigh, shaking his head and saying: "With a comrade like you, it's only a matter of time before you betray your teammates!"

  Qiu Lin understood the meaning behind Sun Qifan's words, but she just hummed softly in response and turned her back to him, continuing to eat.

  Sun Fan watched as Zhuo Yi's farce finally came to an end, and he couldn't help but laugh inwardly. He walked to the front of everyone and shouted: "Assemble!"

  "I haven't finished eating yet?" Qiu Lin said, her mouth full of wild vegetables.

  Sun Fan glanced at Qiu Lin and couldn't help but laugh in his heart, but his face still looked impatient as he said, "Then don't eat!"

  "But I'm not full, and if I don't eat more, I won't have the energy to train later!" Qiu Lin continued, stuffing another mouthful of wild vegetables into her mouth.

  Sun Fan really couldn't take Qiu Lin's cuteness anymore and said: "Who says we have to train!"

  "Not training?" Qiu Lin was taken aback, and after coming to her senses, she immediately put down her bowl and chopsticks. As she chewed on the food in her mouth, she muttered: "If I don't train, I won't eat. I don't want to be the one holding everyone back from resting." With that, she joined the ranks.

  After everyone had gathered, Sun Fu said: "Let's talk!"

  At the command, all the trainees immediately stood at attention with their feet together and looked straight at Sun.

  "Today, we conducted a 10-kilometer cross-country training and ideological education to recall the bitterness and think of the sweetness. Although some trainees were not very serious during the training, they also enlivened the atmosphere and relaxed everyone's tense mood."

  Qiu Lin listened and knew they were talking about her, she couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, stuck out her tongue and smiled.

  "This morning's training was a success, I hope you can remember that honor is defended with sweat and iron discipline. Only by not forgetting the lessons of history can we become the masters of the future! Only by not forgetting the determination of revolutionary pioneers who shed their blood to defend the country, inheriting excellent work style, pioneering and advancing, can we become officers of the People's Liberation Army in the new era, and become qualified guardians of the Republic!"

  Sun's speech was not the first time, but this time it made everyone feel particularly heartfelt, and from the heart they felt that Sun wanted everyone to remember what a soldier should have as a code of conduct.

  Perhaps, I am no longer the naive student in school, and my mission is not just a phrase on my lips, but something that needs to be forged with blood and sweat. This thing cannot be expressed in words, nor can it be recorded in writing, the only thing that can be engraved is honor.

  It was that bowl of clear porridge made from millet, as well as the inedible wild vegetables, that played a role, allowing the remaining twenty-three students to finally understand what path they would take next.

  "No regrets for youth, hot blood repays the country!" This is the road to be taken in the future, this road will be filled with thorns and tears will fall on the battlefield.

  This road may lead people to gradually forget what freedom is, and forget the saying "If for the sake of freedom, both can be abandoned". But it's not just Sun Qifan who knows that once he walks this path, there's no turning back.

  Moreover, it is a shame for oneself to be the one who leaves, which is an insult to the uniform and an insult to the profession of being a soldier!

  Finally able to get a moment's rest, everyone was arranged in the 168 fleet's rest room for a break. No one made any more noise, all twenty-three students sat properly in their chairs, quietly watching the military documentary "The Rise of a Great Nation" on the TV in the rest room.

  Zhao was able to quietly walk into the rest room, he lightly walked to Qiu Lin's side, and placed the two hot steamed buns in his hand in front of Qiu Lin.

  Although it was only two buns, the fragrance emitted was much better than wild vegetables. Qiu Lin couldn't resist such temptation and quickly picked them up, wanting to stuff them into her mouth. However, when she opened her mouth, she stopped, looking at the bun in her hand and then at Jiang Yurou beside her, swallowing a mouthful of saliva, and handed the bun over to Jiang Yurou, saying: "You eat it, I'm full from eating earlier."