Chapter Sixteen: Firing Practice

  Today is the live ammunition shooting training, each company takes turns using the shooting range, when it's the seventh company's turn, a sudden heavy rain comes and the weather forecast becomes useless. But Maliang Cheng doesn't think so in his heart, he thinks this is an opportunity, so he stands in front of the seventh company's team and shouts loudly: "Whoever can't hit the target today, no one in the whole class is allowed to eat, got it?"

  The sound of rain was too loud, Ma Liancheng felt that it was even louder than the shouting of his soldiers. He felt dissatisfied in his heart and said: "Didn't you eat today? Speak louder and tell me clearly!"

  This time it was louder than the sound of rain, and he was satisfied. Each class reported their numbers, then took turns advancing in order, loading bullets into the gun barrel, aiming at the target.

  The tense atmosphere was even more intense than the sound of the rain. The rain was too heavy and the visibility was too poor, even the guns in their hands were unstable. The bullets went out but it was like a blind man lighting a lamp. Although it was only required to hit the target once, every person's heart was anxious and wished that the bullets could pour down like a heavenly maiden scattering flowers. The old soldiers were fine, basically able to finish with one shot, but in a whole class there were only one or two old soldiers, so this training session seemed extremely difficult from the very beginning.

  Xu Sanduo was one of them, standing tensely as if he were already in the shooting range. He had played with a slingshot before, but he knew that guns and slingshots were two completely different things. Slingshots were for shooting birds, while guns could kill people. He was afraid that he would miss his shot and everyone would go hungry, and the third squad would become the laughing stock again. The sounds of rain, gunfire, and heartbeat entwined and pierced into his heart, indistinguishable from one another.

  Ma Liancheng kept shouting, the atmosphere was even more solemn. "Donkeys can still grind rice, what can you do?" "You can't even hold a gun steadily, do you want to be a soldier? Get out of here and go home early..." ... Such words stimulated their self-esteem again and again.

  It was already an hour after the third shift. The instructor of the Seventh Company, Luo Cheng, walked up and pulled Mao Liancheng's clothes, saying: "This is still the first time, Old Horse, don't rush." Mao Liancheng didn't buy it and kicked Xu Sanduo with force. The people in the third shift quickly lined up and lay down at the shooting point.

  Xu Sanduo didn't even have bullets to load, Lin Jianbing wanted to help him but was shouted down by Ma Liancheng. He could only rely on himself now. Xu Sanduo looked at the gun and suddenly burst into tears. But the rain was heavier, so those tears were only felt by himself.

  Lin Jianbing and Qin Sihai both achieved excellent results with more than seven rings in one shot. Next to complete the target was Zhang Jian, followed by Li Mingjie... Another hour later, Yu Bo finally finished, leaving only Murong Liu Nian and Xu Sanduo.

  The rain had gradually subsided, leaving only scattered raindrops. Murong Liuyue took a deep look at Xu Sanduo and then stopped looking, his finger pressing the trigger just as it was about to hit the edge of the target. And so, only Xu Sanduo remained.

  Xu Sanduo really wanted to open his eyes, but after being washed by the rain for so long, he couldn't open them anymore. Even his head felt heavy. Ma Liancheng saw that Xu Sanduo still hadn't loaded the bullet properly and angrily shouted: "What are you doing, Xu Sanduo? I've never seen a soldier like you! Can you even be considered a soldier if you can't even load a bullet?" Luo Cheng pulled on Ma Liancheng's clothes for the seventh time. Indeed, this was a bit too harsh for new recruits. But Ma Liancheng ignored him and ordered Lin Jianbing: "Go, go, go and help him load the bullet." Lin Jianbing didn't have time to salute and immediately rushed out.

  Lin Jianbing helped Xu Sanduo load the bullets, and now Xu Sanduo's lips were black and his fingers were stiff. Lin Jianbing was heartbroken, gritted his teeth, and put Xu Sanduo's finger ring on the buckle, then heavily returned to the team.

  Bang! It finally shot out.

  "Report not received!"

  The sound of the report came over but was even louder than the gunshot.

  Lin Jianbing wiped away a tear and shouted loudly: "Xu Sanduo, jiayou!" Then, starting from the third squad, all seven squads shouted in unison, including the instructor. They were shouting: "Xu Sanduo, jiayou!"

  You must refuel when you need to refuel...

  Xu Sanduo woke up to find himself lying in the hospital of a military camp. He had an IV drip inserted into his hand. The white bed and white ceiling were empty, with no one around. He didn't know how long he had slept, but before losing consciousness, it seemed like the whole world was shouting his name and cheering him on.

  It wasn't until noon that someone came to visit Xu Sanduo. The first one was class monitor Lin Jianbing, who asked him if he was feeling better and told him not to worry, saying that everything in the class was fine. Later that day, instructor Luo Cheng also came. Out of the three classes, only two people didn't come: company commander Ma Liancheng and Mu Rong Liu Nian. Xu Sanduo knew he had let down Commander Ma, and he also knew that Liu Nian must have had his reasons for not coming. He just felt guilty and uncomfortable about it. So when he was left alone again, tears came streaming down once more.

  Qin Si Hai sat down beside Mu Rong Liu Nian and said: "Why didn't you go see Xu San Duo?"

  Murong Liuyan said: "You can go now."

  "After eating, you won't need to eat anymore?" Qin Si Hai felt very classic and nodded in self-satisfaction. Afraid that Murong Liu Nian wouldn't understand, he paused for a moment before continuing, "We can't represent you."

  "You guys eat tomorrow, I don't need to eat tomorrow." This sentence sounds straightforward, but Qin Si Hai didn't understand it for a moment. Mu Rong Liu Nian didn't have the kindness to explain it to him either. He opened his eyes and continued, "People always have to learn to grow up on their own." After finishing speaking, Mu Rong Liu Nian stood up and walked straight towards the dormitory.

  Qin Si Hai took a puff of smoke and forgot to exhale, so he was choked. Looking at Mu Rong Liu Nian's figure, for the first time, he felt that Mu Rong Liu Nian was also a wise person.

  There is a story: A wine house newly opened, unfortunately, the business was bleak. After several days, even if only a few flies flew in, they could be counted on one hand. Obviously, if this continued, it would eventually lead to bankruptcy. The owner of the wine house was a person with some wit, and he didn't want his hard work to go down the drain. He thought day and night, racking his brains, until finally, he came up with a good idea. He had an employee make a large red signboard and put it at the entrance, on which was written "Free meals tomorrow". Sure enough, the next day, the place was packed, with people inside and outside waiting in line. Who wouldn't want to eat for free? However, when the customers finished their meal and were about to pack some leftovers, the waiter came over with the bill. The customers were puzzled: "Didn't you say that meals are free tomorrow?" The waiter smiled and said: "Yes, yes, meals are free...tomorrow". This story, whether true or not, has a certain educational significance. And so, "Free meals tomorrow" became a popular phrase.

  This allusion Qin Si Hai had never heard of, but he felt that Murong Liu Nian's sentence "You can eat me tomorrow and I won't be needed" was very philosophical. He just didn't know that this allusion is now even known by elementary school students who have been taught by their teachers.

  The land in the south is fertile and suitable for planting because of the abundant rainfall. However, too much rain is not always a good thing. These days, it has been drizzling continuously, like a thin thread wrapping around everyone's head. It's already winter, and although the cold wind is not fierce, it's sneaky and quietly penetrates into the skin, capable of injecting viruses into your body. Those with weak immune systems quickly become congested, sniffling and coughing. The weather in the south makes life inconvenient and is really annoying.

  However, soldiers will not complain about the weather, but rather, the worse the environment, the more suitable it is for a soldier's growth. They have tasks every day and the country's peace is not a one-time effort, so they don't have time to think about other things. Training continues day after day, to the point where everyone forgets that days are numbered. Eating, training, and sleeping are still the focus of everyone's life. If we say that everyone started as a piece of stone, then undoubtedly, in this month's time, they have been gradually carved out with contours. When they become a complete work, it is also when they become soldiers. A group of soldiers will become excellent breeds of horses or mediocre horses due to the depth of their initial carving, or you may not be able to become a horse at all. Then you are just a donkey that has received strict training, but the catalyst for intensity did not cause your genes to mutate, so you cannot transform from an ugly duckling to a swan. This was said by Lian Changma in a meeting, and Xu Sanduo memorized it. Xu Sanduo felt that he was the piece of stone that was carved the shallowest, and could only become a mediocre horse, or maybe not even a horse at all. In some respects, Xu Sanduo had a clear understanding.

  Xu Sanduo wants to get many things, so it shouldn't be said that he is foolish, only that he is stupid. Foolish people don't think about things. Stupid people do things with great effort. This principle Xu Sanduo has just learned recently.

  Seeing Xu Sanduo walking over, Murong Liu Nian casually asked: "How's your marksmanship coming along, Sanduo?"

  Xu Sanduo scratched his head and said: "I'm stupid and can't learn."

  "You're not stupid because you know you won't be able to. You're a silly bird who always has to fly first because you fly slowly."

  "I'm too stupid to understand."

  "You know you don't understand so it's stupid not silly."

  Xu Sanduo suddenly enlightened and laughed out his pearly whites: "I get it! I'm not stupid, I'm just silly."