Chapter 4: The Foolish Bird

  Summer, Shenyang, China, National University of Defense Technology, Shenyang Military Academy.

  At 6:00 in the morning, the school gate slowly opened, and teams of students ran out from inside with neat footsteps, starting their new day.

  The surrounding residents know that the military school is strictly managed, with regular working hours, getting up at 5:30 every day, lights out at 9:30 in the evening, only two days off per month, and only one and a half months of vacation per year. Personnel entering and leaving are all based on certificates, and outsiders are strictly prohibited from entering.

  Nothing else is known apart from this.

  Due to its strict management and mysterious color, residents in the surrounding areas and even Shenyang had tried every means to find someone to pull strings, hoping to send their children to this school. However, every parent received the same answer: the personnel quota is full, and the enrollment period has passed, so the school does not accept new students.

  Across the country, in fact, only a handful of people know that this is not an ordinary military school, but the cradle for cultivating talents for China's Dragon Mobile Troop.

  Five hundred students will receive systematic study for four years here.

  The first three years impart high school and college-level knowledge, while the fourth year imparts military knowledge, including basic marksmanship training. During these four years, a 5-kilometer run twice a day is unavoidable, and in the final year, basic hand-to-hand combat skills and live-fire shooting are also taught.

  To ensure the loyalty of this unit, all these students are direct descendants of active or retired military personnel. They were selected from 580,000 applicants nationwide and those who remained, whether physically or mentally, are the elite among their peers.

  Four years later, they will face a systematic assessment. Trainees who score in the last 200 will be eliminated and sent to other troops for further study.

  National University of Defense Technology Special Administrative Office at night.

  A black semi-circular office desk with a telephone, a laptop computer, a five-star red flag and a file marked "Top Secret".

  There is a photo on file, and the young man in the photo has thick eyebrows like arrows and eyes like stars.

  Sitting upright at his office desk, Deng Xiao Shang entered a string of 18-digit numbers and letter symbols on the computer, and spent nearly two hours browsing through all the information about this trainee named Zhang Hang.

  Zhang Hang, as a student who was specially admitted after only one physical examination, his file recorded all the things from his birth to now in great detail, even including the evaluation of each neighbor around him.

  And that sensational fight incident made General Deng Xiao nod frequently.

  It's obvious that his family has been training him since he was young. Otherwise, Zhang Hang would have been beaten to a pulp long ago.

  What shines before our eyes is Zhang Hang's sense of justice, calm mind, strong will and lasting endurance at such a young age!

  It's really worth thanking the child's parents! They have cultivated a good seed for the motherland. It is worthy of being a retired soldier of the Republic, and after retirement, they are still enthusiastic about the national defense cause of the motherland!

  Deng Xiao sighed lightly and picked up the phone on the table, dialing the phone number of the principal's office at Shenyang Military Academy.

  The phone call only had one sentence: Please take good care of Zhang Hang!

  "Understood, General!" A hearty response came from the other end of the phone.

  Thus, Zhang Hang's four-year school career was spent in terror, with him having to deal with what he saw as difficult questions from his teachers every day.

  Hanging up the phone, Deng Xiao's mood was somewhat excited, as if he had seen a glimmer of dawn in the darkness.

  For this mobile force, he spent all his heart and soul. The casualties of the troops made his mood always heavy and depressed.

  Lei Xiao En, if you come to China again next time, I will give you a surprise that will make you never forget this trip to China.

  Deng Xiao smiled slightly, closed his computer and stood up to leave.

  Shenyang Military Academy, math class.

  "Zhang Hang, please come and solve the problem on the blackboard." The math teacher said with a smile.

  You can't be serious! I haven't even learned this yet and you're asking me to explain it, are you trying to make a fool out of me to show off your authority?! Or is it because I look handsome and you think you can bully me?!

  Thinking so in his heart, he didn't dare say it out loud. He slowly stood up and said: "Teacher, this question is a bit difficult."

  "As a man, can you back down in the face of difficulties? If you don't even have the courage to overcome them, what will you use to protect your family and country in the future?" The math teacher slammed down his hat, cutting off Zhang Hang's retreat.

  It is indeed difficult to raise women and children!

  It's said that a good man doesn't fight with a woman, but it seems like if I don't show some skills, they'll really take me for a sick cat.

  I haven't finished yet, there are still two more words at the end of that sentence: as if.

  Giving up in the face of difficulties has never been Zhang Hang's style; on the contrary, overcoming one difficulty after another is what brings him the greatest joy.

  Three minus five, divided by two, the problem is solved.

  Want to use later knowledge to stump me? Not a chance.

  This time, he was able to show his face in front of Ouyang Qiushui, the campus belle, and Zhang Hang secretly rejoiced.

  It's no wonder, young boys and girls in puberty have a natural desire to show off in front of the opposite sex.

  "Everyone, this is what we will be learning next time. Zhang Hang did a great job reviewing the homework ahead of time and deserves praise. After class, everyone should also review in advance. Class dismissed."

  Can't let him be too pleased with himself, so I'll give him the title of "Clumsy Bird". The math teacher seems to be in a good mood, walking out of the school building with her unique high heels making "click-clack" sounds.

  Good grief! The stupid bird takes flight first? This is utterly ridiculous! Although I'm seething with discontent, there's nothing I can do about it.

  The next day, a teacher called out in class, "Stupid bird, you're up!"

  "Who are you calling a silly bird?" The teacher's words were cut off by Zhang Hang.

  "Whoever answers me is who I'm calling, if you're not a silly bird, why are you answering me?"

  Sweat, Zhang Hang speechless.

  He knew from now on "Clumsy Bird" would be his codename.

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, from then on, all the teachers in the school unanimously recognized that Zhang Hang was indeed the stupid bird, and the stupid bird was indeed Zhang Hang.

  In a foreign language classroom.

  "Everyone, before class starts, I want to review yesterday's content and see how well you have grasped it. Now, which student can recite yesterday's lesson?"

  The foreign teacher looked around the classroom, and the students below exchanged awkward glances.

  This passage is already six minutes long when read normally, let alone that there was no homework assigned last night, who can memorize it?

  Since all of you are so humble, I'll name names. Amidst the prayers of "Don't pick me!" from the whole class, the foreign language teacher softly uttered two words: "Stupid bird!"

  The whole class's gaze, as if relieved of a heavy burden, converged on Zhang Hang at this point, with some sympathy in their eyes.

  "I'd like to see if this lazy bird of yours slacked off last night."

  Five minutes later, Zhang Hang sat down under the calm gaze of his foreign language teacher and the astonished expressions of his classmates.

  What's so difficult about it? If I let you know that I memorized the textbook in elementary school, I don't know what kind of expression you would have. It's really rare to see such ignorance!

  "Zhang Hang, you're really something, this is also okay!"

  "Quickly tell us your mnemonic method, so that brothers can also perform next time. Don't tell us you have a photographic memory, we don't believe it."

  The speakers were twin brothers, the elder brother was called Situ Jian, and the younger brother was called Situ Gang, both of whom were Zhang Hang's buddies.

  Nothing special, just watched it a few more times.

  "No, we were all there last night, didn't see you reading." said Situ Jian.

  "This is what I saw on bed. Unlike you, your attention was all on Ouyang Qiushui." Zhang Hang said.

  "Right, right!" The topic sparked everyone's interest, and the boys' dormitory instantly became chaotic.

  At the same time, the girls' dormitory.

  "That stupid bird that looks just okay is really stupid, he can actually recite such a long passage."

  "Hey, what's with 'looking okay'? He's obviously a handsome guy, let's just say it like it is. What are you trying to hide by saying something like that?"

  Liu Jie always loved to play jokes on Zhao Ping and would never let go of any opportunity.

  "Not bad, our Ping looks quite decent too, it seems like there's a good chance for a perfect match. Others also joined in the teasing."

  "It's impossible for me to be considered a talented and beautiful person, don't forget we have our school flower too!" As soon as the situation changed, Zhao Ping immediately shifted her attention to Ouyang Qiushui.

  "Zhao Ping, don't try to change the subject and drag me into this. You tell your sisters what you plan to do next." Although Zhao Ping tried to steer the conversation towards herself, Ouyang Qiushui didn't show a hint of anger, but instead seemed somewhat expectant.

  Young men and women love to make jokes about the opposite sex that are still vague and have no boundaries.

  That's the privilege of being young, youth is wonderful!

  Chemistry classroom.

  Zhang Hang's palms were sweating as he was in front of the blackboard balancing chemical equations.

  "What's this? Bringing up something that's not even in the book to stump me, damn it, who did I provoke? The mixed gazes of expectation and sympathy from his classmates made Zhang Hang extremely uncomfortable."

  Ten minutes later, Zhang Hang still couldn't find the answer after searching his brain back and forth "N" times. Helpless, he could only make an educated guess and randomly write a number on it.

  On the side, the chemistry teacher was recalling Zhang Hang's prank: Two days ago, the chemistry teacher said as usual, "Stupid bird, come and do this question."

  "Okay. But teacher, who is the silly bird calling?"

  The silly bird is calling you. As soon as the words came out of his mouth, he felt something was wrong and immediately invited a burst of loud laughter.

  He considered this matter a great shame in his life, and finally avenged himself with a single arrow after returning from the school library last night.

  "You think this stupid bird can't fly anymore?"; The chemistry teacher straightened his back: "According to your dosage, this bomb is enough to send you and your comrades together to the Western Heaven!"

  "But this topic beyond the book is also too difficult, it's normal if you can't do it." A pleasant and melodious voice spoke up for Zhang Hang.

  With his super strong sixth sense, Zhang Hang saw Ouyang Qiushui hastily lowering her head to cover the blush on her face at the source of the sound.

  She herself didn't know, but Tian Shuang's natural double pupils had a huge attraction to Zhang Hang.

  Zhang Hang couldn't resist Ouyang Qiushui's beauty and her shy demeanor, he was shocked by her beauty, seeing the blush on her face made his heart beat as fast as a supersonic plane.

  On the surface, the two young men and women looked calm, but in fact, their hearts were already turbulent.

  "It's not bad if it's difficult and out of the textbook, so what?"; The chemistry teacher cleared his throat and continued to say, "Teachers and instructors can't teach you everything in this world. The situation on the battlefield changes rapidly, you have to face countless difficulties and dangers alone and overcome them."

  "One day when you are in a desperate situation on the battlefield, will you still hold a wireless communication device to ask your teacher for survival methods? Or take out classroom notes from your pocket to find the answer you want? Finally, when you pay with your life, but your soul is still shouting: 'Teacher, you didn't teach me this, I died unjustly'?"

  "Is there anyone who wants to see such a result? Come on, answer me! Answer me! Is there anyone who wants to see or experience such a result?"

  When the chemistry teacher finished his last sentence in a voice that was almost shouting, everyone fell silent and was shocked. Who said it wasn't true? Only those who understand more and do better can live longer than others!

  After this class, the school library suddenly became the most crowded place.

  The happiest one should be Zhang Hang, because there, he can also see the goddess in his heart - Ou Yang Qiu Shui.

  After a period of careful observation, Zhang Hang subtly arranged for the girl beside Ouyang Qiushui to be transferred away from her post, and then sat down in the seat next to Ouyang Qiushui as he had wished.