Chapter 2: 12. Lonely Wandering in the Jungle (2)

  Many years later, I still shudder when I recall the scene. Imagine a 17-year-old kid being abandoned in a primitive forest where wolves roam - what kind of situation is that? Although I got used to such training later on, and our high school team really did practice like this often, with increasing difficulty. Eventually, they even mobilized senior teammates as mock enemies to surround and capture us, deducting points if we were caught, and actually beating us mercilessly if we didn't surrender. They even deployed helicopters to search for us from the sky, organizing a search party to descend upon us if any movement was detected - still showing no mercy. It got to the point where they borrowed several German-made police dogs to chase us, which would bite our arms if they caught up, although not too hard and without causing injury, thanks to their excellent training. However, it was still merciless, leaving us fleeing wildly, wishing we could hide our entire bodies in water. But by then, I wasn't afraid anymore - after all, dogs are just dogs, not wolves. This guy is really something else; calling him a bird doesn't even do justice. Later on, we learned about the high school team's experiences during the Vietnam War, and although we didn't like it, we didn't hate this kind of training as much anymore. I've kept this story to myself until now, but telling it now feels unsatisfying - otherwise, it would be a waste of such great material.

  But a person's first experience is something that will be remembered for a lifetime. This is true of everything, let alone such a special memory?

  I was in tears, holding the compass and map to identify my location, then decided to head in the direction indicated by the map, not knowing if it's right or wrong, can only try walking. If I'm wrong, I'll just keep walking, no choice, this is the punishment I've brought upon myself!

  I packed up the map and compass, and drew out my machete from its scabbard on my back. At that time I was still in an open area, but drawing the knife wasn't for cutting branches or anything like that - it was to give myself some courage, having something in hand is better than nothing!

  The jungle is waiting for me ahead.

  I walked into the woods, heading in that direction, and then the machete came in handy. However, within half an hour my hands started to blister because I had no experience marching through mountainous forests - I had only been a scout for half a year and hadn't even participated in any field training exercises! The pain was so intense that I switched to using my left hand, and when I looked at my right palm, it was already covered in blood blisters. Although my hands were calloused from previous use, wielding a machete is a different story altogether - you only understand once you've used one. I didn't have any first-aid kit on me, but I had to bandage myself up somehow; otherwise, with the subtropical climate of the forest being so conducive to bacterial growth, infection was almost guaranteed! Looking around, I saw no other solution, so I took off my outer garment and cut off half a sleeve from my camouflage shirt to use as a makeshift bandage. From then on, I didn't dare use the machete to clear a path; instead, I used my hands to push aside the branches blocking my way - if all else failed, I'd rather take a detour. After all, my hands were now my most valuable weapon and tool, apart from my knife!

  Although I was a soldier in the mountains, this is my first time walking in such a primitive forest. Our usual training takes place on the nearby mountains where we have fixed training grounds; reconnaissance competitions wouldn't be held in remote areas because they require evaluation and observation, so it's just a matter of difficulty. My feet walked softly on the thick layer of fallen leaves that had accumulated over the years, making no sound, occasionally snapping dry twigs with a "crack" sound, which initially startled me but later became insignificant. The sunlight pierced through the dense foliage like a sword, dividing everything within my line of sight into irregular squares.

  As I write in front of the computer, that damp smell once again surrounds my nose. The smell of rotting branches and animal corpses' feces, the smell of low air pressure at the bottom of subtropical jungle valleys, the smell of fog, what other smells? Ah yes, also the smell of orchids.

  Yes, I saw the orchid.

  I don't know what kind of orchid it is until now, because later I learned that in the wilderness survival course, the plant spectrum also didn't have it. Human understanding of nature is limited, but I really saw it.

  In the middle of a big tree that several people can't hug together, there is a small cluster of orchids.

  White, gently swaying in the breeze. The sunlight shines on it, so I see it as pure as a snowy lotus.

  I want to take it down!

  I want to give it to Xiaoying!

  I sheathed my knife and spat twice into my palm, then grasped the thick rattan vines to climb the tree. The vines were wrapped around the big tree like a group of snakes, the trunk was wet, the vines were wet, everything was wet, but I still had to climb up, because I wanted to pick flowers for Xiao Ying!

  I climbed upwards, one hand wet with dew and plant sap, but I didn't care.

  My right hand wrapped in camouflage short-sleeved shirt fabric is finally about to reach this small bunch of orchids!

  I stretched out my hand desperately. The rubber shoes were tightly tied to the gap of the rattan, and my left hand was tightly grasping the rattan. I couldn't climb up anymore because there was a protruding thick trunk blocking my way above. If I climbed onto this trunk, it would have consumed too much energy! And I still had to climb that mountain! This damn high school team!

  Finally reached the rhizome of the orchid.

  I exerted myself and ended up slipping under the rattan, hurting a bit, let out an "ah" of pain, my hands also slipped, and I slid down like that, then because it was too slippery my hands loosened!

  Then I fell head-first and plummeted through the air, but I still tightly grasped the orchid in my hand!

  I fell heavily from a tree about 3 meters high to the ground, but the thick layer of rotten leaves was too thick, so I didn't faint, just my ankle throbbed with pain.

  I was about to stand up, but when I stood up, my left ankle hurt so much that I couldn't put it on the ground.

  I hastily sat down and rolled up my pants, then pulled my socks down.

  I saw my swollen ankle.

  I endured the pain and touched it, but it was just swollen. According to the knowledge of battlefield first aid I learned, I knew there was no fracture.

  My tears fell plop plop and I knew that meant I absolutely wouldn't pass!

  I'm not afraid of not being able to return, because if I don't return on time, the high school team will have to bring out the entire team to find me, and helicopters will be circling in the sky. The Dog Head Brigade is also part of the Liberation Army, and they can't neglect the lives of their soldiers. If not, the Dog Head High School Team will definitely be stripped of their military uniforms! I'm confident that I can hold on until tomorrow night, and then spend another night or even a few days. After all, I've been through reconnaissance training and was hammered for half a month in the Dog Head Brigade. At that time, I couldn't feel my own pain, unlike now when I cut vegetables and my finger hurts just from a small scratch! What's this thing called "time heals all wounds"?

  But I won't be able to pass!

  Just thinking about this makes me think of my Miao Lian and Chen Pai, if I pass I won't stay behind it's because I'm awesome, but if I don't pass and get sent back how can I face my Miao Lian and Chen Pai?!

  My tears fell pitter-patter.

  Fortunately, the orchid is still there!

  Xiao Ying! I thought of Xiao Ying again. Holding the orchid in my hand, smelling its fragrance, which is just like the scent on Xiao Ying's face and hands. I know Xiao Ying is thinking of me. My heart has a bit more courage now, this courage growing with the fragrance.

  Damn it! I'll crawl back within the time limit even if I have to. I gritted my teeth and stood up, holding a machete in my left hand to chop off a sturdy branch, stripping away leaves and twigs to use as a crutch to support myself. With my right hand clutching that bunch of orchids, I took step by step into the depths of the forest.

  Orchids are like little companions accompanying me, when I am overwhelmed, I just take a sniff.

  Then I had the courage.

  Does it hurt? I seem to have really forgotten.

  How many years later, I thought back to what was most important in adversity? It's really the power of the mind. For example, now when I see reports about SARS recovery, many people don't believe it, but I do. Because I know that in adversity, the power of the mind is more important than anything else. If you believe you can get through it, you will; if you give up on yourself, everything is over. Many years later, when I was writing an article about Master Hongyi, I flipped through a Buddhist book - although I don't like Buddhism - and there's one sentence that stunned me for half a day: "The Buddha said, 'It's not the flag that moves, it's not the wind that moves, it's your heart that moves.'"

  If you give up yourself, then there is nothing left.

  If you have confidence in yourself, you can overcome anything, even if you can't, at least you are failing with honor in the struggle against fate!

  I'm not going to waste half a day talking about SARS, to be honest, that's none of my business.

  I just want to say that many years ago, a soldier under the age of 18 gritted his teeth and walked with difficulty in the primeval forest, holding a small bunch of orchids in his right hand, which was covered in blood and flesh. He wore a camouflage uniform completely soaked by dew and moisture, enduring the pain of a sprained ankle. Although he occasionally stopped to look at the map and compass or drink water from leaves or rain, I don't know, but he kept moving towards his target without stopping. The target was 70 kilometers away, a place called Special Forces New Training Team. He had to keep walking even if he couldn't walk, even if he had to crawl back. Even if he died, he would die on the road of advancement.

  Because he had an orchid in his hand.

  Because there is love in his heart.

  Many years later, this little soldier still brings tears to his eyes...

  What an era that was!