xymnovel Chapter 0032: News of Xu 3 Duo
Chapter 0032: News of Xu 3 Duo
After their first day of training in the Seventh Company, the new recruits were all feeling uneasy—the intensity made them miss their basic training days, which felt like a relaxing break compared to the training in the Seventh Company.
But some people will always stand out.
Just like Zheng Yingqi, on the first day of the five-kilometer cross-country race, he conquered all the veterans with his full gear. But the veterans only thought that this kid was good at physical fitness. But soon they realized how one-sided that view was.
Most new recruits fell and cried out in pain at the 500-meter obstacle course. The mere mention of 500 meters made them shudder, and if the word "obstacle" was added, they would be guaranteed to feel pain all over their bodies. But Zheng Yingqi quickly reached the passing grade of the Steel Seventh Company, and even reached the company's average score on the tenth day.
Zheng Yingqi quickly became known among the veterans as "the kid next door": "Look at Zheng Yingqi, and look at you all. You were all recruits at the same time, so why can't you even catch up with him?"
"Why don't you learn from Zheng Yingqi? Stop being so stupid!"
While the veterans were reprimanding the new recruits, they themselves were also filled with anxiety—this kid is so unpredictable, when will he leave them behind?
How can this veteran soldier save face after being outmaneuvered by a new recruit who has only been in the company for a few days? While the veterans are demanding of the new recruits, they are also becoming increasingly demanding of themselves. And the more demanding they are of themselves, the higher their demands on the new recruits will naturally be—especially since there is a flagpole among the new recruits standing there!
As a result, many new recruits were secretly groaning in their hearts:
Everyone says the reconnaissance company is like an oil refiner, but how come our Steel Seventh Company is like breaking bones to refine marrow?
While the new recruits complained bitterly about the intensity of the training, Zheng Yingqi actually "enjoyed" it.
Sometimes Zheng Yingqi himself was puzzled. He had never been a particularly hardworking person before, so how come he was now enjoying this kind of training that was almost like tempering his bones?
"Looks like he's a born soldier, which is why he can enjoy this kind of training—he almost buried this shining gem of mine!"
Zheng Yingqi was secretly enjoying himself and taking the opportunity to relieve some stress.
When facing training, one must have the right mindset and never become bored, otherwise it will get worse. This is what Shi Jin specifically warned Bai Tiejun and Zheng Yingqi. Zheng Yingqi did not know how Bai Tiejun implemented it, but he maintained a good mindset. As the days of training went by, he did not develop feelings of boredom or fear, because he could always adjust and regulate himself in his mind.
……
After half a month, each squad had a pretty good grasp of the level of the new recruits who had been assigned to the company. Under these circumstances, the training subjects that Gao Cheng had boasted about during his time in basic training finally began.
Firearms shooting of various types, firearms principles, mastery of vehicle-mounted firearms, armored vehicle maintenance and repair, man-portable anti-tank missiles...
All the subjects that Gao Cheng had mentioned were presented to the new recruits one by one. The complicated subjects stretched out their claws and began to torment the poor recruits.
But the new recruits had no choice but to grit their teeth and face this ordeal, because all the training subjects would be assessed by class. The barrel theory was applied here, and the worst soldier determined the class's performance. For the honor of the class, the veterans transformed into demons, constantly urging and grinding the new recruits.
The new recruits are gradually growing and transforming in this atmosphere.
After training ended that day, Bai Tiejun returned from the Seventh Platoon, bringing back news that left Zheng Yingqi somewhat bewildered:
"Your fellow villager Xu Sanduo was driven out by the Third Platoon of the Third Company."
More than a month of continuous training left Zheng Yingqi with no time to pay attention to the "King of Soldiers" whose fate he had changed. Unexpectedly, the first news he heard after more than a month was this!
"What happened?" Zheng Yingqi asked Bai Tiejun blankly.
Bai Tiejun sighed and shook his head, saying, "I heard that he was so bad at training that he got beaten up by his squad leader. Then the people from the regimental headquarters saw it, and the squad leader was dismissed. The third company commander disliked Xu Sanduo even more and sent him to guard the oil pipeline."
Zheng Yingqi was stunned, a bitter feeling welling up inside him. He hadn't expected Xu Sanduo to return to his original path, but the journey had been so arduous...
"Sigh, he was never a good soldier to begin with, but he ended up in the main force platoon of the Third Company. Now he's suffering, isn't he? Sigh, one has to be realistic about what one is capable of..." Bai Tiejun sighed, referring to Xu Sanduo, but wasn't he also regretting his own actions? As the lowest plank in the Third Platoon, he determined the platoon's collective capacity—facing god-like role models of his peers, his pressure was immense.
Zheng Yingqi didn't pick up on the self-pity in Bai Tiejun's words, but he was dissatisfied with Bai Tiejun's comments about Xu Sanduo. He coldly said, "He's a good soldier."
"Whatever you say goes," Bai Tiejun replied nonchalantly.
At this moment, Shi Jin called out to Zheng Yingqi, who quickly responded and ran over.
Shi Jin's face was very gloomy, more so than Zheng Yingqi had ever seen. Wu Liuyi stood to the side, smoking without expression. After Zheng Yingqi came over, Shi Jin slowly composed himself and gestured for Zheng Yingqi to sit down.
Looking at Shi Jin's expression, Zheng Yingqi guessed that Shi Jin must have known about Xu Sanduo, which was why he was acting this way.
"I've asked the platoon leader for leave. You and Liu Yi will go out this afternoon to look after someone for me." Shi Jin looked up at Zheng Yingqi, who said in a low voice, "Xu Sanduo?"
"Yes," Shi Jin nodded, understanding that Zheng Yingqi also knew about Xu Sanduo's situation. He said in a helpless and regretful tone, "Sanduo has been assigned to the Fifth Platoon of the Third Company again. You and Liu Yi should go and see him..."
Zheng Yingqi nodded without hesitation. Shi Jin sighed and patted Zheng Yingqi on the shoulder: "About Sanduo... I... I didn't expect it to turn out like this..."
Shi Jin apologized, knowing that Zheng Yingqi and Xu Sanduo were the closest. He, who had been entrusted with the task, had failed to take good care of Xu Sanduo. On the contrary, Zheng Yingqi had been taking care of him in the recruit training camp. He thought that going to the Third Red Company would be a good place for Xu Sanduo, but he never expected this to happen. He was filled with regret.
"Squad leader, this has nothing to do with you...that kid...sigh..."
Zheng Yingqi could only sigh, "Xu Sanduo, what a cruel fate he has."
Wu Liuyi, a heavy smoker, threw most of the cigarette butt on the ground and stomped on it, as if venting his pent-up anger. Although Xu Sanduo was useless, he was still his fellow villager, and Wu Liuyi had been his squad leader for three months. Xu Sanduo had been beaten up and kicked from his combat unit to the fifth squad that guarded the pipes. This kind of pent-up anger made Wu Liuyi want to run a few five-kilometer runs to vent his frustration.
"Pack your things, let's go now." Wu Liuyi didn't even want to eat anymore, but Shi Jin stopped him: "Eat first, then we'll go. You've been there before, where are we going to get anything to eat?"