Chapter 661 321: Originally... I Was Just Here for the Credentials

Zhao Yimeng sighed faintly, but didn't directly answer Kangle's question.

The story he was telling continued.

——

That night, company commander Liang Erxi told me there was a weapons training and cross-country task the next day.

Afraid that I wouldn't be able to adapt since I had just joined the company, he told me just to take a pistol and not to worry about a backpack for now.

I just nodded blankly.

After all, I wasn't really prepared for this, and I wasn't mentally ready for the hardship either.

When I was sleeping soundly, Liang Erxi suddenly shook me awake.

"Instructor, hurry, it's time for roll call."

I dazedly put on my uniform. Forget about the backpack, I hadn't even buttoned my clothes properly before grabbing my pistol and rushing out of the dorm.

I thought I was fast enough, but by the time I reached the assembly point, Liang Erxi had already set out with the neatly arranged soldiers.

"Instructor, I know the way, follow me."

Left behind to guide me was a young soldier. Let's just call him Xiaojin.

I remember clearly, that was my first time waking up at five in the morning.

The dark night enveloped the fields, the winding paths were difficult to discern, especially where the shadows hid the potholes.

As I stumbled along the rugged path, I lost my footing and fell heavily to the ground.

Young Xiaojin, running energetically with full gear, had no choice but to double back and help me up...

Previously, when I was still in the big office compound, my laziness was notorious.

Every morning, I indulged in my sleep, never showing up at the canteen's breakfast window, earning me the nickname of "Chief Wo Long" among my colleagues.

My wife often lectured me on the importance of breakfast based on nutrition theories. Though I had studied some metabolism data, I had my own ways of getting my essentials.

Sleeping until the sun was high, first drinking rich orange juice, followed by imported chocolate or French pastries...

Living in the second company was like heaven compared to before or hell, depending on perspective.

But to save face, I had to grit my teeth and endure...

When I was panting like an ox halfway up the mountain with Xiaojin, still half the distance left to the peak, Liang Erxi had already led the whole company back.

He looked at his watch, somewhat satisfied: "Two minutes and seven seconds faster than the last training to reach the summit."

Sweat blurred my vision.

The company commander was equipped with a full set of standard gear: backpack, weapon belt, pistol, canteen, entrenching shovel, command flag, and binoculars.

Additionally, he carried two rifles on his back and the barrel of an 82mm recoilless gun on his shoulder.

This farmer-like man astonishingly could bear such a load!

"Adapt gradually," he said warmly, "everyone has their strengths; from now on, I'll focus on training, and you can concentrate on ideological development."

This generosity moved me: "Understood."

Compared to this iron-willed man, I felt ashamed. Even though I only carried a pistol, my legs felt like they were filled with lead, my body felt like it was going to collapse, symptoms of low blood sugar appeared, and I was reaching my physical limit.

According to standard training, the infantry squad carried a weight that was bearable, while single soldiers in the recoilless artillery platoon had to carry eighty-nine pounds!

At that moment, I couldn't help thinking: How is anyone supposed to survive this?

By regulations, cadres must participate in assessments and master all company weapons.

To avoid embarrassment and to fulfill my yearning to handle the gun, I gritted my teeth and crawled, rolled, and fought alongside the soldiers for three days.

By the weekend, my skin was tanned and darkened.

The movie team was screening "The Sentinel Under the Neon Light," but I excused myself from going.

Xiaojin brought hot water from the cooking team—I really would have collapsed without a bath!

In six days, although my sweat production couldn't compare to Liang Erxi's, my clothes never dried and were constantly damp.

Looking at the salt-stained clothes scattered on the floor, my arms ached too much to wash them, so I just kicked them under the bed in resignation.

Perhaps Xiaojin would once again learn from Lei Feng and help wash my clothes tomorrow...

I understood that an instructor had to stay low-key. After joining the company, I voluntarily downgraded my cigarettes from "Soft Middle" to "Great Front Gate."

When no one was around, I opened my private suitcase, caressed my Yashica camera, took out my treasured item, and enjoyed it in solitude.

"Instructor, we're short one for a game of cards!" Wang Wenxi burst in, "Come and play cards!"

I quickly put away the suitcase, thought for a moment, and brought a pack of Great Front Gate with me.

Liang Erxi and three platoon leaders gradually entered, sitting around the assembled long table.

Wang Wenxi slapped two decks of playing cards on the table, took my Great Front Gate, and distributed them: "Instructor's cigarettes are quite deluxe, brothers, don't hold back!"

Then he pulled out a box of unopened "Harvest" cigarettes and slammed it in the middle: "We won't end the card game until we finish these two packs of cigarettes tonight!"

At this moment, the "Iron-faced Platoon Leader" was a completely different person compared to when he was reprimanding soldiers.

Liang Erxi lit a rough cigar roll as thick as a thumb and inhaled deeply: "Today's training intensity was high; we should rest early."

"How could you have any thought of playing cards after watching that movie?" Wang Wenxi said with a sidelong glance, "Are you rushing to meet Chunni in your dreams?"

The company commander's lips curled into a faint smile.

"Instructor, did you know? If this movie was replayed a hundred times, the company commander would watch it a hundred times," Wang Wenxi teased, "Despite his rustic appearance, his wife, Han Yuxiu, is three times more beautiful than Tao Yuling."

"Tao Yuling," added the young first platoon leader.

"Right! The whole company acknowledges that Sister Yuxiu is virtuous and beautiful," Wang Wenxi winked, "Look, mentioning his wife makes the company commander smile so sweetly."

Liang Erxi's face shone with a rare glow.

"Chen Xi is living a blessed life without realizing it!" Wang Wenxi continued to comment on the movie, "If I had such a virtuous wife, I'd gladly be her ox or horse! Unlike the person at my home..."

"Careful, walls have ears," the first platoon leader chuckled quietly.

"So what if they hear? Would they dare rebel?" he said, picking up the poker cards. "Enough with the chit-chat; let's play!"

Seeing everyone's lack of interest, Wang Wenxi took a drag on the Harvest cigarette and casually revealed a piece of news: "The company commander is due for a family visit leave."

Liang Erxi shook his head, looking at me: "We'll discuss it after the instructor gets familiar with the company affairs."

"Any longer and his wife will give birth!" Wang Wenxi calculated on his fingers, "He arrived in March, with the baby due in December, what's the fun in only going back after the confinement period?"