Chapter 23
“Alright, you guys can go back. Leave this to me,” the instructor told Zhang Han’s squad leader and third platoon leader.
In a corner of the camp, Zhang Han was finally caught and pressed to the ground. The instructor arrived and asked the two soldiers to let Zhang Han go.
“Stop running. Do you really want to be a deserter?” The class monitor, who had previously scolded Zhang Han away, whispered a reminder in his ear, suppressing his anger.
The style of the army demanded strict discipline, even if it meant some form of routine. Although he was angry, he couldn’t beat up Zhang Han. He still had to maintain his level of seriousness.
Zhang Han had already tried to flee once, and if he was beaten up again, he might really go home. He had a military status, and returning would be troublesome for him.
However, beating up Zhang Han would affect the instructor’s military career. He would have to write a self-reflection, and it could potentially harm his future in the military.
Once the two seasoned soldiers let him go and stood up, Zhang Han remained on the ground, still panting heavily.
Kang Hua sat beside him and took out a pack of cigarettes. “Do you smoke? Want one?”
Zhang Han didn’t reply, still trying to catch his breath.
“You shouldn’t run away. It’s not worth it,” Kang Hua said, offering Zhang Han a cigarette.
Zhang Han shook his head and sat up. He looked up at Kang Hua and said, “Thank you, but I don’t smoke.”
Kang Hua nodded and put away his cigarettes. “Suit yourself. But you should think about why you’re here. Running away won’t solve anything.”
…..
[Host: Wang Ye.]
[Strength: 0.9]
[Speed: 1]
[Stamina: 0.9]
[Vision: 0.9]
[Memory: 1.3]
[Reaction:1.1]
[Storage space: 1 cubic meter]
[Skills: Duplication Duvet LV2 (0/20), Light 3km Off-Road LV1 (5/10), Push-ups LV1 (4/10)]
[Skill Points: 1]
In dormitory 205, Wang Ye spread out his blanket and checked his attribute list as he pressed it with both hands. The cardinal number remained unchanged, but he wasn’t surprised. Folding blankets wasn’t a skill that could improve his physical fitness or other abilities. Therefore, it made sense that the upgrade didn’t increase these basic attributes.
However, there were other improvements. When he leveled up earlier, he felt a warm current flow through his mind and hands. As a result, Wang Ye’s hands were now much more stable. This improvement wasn’t reflected in the basic data, but it was real.
As an example, before the upgrade, when Wang Ye tried to draw a straight line on paper with a pen, it was difficult for him. The line might end up crooked. However, now he was much more confident in his ability to draw straight lines. This improvement was a result of his steady hands, indicating that his control over his limbs had improved.
This improvement could also be applied to folding the military quilt in three parts and repairing it in seven parts. While it may seem like a simple task, it required precision and attention to detail. The ability to fold the blanket into perfect tofu blocks was a testament to Wang Ye’s improved control over his hands.
Ultimately, cultivating skills was more important than perfecting the art of folding blankets.
….
“Ah, what’s wrong with this blanket?”
Wang Ye chuckled at Gu Yingnan’s complaint and looked over at his folded blanket. It was indeed not as flat and square as Ye Sanshi’s, but it was still decent.
Ye Sanshi provided a helpful tip, reminding them to suppress the air inside and compress the cotton to achieve the perfect tofu-like blocks. This was especially important with new blankets that had not yet been broken in.
Ye Sanshi lay on his bed without covering himself with a blanket. It was a reminder that in the army, there was no time to be lazy or comfortable. The priority was to complete tasks and follow orders, even if it meant sacrificing personal comfort.
The blanket was left at the head of the bed for everyone to use as a reference. Meanwhile, he leaned against the wall, his body covered by a cotton military coat. At that moment, he heard Gu Yingnan’s complaints. He opened his eyes and spoke before closing them again, “Stop talking. I want to sleep!”
“Class monitor, can I get some water?” Deng Hai looked at Ye Sanshi, who had his eyes closed. After a moment of thought, he asked softly, “A veteran from my hometown told me that it’s not easy to fold the blanket.”
Ye Sanshi opened his eyes again and turned his head to look at Deng Hai, who was standing beside the bed. He grabbed his pillow and threw it at Deng Hai, saying, “You brat, stop thinking about this nonsense!” The pillow hit Deng Hai, and Ye Sanshi vented his anger.
After calming down, Ye Sanshi changed the topic and stared at Deng Hai, saying, “You can get water if you want, but let me tell you, with your new blankets, you can’t get water on the surface. You have to wet the cotton inside. However, if the cotton gets wet, and you don’t have a blanket to cover yourself at night, or if you’re sick, don’t expect me to approve your leave!”
Deng Hai was taken aback and replied, “Uh…”
Suddenly, Deng Hai, who was still holding the pillow that Ye Sanshi had thrown at him, felt a little awkward. He hadn’t considered the consequences of getting the cotton inside the blanket wet. He had only thought about the veteran he knew before he joined the army and wondered if he could use the trick.
However, with Ye Sanshi’s reminder, he immediately realized his mistake. He only had one blanket, and the cotton was already wet. He couldn’t sleep without a cover. It was December, and even though it wasn’t the coldest time of the year, the temperature in the middle of the night was still around 10 degrees Celsius. They hadn’t even been given military coats yet, so it was unrealistic to imagine Ye Sanshi using one as a blanket.
Deng Hai nodded and said, “Understood. I’ll take good care of my blanket.” He then placed the pillow back on the bed and walked toward the water dispenser.
However, Ye Sanshi, who was still angry, looked at Deng Hai and shouted, “Give me the pillow!” When Deng Hai went over to deliver the pillow, Ye Sanshi snatched it and threw it at him again. “I’m telling all of you to get grounded! Don’t think about useless things! Just use your hands to fold and press. If your hands can’t do it, use a stool! There are small stools under your beds. Use them as pressure plates. That’s all you need!”
After Ye Sanshi’s stern reminder, the recruits quickly found a bench to use as a pressure plate for their blankets.
Wang Ye did the same and lowered his head to retrieve a stool from under his bed. He also grabbed another stool and handed it to a recruit who was trying to climb down from the upper bunk. “Here you go,” he said.
“Thanks,” the recruit replied.
“No problem,” Wang Ye said tersely. He didn’t engage in much conversation and focused on pressing his blanket with the stool.
Wang Ye’s blanket folding skills had been upgraded to level 2. In his blanket folding experience, there were various methods and techniques for folding and pressing the blanket. However, he didn’t have the opportunity to use them just yet.
Now that Ye Sanshi had suggested using a stool, it was the perfect opportunity for everyone to use it together. Wang Ye could also try out the rubbing method he had in mind using the bench. He pressed down firmly on the blanket with the stool, making sure to fold and press it neatly. As he worked, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment in improving his skills.
…
It took a long time to fold a new military blanket into a piece of tofu, as Wang Ye had learned from the teaching videos he watched outside. However, he knew that the process was important for more than just achieving a perfectly folded blanket.
Wang Ye understood that the blanket folding exercise was meant to help grind the recruits’ temper. As new recruits with varying personalities and backgrounds, they each brought their own traits and habits to the group. To ensure obedience and teamwork, it was important to temper their individual traits and mold them into a cohesive unit. The blanket folding exercise was a tool to achieve this goal.