Chapter 29
“You hid cigarettes?” Wang Ye asked in surprise.
Deng Hai nodded and then leaned in closer and whispered, “Brother, if you want to smoke, I’ll let you have a few puffs later. I only have one pack left, and there isn’t much left in it.”
Wang Ye immediately refused. “No, I don’t want to smoke.”
Although he had occasionally smoked in his previous life, he wasn’t addicted to smoking. He had bought two cigarettes before enlisting, but only as a precautionary measure. He didn’t even consider smoking and didn’t react when Ye Sanshi warned them about smoking being strictly prohibited during the recruit period.
Wang Ye shook his head in disbelief. He couldn’t believe that Deng Hai hid cigarettes and was willing to risk getting caught for smoking during their recruit period.
He looked at his friend and reminded him, “There are too many people around now, and there’s always someone in the restroom. How are you going to smoke without getting caught? Be careful!”
Deng Hai nodded, “I know. I’ll just have a few puffs. And when no one’s around, can you keep an eye out for me? Please, brother?”
“…”
What else could Wang Ye say? He was very helpless to have encountered such a figure.
“Alright, be careful later. If you have the chance, just take a few puffs.”
Wang Ye was hoping for a constant flow of people in and out of the bathroom to avoid being scammed again by the man. However, reality proved to be different than his expectations, as there was no one else in the bathroom at that time. He guessed that it was because other class monitors hadn’t dismissed their students yet.
“Brother, I’ll smoke two mouthfuls first. Just two mouthfuls.”
Seeing that there was no one in the toilet and no one coming in from outside, Deng Hai didn’t even wait for Wang Ye to leave the bathroom before he pulled his pants up and crouched down. Then, he took out a lighter and a crumpled cigarette from his socks before running to the innermost pit and squatting down.
“Pa!”
The sound of a lighter rang out.
Wang Ye noticed a small plume of smoke emanating from inside the bathroom. Feeling helpless, he could only stand by the door and listen to the commotion outside.
Deng Hai seemed to know what he was doing, or perhaps he was just controlled by his smoking addiction. As soon as he lit the cigarette, he greedily took two or three puffs like a starving ghost. He smoked one-third of the cigarette before hastily putting it out on the sole of his shoe.
“Okay, thanks, brother,” Deng Hai said as he swiftly put away the remaining half of the cigarette and the lighter while standing up.
“I think you’d better get rid of this habit. Otherwise, if you walk too much at night, you’ll definitely bump into ghosts!” Wang Ye advised, feeling a bit helpless about the situation. He then walked towards the pit and began to use the toilet.
“Sigh, I know. Isn’t this really uncomfortable?” As he spoke, he ran to the window. He opened his mouth and breathed heavily.
Wang Ye looked at him speechlessly.
This guy was really cunning.
Not only was Deng Hai audacious, but he was also detail-oriented. He was even aware that his mouth smelled of smoke and ran to the window to disperse the odor. Wang Ye didn’t say anything as they heard footsteps approaching from outside.
After using the bathroom, Wang Ye washed his hands at the sink outside and walked back to the dormitory with Deng Hai, without being detected. Deng Hai’s smoking was not excessive, and with his careful breathing, Ye Sanshi didn’t seem to notice the smell of smoke when they returned to the dormitory.
In just a short amount of time, Deng Hai had already snuck off to the bathroom to smoke a few times.
….
“Shh!”
At exactly eight o’clock, a whistle blew from downstairs, signaling the start of the next activity. The entire company gathered once again, but this time, the company commander didn’t instruct them to stay put. Along with the instructor, they led everyone toward the camp gate.
Once they arrived, the recruits lined up with their backs to the flag, facing the gate. “Today marks the beginning of your official military training,” Wu Jianfeng announced as he looked over the group. He then turned his head and pointed to the open door behind him.
“The world outside is a beautiful place, full of various foods, drinks, and entertainment. I understand that many of you were not obedient before and indulged in those pleasures outside,” Wu Jianfeng continued.
“But I want to make something clear. Ever since you stepped into this military camp, everything outside is no longer relevant to you. At least for the next two years, it will have no significance in your life,” he emphasized.
After a brief pause, Wu Jianfeng shouted again, “Do you know why there are so many beautiful and peaceful worlds outside?” There was no response from the recruits, but Wu Jianfeng didn’t need an answer to continue.
“That’s because we soldiers are on the outside,” Wu Jianfeng continued in a commanding tone. “In this world, there’s no such thing as a peaceful time. There’s only someone carrying a heavy burden for you to move forward.”
“In the past, you were just ordinary people. You could enjoy peace and all the good things that came with it. But your identities have changed now. From the moment you put on your military uniforms, cancel your identity cards, and register your military status, you become the bearers,” he explained.
“Behind us are our families, our brothers and sisters, and our motherland,” Wu Jianfeng continued with a sense of passion. “Comrades, dignity is only found on the edge of the sword, and truth is only within the range of the cannon. Peace can only be attained on the backs of our soldiers.”
“Only when we stand can we have the lights of thousands of homes behind us, the colorful world outside, and the peace and contentment of our fellow villagers,” he declared with conviction. “Comrades, are you willing to become true soldiers and bear this heavy responsibility?”
“I’m willing!” The recruits shouted in unison. There were no veterans berating them but their voices were louder than ever before. The energy in the air was palpable, and everyone’s blood was boiling with excitement.
Wang Ye, despite being a reincarnated person with a mature outlook, couldn’t help feeling his own blood pump with adrenaline. He was still a man, and no matter how mature he was, he still enjoyed the simple pleasures in life.
“Good, very good!” Wu Jianfeng praised them loudly, his voice filled with pride.
He then turned around and waved his hand, signaling for the door to be closed. The electric door slowly shut, and the barrier outside was pushed closer by a group of veterans.
As the door closed, the once-excited recruits began to feel restless once again. Some stood up and peered out, wanting to catch a glimpse of the outside world. Others wiped their eyes, and some even clenched their fists tightly.
“The 2009 Ironbones Hero Regiment recruit company will officially begin training!” announced the instructor, Kang Hua, who had been standing behind Wu Jianfeng.
As the instructor, Kang Hua finally had the chance to shout out these words, and he quickly began directing the recruits. “First row, follow me!” he commanded. “Second Platoon, follow me!”
The three platoon leaders of the recruit company stepped forward and led their respective platoons to separate locations. Wang Ye was part of the second platoon and followed his leader to the basketball court behind the dormitory building.
The training had officially begun, and the recruits were ready to take on the challenge of becoming true soldiers.
…..