Chapter 45: The Difference Between a Thorn and a Thorn in the Side
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Please have a seat. I’m a reasonable person. Let go of your anger and let’s talk,” Kang Hua said in a calm and gentle manner.
Deng Hai was escorted to the instructor’s office. The door closed, and the instructor deliberately locked it. Kang Hua walked over to his desk and took a seat. He looked at Deng Hai and spoke in a reassuring tone.
Deng Hai felt a sense of anxiety and uncertainty, unsure if he should sit down. Even though he was considered a member of society outside the army, his previous outburst and defiance towards Ye Sanshi, the class monitor, had now left him filled with regret.
Ye Sanshi’s words had struck a chord with him, causing him to doubt his actions. Now, he didn’t dare to sit or make a sound, standing in the instructor s office like a statue, silent and hesitant.
Observing Deng Hai’s expression, the instructor’s smile grew even softer. He could sense that there was still hope to guide this soldier.
No longer pressing Deng Hai to sit down, the instructor continued speaking, “You’re Deng Hai, right?”
Deng Hai responded with a report, “Reporting, yes!”
…..
“Well, there’s no need to shout ‘report’ here. Let’s have a normal conversation between brothers. You can disregard my identity as an instructor for now.”
As he spoke, the instructor reached into his pocket and pulled out a pack of Yuxi cigarettes.
“Didn’t you want to smoke? Here, have one!” he offered.
Deng Hai was taken aback by the unexpected gesture. He had anticipated various scenarios after being brought to the instructor’s office, but this was not one of them. “Ah?” Deng Hai exclaimed in surprise.
“Haha!” The instructor’s smile remained, but his expression turned serious as he said, “Just this once. Don’t make it a habit.”
With that, he tossed a cigarette toward Deng Hai, who hastily caught it.
“Pa!” The instructor also lit his cigarette, then he placed the lighter on the table and slid it to the other end of the desk. “Take one for yourself.”
Deng Hai hesitated upon seeing the lighter, unsure whether he should take it or not.
“Why? Just a moment ago, you were willing to fight with the class monitor’s comrade just to smoke. You even dared to talk back to the class monitor. Now that I’m offering you a cigarette, and you’re hesitating?” the instructor said with a smile.
Feeling a surge of determination, Deng Hai walked up to the desk. “Fine!”
He skillfully took the lighter and ignited the flame. “Hu!” He took a deep breath, savoring the moment as if he were intoxicated by the act of smoking.
The instructor silently observed him, saying nothing. The two of them sat in the office, smoking their cigarettes. After about half a cigarette, the instructor finally broke the silence.
“I’ve read your information. You joined the army for your girlfriend. You’re also quite a romantic man,” the instructor commented, his smile still gentle.
Deng Hai silently removed the cigarette from his mouth, feeling a sense of embarrassment. “Actually, I’m starting to regret it now,” he admitted dryly.
Kang Hua didn’t display any disappointment upon hearing Deng Hai’s words. Instead, he maintained his gentle smile. “It’s understandable. Many recruits have similar thoughts when they first enter the camp. Prior to joining the military, their perception of military life is often filled with glory and honor. However, once inside, the reality of harsh training and strict rules can be overwhelming and hard to adjust to.”
Deng Hai didn’t respond verbally, but he found Kang Hua’s words resonating with him.
“But now, you are an adult. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying before: ‘Behind one minute on stage is ten years of hard work.’ If one desires recognition and success, they must endure hardships behind the scenes,” Kang Hua continued.
“And consider this, soldiers are the sharp blades of our country, the force that upholds our nation’s security. Our country has millions of soldiers. When large-scale operations need to be executed, who do you think carries out those operations? Where does the execution come from?” the instructor asked Deng Hai.
“Only when there are rules will there be enforcement,” Deng Hai hesitated for a moment before responding.
He was not unintelligent. On the contrary, he possessed a certain level of intelligence. After all, even those who were mischievous often displayed a cleverness that couldn’t be underestimated.
“Yeah!” The instructor nodded. “Using daily rules to cultivate iron-like discipline. Only with such discipline can a troop possess the ability to execute and fight.”
Deng Hai still held the remaining bit of the cigarette between his fingers, but he refrained from smoking any further. He found himself at a loss, unsure of how to respond to the instructor’s words.
The instructor noticed Deng Hai’s perplexity and continued speaking in a gentle tone. “As a soldier, everyone makes mistakes. Especially when you have just entered the military camp, being able to recognize your mistakes and make corrections is commendable. Don’t worry about your class monitor giving you a hard time in the future. The veteran class monitors in the army are not so petty.”
After a brief pause, the instructor added jokingly, “Let me share a secret with you.”
Deng Hai’s attention immediately focused on the instructor, curious to hear what he had to say.
“In truth, there has always been a tradition in the army of favoring those who are a bit thorny,” the instructor revealed.
“Uh…” Deng Hai was taken aback. He had never heard of this before.
However, the instructor quickly added, “But there’s a catch. The prerequisite is that you have to be exceptionally outstanding. Do you understand? Otherwise, you’ll just be a thorn in my side.”
Deng Hai’s expression stiffened, a mix of confusion and uncertainty filling his mind.
Meanwhile, Wang Ye returned to his dormitory and noticed that both the class monitor and Deng Hai were absent. It was relayed to him that after the class monitor had instructed him to buy cigarettes, Deng Hai had been taken away by the instructor.
Wang Ye wasn’t surprised by this turn of events. It was to be expected, given the situation.
“Did you guys go to drink water in the toilet?” Wang Ye asked, recalling the incident.
Gu Yingnan responded, “No, we drank, but we didn’t dare to go to the toilet!”
“If you need to use the toilet, go ahead. But only use the toilet, nothing else. It’s only the second day since we joined the army, and it’s time for strict discipline,” Wang Ye advised.
“Don’t worry, I won’t do anything else,” Gu Yingnan quickly replied, understanding the gravity of the situation.
It was evident that he wouldn’t dare to do anything foolish. Deng Hai hadn’t returned yet, and if any pranks were played at this critical moment, Ye Sanshi would truly lose his temper if someone got caught.
Shortly after, four people went to the toilet in the dormitory while a few others stayed behind. Wang Ye didn’t dwell on the matter and decided to divert their attention.
“Alright, since everyone has finished drinking water and no one needs to use the toilet, let’s focus on memorizing the rules and regulations. Don’t dwell too much on other matters,” Wang Ye suggested.
Everyone’s thoughts were likely consumed by concerns for Deng Hai, but Wang Ye couldn’t know the specifics of the situation. However, he believed that Deng Hai’s situation wasn’t too severe. Nevertheless, given Ye Sanshi’s temperament, if Deng Hai wanted to stay in the military, he would likely face some hardship.
Without dwelling on it further, Wang Ye picked up the regulations. Unlike the recruits who had copies of the regulations, he had the original version. He needed to read this book, as it would help him gain experience points through the system. Besides, he aimed to memorize all the regulations during the upcoming game. With the help of the system, he could level up quickly and gain a head start in mastering the regulations.