Chapter 73: Everyone Dies Eventually
The morning glow illuminated the east. The golden clouds in the sky seemed to be covered with a layer of brilliance. The thin mist and the occasional wisps of cooking smoke in the mountain forest were like an ethereal light veil. The picture was extremely beautiful.
But when you lowered your gaze, everyone, whether squatting, sitting, or standing, was holding a large, coarse porcelain white bowl. The bowl was wide and shallow. The deep ladle from the cooking squad could serve four or five bowls with one scoop.
After a hard night’s work, each cadet had a bowl. After a few slurps, they were not full at all. In the cafeteria, a young man could eat four steamed buns, a bowl of rice porridge, two more buns, and a fried dough stick, and that would be a normal meal.
Now that they had finished drinking, they were still holding their bowls, unwilling to put them down. They wanted to wait for the line behind them to finish, and then go and see if there was a second round. Or they would finish their own and watch their companions drink in small sips, complaining that it was too hot.
The look of enjoyment on their faces was as if they were drinking some kind of delicacy. They would deliberately provoke the cadets next to them, holding their bowls in front of their faces and swaying them. For a moment, there was laughter everywhere. No one cared about the usual rules of eating in the cafeteria at this moment.
This was not the cafeteria, and in the past, at the new recruit training base, with the squad leader around, they could still restrain themselves a little. Now that the squad leaders were all together, the cadets were even more unrestrained.
The squad leaders looked a few times but did not step forward to stop them. After three months of hard training, this group of cadets was about to go back. After spending so much time together, there was a sense of parting, so they didn’t stop them.
Zhou Wanfeng was standing up straight. After seeing the military rank on the other person’s shoulder, she quickly adjusted her posture, gave a standard salute, and stood at attention.
Gao Chunjie pulled the always-thoughtless Sha Shaoxing back. “What nonsense are you talking about? Don’t you know the ratio of female cadets in a military academy? Where can’t she go? The field army? Are you cursing her? Even if she’s unlucky, she won’t go there,” he said. Female cadets, after graduating from university, were generally assigned to a base or a government agency.
Sha Shaoxing’s brain was waterlogged. He was cursing her the moment he came up.
“I didn’t mean that,” Sha Shaoxing said, scratching his head. He raised his chin at Zhou Wanfeng. “You broke the searchlight. That was a beautiful move. I’ve always felt that it was bullying. You’ve got guts,” he said. His words were rough, but from the bottom of his heart, Sha Shaoxing felt that Zhou Wanfeng had done a beautiful job.
“Don’t listen to his nonsense. My name is Gao Chunjie. We met at the assessment last night. Speaking of which, I still regret it. I should have stuck to you. You’re formidable, Zhou Wanfeng,” Gao Chunjie said with sincerity and generosity, his eyes sizing her up. Anyone who saw Zhou Wanfeng would have the first impression that this cadet was steady and composed, with a pair of cold and deep eyes. When you made eye contact, she was silent, as if every detail could not escape her cold and grim eyes, and she could see through everything, and see through people’s hearts.
“You are the first cadet I’ve seen in this assessment. In a strange and tense environment, you were not panicked, and you even tried to gather information in the first instance. You handled what you could do calmly and composedly from beginning to end. It’s very impressive,” Gao Chunjie said. After seeing Zhou Wanfeng in person, he had a clearer standard for the word “outstanding” in his mind.
Duan Hangyi’s brow was furrowed. He looked up and down. Seeing Gao Chunjie’s praise, his brow furrowed even more. Suddenly, he saw Zhou Wanfeng glance behind her, and in an instant, he threw a straight punch.
In a flash of lightning, all they saw was Zhou Wanfeng quickly lean back, her hands in a cross block. The speed of her reaction was so fast that Gao Chunjie and Sha Shaoxing were both stunned, as if they had never expected a fight to suddenly break out.
“Duan Hangyi, what are you doing?” Yu Aijun scolded from a distance, running over quickly.
Zhou Wanfeng’s expression darkened. Her whole presence instantly became sharp, and her grim eyes became extremely aggressive.
After blocking the attack, she turned to counterattack, grabbing his wrist and twisting his elbow, sweeping his elbow and hitting his head, and striking his ribs with her knee.
Duan Hangyi covered his elbow and struck her collarbone, and then punched her leg.
Seeing that the two of them were getting fierce and were about to get serious, Gao Chunjie realized the seriousness of the matter and immediately called for Sha Shaoxing to go up and stop them.
Yu Aijun was even faster. He stood in front of Zhou Wanfeng, protecting her with one hand.
Cao Baoshan was a few seconds slower. He took a step forward and stood next to Yu Aijun.
Liu Shupei, Xia Mengmeng, Jin Hongjie, and the other cadets in the same squad saw the tense atmosphere and all put down their bowls and ran over, standing next to their squad leader, their angry eyes on the group of people opposite them.
“Duan Hangyi, what are you trying to do?”
“It’s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! It’s all my fault! I’ve been praising Zhou Wanfeng’s skills, and he’s taken it to heart! During the assessment, he was muttering in his heart that he had to have a go with her when he saw her!” Gao Chunjie signaled for Sha Shaoxing and Zhao Gang to hold Duan Hangyi down, and he himself explained to Yu Aijun with a smile.
“Misunderstanding, my ass! I’m not blind! He was the one who threw a punch when she wasn’t looking! Can’t you be open and honest if you want to compete? Are you addicted to sneak attacks in the forest?” Cao Baoshan spat on the ground fiercely.
“I know what you’re thinking! Old Yu and I were assigned to guard the left light! And Zhou Wanfeng was led by Old Yu! Do you think we went easy on her? That we deliberately let her break it?” Cao Baoshan was sometimes a little unreliable, but his brain was not stupid.
Yu Aijun’s face was grim. “If you have any ideas, you can just tell the company commander! But to sneak attack a cadet from behind, that’s a disgraceful thing to do!”
Duan Hangyi struggled hard, and Sha Shaoxing was pushed to the side. “I did attack without warning! I admit what I did! But the reason you gave is right! She’s just a cadet! Is she really so formidable that the two of you couldn’t hold on? I wouldn’t believe it even if you told me the sky was falling!”
“Duan Hangyi, what do you mean? You’re sure we went easy on her? You can’t afford to lose, can you?” Cao Baoshan was furious.
Gao Chunjie was in the middle, trying to stop them. He desperately signaled for Zhao Gang and Sha Shaoxing to pull him away. “Let’s just say a few less words! The cadets and the soldiers are all watching! And the company commander, the political instructor, and the officers are all nearby! Is it right to fight like this?”
Duan Hangyi was pulled away by Zhao Gang’s big hands. Sha Shaoxing was walking behind, on guard, and at the same time, he was muttering to Duan Hangyi, “You don’t trust the two of them, but you don’t trust me either? I’ve fought with her! I said she’s good, and you still don’t believe me?”
By the time he had walked far away, Gao Chunjie had a smile on his face. “I’m sorry. Duan Hangyi is just like that. He just wanted to try a few moves. He’s half-convinced by what others say he hasn’t seen. I’ll explain it to him later. Zhou Wanfeng, don’t take it to heart. You’re very outstanding. Our company commander has even praised you. We might not see you later. I wish you all the best in the future.”
Gao Chunjie left in a hurry.
“Are you okay?” Yu Aijun turned to look at Zhou Wanfeng.
Zhou Wanfeng shook her head, her gaze sweeping over the direction where Duan Hangyi and his group had left, a dark glint flashing in her eyes.
“Who wants a second bowl? Line up now!” a voice came from the few large pots in the distance, from the cooking squad. A lot of cadets were seen rushing over with their bowls to line up. This time, there was no class order. They all went over in a crowd.
“Zhou Wanfeng, be careful until you leave this place,” Yu Aijun instructed.
Cao Baoshan was thinking of the dough drop soup he had left with He Wei. He Wei was not big, but he was a big eater.
Liu Shupei sat with Zhou Wanfeng for a while and patted her on the shoulder. “Your noodle soup is cold. I’ll go and get you another bowl.”
Zhou Wanfeng drank the soup in her bowl in big gulps. “It’s fine. It’s not hot, not cold. It’s just right,” she said, and then stood up and walked towards the line of cadets. “I’ll go and get another bowl.”
Liu Shupei watched as Zhou Wanfeng went over. There were too many people, so she didn’t pay much attention. But Zhou Wanfeng went around, put the large white porcelain bowl in a large plastic basin to be washed, and then she was gone.
At this moment, only a few tables were left in the cotton tent command center. The equipment and instruments had already been packed into boxes and loaded into the truck. In a little while, the tent would be dismantled.
Zou Zheng and Qin Zhe were standing at the window, looking at the cadets who were lining up for noodle soup outside. They were young and their stamina recovered quickly. Their vibrant and lively energy was very likable.
“The new recruit training is over. How are you going to report to the higher-ups? Who are you going to write about in the white paper?” Zou Zheng said. He had to go back to the camp to make a report. “As for the data and information about this assessment, the recorder will give it to you later. As for this cadet, Zhou Wanfeng, I will definitely make a special report to the higher-ups. The camp will probably inform the regiment. You know, the news between the army and the military academy is connected. I don’t care how she hid it during the three-month new recruit training period. But this assessment, in my opinion, is enough to be written in the report.”
Qin Zhe frowned and said nothing. He understood what Zou Zheng meant.
Whether it was the new recruit company or the cadet new recruit training period, it seemed to be just a training before enlistment or enrollment. But in reality, it was also the first threshold for selecting outstanding talent.
The new recruit company was simple and direct. After three months, they would be sent to a training camp. After that, it would depend on their individual overall strength, how far they could go.
The new cadets were much more troublesome. First of all, the military academy was a reserve force, and then it was a university.
Zhou Wanfeng was very outstanding in all aspects. Just as Zou Zheng had said, just three months of training could not produce much. Even the physical fitness could not be improved. A good seedling like Zhou Wanfeng, first, could not be trained. Second, her physical fitness, mentality, and IQ were all online. She was a complete hexagonal warrior.
“To be honest with you, this Zhou Wanfeng, from the moment she entered the new recruit training base, not just me, but even our political instructor, Chang, has taken a liking to her. Don’t look at her young age. Even a veteran can’t compare to her in terms of mentality. Before, we had assigned them a homework, to write down their reasons for choosing to be a soldier. Do you know what Zhou Wanfeng wrote on the blank paper she handed in?” Qin Zhe raised an eyebrow and looked at Zou Zheng, deliberately keeping him in suspense.
Zou Zheng had a look of disgust on his face. “What did she write?” he said. He didn’t want to play along with Qin Zhe, but he was curious.
Qin Zhe’s expression suddenly became serious, his gaze proper. “On a blank piece of paper, there was only one line: ‘Everyone dies eventually. Die a worthy death, and live with understanding,'” he said, and then he took a deep breath. “Actually, I’ve seen a lot of things like ‘serving the country,’ ‘training myself,’ and ‘protecting the people.’ This is the first time I’ve seen someone write something so ‘unsatisfactory.’ If this were a composition, it would be considered unsatisfactory, right? But after this assessment, I suddenly understood the meaning of what she had written.”
Then, he sighed. “Old Zou, when you make your report to the camp, put Zhou Wanfeng’s name on the ‘killed in action’ list.”
A whistle blew in the forest, and all the squads and teams assembled.
Liu Shupei was a little short of the number. Jin Hongjie directly called the roll. “Don’t count. Sister Zhou is not here,” she said. Zhou Wanfeng had always been at the very back. There was an empty spot behind Jin Hongjie. She had turned to look several times but hadn’t seen her.
Yu Aijun had Liu Shupei watch the line, and he went out to look.
Suddenly, Xia Mengmeng pointed. “Squad leader, I see Zhou Wanfeng! She’s coming!”
In the distance, Zhou Wanfeng had already taken off her outer ghillie suit and was wearing her own training uniform, and was slowly walking towards the line.
Yu Aijun looked at her for a few seconds, his brow furrowed. He could tell at a glance that Zhou Wanfeng’s walking posture was not right. His gaze fell on her ankle bone.
“Zhou Wanfeng, what’s wrong with your foot?” Yu Aijun said, looking at the approaching Zhou Wanfeng, his gaze sizing her up. He couldn’t see anything wrong with her clothes.
Zhou Wanfeng returned to the line and said with a blank expression, “I tripped on the road. I might have sprained my ankle.”
She was blatantly lying. She hadn’t fallen or tripped in the dark all night, but she had sprained her ankle in broad daylight.
Yu Aijun took a deep breath. “Liu Shupei, take care of her. Go and see the medic when we get back,” he said. She was not willing to tell the truth.
Zhou Wanfeng’s arm drooped and swayed slightly. Her brow immediately furrowed. It was a sharp pain.
The cadets got on the truck in order and were taken back to the new recruit training base. Meanwhile, Gao Chunjie and the others were packing their bags. They had familiarized themselves with the terrain in advance and had come two days early.
At this moment, Gao Chunjie was looking at the unmade quilt on the other bed and turned to ask, “Where’s Old Duan?”
“He went to talk to the company commander.”
The soldiers in the cotton tent were dismantling it. Zou Zheng was standing to the side, watching the cadets go down the mountain one by one. Duan Hangyi walked up to the company commander with his head down.
“What are you looking down for? You’re so awkward. You sneak attacked a cadet. Do you think I didn’t see?” Zou Zheng said with a stern face. He turned and saw Duan Hangyi’s raised face.
He was taken aback. The words of scolding he was about to say were suddenly cut off. “What’s wrong with your face? It’s so swollen.”
“I accidentally hit a rock,” Duan Hangyi said, his cheeks puffed up. The moment he moved, even his back molars ached. There was a taste of rust in his mouth. He pressed his tongue back, and his originally firm teeth were now loose. He stared straight ahead and reached into his mouth to feel.
His back tooth was really loose.
He took his hand out, and there was still a trace of blood on his finger. Duan Hangyi held his neck and took a few deep breaths, then looked at the company commander and said in a rough voice, “Company commander, this Zhou Wanfeng… is indeed as formidable as Old Gao and Old Sha said. Even someone like Cao Baoshan can’t beat her. And no one expected her to destroy the searchlight. No one was on guard. This person…” The moment Duan Hangyi thought of him going to the forest for convenience and coming back, and this person throwing dry leaves and dust at him, and then a heavy punch,
“Say it! What about this person?” Zou Zheng was not so blind that he couldn’t see that the injury was from a hard punch. At the very least, it was a heavy punch of three or more, the kind where someone is pinned to the ground and punched.
Duan Hangyi’s nostrils flared. He swallowed, a spark in his eyes. He still said seriously, “Company commander, I just want to say that I approve of Zhou Wanfeng. If we go to the battlefield, she will be a reliable comrade. Secondly, I think she can be ranked first in this assessment. That’s all,” he said, and then he stood at attention and saluted, and went back to pack his bag.