Chapter 121: Who

"Ten rings?"

"I—I hit the ten rings! I hit the bullseye!"

"Squad Leader, I hit…"

Number three shooting position.

This previously overly nervous Conscript of Squad Nine, after seeing his "good result," got so excited that he scrambled to his feet while the bullet in the chamber was still awaiting ignition.

He twisted his body, dancing with arms and legs, trying to rush toward his Squad Leader to report his good news.

Lu Yang, seeing this, jumped in surprise; he had already been worried about an accident.

Who would have thought a Conscript would actually act stupid!

"Careful!"

Lu Yang's loud shout just rang out.

Almost at the same moment, the nearby safety officer quickly seized the man's muzzle and forcefully pinned the Conscript to the ground.

Caught off guard, the Conscript's finger involuntarily tugged the trigger in his panic.

With a bang, the gun fired, and a bullet skimmed the ground, slanting into the earth.

The Conscript was startled by the gunshot and only then realized that out of five rounds, only four had been fired; the remaining 81st round was still in the waiting‑to‑be‑ignited state!

The sudden scene startled the other Conscripts of Squad Nine, but the Squad Leader nearby wore an extremely grim expression.

He knew exactly what the kid had done: the bullet hadn't finished firing, the safety hadn't been engaged, yet the kid got up and turned around.

If no one had shouted a warning, if the safety officer hadn't reacted quickly, the people nearby would have truly been in trouble!

Lu Yang, seeing this close‑call, also breathed a sigh of relief.

But seeing the veteran's swift decisive action, he realized he had been overly worried.

The reason safety officers are all veteran Squad Leaders is that they have a solid sense of judgment.

Even without their own loud warning, they would most likely still be able to stop the Conscript's folly in time.

They say it's not the evil people you fear, but the stupid ones who get a sudden idea—that's the principle.

When you encounter such a person, it's hard to entrust your back to them, because you never know when they might cause your death.

When the shooting ended, the Squad Nine Conscripts emptied their magazines, closed the safety, and stood up.

Company Commander Gao Feng, fuming, rushed forward and delivered a hard kick to the troublemaking soldier.

"Looking for death, are you?!"

"How were you taught during training? When a bullet is chambered, the muzzle must not be pointed at people, let alone at your own comrades!"

"You worthless thing, you almost blew up the comrade next to you with a single shot!"

Gao Feng was still very angry; even with the Regiment Commander watching, he didn't hold back.

Training safety is repeatedly emphasized in the unit, and it's a high‑pressure red line that everyone must strictly obey.

During weapons training, Gao Feng stressed this matter at least twenty times, yet when it came to live‑fire, someone still acted stupidly—could he not be angry?

If anyone failed to notice, if a safety officer slipped even slightly, it could easily lead to irreversible consequences.

This soldier was scolded in front of the Whole Company, a humiliating tirade, and tears streamed down.

He cried while explaining, saying it wasn't intentional.

But regardless of intent, his shooting assessment score was voided, and no matter how good his prior assessments or daily performance were.

This mistake also meant that, when assigned to the next Company, he would certainly be marginalized and most likely placed in a unit where he wouldn't handle guns or artillery.

If such an idiot were assigned to an artillery unit, his single lapse could cause you to load two mortar shells into the same barrel!

By then it wouldn't be a light scolding but a deadly one, potentially killing his comrades as well!

Lu Yang was singled out for commendation by the Company Commander and the Regiment Commander in succession, yet he did not feel pleased.

He had already glimpsed that Conscript's fate: after the two‑year conscription ends, he'd be kicked out of the unit's gate.

Not everyone, after joining the unit, can adapt to military life.

Three plus months of basic training failed to bring him any substantive change, and the next Company likely won't either.

Perhaps leaving is the best destiny, the best answer for the safety of the remaining comrades.

The Regiment Commanders all wore grim faces, gathering privately for a safety meeting.

They reiterated and emphasized training safety issues, especially live‑fire shooting and grenade throwing.

Especially for certain units that train TNT explosive detonation and Mine Clearance projects, safety awareness must be heightened, strictly avoiding non‑combat attrition!

Tan Yuanzhou said gravely, "Originally, this week's bulletin board theme was supposed to be about Conscripts' next‑Company assignments, but after the meeting we just changed it to training safety. The warning bell must always ring, ever‑lasting."

Wang Zhongxi hummed in agreement and said nothing more.

But anyone familiar with the Regiment Commander knew his mood was very bad at this moment.

It had taken a lot of effort to produce an excellent seed like Lu Yang, and before anyone could be pleased, another such stupid fellow appeared.

Sure enough, the quality of Conscripts averages out each year; opening one door inevitably means closing a window.

……

After the shooting training ended, there was a final grenade‑throwing assessment.

They used real, live grenades, which are inherently dangerous, so before starting, the Company Commander specifically gathered the Whole Company to stress seriousness.

"Live‑fire shooting was a close call, okay; for the upcoming grenade throw, take it easy for me!"

"If you fail to throw it and it lands at your feet, you'll be blown to pieces—don't blame the Company Commander for not reminding you!"

"Additionally, I can tell you that any unit has a quota for non‑combat attrition."

"In other words, if you die from your own stupidity, the unit bears no responsibility at all!"

Gao Feng's words made the Squad Nine Conscript's eyes redden again, but also served as a warning to all the Conscripts.

It doesn't have to be war for people to die; training mistakes can also be lethal.

But Lu Yang wasn't worried about it, because in his case, such mindless, low‑level mistakes don't exist.

The grenade‑throwing assessment started quickly; it was far simpler than rifle shooting.

There was no distance requirement; you just had to pull the pin, toss the grenade over the low wall in front of you, and let it detonate.

Boom—boom—boom!

Each grenade exploded, shaking the soil pit behind the low wall and sending dust flying.

Lu Yang therefore noticed something: the so‑called "smoke but no injury."

At that moment, the grenades used for the assessment were not the 67‑type wooden‑handle training models; they were 82‑type handle‑less grenades, commonly called "pineapples."

After the first and second squads finished throwing grenades under the safety officer's guidance, the blast wasn't as strong as he had imagined—no crater formed on the ground, and no massive high‑speed fragments flew out.

According to the system, it was neither a training‑model grenade nor the type usually used in drills.

It was classified as an offensive grenade.

Offensive grenades are somewhat like stun grenades.

They have no shrapnel; their main purpose is the shockwave that stuns the enemy, preventing friendly fire and facilitating assault control.

Defensive grenades, by contrast, are far more powerful, with fragments and steel balls, intended primarily for killing.

So Gao Feng's earlier warning was a deliberate intimidation to scare them.

Even if a grenade actually fell at their feet, it wouldn't shatter into pieces or cause a gruesome death.

At worst it would cause half‑body paralysis or a broken arm or leg, and the person would likely survive.

…

Having learned from the previous incident, the recruits were unusually cautious when throwing grenades and caused no trouble.

The basic training assessment thus concluded amid tension and anxiety.

But everyone still had to make do in the tents for one night; they could return to the New Recruit Company the next morning for the rank‑granting ceremony.

The short field training was also the final training item the recruits experienced before moving to the next company.

For soldiers of the Special Third Regiment, future field training would become routine.

Getting familiar in advance helps the recruits integrate into their new unit more quickly after transferring.

After dinner there was really nothing left to do; everyone could wander around the camp area and chat.

Some squads simply played poker inside the tents to pass the time.

Lu Yang, being familiar with the Training Section, greeted Zhou Kaidong and then joined everyone to play basketball on the court.

Although most people weren't very skilled, and some didn't even understand rules like hand‑offs or positioning, it didn't dampen anyone's enthusiasm for the sport.

They kept playing until after eight p. m., and only then, drenched in sweat, returned to the camp in the small woods.

After a quick roll call, it was guard‑duty time, at the same positions as yesterday.

However, after a new draw, Lu Yang was lucky enough to get the 9‑10 post.

Thus, an hour later he could return to his bunk and sleep soundly.

Tonight was much gentler than before—no wind, no rain, and the temperature wasn't that cold.

Perhaps thinking that tomorrow he would receive his rank, evolving from a raw recruit to a private, Lu Yang felt quite good.

Moreover, Zhou Kaidong told him that although the third‑class merit was no longer possible, he had still secured the Excellent Recruit title for him.

Going to the next company with an award and the Excellent Recruit title was actually pretty good—better than having nothing.

Lu Yang was daydreaming that, if a criminal showed up during guard duty, he could earn a merit by taking action.

In the pitch‑black forest on the left, a suspicious, skulking figure actually emerged.

"Who's there?"

Lu Yang immediately pointed his rifle at the direction and demanded sharply.

"It's me!"

"Pepper‑salt?"

"Pepper‑salt? Pepper‑salt… ribs?"

"What's the password?!"

"Pepper‑salt mushrooms? Pepper‑salt crispy chicken?"

Seeing the other party's furtive demeanor and feeling guilty, they couldn't answer the password.

Without a word, Lu Yang lunged at the person, seized their arm and threw them to the ground......