Chapter 77: Shouldering Responsibility, Grasping Accountability

Report, Company Commander comrade, the weapon‑handing ceremony is complete, awaiting orders!

Alright, start the music!

At Gao Feng's command, the veteran from the Cook Squad standing nearby began energetically beating gongs and drums.

Dong—dong—dong, dong—dong—dong, the big drum pounded with a sky‑shaking roar.

The ribbons on the drumsticks fluttered youthful and flew up and down.

The Senior Private named Liu Cheng, holding a bronze gong, struck it a couple of times now and then.

The clang‑clank was so vigorous that anyone unfamiliar would think they'd stumbled into a year‑end gala and run into a dance troupe.

This scene truly left the newly armed recruits bewildered.

Especially the soldiers near the gong‑drum team, whose eardrums buzzed from the vibration.

Lu Yang also felt the revelry was a bit over the top, and with a little red flower tied to each rifle, it gave the impression of a bride‑bringing‑her‑into‑the‑house ceremony.

Gao Feng raised his hand, lowering the gong‑drum team's volume a bit, then emphasized over the loudspeaker.

"Joyful gongs and drums strike out yearly celebration, and splendid dances bring yearly merriment."

"Ah~ on this bright, clear‑skied day, you have gained a second life in your military career."

"In the future, this rifle will be inseparable, accompanying and permeating all of your military lives."

"Therefore, the troops liken the rifle to a soldier's wife, and the weapon‑handing ceremony is a grand joyous day."

"Join the army, and we even give you a wife; tell me, is this service worth it?"

"Worth it!"

All the new recruits, clutching their freshly received Type 81 Automatic Rifles, shouted with joy; some even couldn't help but plant a kiss on them.

This cold, heavy rifle is what everyone has dreamed of.

Regardless of the reasons they originally joined the unit.

At this moment, not a single person remains unexcited.

Some even think that even on their actual wedding day, they might not feel this thrilled.

After all, this is a real piece of gear, not a toy gun! Just this alone lets them outshine ninety percent of the nation's men, enough for them to brag about at drinking tables for a long time!

【I bought a new phone!】

【Have you ever fired a Type 81?】

【I bought a PS5 console!】

【Have you ever fired a Type 81?】

【I bought a new car, full of power!!!】

【Have you driven a Type 96 tank? That thing can smash a truck into scrap metal, and its cannon can level a small hill!】

【I'm done! I give up!】

【Regret serving for two years, regret not serving for a lifetime. Comrade, some things you never experience without being a soldier, you'll never know. Think back to the start......】

Just imagining the scene gives a tingling thrill!

No wonder they say, from the moment you entered the unit, you've already surpassed the vast majority.

From physical fitness to military skills, even after discharge you could crush eighty percent of your peers.

If life is a journey, this stint in the troops will become one of the most precious assets of your life, something many can never experience even after a lifetime.

Gao Feng continued, "I know many of you didn't enlist voluntarily. Some were forced by family, some failed the college entrance exam, and some are defying their families."

"But at this moment, I want to ask you, is there anyone still regretting joining the unit, regretting wearing the uniform, regretting holding a steel rifle, regretting becoming a proud People's Liberation Army of Dragon Country soldier?"

"No!"

"Louder!"

"No, no, no!"

The recruits roared from their throats.

Even Lu Yang's mood at this moment was exhilarated.

This was his first time ever touching a real rifle across his past and present lives.

Heavier than he imagined, colder than he imagined, yet it gave a different kind of excitement.

Because this thing is called a rifle in the troops, but out there it's called "Truth".

He had once read a post‑apocalyptic novel where the protagonist abandoned stockpiling food and hoarded only weapons.

The main line was: others stockpile grain, I stockpile rifles; others are my granary!

He Zhen Tao stepped forward, his smile gentle, and said, "Comparing a rifle to a wife is just a joke in the troops. The purpose is to encourage everyone to value, cherish, and actively maintain the rifle in their hands."

"On the battlefield, the rifle and your comrades are your greatest honors; therefore, the upcoming training modules will revolve around this rifle."

"The rifle, shouldered, signifies bearing responsibility, courage, duty, and the lofty belief of serving the people!"

"And now, after more than two months of transformation, you are becoming more like true soldiers!"

"Salute!"

The Company Commander, the Instructor, and all veteran Squad Leaders raised their right hands in unison.

The recruits slung their rifle straps over their shoulders and likewise raised their right hands in return.

Handing over the rifle signifies trust, and also a new beginning.

From this moment, the recruits have their own 'personal gear', even though the rifle contains no ammunition and cannot fire.

Yet merely holding it, merely shouldering it, already makes them radiant and reborn!

"Beep—beep—"

"First Platoon, all assemble!"

The other class's new recruits quickly gathered toward Zhou Kaidong.

The First, Second, and Third Squads gathered again into a small formation of roughly thirty people.

The upcoming training will be taught in platoon units, and everyone is already accustomed to that.

Everyone closed the fan‑shaped area, the frontmost platoon sat down, the middle platoon half‑crouched, and the rear stood.

Ahead, Zhou Kaidong spread a rectangular cloth on the ground and placed his Type 81 Automatic Rifle on it.

"Next, I will teach everyone how to disassemble the firearm and how to maintain it."

"Everyone watch closely; this subject is far more difficult than any previous one."

"Afterwards you will use it frequently, and it will run through all of your military careers; you must study it earnestly."

While Zhou Kaidong demonstrated the disassembly, a system prompt popped up in Lu Yang's mind, beginning to enhance his understanding of firearm use.

In other words, the more earnestly he studies and the more diligently he practices, the more proficient his handling of firearms becomes, indirectly boosting his hit rate and accuracy.

"First, the barrel: the firing device is 125 mm long, with an outer diameter of about 22 mm."

"The sight is called an aiming device; the magazine holds thirty rounds. When removing the magazine cover, keep your thumb on top and pull it out."

"This is the recoil mechanism, composed of a gas tube, guide rod, tube housing, recoil spring, and support ring."

"Platoon Leader, what is this called?"

Suddenly, Ding Tengfei called out a report, asking out of curiosity.

Zhou Kaidong pulled twice and explained, "This is the bolt; if the safety isn't disengaged, the bolt can't be pulled back. Understand?"

The recruits nodded and replied, "Understood!"

Zhou Kaidong taught in great detail, but because the disassembly process was overly cumbersome, many only grasped it half‑heartedly.

Only Lu Yang stared with both eyes, like a video recorder, desperately imprinting the procedure and details into his mind.

Zhou Kaidong demonstrated three full times and explained three times; after finishing, he finally dismissed the squad, letting them each return to practice.

The Third Squad did the same; each person spread a cloth on the ground and began disassembling the weapon piece by piece.

Boys have a bit of innate talent for taking things apart, so they pick it up quickly.

Lu Yang once dismantled a family radio as a child, but couldn't reassemble it and got a good beating.

Looking at the spread of firearm parts, the recruits felt a strong sense of accomplishment.

They even inexplicably felt like in a western movie, where after assembling a gun you're about to duel someone.

But when they actually tried to assemble it, they found it was nothing like that; either it wouldn't fit here or couldn't be attached there.

Worse, after finally assembling the gun, an extra part suddenly lay on the ground.

Zhou Kaidong paced around, shaking his head and sighing, "It really looks easy at first glance, but becomes useless after a little practice..."