Chapter 88: What a Stubborn One!

I said I was just doing training, doing training—didn't I reply to you as soon as I saw the message?

What do you mean I'm constantly lying to you? What have I lied about?

It was our Company Commander who said I had a chance to become an officer this year, to be promoted to Formal Platoon Leader; now there are no slots—what can I do?

Promoting a Platoon Leader to officer isn't up to me alone; the unit isn't my family's business. Leading the training team day after day is exhausting; today they forced a new recruit in, and it's giving me a massive headache!

What do you mean I swore? When did I change the subject… I'm not throwing in the towel! I didn't yell at you!!

Let's both calm down, okay? You say I'm not good to you—when my monthly allowance hits the account, I transfer it to you immediately; when have I ever spent a cent on myself?

When we're on leave, everyone goes for foot baths, hot springs, internet cafés, pool halls; I never went even once, always waiting at the door each time!

During holidays and birthdays of your parents, I bought gifts—what did I do wrong? Just because I didn't become an officer, you're unhappy?

I'm not bringing up old grievances, I didn't argue with you… can you hear me out?

Why bring up breaking up again? Every fight you bring up breaking up! Can you try to understand me? Our Company Commander said I'll definitely make it next year; the higher‑ups think I still owe something… Hey, hey?

In an office of the Training Unit building, Guo Yongwen, flustered and pale, hadn't finished speaking when the phone on the other end was already hung up.

He tried calling back, but the line wouldn't connect; even QQ messages wouldn't send.

Feeling aggrieved and helpless, he could only swing his fists at the air to vent.

The slot for promotion to Formal Platoon Leader had already fallen through; he intended to tell his girlfriend, hoping she'd comfort him.

What came back wasn't comfort but a tirade of reproach and incomprehension, even a breakup and a block?

Soon, the phone rang again; Guo Yongwen assumed it was his girlfriend, grabbed it quickly, only to hear a family member on the other end.

"Yongwen, what's really going on between you and Xiao Ting?"

"Why did Xiao Ting just call, crying, saying she doesn't want to go through with the marriage?"

"What conflict is there between you two? Is there something you can't discuss properly?"

Guo Yongwen heard his parents' words, and his brain felt like it was about to explode.

The breakup isn't just once or twice—why did they even call home?

Isn't this blowing the issue up, expanding a couple's problem to both families?

He hurriedly explained: "Mom, Dad, listen—Xiao Ting was speaking in anger; I'll soothe her later. I told her that this year I might not be promoted to officer as Platoon Leader, and she got mad, thinking I lied to her..."

"What?!" The father's tone jumped an octave: "Last year you came back and told us you were about to be promoted to officer, to be a Platoon Leader in the unit, weren't you?"

I bragged all over the village, even said I'd throw a banquet to celebrate you, making a big fuss.

The whole village knows our Lao Guo family's ancestral tomb is visited by relatives; a member of the family got an officer position in the army. Kong Lao San's son wanted to enlist and asked me for help, I agreed. Now you tell me you can't become an officer?

"Ugh~ you scheming brat, you turtle‑grandson, you've made your poor old dad suffer! Where am I supposed to put this old face, me and your mother would be ridiculed to death by the villagers?"

No wonder Xiao Ting was crying, saying she wants to call off the engagement, that she won't marry. When the matchmaker introduced you, she said you were an officer in the army, but you're not even a decent guy; I'd rather have a bitter gourd than give birth to you…

Guo Yongwen felt extremely aggrieved, now being scolded by his parents, who said he brought shame to the family.

He now wants to cry and wants to laugh; in others' eyes, he is the unquestioned Soldier King of the Seventh Company.

He's a rebellious youth, a model of waywardness turned right, the prodigal son who returned—priceless in people's words.

Only he knows the hardships he's endured and the training injuries accumulated over the years.

He's in his thirties; his physical abilities are already declining. If he doesn't become an officer soon, he truly can't keep going.

But he really has given his all; for over a decade he's charged forward without pause. Yet the harder he pushes, the farther the goal seems.

On the phone, his parents took turns berating him, calling him useless, incompetent, unable to achieve anything, as good as his grandfather who only knows how to farm.

I think, if it really can't work, you should discharge next year and find a stable job.

After so many years in the army, the demobilization pay will be at least a few hundred thousand, enough to buy a house and get married in a small county town.

Having two chubby kids with Xiao Ting is also fine, much better than you aimlessly drifting in the unit.

If you ask me, our Lao Guo family has no destiny for officials; you're so cowardly, can't study, thinking joining the army is the only way to make something of yourself?

I think you're just being reckless, a toad wanting to eat that big white rabbit—no, the big white goose!

On the other end, the disparaging remarks kept coming, and Guo Yongwen desperately tried to explain.

Both sides were speaking the same Henan dialect, yet they just couldn't communicate.

In the end, the conversation ended with his father ordering him to discharge next year and return.

He also mentioned his cousin's nephew is getting married and wants to borrow 200,000 to buy a house in the county.

They had already agreed in advance, planning to take it from his discharge pay later.

Guo Yongwen laughed in anger; he hasn't even been discharged, his pay isn't in hand yet.

His father, who drinks and then beats his wife and son but pretends to be a "good honest" dad in front of others, has already taken the liberty of borrowing the money for him?

When the call ended, Guo Yongwen's mind was a tangled mess, making him feel nauseous, queasy, and miserable.

At that moment the door knocked, and a Senior Private pushed the door in, calling out a report.

"What's the matter?"

Guo Yongwen rubbed his brow.

Senior Private: "Report, Captain, that soldier is still running."

Guo Yongwen looked up and asked, "Which soldier?"

Senior Private: "The new recruit the Seventh Company Commander sent at noon, he's still on the track."

Guo Yongwen looked up at the pitch‑black sky outside; after an afternoon of professional training with the training team, he had almost forgotten about the kid.

When he arrived, it was already 2 p. m.; now it was 8 p. m.

What the— that guy named Lu Yang ran for a full six hours?

Guo Yongwen grabbed his cap and hurried out: "He didn't even stop to rest?"

Senior Private shook his head: "No, he never stopped; he just slowed down toward the end."

He hurried to the edge of the training field; a lone figure on the track was moving slowly forward.

He carried his pack, moving slowly, but his steps were firm.

Half of the streetlight's runway was lit and half was dark, Lu Yang's shadow stretched and flattened like modeling clay.

Watching that resilient figure never stop, Guo Yongwen's already suppressed mood became even more restrained.

Lu Yang's perseverance, tenacity, and that unyielding spirit were the best provocation to him.

He didn't truly intend to drive Lu Yang away; he was just angry and wanted to give a warning.

But he didn't expect to meet a hard bone, one that was hard from head to toe.

"Team Leader, we can't let him keep running like this; he'll cause trouble if he continues."

Senior Private, anxiously reminding, said that such prolonged weighted running could truly cause someone to faint or go into shock.

Guo Yongwen naturally knew this: "You go over there and tell him he can stop; that counts as passing the test, and he can join the training team."

This is an entry test; as Sniper Training Team Leader, he has the authority to set standards for the veterans who came to train.

Lu Yang, as a recruit who hasn't even been assigned to a company, would instinctively be seen as a dead weight.

Even if the Company Commander personally greets him, Guo Yongwen would still apply his own standards uniformly.

Now that he passed, he can naturally stay and train together with the others.

"Comrade, comrade, can you stop now?"

"Can you hear what I'm saying?"

"The Team Leader says you can stop now?"

Lu Yang, still carrying his pack, kept running forward at a slow, steady pace.

His camouflage uniform seemed wet with sweat, then dried by cold wind, only to be dampened again and dried again.

The brim of his hat was soaked, and beads of sweat gathered on his chin like droplets, sliding down.

Lu Yang's complexion was as pale as paper, his lips dried and cracked like parched earth, and his mouth even tasted of strong iron rust.

Yet even so, his lead‑filled legs kept moving, like a snail bearing a heavy shell, "stupid," "slow," "persistent," inching forward.

This scene caught the attention of over thirty veterans from various units in the training team; most were second‑class soldiers, with a few first‑phase NCOs.

They were all selected from the Regiment's various units as good marksmen and promising candidates, among the more outstanding.

Initially, regarding this rookie being forced in, everyone watched with a spectator's mindset.

They thought it must be some rich kid trying to get a golden coating here, gaining experience.

After all, the New Recruit Company hadn't even finished, yet he ran to the Sniper Training Team, as absurd as an elementary student showing up in a high‑school class.

But now, Lu Yang's actions shattered the veterans' contempt for him.

Weighted running, every soldier has done it; in the company this is called armed cross‑country.

But from two in the afternoon until eight at night, the vast majority of them could not keep going.

Yet that recruit managed it, and still hasn't stopped, which is a bit frightening.

"Team Leader, he—he refuses to stop!"

"Damn, still a stubborn one?"

Guo Yongwen shouted angrily, "Do I have to bow my head before he'll stop?"

Senior Private pleaded, "Team Leader, perhaps you should give the order. His face is ashen, no color at all—don't let something really happen!"

Deputy Team Leader, hearing the news, arrived, and after assessing the situation, sternly said to Guo Yongwen, "Team Leader Guo, that's enough; why are you taking out your anger on the recruit?"

Guo Yongwen explained that he only wanted to test him, never expecting him to be so stubborn!

He hurried to stand before Lu Yang, raising his right palm forward.

"Stand, halt!"

Hearing the command, Lu Yang finally stopped.

His body swayed, as if a gust of wind could topple him at any moment.

Six hours of weighted running drained every ounce of his strength, forcing him to his physical limit.

The intensity of this program is beyond what a recruit could finish; even ordinary veterans would run until spitting foam, yet Lu Yang managed it.

Deputy Team Leader and the Senior Private rushed up, concerned, asking about Lu Yang's condition and checking his pulse.

Lu Yang gently shook his head, his voice hoarse like coarse sandpaper.

He muttered that he was fine, then took off his pack.

At the moment his body felt relieved, his mind blank, he fell backward.

At the same time, a System Light Screen popped up in front, re‑triggering the "Break and Then Stand" effect.......