Chapter 22: Five-Kilometer Forced March Assessment

"Company Commander, something big has happened!!"

Shi Jin ran almost at a sprint toward the company office.

Gao Cheng was squatting on the ground chatting with the Red Third Company commander. Hearing Shi Jin's shout, he frowned.

"Squad Leader of the Third Squad, you don't go to watch our Steel Seventh Company's assessment, what are you running here for?"

Gao Cheng was a bit unhappy. He had specifically asked Shi Jin to keep an eye on the assessment, but he hadn't expected him to return so soon.

Shi Jin was so stifled his face turned red, staring straight at the Red Third Company commander.

"Company Commander, come over here, I have something to say to you." Shi Jin lowered his head and said.

"Old Three, wait a moment, I'll talk to you later."

Gao Cheng stood up, threw away the cigarette in his hand, and walked toward Shi Jin.

The two walked very, very far.

Gao Cheng's expression was ugly, "Who had an accident? Wu Liuyi didn't reach excellent? This isn't a joke, is it? If he's not excellent, isn't that slapping my face?"

"No, I'm saying, Company Commander, you must stay calm, don't be loud."

Shi Jin was afraid Gao Cheng would shout "Damn," and was ready to cover Gao Cheng's mouth at any time.

"It's that Xu Sanduo, he participated in the assessment."

Gao Cheng was stunned, "That's very normal, isn't it? Squad Leader Shi Jin, you need to change this habit of yours of making choices based on human feelings."

"He ran 500 meters in 90 seconds."

Gao Cheng was somewhat lost, as if he hadn't woken up yet.

"Five-hundred-meter obstacle course, 90 seconds. The whole army record holder is 109 seconds," Shi Jin continued to correct him.

"I..."

Before the "damn" could come out, Shi Jin instantly covered Gao Cheng's mouth.

"Company Commander, keep your voice down. Didn't you see the Red Third Company commander over there? If he heard this, we'd never be able to poach Xu Sanduo!"

Gao Cheng took a deep breath, his expression becoming exceptionally grave, "Just the five-hundred-meter obstacle course is enough to transfer him to the Steel Seventh Company. What's next?"

Shi Jin looked at Gao Cheng seriously and found that he had truly forgotten the most basic assessment procedures because of his excitement.

"Next is the five-kilometer forced march and shooting."

"Shooting?" Gao Cheng frowned.

He began to pace on the spot, slowly stopped, raised his head, and looked at Shi Jin seriously, "Squad Leader of the Third Squad, you say he's showing his edge now. Do you think he won't hide his shooting either?"

Both of them knew in their hearts about the bullet holes on that wooden stake at the shooting range three months ago.

"It should be. If his five-kilometer run breaks the record and his shooting reaches passing or excellent, Company Commander, let me say something unpleasant."

Shi Jin looked at the Third Company commander sunning himself in the distance and lowered his voice, "You won't be able to poach Xu Sanduo. The Third Company commander will fight you to the death."

Gao Cheng's expression turned ugly.

Who wouldn't be jealous of a soldier king of this level?

When bragging, who wouldn't say: "The so-and-so in our company broke the record."

It was impossible for Gao Cheng to blow this horn all by himself.

There were plenty of mouths waiting to blow it.

"You go first, don't worry about the others. Wu Liuyi should be excellent this time too, he doesn't need to worry. Focus specifically on Xu Sanduo. I'll go stabilize the Third Company commander."

Shi Jin said in a deep voice, "Company Commander, should we look for connections?"

Shi Jin said it very tactfully.

He knew that Gao Cheng's father was a corps commander.

With this layer of relationship, poaching people wouldn't even be difficult.

"Don't let it be known yet, hurry up!" Gao Cheng didn't think too much about this sentence, organized his emotions, and walked toward the Third Company commander with a smile, holding a pack of Chonghua cigarettes.

"Old Three, smoke, smoke."

The Third Company commander looked at the Chonghua in his hand in confusion, "Lao Qi, why are you so generous today? You're even willing to distribute Chonghua?"

"Sigh, am I that petty, Lao Qi? There's a bottle of fine Moutai in the office, how about we have a drink after the assessment?" Gao Cheng enthusiastically invited him, squatting beside the Third Company commander.

The Third Company commander widened his eyes and nodded with a smile, "That would be great. It seems you're in a good mood, Lao Qi. Wu Liuyi got first place again, right?"

Gao Cheng smiled without saying a word, just glancing at the Third Company commander, who was happily smoking, from time to time.

——

"Kid, you can really run."

Ma Jun's expression was exceptionally ugly.

He was actually somewhat regretful now.

When did such a monster appear among the recruits?

At that speed, he couldn't catch up even if his lungs exploded.

But as a veteran, it was impossible for him to admit defeat.

Especially in this aspect.

I don't admit defeat! If I'm bad, I'll train like my life depends on it!

Once I've trained well, I'll deal with you!

There was no reason to admit defeat.

Feng Yuxiu's gaze became extremely gloomy.

"Squad Leader, the hand gesture you used to wash my feet a few months ago was very professional. You can open a foot-washing parlor after you retire, I guarantee you'll have business."

"You! Fine, fine, fine! Kid, you're awesome at the five-hundred-meter obstacle course. I can't compare. But the five-kilometer forced march is useless if you're fast. Try running at that speed, you'll die of sudden death!"

Feng Yuxiu narrowed his eyes, "Squad Leader, let's make a childish bet. If you can't outrun me, can you call me 'Dad'?"

Ma Jun's expression was gloomy, "Too childish. Whoever loses will wash the other's feet on the spot. I'm not going to call you 'Dad,' kid, that's too childish."

Ma Jun said, raised his middle finger, and turned to leave.

"Xu Sanduo, how did you provoke him? I just asked around, this guy is an elite from the Red Third Company's First Squad."

Lao Ma had just finished the assessment, his expression somewhat dejected.

He hadn't trained for more than a year, and it wasn't something that could produce miracles just by changing his mindset.

His physical strength couldn't keep up at all, barely hovering on the passing line.

Feng Yuxiu said coldly, "Squad Leader, you'd better worry about yourself."

Lao Ma was somewhat speechless, sighed, but didn't take it to heart.

"Awesome, that recruit just now, broke the whole army record. Which company is he from?"

"Seems to be from the Red Third Company Fifth Squad."

"That place also has such a ruthless person? I'm envious."

The discussion of the veterans around him made Lao Ma prick up his ears.

He walked up humbly, "Are you guys talking about the Red Third Company Fifth Squad just now?"

"You're from there too? I didn't expect such a ruthless person in that bird-doesn't-poop place. I'm envious."

Hearing this, Lao Ma was stunned. At this moment, he finally understood why Feng Yuxiu hadn't gotten along with them for these few months.

He was gold buried by yellow sand; now that the wind and sand were gone, he stood in the sun and shone.

——

After resting briefly for half an hour.

The five-kilometer forced march began.

"Kid..."

Ma Jun, carrying a thirty-kilogram pack, stared provocatively at Feng Yuxiu beside him.

He bent his two fingers and shook them in front of his own eyes, then pointed at Feng Yuxiu, "Follow my back, don't fall behind!"

After speaking, he laughed and rushed out.

Feng Yuxiu adjusted the pack on his back, took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling violently.

His gaze became resolute, his body bent slightly, and he rushed out.

This level of forced march shouldn't be too fast at the beginning.

Otherwise, even if you were a few hundred meters from the finish line, you wouldn't be able to move.

The speed of the whole journey must be uniform and rhythmic.

"Swoosh!"

Ma Jun was suddenly stunned, looking at Feng Yuxiu's back, and let out a cold laugh, "Running like this, huh? Even if you step on wind-fire wheels, you'll run out of strength. You really are a reckless youth!"

He was already certain that in less than ten minutes, he would be able to catch up with this reckless youth.

Under 19 minutes is excellent level.

19—22 minutes is good.

Under 23 minutes is passing.

The whole army record holder is a First-Class Sergeant, 15 minutes and 23 seconds! ===== CHAPTER 23 =====