Chapter 55: Provocation

The First, Second, and Third Squads got on the truck.

Everyone crowded together, excitedly talking to each other.

The passing rate this time was very high.

Those who were usually on the passing line had all passed.

But it was impossible for everyone to pass, and some who really couldn't pass were marked with a failing mark.

1998 was still a three-year compulsory military service.

Some of them might be discharged tomorrow.

"Cheng Cai, the assessment this time was not bad. Can you be promoted to NCO in two years?"

Cheng Cai smiled slightly and took out cigarettes from his pocket to distribute.

Feng Yuxiu took a look, it was Spring City again.

"Come on, brothers, smoke. If you ask me, theoretical knowledge is useful, but it's not very useful. Practical operation is the real deal. For example, a range of 30 li, what is that concept? What is it like to fire a shot at 30 li? For example, how to operate a machine gun in a tank—none of these can be known from theory."

"I never memorize by rote; only in practical operation can I fully understand."

Bai Tiejun, heartless, snatched a whole box of cigarettes from Cheng Cai and distributed them to everyone.

Everyone had been suppressed all morning, and smoking a cigarette was like being a god.

Instantly, the carriage was filled with smoke, in and out.

On the way back to the company, everyone poked their heads out and shouted loudly.

Soldiers were all young, and they couldn't wait to let everyone see the specific performance of the four characters "spirited and vigorous."

The passing soldiers stood on the side and looked sideways.

Wu Liuyi poked his head out leisurely to look.

After this assessment, there would be a long time of rest.

For them, this was as happy as New Year.

Gao Cheng had been waiting in front of the dormitory for a long time.

Everyone lined up neatly to listen to the lecture.

Bai Tiejun lowered his head, not daring to speak, but afraid of being called out, so he straightened his head forcefully.

"Everyone disperse. Being unperturbed by honor or disgrace is the norm for this company, and striving for progress is the goal. It's no big deal, go back and have a good rest."

Gao Cheng waved his hand and turned toward the company office.

"Each squad, bring them back! Dismiss!"

——

The Third Squad returned to the dormitory.

Everyone was laughing and talking.

Only one voice was missing.

That was Bai Tiejun, who usually hung out with everyone.

He sat alone in front of the window, his hands on the windowsill, looking lost at the playground outside.

This was alienation.

Alienation under an open-book exam.

Feng Yuxiu stood in the corner with his eyes closed, impacting his injured eight fingers.

His fingers had been very itchy and stinging recently; it seemed they were gradually healing.

"Brothers, have I been okay to you on weekdays? I can take a puff of a cigarette, who among you have I left out?"

Bai Tiejun felt very aggrieved and stood up, shouting loudly.

Everyone stopped and looked at him.

Bai Tiejun wiped his eyes and pointed at Gan Xiaoning. "I shine your shoes every day, am I lowly? No, I treat you as brothers, I treat you all as brothers. Isn't it just one assessment that didn't pass? I've failed many times, why treat me like this?"

"Did I hit your children? Ah? Why is no one talking?"

Under this kind of cold violence, Bai Tiejun vented his dissatisfaction to his heart's content.

Feng Yuxiu opened his eyelids and closed them again.

Bai Tiejun didn't understand clearly. Before, everyone was on the passing line, or it was the regimental general assessment training.

This time, the regimental staff member came in person, and the Regimental Commander even gave the answers in an open-book exam.

It was obviously different. What level of assessment could make the Regimental Commander let go?

That was involving the mission of this regiment.

Perhaps this assessment came directly from the division headquarters.

But at the most critical moment, Bai Tiejun dropped the ball.

"Bai Tiejun, come out!" Shi Jin heard the voice and shouted at the door.

Bai Tiejun wiped his tears and walked out.

The previous conversation in the Third Squad became silent.

Feng Yuxiu thought for a moment and walked out.

In the corridor, Bai Tiejun lowered his head with red eyes.

Shi Jin stood in front and comforted him.

"It's fine, one assessment, the quality of your individual performance doesn't have much impact on the overall performance, don't have too much pressure, you're already very good, your physical fitness has now reached the standard, almost reaching the standard of excellence."

Bai Tiejun lowered his head.

"Go, just like usual, relax."

Bai Tiejun shook his head. "Squad Leader, I'm sorry."

Shi Jin patted his shoulder. "You're not sorry to me, you have to be sorry to yourself. Everyone came from farmers, me too, Xu Sanduo too. Look at him. You've been a soldier for two years longer than him, you can't be surpassed by him, right?"

"Thank you, Squad Leader, I feel much better, I'll go down and clear my mind." Bai Tiejun saluted and turned to walk down the stairs.

Shi Jin took a deep breath, his gaze swept over and saw Feng Yuxiu.

"Sanduo, good performance." Shi Jin gave a thumbs up.

Feng Yuxiu nodded.

Shi Jin smiled slightly and got used to the indifferent reaction, then turned and walked down.

——

"Bai Tiejun, look at you, you dragged your squad down again. Your Squad Leader is really good. If it were in our squad, I'd definitely make you bite the foot-washing basin."

Ma Jun shook his abdomen on the horizontal bar leisurely, looking mockingly at Bai Tiejun standing on the side.

Bai Tiejun sneered. "Right, right, right, your Squad Leader is really amazing, doing a somersault for 80 meters."

"Yo, still not convinced." Ma Jun jumped down from the horizontal bar and clapped his hands. "The regimental-wide push-up record is our squad, right? How many was it, 2600? Your squad... only Wu Liuyi can fight, and the abdominal rotation on the horizontal bar is only 187."

"Only? Yo, your tone is quite big. I'm just puzzled, I didn't provoke you, why are you coming over to mock me?" Bai Tiejun stood up and stared at Ma Jun unkindly.

"You have a Xu Sanduo in your squad, right? I'm just not convinced, so what? Any problem?"

Bai Tiejun was stunned, reacted, and revealed a smile. "I seem to have heard of you, washed a recruit's feet twice, can't swallow this breath, right? Everyone else in the Third Squad is too strong, so you came to find trouble with me? You're not capable either, picking the softest persimmon to pinch."

Bai Tiejun understood instantly.

During the assessment today, this Ma Jun had been watching the Third Squad.

He thought there was someone he knew.

He didn't expect he was looking for an enemy.

But the military is like this, they are all hot-blooded young men.

They just want to be convinced, to make the other party convinced, and to make themselves convinced.

Obviously, this Ma Jun thought about it and was still not convinced by the bet of washing Feng Yuxiu's feet.

This kind of thing often happens in the military, and the Company Commander likes to watch it too.

Only with struggle is there motivation for progress.

"Not convinced?" Ma Jun grinned, looked left and right, raised his head and pointed at the horizontal bar. "Dare? If not, call me Master Ma and leave with your head down, go find someone capable in the Third Squad."

"What's there not to dare? No need for others, I alone will deal with you!" Bai Tiejun was worrying about how to continue to get along with the Third Squad.

Isn't this a good opportunity?

"You have guts, but not much!" Ma Jun grabbed the horizontal bar and started to prepare.

Bai Tiejun took off his hat and threw it on the ground, and also climbed up.

In the distance, Feng Yuxiu watched this scene calmly. ===== CHAPTER 56 =====