Chapter 17: Military Training, Part 1

On a September day at the Kangzhuang 611 Student Military Training Base, the lingering heat of summer still raged fiercely. The scorching sun baked the earth, and the air above the training ground seemed to warp and shimmer. Only the incessant cicadas added a noisy backdrop to the sweltering atmosphere.

Two thousand three hundred fifty-four freshmen clad in brand-new camouflage uniforms stood in neat ranks on the field. The gleaming school emblems on their chests contrasted sharply with the deep military green. Excitement and curiosity about military training were etched on every face, yet none could foresee that the trials ahead would utterly redefine their understanding of hardship.

The opening ceremony began solemnly, accompanied by the stirring strains of the military anthem. As the five-star red flag slowly rose, a profound sense of mission swept over everyone.

But when the ceremony ended, the gravity was shattered by harsh reality. Instructor Chang An entered the formation like a flash of dark lightning, marching with precise, measured steps to its center.

Tall and imposing, his black combat boots struck the ground with a crisp rhythm. Behind his reflective lenses, his gaze was sharp as an eagle’s, as if piercing through every nervous heart before him.

“Attention!” A thunderous command cracked across the field, sending a shiver down Li Yifei’s neck. The students around instinctively straightened their backs, and the whispers that had filled the ranks instantly fell silent.

Chang An swept his gaze over the inexperienced students, his voice cold and stern: “From now on, your dictionary contains only two words: ‘Yes’ and ‘Present.’ Spare me the nonsense! Here, there are no exceptions, no special cases—only obedience!”

Then came the order: “One arm’s length spacing!”

The once orderly ranks devolved into chaos, resembling a disturbed colony of ants.

Some spun in place, bewildered as they sought their spots; others stumbled, tripped by the straps of their backpacks; a gust of wind snatched several girls’ military caps, prompting frantic chases across the field.

Chang An’s frown deepened, and a sharp whistle pierced the heavy air.

“Are you here for a spring outing? Look at this pitiful formation—worse than kindergarten kids!” His eyes blazed with disappointment and anger.

Just as everyone held their breath, he suddenly pointed his index finger with precision at Li Yifei, standing first in the last row on the left: “You, step out!”

Li Yifei’s heart tightened. His past military training experience quickly steadied his nerves.

Each step he took away from the line was firm and deliberate, the sandaled soles of his camouflage boots scraping sharply against the ground. He held his head high, shoulder blades naturally pulled back, standing as straight as a spear.

Chang An circled him slowly, the metal buckles on his boots glinting coldly under the sun.

“Watch carefully! Chin slightly tucked, eyes level and fixed at the ten o’clock direction. Your fingers must firmly hold a playing card.”

With that, Chang An pulled a red Ace of Hearts from his pocket and slipped it between Li Yifei’s fingers. “If this card falls, the entire squad trains for an extra half hour.”

Time dragged on, sweat trickling down Li Yifei’s temples, pooling briefly on his brow before sliding down his cheek into his collar.

Thirty minutes passed, and muffled groans began to rise around him. The boys in front trembled uncontrollably at their calves, knees quivering slightly.

Some girls looked pale, their lips drained of color, bodies swaying unsteadily. Chang An’s voice dropped, laced with a tempting offer: “Want a break? Report now, and I’ll let you rest in the shade with an ice-cold cola.”

But silence reigned. No one gave up, not even Li Yifei, whose fingers gripped the Ace unwaveringly.

When the midday sun reached its zenith, Chang An finally dismissed them. Li Yifei flexed his numb ankles as whispers rose behind him.

“Is he cheating? My calves feel like they don’t belong to me anymore!”

“I heard he has martial arts training—that explains it…”

The afternoon’s marching drills were nothing short of a nightmare. Chang An drew white chalk lines on the ground, demanding every step land precisely on the marks.

“Heel first, then press the sole down firmly, knees locked!” he barked, grabbing a boy’s limp arm and yanking it sharply. “Are you marching or dancing ballet? Again!”

Footsteps clattered chaotically as mistakes multiplied. The sharp critiques and corrections echoed across the field.

Once again, Li Yifei was chosen as the demonstration model. The moment he stepped forward, silence fell. His camouflage pants struck his waist with every measured step; his arms swung perfectly at a forty-five-degree angle. His toes barely brushed fallen leaves, producing crisp sounds. Every motion was flawlessly calculated.

Chang An nodded rarely but then raised his voice: “Don’t just watch him! If he can do it, why can’t you? Everyone, back to it!”

As twilight deepened, the horizon glowed an eerie reddish-purple. Just as the students thought the day’s training was over, Chang An blew the whistle to assemble.

His face was stern, eyes carrying an unusual gravity: “By order of higher command, tonight’s training is extended. Eat dinner early, gather on the field with your gear in twenty minutes.” Without another word, he turned sharply, his boots striking the ground with urgent clamor.

The cafeteria erupted in chatter. Some students had heard that during a recent inspection, superiors had harshly reprimanded the instructors for the lax attitude of the trainees.

Li Yifei swallowed his last bite quietly and glanced toward the cafeteria entrance, where Chang An stood. He toyed with a tactical flashlight, its cold beam sweeping over a radio clipped to his waist, crackling with static. His gaze seemed to be pondering some critical plan.

Night fully enveloped the base as tension rippled through the camp. Li Yifei touched the compressed biscuit in his backpack’s side pocket, recalling how the instructor had quietly poured a half bottle of aromatic herbal tonic into his water bottle during the afternoon equipment check.

Distant dog barks mingled with the repeated calls to assemble, stirring unease in the heart.

At that moment, no one noticed Chang An standing alone beneath the watchtower, repeatedly reviewing the training schedule by the faint moonlight. This so-called “overtime training” was far more than it appeared on the surface. The true test had only just begun...