Jing University's freshman military training arrived as scheduled. Everyone started out excited, but after standing at attention on the first day, they all realized that military training really wasn't child's play. It was a true test of endurance.
Under the blazing sun, Mo Jingchun stood at the far right of the second row of Third Battalion, Second Company. Like all his classmates, he leaned forward slightly and had already been standing at attention for half an hour.
Under the scorching sunlight, sweat poured out freely. Sometimes, the sweat running down from one's forehead would flow straight into one's eyes, making them impossible to open.
By the time you came to your senses, you could no longer tell whether the moisture at the corners of your eyes was sweat or tears.
"Lean forward slightly. Keep your fingers together. Stick your chest out."
"Who was that? Who said you could scratch an itch? What did I tell you before?"
"Before doing anything, you have to report it. Did you?"
The tall, thin instructor wore a stern expression that inspired awe at a single glance.
"Reporting to the instructor, no."
Sun Hongwei, who was holding a stopwatch, glanced at the time and said casually, "Everyone's standing time is increased by ten minutes."
"You only had a little over a minute left before you could rest. If you want someone to blame, blame your teammate. Why didn't they report it before scratching? Is reporting really that difficult? Or did you think I wouldn't let you scratch even after you reported it?"
"It's hot, and after sweating, it's normal for your body to itch. I understand."
After speaking, Sun Hongwei strolled behind them, checking one by one whether their postures were up to standard.
"Reporting!"
Sun Hongwei's brow furrowed. "Speak!"
"Reporting to the instructor, I want to scratch an itch."
"Hold it in!"
"You can't even endure such a minor itch. What will you be able to stick with in the future?"
Someone failed to hold back and let out a snort of laughter. In an instant, that laugh was like a spark setting off a barrel of explosives, causing everyone in the company to laugh along despite themselves.
"What are you laughing at? What's so funny? Do you want to add another ten minutes to your standing time?"
Those words worked immediately. Like a basin of cold water splashed over their faces, they instantly brought everyone back to their senses.
Unlike the others, Mo Jingchun was standing at attention, but his mind was always elsewhere. Especially whenever he heard his little sister crying, he wanted to turn around and take a look. Yet, not wanting to hold everyone back, he could only endure it.
Behind Third Battalion, Second Company's formation stood a row of large willow trees. In the shade beneath them, Li Na and Zhang Huizhen kept coaxing the child, but no matter how they tried, the little one continued to cry. Her eyes kept searching back and forth through the sea of military uniforms.
At a glance, all the students except the instructors were wearing identical clothes. With their backs to Candy, the little one had no idea which of them was Mo Jingchun.
"Na Jie, how about I go talk to the instructor and ask him to let Mo Jingchun step out? This is really strange. That night at the class meeting, Candy didn't cry even when so many people were holding her. Why did she suddenly start crying for no reason today after being held perfectly fine for half an hour?"
Neither Li Na nor Zhang Huizhen had much experience caring for children. Whenever the little one cried, they had no idea what to do.
They had initially thought Candy was crying because she had wet her pants and was uncomfortable, but when they checked, they found that wasn't the case at all.
Li Na held Candy in her arms, continuously patting and soothing her. Frowning, she looked toward the only company still standing at attention.
Sun Hongwei looked at the teacher holding the child under the tree, then glanced at the stopwatch in his hand. Only half of the ten minutes he had announced had passed.
The next second, Sun Hongwei shouted loudly:
"All personnel, take a ten-minute break! Those who need water or the restroom, make it quick. Everyone else, rest where you are."
Running to the shade during the break was impossible. Having time to rest at all was already fortunate enough.
As soon as the instructor finished speaking, Mo Jingchun turned and ran toward the back. However, many people were faster than him. The difference was that they were running to get water, while Mo Jingchun ran straight toward his sobbing little sister in the counselor's arms.
Without even bothering about the sweat covering his body, Mo Jingchun immediately took his sister into his arms and soothed her.
"Don't cry, don't cry. Big brother's here."
Mo Jingchun reeked of sweat, but the little one did not mind at all. Instead, she contentedly rested her little head on his shoulder and stopped crying. Her little nose still twitched, though, and there was still a trace of fear on her face.
"Huh? Mo Jingchun, you really are amazing. You only had to coax her a little, and Candy stopped crying." Zhang Huizhen looked at Mo Jingchun with admiration.
"But I want to make this clear: Na Jie and I really didn't mistreat the little darling. She was perfectly fine before. We have no idea why she suddenly started crying, and nothing we did could calm her down."
Mo Jingchun apologetically said to the counselor, Na Jie, and the senior student substitute counselor, Zhang Huizhen, "My little sister Candy is probably a little wary of strangers. On top of that, she couldn't find me, so she ended up like this."
"You should hurry and drink some water, too. With the amount you're sweating, you can't afford not to replenish your fluids. In a little while, I'll occasionally bring your little sister Candy over to stand beside you and see whether she keeps crying like she was just now. If that still doesn't work, you can forget about military training."
Mo Jingchun was silent for a while before nodding.
Although Mo Jingchun wanted to experience the sense of collective honor, compared with his little sister Candy, it was not that important.
Mo Jingchun considered himself a selfish person, and he had to be selfish. Otherwise, how could he raise his little sister to adulthood?
Fortunately, counselor Na Jie's method worked extremely well. Whenever the little one frowned slightly and looked around, Li Na would hold Candy and stand beside Mo Jingchun for a short while. It didn't take long—just a minute or so—for the little one's face to brighten with a smile again. As for who was holding her, Candy didn't care.
After two or three days, the little one adapted completely. She still cried occasionally, but as soon as she saw Mo Jingchun's face, she would change expressions in an instant and stop crying or fussing.
"Bathed in the morning light and carrying the morning dew, stepping to the rhythm of youth and accompanied by an impassioned melody—look! This is Third Battalion, Second Company, approaching us head-on. With confidence raised on their faces, we pour out our passion and reveal confident smiles, carrying our steadfast convictions. The emerald grass is filled with the breath of youth, while the azure sky ripples with the hopes of the young. Step by step, they are filled with unwavering conviction. Please believe that we will surely embrace future success with confidence and courage."
On the plastic Sports Field, the commentator narrated each formation that passed by.
On the track, Mo Jingchun and his classmates wore solemn expressions. Their footsteps rang out powerfully, their pace perfectly synchronized. When the squad leader shouted, "Forward march, go!" everyone simultaneously marched forward in step, saluted, and passed the reviewing stand.
More than two hours later, after the leader announced, "Military training has concluded perfectly," everyone was finally released from their standing-at-attention postures. Only then did they discover that all the instructors had quietly left at some point.
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