Military Training I

"Brother Xue, bro, I'm destined to be single for the rest of my life," Wu Liang said with a sigh.

As Kong Hui packed his things, he complained, "You should know that military training is mandatory. Otherwise, you won't get your graduation certificate. By then, you might not even have the chance to spend time with Liao Yaya."

That jab snapped Wu Liang out of his sorrow. He quickly asked, "What do you mean?"

Kong Hui grinned. "I can tell that girl likes you. Sometimes, rushing things isn't good either."

By then, Xue Chen had finished putting everything away. Wu Liang looked up at Kong Hui and said, "So what should I do?"

"You'll have to figure that out yourself." Kong Hui smiled as he made his bed. "I'm going to pick up the training uniforms later. Whoever wants to come can come with me."

After hearing that, Wu Liang fell into deep thought.

"Before we go get our military training uniforms, I think you should come to the convenience store with me." Once Xue Chen saw that everyone had cleaned the dorm room spotless, he clapped his hands.

"Oh? What are we buying at the convenience store?" Wu Liang asked, withdrawing his gaze.

"You'll know when we get there." Xue Chen turned and led them toward the school gate. When they arrived at the convenience store, they found that many people were already there preparing what they needed. They had probably heard the broadcast about military training too, and everyone had started—

—making intense preparations.

Xue Chen waited beside the convenience store for a while. Once he saw the other three arrive one after another, he waved them inside.

"Brother Xue, what are you buying?" Wu Liang asked.

Xue Chen pointed at the fruit stand beside them. "Five jin of apples."

"Five jin?" The auntie handling the packing at the entrance looked up at him in disbelief, but then a smile appeared on her face. Life had improved for some people these days, but she had rarely met anyone who bought apples in such quantities. She immediately began packing them up.

Meanwhile, Xue Chen had already started picking out the supplies he needed for military training, while Lin Ran followed behind and kept track. When he saw two packs of women's sanitary pads in the basket, his entire face turned red. "Xue Chen, why are you buying that?" Just as he reached out to put them back, Xue Chen slapped his hand away.

"Why is your mind so filthy? Who said these things have to be used the usual way?" Xue Chen rolled his eyes. "They're highly absorbent and make great padding. Put them under your feet, and you'll save yourself a lot of trouble. I bought two packs. One is for you."

"I don't want them." Just imagining those things under his feet made Lin Ran feel incredibly awkward.

"Then I'll use them myself." Xue Chen stuffed them straight into his pocket and continued selecting equipment for military training.

Seeing Xue Chen actually take the two packs for himself, Lin Ran's eyes widened. "Y-you're really going to use them?"

"You'll find out soon enough. Don't blame me later for not insisting that you buy some." Seeing Lin Ran still looking thoroughly put off, Xue Chen could already imagine him calling him Dad ten days later.

"Why do I have a bad feeling about this?" Lin Ran muttered, feeling as though he was going to get himself killed by his own foolishness.

Military Training I

After everyone had bought what they needed for military training and picked up their uniforms, they returned to the dormitory. Then they went out for hotpot together, since once military training began, they would have no time to go out for a proper meal.

Early the next morning, everyone changed into their military training uniforms. Under everyone's disdainful gazes, Xue Chen placed sanitary pads inside his shoes. Feeling the soft cushioning beneath his feet, he even deliberately asked the other six people in the dorm whether they wanted some.

Without exception, they all refused. They even declared that they were real men and would never use such things. Their expressions were so heroic and unyielding that Xue Chen truly wanted to see whether they could still talk so tough after running a lap.

At that moment, the sound of instructors' whistles rang out from outside the field. Following their majors and classes, everyone took their assigned places in formation. Xue Chen, Lin Ran, and Wu Liang stood in the same row, while Kong Hui, Zhou Guosheng, and the others were arranged in the rows behind them.

Once everyone had finished forming up, Xue Chen saw several instructors standing on the platform, all wearing stern expressions. At the front stood a burly middle-aged man with bright, piercing eyes.

Xue Chen noticed the instructor's gaze sweep across every freshman. Although he could not see clearly from this distance, he could vaguely tell that the man was definitely looking for someone.

Soon, the man marched forward with perfectly standard goose steps. His long legs moved in stride, his posture was ramrod straight, his back erect, his hands clenched into fists, his shoulders level, and his right arm slightly raised. Such a simple stance radiated explosive power, bringing an indescribable pressure down on everyone.

Xue Chen watched the man's icy expression. The way he looked at the freshmen was filled with disgust and contempt, as though being sent here to train these weaklings was a tremendous insult to him.

"Starting today, you will spend twenty-five days in military training. During that time, you will not only endure the scorching sun, but also the biting winds of winter. Every day's training will be something you would never even dare imagine. I hope you can grit your teeth and persevere...

"Of course, if you think you're capable enough, I can make an exception for you. As long as you can defeat the instructors behind me, you can receive special treatment.

"Also, I hope you will all fulfill your duties seriously during this period. Do not do anything, even the slightest thing, that disappoints me. Otherwise, you will learn that there are punishments in this world more bitter than military training.

"All right, the challenge begins now. Don't say I didn't give you a chance. I'll give you three chances. Today is the first." After saying that, the man turned and left, presenting the freshmen with a dashing retreating figure.

Xue Chen listened quietly and carefully observed the weaklings around him who were eager to try. As for the instructor's claim that defeating the instructors behind him would earn them special treatment, he did not believe a single word of it.