Chapter 93: Epaulet
“Bai Luochuan, Wang Qi, Mao Yue…”
The names of the participants in the shooting practice were called out one by one by the drill instructor. The first one to be called from the first class was, not surprisingly, Bai Luochuan. The remaining few were also the students who had performed relatively well during this period of military training.
The little drill instructor of the second class took out a folded white paper from his pocket, which also had a list of names. However, he was much more casual than the drill instructor of the first class. The names on the list were also the best-performing students in the class. Besides Mi Yang, there were 6 boys and 5 girls, and Zhou Tong was also among them.
After calling out the names, the little drill instructor even smiled and encouraged them, “Everyone, do your best! We’ll have training in the morning and a small competition in the afternoon. Show the style of our second class and win first place! Tell me, do you have confidence?”
The cheers from the students of the second class were very high, “Yes—!!”
After they were dismissed and went back to the dormitory, the few students who had been called to go for shooting practice were very excited. They took the initiative to stay behind and practice the small formation for the shooting range tomorrow.
Mi Yang had a good image, and the little drill instructor had him stand at the head of the line. Zhou Tong quickly walked two steps and followed Mi Yang, and his steps were also very good. He was very fast when they were marching. After practicing a couple of times, the little drill instructor told them the departure time for tomorrow morning and then dismissed them to go back and rest.
A few of the boys were walking to the dormitory together, and they were all very excited at the thought of being able to touch a gun tomorrow.
Zhou Tong was walking beside Mi Yang. He, Mi Yang, and Bai Luochuan were middle school classmates, and the few of them had always been on good terms. Zhou Tong had a smiling face and was very easy to like. He was also very good with his words and actions. In just a short period of military training, he had gotten along well with the people in the class and also knew a lot of news. He had a nickname, “Know-it-all.”
This time, he happened to be in the same class with Mi Yang, so naturally he was also by Mi Yang’s side. Mi Yang was gentle and modest, and Zhou Tong was a very cohesive person. The second class had slowly started to form a small group around Mi Yang. But compared to the Bai Luochuan-style dictatorship of the first class, the second class was obviously much more harmonious, and they would discuss things before doing them.
Zhou Tong was a little overweight, and after being tormented by the military training for these few days, he had lost a lot of weight and was also darker. He looked more energetic. He was an optimist and thought it was a free weight loss program. Seeing that his military training uniform was a size bigger than when it was first issued, the results were not bad. Thinking of the shooting practice tomorrow, Zhou Tong said happily, “I really didn’t expect that I could go with you!”
Mi Yang glanced at him. “You’re also very amazing. You’ve been training very hard during this time, and you’ve lost a lot of weight. Let’s do our best together tomorrow.”
The person beside him said, “That’s right, Zhou Tong, you’re like a balloon. You get fat and thin in an instant. The girls must be so envious of you.”
Zhou Tong said with a chuckle, “It’s alright, it’s alright. I’ll get fat again in a few days.” He held his hat in his hand as he walked and said, “I heard that there will be a lot of people going for shooting practice tomorrow, from every class. The competition will definitely be very intense then.”
Someone asked him, “Have you found out who is going from the first class?”
Zhou Tong said, “I haven’t asked for the specific names of who is going from the first class, but you don’t have to think. Brother Bai will definitely be there!”
The person asked, “Who?”
Zhou Tong said proudly, “Bai Luochuan! The star of our middle school before, right, Mi Yang?”
Mi Yang smiled and nodded.
The few boys around him said with great interest, “Oh, oh, I know. It’s the one who took over for the drill instructor a few days ago. Didn’t our little drill instructor also praise him for his standard push-ups?”
Zhou Tong was as proud as if he had been praised himself and lifted his chin. “Of course. What can’t our Brother Bai do? Let alone these physical training, he’s also amazing in his studies. He’s the first in the whole school…”
Someone behind him patted Zhou Tong’s shoulder. Zhou Tong turned to look and saw the first in the whole school, Bai Luochuan.
Bai Luochuan raised his eyebrows. “Want to switch places?”
Zhou Tong immediately gave up the spot next to Mi Yang and said with a chuckle, “Alright! Brother Bai, I’ll go and eat first. You guys can chat.”
Zhou Tong and a few of his classmates left first. Bai Luochuan slowly walked behind with Mi Yang. He held his military cap in his hand, and the sweat on his forehead had slightly dampened his hair. He casually brushed it back, revealing a smooth forehead and sharp eyes and eyebrows. It was unclear whether it was because of the military uniform, but he looked much taller and more spirited than usual.
Bai Luochuan got a little closer to him. “Our two classes will be next to each other tomorrow. I’ve already asked. The first class will be in the first row, and you’ll be at the first target in the second row, next to me.”
Mi Yang was a little surprised but quickly smiled and moved his wrist a few times. “Are you going to compete with me? Then I’ll have to do my best.”
Bai Luochuan said proudly, “We’ll see then.”
Mi Yang asked him, “Is there a prize for winning?”
Bai Luochuan thought for a moment and generously promised him, “Yes. Whatever you want, I’ll give it to you!”
Mi Yang was still looking at him. Bai Luochuan glanced at him and flicked him on the forehead, not too lightly and not too heavily, and smiled to himself. “Who are you looking down on? Don’t look at me like that. I’ll do what I say.”
The next morning, the other students in the class stayed behind to continue their daily training. The small team that had been picked out from each class went to the shooting range for shooting training.
The shooting range was already tidied up, and the surroundings were very empty. When they were lying on the ground, their ears were filled with the sound of gunshots. The vibration of the gun butt on their shoulders was also a bit much for some of the students, but the opportunity was rare, and everyone gritted their teeth and persevered. Some of the boys even felt that it was not enough and didn’t want to leave after they had touched a gun.
In the morning, the drill instructor led the training, and it was agreed that there would be a competition in the afternoon.
After hearing about the competition, every class was practicing desperately. Because the shooting range was relatively far from the dormitory, everyone didn’t go back at noon. The cooking squad sent them their meals, two dishes and a soup. The variety was small, but the quantity was large, enough to fill them up.
At mealtimes, the classes were dismissed. Because they were in the wild, it was also more relaxed. They would find friends they knew and sit together in groups of two or three to chat and eat, much more relaxed than in the military camp.
Mi Yang and Bai Luochuan ate together, then found a shady spot and slept for a while.
Mi Yang’s fingers habitually lifted, and just as his fingertips were about to rub together, they were held by Bai Luochuan. Bai Luochuan didn’t even open his eyes and smiled, whispering, “Don’t look for it. Just pinch my fingers.”
Mi Yang: “…”
Mi Yang tried his best to explain, “I was just scratching an itch.”
Bai Luochuan was still sleeping with his eyes closed. Hearing him, he said, “Mm, my fingers are itchy. You can scratch them for me.”
The fingers that were being held in his palm moved a little, very well-behaved, and the scratching was also light. When it passed over his palm, it was a tingling itch. After a few movements, it slowly calmed down, and even the breathing beside him became slow and steady, as if he had fallen asleep just like that.
Bai Luochuan covered his face with his hat and also slept.
Of all the days of military training, this was actually the best they had slept.
When the whistle blew in the afternoon, Bai Luochuan was tidied up and returned to the line, full of energy. Mi Yang also felt much more refreshed after waking up and returned to his class’s line.
The training continued in the afternoon, but there was a small problem in the first class.
A boy named Mao Yue had lost his epaulet.
The drill instructor asked, “How can it be gone? Weren’t you still wearing it in the morning?”
Mao Yue was very anxious and searched all over his body, sweating. “Yes, yes! I just took a nap over there at noon, and it was gone when I woke up.”
The drill instructor said, “You can step out for now. You can’t be in the line without an epaulet. Go and watch from the side for a bit.”
Mao Yue’s eyes widened. “Huh? I can’t shoot anymore?”
The drill instructor shook his head. “You’re not properly dressed. You can’t return to the line.”
Mao Yue’s eyes reddened. “Drill instructor, if I find my epaulet…”
The drill instructor said, “About-face—!”
Mao Yue turned around and said stubbornly, “If I get my epaulet, I’ll come back!”
“Run—!!”
Mao Yue was not convinced in his heart, but his body still obeyed the command and ran off.
The drill instructor went to get the supplies for this afternoon’s training, and the line stood at attention for a while.
Bai Luochuan stood in the first row, his gaze not moving at all.
The low voices of a few boys in the back row came intermittently, along with a sneer, “Didn’t they say that Mao Yue’s family has some connections? How can he not be able to continue shooting just because he lost an epaulet?”
“That’s right. I think he’s a fool. How did he get in?”
“There are still people in our class who bought their way in. They come in and can’t keep up. They might as well go to the 30th class. Why are they in the first class, to pull down who!”
“That’s right. It’s a lesson for this fool, hahaha!”
…
Mao Yue’s family situation was special. It was said that he could get in even if his score was a hundred points lower, and he was even placed in a class of top students like the first class. The ones who could get into the first class were all capable and arrogant, especially the boys in the class. They only respected those with ability. Mao Yue was ostracized as soon as he came, and the group of boys even gave him the nickname “connection.” Especially during the military training, they felt that this fool had been praised, so they deliberately played a trick on him and took his epaulet to tease him, wanting the drill instructor to punish him.
But not long after, Mao Yue came back. The drill instructor was not there, and everyone was still standing at attention. Usually, it was Bai Luochuan who was in charge at this time. Mao Yue was a one-track-minded person and was also very straightforward. He went over and shouted “report” to Bai Luochuan, then was about to happily return to the line, taking out something from his pocket to show him, “Look, I have an epaulet!”
Bai Luochuan glanced at it, immediately snatched the thing from his hand and put it in his own pocket, then took him out for a private “talk.”
The reason was none other than the fact that the new epaulet Mao Yue had gotten was a two-bar, three-star, a genuine colonel’s epaulet.
Bai Luochuan pursed his lips and asked him, “Where did you get it?”
Mao Yue hadn’t figured out the situation yet and said foolishly, “My family sent it to me. Is this not okay? This is the smallest one.”
Bai Luochuan said coldly, “You can’t wear this. And you also violated discipline and brought your phone, right?”
Mao Yue looked at him in shock. “How did you find out?!”
Bai Luochuan said, “If you didn’t call, where would you get this?”
Mao Yue was stunned. He thought for a moment, and it was true. He stood there stubbornly with a conflicted expression. He looked a little foolish, but he was very stubborn and insisted on participating in the military training. He stammered, “I, I’ve prepared a lot! I can do it well. I’m not a fool!”
Bai Luochuan put the epaulet in his own pocket, looked at his flushed face, and reached out to take off the one on his own shoulder and gave it to him, letting him return to the line.
Mao Yue was a little in disbelief as he held it in his hand. He was good at shooting in the morning, but he was not as good as Bai Luochuan. “What about you? If you don’t participate, our class will definitely not win…”
Bai Luochuan said coldly, “There are no buts. The shooting competition is about to start. I order you to return to the line now. Right face, run forward!”
The drill instructor was not there, so Bai Luochuan was the drill instructor. Mao Yue gave a salute, put on the epaulet, and immediately ran back.
Bai Luochuan didn’t dare to wear Mao Yue’s epaulet and put it in his pocket, then also stood back in the line.
