Chapter 24: Xiwa's Educational Background

“Hey, hey, hey, don’t go to the bathhouse to wash up. There’s a pond behind the dormitory.”

The new recruits, reeking with body odor, were just about to enter the bathhouse when Squad Leader Xu caught sight of them. Suppressing a grin, he stopped the group and pointed toward the pond in the distance.

“Damn, why didn’t Chen’s squad tell us earlier!” Su Yang couldn’t help but complain.

Despite the stench, they endured it and rushed into the pond. Without caring about others’ stares, they stripped completely naked and scrubbed themselves vigorously.

In the following days, the company’s arrangements made the new recruits feel utterly nauseated. Su Yang himself went hungry several times, sneaking off to the canteen to buy instant noodles to fill his stomach.

The company had even made them bring yellow basins to knead dough and roll out noodles by themselves.

After some time, the newcomers finally adapted to the intensity of the company’s training. Su Yang felt his body could still hold up with little trouble, so he resumed his high-intensity extra training.

Strangely enough, Su Yang sensed that his body was somewhat stronger than most. Although he trained more than the others, he didn’t feel as exhausted.

Even when momentarily drained, a good sleep seemed to wash away all fatigue completely.

Yet, Su Yang kept this to himself; after all, he couldn’t very well tell others that his body was abnormally strong.

“One, two, three, four, one, two, three, four, like a song.”

At the entrance of the company mess hall, a row of soldiers returning from the shooting range joined with a brother squad, and under Captain Miao’s watchful eye, they broke into song once again.

Singing chants was the most exhilarating moment for the soldiers, boosting morale to the highest. After all, once the singing ended, it was time to eat. Everyone had been hungry all day and naturally didn’t want to fall behind at mealtime.

But no matter how fiercely each squad fought, there had to be a winner. Chen Guotao’s squad had long been drilled to the point of exhaustion.

Of course, they took first place.

“Squad One, line up for dinner!” Captain Miao waved them in.

“Squad leaders of Two and Three, thanks for the game this time. Try to win it back next time,” Chen Guotao said without any intention of backing down, leaving the two squad leaders looking sour-faced as he entered the mess hall.

The meal ended quickly. Back in the dormitory, Su Yang took out the book he had asked Chen Guotao to buy and glanced at Xiwa, who was resting.

“Xiwa, come help me with something!”

Xiwa turned, puzzled. “Su Yang, what are you up to?”

“You just need to come along!” Su Yang didn’t bother explaining; it was part of a small plan.

“All right, I’ll go with you,” Xiwa nodded with curiosity.

They were the only two new recruits in the squad, so naturally, they were the closest. Whatever Su Yang said went.

“Squad leader, we’re heading to the training ground,” Su Yang told Lao Pao before leaving the dorm.

After they left, Squad Leader Xu looked a bit puzzled. “Su Yang took a book and dragged Xiwa to the training ground? What for?”

Zheng Sanpao glanced over and said, “Why do you care? By the way, starting tomorrow, the company clerk will train with us. Captain Miao assigned him to our squad. You’ll be in charge of showing him the ropes.”

Squad Leader Xu was surprised. “Isn’t that the guy who fought with you? Isn’t Captain Miao worried you’ll have conflicts again?”

“That’s Captain Miao’s decision. We just follow orders. But let me tell you, don’t treat him like an ordinary recruit. The guy’s got good qualities, almost as good as Su Yang, and he’s stubborn too,” Zheng Sanpao warned with some concern.

Though he had pressed hard on recruit Zhuang Yan under Captain Miao’s orders, Zhuang’s strong pushback had even unsettled this veteran squad leader who had several soldiers under him.

...

“Su Yang, what are we doing at the training ground?”

Xiwa looked at Su Yang, who tossed him the book then immediately flipped himself upside down on the climbing ladder, a puzzled expression on his face.

“I’m memorizing. You watch me and remind me if I get any data wrong.”

Su Yang explained his idea.

“Oh, I see. Then you memorize, and I’ll watch,” Xiwa said with newfound understanding, opening the book.

“What is the basic spirit of the active defense strategy?”

“Full preparation, striking after the enemy’s move, combining offense and defense, and enduring to defeat the enemy.”

Su Yang answered while training his waist and abdomen.

In this manner, question and answer, Su Yang both trained his physical strength and reviewed the military theory he recited every night before sleep.

When his energy was almost spent, Su Yang flipped down from the ladder and looked at Xiwa. “Xiwa, what are your plans for the future?”

Xiwa handed the book back to Su Yang, leaning against the pull-up bar, shaking his head dejectedly. “I’m not sure. I see you studying for the military academy, and I want to try too because I want to stay in the army. But I only graduated junior high, so I know I won’t get in. The squad leaders said you can get in by promotion, but none of them have been promoted.”

Su Yang naturally understood that Xiwa’s education level limited his chances to enter the military academy. The only way to stay long-term in the army was through promotion, and promotion required merit.

But merit depended on opportunity.

Of course, Su Yang wasn’t asking because of these barriers. He comforted Xiwa. “When we were in the recruit company, weren’t you curious about special forces? You can aim to become a special forces soldier. They’re truly the elite, one in ten thousand. I heard Chen’s squad has always dreamed of joining the special forces.”

“Su Yang, there really is a special forces? If so, I’ll work hard for it,” Xiwa’s gloom lifted instantly upon hearing that, grabbing Su Yang’s hand eagerly.

“I’ve checked it out. Our military district has a particularly formidable special forces unit. Every year, they select new recruits from reconnaissance units. Chen’s squad trains just like me every day to become special forces one day. I think you can do it too.”

After Su Yang finished, he saw Xiwa’s face light up with excitement. “Really? Su Yang, then I’ll train with you. I want to try out for the special forces too.”

“Good. But Xiwa, you know special forces have to know everything—for example, the chemical principles behind making bombs, or the math knowledge artillerymen need. Can you handle those?”

Su Yang revealed his ultimate purpose: why he unusually brought Xiwa here to train while reciting theory. He wanted to broach this topic. Otherwise, in his previous life, as a top university student, he never needed to memorize things like this.

Hearing Su Yang’s description, Xiwa became discouraged again. “Su Yang, I don’t know any of that. I only graduated junior high; I never learned those things.”

Seeing Xiwa disheartened, Su Yang spoke earnestly. “So, Xiwa, even if you don’t enter the military academy, if you want a chance to join the special forces, you have to study some high school knowledge like I do.”

“But I’m slow. I don’t understand those things,” Xiwa frowned even more at the thought of Su Yang’s high school books in the dormitory.

“You can learn from me. The military academy entrance exam tests those subjects. I’ll teach you along the way. If that’s not enough, you can ask Chen’s squad or Zhuang Yan. Chen’s a military academy graduate, and Zhuang Yan is a college student.”

Su Yang decided to give Zhuang something to do. Although the clerk’s work was busy, he believed Zhuang wouldn’t mind helping Xiwa.

Besides, Zhuang Yan wasn’t taking the academy exam.

“That’s right, I can also ask Zhuang. He’s a college student!” Xiwa’s thoughts cleared up at Su Yang’s reminder.

“What are you two whispering about?”

While they were quietly talking, Chen’s squad suddenly appeared before them, looking puzzled.

“Good day, Squad Leader!” Su Yang quickly closed the book and saluted with Xiwa.

“Reporting, Squad Leader, Xiwa and I were discussing future plans. Like you, Xiwa wants to join the special forces,” Su Yang said excitedly. He had been hoping to find someone to confirm the truth of his words, and here came Chen’s squad.

“Special forces, Xiwa? Not bad, good idea. But just as you are now, it’s not enough. Wolf Fang is the special forces’ elite of elites; those who get in are one in ten thousand,” Chen’s squad was pleased to see another recruit aspiring to become a special forces soldier like himself.

“Reporting, Chen’s squad, I told Su Yang I’d train with him from now on. By the way, Su Yang said special forces require knowledge of high school math and chemistry. Is that true? If it is, I want to learn it too,” Xiwa nervously voiced his thoughts, making Su Yang smile.

Xiwa wasn’t easily fooled, but this was good—only by joining the special forces could one become a true elite soldier.

After all, no one wants useless teammates around, and Su Yang was no exception.

“Su Yang, you sure know a lot, not bad. Xiwa, high school knowledge is definitely needed. If you want to learn, I’ll bring you some books when I go on official trips,” Chen’s squad said approvingly after glancing at Su Yang.

“Thank you, Squad Leader!” Xiwa smiled warmly.

Su Yang breathed a sigh of relief.

He hadn’t cared about Xiwa’s educational level back in the recruit company, since he wasn’t sure if they’d even be assigned to the same company. If not, reminding him there would have been pointless.

But now that they were in the same squad—brothers in the same trench—he couldn’t stand by and watch Xiwa be weeded out due to his education background.