NOVEL WEB Chapter 35
Chapter 35: The difference between lightly armed and armed is so big!
The afternoon passed, and everyone was exhausted, panting and complaining. After an hour in the rifle kneeling position, the squad leader seamlessly transitioned to the prone position.
Initially, they thought the prone position would be more comfortable, but reality shattered that fantasy. While the prone position provided some relief, the neck couldn’t bear the constant strain of aiming for an hour. Moreover, the scorching ground made lying down feels like being on hot charcoal, causing pain.
As He Dong put it, they felt like poached eggs in a hot pan, waiting for the squad leader to flip them. After an hour, the final standing posture was unbearable, causing soreness in the waist and legs.
Facing the squad leader’s mocking, any sign of weakness or trembling hands resulted in a barrage of scolding. Finally, walking to the cafeteria with drooping hands was a struggle at mealtime.
“I regret looking forward to shooting so eagerly,” He Xue expressed in regret.
With a higher fitness level, Chen Ming managed better, but further intensification could be problematic.
“I wish I had known; standing in military posture was much more comfortable,” complained He Dong.
Yu Jun, who shook the most, endured a prolonged squad leader scolding, leading to temporary hearing issues. Even Chen Ming, who had a better physique, found the increased training challenging.
“I’m mentally shattered; if this continues, it’s life-threatening,” lamented Yu Jun.
He Xue, previously eager for shooting, now wished they hadn’t, as shooting targets was not an option.
Picking chopsticks and holding them felt challenging at mealtime due to the exhausted hands. Amidst fatigue, they endured a peaceful night. The next morning, a changed running routine surprised everyone, requiring them to carry guns, backpacks, filled water bottles, and even shoes in their backpacks.
Squad leader Li Long explained, “Previously, it was a light three-kilometer run. Now, with guns, it’s an armed three-kilometer run—carrying extra weight!”
Despite the added load, He Dong found it manageable, and as they descended, he remarked, “It’s okay, still within acceptable limits.”
The water bottles filled with water and the shoes in the backpack didn’t add much weight. Running three kilometers with these additions was deemed acceptable.
Chen Ming, however, looked at He Dong as if he were foolish, saying, “Since you stepped into this military camp, except for the barbecue meeting, when have they let you relax?”
He Dong’s expression changed immediately. Indeed, they had forgotten the meaning of relaxation since entering the military.
Afterward, everyone quickly assembled downstairs. They found the platoon leaders with piles of items, including bricks, grenades, bullet clips, steel helmets, gas masks, and first aid kits.
Seeing this, He Dong’s face twisted in discomfort. Chen Ming remarked, “Since you entered the camp, except for the barbecue, when have they let you relax?”
Ignoring their despair, under the platoon leader’s command, each squad leader filled the recruits’ bags with swivels-issued training bullets, a bullet clip, a steel helmet, a gas mask, and a first aid kit to each recruit.
When the recruits passed in front of the squad leaders, they had bricks, grenades, bullet clips, helmets, gas masks, and first aid kits in their backpacks. Although the coach grenades were plastic and the bullet clips empty, the mix of items, along with the guns, added a weight of at least 20 kilograms.
He Dong, breathless, remarked, “You should still be alive. If you die, you won’t go to heaven. I’ll personally throw you into the slaughterhouse; otherwise, I’d be betraying the meat on your body.”
After the exhausting three-kilometer run, they gathered panting, faces filled with despair. He Dong and He Xue exchanged humorous banter about life and death.
Back in the dormitory, they unloaded the equipment, feeling considerably lighter. He Dong, frustrated, exclaimed, “If I knew the training would get so heavy after firing the gun, I wouldn’t have looked forward to it. Instead of firing, I run around with it every day.”
Others nodded in agreement. The dream of shooting enemies after getting the guns was shattered within a day.
Seeing their frustration, Chen Ming laughed, “Stop complaining; these are still relatively light. I guess tactical training is about to start, and that’s the real nightmare!”
“Tactical training?” Everyone was stunned by this unfamiliar term. Even with Chen Ming’s excellent physical fitness, his fear of tactical training raised concerns about its intensity.