You've already received a first-class merit award, why are you pretending to be a new recruit a

Lei Zhan handed the record board back to Discipline.

He saluted, then turned and walked with two military police officers to the next area.

Lei Zhan glanced at his watch.

"Each class will rest for ten minutes, organize their equipment, and prepare to take it back."

As soon as the command was given, the tension on the shooting range dissipated considerably.

The new recruits put down their training rifles and stretched their sore arms.

The first class dispersed their ranks.

Chen Jingxing plopped down on the ground, his chest heaving.

"I finally made it through. Those inspectors were so strict with people, they made me sweat buckets."

Liu Hai squatted down beside him, carefully rubbing his right ankle.

"As long as no points were deducted, that's fine."

Xiao Longteng stood still, straightening the training gun sling, his movements unhurried and deliberate.

Footsteps approached from the side.

The military boots made a rustling sound as they stepped on the gravel.

Li Qiang walked directly from the third shift's rest area to a spot half a step in front of Xiao Longteng and stopped.

Several new recruits from the third platoon followed behind him, at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

On the other side of Class One, Li Lei stopped folding his backpack.

Zhang Qiang turned his head.

Chen Jingxing immediately got up from the ground and patted the dirt off his trousers.

Li Qiang stared at Xiao Longteng.

"Live-fire exercise tomorrow, one competition."

The tone was very aggressive, without any build-up.

Xiao Longteng is adjusting the straps of his backpack.

He tightened the strap on the left and then adjusted the buckle on the right.

He didn't look up the entire time.

"No comparison."

Two words: crisp and clean.

Li Qiang's breathing became heavier.

"For the five kilometers, you keep your speed down to stay at the back of the pack; for the breakdown and combination of steps, you use the time as a teaching exercise."

"What do you take basic training for? A game of make-believe?"

"There's no excuse for a live-fire test now, is there?"

Xiao Longteng pressed the buckle tight, making a short click sound.

He straightened up and dusted off his hands.

"Follow the company's arrangements and obey the firing range rules."

Li Qiang took half a step forward, blocking Xiao Longteng's view.

"The company commander wants to see real skills."

"You're a veteran, don't tell me you're too scared to even fire a gun."

Chen Jingxing couldn't stand it any longer, so he stepped forward and stood between the two of them.

"Li Qiang, your legs from the track and field team can't outrun our Brother Xiao, so now you're going to use real guns to settle scores?"

"Aren't you channeling your competitive spirit in the wrong place?"

A tall new recruit stepped out from the third squad.

"Chen Jingxing, don't take the bullet for someone else."

"Whether you dare to compete or not is just a matter of a word. What kind of skill is it to hide in the back?"

Liu Hai nervously tugged at Chen Jingxing's sleeve, his palms sweaty.

"Shut up, the class monitor is watching. You'll all be punished later."

Chen Jingxing shook off Liu Hai's hand and stiffened his neck.

"Who's making a scene? Our class follows the rules; we don't arrange fights in private."

Li Qiang's gaze remained fixed on Xiao Longteng's face, completely ignoring Chen Jingxing.

Are you afraid of things going wrong?

Xiao Longteng finally raised his head.

Looking at Li Qiang.

"On the firing range, do not touch the trigger without a command."

"I only follow commands."

Seeing that he wasn't taking the bait, Li Qiang slightly raised his chin.

"OK."

"Even if you don't accept, I'll still get first place."

"Don't blame me for trampling on your old soldier reputation when the time comes."

Wang Dashan's voice boomed from behind, clearly filled with anger.

"Li Qiang, who are you trying to step on?"

Li Qiang's back stiffened, and he immediately turned around and stood at attention.

"Reporting to Squad Leader Wang, let's exchange training experiences."

Wang Dashan strode over, his face dark.

"Did you share your experiences at the firing range?"

Zhao Hai also walked over from the third class.

He didn't look at anyone in Class 1, he only looked at Li Qiang.

"The gun hasn't even fired yet, but your mouth is already talking?"

Li Qiang kept his head down and didn't say a word.

Zhao Hai pointed to the white-gray line on the ground.

Having ambition is a good thing.

"But you have to put your energy into the target paper."

"If you were bald tomorrow, everything you said today would be a joke."

"Go back to your classroom."

Li Qiang gritted his teeth, turned around and walked back to the third shift's rest area.

The new recruits in the third squad who had started the disturbance quickly dispersed.

Zhao Hai looked at Wang Dashan, nodded, said nothing more, and turned to follow him back.

Chen Jingxing moved closer to Xiao Longteng.

"Brother Xiao, this kid is too arrogant. You have to teach him a lesson tomorrow."

Liu Hai shook his head beside him.

"Don't cause trouble; safety is the most important thing during target practice."

Wang Dashan slapped Chen Jingxing on the back of the head.

"You think Class One isn't conspicuous enough, don't you?"

Chen Jingxing covered his head.

"Reporting, squad leader, they've already ridden on our necks."

"You'd better put up with it even if they ride on your shoulders!"

Wang Dashan glared at the new recruits of the first platoon.

"Everyone sit down where you are. Anyone who runs around will have extra physical training this afternoon."

Second shift rest area.

Chen Fei witnessed the entire scene.

He tightened the kettle lid.

"Did you hear me?"

Sun Ming immediately opened the notebook and nodded repeatedly.

"I heard that, Class 3 is going to fight Class 1 to the death."

"That kid Li Qiang will definitely fight tooth and nail if he's going to use live ammunition."

"Xiao Longteng is very reliable; he probably won't let us down."

"How can our Class Two break through?"

Chen Fei hung the kettle back on his waist.

What do you think?

Sun Ming drew three circles on the notebook with a pen, and wrote a word in each circle.

"I've calculated it."

"Live-fire assessment only accounts for part of the score."

"Firearms theory knowledge, range command response, and adherence to safety procedures—all of these are weighted in the score."

"Li Qiang was only focused on the number of rings; he wanted to get first place on the target paper."

"Xiao Longteng only focuses on the rules; he wants to get full marks in safety."

"Our Class Two has got all three of these sorts in hand."

Sun Ming pointed to three key points on the notebook, his tone revealing his pride.

"I got full marks in theory, the whole class didn't make any mistakes in the commands, and I just had to do my job properly on the target paper."

"In terms of overall performance, our Class Two is definitely ahead of them."

"Let the two families fight over who gets to be the first to speak up, and we'll collect the points from behind."

Chen Fei glanced at Sun Ming's notebook and tapped it with his finger.

"You're quick-witted."

Sun Ming chuckled and put the notebook away.

"That's called tactics."

Chen Fei's smile vanished, replaced by a stern expression.

"Tactics must be executed by hand."

"If your hand shakes even slightly when you get to the firing range tomorrow, all the tactics will be rendered useless."

Sun Ming patted his chest, making a very firm guarantee.

"Don't worry, squad leader, I'm not shaking. I've practiced firing a blank shot fifty times already."

Class 1, this side.

Wang Dashan called Xiao Longteng to the side behind a bunker where sandbags were piled up.

This spot was out of the sight of other recruits, and even the sound of the wind was half blocked by sandbags.

Wang Dashan stared at Xiao Longteng for a full five seconds.

"Are you angry because Li Qiang provoked you earlier?"

Xiao Longteng stood ramrod straight, his hands pressed against the seams of his trousers.

"Report: No."

Wang Dashan took out a cigarette from his pocket, but didn't light it, just held it in his hand and rubbed it back and forth.

"New recruits all have a fighting spirit. It's normal to want to fight back when someone points a finger at you and demands to compare grades."

"Besides, you're a veteran who enlisted twice."

"It's embarrassing to be pointed at like that."

Xiao Longteng didn't respond, maintaining his standard standing posture.

Wang Dashan tapped his cigarette on the sandbag, and some tobacco fell out.

"The company commander has been keeping an eye on you."

"The police are watching you today too."

"Your file states that you are a retired corporal from the Logistics Support Brigade."

Wang Dashan lowered his voice, his tone becoming very serious.

"It's understandable that logistics soldiers have good physical fitness; they train hard to achieve that."

"Being in better internal tidying up is acceptable; it takes time to achieve that."

"But tomorrow will be live ammunition."

"If you pick up a gun and get a perfect score, or if you move faster than the instructor."

"The company commander will definitely turn your file upside down."

"At that point, your facade as a logistics soldier won't hold up anymore."

Xiao Longteng looked at the cigarette in Wang Dashan's hand.

"How many points does the class monitor want me to score?"

Wang Dashan put the cigarettes back into the cigarette case and patted his pocket.

"A little above the passing grade."

"Don't stand out, don't be at the bottom."

"Class One doesn't need you to come in first place to save face."

"All I want is for you to get through these three months of basic training safely."

Xiao Longteng nodded, his tone calm.

"clear."

"I only guarantee safety and compliance; I don't strive to be number one."

Wang Dashan looked at Xiao Longteng's hands, which were covered with thick calluses.

These hands are definitely not something a logistics soldier could develop.

He didn't know what kind of past Xiao Longteng was hiding.

But he knew that if this soldier really let loose, the pool in the recruit training camp wouldn't be able to hold him all.

"Remember what you said today."

"Go back and rest."

"Yes."

Xiao Longteng turned around and walked back to the first squad's line.

"beep--"

A sharp assembly whistle rang out.

Lei Zhan stood at the front of the group, holding a training clip in his hand.

"Everyone stand up!"

The recruits quickly stood up, brushed the mud off their bodies, and lined up in formation.

Turn right!

"Destination: Camp mess hall. Run!"

The column began to move, the military boots clattering rhythmically on the mud.

Xiao Longteng ran at the back of the group, his steps steady.

He turned his head and glanced in the direction of the firing range.

Li Qiang from Class 3 was in the middle of the line. Just before the assembly, he had been practicing aiming with his training rifle in the empty gun area.

Even during breaks, I didn't relax; my whole body was tense.

Xiao Longteng looked away, his peripheral vision sweeping over the earthen slope in the distance from the firing range.

A red and white flag was planted there.

There was a light breeze all morning, and the flags hung down, occasionally swaying slightly.

Now, the flags are starting to flutter, and the flutters are getting bigger and bigger.

The wind, originally from due north, gradually shifted to the left front.

The wind direction has changed.

The wind speed is also increasing.

Xiao Longteng took a deep breath and followed the group down the back mountain.