After coming out from the comprehensive training base, Commander Xia spoke to Xia Jinyuan, “Being a soldier is your own choice. Learn well and come back to tell me how good you are. No matter what you do, even if you’re pursuing a girlfriend, you have to be alive to do that.”
“If you’re not going to live, don’t ruin a girl’s life and let her weep for you.”
There wasn’t anyone near them who heard that. Those words were spoken from a father who wanted his son to put in his best effort in training. That was the hope that he would continue to stay alive, and not destroy that hope.
After attending for two hours, Ye Jian had also waited for two hours. The students were already sitting on the buses that were arranged by the school as they headed back to school.
Instructor Huang, who was sitting next to her, sent all the Class One students up the bus and said to Ye Jian, “You students just cry so easily. We don’t know how to comfort people.”
They hated the instructor for being too strict during their military training, and yet when it was over, they couldn’t bear to leave. Even the boys’ eyes were red and teared up a little.
The instructors didn’t feel anything when they cried during the training itself, but now that they started crying, they were flustered.
Ye Jian even saw a girl from Class Three rushing up to hug her instructor. She could clearly see that instructor’s face turn red like a cooked shrimp. He didn’t know where to put his hands and feet.
As they saw that, the other instructors immediately took action, fearing that some girls from their classes would do the same to them too.
Although they were all tough and strong during training, without their uniforms, they were just a group of young men in their twenties. They could still feel awkward and shy.
Ye Jian, who was walking amongst the instructors, smiled and said to Instructor Huang, “A bunch of cute students. They cry because they can’t bear to leave. Although the training only lasted for a week, it was an unforgettable experience for the students. It will also affect their future paths and decisions too.”
“Some boys in our class made a decision. If they can’t get into university, they will join the army.”
In 1997, the number of high school students joining the army was very little, however, ever since high school students participated in military training, the number rose. Improving the education standard of military culture was one of the goals of military training for schools.
The instructor from Class Three was still sweating. Hearing that, he responded, “I didn’t even see that girl cry during training. I was really shocked when she rushed up to hug me. It was fortunate that two boys around me pulled her away, or else I wouldn’t have known what to say.”
That was a sentimental problem. A young soldier facing a group of students. It added color to their boring military training life. The stroke of color gradually faded into memories, and they were also reluctant to let go of them.
“That boy from our class, Zhang Bin, is pretty good. He’s from the sports specialty and plays basketball well. I know that his father is a policeman and he said that if he doesn’t enter university, he will sign up for the army.”
“We also have a few in our class. There’s one that plays the harmonica well, and another one that plays the piano. He said he’s been playing it for ten years, and now he’s reached the eleventh or twelfth level.”
