Chapter 199 - 199: Trash Son Became a Dragon
“Be gentler.”
Wang Ye’s voice, slightly distorted, echoed across the training ground. His entire head was concealed under a covering, rendering his tanned yet handsome visage entirely unseen.
This was the handiwork of Qin Li.
Amidst the training ground, the evaluation of formations continued.
However, those who completed the assessment were required to relocate to this area for tests in sanitation and initial aid.
Officers from the regimental headquarters issued instructions on-site. The shift was divided into two factions. One group acted as patients, while the other group assumed the roles of caregivers, performing bandages and rescues.
For instance, in Wang Ye’s current predicament, the regimental commander had explicitly indicated a head injury. Consequently, Qin Li was called upon to address the bleeding and secure Wang Ye’s head with bandages.
The triangular scarf was snugly fastened around his cranium, giving him the appearance of a mummy.
“Hehe, Brother Wang, hold on… Bear with it.” Qin Li’s mischievous laughter resounded as he produced a pair of scissors.
During the process of head bandaging, it was necessary to leave a gap, allowing the mouth, nose, and eyes to remain exposed.
“Stay still, Brother Wang. Let me trim it a bit!”
“Exercise caution. Don’t nick me!” In this instance, Wang Ye was swathed to such an extent that his surroundings were entirely obscured. He could only surrender himself to Qin Li’s whims.
Thankfully, no mishaps occurred during the cutting.
Soon, Wang Ye glimpsed the scene outside.
Adjacent to him were two female medical officers from the division headquarters, a company medical personnel, and an unfamiliar military doctor from the regimental headquarters.
Qin Li’s exuberant report marked the initiation of their inspection.
Gently tugging the triangular scarf encircling Wang Ye’s head, they gauged its tension.
Confirming the knotting technique was accurate.
Most maddeningly, Ouyang Mingyue, the female military doctor, was wearing a smile. Currently, she was extending her hand to remove the section of fabric Qin Li had snipped from Wang Ye’s mouth. Her gaze met Wang Ye’s revealed pair of eyes, accompanied by a playful wink…
Nonetheless, she refrained from commenting. The assessment was ongoing.
Furthermore, Wang Ye had scarcely interacted with her during this interval, although she appeared to harbor a favorable impression of him.
Yet, it amounted to nothing more than youthful exuberance and aesthetic admiration.
Shortly thereafter, the initial group of trainees concluded their evaluations.
Without requiring Qin Li’s intervention, Wang Ye promptly removed the triangular scarf that enveloped his head.
Being swathed so tightly in such a brief span had proven quite uncomfortable.
If Wang Ye were to assign a score to this individual, he would undoubtedly grant a failing mark, displaying a complete disregard for the comfort of the patient.
“Right leg fracture!”
Swiftly, the roles switched. Qin Li now became Wang Ye’s patient, and the scenario was set.
Qin Li’s right leg had incurred a fracture.
Wang Ye swiftly retrieved splints and triangular bandages.
Rather than seeking revenge by applying excessive pressure to Qin Li’s thigh, Wang Ye efficiently and methodically positioned the splints on the leg, securing them in place.
Grading. Though the results were not immediately divulged following this phase, Wang Ye’s estimation leaned toward an excellent rating. In fact, unless unforeseen circumstances emerged, he was poised to attain an excellent grade for this segment.
After all, the assessment was exceedingly straightforward.
“Alright, once class five finishes their examination, join us.”
At this juncture, Kang Hua’s voice reverberated from the sidelines.
Post sanitization and initial aid, an immediate transition to the subsequent evaluation was mandated.
Donning gas masks was the next step.
[6.37!]
Zhang Ping’an was the first from Class Five to undergo the trial. Ye Sanshi grinned at his results.
Gas mask affixed. Seven seconds elapsed; six seconds, satisfactory; five seconds, commendable.
Undoubtedly, Zhang Ping’an’s reflexes and movements left room for improvement.
Indeed, during training, he frequently exceeded the six-second mark, with instances where seven seconds elapsed. He had subjected himself to numerous repetitions.
Ye Sanshi couldn’t do much in the face of this. Fortunately, there was no need for a dramatic rescue today.
Passing the round was the crux.
As long as he passed, it sufficed. Given his role as a chef, bicycling wasn’t a requirement for him. Throughout training, Ye Sanshi’s sole stipulation for others was to complete a five-kilometer run in less than six seconds. Zhang Ping’an was the sole individual who managed to meet this criterion.
“Five seconds, three seconds!
Yan Zhiming followed suit. His performance was commendable, falling just shy of earning an “Excellent” rating.
4.39 seconds!”
4.18 seconds…”
One by one, the candidates completed their trials. Finally, it was Wang Ye’s turn, representing the vice-class.
He stood before the regiment headquarters’ assessor.
“Put on the mask,” the instruction resounded.
As soon as the command was issued, Wang Ye sprang into action.
His left hand retrieved a bag, while his right hand retrieved the mask, swiftly placing it within.
Simultaneously, Wang Ye’s left hand ascended to his head, removing his hat, and his right hand securely supported it.
“Done!” Wang Ye reported, prompting the assessor across from him to activate the stopwatch.
However, this time, he chose not to immediately disclose the results. Instead, he turned his attention toward Ye Sanshi and Kang Hua and remarked, “This soldier seems to have been a bit quick. A bit too quick, I’d say. 1 recommend that you conduct the examination again.”
His statement caught Wang Ye slightly off guard.
Promptly, Wang Ye, still donning the gas mask, interjected, “Report, I missed it by just a fraction of a second. You can review the surveillance footage!”
Ordinarily, Wang Ye’s performance did not stand out significantly. During training exercises involving gas masks, he typically averaged around three seconds. This achievement was considered impressive and ranked him first within his class.
However, today’s evaluation was distinct, prompting Wang Ye to give his utmost effort.
His remarkable reflexes were stretched to their limits, his movements initiated the moment the examiner’s words concluded.
With this level of reaction speed, to an untrained eye, it might appear that Wang Ye was fervently racing against the clock.
Undoubtedly, Wang Ye’s results were exceptional.
1.81 seconds.
Among the first four classes assessed today, the swiftest completion time was 2.73 seconds, while other capable classes generally hovered around four seconds. Wang Ye’s timing surpassed the swiftest record by nearly a second.
This event was succinct, and a one-second disparity could translate into a grade difference.
Moreover, although this particular examiner was unfamiliar with Wang Ye, he recognized him by reputation.
He knew this individual had already broken team records, boasting two third-class merits and a commendation even before fully integrating into the team.
Paradoxically, this awareness fueled his vigilance.
Had Wang Ye clocked a time around three seconds, this conversation likely wouldn’t have transpired at all.
However, Wang Ye, a recruit who had garnered considerable attention, was disinclined to commit any errors. After all, this evaluation was meticulously documented.
“Very well, let’s review the recordings.” Kang Hua regarded Wang Ye, still veiled by his gas mask, then promptly consented.
While repeating the examination was an option, Wang Ye’s performance was indeed remarkable. Unless imperative, why would he need to reattempt the test? Checking the video footage was a simple task, as the recording equipment was positioned close by.
Shortly, Kang Hua retrieved the video recorder, accompanied by Ye Sanshi and the examiner, who watched intently.
The screen faced the evaluation area, and the recording device’s miniature display clearly portrayed the preceding scene.
At a fivefold deceleration, the visuals unfolded silently. It was apparent that Wang Ye initiated his movement only after the examiner initiated the stopwatch.
“What rapid reflexes. They almost synchronize with my stopwatch.” The examiner gazed at the footage, an expression of astonishment etched across his features.
Wang Ye remained stationed at the assessment site. No further individuals crowded into the surveillance camera’s diminutive screen. Furthermore, he held his trust in Ye Sanshi and Kang Hua.
As anticipated.
Kang Hua shifted his attention to Wang Ye, who had already removed his gas mask, and remarked, “You didn’t miss the second. 1.81 seconds. The result is valid.”
A joyous grin illuminated Wang Ye’s countenance. Saluting respectfully, he made his way over to where Class 5 was congregated.
Fuck, Brother Wang, you’ve been concealing your prowess. You aren’t usually afraid of outperforming us, are you?” Yan Zhiming quipped as soon as Wang Ye rejoined the group.
The disparity between Wang Ye’s present performance and his past achievements was staggering.
While Wang Ye had consistently ranked first in his class, he had never achieved such swiftness before!
Qin Li also approached, jesting, “You’re truly a beast. Over a second ahead, Brother Wang, aren’t you worried that the mask will rub off all your hair?”
Observing Qin Li’s antics, Wang Ye found himself rendered speechless.
However, Wang Ye remained silent. Ye Sanshi, advancing from behind, dispensed with formality. A swift smack to Qin Li’s head ensued, accompanied by, “You’re scared of your own shadow. Can this thing really rub your hair off?
You’re feeling pretty smug about your high scores, huh?
What a bloody coward!
I’m telling you, stay clear of me. If you dare spread the word that I’m the newbie squad leader, I’ll come over and pummel you to a pulp!”
Instantly, Qin Li grew apprehensive, refraining from uttering a word. Class 5 members exchanged grins.
Having reprimanded Qin Li, Ye Sanshi directed his attention toward Wang Ye. “Not bad, keep it up. Barring any unforeseen developments, you’ll secure first place. Your defense score in the previous segment was also commendable, netting you an excellent rating.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Yes!” Wang Ye’s hearty response resonated.
Ye Sanshi hadn’t required articulating this sentiment; Wang Ye was already committed to giving his all.
After all, his role model duty still beckoned.
Despite only scoring 4.0 points in the shooting event, garnering a “Good” grade, Wang Ye remained undeterred.
It wasn’t of great significance. Attaining the role model accolade rested on excelling in subsequent events, ideally seizing the top spot.
Nonetheless, after securing the role model designation, making additional contributions might prove challenging.
Yet, Wang Ye had relinquished concerns.
If an opportunity presented itself, he would seize it. Conversely, if it didn’t, he wouldn’t force it. Already in possession of two third-class merits, he recognized that these distinctions differed from second-class merits. While another addition would be a nice bonus, he wasn’t fixated on it.
“Old Wang, do you reckon Xiao Ye will turn tanned? I’ve heard the sun in Xiguang is quite fierce. Soldiers are constantly exposed to the elements. Could he become quite dark?”
Just as Wang Ye concluded his morning assessment and returned to his dormitory to await his meal, aboard a flight from Xiangnan to Xiguang, his mother, Xu Xiaofeng, gazed at the clouds beyond the window before pivoting nervously.
“We’ll ascertain that upon arrival. Besides, even if he does tan, what’s the issue?” Wang Jianjun responded, feigning a calm tone.
Yet, in truth, his excitement was difficult to conceal.
As a father who possessed financial freedom and occupied a position as a prominent figure in the business world, his deepest desire was to witness his child achieve success.
Wang Ye’s prior performances had proven underwhelming, potentially causing him some degree of embarrassment.
Yet now, he was brimming with elation and pride.
A mere few days ago, the military had extended an invitation, beckoning them to attend the graduation ceremony for new recruits. This event was designed for parents to witness their children’s achievements and contributions.
Merely three months had transpired since his ostensibly average son had transformed into an outstanding individual. How could he not be consumed by excitement?
Indeed, the couple was presently en route to Wang Ye’s location.
The army, having invited them and called to relay the information, had even noted that this year’s event had been scheduled primarily due to Wang Ye’s endeavors.
Given Wang Ye’s attainment of two third-class merits and a commendation during his tenure in the recruit company, the military chose to spotlight him, precipitating the ceremony’s occurrence.
Invitations were extended to Wang Ye and several other parents of recruits who had exhibited exceptional performance during the recruitment phase. This assembly would bear witness to their offspring’s receipt of titles.
Naturally, the event would also encompass Wang Ye’s merits award ceremony.