A generation of soldiers begins with Feng Yuxiu traveling through time and space with Xu Sanduo

Chapter 508 Zhuang Yan Withdraws

Over the years, Feng Yuxiu has come to a conclusion.

Those who crave to be liked and accepted are all weaklings.

Only a weakling who cries and whine seeks approval and joy from others like himself.

True strength lies in being disliked and inability to fit in.

More than anything, there is fear; it is the habit of panting heavily upon hearing a name or seeing a face, and the ability to breathe cautiously with lowered eyebrows and eyes.

Therefore, he never expected or hoped to actually become the team leader of this group of rookies.

His goal was simple: the world is inherently selfish.

Anything can happen in the face of life and death; even fathers and sons may turn against each other out of instinctive fear.

He would not entrust his life or death to anyone.

Even a few short years can be called a bond of camaraderie.

Of course, he believed that these rookies, who were being tested in the special forces, could put courage above life and death.

However, he can only control his own life and death. Even if he dies, he must decide how to die, rather than being arranged to die by others.

The newbie, who had been tormented for months, was finally freed.

Although they will continue to train, they will not be ruthlessly eliminated by the high school team because of a single mistake.

In the future, aside from being demobilized or dying in the line of duty, they will most likely not leave this unit.

Feng Yuxiu's assessment was merely serving as the last line of defense for these rookies.

After he was 'dead,' these rookies who had previously held onto hope were utterly devastated.

However, not a single person flinched or retreated. On the contrary, when they had nowhere left to retreat, they displayed a courageous spirit of fighting to the death, which pleased the high school team.

The high school team never expected that these simple tests would trick Feng Yuxiu, and besides, it was all meaningless.

What is the significance of a veteran who participated in modern warfare and served in two major military regions?

It will only make people laugh.

-

Inside the dormitory, everyone was all smiles as they looked at the newly issued special forces camouflage uniforms and berets.

They officially became special forces soldiers. After taking the oath later, they would become the special forces soldiers that everyone would envy.

Zhuang Yan, however, was still wearing his army camouflage uniform, sitting on the bed staring blankly at the blue and white walls.

Special forces uniforms were neatly folded and arranged on the bed to the left.

Old Pao fiddled with his new shoes, then turned around and saw Zhuang Yan, who hadn't moved an inch, and asked in surprise, "Xiao Zhuang, change your clothes. The senior team wants us to participate in the induction ceremony later. We need to hurry."

Zhuang Yan remained motionless, staring at the wall.

Chen Guotao jumped up and strode over to Zhuang Yan. "What's wrong, Xiao Zhuang?"

Shi Dafan, Deng Zhenhua, and others came over one after another.

Geng Jihui seemed to have seen something, his eyes changed, he stood up, turned around and walked out.

"stand up!!"

Zhuang Yan remained motionless, and now all the newbies realized that things were not so simple.

Old Man Qiangzi and the others took a few steps back, staring blankly at Zhuang Yan.

The camaraderie they had cultivated during training suddenly became a transparent barrier between Zhuang Yan and them.

This barrier allows everyone on both sides to see each other, but neither side can get close.

"It seems he was prepared from the very beginning, all for this day... We genuinely want to stay in the special forces... But he isn't... Look at his eyes, are those the eyes of someone who wants to stay in the special forces?"

Deng Zhenhua immediately noticed that something was wrong with Zhuang Yan.

Chen Guotao naturally understood. He stopped following the soldier's lead, slowly squatted down and looked at Zhuang Yan, "You're still young. Sometimes you'll regret the things you do impulsively in a few years... You've already come this far. Look at me... I was disabled to begin with... and now I've become a special forces soldier."

“Xiao Zhuang, even if you could grit your teeth and persevere for Miao Lian… now, looking at us comrades… you…”

Zhuang Yan finally raised his head, "I'm sorry, Chen Pai... This isn't the life I want, this isn't the life I want to live... I can't be your brother anymore..."

Dead silence.

The entire dormitory fell into a deathly silence.

-

-

"Captain! Something's happened!"

Feng Yuxiu stared at the clothes in his hand, seemingly lost in thought. Geng Jihui rushed over, shouting without even taking a deep breath.

Feng Yuxiu turned around, "Zhuang Yan doesn't want to join the special forces?"

Geng Jihui was stunned.

Feng Yuxiu smiled and said, "Youthful impetuosity is a youthful temperament. If it were me six years ago, when I participated in this kind of assessment for the first time, I could have killed everyone."

Geng Jihui was somewhat lost in thought. "But what do we do? Are we just going to let him give up like this? He's already passed the test. We've come so far, how can we just give up?"

Feng Yuxiu turned around and patted Geng Jihui on the shoulder, "This is the difference in thinking between people. It's normal that you don't understand his thoughts. If he wants to leave, let him go."

The real battlefield is a place of death; since he wasn't prepared, sending him onto the battlefield would be suicide.

Do you want to kill him with your own hands?

After a long silence, Geng Jihui nodded. "I understand."

-

-

Mada grinned and pushed the door open, his voice booming, "Why aren't you done yet? Stop dawdling!"

Everyone stood up, except for Xiao Zhuang, who stood there motionless.

Mada frowned at him: "What are you standing there for? Pretending to be a wooden doll?"

Xiao Zhuang glanced at Mada, his mouth moved, but he swallowed the words back.

"I told you to stand up! Did you hear me? Answer me!" Mada's tone became a bit stern.

Xiao Zhuang steeled his heart, stubbornly refusing to stand up!

Mada's eyes widened in disbelief: "Are you out of your mind? Do you even know who's standing on the other side? You think you can ignore military discipline?!"

Xiao Zhuang's voice was a little weak but his strength didn't wane: "Brother Grey Wolf, I know you've always been good to us... I can't talk to you about this, call that guy over."

"Who is it?" Mada asked, puzzled.

"Wild wolf!"

Mada stared at him for a while, her tone warning: "You'd better think carefully about what you're doing, or you'll regret it!"

After saying that, he turned around and went out.

The brothers all gathered around Xiaozhuang, looking at each other in bewilderment.

But Xiao Zhuang acted as if he hadn't seen anything, his eyes fixed straight ahead, his mind made up like a rock.

A moment later, Gao Zhong came in, stood next to Xiao Zhuang, and said in an icy tone, "What kind of trouble are you causing?"

Xiao Zhuang stood up, staring at Gao Zhong, and enunciated each word very clearly: "I'm quitting!"

Everyone was stunned when he said that.

The old man grabbed his arm anxiously: "Are you crazy? What nonsense are you spouting!"

Xiao Zhuang shoved him away: "Who's talking nonsense? I had already decided before I came here that I wanted to go back to my old unit!"

Qiangzi scratched the back of his head, looking puzzled: "Then why did you come here in the first place? Were you just messing around for no reason? Are you possessed?"

"I came here just to say I'm quitting today!"

Xiao Zhuang's neck was still stiff.

The high school team leader's face was expressionless: "Give me a reason."

"I don't care about your Wolf Fang Special Forces Brigade at all! I came here to tell you that what you can do, I can do too, but I just don't want to stay! I want to go back to my regiment!"

These words were like a slap in the face to the team leader. His face twitched, and he remained silent for a long time. Then, his voice was slow but filled with anger: "Say it again?"

Xiao Zhuang became even more defiant, raising his voice even higher: "I don't care! I just want to show you that you're not all that great!"

"I don't care! I don't care! I just don't care!" he shouted three times without even breaking a sweat. Gao Zhong gritted his teeth, the flesh on his cheeks twitching, and his breathing became heavy.

Xiao Zhuang, however, was not intimidated at all, staring straight at him without giving an inch.

Gao Zhong grabbed the special forces uniform from Xiao Zhuang's bed and threw it at him: "Take your junk and get the hell out of here!"

After saying that, he turned around and left, got into his car, stepped on the gas, and disappeared.

Xiao Zhuang remained as cold and aloof as ever, acting as if nothing had happened.

Mada glanced at him, sighed, and turned to the others, saying, "Hurry up and get on the bus, the induction ceremony is about to begin."

Everyone was anxious and kept looking at Xiao Zhuang, but there was nothing they could do, so they could only leave slowly one by one.

Xiao Zhuang remained rooted to the spot, motionless.

The car drove away, and the tent was suddenly empty.

Xiao Zhuang found a stool, sat down, and began to slowly pack his things.

A moment later, the sound of an engine came from outside, and the high school team's off-road vehicle rushed over like a whirlwind and stopped at the tent entrance.

He pushed open the car door and rushed into the tent, still fuming.

Xiao Zhuang quickly stood up.

The high school captain stared at him for a long time, then squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: "Come with me!"

Xiao Zhuang reached out to grab his backpack.

"What are you going to do with that thing? Don't bring it! Someone wants to see you." After saying that, Captain Gao turned around and walked out.

Xiao Zhuang hesitated for a moment, feeling uneasy, but still made up his mind: Let's go! He followed him out.

The high school team had already started the car, and as soon as Xiao Zhuang jumped into the passenger seat, the SUV shot off.

Feng Yuxiu, watching this scene from a distance, squinted and thought to himself: This kid is no different from a deserter. But then again, his drive is somewhat similar to Cheng Cai's; he has quite a lot of potential.

Speaking of which, Cheng Cai should be a lieutenant officer by now, right?

That's just how that kid is. Once he decides to accomplish something, he'll work his ass off and do everything perfectly, no matter what it is.

He didn't know why, but he suddenly missed Yuan Lang, Qi Huan, Cheng Cai, Wu Zhe... and his old comrades-in-arms, Gao Cheng.

He's only twenty-four years old. Even if you add the decades from his previous life... he doesn't need to be in a position to reminisce about the past.

If you add it all up, he's lived twenty years longer than these newbies in front of him.

His mentality is always vengeful, and it's more about being indifferent and aloof than cold-hearted...

Instead, they are indifferent to everything.

The lives he had taken were enough to make him gradually disregard some of the emotions and rules that were out in the open.

"The captain... is attending the induction ceremony..."

Chen Guotao ran up and saluted, saying...

Feng Yuxiu nodded, changed his clothes on the spot, and straightened his top button. "Let's go."

"Captain... do you think Xiao Zhuang can come back?" Chen Guotao turned his head and looked into the distance, asking with hope.

Feng Yuxiu neither stopped nor answered; he didn't care about these things.

-

-

In the special forces compound, the high school team's off-road vehicle came to a stop.

In front of the black wall engraved with the names of martyrs, two soldiers wearing black berets stood straight with their guns at the ready, and the lightning sword and wolf fang insignia above the wall exuded a chilling aura.

Xiao Zhuang got off the bus with the high school team and went around to the Hall of Honor behind the Wall of Honor.

The same dark-faced volunteer soldier was still standing at the door, motionless like a stone statue. Xiao Zhuang wondered to himself: What is he up to now?

The high school team leader stopped at the entrance and patted him on the shoulder: "Someone is waiting for you inside."

Xiao Zhuang frowned, glanced at the high school team, and walked in, completely bewildered.

The walls inside were covered with photos, in color and in black and white, some of them showing battles and others of training; the whole room was full of stories.

In the very center stood a figure in camouflage and a black beret, staring blankly at a national flag riddled with bullet holes and covered in signatures. Xiao Zhuang's uniform and boots lay beside it.

The figure slowly turned around, and Xiao Zhuang immediately spotted that familiar dark face. He was about to call out, "Jun..."

His gaze swept over the soft shoulder insignia of the officer on the other person's shoulder, and he was instantly rooted to the spot, his mouth agape for a long time.

Captain He Zhijun's eyes were so deep they could drip water: "Why don't you want to be my soldier?"

Xiao Zhuang was completely dumbfounded.

“Since the establishment of our military region’s special operations brigade, you are the first private to participate in training and pass all the assessments! But you are also the first person to pass and then voluntarily give up your qualification!”

He Zhijun paced back and forth a couple of steps, staring at him: "Tell me, what exactly is the reason?"

Xiao Zhuang's lips trembled, and he couldn't utter a single word.

"For your Xiwa? Chen Pai? Or Miao Lian? Or maybe it's just your own desire for revenge?" He Zhijun pressed, his tone full of disappointment.

Seeing that Xiao Zhuang still didn't say anything, he sighed and softened his tone: "I said I would tell you about my brothers later. I thought I would have plenty of time, but now that you're leaving, I can only tell you now. Do you want to listen?"

He pointed to the photos on the wall: "The first photo in the first row on the left is my brother Zhang Xiaohai. He was 34 years old when he sacrificed his life. He was the company commander of the reconnaissance company."

When he passed away, his child was only 11 years old, his wife had been chronically ill, and his elderly mother was nearly 60. They had been living off pasting matchboxes and his pension ever since!

Xiao Zhuang looked at Zhang Xiaohai's smiling face in the photo, his lips moved but he didn't say anything.

"The third picture from the left in the second row is my old subordinate Liangshan, the 24-year-old platoon leader."

During the retreat, in order to draw the enemy away, he took the initiative to stay behind to cover the rear, leading more than two hundred enemy soldiers to another direction.

When he ran out of bullets, he used a bayonet; when his gun was taken, he used a dagger; finally, when three enemies pinned him to the ground, he pulled the pin and died with them.

He had only been married for six months before going to the front lines; their honeymoon wasn't even over when he received orders. His wife hasn't remarried since, and he raised their unborn child alone!

In the photo, Liang Shan's eyes are gentle, while Xiao Zhuang's tears are welling up in his eyes, which he tries hard to hold back.

He Zhijun then pointed to the other side: "The first one in the fourth row from the right, Wang Jun, is one of my soldiers. He's only 17 years old, a year younger than you!"
To clear the mines, they used their bodies to clear a path for us.

His father was an honest farmer who sent his son to the army and then watched helplessly as his son went to the battlefield.

After his sacrifice, the civil affairs department asked the old man if he had any requests. The old man said he wanted half of his son's ashes, so he could talk to the urn when he missed his son, and place it next to his pillow when he slept, and on the edge of the field when he worked!

Looking at Wang Jun's innocent smiling face in the photo, Xiao Zhuang could no longer hold back her tears.

He Zhijun pointed to the room full of photos, raising his voice slightly: "These are all my brothers!"
Some died on the battlefield, while others were swept away by the flood peak while trying to snatch a sheep from the local people during flood relief efforts!
Just for a sheep!
That soldier was only 21 years old and had never even had a girlfriend!
Take a good look at them!

Xiao Zhuang could no longer hold back and covered her mouth, bursting into tears.

Do you know why Miao Lian lost an eye?

He Zhijun sneered, "You don't even know this? And you still have the nerve to call yourself a man? A reconnaissance soldier? A private in the People's Liberation Army?"

Xiao Zhuang was crying so hard that she was trembling all over and couldn't say a word.

He Zhijun suddenly roared, "I'll tell you what they're after!"

He pointed sharply at the bullet-riddled national flag. "Just for this! This is a soldier's faith! You don't even understand this, yet you dare to say you're brothers with Miao Lian?"

You tell all the spirits in this room right now that you don't want to be brothers with them!
You're only thinking about those few dozen men in your reconnaissance company!

talk! "

"Captain..."

Xiao Zhuang choked up and had just opened his mouth when He Zhijun interrupted him: "You don't deserve to call me captain! You're not my soldier, not my brother, you're not even a soldier, you're just a bastard!"
You're not hurting me, you're hurting these veterans, you're hurting the faith and honor of soldiers! Do you even know what brotherhood is?

Xiao Zhuang knelt down, banging his forehead against the ground, crying his heart out.

He Zhijun's eyes were also red, but his voice remained firm: "To be honest, I want to kick you out right now! But I'll give this brat who's not even 18 yet another chance!"
Half an hour later, you either put on your Wolf Fang uniform and stand on the playground, or you get out of here!
I'll have the driver take you to the station. Don't ask why; if someone else took you, you'd be drowned in the brothers' spittle on the way!

After saying that, He Zhijun strode out and closed the door.

Xiao Zhuang knelt before the room full of the spirits of the fallen heroes and wept bitterly.

The young people in the photo are smiling at him. He looks up at those smiling faces, feeling filled with guilt.

Looking at the national flag again, the densely packed signatures on it were particularly glaring.

Xiao Zhuang kowtowed three times to the national flag. When he stood up, his forehead was covered in blood and his eyes were filled with tears.

"I'm sorry, I was wrong... I will definitely carry on your spirit... for the people... until death."

(End of this chapter)