Chapter 48: The Spectacular Drama Unfolds
Chen Jun thought there was no need to be too realistic, as being too realistic would steal the spotlight from today’s protagonist. He would have plenty of opportunities in the future to make a name for himself.
With a half-true, half-fake approach, coaxing and deceiving, as long as he could muddle through.
Chen Jun stopped hesitating and readily agreed: “Officer Zhang, since you have this idea, then I’ll accept your interview. Consider it cooperating with the Propaganda Section’s work. What do you want to ask? You can ask now.”
“Good, good, good. Thank you for supporting the work.”
Officer Zhang held a pen in one hand and paper in the other and asked: “May I ask which military academy you graduated from?”
“Nanjing Army Command Academy.” Chen Jun answered.
“Whoa, an undergraduate military academy cadet, starting as a first lieutenant, with an immeasurable future ahead.”
Officer Zhang was indeed from the Propaganda Section; his mouth was slick and said the right things. After a timely round of praise, he followed up with many more questions.
For example, how much longer until the end of the probationary period, current age, which company he came from, and so on.
When he heard that Chen Jun came from Steel Seventh Company, the regiment’s most excellent company, Officer Zhang was even more shocked, and the way he looked at Chen Jun changed.
Generally, cadet soldiers from companies had no competitiveness, let alone from the most excellent sharp knife company.
For Chen Jun to emerge from the sharp knife company, defeating at least three excellent current platoon leaders in the company, further highlighted Chen Jun’s extraordinary ability.
“I’m very curious why the Seventh Company commander specifically chose you to lead soldiers? This is a rare practical opportunity. Companies usually send excellent company cadres to lead soldiers, to cultivate qualifications and exercise ability.”
Officer Zhang’s eyes were especially wide, filled with a craving for gossip news.
“Maybe…”
Chen Jun grinned and fudged: “My luck is better than theirs.”
“Luck??”
Officer Zhang looked at Chen Jun in astonishment.
“What’s wrong? Is it not okay to have good luck? After all, I’m alumni with the company commander. He’s my senior, so it’s normal for him to take care of his junior.” Chen Jun continued to bluff.
Chen Jun was already laying out plans in advance for the mid-year grand competition, and Gao Cheng was also full of ambition for this year’s grand competition.
He was determined to redeem past shame and take down all the other companies.
At such a critical juncture, Chen Jun definitely couldn’t expose his true capabilities, letting other companies become wary and affecting the final competition results.
If he foolishly told the truth now, that Gao Cheng let Chen Jun lead soldiers because he was very excellent.
Not only did he break the regimental record with Wu Liu Yi from the same year, but he also led the whole company to refresh the cross-country results, with the team’s cross-country already leading the other companies by a large margin.
If Officer Zhang recorded these materials, wrote them into a report, and published it in the regimental newspaper.
Wouldn’t that be game over?
Chen Jun didn’t want to expose his strength prematurely, nor did he want to draw too much attention from Officer Zhang today. He slightly used some acting skills and made up a few excuses.
Don’t say it.
These made-up excuses sounded quite convincing. When Officer Zhang heard that Gao Cheng and Chen Jun came from the same military academy, he immediately showed an “I get it” mysterious smile.
After figuring it out, it turned out Chen Jun had used connections. Officer Zhang’s desire and interest plummeted.
After casually chatting a few more sentences, target practice happened to begin.
Officer Zhang, who had lost interest in gossip, thought he couldn’t dig any good news from Chen Jun, so he simply devoted himself fully to the target practice.
“Good thing my acting skills are decent.”
He had finally gotten Officer Zhang back on track. Chen Jun secretly wiped a bead of sweat.
Too difficult!
The 100-meter prone posture supported target shooting assessment also started from First Squad, with squads taking turns, each person firing five bullets.
From the first live-fire target practice until now, the new recruits had done a total of three rounds of live-fire, counting 15 bullets fired.
Sharpshooters are piled up with bullets.
The more bullets the new recruits fired, the better their marksmanship became.
Therefore, unlike the first live-fire target practice which was so disastrous, except for Second Platoon’s new recruits who were slightly better, First Platoon and Third Platoon’s results were simply unbearable.
The new recruits shooting in today’s assessment showed obvious improvement compared to the first time.
The first to go up, First Squad’s ten new recruits, achieved a very good result. All ten new recruits hit three shots or more on target.
Three shots reached the qualified standard. First Squad’s overall result made Gao Cheng smile.
Consider it a good start!
After all, in previous years, the new recruits’ target shooting segment had a qualification rate basically below 80 percent, with two out of ten new recruits unqualified.
First Squad’s 100% qualification rate, 50% good rate, and 20% excellent rate.
Already a very good result!
The deputy regiment commander nodded repeatedly after hearing the target report, and generously praised: “Old Seven, your leadership ability is not bad. A 100% qualification rate is very rare.”
“This is just the beginning. The good show has just started; the wonderful parts are still to come.” Gao Cheng said, holding his head high.
With Second Platoon led by Chen Jun backing him up, Gao Cheng spoke boldly and confidently, without any bluffing—the confidence brought by strength.
It’s just a pity that both five-shots-on-target were quite off, only scoring over 30 rings, without much significance.
If they could hit 40 rings.
Gao Cheng would definitely be even more smug.
“Oh yo, look at you acting all capable. Say you’re fat and you really start panting.” The deputy regiment commander teased.
Gao Cheng had a powerful background there, and his relationship with the regiment commander was like father and son. Naturally, the deputy regiment commander wouldn’t put on airs with Gao Cheng.
“Just wait and see the good show. Hold your jaw well, don’t let it drop to the ground.”
Gao Cheng said it and even got himself anticipating, expecting Cheng Cai to stun everyone, score 50 rings, and shock the deputy regiment commander’s eyeballs to the ground.
“Hahaha, Old Seven, Old Seven, I want to see what tricks you have.”
The deputy regiment commander laughed and pointed at Gao Cheng virtually, also aroused with some curiosity.
“Pa pa pa pa…”
After a burst of target shooting sounds.
Second Squad and Third Squad had both finished shooting one after another. Although both squads’ results were very good, and compared horizontally to previous new recruit companies, the results showed obvious improvement.
But the difference from First Squad wasn’t big. Some high, some low, averaging out, overall still on the same level.
It took a little over ten minutes for the two squads to finish shooting. The deputy regiment commander, who had been anticipating, anticipated for a little over ten minutes, but saw no surprises.
He couldn’t help teasing: “Old Seven, is this what you call the good show in the back?
Three squads maintaining 100% qualification rate is indeed a very good result, but this level can’t be called a good show at most; it can only be considered up to standard.
A platoon’s 100% qualification rate is very good, but it’s indeed still a bit lacking.
If a whole platoon were all excellent, that would be a real surprise.
“Don’t be anxious, Deputy Regiment Commander. It’s just starting; the wonderful big show is coming right away.”
Watching Fourth Squad’s new recruits shouting one-two-one, led by the new recruit deputy squad leader, running in neat formation toward the shooting position, Gao Cheng grinned, revealing a mouthful of big white teeth.
Second Platoon’s three squads were the main force in shooting. Now it was finally their turn to take the field.
