Chapter 4: Target Practice
With the golden finger, Chang Ning’s physical fitness rapidly improved at a tremendous pace. Similarly, his reputation in the new recruit company also grew greatly.
If talking about who is the best overall in the military unit, it has to be selected from among the veteran soldiers, but when it comes to physical fitness alone, everyone has to give a thumbs up to Chang Ning.
Now Chang Ning’s physical fitness is exaggerated to the point where running five kilometers with a load bearing of thirty kilograms doesn’t even make him gasp for breath; even Lao Pao can’t compare to this level of physical fitness.
What do new recruits look forward to most when they first arrive at the barracks? Without a doubt, it’s shooting. Actually, after joining the military unit, the veteran soldiers will let you know what it feels like to shoot until you vomit.
In the afternoon, the sunshine was bright, the weather was hot, and the sun burned painfully on the skin.
With his back to the sun, Lao Pao pointed at the weapon box on the ground and said, “Do you know what’s inside this?”
Everyone wasn’t stupid; they immediately guessed what was inside and looked at Lao Pao with faces full of excitement and anticipation.
“It looks like you’ve already guessed it. Correct, inside are guns.”
After saying that, Lao Pao took out a gun from the weapon box.
“This is the Type 95 assault rifle. The rifle has a caliber of 5.8mm, a bullpup structure, good stability; high accuracy, short gun body, and excellent balance.
And it’s convenient to carry, allowing all-weather combat.
Using 5.8mm ammunition, it can penetrate an 8mm steel plate within 100 meters and still retain weak lethality, with great killing power.”
After introducing the rifle, Lao Pao took out a bullet to show the new recruits, then loaded the bullet into the magazine, aimed at the 100-meter target, and fired a shot.
The overall movements were swift and elegant, full of elite aura.
“Don’t be impatient. Next, I’ll introduce to everyone how to maintain our own firearms.”
His words didn’t interfere at all with the movements of Lao Pao’s hands; he quickly disassembled the Type 95 in his hand into a pile of parts.
He then took out gun oil and a clean cloth, patiently introducing to the new recruits the knowledge of maintaining firearms, as well as some gun experience he had summarized himself.
At this moment, Lao Pao didn’t have any of the devil instructor’s demeanor; instead, he spoke softly and gently.
Getting his own service pistol, even Chang Ning, with his two lifetimes of life experience, couldn’t help but feel excited.
This was a real gun; so this is what a gun feels like when you touch it.
Chang Ning couldn’t suppress the joy in his heart and grinned happily.
“Squad Leader, when can we shoot at the shooting range? Having a gun without ammunition always feels like something’s missing.”
After more than a month together, the new recruits and the squad leader already knew each other very well. Although Lao Pao always had a stern face toward them, this couldn’t stop Chang Ning’s daily interactions with Lao Pao.
“What’s the rush! You haven’t learned to walk yet and you want to run?”
Lao Pao said grumpily. He was puzzled: everyone in the squad was afraid of him or disliked him, but this weirdo Chang Ning could ignore his death glare and chat with him as if nothing happened. Was this carefree or thick-skinned?
“But I can let you experience it.”
The new recruits, who had no hope for shooting at the range, didn’t know there would be a turn for the better; everyone laughed out loud, looking extremely happy.
At the same time, they cast grateful looks at Chang Ning. Without Chang Ning mentioning it in the middle, there definitely wouldn’t have been any shooting today.
“What are you doing, what are you doing! All of you, stand properly. Do you still want to shoot?”
The new recruits got so happy that their formation became disorganized; seeing this, Lao Pao’s face hardened again.
After everyone stood back in line, Lao Pao handed out the Type 95s one by one to the new recruits and repeatedly instructed them on the key points to note for shooting at the range.
“Three bullets per person, prone position shooting, prepare.”
Various shooting positions had been clearly demonstrated to the new recruits by Lao Pao before handing out the guns.
After he gave the order, the new recruits also assumed the positions, though the details weren’t so perfect.
Considering that these new recruits were receiving firearm training for the first time today, this situation was understandable.
The sounds of comrades beside him firing continuously rang in his ears, but Chang Ning wasn’t in a hurry to shoot. He silently recalled in his mind the gun techniques that Lao Pao had taught them.
He took a deep breath, remembering the three points in a line. When the sight, front sight, and target were all on the same straight line, Chang Ning pulled the trigger and fired his first bullet in the military unit.
“Missed!”
The moment he pulled the trigger, Chang Ning felt that he had missed the target this time. Because at the instant he fired, Xiao Zhuang on his left also fired.
The gunshot made Chang Ning’s body shake a little. Although he had already restrained himself greatly, it still affected his shooting score.
This is where the saying “a miss by a hair’s breadth means a miss by a thousand miles” comes from.
Having some influence is normal; Chang Ning was still just a new recruit now, and he had only just touched a gun. With two lifetimes as a Chinese person, never having gone abroad, where would he have had the opportunity to touch a gun.
Huaxia isn’t free America, where you can have gunfights every day.
“Bang”
A dull gunshot rang out; this time, there was only one shot on the shooting range.
The others had already finished shooting and lined up, while Chang Ning remained unhurried, holding his breath and focusing as he aimed at the target 100 meters away. Changes in the surroundings couldn’t affect him at all.
‘He’s a promising gunner.’
Lao Pao praised inwardly, so he didn’t urge Chang Ning but patiently waited.
This time, Chang Ning hit the target, even scoring a ten ring!
Lao Pao nodded lightly, planning to report Chang Ning’s situation to Miao Lian. It wouldn’t be good if such a good prospect was snatched by another military unit.
On the last shot, Chang Ning only hit a five ring. Lao Pao wasn’t surprised; after all, it was Chang Ning’s first time touching a gun, and hitting the target at all was already good.
If he hit ten rings every shot, then Lao Pao would have to have someone investigate Chang Ning’s background information. A new recruit who had never touched a gun hitting ten rings right away— who would believe there was no issue?
Compared to Chang Ning’s shooting score, Lao Pao valued more the mindset Chang Ning showed when shooting at the range, unaffected by the environment—this was the most important quality of a good gunner.
As for marksmanship, it could be fed out with bullets.
As long as he got to the Night Tiger, Lao Pao didn’t believe that making Chang Ning shoot until he vomited wouldn’t train out his marksmanship.
“Attention, at ease. Let me explain.
This shooting at the range was just a small test of skill, to let you feel the charm of firearms.”
At this point, Lao Pao’s expression was a bit strange; he inwardly anticipated some people in the squad shooting until they vomited in the future.
“But I always reward and punish clearly. If done well, it must be praised. Today’s best shooting score is Xiao Zhuang’s; he hit twenty-six rings. Come on, everyone, clap for Xiao Zhuang.”
Receiving praise in the military unit for the first time, Xiao Zhuang smiled a bit shyly.
Chang Ning mechanically clapped along with everyone, but in reality, he had already started zoning out.
The reason for zoning out traces back to the time after he finished shooting at the range.
Chang Ning: “Report!”
Lao Pao: “Fall in.”
“Yes.”
Chang Ning trotted back into line and stood at attention.
“Ding~
You have a new experience bar generated; please upgrade as soon as possible.”
The cheat’s prompt sounded in his mind, so Chang Ning had to focus his attention in his mind. He didn’t hear a word of what Lao Pao specifically said.
