"Sister Bonnie, the army is recruiting divers, I signed up, I'm going to join the army and go on a big warship..." As soon as Bonnie entered the yard, Lin Hai excitedly came to her and talked about the recruitment, chattering away, a little incoherently.
"Smack!"
Bonnie patted Lin Hai's arm. "Calm down. You're quite confident, as if you really think you can get in just by signing up. How many people on our island meet the requirements? And what about those on other islands? Kid, there are always people more capable than you, be more humble."
"Understood, Sister Bonnie." Lin Hai felt as if he had been doused with cold water, and he sobered up.
"Don't practice on your own these next few days. If you get injured, you'll lose everything. Last-minute cramming won't work. I don't know how your academic studies are going. I always get a headache just thinking about studying. Whether you get selected or not, you can't neglect your studies." Bonnie's words were very practical. Whether they understood or not was up to them.
Lin Hai and the others went out, leaving Han Weidong and a few others inside.
"Sister Bonnie, do you think we'll always be like this?" Han Weidong was a little lost. He had been on the island for two or three years and didn't know what the future held.
“You’ve all been to school and studied history. Every era has its inevitability. All we can do is wait, wait for the sunshine after the storm. You should read more books in your spare time, so that when the storm is over, you won’t be able to create your own future.” Bonnie didn’t know how to talk to them. She couldn’t exactly suggest reading books, since the college entrance exam would be reinstated in a few years, and she was probably tired of living.
Although Han Weidong and the others didn't quite understand, their confusion eased slightly. Since there was nothing else to do, they decided to read more books; after all, books hold a wealth of knowledge and beauty!
A few days after registration closed, Lin Hai and his classmates were notified to go to the military base for selection.
This selection process consists of a written test and a practical exercise.
The written test mainly covers junior high school knowledge, with only a small portion of high school content.
After the written test, two-thirds of the students were eliminated. After all, not many people on the island finish elementary school, and even fewer finish junior high. Most of Lin Hai and his friends didn't even finish junior high, but Han Weidong and a few others tutored them. In any case, they covered all the junior high school material and even some high school content.
The results are in. Six people from their seaweed farming team passed the written test, including Lin Hai.
The few who were not selected were very disappointed. They had missed the opportunity themselves because they hadn't paid attention in their studies, and now it was too late to regret it.
Lin Shan from Bonnie's third uncle's family also passed the written test, but I wonder how he will fare in the practical test?
Meanwhile, the selection process is underway at the military's maritime training grounds.
They were all kids who grew up by the sea; none of them couldn't swim, it was just a matter of skill level.
They worked in groups of ten, performing actions under the soldiers' commands, including swimming, diving, physical training, and reaction training. They persevered all morning, as this was one of their few opportunities to join the army and receive government-supplied rations.
After all the assessments were completed, someone announced the final results with the records. In the end, only twenty people could enter the army.
The results were announced, and some were happy while others were sad. Lin Hai was among the happy ones, feeling pleased but also remembering Sister Bao Ni's words: don't be smug.
"Alright, those who weren't selected shouldn't be discouraged. Just hone your skills and try again when the opportunity arises. Those who were selected, wait at home for notification. The final results will take a few more days to come out." The leader in charge of recruitment said a few words and then had the soldiers lead them away.
After leaving the military base, everyone dispersed to their own homes and families.
Lin Hai went to Han Weidong's place to tell them that he had passed and thanked them for their guidance over the years.
"How many of you passed in the end?" Han Weidong looked at Lin Hai, who was grinning like an idiot, and knew that the kid had passed.
"Brother, how did you know I passed?" Lin Hai was quite surprised; he hadn't said anything.
"Look at your own face, it's like you've etched the words 'I've wronged you' all over it!" Li Gang tapped Lin Hai's forehead with his finger. Silly kid!
"Hehe... I was just so happy, I couldn't control myself. Bro, let me tell you, when I heard myself pass, I felt like I was floating. I wanted to laugh out loud, but I didn't dare. Sister Bonnie told me not to be so smug, and I had a hard time holding it in..."
Lin Hai seemed to have suddenly flipped a switch, and started babbling on and on, unstoppable.
"Alright, besides you, who else was selected?" Han Weidong interrupted Lin Hai's rambling.
"Huh? Ah! Besides me, four others were selected. Six passed the written test, but one was rejected because he didn't meet the quantity requirement." Lin Hai didn't remember what they said.
"Lung capacity?"
"Yes, yes, that's the word!" Lin Hai looked at Han Weidong with admiration. His brother Dong was amazing; he knew everything.
"Okay, we understand. You should go home and talk to your family. There's still a political review and physical exam in the next few days, so you really need to keep a low profile and not show off. It doesn't count until you get your enlistment notice."
Han Weidong and his comrades grew up in the military compound, so they knew these procedures.
"Okay, Brother Dong, I'm going home. I'll stay put for the next few days and not go anywhere." Lin Hai thanked the group solemnly and headed home.
Lin Hai had just turned eighteen. Before, he was considered a good-for-nothing good-for-nothing by others, and no one looked up to him. Now, he was going to enlist in the army and become a member of the People's Liberation Army!
When Lin Hai arrived home, his grandfather had already been waiting in the yard for half a day.
"Grandpa, I'm back. I'm going to thank Dong Ge and the others."
Lin Hai held onto his grandfather's arm, his face full of filial piety. His grandfather had never looked down on him, even when he was naughty and got into fights. Everyone thought Lin Hai was finished and that it would be a problem if he could ever get married.
"Alright, you even know to thank people now. You've improved quite a bit in the past year."
Third Master Bao Ni told Lin Hai to go back to his room. There was food left for him in the pot. He should eat and then go to sleep, since he had been up all day.
Lin Shan from Bonnie's third uncle's family was not selected. He didn't meet the physical requirements and his lung capacity was insufficient, so there was nothing that could be done.
Although Uncle and Aunt were a little disappointed, there was nothing they could do. They told Lin Shan to go to school tomorrow, get his junior high school diploma, take the high school exams, and if he passed, he could continue his studies.
From beginning to end, Uncle Bao Ni and the others never thought of trying to use their connections with Gu Ye, which was quite satisfactory, as relatives could still maintain contact.
Lin Hai and his comrades waited anxiously for several days before their enlistment notices finally arrived. This time, he was really going to enlist!
On the day Lin Hai and his comrades enlisted, gongs and drums resounded. Twenty young men, dressed in gray military uniforms with big red flowers on their chests, all wore smiles they couldn't hide.
For children from an island, this is the best way out; otherwise, they can only repeat the lives of their parents.
No matter how far they go, at least their starting point is different, and they have a future with infinite possibilities!
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