The entrance to the canteen in the early morning.
The students who had just stepped onto the steps smelled a slightly bitter aroma mixed with the fragrance of rice, similar to the feeling of walking on the grass—fresh and invigorating.
Most people didn't understand what was emitting this odor, and were filled with doubt. They gently sniffed it, somewhat curious.
Some students from the Chinese region immediately identified the source of the smell, and a sense of familiarity and warmth instantly welled up in their hearts.
I rushed into the cafeteria and went to the glass window. The cafeteria lady, dressed in white, was already waiting for me.
On the plate next to her was a dish of food arranged neatly, with a bluish-green outer skin, tied with thin hemp rope, and a very unique aroma of glutinous rice wafted in the air.
Zongzi (sticky rice dumplings).
Festival foods unique to China.
The Chinese students were somewhat surprised to see the zongzi (sticky rice dumplings). They knew this place was completely unsuitable for mugwort growth, and the supply routes were all federal military roads, not used for commercial purposes. There was only one possibility: the mugwort had been transported from a warmer region far away.
The Federation is a mixed bag, with Chinese people probably making up only about one-tenth. The canteen doesn't have the authority to ask the supply department to mobilize manpower and resources just to make zongzi for everyone. People from other countries have never seen this thing before, let alone eaten it.
It's also impossible that one of the cooks is a hidden super-rich soldier who specially sent the person in charge of supplies to curry favor with her.
This isn't a novel.
Then there's only one possibility.
Jiang Cheng is the only Chinese official who can be so meticulous despite having such great power.
The students standing in front of the glass window felt a unique emotion, as if in addition to admiration and respect, they had gained a little more understanding of this young leader.
After eating this zongzi and going through this assessment, many people may not appear at the canteen entrance tomorrow. Instead, they will go back to where they came from and never appear in the Federation again.
Return to life and be an ordinary person.
Perhaps Commander Jiang meant to give a farewell party for the majority of people.
In any case, the fact that promising students were called upon and came without hesitation, wanting to contribute their share, is something that should make Jiangcheng happy for a long time.
It's Dragon Boat Festival again.
Time flies, like a white horse flashing past a crack in the wall.
The students peeled back the soft, dark green bamboo leaves and saw the glistening glutinous rice inside, which eased their initial fear and trepidation.
Whether they stay or not, at least... they didn't waste their youth, and that's enough.
······
8:30!
A series of urgent whistles echoed throughout the Federation! No corner was spared.
Those who heard this were all invigorated and looked up to gaze at the westernmost part of the territory.
The whistle signaled to everyone that a rigorous and solemn assessment was about to begin, marking the first time students had faced such a large-scale examination.
Almost all the well-known leaders of the Mech Academy were present to encourage the students, and Jiang Cheng was also in the audience.
Actually, there's a deeper reason why most of the researchers were called in for this assessment: Gu Ling's holographic image has only been seen by a select few high-ranking officials. These countless personnel will become a powerful support for the War Maidens when they step onto the front lines. They naturally have a responsibility to share this fear and to better understand what they are actually fighting against.
You can't be fighting a cat or a dog before war even starts, can you?
For this reason, there were a lot of onlookers this time, all of whom were required to attend by their superiors and no one dared to be absent.
At the very front, You Lixuan held a long list containing the names of nearly 800 people.
There were originally more than a thousand people who came to the Federation, but they either withdrew during the arduous training or were forcibly sent back because their physical fitness did not meet the requirements.
Staff members moved back and forth among the standing students, distributing earplugs and blindfolds, personally putting them on for them, and then going to the back to supervise.
The class advisors were also busy arranging the precautions.
Wan Xingyan has always been a cold-faced researcher, and kindness rarely appears on his face. This strict teacher looks even more terrifying now, with his eyes filled with icy coldness.
"I'll repeat myself: without orders, no one is allowed to remove the blindfolds and earplugs once you put them on. If you remove them and something goes wrong, you will be disqualified from the test! Over there, see that weapon box? There are many pistols in it. As long as you load them within five minutes, raise your gun and fire! Even if you only fire one shot at a bird flying overhead, you will pass the test!"
With fifty people per group, the Huaxia Special Zone will likely be divided into two groups.
Ke Bing and Zhao Xuerou were assigned to one group, while Luo Xiaoli was in another group.
"If you feel unwell, you may withdraw from the assessment at any time by raising your arms to indicate that you are giving up. Staff will come immediately. Your safety must be the top priority, and you must not try to be brave."
"When we ask you to remove your earplugs, remember to leave one on. This allows the observers in the monitoring room to check your blood pressure and heart rate. If they find anything wrong, they will immediately contact the security personnel."
Wan Xingyan had repeated these words nearly ten times, saying them every now and then, for fear that something might happen to the students.
The temporary stands around the perimeter were filled with researchers dressed in white, with the commander and deputy commander at the very front, and countless soldiers standing in the middle, ready to be deployed at any moment.
Dozens of projectors were mounted on the huge light stands on the left and right sides. Alan and several other experts had completed the final preparations and were just waiting for the commander's order.
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