13. Unfortunately, they are all horror stories
Just as military training began, someone with inside information heard about a well-established tradition at Qingshi No. 1 Middle School: On the afternoon of the final day, there would be a hiking exercise across half of Qingshi City. The route would start at the school, follow the city's outer ring road, walk to the Qingshi Martyrs Cemetery, and then return the same way.
Later, it was confirmed by many parties that this fine tradition does exist, and if nothing unexpected happens, it will continue to be carried forward this year.
Xu Wenqiang didn't have any problem with this tradition. The trouble was, after the training, she wouldn't have time to go home and make dinner for Xu Yanmei. When she told Xu Yanmei about this in advance, she had a fit of grumbling.
The final day of military training finally arrived, and a sense of finality permeated the air from the moment we began to line up. Even the instructors seemed to relax a bit, their usually expressionless faces occasionally cracking a smile.
So, during the break, some of the brave ones started to make a noise: "Instructor, sing a song!"
The instructor was unmoved at first, sitting on the ground with his head down, fiddling with his hat, as if he hadn't heard. Later, when the heckling had all given up, he stood up again and walked over to the instructor of the next class.
When he came back, he pointed to the class next to him and said, "Pull them!"
So, the playground of No. 1 Middle School erupted.
Jay Chou, Jolin Tsai, JJ Lin, Stefanie Sun, Gigi Leung...people kept standing up from the line to sing.
Xu Wenqiang listened to the melodies, all popular songs played on repeat in the stationery and music stores near the school gate. There were also some she was unfamiliar with, as the girl next to her said it was the theme song from the Taiwanese idol drama "Meteor Garden."
Xu Wenqiang hugged her knees and yawned. She watched her carefree peers living carefree lives in the sunshine, feeling that the years were peaceful and tranquil, and she just wanted to sleep peacefully.
Just as she was about to fall asleep, there was a commotion around her.
"It's Xiao Cheng."
"What is he going to sing?"
......
Xu Wenqiang also perked up. Naturally, the chosen ones wouldn't miss out on such a spotlight. Unexpectedly, Xiao Cheng stood up and immediately admitted defeat: "Classmates, I'm tone-deaf. I give up!"
As soon as she finished speaking, a charming girl from the class next to her stood up and said, "Xiao Cheng, don't be so modest. Everyone knows that you can play the guitar and sing."
Someone recognized the girl, "It's Chen Mengyao!"
The name sounded familiar. Xu Wenqiang thought about it and realized that it was the girl who came to the classroom to find Gao Zhe and Xiao Cheng on the first day of school.
"I didn't bring my guitar. I don't feel confident about singing without a guitar." Xiao Cheng said with a smile.
Seeing that Xiao Cheng had no intention of singing, Gao Zhe stood up and said, "Chen Mengyao, if you have the guts, come on!"
"Come on! Gao Zhe, let's go with one!"
"And one, and one..."
Amidst everyone's clamor, Xiao Cheng sat down.
Xu Wenqiang couldn't help but look at him with resentment. He actually avoided the limelight and did not fulfill the responsibilities and obligations of a favored child of heaven.
Over there, Gao Zhe and Chen Mengyao had already started singing. They were the same popular songs that were sung everywhere in the streets and alleys. Because it was a chorus, and it was just one man and one woman, it ignited everyone's enthusiasm.
Xu Wenqiang thought to herself, this is what a favored child of heaven should look like, making everyone both envious and yearning for him.
After Gao Zhe and Chen Mengyao finished singing, Xu Wenqiang thought that the next song should be another beautiful girl's. Unexpectedly, Chen Mengyao called out a boy's name: "Chen Yang, you do it!"
Xu Wenqiang was stunned. This Chen Mengjiao was actually in the same class as Chen Yang, and they sounded very familiar.
Chen Yang stood up from the crowd and said lazily, "Then I'll find someone to sing with me."
Xu Wenqiang immediately lowered her head and shrank back. He couldn't see me, couldn't see me...
"Who do you want to sing with?" Chen Mengjiao asked with a little anticipation.
Xu Wenqiang felt as if a blade had swept over her head, and then she heard Chen Yang say a name, "Su Xiaoshan."
Xu Wenqiang felt relieved and praised Chen Yang in her heart for being a man of his words and not bothering her at school.
"Xu Wenqiang!"
But Chen Yang called out a second name.
Xu Wenqiang looked at Su Xiaoshan in the crowd.
Su Xiaoshan nodded to her and stood up first, followed by Xu Wenqiang. Both Su Xiaoshan and Xu Wenqiang understood that if they didn't want to make a fuss, they should just go along with Chen Yang.
"Let's sing an old song." Chen Yang stood opposite them, looking calm and composed. "You all know how to sing it, 'Sad Pacific'."
Back when Chen Yang was at Qingshi Junior High, he loved singing Richie Jen's songs. He said Richie Jen's songs had a sense of fading heroism and a sense of desolate underworld. Unfortunately, neither Xu Wenqiang nor Su Xiaoshan liked them, but because Chen Yang liked them, they both learned Richie Jen's songs anyway.
"The boat I'm waiting for hasn't come yet, the person I'm waiting for still doesn't understand. The past has come up again, and when I recall it, you're no longer here."
"Even before one wave subsides, another comes to attack. In the vast sea of people, there is a raging storm."
......
Su Xiaoshan and Xu Wenqiang were both humming along with Chen Yang, just like they always did, always wanting Chen Yang to sing to his heart's content. And Chen Yang sang with genuine passion, singing each line with heart and soul, expressing his emotions with unrestrained passion.
When the song ended, everyone applauded and cheered, and some people whistled and shouted "One more".
The three of them sat back in silence.
As soon as Xu Wenqiang sat down, the girl next to her came over and asked, "You three grew up together as childhood sweethearts, right?"
"How can you tell that?" Xu Wenqiang wondered.
The girl gave her a matter-of-fact look: "You can tell with your eyes!"
"How can you tell?" Xu Wenqiang didn't believe it.
"When you look at each other, you both look so familiar." The girl said with longing, "I really envy you guys. I feel like there will be so many stories to tell."
Xu Wenqiang whispered: "It's a pity that they are all horror stories."
After a brief indulgence, the instructor put on his mask again, becoming the stern devil again, and began "Stand at attention, at ease, march in step, run and walk." Then, after a complete training round, the instructor suddenly stood at attention, saluted, and said loudly, "Goodbye!"
Before everyone could react, the instructor had already finished his ceremony, shouted a slogan, "Turn back," and then ran away in a standard running posture.
At this time, everyone realized that the military training had ended and the instructors had left.
"Goodbye, instructor!"
"goodbye!"
......
Like a youthful farewell drill, the playground erupted in cries and shouts. Then, halfway through the drill, the homeroom teachers arrived, and the cries and shouts gradually died down. When the instructors arrived at the assembly point, some glanced toward the playground, but since they were too far away to see anything, they gave up.
Fu Dongqing was talking about the things to pay attention to during the afternoon hiking training, and the girl next to Xu Wenqiang kept her head down and sobbed softly.
Later, I heard Fu Dongqing say, "If any students are feeling unwell or have special circumstances that prevent them from participating in the afternoon hike, please come to my office and let me know."
When Xu Wenqiang saw the girl next to her, everyone around her raised their heads.
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