“Instructor, what has my classmate done wrong for you to force her to stand as punishment?” Peng Zige saw Li Erqin and the instructor , as her attention had been attracted over, simply gathering together with all smiles.
“Mind your own business!” Instructor Wang dispatched her with a wave of his hand: “Leave quickly. Don’t poke into these important matters.”
Peng Zige clearly wanted to save Li Erqin from the deep water and scorching fire, so she didn’t concede and evidently wanted to continue arguing.
Rong Si, behind her spoke: “Let’s go Zige.”
Peng Zige heard what he said and secretly shot Li Erqin a “Take care of yourself” expresion, before running to catch up with Rong Si’s footsteps.
Li Erqin still had on her expressionless face. Instructor Wang saw this kind of a Li Erqin and suddenly and unexpectedly thought of where he came from and his life’s path. His values system told him that he would ignore mistakes. But in the face of this classmate with a face like thick ice, he began to doubt, and he could not find words to scold her for a moment.
Instructor Wang did not speak so Li Erqin quietly waited for a good while.
Finally, Instructor Wang spoke again: “Even though military training is hard work, at the same time, you can also practice working hard and enduring hardship while building up a willpower that is firm and indomitable. It will help you learn what is organization and discipline, and a feeling of honor will arise collectively. Understand?”
“I understand.”
Instructor Wang satisfiedly nodded his head: “Then do you agree to participating in the military parade ceremony?”
Li Erqin’s reply was short but full of strength: “No.”
Instructor Wang became dumbstruck again.
“Report Instructor!” Li Erqin replied loudly: “We have already carried out thirteen days of military training. 13 days of perseverance have helped me learn what is called hardworking and enduring hardships, and what is called firm and indomitable. We can complete all of the instructor’s orders, in an orderly fashion. This is organization and discipline, and it also embodies the collective feeling of honor. The military parade ceremony is only a ceremony. I have the right to participate or not.”
Instructor Wang became thoroughly dumbstruck, as his mouth stayed open for a quite a while, not knowing how to retort the seemingly weak and delicate little girl in front of him.
“Report Instructor! Is there anything you want to ask?”
Instructor Wang was left speechless and could only helplessly wave his hand: “Go and eat!”
sigh~ Li Erqin sighed, relaxing from the extreme military standard, as she rubbed her sore legs, she said: “Instructor, good bye.”
Instructor Wang did not know how to express his feelings so he could only say: “Good bye.”
Li Erqin imitated Rong Si as she took off her camouflage jacket and leisurely put it on her shoulder. Alone, she slowly walked towards the canteen. When she turned a corner, the clothes on her shoulder were suddenly pulled off by someone.
She turned around, astonished, as she saw Peng Zige and Rong Si leaning against the corner of the wall, looking at her with pensive expressions. She could not help but ask: “What are you doing?”
“She has personality!” Peng Zige gave her a thumbs up: “We heard everything.”
Li Erqin’s face became red. Subconsciously, she looked towards Rong Si at the other end. Unexpectedly, she saw Rong Si laughing, as she heard the voice she had been yearning for: “You don’t want to participate in the military parade?”
“Oh.” Li Erqin pondered it for a moment: “Are you guys participating?”
“Of course!” Peng Zige seemed pleased with herself: “We were both selected!”
Li Erqin didn’t understand what there was to be proud about, so she could only reply: “Then I’m also participating.”
“Do you want to eat together at the canteen?” Peng Zige asked.
Li Erqin nodded: “How come you two are there?”
“We were afraid you would be bullied by the instructor!” Peng Zige still seemed weird. After she finished, she looked towards Rong Si and lowered her eyes.
Rong Si pretended he didn’t see her and walked towards the canteen.
Li Erqin softly said thanks, as she chased after Rong Si’s footsteps.
After Li Erqin finished ordering her meal, she heard Peng Zige call her. She followed their voices and easily saw a hand waving at her.
Only after she got closer with her tray did she realize that Peng Zige was sitting right across from Rong Si, and Rong Si had even put their jackets next to her. This meant, that Li Erqin could only choose a seat next to Rong Si. When she thought of this, her heart began to beat faster.
“Quickly! Over here!” Peng Zige stood up from her seat.
Li Erqin silently took her tray and sat down next to Rong Si, not knowing why she felt a bit ill at ease. She grabbed a spoon and began to send food into her mouth, earnestly considering why her reaction was so strange. After she had thought for awhile, she began to feel that when high schoolers were pursuing other people, they probably also felt like this. The idol you liked was like an unattainable item, that suddenly got within range. Inevitably, one would feel flustered.
But, when did Rong Si arrive to the level of an idol? Li Erqin bit her spoon as she thought for a while, but she did not think of an answer.
“Lin Erqin.” Peng Zige looked at her suspiciously: “Why is your face red?”
“What?” Lin Erqin returned to her senses: “It’s a little hot.”