Chapter 425: Salute
The saying "trust a man’s words and a sow could climb a tree" has proven to be wrong.
Lin Tian said yesterday they would only sleep, and indeed it was just sleeping—unless the few times he touched Liou Qingcheng’s cute butt count.
Watching Liou Qingcheng curled up by his chest, quietly snoring like a kitten, Lin Tian can’t help but think of the story of "a beast and one not even worthy of being a beast."
Lin Tian thought: "If Qingcheng wakes up and finds out I did nothing, would she slap herself and call me worse than a beast, just like the woman in that story?"
Should I be a beast, or worse than a beast?
Unable to figure out an answer, Lin Tian picked up his phone to check the time; it was already seven o’clock.
He gently got up, adjusted the open part of Liou Qingcheng’s nightgown around her chest, took a picture of her at her peaceful and slightly mischievous state, and finally headed to the kitchen to make breakfast.
After breakfast, the two returned to the dormitory since they needed to change into their military training uniforms.
Opening the dorm room door, Lin Tian walked in to find only Meng Nan inside.
"The bookworm hasn’t come back yet?" Lin Tian asked.
Meng Nan sat at the edge of the bed, propping his chin with his hand, and said a bit gloomily, "You didn’t come back either? You went to a room with Qingcheng last night, didn’t you?"
Lin Tian looked at his expression and burst into laughter, "Looks like you and Sisi are still the same as ever."
"No! It’s not the same!"
"Did you win her over? Then why are you still in the dorm?"
"You think too much; she won me over. I like her more and more now. Because of her, I no longer fancy women with large breasts; now I think flat is truly beautiful!"
Lin Tian was completely convinced...
After changing clothes, the two went downstairs to the playground. Along the way, Meng Nan kept pestering Lin Tian to tell him the secret to winning over a goddess.
"I’ve never pursued a goddess, you know. Didn’t you know that it was the goddess who pursued me?"
Lin Tian’s words almost made him spit blood in anger.
Upon reaching the field, Sisi appeared out of nowhere like a ghost behind Lin Tian and tapped his shoulder.
"What?" Lin Tian looked at her.
Sisi sneered, "Tell me, did you and Qingcheng do it last night?"
Lin Tian rolled his eyes at her, "No, I just held her and slept."
"Worse than a beast!" Sisi yelled.
Lin Tian was somewhat speechless, still got scolded...
Meng Nan stood beside him, chuckling, "I thought you got Qingcheng last night. Turns out you’re still a fledgling."
Sisi raised an eyebrow, "Aren’t you a fledgling too?"
Meng Nan’s face turned completely red, he opened his mouth, hesitating but finding no words.
"Hmph!" With a cold snort, Sisi turned and left.
Lin Tian laughed and nudged Meng Nan with his elbow, asking, "Now you not only like flat ones but also little chili peppers, right?"
"Get lost, it’s all your fault!" After a curse, Meng Nan chased after her, "Sisi, wait for me, listen to my explanation."
As Mr. Liu said yesterday, today’s training only consisted of marching.
Like yesterday, Lin Tian stood in front of all his classmates, leading them in the marching practice.
In Mr. Liu’s eyes, Lin Tian seemed to have a magic power; as long as he was leading, the entire class’s training efficiency significantly increased.
While kicking their steps and swinging their arms, everyone chanted, "One two one, one two one..." The results were evident. After a whole morning, they no longer tripped over their own feet, nor marched wrong-handed and wrong-footed like the day before.
By afternoon, Mr. Liu saw that everyone was doing well in marching, so he had them practice all projects together, treating it as a rehearsal.
With neat, strong steps, everyone entered, chanting fervent slogans: "Obey orders, listen to commands, unite and help each other, strive for excellence!"
Next was Military Boxing; after finishing, they continued to march out.
After a few rounds, time slipped into the evening, the scorching sun turned into a sunset, and today’s military training was nearing its end.
"All of you, attention!"
Mr. Liu stood straight in front of Class 42, his gaze swept over every student, and finally, he nodded with satisfaction.
"The one-week military training ends today, and I am very pleased with your performance over these days."
None of the students spoke; they all looked at Mr. Liu, and they all smiled.
Mr. Liu also smiled, his dark face spreading into a grin, revealing two rows of neat white teeth.
"Do you have a goal?" Mr. Liu loudly asked.
"Yes!"
The entire Class 42 responded in unison, their voices resounding.
"Your voices are loud, but I’m not satisfied, louder!"
"Yes!"
Every student shouted at the top of their lungs, louder and more vigorous than before.
"What rank do you think you will achieve tomorrow?"
"First place!"
"Why?"
Everyone fell silent; they didn’t expect Mr. Liu to ask this, nor did they foresee the answer.
Suddenly, Lin Tian’s loud voice rang out: "We are number one!"
Mr. Liu’s gaze fell on Lin Tian, and he asked again, "Why?"
"We are number one!"
Class 42 shouted in unison.
"That’s right, you are number one." Mr. Liu’s gaze swept over everyone again, saying, "No matter if you achieve first place tomorrow or not, in my heart, you are first! I witnessed your sweat these days, saw everyone’s efforts, every step you walked, and every punch you swung, I saw it all."
"Some might complain about me, and I fully understand those who do. Five years ago, when I was a rookie, I also complained about my drill instructor, about his strictness and insensitivity. I see that these few days of military training have tired you out, but I am gratified because none of you feigned illness, and each of you persevered without desertion."
Mr. Liu stood at the very front of the class, looking at everyone, and shouted, "Lastly, I want to hear you shout our class slogan once more!"
Every student’s body tensed, their eyes fixed on Mr. Liu, and they shouted in unison: "Obey orders, listen to commands, unite and help each other, strive for excellence!"
"I want you to remember this slogan. Though I am leaving tomorrow, you all remain a group and need to unite and help each other to strive for excellence!"
After saying this, Mr. Liu’s body tightened, legs together, arms straightened, left hand at his side, and right hand raised next to his eyebrow—in a handsome, standard military salute.
"Salute!" Lin Tian shouted.
The entire class stood straight, uniformly raising their right hands, placing them next to their eyebrows, their eyes filled with admiration as they looked at Mr. Liu.