Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Can’t Even Beat a Woman

Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Soon, the people on the stage introduced themselves, and Ling Chengyan learned that sitting in the middle was Director Guo, Guo Sufeng of the commune. To his left was Zhang Hanchao, the brigade leader of the county brigade, whom Ling Chengyan had seen once before. The other two were Wu Xiangyang, captain of the militia squad of the commune, and Political Commissar Xu Dong.

After a brief speech from Director Guo and Zhang Hanchao, Captain Wu Xiangyang announced the division of the company and the training plan.

Nearly three hundred people participated in the training, divided into three companies, nine platoons, and several squads. Basically, each brigade formed a squad, with the brigade militia captain serving as squad leader. Platoon leaders and company leaders were appointed by the squad captain.

The five members of the Nanli Team were assigned to the first company, second platoon, fifth squad. Wang Lianqi was appointed as the training platoon leader, and the remaining four had to elect a new squad leader. Unconsciously, Ling Chengyan and the other two young ones looked at Jiang Shenglin.

However, Jiang Shenglin smiled and said, “I think Comrade Ling Chengyan is exceptional in quality, and her style is firm, so I propose her to be our squad leader.”

Wu Qingyun and Zhang Wanxiang paused for a moment, looked at each other, and raised their hands as well.

Ling Chengyan was somewhat surprised but didn’t panic.

She looked at the three others, then at Wang Lianqi standing ahead with the other two platoon and company leaders, withdrew her gaze, and calmly said, “Since my comrades trust me, I will humbly accept this. I hope you will support and tolerate me more in the future training.”

On this side, Ling Chengyan was chosen as the squad leader. The people from Longsheng Village heard and laughed again.

“Hahaha, a bunch of guys choosing a woman as squad leader, with this temperament, I’m afraid even with the wind blowing, they’ll still wet their shoes! Hahaha…”

“Don’t be so sure, a young woman as squad leader might even be exciting… Um, puh puh puh, ugh…” This speaker was even nastier, but before finishing, he suddenly bent over and vomited violently.

The people from Longsheng Village quickly gathered around to check, only to see his spit mixed with yellow, white, and green substances… Being well-versed in rural life, those who saw it immediately changed their faces and looked up at the sky – he had swallowed a bird’s droppings!

Two crows fell onto a nearby treetop, cawing as if mocking these people.

Zhang Wanxiang laughed loudly and said, “Hey, does bird droppings taste good? They used to say Longsheng Village was doing well, but it turns out it’s not, or else why would they be hungry enough to eat bird droppings!”

Wu Qingyun also said, “Even the birds can’t stand to watch!”

“You guys are a bunch of cowards willing to be led by a woman, yet you dare to whine…” Zhang Qinghu, who ate the bird’s droppings, had the filthiest mouth and was in the most explosive mood. Shamed and angry, he jumped up and swung his fist at Wu Qingyun.

Wu Qingyun, being selected for militia training, was definitely one of the village’s top young talents. How could he really be as gentle and delicate as he appeared, unable to withstand a blow?

He slightly crouched, dodging Zhang Qinghu’s punch, then used the momentum to grab it with one hand while punching Zhang Qinghu’s stomach with the other.

Ling Chengyan squinted and praised silently, “What a move, the Black Tiger grabs the Heart.”

Zhang Qinghu, in pain, immediately bent like a shrimp and staggered back a few steps. Someone from his village supported him from behind, and he finally stood still.

“Bastard, daring to sneak a punch!” Zhang Qingbiao, Zhang Qinghu’s cousin, shouted angrily and rushed towards Wu Qingyun. His basin-sized fists whipped through the air, aimed straight at Wu Tianming’s face.

Zhang Qinghu was sturdy but not tall, while Zhang Qingbiao was one of the tallest and most robust today, taller than Jiang Shenglin. Filled with youthful vigor, the punch he came with carried quite some power.

In comparison, Wu Qingyun appeared slender against him, clearly not of the same weight class.

Both Zhang Wanxiang and Jiang Shenglin, two big men, rushed forward simultaneously, intending to take Zhang Qingbiao’s punch for Wu Qingyun. Unexpectedly, someone quicker than them blocked in front of Wu Qingyun and intercepted Zhang Qingbiao’s punch with an ethereal hand.

Zhang Qingbiao didn’t even see who caught his punch; he only felt his fist stopped. When he fixed his eyes on the person, it turned out to be the young woman from Nanli Village.

Zhang Qingbiao was stunned, staring at her with disbelief.

“I… I don’t fight with women, get lost!” Zhang Qingbiao, first shocked then enraged, shouted at Ling Chengyan.

“You can’t even beat a woman, let alone others.” Ling Chengyan’s tone was calm as she withdrew her hand, looking at the almost embarrassed and furious Zhang Qingbiao. Her gaze lightly swept over the people from Longsheng Village, “Everyone is here for training and selection, competing for a place in the county martial arts competition. If you have the skill, compete in the martial arts arena, not here finding trouble and fighting in groups!”

“Well said!” A clear voice shouted with praise, accompanied by applause as Zhang Hanchao, the county brigade leader, approached.

Behind him were commune director Guo Sufeng, militia squad captain Wu Xiangyang, and several others.

Guo Sufeng also smiled and applauded with praise. Captain Wu Xiangyang and Political Commissar Xu Dong naturally turned to look for Longsheng Village militia captain Zhang Qingguang, staring at him fiercely as a silent warning.

Zhang Qingguang had just gone to listen to the leaders’ task arrangements, completely absent from the scene. Being stared at by them, he could only endure it and silently turned back to seek information from the few militiamen in his brigade.

Among the Longsheng Village members, the only outsider Liu Wenjie whispered, “Their pretty boy played dirty, hit Qinghu in the stomach.”

The others left it at that, but Ling Chengyan, with good hearing, heard Liu Wenjie’s ambiguous words clearly but remained silent.

Situations like this were common in the military environment, as she had seen many times and didn’t take it seriously. As she said, if you have the skill, show it in the training field and competition field; everything else is pointless.

Zhang Hanchao looked at the not too tall, slender and thin female comrade, and nodded repeatedly, “This…”

Political Commissar Xu Dong had already inquired from Wang Lianqi and immediately came over to introduce, “This is the female militia recommended by our Nanli Team, Ling Chengyan.”

“Hello, Comrade Ling Chengyan.” Zhang Hanchao reached out to Ling Chengyan.

Ling Chengyan naturally reached out and shook his hand.

Zhang Hanchao smiled and nodded, “Comrade Ling Chengyan, have you practiced martial arts?”

Ling Chengyan did not deny, calmly said, “I’ve practiced a bit with my father and brothers.”

“Good, good, as the Great Man said, ’women hold up half the sky,’ indeed, Comrade Ling Chengyan lets us know that the militia force does not lack heroines!”

Everyone followed with agreement, and Zhang Hanchao also said to Ling Chengyan, “Comrade Ling Chengyan, train and select well, I hope to see your heroism in the county competition.”

Ling Chengyan nodded in response, “Thank you, leader, for the encouragement.”

The leaders quickly left, and soon came news that the Longsheng Brigade militia, originally in the same platoon as the Nanli Team, were moved to the second company, second platoon, essentially isolating their daily contact with the Nanli Team, but also quietly adding a force of competition for the upcoming period of training and competitions.

After sorting the companies, the militia quickly entered formal training, starting with learning the queue commands. As a first-time participant, Ling Chengyan was initially unfamiliar with the commands, but once familiar, her excellent qualities quickly shone through. Despite being a female militia, she was not in the least inferior to any male militia.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep