Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Don’t Compare Yourself to the Pro, Things Went Wrong

The next day, Ling Chengyan needed to go to the county to participate in a three-day intensive training to prepare for the district-wide competition.

The team still sent a mule cart to the commune, and from there, a tractor from the commune took them to the county. This time, Ling Chengyan took her bicycle with her.

She got up early, and it was just dawn when she arrived at the county.

The commune’s tractor dropped the three of them at the courtyard entrance before turning back. Political Commissar Xu Dong led the three straight to the canteen, where a table was set up at the entrance, normally for selling meal tickets. Today, there was also someone in military uniform with a clipboard responsible for sign-in registration. All the militia coming for the training signed in there and collected their meal tickets for the three days.

Xu Dong obviously knew the young man well and greeted him with a smile, “Officer Li.”

Seeing Xu Dong, Officer Li hastily smiled and greeted, “Commissar Xu is here, come sign in here.”

Watching Ling Chengyan and the other two sign their names, even Zhang Wanxiang, who awkwardly signed his name, Officer Li was slightly surprised and said, “Are all three of you from the Nanli Team? Your team’s literacy effort is quite impressive.”

He didn’t see that many of the people signing in earlier couldn’t write and had to draw a circle and press their fingerprint.

Zhang Wanxiang smiled bashfully, “Sister Yan taught me.”

While learning song lyrics at the commune, Ling Chengyan taught them one word at a time, and casually taught them to recognize and write their names.

Li Huaihua, who had just signed her name, also said, “Me too.”

Officer Li smiled at Ling Chengyan, “Comrade Ling Chengyan, these are your meal tickets for three days.”

Ling Chengyan took the meal tickets, thanked him, and seeing Xu Dong buying a ticket on the other side, said, “Political Commissar Xu, let us treat you to breakfast today.”

Zhang Wanxiang quickly followed, “Just one breakfast, Political Commissar Xu, no need to buy a ticket, join us.”

Xu Dong had already paid, took the meal ticket, and said with a smile, “Thank you, I have a meal allowance, no need for you to treat. Let’s go!”

This time, Taiping Commune really made a mark. Out of fifteen spots in the county, Taiping Commune secured five. Xu Dong led five people inside to eat, greeting others with smiles, eliciting some laughter and mock banter, as well as some side-eyes.

It was clear to everyone that Xu Dong was quite proud this time; Taiping Commune really made a splash.

Ling Chengyan bought a steamed bun, a bowl of porridge, and a small dish of pickles, then turned to call Li Huaihua, “Eat my pickles, I can’t finish them alone.”

Li Huaihua smiled back, “Alright, I’ll share mine tomorrow.”

After breakfast, those who brought people from each commune returned, leaving fifteen militiamen for the upcoming district-wide competition to undergo intensive training.

Officer Li led the group to the training ground to assemble, where Captain Zhang Hanchao was already waiting.

Today, Zhang Hanchao was fully dressed in uniform, exuding a steely aura. With his hands behind his back, he silently observed the fifteen militiamen, making everyone involuntarily tense up, instinctively aligning themselves and standing at attention.

“I am Zhang Hanchao, and this is Li Haiyang. For these three days, we will be in charge of your training. Before training, we need to confirm the competition events. So, I will call out names, and those called should report their event.”

As he spoke, Zhang Hanchao glanced at Xiao Li, who immediately nodded and took out the roster to begin calling names, recording the corresponding events one by one.

Ling Chengyan reported only one event: shooting.

After participating in the bayonet and throwing competitions, she had lost interest in participating again.

Zhang Hanchao didn’t say much, instructing Xiao Li to have the fifteen people go through testing according to their registered events. After understanding their performance, they would be divided for group training.

In the commune’s training, they rotated, but this time, there was ample time, space, and training ammunition. As long as the militia members didn’t want to rest, they could continue practicing without any restrictions on the supply.

Ling Chengyan and four others came to the shooting range, and Zhang Hanchao also followed.

Each person fired five rounds to complete one round. The others had varying scores, but only Ling Chengyan remained consistent, scoring fifty rings with five shots.

Zhang Hanchao looked at Ling Chengyan with a hint of a smile, “How about it, should we adjust the target position to increase the challenge?”

Ling Chengyan pondered for a moment, then nodded.

So, Ling Chengyan’s target was moved back fifty meters, and she shot at the 150-meter target alone, while others shot at the 100-meter target.

In the second round, Ling Chengyan scored forty-eight rings out of fifty.

Zhang Hanchao said nothing, still interestedly watching from the side. Ling Chengyan showed no impatience, calmly reloaded five more rounds and shot again.

This round, her score was forty-nine rings.

The other four quietly shot at their own 100-meter targets, doing their best to ignore the overwhelming presence of this “god-like” figure beside them.

This person was beyond human, like a deity, and they, mere mortals, chose not to compare to avoid mental collapse.

In the morning, Ling Chengyan shot five rounds, one at the 100-meter target, and four at the 150-meter target, with the last two rounds scoring a perfect fifty rings.

After she scored full marks in the fourth round, Zhang Hanchao left.

When Ling Chengyan finished the fifth round, Officer Li came over and whispered something to her. Ling Chengyan returned her firearms, straightened her clothes, and followed Officer Li out of the training ground.

As soon as she left, the other four let out a collective sigh of relief.

“What’re you looking at? No matter how much you look, you can’t compete with that!” one participant said a bit sourly.

The target of the comment, with a big heart, grinned and said, “Don’t talk about me; anyone here who can hit a ten at one hundred fifty meters can say something!”

Following Officer Li out of the training ground, Ling Chengyan headed towards the personnel department. On the way, Officer Li informed her that everything was arranged by Captain Zhang, and she would be stationed at the county team. Ling Chengyan could report for duty today and, after finishing the district competition, start working immediately upon returning.

As they approached the personnel office, Officer Li extended his hand to Ling Chengyan with a smile, “From now on, we’re colleagues. I’m two years younger, so please take care of me, Sister Ling.”

Ling Chengyan smiled and shook his hand, “I’m new to the job and know nothing yet; I’ll be relying on Officer Li.”

The two soon-to-be colleagues exchanged courteous small talk and then walked into the personnel office together.

Head of Personnel Hou Zhengfeng was pale, refined, and in his thirties, with a neatly groomed appearance, quite poised.

“Isn’t little Li supposed to be leading militia training? How come you have time to come here today?”

While speaking, Hou Zhengfeng’s eyes landed on the person behind little Li, “And who might this be?”

Officer Li produced an introduction letter and handed it over, “Director Hou, this is Comrade Ling Chengyan. I brought her to complete some onboarding procedures.”

Hou Zhengfeng, originally smiling, had his smile freeze upon hearing Officer Li’s words. He pulled little Li aside, putting some distance between them and Ling Chengyan, and quietly said, “Little Li, this is a bit tricky.”

“Director Hou, what’s happening? Our captain mentioned it in the meeting, and it was approved!” little Li asked in confusion.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep