Chapter 168: I’m Not Convinced
Confer a t.i.tle?
The students here had chosen the military academy as their university, so they naturally knew what a military t.i.tle represented.
To many people, this was an important reason why they chose the military academy.
It was a type of glory, signifying that the military had recognized the person who was given the t.i.tle.
This glory was enough to let the person enjoy special treatment at many places. The benefits couldn’t be explained with a few simple sentences.
In summary, it wasn’t easy for someone to get a t.i.tle.
Even the old students sitting at the spectator stand were so shocked that their jaws almost dropped to the floor. Some of their expressions seemed a little ugly too.
Mind you, only a few third-year and fourth-year seniors were given a military t.i.tle. And they received the t.i.tle because they had gained military exploits during important missions. Hence, no one had anything to say.
However, w.a.n.g Teng was just a freshman. He didn’t gain any military exploits, so what right did he have to be conferred a t.i.tle?
Peng Yuanshan didn’t say anything. This time, he waited for everyone to gradually turn silent before he continued, “I know that some of you are unconvinced.
“How can a freshman who didn’t gain any military exploits be given a military t.i.tle?
“Especially the older students. Some of you have gone through many missions and gained many military exploits. However, you haven’t been conferred a t.i.tle. Yet, this little freshman climbed on top of you and got one. You must be uncomfortable.
“But, I don’t have to explain anything to you. Since w.a.n.g Teng got the t.i.tle, he got it.
“However, w.a.n.g Teng is indeed an exception. I can give you a chance. If anyone is unconvinced, you can challenge him on the same level. The one who wins will get his t.i.tle.”
The older students’ eyes lit up when they heard this. They were excited.
“F**k, this is a good deal. If he had said this earlier, I wouldn’t have objected to w.a.n.g Teng gaining the t.i.tle.”
“That’s right. I agree to let w.a.n.g Teng have the t.i.tle. He deserves it.”
“Cough, as his seniors, why will we be jealous of our junior…”
This was what they were saying, but their eager expressions and restless gazes betrayed their honest thoughts.
WTF?
w.a.n.g Teng stood in the crowd and was stunned once he heard Peng Yuanshan’s words.
At first, he was quite happy when he said that he was conferring him a t.i.tle. Who knew that the president would do this?
This was so frustrating!
He chose Huanghai Military Academy because they had promised that he would be given a ‘sergeant’ t.i.tle.
Although it wasn’t the main reason, it was still a condition they had agreed on.
Yet, look at what he did. He was given the t.i.tle as agreed, but he also became everyone’s target. Those old students obviously wanted to target him.
The other freshmen wanted to laugh at w.a.n.g Teng’s plight. Hahaha… who asked you to get the t.i.tle? Look, you’re the target of all the older students now. Let’s see if you can get a good sleep.
“Hahaha, Old Peng is creating trouble!”
There was a row of school leaders sitting on the rostrum. They started smiling unconsciously when they heard Peng Yuanshan’s decision.
“That fellow must be really frustrated.”
“This seems a little unscrupulous. We agreed to give him a military t.i.tle at the start. That’s why he came to our school. Now that he came, aren’t we going back on our words by doing this?”
“He didn’t get the military t.i.tle because of military exploits, so he doesn’t have a valid reason for getting the t.i.tle. I think Old Peng did this for his sake. If he has the ability, he can naturally keep his t.i.tle. If he doesn’t, he can’t blame other people for s.n.a.t.c.hing it.”
There were directors of the different colleges and many instructors sitting at the spectator stand. They came today to see which students were more outstanding.
Earlier, Peng Yuanshan had frightened the freshmen and asked the latecomers to run 20 rounds because he wanted to test them. At the same time, it allowed these directors to see the students’ abilities.
A diamond would s.h.i.+ne wherever he was.
These freshmen were like diamonds in the rough. They needed to go through a filtration process.
To the teachers, an outstanding student was easy to teach. They would feel proud when they boasted about him.
The effect was obvious. Among all the freshmen, there were around 30 who didn’t get affected. Among these people, about 12 of them appeared more relaxed.
Of course, among these people, w.a.n.g Teng’s performance was the most conspicuous. He looked natural and relaxed, as if he didn’t feel anything.
Since he was able to act so indifferently, there was no denying his ability.
But, if they really wanted to test how powerful he was, they needed a knife-testing stone. Peng Yuanshan threw out the temptation of the military t.i.tle to use it as w.a.n.g Teng’s testing stone.
Even if w.a.n.g Teng lost, it was alright.
All formidable warriors had suffered defeat before.
All these freshmen, especially the talented ones, were extremely arrogant, as they had never suffered the brutality of society. If he didn’t take them down a peg, it would be hard to teach them in the future.
But, there was a limit. A martial warrior needed to have some personality. If they were too down-to-earth, that would be the end of them.
“w.a.n.g Teng, please come to the rostrum. I will confer you your t.i.tle today,” Peng Yuanshan said in w.a.n.g Teng’s direction.
w.a.n.g Teng felt his gaze landing on his body.
Among so many students, Peng Yuanshan was still able to find him accurately.
“The president is looking in our direction. Could it be that w.a.n.g Teng is near us?”
“I’m from Donghai. I have seen w.a.n.g Teng’s photo, but I don’t see him.”
“Brother, are you w.a.n.g Teng?”
“No, no.”
“If you’re not, why are you walking forward?”
“Oh, someone behind farted. It’s really smelly.”
“…F**k, it really is. Were you the one who farted?”
When the students around him saw Peng Yuanshan looking in their direction, a thought flashed through their minds. They started discussing.
“Is w.a.n.g Teng so shy?” Peng Yuanshan teased.
w.a.n.g Teng: …
To h.e.l.l with being shy!
Am I shy?
If you hadn’t put me in this position, would I be shy?
He felt a little helpless. However, the situation had already developed to this, so he had no choice but to walk to the rostrum.
“Excuse me!”
The students around him were stunned. This person, who had remained silent the entire time, was actually w.a.n.g Teng!
“He’s w.a.n.g Teng?”
“He didn’t say anything just now. He’s really calm.”
“Calm? Hmph, I think that he’s scared.”
“Shh, don’t say it out. Give him some face.”
This was what the male students were saying. As for the female students, their eyes were shooting threatening beams.
“Hey, w.a.n.g Teng is a little handsome.”
“Tsk, why are you fawning over him? He’s just a pretty flower. Ladies like us must not be too shallow. We can’t get enticed by their appearance.”
“That’s right. Men are soy sauce pig trotters. They are delicious, but they are flirty!”[1]
…
“…”
w.a.n.g Teng was left speechless when he heard the conversations around him.
Am I scared?
Don’t talk nonsense if you don’t know what’s happening. I’m just following my heart.
Also, that fat lady over there, what do you mean by soy sauce pig trotters? Are you sure you’re not talking about food?
Please stay on the same channel as me!
He complained in his heart as he walked up the rostrum. There was an intense angry aura around him as he stood beside Peng Yuanshan.
“Cough, w.a.n.g Teng, you seem a little angry?” Peng Yuanshan coughed awkwardly as he asked.
“Haha, I won’t dare to.” w.a.n.g Teng forced a smile on his face.
At this moment, a pretty senior sister wearing military attire walked over with a set of military uniforms.
“Alright, let’s not waste any more time.”
The corners of Peng Yuanshan’s lips twitched a little. How long had it been since a student dared to talk back to him? The last one seemed to be nine years ago.
That fellow was in an extremely high position now. However, whenever he saw him, he still acted like a mouse encountering a cat.
As expected, he lacked some education.
Memories flashed past his mind for an instant. Then, he took over the set of military uniforms from the senior sister and said to w.a.n.g Teng, “w.a.n.g Teng, it has been many years since the last conferment of a freshman. I’m delighted that you have appeared.
“However, your path is just starting. Your future is long. I hope that when you graduate in your fourth year, you will have more merits to your name.
“I also hope that one day, I can see you wearing the… general cloak.”
The senior sister beside them was standing quite close. When she heard this sentence, she widened her eyes. “General… cloak!”
What was a general cloak?
Only a general could wear a general cloak. All the troops would bow down to him.
The president had such high hopes for w.a.n.g Teng?
The instructors behind them were shocked too. Was the president’s expectation a little too high?
The old students at the spectator stand were stunned when they heard this. Then, they felt speechless. Some of them even started frowning.
They were the favored child of G.o.d, but the president had never said these words to them. Yet, today, he said it to a freshman.
Are we weaker than him?
No one was convinced.
The freshmen below were dumbstruck.
“w.a.n.g Teng is amazing!”
“F**k, general cloak? w.a.n.g Teng is my brother from now onwards. Brother Teng, you’re the best! (voice breaks)”
“Boss, do you need lackeys? I want to be under your protection~”
…
w.a.n.g Teng raised his head abruptly, staring at the middle-aged man with white sideburns. A flash of astonishment flashed past his eyes.
However, when he saw the corners of the other party’s lips lifting slightly…
w.a.n.g Teng was enlightened!
F**K!
He got fooled again!
This sly old fox is so sinister. In the future, if anyone dares to say that I’m crafty, I will fight with him!
Compared to this boss in front of me, I’m as pure as a newborn baby.
Wronged.jpg
No, I can’t let him control me!
“w.a.n.g Teng, come, take this military uniform, and you will be a ‘sergeant’!” Peng Yuanshan retracted the expression on his face. It looked as though the sly old fox expression had never appeared.
Indeed, he had purposely revealed that sly smile just now.
So what if you know that I fooled you?
This is a trap set by me. Even if you don’t want to walk into it, you have to!
w.a.n.g Teng could almost see his thoughts. The gears in his brain spun furiously. Why should I take it just because you ask me to? Where am I supposed to put my dignity?
Since you want to talk about rules, I will walk within the boundaries set by the rules.
The words the president said just now were unreasonable. Even after he got his t.i.tle, other people could take it away by challenging him.
This rule definitely didn’t exist in the military academy. It didn’t make sense.
Thinking about this, w.a.n.g Teng smiled. Peng Yuanshan instantly felt a sense of uneasiness in his heart when he saw the smile. w.a.n.g Teng said calmly, “I’m not convinced!”
[1] In Chinese, calling a man a pig trotter means the man is flirtatious.