Chapter 109: Karma II
Was it a fortune or misfortune that we ended up in the same green-leathered train?
The train was filled with mostly new soldiers and there was a leader in one of the cabins .
He instructed us on when to alight, and at every station, a carriage of new soldiers would get off .
I did not know if Burly noticed me, but he was in the carriage right in front of mine .
I wanted to be in the same district, but not the same unit, as him .
The train stopped at Meizhou and the leader told those in our carriage to get down .
He then walked in front and I just knew that Burly and I were really heading toward the same destination .
The new recruits alighted in an orderly manner .
I wanted to see Burly but I was afraid of being seen .
Names were being called before the soldiers got taken away .
"Group 13, Zhen Dazhuang . "
I saw Burly walk forward to join Group 13 .
I figured that those in 13 would be sent to the same unit .
Three names were called after .
"Group 13, Li Goudan . "
I stood rooted to the ground .
I saw Burly"s expression change . He seemed a little bewildered .
Brief pause .
"Group 13, Li Goudan . "
I took a step forward fearfully .
We made eye contact and I lowered my head automatically, not daring to look him in the eye .
There were two boys between us and Dazhuang requested to switch places with them .
"What a coincidence," he said with a smile .
I remained silent . Nothing good was going to come out of it, I was sure .
I wanted to seek revenge for Dahai . If I could just break Dazhuang"s leg . . .
However, thinking and doing were two different things . I don"t know how I would manage that since I already had trouble protecting myself .
On the bus to the city, Dazhuang chose to sit beside me .
We said nothing along the way, but his arm was constantly pressing against, or rather, on my shoulders .
Training camp, night time .
15 of us stood in a role and were allocated to different lineups .
I heaved a sigh of relief since all of us were separated .
Dazhuang was sent to the fourth group while I was sent to the fifth .
Having a safe distance between us was a weight off my shoulder .
Military camp life was completely foreign to me .
We woke up at 4:30 in the morning, something that I hated the most since I needed sufficient sleep .
We were to get ready in five minutes and clean up the bunk and bathroom within 15 .
And we weren"t allowed to do a sloppy job . It had to seem as if no one had been in the bunk .
Having lived in the village my whole life, this was something I couldn"t understand .
Folding the blanket was hard for me as well and it took a really long time to perfect my skills .
Nevertheless, my end product was nowhere close to the leader"s work .
At five, we would line up at the field to start our run .
From 5:30 to 6:00, we were allowed to have our breakfast and rest a little . I enjoyed their slightly sweetened soy milk .
Sweet things cheered me up .
At 6:30, when the sun started to rise, we would get into our formation .
One cla.s.s in one region . I was in cla.s.s five so cla.s.s four stood in front of me .
I always had a clear view of Burly"s back .
He looked over at me a lot during our five-minute breaks .
Of course, that was merely the beginning of my nightmare .
At around eight at night, we get half an hour to shower . We had to be in bed by nine so we had free time from 8:30 to 9:00 .
After showering, I would hang my uniform up with the designated hanger .
Each of us had our own and we even wrote our names on them in fear of a mixup .
I lost my winter uniform the first day I hung them out .
It had to be Burly .
I stopped hanging my uniform out from that day onward, and I could only wring it before keeping it in my cupboard .
As such, during training the next day, I had to wear my semi-wet uniform in spite of the bone-piercing winter .
Nevertheless, the winter sun was ferocious and my uniform dried within half an hour .
I did not find training arduous, but living life in such fear was torturous .
I had thought that this was it, but no, Burly would hide all of my gears .
The second month in, I discovered that Burly did something else behind my back .
New soldiers got 500 a month and the snack kiosk within the camp allowed delayed payment as long as we wrote our group number and names down .
Again, I had been heartlessly exploited .
It was only after a few inquiries that I realized Burly would always treat his group mates to some snacks and drinks after every training . Under my name, of course .
Fortunately, there was a limit every month, or else I would"ve been in deeper sh*t .
That night, at 8:30, I went over to cla.s.s four and called him out for a chat .
Standing on the roof with the clothes hangers, we exchanged looks .
"You hid my uniform?" I started .
He smiled and pointed at his own uniform . "I didn"t hide it . I wear it . Wear one while the other two are in the wash . You know it"s hard to dry clothes during winter so two sets aren"t enough for me . Three is just about right so what"s wrong with me taking a set of yours?"
"Then what about me? Is one set enough for me?"
"But that"s your problem," he responded .
"What about the debt that you left under my name?"
"We came from the same region . What"s wrong with me taking a little of your money?" he asked with that irritatingly malicious smile .
I clenched my teeth and said, "I"m going to avenge my friends . "
Even though I had taken some military fitness cla.s.ses for the past days, I was still not his match in terms of height and size .
Burly threw a punch at my chest and I almost couldn"t breathe . He then took me down to the ground and held me there . I was unable to resist at all .
"Knew you"d think that way . " Burly laughed coldly .
As I covered my face during the beating, a light shone down on us .
"What are you two doing? It"s almost nine! Scoot back to your bunk!" the patrolling officer ordered .
Burly got off me and headed downstairs while I got stopped by the officer .
"Is he from your cla.s.s?"
I cried out and told him all that had happened .
The next morning, Burly received a grave warning .
That night, when I was showering, Burly took a broom and broke one of my legs .
I"ve forgotten what he shouted that night, but no other soldiers dared to intervene .
He smashed the broom at my leg incessantly .
Unable to fight back, I received many bruises and wounds on my left leg and face .
Hearing my loud cries, the leaders dashed in to pull Burly away .
Again, he received another warning while I was sent to the nearest military hospital .
My leader visited me and gave me two choices .
Since I haven"t learned to use guns yet, he said that I could either wait for my injuries to heal before transferring to another unit or leave immediately .
Because I had nowhere to go, I could only choose the first option .
However, my leg took half a year to recover and my batchmates were all reallocated by then .
Left without a choice, I was sent to a special department .
Was it a fortune or misfortune that we ended up in the same green leathered train The train was filled with mostly new soldiers and there was a leader in one of the cabins . He instructed us on when to alight, and at every station, a carriage of new soldiers would get off . I did not know if Burly noticed me, but he was in the carriage right in front of mine . I wanted to be in the same district, but not the same unit, as him . The train stopped at Meizhou and the leader told those in our carriage to get down . He then walked in front and I just knew that Burly and I were really heading toward the same destination . The new recruits alighted in an orderly manner . I wanted to see Burly but I was afraid of being seen . Names were being called before the soldiers got taken away . Group 13, Zhen Dazhuang . I saw Burly walk forward to join Group 13 . I figured that those in 13 would be sent to the same unit . Three names were called after . Group 13, Li Goudan . I stood rooted to the ground . I saw Burly 39 s expression change . He seemed a little bewildered . Brief pause . Group 13, Li Goudan . I took a step forward fearfully . We made eye contact and I lowered my head automatically, not daring to look him in the eye . There were two boys between us and Dazhuang requested to switch places with them . What a coincidence, he said with a smile . I remained silent . Nothing good was going to come out of it, I was sure . I wanted to seek revenge for Dahai . If I could just break Dazhuang 39 s leg . . . However, thinking and doing were two different things . I don 39 t know how I would manage that since I already had trouble protecting myself . On the bus to the city, Dazhuang chose to sit beside me . We said nothing along the way, but his arm was constantly pressing against, or rather, on my shoulders . Training camp, night time . 15 of us stood in a role and were allocated to different lineups . I heaved a sigh of relief since all of us were separated . Dazhuang was sent to the fourth group while I was sent to the fifth . Having a safe distance between us was a weight off my shoulder . Military camp life was completely foreign to me . We woke up at 4 30 in the morning, something that I hated the most since I needed sufficient sleep . We were to get ready in five minutes and clean up the bunk and bathroom within 15 . And we weren 39 t allowed to do a sloppy job . It had to seem as if no one had been in the bunk . Having lived in the village my whole life, this was something I couldn 39 t understand . Folding the blanket was hard for me as well and it took a really long time to perfect my skills . Nevertheless, my end product was nowhere close to the leader 39 s work . At five, we would line up at the field to start our run . From 5 30 to 6 00, we were allowed to have our breakfast and rest a little . I enjoyed their slightly sweetened soy milk . Sweet things cheered me up . At 6 30, when the sun started to rise, we would get into our formation . One cla.s.s in one region . I was in cla.s.s five so cla.s.s four stood in front of me . I always had a clear view of Burly 39 s back . He looked over at me a lot during our five minute breaks . Of course, that was merely the beginning of my nightmare . At around eight at night, we get half an hour to shower . We had to be in bed by nine so we had free time from 8 30 to 9 00 . After showering, I would hang my uniform up with the designated hanger . Each of us had our own and we even wrote our names on them in fear of a mixup . I lost my winter uniform the first day I hung them out . It had to be Burly . I stopped hanging my uniform out from that day onward, and I could only wring it before keeping it in my cupboard . As such, during training the next day, I had to wear my semi wet uniform in spite of the bone piercing winter . Nevertheless, the winter sun was ferocious and my uniform dried within half an hour . I did not find training arduous, but living life in such fear was torturous . I had thought that this was it, but no, Burly would hide all of my gears . The second month in, I discovered that Burly did something else behind my back . New soldiers got 500 a month and the snack kiosk within the camp allowed delayed payment as long as we wrote our group number and names down . Again, I had been heartlessly exploited . It was only after a few inquiries that I realized Burly would always treat his group mates to some snacks and drinks after every training . Under my name, of course . Fortunately, there was a limit every month, or else I would 39 ve been in deeper sh t . That night, at 8 30, I went over to cla.s.s four and called him out for a chat . Standing on the roof with the clothes hangers, we exchanged looks . You hid my uniform I started . He smiled and pointed at his own uniform . I didn 39 t hide it . I wear it . Wear one while the other two are in the wash . You know it 39 s hard to dry clothes during winter so two sets aren 39 t enough for me . Three is just about right so what 39 s wrong with me taking a set of yours Then what about me Is one set enough for me But that 39 s your problem, he responded . What about the debt that you left under my name We came from the same region . What 39 s wrong with me taking a little of your money he asked with that irritatingly malicious smile . I clenched my teeth and said, I 39 m going to avenge my friends . Even though I had taken some military fitness cla.s.ses for the past days, I was still not his match in terms of height and size . Burly threw a punch at my chest and I almost couldn 39 t breathe . He then took me down to the ground and held me there . I was unable to resist at all . Knew you 39 d think that way . Burly laughed coldly . As I covered my face during the beating, a light shone down on us . What are you two doing It 39 s almost nine Scoot back to your bunk the patrolling officer ordered . Burly got off me and headed downstairs while I got stopped by the officer . Is he from your cla.s.s I cried out and told him all that had happened . The next morning, Burly received a grave warning . That night, when I was showering, Burly took a broom and broke one of my legs . I 39 ve forgotten what he shouted that night, but no other soldiers dared to intervene . He smashed the broom at my leg incessantly . Unable to fight back, I received many bruises and wounds on my left leg and face . Hearing my loud cries, the leaders dashed in to pull Burly away . Again, he received another warning while I was sent to the nearest military hospital . My leader visited me and gave me two choices . Since I haven 39 t learned to use guns yet, he said that I could either wait for my injuries to heal before transferring to another unit or leave immediately . Because I had nowhere to go, I could only choose the first option . However, my leg took half a year to recover and my batchmates were all reallocated by then . Left without a choice, I was sent to a special department .