"Whoa!?" The group looked at each other, clearly finding the news hard to believe.
The comrade who provided the information took a bite of his steamed bun, swallowed, and said, "It's definitely true. I asked Instructor Wang yesterday. And you'd never guess, he's only twenty-three this year."
“…………This is outrageous!” someone said indignantly.
Xu Qian nodded in agreement, but he also felt very uncomfortable.
At twenty-three, two years younger than me, he had actually attained the rank of major. This certainly wasn't achieved through the normal promotion path.
If it's based on learning and brains, Xu Qian feels he has taken the best and fastest path. He has devoted countless efforts and endured countless hardships for this path.
But the news just now shattered his long-held illusion—there is someone who is better than him.
This person was younger than him but of a higher rank. He had gone through all the trouble to participate in a selection training, but the other person was already an instructor.
Even in terms of appearance, Xu Qian had to be admitted that he was better looking than him.
Some dark jealousy can't be brought up in public, but the more it's buried in your heart, the more resentment will grow. When he came to his senses, he found that he had broken the chopsticks in his hand.
Sun Gaoda was surprised: "Qian'er is so strong? Wait, I'll get you another pair."
Xu Qian wanted to say "Don't call me Qian'er," but ultimately held back. He casually remarked to the crowd, "What do you think happened to Instructor Wen? He looks a whole size younger than Instructor Wang... Did he really get promoted by studying physics?"
"Impossible! Even a professor, if they wanted to join our system, would do so as an advisor. Besides, why would they? Twenty-three, let alone a major, not even a professor, let alone a professor. Even a teaching assistant would be a stretch..."
"Hey, what's going on in our Xia Kingdom... who knows?"
After a series of guesses and speculations, the conversation became increasingly absurd.
Some people laughed, while others couldn't laugh.
They were already furious with this so-called instructor who couldn't even speak properly yesterday, and the thought of having to endure his torment in the classroom later made everyone a little annoyed.
Xu Qian interjected at the right moment, smiled and said, "Don't guess wildly, we'll find out when we ask in class later."
Everyone agreed it was a great idea and were eager to try it out.
This kind of question itself is a challenge to the instructor's ability and authority. It's embarrassing enough if only one person asks it, but if many people join in the commotion, the instructor will inevitably lose face.
Xu Qian lowered his head and silently ate another bite of the steamed bun.
Author's note: Ningning's new nickname has been revealed.
Ningning: Get lost!! (Using her most powerful argumentative phrase)
(Received so much White Nutrient Solution yesterday! Thank you everyone! (Although some little darlings stewed me into the White Nutrient Solution and said it tasted amazing!) To thank everyone, I'll write a check first? One extra chapter for every thousand more nutrient solutions, I'll start paying it off after the story next door is finished. It'll probably be another half month before it's finished, after which I can update this more quickly! Thank you for your support, muah muah muah (flapping wings in the White Nutrient Solution))
Chapter 83
Wen Zheng entered the classroom just in time, casually tossing the stack of ill-fated test papers onto the table.
This stack of exam papers, having passed through Chen Xiaochen's hands, been placed on the dining table in the cafeteria, entered the library, and later was brought back to the dormitory, where it was explored by Dahei's curious paws. It is now full of the marks of time.
Specifically, in the top image, the corners are torn and there are several creases.
The team members were disciplined and few of them whispered. All eyes followed Wen Zheng as he walked to the front of the stage.
"Announce the scores from yesterday's exam."
Wen Zheng didn't waste any words and said directly, "There are too many people, so we'll announce the names of everyone in each category together. These are the scores you got yourself, so whether you're ashamed or not is your own business. The scores will be included in the total selection score. An instructor told you yesterday that if you get three zeros, you're out, and this test score will be included as well."
Ignoring the fiery eyes below, Wen Zheng didn't even give anyone a chance to speak, reciting names one by one like a tongue twister.
"There's one who got zero. Number three, Zhang San..."
They read it out for over a hundred people.
A score of zero means the instructor doesn't approve of you at all, and the system of eliminating three zeros makes the team members particularly sensitive to this word.
Yesterday's physical training was so tough, but Instructor Wang only gave out fifteen zeros. This unknown weakling got over a hundred right off the bat!
The team members looked grim, and even those whose numbers were skipped, though relieved, were still uneasy.
Just as the report was about to finish, someone shouted in protest: "Impossible!"
Wen Zheng ignored him and calmly finished reading the list. Only when the other person's face turned red with embarrassment did he look up and ask, "What?"
"This score is wrong!"
The team member knew that questioning the instructors about why they were being challenged with things they hadn't learned before, or saying that the rules were unreasonable, would definitely not yield any results.
The instructor represents absolute authority, and his decisions do not require reason. This person then refuted this from another angle—was the scoring accurate?
"Instructor, I reasonably suspect you didn't grade the papers at all! Thirty multiple-choice questions—even if I guessed randomly, it's impossible for me to get every single one wrong. My comrade in front of me also got zero; he filled in all thirty questions, but he didn't get a single one right!?" He shouted, "I demand a review of the paper!"
A buzzing sound arose, and the crowd began to whisper among themselves.
"Yeah, I'm wondering the same thing... Even with bad luck, the probability of not knowing any of the thirty questions is too small..." "That's not necessarily true, hey..."
After listening, Wen Zheng asked, "Are you finished?" Seeing the other person nod, he continued, "Next up are those who got ten points. Their names are..."
The words "Arrogant" appeared in large, blood-red characters formed from resentment above the hall.
This instructor is so arrogant and fearless!
Ten points, twenty points, thirty points, fifty points.
The number of people in the subsequent tiers decreased, and Wen Zheng did not continue after reporting his findings.
The crowd gradually quieted down, realizing that this didn't seem to be the actual score on the test.
“I know that most of you have never been exposed to antimatter, and this course is not offered to make you scientists.” In the silence, someone moved, and even the creaking of the chair seemed loud.
“Everything is for the sake of the mission. The selection process is for the mission. A zero score doesn’t mean you’re not good, but it means you’re not suitable.” Wen Zheng cracked his knuckles and looked up: “Whether you’re suitable or not is up to me.”
"Damn it..." someone muttered under their breath.
"Finally, there are two particularly good ones. Sun Gaoda and Xu Qian both scored 80 points." After Wen Zheng finished praising them, the two men in the sentence were quite surprised, and their expressions were quite different.
Sun Gaoda was overjoyed, practically itching to run three laps around the track right away. Xu Qian, on the other hand, bit his lower lip, lost in thought and unwilling to give up.
How could he get the same score as Sun Gaoda?! How is that possible?
Was Sun Gaoda just pretending to be weak all along, actually possessing a deep understanding of antimatter? Or was he simply lucky, guessing correctly all the time?
He thought he did his best on yesterday's test paper, completing every question and filling in all the blanks.
Although he couldn't possibly know every single one of the 500 people, he had a general idea of the situation. He had asked around yesterday at noon, and none of the dozens of people like him who were more intellectually inclined had ever been exposed to this subject.
Instructor Wen stood ramrod straight on the platform, not even glancing down at the soldiers below. His aloofness and disdain for them were, in Xu Qian's eyes, nothing short of arrogance.
As the arrogant instructor turned on the projector and bent down, Xu Qian was already on the verge of exploding with suppressed rage.
He kicked the seat in front of him, startling his clueless teammate, who suddenly remembered the plans they had discussed at breakfast.
His teammate got a zero and was in a bad mood, so when the other guy wasn't looking, he shouted, "Instructor! How did you become a major?!"
Wen Zheng heard it.
He pressed the button, straightened up, and looked in the direction where the question had been asked.
Everyone in that area lowered their heads, unable to identify who the questioner was.
The projector isn't fully turned on yet; the screen needs to be pulled down a bit.
The moment Wen Zheng turned around, the sound of a teammate banging on a table came from another direction: "Major Wen, that's amazing!"
A burst of laughter erupted.
Wen Zheng: "…………"
Don't get angry, anger hurts your health. I won't get angry if others do, because no one can take your place if you get sick from anger.
Silently repeat five times, listen to the arguments, and remember that things should not happen more than three times.
The projector slowly lowered, and there was one last step to open today's courseware—taking the memory chip from the podium and inserting it into the card reader under the desk.
This step requires not only crouching down and inserting yourself steadily, but also having your entire field of vision completely blocked.
Wen Zheng pricked up his ears, slowly squatted down, and his figure disappeared into the audience.
Someone actually whistled.
Then, people from the four corners and the middle of the classroom asked questions—"How old is the major? Major, could you show us your skills? Major, you're so beautiful..."
Wen Zheng slowly straightened up, and the classroom became quiet again.
very good.
"Big Black." He snapped his fingers, and a few seconds later, a large, muscular black cat leaped in through the window, landing nimbly on the podium, tail held high and head held high: "Roar—"
Everyone was shocked: How could there be cats at the base?
But Wen Zheng's last words plunged them into a magical reality.
"Big Black, someone led the provocation just now. Find out who they were."
What does this mean?!
As if it understood human speech, the cat turned around and glanced at Wen Zheng, then suddenly appeared on someone's desk, brandishing its claws and swatting away that person's stationery with a whoosh.
A series of sharp, crackling sounds filled the classroom. After recognizing the people, the black cat leaped back to the podium. Wen Zheng scratched the fur behind its ear, his smile fading: "Step forward."
The ten people lined up in order.
They were all filled with astonishment and doubt, glancing at Wen Zheng one moment and the black cat the next, feeling as if they had just witnessed the ultimate truth of the world!
"Ten people." Wen Zheng glanced at them and said, "Pack your things and get back to your military region."
The ten people were embarrassed and shocked, and there was an uproar below.
The instructors aren't even in charge of the selection and training, yet they have the ability to control their movements!?
One of them turned pale instantly, no longer caring about how unfriendly the black cat with its head tilted was looking at him, and said urgently, "No! It was agreed that I would only leave after getting three zeros, and I don't have three zeros!"
"How many have you had?" Wen Zheng asked.
The team member stammered, "...two."
"Hmm." Wen Zheng nodded. "Alright. You wait here."
***
This morning felt incredibly long for Xu Qian.