Unfortunately, he made a mistake. Before the veteran could speak, he started talking to himself: "Squad leader, training hasn't even started yet! How do you know we're bears?"
The old man narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a half-smile, "Not bad! You all know to report before you speak."
"Hehehehe..."
Chen Xiwa flashed his signature silly grin and continued, "My family situation is similar to Xiaozhuang's. My grandfather was a member of the Eighth Route Army, and my father was also a soldier. Before I left, my father told me that I must..."
Gradually, Chen Xiwa couldn't continue speaking, because just as he was speaking, Lao Pao walked up to him and said with a forced smile, "A military family, huh?"
Chen Xiwa nodded weakly. The old man still had a smile on his face, but what he said made Chen Xiwa's expression change.
"But did I give you permission to speak?!"
Seeing Chen Xiwa staring blankly at him, Lao Pao's face suddenly darkened, and he shouted, "Did I give you permission to speak?!"
When he said the word "criticize," spittle flew onto Chen Xiwa's face.
At this moment, Chen Xiwa, under the pressure of the old man's powerful aura, involuntarily leaned back slightly and said in a trembling voice, "No...no."
"Because of this soldier... what's your name again?"
"Chen... Chen Xiwa".
"Chen Xiwa." The old man nodded, then said loudly, "Because of this soldier Chen Xiwa, all of you will be punished today."
"Attention, everyone! Five-kilometer preparation! Everyone turn right... run... march!"
Li Ling's lips curled slightly. "Let's begin!"
So, are you ready to receive a surprise, Class Monitor Bear?
Led by the veteran, the first platoon of new recruits headed towards the running track on the parade ground.
At this time, the new recruits were all wearing rubber shoes, while the veterans were wearing sergeant leather shoes, which put them at a disadvantage when running five kilometers.
But the new recruits all carry backpacks, and carrying a load for five kilometers is a completely different concept from carrying it unarmed for five kilometers. So, in general, the new recruits are at a greater disadvantage.
The track is a standard 400-meter track, which is five kilometers, or twelve and a half laps.
The veterans don't usually run this track for their 5-kilometer cross-country training; they run on the outer track that circles the regiment.
That track is 2.5 kilometers per lap, so two laps would be 5 kilometers. And the surface is a gravel surface with ups and downs, unlike the concrete track around the playground.
"Huff~ Huff~"
The recruits hadn't run for long before they were all panting heavily from exhaustion.
In the first few laps, everyone was able to maintain their formation, but around the eighth lap, the formation began to spread out, and the differences in physical fitness began to show.
By the tenth lap, some people were already inching forward little by little.
At first, the veteran was leading the run, but later he discovered that Li Ling was keeping up closely behind him. This ignited a competitive spirit in him, and he stopped paying attention to the other recruits, taking the lead and running ahead.
Li Ling maintained a regular breathing rhythm. He could easily run ten kilometers every morning back in his hometown, let alone a mere five kilometers now.
Despite carrying a five-kilogram backpack, Li Ling ran as if taking a leisurely stroll.
Soon, they reached the five-kilometer mark, but the old man still showed no sign of stopping.
Li Ling grinned as he watched the old man's retreating figure. "Run, you'll regret it."
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Chapter 26 Old Gunner, You're in for a Rip-Off
The fifteenth lap has already covered six kilometers.
The other seven recruits, including Chen Xiwa who was physically fit, had been exhausted by the two of them. They were all lying on the ground with weak legs, unable to run any further.
"Go, Xiao Zhuang!"
Chen Xiwa looked at the two who had lapped him a full circle ahead, and finally collapsed to the ground, exhausted, shouting at Li Ling's back as he passed by.
Hearing Chen Xiwa's cheers, Li Ling decided not to drag things out any longer.
With a sudden burst of power from his legs, he easily overtook the veteran and charged forward, trying his best to widen the distance between them.
"good!"
"Europe!"
"..."
The new recruits watching from the sidelines saw Li Ling unleash his power, easily leaving the veterans behind, and suddenly burst into a howl.
This wasn't just jeering; it was excitement, because it meant that the new recruits had defeated the veterans.
"Shh~"
A loud whistle rang out; it was the lieutenant who had received the troops who, seeing the situation was not good, blew the whistle to stop the running.
If new recruits leave veterans far behind, it's not just the veterans who will lose face, but the other squad leaders will also look bad, and the new recruits will become harder to manage!
The squad leaders stopped the new recruits in their squads and ordered them to return to their assembly positions.
Li Ling gradually stopped and turned around to look at Lao Pao, who was bent over, supporting his knees and panting.
It's unclear what Lao Pao is thinking right now; he keeps his head down and doesn't look at Li Ling.