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 class in one region. I was in class five so class 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 sht.
That night, at 8:30, I went over to class 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 classes 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 class?
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.
