Wu Zheng turned back and exchanged a glance with Gu Xingdong, his gaze returning to Wang Dazhu. "The previous assessments were just for ordinary soldiers. You are now soldiers of the Tiger Regiment, tasked with special missions. If your physical fitness isn't up to par, you're gambling with your lives!"
Wang Dazhu remained silent, but his eyes still held a hint of defiance.
"Old Wu, start the timer."
Gu Xingdong, his face grim, stepped forward two paces, tossing the assessment data into Wu Zheng's hand. Simultaneously, he reached for his meticulously buttoned shirt cuffs, casually rolling them up twice, revealing a segment of his lean, strong forearm.
Having worked with Gu Xingdong for so many years, Wu Zheng knew his capabilities all too well and his face immediately lit up with excitement.
A moment later, Gu Xingdong stood on the training ground.
The stationed soldiers quietly retreated to the sidelines, holding their breath as they watched Gu Xingdong in the arena.
After Wu Zheng gave him a signal, Gu Xingdong's figure moved like a swift leopard.
Obstacles, sprints, rolls—those items so familiar to the soldiers now seemed effortless for Gu Xingdong.
He moved with agility, each item appearing as if practiced thousands of times, effortlessly completed with no wasted motion.
When he reached the finish line, Wu Zheng pressed the stop button.
"Eight minutes and thirty-one seconds."
Even without his announcement, everyone knew the time. His movements were too clean, too sharp, with no lingering hesitations.
Gu Xingdong caught his breath for a moment, his dark eyes sweeping over the surrounding soldiers. Instantly, they all stood dejected, like frost-bitten eggplants.
"Continue training. Additionally, twenty kilometers with weighted gear is added as a penalty. Anyone who doesn't finish won't be allowed to eat!"
A chorus of wails erupted from the training ground.
"Old Gu, you were amazing today. You really needed to put those little monkeys in their place." After training, they walked together towards the dormitory building.
The military family housing didn't have individual shower rooms, so Wu Zheng, for convenience, always used them with Gu Xingdong.
"Don't go to the mess hall tonight, come to my place for dinner," Wu Zheng said, waiting for him at the door to grab a washbasin. "You know my wife, she cooks well and is very skillful. A few days ago, she sewed me a shoe insole. You wouldn't believe how comfortable it is, absorbent and soft, much better than what we're issued."
Gu Xingdong paused, his hand holding the basin. He was well aware of Wu Zheng's subtle desire to show off. His thin lips parted slightly. "Do you know what couple's sweaters are?"
Wu Zheng blinked, taken aback. "What sweaters? I haven't heard of them. Is couple's style a brand?"
Gu Xingdong glanced at him, speaking faintly, "My wife knows how to knit them."
He actually came here to brag about a mere shoe insole.
...
In the blink of an eye, it was time for school to start. Chen Lishu accompanied Gu Xingping to the school to report. After paying the tuition and fees and collecting their textbooks, they returned home together.
In the afternoon, they previewed their new textbooks at home. After a simple dinner, they continued to study. Since Gu Xingping was going to school the next day, they didn't study too late and went to bed.
The next day, after Gu Xingping left for school, Chen Lishu also locked the courtyard gate and rode her bicycle back to the village.
Having a bicycle made things much more convenient now. In less than an hour, she arrived home. Over the past few days, Zhang Qin and Li Xiulan had cut quite a few patterns. Chen Lishu completed over twenty in a single day.
In the evening, when the Gu family returned, she had already prepared dinner. After eating, Chen Lishu paid Li Xiulan and Zhang Qin fifteen yuan each, their commission for cutting fabric at two mao per piece.
Liu Yuemin watched the money distributed into their hands, her feelings a mixed bag.
After she bought scrap fabric from the clothing factory, her sister-in-law from her maternal family also went to buy some. When she went to the town to deliver goods, she learned that the price of a hair accessory had dropped to one mao. It was even worse a couple of days ago. To deliver more goods, her elder sister-in-law had sold them to the supply and marketing cooperative for just eight fen.
Even if she wanted to sell them for eight fen now, the supply and marketing cooperative wouldn't take that many. She still had a pile of hair accessories, and the stress had caused two sores to appear on her lips. She couldn't even eat, and her mouth hurt whenever she spoke.
"Third sister-in-law is so capable, starting a new business so quickly." Liu Yuemin, uncharacteristically, didn't cause trouble. Although her tone still held a hint of sourness, it was subtly tinged with flattery.
Chen Lishu's eyebrows rose slightly, but she didn't respond.
Feeling she had made a fool of herself, Liu Yuemin pouted and remained silent.
"Big sister-in-law, my sister is studying in town and is alone at home, so I can't leave for too long. I'll leave the work of making 'fake collars' to you. Two mao for cutting and two mao for sewing, what do you think?"
Zhang Qin smiled, "What's not to like? I'll do whatever third sister-in-law tells me to do." Four mao for processing one piece. She could make three or four in a night, which was over a yuan, and thirty to forty yuan a month. That was more than some city wages.
Seeing Zhang Qin agree, Chen Lishu then stood up to return to her room.
Liu Yuemin stood up immediately as she did, following her. Just as Chen Lishu opened her door to go in, she hesitated and had to speak, "Third sister-in-law, I need to ask you for a favor."
"My ability is limited, second sister-in-law. You should ask someone else." Chen Lishu said, about to close the door.
"No, no, only you can help me right now." Liu Yuemin immediately grabbed the doorknob.
She was like an ant on a hot pan, pacing anxiously. Only Chen Lishu could help her now, otherwise, all those hair accessories were money.
"Even at eight fen, the town's supply and marketing cooperative won't take my hair accessories. Don't you know that friend from the materials bureau? Can you ask him if he'll buy them for one mao?"
Chen Lishu couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this. "No one wants them at eight fen, and you want to sell them for one mao. Are they stupid, or do you think you're the only smart one?"
Liu Yuemin grew a little angry when she refused. "Isn't he your friend? Besides, we're family. You can't just favor outsiders."
"You remember we're family now, but when you were stirring up trouble at the clothing factory, did you remember we were family?" Chen Lishu, too lazy to bother with her, used a little force to close the door on her.
"Fine if you won't help. You really think highly of yourself." Liu Yuemin was embarrassed and stomped back to her own room in a huff.
"How did it go? Did you talk to third sister-in-law? Did she agree to help?" Gu Xingmin asked, lying on the kang as she pushed the door open.
"Help my foot. She lectured me and then shut the door. She went inside." Liu Yuemin said angrily, taking off her clothes and getting on the kang.
"Maybe wait a bit longer. If that doesn't work, I'll also go to town to find a buyer. Third sister-in-law could find one, what can't we find?"
Liu Yuemin thought his suggestion was good. After some thought, she said, "I don't think we should wait. You should take leave for the next two days and go to town."