Reborn in 1977

While the broadcast was playing, Chen Fan was writing a news report.

Since this report didn't need to be submitted, he exaggerated wildly, using phrases like "mighty army," "civilized army," "victorious army," and "peaceful army," showering them with all sorts of praise without restraint.

Watching from the side, Xiao Liewen's old face flushed slightly. "Little Chen, don't overdo it. Just stick to the facts."

Chen Fan immediately handed him the report. "Please, Captain, give me some pointers."

Xiao Liewen looked it over several times, but couldn't find anything to delete, so he cleared his throat. "Just read it as is, but be more mindful next time."

Chen Fan understood instantly and nodded vigorously. "I will, next time!"

Once the broadcast ended, the militia squads from each team all gathered at the brigade headquarters.

Each squad had 12 people, totaling 12 squads, plus the direct squad from the brigade headquarters, and the company commander Zhang Wenliang, and the concurrently serving instructor Xiao Liewen, making a total of 158 people.

The scale was fairly standard.

However, it wasn't all men; about a quarter were women, all between the ages of 20 and 30. One of them was Yang Xingxiu, the women's team leader from the brigade headquarters.

When Chen Fan's voice rang out on the radio, these hundred-plus people were as if injected with chicken blood, holding the rifles they had just received, heads held high and chests out, like soldiers about to rush to the battlefield.

After reading the news report, Chen Fan followed behind Xiao Liewen and heard him say, "There are fewer people in the militia company now. At its peak, our production team's militia company had nearly 2,000 people. Except for the elderly and children, everyone from 55 down to 14 was mobilized, accounting for more than half of all members of the production team.

"Back then, we had to dedicate an hour each day to training, covering shooting, bayonet drills, demolition, communication… The training content was on par with regular troops. Aside from the equipment being a bit worse and lacking actual combat experience, we were no different in other aspects."

Listening to his rambling, Chen Fan felt nothing but respect.

He also knew this history. If it weren't for this do-or-die determination, they probably wouldn't have made it until Miss Qiu was born and Dongfanghong went into space; something major would have happened.

Of course, now that Miss Qiu was in charge, the biggest crisis had been resolved, and the number of militiamen had dropped sharply afterward, but it was still many times more than in later generations.

Xiao Liewen strode to the front yard, and Zhang Wenliang immediately roared, "Assemble!"

More than a hundred militiamen quickly converged like regular soldiers, simultaneously adjusting their armed belts and uniforms.

As for the rifles, they had already been inspected.

Watching from the side, Chen Fan noticed that these militiamen, ranging in age from 20 to 40, had a completely different aura than usual.

A thought suddenly popped into his head: these militiamen must have seen blood!

Although their clothes weren't uniform, all being their own casual wear, and the formation lacked ceremonial soldiers… they weren't even as organized as the college students who underwent training in later generations, but their sharp eyes and the steel guns in their hands made people feel uneasy.

On the other side, Xiao Liewen, seeing that the ranks were in order, walked to the front and said loudly, "Today is the last collective training before the spring plowing. Everyone must show the same dedication they usually put into hard training and carry forward the spirit of not fearing hardship or death. We must ensure that the training is effective and fruitful."

He then pointed to Chen Fan. "The news report that Broadcaster Chen just read could be heard throughout the entire brigade, with phrases like 'mighty army,' 'civilized army,' 'victorious army,' and 'peaceful army,' showering you with all sorts of praise without restraint. Today's training will determine whether you deserve those words. Do you hear me?"

The 157 people shouted in unison, "We hear you!"

Xiao Liewen nodded and said in a normal voice, "As before, the learning and propaganda group, the training command group, and the logistics support group will follow the training. Each group has 3 people. The people from last time performed well, so they'll continue this time. Step forward."

Immediately, 9 people jogged forward and stood in a row to the side, including Zhang Wenliang and Yang Xingxiu.

Chen Fan noticed that one of them was carrying a large medicine kit. If he wasn't mistaken, that should be the barefoot doctor, Doctor Zhang, whom he hadn't met before, also known as "Dahu" from the Zhang family.

Xiao Liewen glanced at them and continued, "Training command group leader, Zhang Wenliang; logistics support group leader, Zhang Juemin."

After a pause, he looked at someone else. "Yang Xingxiu, I'll add another person to your propaganda group."

Yang Xingxiu tightened the rope of the steel gun on her shoulder and replied loudly, "Yes."

Xiao Liewen turned to look at Chen Fan and suddenly shouted, "Chen Fan."

Chen Fan immediately stood at attention, head held high, chest out, eyes forward. "Here!"

Although he had almost forgotten the military training he had undergone for two months in college in his previous life, he still remembered the basic standing at attention.

Xiao Liewen looked him up and down, nodding secretly in his heart. Although some things weren't standard, the fact that he could learn to stand like a militiaman just by watching was quite rare.

He raised his hand and pointed at Yang Xingxiu. "You're temporarily assigned to the propaganda group."

Chen Fan stood at attention again. "Yes."

Xiao Liewen's eyes were full of surprise. This kid was something; he knew that military orders were like mountains and didn't directly question his words, avoiding the "initiation" that everyone had when joining the militia.

Oh, right, he hadn't joined the militia; he was just an outside member.

But it didn't matter; once you were here, you were a militia member, all the same.

Chen Fan didn't know what he was thinking; he was just imitating the state of new recruits entering the camp in later TV dramas. Anyway, following the rules would definitely not lead to losses.

After a pause, Chen Fan shouted loudly, "Report."

Xiao Liewen looked at him. "Speak."

Chen Fan wore a dejected expression and said to him, "Captain, you promised to let me shoot a gun."

Xiao Liewen coughed. "Call me Instructor."

Chen Fan stood at attention again. "Instructor, you promised to let me shoot a gun."

Xiao Liewen looked back at the militiamen who were holding back their laughter and then pointed to Yang Xingxiu. "The propaganda group can also shoot guns. Don't you believe me, ask them."

Chen Fan immediately turned his gaze to Yang Xingxiu.

Yang Xingxiu couldn't help but chuckle twice before saying, "Don't worry, when you train with the militia company, there will be plenty of bullets."

Upon hearing this, Chen Fan immediately beamed with joy. "Report, Instructor, then it's nothing."

Xiao Liewen's mouth twitched slightly, and he waved his hand. "Join the ranks."

Chen Fan trotted over to stand next to Yang Xingxiu.

He suddenly realized that all three of his comrades in this group were women?

At this time, Xiao Liewen said again, "The support group, issue a set of equipment to Chen Fan."

One of them immediately stepped out of the ranks and jogged into the front yard.

He ran out again in less than 10 seconds, with a canvas armed belt and a steel gun in his hand.

There was no formal gun-awarding ceremony; the man simply handed the things to him and that was it.

Chen Fan imitated others, carrying the gun on his shoulder and then clumsily putting on the armed belt.

Yang Xingxiu stood next to him and took the initiative to help him put on the armed belt.

This kind of armed belt had three bullet pouches in the front and three long-handled grenades on the side, and they were all full.

Chen Fan looked at the grenades on his waist and felt a little uneasy.

What was the quality of these things? What if they triggered automatically?

Just then, Xiao Liewen waved his hand, and Zhang Wenliang immediately stepped out of the ranks and shouted, "Everyone, move out!"