Reborn in 1977

Chapter 156: Remembering Bitter Meals and Good Days

Before activating the Single Soldier Combat Skill, Chen Fan could quickly learn various tactical movements through martial arts skills.

However, when it came to firearms, he felt powerless. Even if his posture was perfect, it couldn't hide the fact that bullets occasionally hit the target.

Zhang Wenliang even mocked him from the side, "I thought you were quick at learning everything, but it turns out there are things you're not so quick at!"

Chen Fan's expression remained unchanged, "I just haven't mastered the shooting techniques yet, and how long have I been practicing guns? It hasn't even been half an hour in total. If I could practice guns every day, I'd definitely shoot better than you!"

Zhang Wenliang chuckled and said, "Practice guns every day?"

Chen Fan nodded slightly, "Yeah."

Zhang Wenliang: "Dream on!"

Chen Fan was unhappy, "If you don't give it, you don't give it, why are you talking so sarcastically?"

Zhang Wenliang laughed and said, "I'm not laughing at you, it's just that practicing guns requires bullets, but basic skills are also very important. You haven't practiced any basic skills, yet you want to become a sharpshooter. What else can I say but dream on?"

Chen Fan's eyes flickered slightly, "What basic skills?"

Zhang Wenliang pointed to the rifle on his back, "Pick it up."

Chen Fan immediately took the gun off and held it up, but without opening the safety.

Zhang Wenliang couldn't believe this newbie, but still carefully checked that the safety was on before starting to explain to him, "The basic skill of gunmanship is holding the gun. First, hold the empty gun, and be able to hold it still for half an hour. Then, hang bricks, starting from one brick and adding up to three bricks. This step counts as entry-level."

Chen Fan's eyes were full of doubt, "Entry-level?"

And what kind of gun training method was this? Was he sure it wasn't practicing the spear in Chinese martial arts?

Seeing that he didn't believe him, Zhang Wenliang sneered, "Of course it's entry-level, what did you think it was?"

Then he walked to the muzzle, took out a bullet casing, turned it upside down, and placed it on the barrel, smiling as he said, "See this bullet casing? The last step is to be able to hang three bricks and still ensure the bullet casing doesn't fall…"

Before he could finish speaking, the bullet casing tilted and fell.

Zhang Wenliang grabbed it in mid-air and handed it to Chen Fan, "See? You can't even hold it steady without hanging bricks, and you want to start feeding it bullets before you can even hold the gun steady? Where are you going to get so many bullets to feed it?"

Chen Fan blinked and said nothing.

Zhang Wenliang patted him on the shoulder and said seriously, "Today is the militia company's training, and Captain Xiao gave the word to let you have your fill, but there won't be many such opportunities. After all, ammunition is limited and can't be fired casually, right? So, you should practice holding the gun first, and then talk about shooting, understand?"

Chen Fan nodded seriously, "Understood."

Zhang Wenliang had just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard him continue, "But Captain Xiao said to let me have a good time today, are there any more magazines? I've run out."

Regardless of what he said about holding the gun, he would first shoot to his heart's content today.

The corners of Zhang Wenliang's mouth twitched slightly, and he silently took out his own magazine and handed it to him, "There are only two left, use them sparingly."

Chen Fan happily took it and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I definitely won't ask for more after I've used them up."

Then he went to the side to farm experience.

He had just emptied 3 rifle magazines, 5 mortar shells, and 100 rounds of anti-aircraft machine gun bullets, but failed to farm any experience, which made him very regretful.

Now that he finally activated the skill, when would he farm more if not now?!

Zhang Wenliang glanced at Chen Fan, then walked to Xiao Liewen nearby and whispered, "Uncle, is that gun-holding method you mentioned real? Why haven't we practiced it?"

Xiao Liewen smoked his cigarette, his eyes full of smugness, "Hmph, that was the method my old company commander in the army used to train sharpshooters. Do you deserve to practice it? It's good enough if you don't ruin your arms!"

Zhang Wenliang was immediately shocked, turned his head to look at Chen Fan, who was still biubiubiu-ing, and asked after a few seconds, "Do you think he can become a sharpshooter? Or do you want to ruin his arms?"

"What nonsense."

Xiao Liewen scolded in a low voice, "Why would I deliberately ruin him? He has already mastered the Xingyi Five Elements Saber. If I teach him further, I will have to teach him the Xingyi Twelve Forms and the Xingyi Spear. As long as he masters the spear strength, practicing holding the gun will be much easier."

After a pause, he added, "Besides, even if he doesn't practice the spear strength and only practices holding the gun, with his comprehension, he won't ruin himself. At most, it will be a little slower. Maybe by the next spring training, he will be able to surpass you in hitting fixed targets."

Hearing this, Zhang Wenliang felt the pressure, "Uncle, why don't you teach me the sharpshooter's training method too."

The corners of Xiao Liewen's mouth turned up, and he smiled slightly, "Haven't I already taught you? You should go practice!"

Zhang Wenliang was speechless, "But you said it would ruin my arms."

Xiao Liewen pointed at him with hatred, "You're really a pig brain. I'm talking about those ordinary militiamen. You've been practicing boxing with me for more than ten years. If you can't even handle holding a gun, go back to farming as soon as possible, so you don't embarrass me."

Then Zhang Wenliang left.

He inspected the militiamen who were undergoing combat training, and didn't find any problems. Looking at the time, it was almost time. After all the personnel finished training and returned to the open space in front of the mountain to line up, and after asking Xiao Liewen for instructions, he announced the end of training and prepared for a picnic.

Chen Fan had already finished firing the two magazines. With the help of the skill panel, he could now hit the target with every shot in any posture, and his experience points had also increased a little.

When the company gathered, he ran over to line up.

Hearing Zhang Wenliang announce the end of training, he was a little surprised, "Ah, is it over already?"

At this time, the disbandment had already been announced, and Yang Xingxiu waved her hand, signaling him to follow, "Training is only a matter of two or three hours. Any longer and the body won't be able to take it. Besides, ammunition is limited and can't be fired too much."

Chen Fan felt that she was implying something about him.

Yang Xingxiu led him to the side to carry vegetables and grain from the supply truck with the other female soldiers.

As for the male soldiers, they were busy building stoves and preparing pots and pans.

With many people working together, two large pots of "Remembering Bitter Meals" were freshly cooked.

Chen Fan looked at the things in the bamboo tube bowl and couldn't believe that they were eating this on a training day?

What about all the vegetables and grains that were washed just now? Why weren't they used to cook?

Zhang Wenliang walked over and sat down beside him, smiling and said, "Using bamboo tubes as bowls was learned from you. Seven or eight moso bamboos are enough to give everyone a bowl, saving the risk of breaking bowls and wasting them."

Then he took a sip of the soup, picked up a piece of radish with two bamboo skewers and threw it into his mouth. Looking at Chen Fan, seeing that he hadn't moved yet, he whispered, "This is Remembering Bitter Meals. We have to eat it every training session. Only after eating Remembering Bitter Meals…"

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Fan saw Xiao Liewen also holding a bamboo tube bowl, standing in the middle of the militiamen and saying loudly, "Don't forget the bitterness of the class, remember the bloody tears of hatred! Eat a little now, so that you won't change your ways, won't change the world, and won't have to eat it again in the future!"

After speaking, he ate heartily.

Chen Fan lowered his head to look at the "Remembering Bitter Meals" and could only eat along.

Decades later, many places have the gimmick of eating "Remembering Bitter Meals." But what was Remembering Bitter Meals like at that time? It was nothing more than boiled sweet potatoes, stir-fried bitter melon, and a few coarse corn buns.

It just happened to meet the "healthy diet" needs of those people.

But what is "Remembering Bitter Meals" now?

Clear water is used as the soup base, with a little rice bran added, plus radish leaves and radish chunks, without even a drop of oil!

Although ordinary commune members rarely had delicious foods such as fish, meat, and eggs at home, they never lacked the most basic oil and salt.

However, this "Remembering Bitter Meals" didn't have a drop of oil or a spoonful of salt. The rising heat exuded a strong radish smell, which was both bitter and astringent. Even these militiamen, who were accustomed to enduring hardship, found it difficult to swallow.

But no matter how unpalatable it was, they had to eat it.

Including Xiao Liewen, everyone had a full bowl, and not a single bit was allowed to be wasted.

Chen Fan closed his eyes and swallowed it whole.

Then he felt a stream of bitter water rising from his stomach.

At this moment, Zhang Wenliang patted him on the shoulder and asked with a smile, "How is it, can you still eat it?"

Chen Fan turned to look at him, his eyes full of dullness, "Do we still have to eat Remembering Bitter Meals?"

Zhang Wenliang laughed and shook his head, "No, eating Remembering Bitter Meals once is enough."

As he spoke, he pointed to the earthen stove not far away, "After eating enough bitterness, we will have good days next. We brought 10 pounds of pork belly and a set of pig offal today. Militia training can't lack nutrition. Everyone has worked so hard, and they are all counting on this meal. Aren't you good at cooking? Why don't you be the cook again?"

As soon as Chen Fan heard that there were so many good things, he immediately rolled up his sleeves and stood up, saying as he walked, "It's not me bragging, I've never admired anyone in cooking. Pork belly and pig offal, right?"

As he spoke, he cleared his throat and said loudly, "I'll make braised pork, which is the old man's favorite, and radish stew with pig offal for everyone, how about that?"

A chorus of responses came from all around, "Good…!"