Chapter 9: That Weather-Beaten Basin!

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“I’ve realized that us old comrades are truly wonderful! So warm-hearted!”
“Yeah, when I arrived, I even heard from some veterans in the village that the old soldiers in the army have a rough temper, and there might be bullying. But after seeing them today, I just can’t imagine them bullying us!”
...
Inside the dormitory, everyone was laying their quilts on the straw.
“Ah, but this living situation really caught me off guard. My family is poor enough—rats would shed tears before leaving my house. Yet even so, at least we had wooden beds. Now that I’m in the army, we have to sleep directly on straw!”
“Heh, isn’t this just temporary housing? I’m sure once we’re assigned to the new recruits’ company, we’ll have beds to sleep on!”
Chu An and the other twenty-eight men from their hometown county had just arrived by a sealed truck and were divided into two dormitories, fourteen men each.
After Chu An laid out his quilt, he sat down and listened to their conversations.
Honestly, sleeping straight on straw was something Chu An hadn’t expected.
In his mind, even in these poor times, the army should be a little better, right?
But now...
“Hey, little scholar, you’re well-read and smart. Do you think what the commander said earlier—that once everyone is gathered, we’ll be reassigned to new recruits’ companies—means we’ll be separated?”
Li Guoping sat down beside Chu An and suddenly asked, interrupting all other conversations. Everyone’s eyes turned to them.
“Well... probably!” Chu An hesitated before answering.
That question really caught him off guard.
Will they be separated?
How would he know?
He’d never been a soldier before, let alone serve in this era.
But from what he knew, they probably would be separated.
After all, the dozen or so of them all came from the same county.
He hadn’t heard of any unit composed entirely of hometown folks.
Moreover, the army always discourages factionalism and cliques. If dozens in one company come from the same place, that would only foster group divisions.
“They definitely will be separated!”
At this moment, a new recruit in the dorm laughed and said, “My neighbor’s older brother is a soldier in the army. When he came home last year, I chatted with him a lot. He told me that once you enter the army, your comrades come from all over the country. You rarely find soldiers from the same place even in the same squad!”
“Ah! So that’s how it is! Then when we’re soldiers, we won’t even be able to find someone from our hometown to chat with in our squad?” Li Guoping looked miserable.

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“That’s exactly what they want to prevent!” Chu An laughed and added.
“So, does that mean when we get reassigned to new recruit companies this time, we might even be sent to different places?”
“Who knows? Ugh, I’m a bit dizzy. I’ll lie down for a bit!”
“Me too, I’ll lie down!”
After Company Commander Tong Lianzhong brought everyone back, he only said, “Everyone’s been traveling for two days and it’s dark now. Lay out your quilts and rest a bit. Later, I’ll call everyone to wash up outside together!”
Now, two or three recruits said they felt dizzy and lay down. The rest, even if not dizzy, didn’t stay standing either, each lying down on their prepared quilts.
Chu An did the same.
On the sealed truck, there was only a layer of straw with their quilts on top. After more than a day’s journey, Chu An had gotten used to it. Lying down now was no longer a psychological burden.
“Chu An, you really should try the college entrance exam again this year. You missed it by only four points. What if you put in some effort and get in this year? Then you’d be a college student!”
Lying down, Li Guoping beside him kept talking.
Chu An glanced at him and smiled, “I want to be a soldier!”
“Heh, great minds think alike. I want to be a soldier too!” This guy was carefree, or perhaps just simple-hearted. Chu An’s casual remark quickly changed the topic.
After chatting for a while lying down, Platoon Leader Ma arrived with an old soldier.
“Come on, everyone up! Time to wash your feet!”
Platoon Leader Ma smiled broadly, carrying a bucket that clearly gave off steam. The old soldier following him brought several well-worn aluminum basins and a few small folding stools.
“Well, our conditions are limited. There are only four basins. You’ll take turns washing your face first, then soaking your feet!”
After Ma spoke, the old soldier smiled as he placed the basins and stools on the floor.
At that moment, Chu An was a little stunned.
He thought he had misheard.
What did he mean by taking turns washing face first and then soaking feet?
They only brought four basins in total.
Did this mean they all had to share these four basins to wash their faces and soak their feet?
That was just... too much!
Chu An wasn’t a germophobe. If it were just him, he might reluctantly accept washing face and feet in his own basin.
But these basins were clearly not new, and the key point was that everyone had to use the same basin to wash faces and soak feet.
Wouldn’t feet fungus spread to their faces?
Chu An’s heart was full of bitterness.

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“Don’t just sit there! Come on, the first group of four, grab your towels and come over!” Platoon Leader Ma spoke again after pouring out the water.
Chu An was lucky to be one of the first four pointed out by the platoon leader.
But that was all the luck he had.
The basins showed clear signs of wear and tear from years of use.
If today they had to wash their faces and soak their feet in the same basin, who knew how many feet had been soaked in it before?
“Thank you, Platoon Leader!” The others didn’t think much about it. Li Guoping immediately pulled out a towel and stood up.
They’d been on that sealed truck for two days. Even upon arriving at the station, the best they could do was splash cold water on their faces.
Now that there was hot water to wash faces and soak feet, they had been itching for it.
Though feeling helpless, Chu An forced himself to thank them with a slightly numb scalp, then pulled out his towel and stood.
That’s how times were, and the environment was harsh. Since he couldn’t resist, he had to force himself to adapt.
If it was called athlete’s foot, it probably wouldn’t infect the face.
Chu An reluctantly followed the other three.
Sitting on the small stool, the other three quickly tossed their towels into the basin and started washing.
Chu An looked on with some helplessness but gritted his teeth and threw his towel in the basin as well.
Honestly, Chu An would rather go outside to fetch cold water and wash.
But now the platoon leader and the others had brought the water...
Holding the wet towel, he steeled himself, closed his eyes, and began washing.
He had to admit, though his heart felt uneasy, after two days without washing in the chilly March night, washing with hot water was truly comforting.
Soon, Chu An and the other three finished washing their faces.
“Come on, take off your shoes!”
To Chu An’s surprise, right after washing their faces, Platoon Leader Ma squatted down and tried to help the recruit sitting at the far edge take off his shoes.
The old soldier did the same, squatting in front of Li Guoping.
...