Sweet Nostalgia of the 80s

”I know,” Ning Chenyang nodded.

”If you know, are you planning to keep stealing like this...?” Qin Jian realized he might have underestimated his son a little.

”Don’t use the word ’steal’... It sounds too bad,” Ning Chenyang mumbled.

”Then tell me what you’re thinking,” Qin Jian pursued, inquiring about his son’s intentions.

”I... I just want to assemble a gun of my own! Didn’t our compound’s library have an old rifle before? It hasn’t been used for a long time...”

”So you’re targeting that gun?”

”Yes!”

”I can tell you very responsibly that even if you take those parts, you won’t be able to assemble that gun! That gun is completely broken! Its existence is purely symbolic! Do you understand?”

”Understood,” Ning Chenyang nodded dejectedly.

His father’s words shattered all his fantasies, leaving him a bit frustrated for a while.

”Son! I understand what you’re thinking. However, without rules, nothing can be accomplished! You can’t be so reckless at such a young age! Do you realize how serious it is to secretly take parts from a gun?”

”I know.”

”Good. It’s good that you realize your mistake. A real man must have the courage to face the consequences! If you’ve made a mistake, you have to accept the punishment! Skip breakfast and go stand in military posture on the playground for two hours as a punishment! Reflect on your mistake!” Qin Jian imposed the punishment on his son.

”Two hours in military posture? And no breakfast? Dad, isn’t this punishment too harsh? I already know my mistake, can you not punish me like this? Look, it’s so hot outside,” Ning Chenyang pointed at the glaring sun outside the window, feeling extremely unwilling.

”It’s an order! Do you have any objections?” Qin Jian raised an eyebrow at his son.

”Yes!”

”Objection overruled! Go now!”

”But I don’t want to! Dad, didn’t you say you were bringing me for training? Why punish me the moment I arrive? I already know my mistake, I won’t do it again, can’t we skip the punishment?” Standing in military posture is extremely tedious, something Ning Chenyang detests the most.

”No. If a soldier makes a mistake, they must accept the punishment! Since you want to be a soldier, you must obey the discipline, I’m setting strict standards for you from a young age! I order you to start running now!”

Qin Jian showed no mercy to his son.

He felt Ning Chenyang’s character was a bit too bold, full of ideas, and crucially, capable of putting them into action. If Ning Chenyang could be molded well, he would have a great future in the military.

If allowed to follow his nature, he would surely get into trouble in the future.

And it would be big trouble.

Qin Jian understood this deeply, so he wanted to restrain Ning Chenyang now, treat him as raw iron, and forge him into fine steel from a young age.

This fine steel would be used on the blade in the future!

Early morning, eight o’clock.

The sun was already high up, and the scorching sun of July started burning the earth early in the day.

Ning Chenyang stood on the playground, practicing military posture alone, his eyes fixed straight ahead, his chin tightly clenched, with a fire of anger burning in his heart.

He was dissatisfied with his father’s decision!

Extremely dissatisfied!

From the moment his father gave the order, he had already been standing for a whole hour, drenched in sweat.

A few pesky flies and mosquitoes kept flying around, making him agitated and unable to concentrate. Finally, he couldn’t stand it anymore and waved his hand to shoo away the creatures in front of him.

But, as luck would have it, this motion was seen clearly by Qin Jian, who was standing on a nearby building.