At 8 in the morning, Jiang Kun and Han Ning accompanied Dongdong early to the East Sea Selection Center of the Air Force Recruitnt Bureau.
To accompany their son for the flight recruitnt retest, the couple both took leave from work, and the unit leaders were very supportive.
This year’s flight recruitnt is quite special.
The military has started a pilot program to select university student pilots from the science and engineering majors of military academies, although the total recruitnt quota has not increased, so the competition is understandably fierce.
Seeing students from the army, navy, and air force academies entering one after another with their materials, Dongdong felt a bit nervous.
Han Ning was initially not very supportive of her son participating in the recruitnt, as being a pilot is too dangerous.
But seeing how much her son wanted to fly a plane, she ca around and comforted him: "Don’t be nervous, it’s just that there are a few dozen more military academy students. Don’t be intimidated by their uniforms; they don’t even have ranks, they’re just carrying student badges. The reserve forces are also part of the military, and you’re a reserve soldier; you might have joined the army earlier than them."
"Yes, they should call you old platoon leader!" Jiang Kun, who always believed his son was the best, agreed wholeheartedly.
Dongdong hesitated for a mont and said with a bitter face, "But I caught a cold."
This is indeed a problem.
Dongdong had always been in good health, but sohow he’s caught a cold and has been running a low fever for the past few days.
Although staying at the Changhang Hospital made it easier to see a doctor and get dicine, he avoided any infusions or dications to not affect the biochemical test results. Today, he cos to the flight recruitnt test with an illness.
It wouldn’t be a big deal even if he doesn’t get recruited.
The school is already set; if he doesn’t get into flight school, he can secure a place at East Sea Transport University or even participate in the selection for national defense students there.
Although Han Ning thought this way, she couldn’t say it aloud.
She didn’t want to dampen her son’s enthusiasm, so she smiled and said, "The air force has started selecting pilots from the science and engineering majors of military academies, so just do your best. If you don’t make it this ti, there will be more opportunities in the future."
"Mom, they select from military academies; Transport University isn’t a military academy."
"Once you get selected as a national defense student at Transport University, you’ll be pretty much like a military academy student, and then you’ll definitely have the chance."
"Really?"
"Why would I lie to you? Your dad has asked the commander of the guard district."
As the family of three were chatting, they suddenly noticed Director Feng and Han Yu walking over with smiles.
"San’er, why are you here?"
"Director Feng brought ."
"Director Feng, you’re so busy, but you ca all the way here..."
"I’m long retired; I don’t have any work to do. Just taking a break to co and cheer for Dongdong."
Dongdong snapped out of it and quickly said, "Hello, Grandpa Feng, thank you, Grandpa Feng."
"What’s there to thank? I heard you caught a cold?"
"I’ve got a bit of a cold."
"Are you running a fever?"
"I checked in the morning, 38.7 degrees; it’s a low fever."
"A low fever isn’t a big deal; you’re a veteran of flood control and rescue; you should well know what it ans to ’lose skin and flesh but not fall behind.’ A bit of a low fever is nothing." Director Feng patted Dongdong’s shoulder, turned back, and smiled, asking, "Salted Fish, don’t you agree?"
"Dongdong, I also don’t think it’s a big deal." Han Yu quickly followed up, encouraging his nephew.
"Did you hear that? Nothing to be nervous about."
With both Director Feng and her brother here, Han Ning couldn’t be happier.
Jiang Kun was equally delighted and rushed out to buy water.
Director Feng, unable to stop him, simply let him go.
Han Yu then curiously asked, "Sister, when will Dongdong go in for testing?"
"The materials are submitted; we’re just waiting to be called by na, like at a hospital." Han Ning peeked inside and added, "This year, military academy students can also participate in the selection; it seems like they’re testing military academy students inside."
"What kind of tests do they have to do?"
"Vision, hearing, rotating chair, 50-ter shuttle run, simulation exercises, psychological quality tests, and so two-platform and three-platform tests, basically testing the candidates’ psychological abilities related to flying, like the distribution and transfer of attention, limb coordination, and short-term mory."
Han Yu instinctively looked at his nephew, "Did you prepare for these test items beforehand?"
Dongdong replied without hesitation, "I did."
"Really?"
"I really prepared; my dad took to the Salvage Bureau before he got transferred to the Shipping Technology College. Uncle Chen at the Salvage Bureau beca a pilot through flight recruitnt. He initially learned to fly fighter jets at the military aviation school and later switched to helicopters due to physical reasons."
"Did he teach you?"
"I asked him to teach . Since the second half of my first year in high school, I’ve been doing anti-dizziness exercises every day; I’ve learned to do attention-concentration training like picture-block building and free-hand line drawing."
It seems the nephew truly wants to beco a pilot.
What amazed Han Yu more was that his nephew’s starting point wasn’t just higher than his own back in the day, but higher than 99% of his peers.
Not to ntion, the average kid doesn’t have the chance to co into contact with a pilot.
But Dongdong is different; not only can he interact with pilots, but he can even ask them how to train and prepare for various flight recruitnt tests.
While secretly admiring his nephew, a Navy Lieutenant who had disappeared after getting off the car approached them, speaking softly, "Minister Feng, Director Wang would like to invite you and Secretary Han to the lounge."
"Okay, where’s the lounge?"
"Over there."
"Han Ning, Dongdong, wait for your call. Salted Fish and I will go in and sit for a while."
Han Ning had always heard how impressive Director Feng was, but he didn’t expect him to be so influential, receiving high-level treatnt even at the East Sea Selection Center of the Air Force Recruitnt Bureau. He quickly said, "It’s okay, we’ll wait outside."
Is this considered pulling strings?
Han Yu glanced back at his nephew and hesitated before following Director Feng inside.
Accompanied by a Navy Lieutenant and an Air Force Captain, they entered a spacious conference room equipped with closed-circuit television that clearly showed the candidates undergoing tests.
An Air Force female colonel entered, saluted and greeted Director Feng, then invited him and Han Yu to sit down.
"Minister Feng, I couldn’t believe it when I first saw Zhang Aidong’s file. I didn’t expect he began his reserve service at 16 and even participated in the 1998 flood fight!"
"Director Wang, I almost forgot to introduce you. This is Zhang Aidong’s uncle, the forr Camp Commander of the Linghai Reserve Camp, and the current Big Commander of the Binjiang Naval Reserve Rescue Ship Brigade, Friend Salted Fish. Zhang Aidong was with his uncle during the Jingjiang flood rescue mission."
Director Feng smiled slightly and added aningfully, "Salted Fish and your Air Force have a history; during the 1998 flood, he fought alongside the 105th Army, 404th Division, facing life and death together. Last year, during the three-ard forces sea-crossing exercise, he again stood with the 105th Army."
Why say all this?
Han Yu was amused and perplexed, not knowing how to respond, until Director Feng laughed again, "I almost forgot. During the Dongshan Island exercise last year, Salted Fish wasn’t fighting alongside the 105th Army but was an observer with the Observation Team, observing the participating troops."
In the 1998 flood fight, many units were comnded by the Central Military Commission.
But not many were awarded honorary titles by the Central Military Commission, and even fewer were civilian militia reserve forces.
Director Wang had so impression of the Linghai Reserve Camp and quickly smiled, "So you’re a flood hero, much respect."
Han Yu didn’t want to leave a bad impression of exploiting connections or pulling strings.
Moreover, this is a recruitnt for pilots; deceit is intolerable, for it would be irresponsible both to the country, the unit, and his nephew’s safety.
Han Yu steadied himself and said very earnestly and sincerely, "Director Wang, Director Feng is just joking. I ca here with no other intentions. Please believe ."
"I understand and I believe you."
"Maybe I should wait outside."
"Captain Han, since you’re already here, don’t leave without even sipping tea."
Director Wang smiled slightly, very earnestly and sincerely, and said, "I know what you’re worried about, but there’s no need. Because deciding who gets recruited isn’t up to as director. There are so many examiners outside, and the bureau has arranged for special supervision; everything is based on test results."
"That’s good to hear." Relieved, Han Yu was.
As Director Wang invited the two to tea, he smiled again, "The superior entrusted with this directorship as a sign of trust, and I must be accountable not only to the Air Force but equally to your Navy."
"Accountable to the Navy?"
"You didn’t know?"
"I... I’m only here at East Sea on duty, happened to catch my nephew’s retest. I’m really out of the loop."
Director Wang exchanged a glance with Director Feng, smiling as he explained, "We not only help our Air Force recruit pilots but also assist your Navy in recruiting. Even our Air Force Academy helps train pilots for you. Your nephew’s situation is rather special; he’s already been internally set aside by the Navy. As long as he’s recruited, even if he doesn’t go to the Naval Academy to learn flying, he’ll be assigned to the Navy upon graduating from our Air Force Academy, equivalent to targeted training from a local unit."
"Director Feng, what’s really going on?"
"Dongdong has played on ships since he was little; he knows how to operate and repair ships, started reserve service early, participated in the 1998 flood fight, and earned third-level rit. Such a promising talent surely deserves to join the Navy."
Director Feng, heedless whether smoking was allowed, leisurely lit a cigarette, enjoying a couple of puffs before continuing, "Even if he doesn’t beco a pilot, he can later beco a boat captain or even ship captain. If he can’t be a Heaven’s Chosen Son, he can be a sea genius, navigating the seas!"
"Director Feng, you recomnded him?"
"I wanted to recomnd you initially, but you didn’t want to join the military, so I had to recomnd Dongdong as a fallback. Actually, Dongdong’s qualifications are so good that he doesn’t really need my recomndation." Director Feng knew clearly that Salted Fish didn’t want to pull strings, so he raised his head, laughed, and said, "If you don’t believe , you can ask Director Wang, which unit wouldn’t want a soldier like Dongdong?"
"That’s true, Captain Han. Minister Feng is truly not joking."
As they chatted, the Air Force Captain who had brought them in earlier indicated that it was Dongdong’s turn.
The examiners outside were unaware of Dongdong’s connections, much less that Director Feng and Han Yu were watching the test via closed-circuit television.
One examiner noticed Dongdong didn’t seem in great shape, asked him a few questions, confird Dongdong was undergoing re-test despite illness, and persisted in the tests, actually patted his arm, nodding satisfactorily.
The tests for vision, hearing, and other projects proceeded quickly.
Director Wang, surprised, kept a close watch on the monitor, murmuring, "A cold and fever can affect hearing, Captain Han. Your nephew passed the tests so quickly; it shows his hearing is quite good."
"A cold and fever would affect hearing?" Han Yu didn’t quite understand.
"That was an audiotric test just now — high, dium, and low-frequency sounds played through headphones."
"Oh."
In the ensuing run, jump, rotate... Dongdong wrapped each movent earnestly.
The examiners in the know about Dongdong’s cold and fever were moved by his resilience and determination, eventually awarding high scores across the three-platform tests!
Seeing the test results, Director Wang looked up and smiled, "Captain Han, now it’s all about your nephew’s college entrance exam results."
"He passed, qualified?"
"Each test result was better than I expected." Director Wang checked his watch, confirming with a smile, "As of five minutes ago, we’ve tested forty-eight candidates. Your nephew’s comprehensive score ranks among the top; several individual scores, especially in psychological resilience, surpassed those of all previously tested military academy candidates."
"Thank you, Director Wang."
"No need to thank ; it’s his comprehensive quality."
Director Feng stood up, laughing heartily, "I told you Dongdong would be fine!"
Han Yu knew Dongdong wasn’t genuinely much stronger than others, just more prepared. The subjects just tested were ones he had practiced before; it was the sa logic as repeat students finding college entrance exams easier than first-ti candidates.
But in any case, this was definitely sothing to be happy about; after all, the Old Han Family wouldn’t just see a university graduate but might very well get a pilot!
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