The seventh company’s students’ dormitory was directly below Ye Qingyang’s class building.
The hallway was narrow, and by now the formation had long since dispersed. Bai Le scooted close to Lu Jingcheng and Ye Qingyang and whispered, “This is Science Class Five.”
“An advanced class?” Ye Qingyang asked.
“Yes. So their students probably look down on us too, since our class and Class Nine are the only regular classes in the science stream.”
Ye Qingyang didn’t see the big deal. “They’re not exactly the rocket class either.”
“Yeah, but it’s like this: if you’re not the rocket class, you look down on the advanced class; if you’re advanced, you look down on the regulars.”
“Rocket class or advanced class, there are always students who aren’t top of the game. Just like in our class—there are students who do well, sitting in the front of the exam hall.”
“Sure, there are, but they’re few, and they don’t get too far ahead.” Bai Le sighed. “Studying… it really is tough.”
Ye Qingyang glanced at him. Bai Le was the type whose skills were maxed out from childhood, and even if he didn’t pay much attention in class, he could do everything he needed to.
For Ye Qingyang, studying was never difficult or laborious; it was as simple and effortless as eating.
So he didn’t quite understand a struggling student like Bai Le. Still, since he was currently playing the role of a poor student, Ye Qingyang nodded and agreed, “Yeah, that’s true.”
Lu Jingcheng glanced at him and thought: with your grades, I guess it’s actually tough for you too.
By this time, the Seventh Company’s captain had reached Class Five’s dormitory and opened the door, walking in with Instructor Xu.
“This dorm is pretty clean,” Xu remarked.
“It is clean,” the Seventh Company captain agreed. “And the beds are nicely made.”
Xu frowned, “Nice? These look like loaves of bread.”
The Seventh Company captain smiled. “Commander, even this isn’t up to your standards? Then your students must be really good.”
The Seventh Company students protested, “We’re not under your class, so don’t pick on us! These beds look fine, don’t they?”
Xu shook his head, tapping a corner of a bed, “Fine? Look at this corner—it’s not straight at all. Sixty points is generous.”
The students weren’t pleased.
Ye Qingyang’s classmates whispered, “Our instructor is really strict. Sixty points for this? No wonder almost none of our class passed yesterday.”
The Seventh Company captain didn’t get angry at the comment, simply saying, “I’ll give it eighty points. Next dorm, let’s go.”
They finished inspecting, and Xu was satisfied with only one dorm; the others were either barely passable or outright failing.
The Seventh Company students were a bit annoyed, having expected Ye Qingyang’s class to embarrass themselves.
“That’s right. A strict teacher produces capable students. With Commander Xu being so strict, your students must be good too, right?” the Seventh Company captain said.
Xu was speechless… if the Seventh Company barely qualified, Ye Qingyang’s class wouldn’t even pass on paper.
Xu looked back at Ye Qingyang and Lu Jingcheng. Ye Qingyang was smiling gently; Lu Jingcheng remained unsympathetic as ever.
“Alright,” Xu sighed. “Let’s check our class then.”
The Seventh Company students immediately rushed forward, full of confidence, ready to show up Ye Qingyang’s class.
Everyone knew each other at the school, and they had even trained specifically. Class Ten, with its struggling students, hadn’t practiced much yet.
Xu opened the dorm door according to the room order.
As soon as it opened, the Seventh Company students laughed without mercy.
“Commander Xu, your dorm beds aren’t even as good as ours,” one bold student said.
The Seventh Company students laughed, flaunting themselves.
Ye Qingyang: …
Stay confident. Keep smiling now, because soon enough, embarrassment is coming for you.
The Seventh Company captain cleared his throat, admonishing them: “What’s so funny? These are classmates worse than you. You should encourage them, not insult them. Fifty push-ups for speaking out of turn!”
The few students shut up immediately, albeit reluctantly.
Xu chuckled, “Captain, your students aren’t that great.”
He gave his points and moved to the next dorm.
The next dorm’s beds were slightly better, but only slightly. Xu felt frustrated; his students seemed smart, but when it came to making beds neatly, they had no idea.
He went to the next “blind box”—opening the next dorm.
He froze.
The dorm was immaculate. Items were orderly, windows clean. Most importantly, eight beds were perfectly made, as if copied straight from a textbook.
Xu laughed and theatrically said, “Well, this dorm isn’t bad at all.”
The Seventh Company captain and students stared in disbelief.
Walking up to one bed, the Seventh Company captain examined it closely, “Commander Xu, did your students make this? Not you secretly?”
Xu bragged, “How could I? Your students can’t do it, so you think ours can’t either? Our class has hidden talents.”
The Seventh Company captain didn’t believe it.
“Eight identical beds? Surely one person didn’t do this?”
“All learned from me, but no one copied exactly,” Xu said confidently.
The Seventh Company captain was still skeptical, “Let’s check the next dorm. Another identical dorm? Either there’s something hidden, or your class really has hidden talent.”
“Just watch and see,” Xu smiled.
“Then how about a live challenge?” the Seventh Company captain proposed, pointing to the beds. “Let’s pick someone to make a bed on the spot.”
Xu thought: this is baiting them. If they choose two people, I’d hesitate. Choosing one? Easy.
“All right,” Xu sighed. “But Captain, you don’t need to struggle. After this round, our class will clearly win. One of our beds is worth ten of yours. If it’s a single-person challenge, I’m game. But be ready to accept the result, don’t drag our class into other comparisons.”
“Let’s see first,” the Seventh Company captain said, calling their class monitor forward.
Ye Qingyang hadn’t moved yet, but his classmates pushed him forward.
Turning back, Ye Qingyang saw everyone’s eyes shining with excitement, almost shouting, “Go, beat them!”
He felt his classmates’ sense of collective pride.
The Seventh Company captain gave Ye Qingyang a once-over, smiling, “Quite refined-looking.”
Ye Qingyang smiled lightly, “Not really.”
The captain took two beds and stood beside Xu, “Come on, two class monitors. Good luck~”
The Seventh Company students cheered for their monitor, and Ye Qingyang’s classmates cheered for him.
Listening to the cheers, Ye Qingyang’s hands moved swiftly, and in no time, the beds were perfectly made.
“All done,” he said, standing aside.
The Seventh Company captain was still making his bed when he heard that and nearly spat out blood.
What challenge? The opponent is clearly at a higher level!
Looking at the beds, he realized… hidden talent indeed. The top of the “tofu factory” was right here!