Chapter 23: Starting Over!

Chu An was stunned when Tong Lianzhong announced they had arrived.

Instead of the bathhouse he had imagined, there was not a single building in sight. Before them lay only a river, seven or eight meters wide, winding through the landscape. The water was shallow and crystal clear, revealing the riverbed with ease; even at its deepest point, it looked less than half a meter high. The afternoon sun, already tilting toward the horizon, cast shimmering reflections across the surface. Had this been a spring outing, the scenery would have been magnificent, and the gentle breeze even carried a hint of warmth.

But to bathe in it? That was a recipe for misery. It was only the beginning of March—the start of the month by the solar calendar, and barely the second month by the lunar calendar. Even though they were in the southern part of the country, the temperature was hovering around twenty degrees Celsius at best. Surrounded by mountains, Chu An didn't even need to step into the water to know just how bone-chillingly cold it would be.

"Our facilities here are limited," Tong Lianzhong shouted to the group. "Boiling water for a foot bath is no problem, but expecting all of you to bathe together is unrealistic. That’s why we’ve always taken cold baths."

He smiled as he added, "The higher-ups say scientific research shows cold baths build strength and health, so don't be afraid. I’ll go first to show you how it’s done!"

With that, he began to undress. While stripping, he looked toward the squad leaders and commanded, "Don't just stand there! Get to work!"

Immediately, the squad leaders began calling out.

"Squad one..."
"Squad four..."

They weren't calling the recruits to undress, but to line up. Each squad leader pulled out a manual hair clipper—some new, some battered and old.

"Come on, get naked! Get your hair cut first. Once you're done, go straight into the water so the hair clippings don't get all over your clothes!"

Just then, the instructor, who hadn't yet undressed, spoke up with a gentle smile: "Comrades, since you have joined the military, you must start from scratch. This 'starting from scratch' isn't just about your life here; it's literal. We are officially beginning our training today, and this haircut is your first lesson!"

Chu An instinctively touched his head. His hair wasn't long—he had already gotten it cut before enlisting. Most of the others were the same; you couldn't have long hair in the army, and the recruitment officers usually reminded you to get a haircut during their home visits. However, the local barbers back home didn't know the military standard. Even if the length was technically acceptable, they had to be cut again. It wasn't just a haircut; as the instructor said, it was a ritual of starting anew.

Soon, each recruit sat cross-legged before their squad leader, stripped down to their underwear. Sitting before Old Wang was Chu An. Before the squads were assigned, there had been one recruit in their dormitory taller than Chu An, but once the squads were divided, Chu An was the tallest in Squad Four. Because of this, he stood at the far left of the formation, and naturally, he was the first to be pinned down for a haircut.

To be honest, Chu An was worried. Old Wang only had a manual clipper—not even a comb. He didn't look like someone who knew how to give a proper haircut.

"Alright, don't move! Keep your head straight," Wang Qinghe said with a chuckle, pressing his hand on Chu An's head to steady him.

"Squad leader? Don't you need a comb? You're just going to cut it like this?" Chu An asked, turning his head despite the instruction. He was hoping Old Wang might have a comb in his pocket that he’d forgotten about. Even if it wasn't professional, a comb would at least ensure an even cut.

Clearly, his hopes were in vain. "Don't worry, my hand is the comb. It's very steady. Trust me!"

Chu An was speechless. Trust him? Not a chance! But there was no way to resist now. He closed his eyes, and the incessant *clack-clack* of the clippers began. Every now and then, Chu An would wince and let out an "Ouch!" as the rusty clipper snagged his hair.

Whenever that happened, Old Wang would say, "Bear with it. This borrowed clipper isn't working very well, but it'll be over soon!"

It was frustrating, but what was worse was when Chu An opened his eyes midway to look at the recruit sitting in front of him. His heart sank to rock bottom. Was that even a haircut? It was patchy, with bald spots here and there, and no pattern to the unevenness whatsoever. It looked like a mangy dog's back! Chu An couldn't see his own head, but based on Old Wang's technique, he guessed his own probably looked just as bad.

"Squad leader, why don't you just shave it bald?" Chu An suggested helplessly.

"No, we can't shave bald. Don't worry, it'll be done in a second, and it'll look great!"

And "done in a second" it was. Ten seconds later, he patted Chu An's head. "Alright, go on down and take your bath!"

Chu An instinctively touched his head and felt like crying. So much for "looking great." He didn't even need a mirror; he could feel patches where the skin was exposed and others where the hair was still long. It was definitely a disaster.

"Pfft!" A stifled laugh came from behind him. Chu An looked back to see all the new recruits struggling to hold back their laughter.

"What are you laughing at? You’re next!" Chu An grabbed a bar of soap wrapped in a plastic bag from his pile of clothes and headed toward the water.

*Splash!*
"Ah!"

Suddenly, a scream erupted from the side. Chu An looked over and saw the recruit from Squad Seven who had finished his haircut first. He had been eager to show off and had jumped straight into the river. He was yelping immediately. Chu An watched as the boy's lips turned purple.

"So... so cold!" The boy stood in the water, hugging himself and shivering violently.

"Haha! It’s cold when you first get in, but once you squat down and submerge yourself, you'll be fine!" Tong Lianzhong, who was already soaking in the water, laughed heartily. He had jumped in while the others were getting their hair cut, acting as if he were enjoying it thoroughly. This had given the Squad Seven recruit the illusion that the water was warm.

But in reality? Chu An squatted down and touched the water. *Hiss...* It was like water from inside a refrigerator. Even if it hadn't frozen, the temperature was at most ten degrees Celsius. It was lethal!

"What are you dawdling for? Look, two guys from the Second Company are already in! If you don't get in now, I'll have you kicked in!" Tong Lianzhong’s mood shifted instantly. Seeing two recruits from the Second Company downriver enter the water, he barked at Chu An and the others who had finished their haircuts.

*Splash!*
"Ouch!"
"Ah! It's so cold!"

The first group of five or six recruits scrambled into the water. Chu An gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and stepped into the freezing river. It was biting—deadly cold. Instantly, he felt every hair on his body stand on end.

"That's right! That's how my soldiers should act. Why hesitate over a bath?" Seeing the recruits finally in the water, Tong Lianzhong grinned broadly again.