Military Life: Activating the Crimson System and Becoming an Instructor

He Jie dies from overwork on the assembly line. When he opens his eyes again, he's back in his hometown: his grandmother has just passed away, his grandfather is still alive, and he's got less money in his pockets than he has to his name. The regrets of his previous life are etched into his bones. This time, he looks up at a recruitment poster and signs up for the army.

He passes the physical and is officially enlisted. The Crimson System activates, and everything from making beds to formation drills, marksmanship, and command can be leveled up. On the morning he leaves, his grandfather stuffs a bag of cornmeal into his hands. He secretly tucks it back into a gap in the sofa. As the bus pulls out of the village, he glances back at the old man standing behind the window, opens the System panel, and watches his stamina tick up to level one.

In the back row, Zhang Huo is playing Temple Run on his iPhone 5. He Jie takes it and casually scores a hundred thousand points, leaving Zhang Huo utterly crushed. At the entrance to the armory, Zhang Bing claps him on the shoulder. "Xiao Jie, once you're in the army, keep an eye on this little brat for me."

He Jie picks up his duffel bag and walks into the compound. A System notification pops up: Military enlistment confirmed. System fully unlocked. He grins.

"Skill upgrades? Then let's start with making the bed."

This novel and its characters are entirely fictional. Any resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidental. Do not imitate.