"Exactly. I can't stand people who don't appreciate what they have," Instructor Li from Class 4, Grade 10, said.
"Alright, let's rest too. That way, we'll be fresh to torment them at midnight," Instructor Ma from Class 2, Grade 10, laughed in agreement.
There were four classes in the first year of the Military Medical Affiliated High School, so there were four instructors. The four instructors exchanged smiles and returned to their respective dormitories to rest, preparing to wake up in the middle of the night to test these students again.
At 1:40 AM, a whistle blew sharply. Luo Kun and Zhu Yanyi jumped up instantly. Luo Kun shouted urgently, "Yaya, Fei'er, Junlan, get up quickly! The emergency assembly whistle has sounded."
The three girls rubbed their eyes, waking up fully. Zhu Yanyi saw their dazed state and reminded them, "Remember to fold your quilts. Don't leave them messy."
Zhu Yanyi finished her own bed while speaking, then quickly helped Zheng Fei'er tidy hers. Luo Kun assisted Ma Yaya with her belongings. Hui Junlan had already finished making her bed. Seeing that everything was in order, the five girls rushed out of the dormitory. It took them only five minutes from start to finish.
When the five girls from Dormitory 403 reached the playground, only six boys were already there. They were the first dormitory to arrive. Instructor Chen looked at the five girls and asked, "Which dormitory are you from?"
"Report, Instructor, we are from Dormitory 403," Ma Yaya answered. As the oldest among them, she was naturally appointed as the dormitory head, so she spoke for the group.
"Five minutes and three seconds. It’s not fast, but it’s not slow either. Fall in line," Instructor Chen said directly.
"Yes," the five girls replied, quickly taking their usual positions in the formation.
After them, more students arrived one by one. When the last dormitory finally appeared, Instructor Chen addressed everyone after the assembly was complete. "This emergency assembly was to test your ability to respond to sudden situations, but you disappointed me in the end.
The fastest was the boys' Dormitory 206, reaching the playground in four minutes and thirteen seconds. The slowest was the girls' Dormitory 417, taking eleven minutes and twenty-three seconds. Eleven minutes and twenty-three seconds! Are you turtles? If the enemy attacked, this speed would have made you cannon fodder long ago."
Instructor Chen scanned all the students of Class 3, Grade 10. "Don't be proud if you weren't the slowest. Do you think you were fast enough? I don't demand extreme speed, but five minutes should be enough to wake up and leave your dormitory. Based on a five-minute standard, only the boys' Dormitory 206 passed. All other dormitories failed. Failure means punishment.
For every minute late, you will run one lap around the playground. Any time less than a minute will be counted as one minute. Now, I will announce your punishments.
Girls' Dormitory 403: five minutes and three seconds, run one lap.
Boys' Dormitory 203: five minutes and forty-five seconds, run one lap.
Boys' Dormitory 109: six minutes and one second, run two laps.
Girls' Dormitory 401: seven minutes and eleven seconds, run three laps.
Boys' Dormitory 215: seven minutes and twelve seconds, run three laps.
Girls' Dormitory 414: seven minutes and forty-one seconds, run three laps.
Girls' Dormitory 407: eight minutes, run three laps.
Girls' Dormitory 417: eleven minutes and twenty-three seconds, run seven laps.
Start now."
As soon as Instructor Chen finished speaking, he blew his whistle, signaling them to begin running.
Zhu Yanyi and her roommates raised their eyebrows slightly. They calculated that although they were three seconds over the limit, being late was being late. They didn't complain. It was just one lap, so they started running at a steady pace. They finished quickly and rested in place on the playground, waiting for the others to complete their runs before they could return to rest.