Chapter 854

Chapter 854: Instructor! Good Morning!

“Hey! Hey! Number one! Number one!”

While Lin Mo was watching the engineers and mechanics from Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group working on three J-10B fighter jets, he suddenly heard someone shouting behind him. He turned his gaze to see what was happening.

After watching for a few seconds, he recognized a familiar face with thick eyebrows and big eyes; the person looked a bit thin. A pilot, who seemed to have just arrived at the airport and hadn’t even set down his luggage, ran up to Lin Mo.

“Who are you?”

Lin Mo felt that the person looked familiar but couldn’t recall where he had seen him. Two other pilots carrying luggage were catching up behind him.

“Number one, do you not remember from the aerospace training center? I’m number six! I participated in the Astronaut Selection with you.”

Jin Hongbao finally saw the realization dawning on Lin Mo’s face.

“I remember now, right! You’re number six, Jin, Jin…”

Lin Mo finally recalled. This temporary code was only known to those who had participated in the Astronaut Selection together. Such a meaningful code would leave a deep impression on anyone.

“I’m Jin Hongbao! Ah, I was eliminated on the spot because I couldn’t gather enough team members.”

Jin Hongbao rubbed his hands together, a hint of reddish color appearing on his bronze face. That experience was embarrassing; he felt a wave of sadness every time he remembered it. The harshness of the Astronaut Selection was beyond everyone’s imagination.

“Yes, yes! I remember now!”

The name connected with Lin Mo’s memory.

If Lin Mo had also been unable to gather team members at that time, he probably would’ve faced the same fate, with no consideration for feelings at all. Number six was indeed quite unlucky.

“Hey? What are you doing here? Could it be… oh! I see! You also…”

Although Lin Mo didn’t know exactly what had happened during the later selections, the moment he appeared here, Jin Hongbao understood that they had both been eliminated, and he felt a sense of camaraderie arise in his heart.

Lin Mo smiled without a care and said, “Yeah! Eliminated! As long as I did my best, I don’t regret it!”

What he wanted was to enjoy the exhilarating thrill of combat, not to be kept like a pig. A warrior should have the courage to meet a noble end.

However, he had also gained some good things from the aerospace training center, including high-nutrition energy bars, the V-11 pulse detonation engine, and various technical data about the VASIMR-5A5 Magnetic Plasma Engine. If these gains were ever revealed, they would surely astonish countless people.

“Hongbao, why did you run over here? This isn’t the dormitory! Who is this?”

The two pilots finally caught up while Jin Hongbao and Lin Mo were talking.

“He’s my friend. Number one, um, haha, I also forgot your name, I’m so sorry.”

Just as Jin Hongbao was about to introduce Lin Mo, he suddenly realized that he had forgotten Lin Mo’s name, only remembering his Astronaut Selection code.

“Hello, I’m Lin Mo! I’m a pilot, just like you.”

Lin Mo took the initiative to rescue Jin Hongbao from the awkward situation, extending his hand first to the two pilots.

This was an informal setting, so there was no need for military salutes, and the atmosphere felt much more relaxed.

“Hello, I’m Feiliqi, from the Nanjing Military Region.”

A tall and strong pilot introduced himself proactively.

“I’m Ding Yi, from the Beijing Military Region.” Another pilot, small and strong with a baby face, followed suit and shook Lin Mo’s hand.

“Lin Mo, well, I think it’s easier to call you number one!”

Jin Hongbao suddenly felt a bit awkward about the change in names and shyly looked at Lin Mo, who smiled effortlessly and said, “For us pilots, does it really matter if we use names or codes?”

“That’s true! Haha, number one, I’ll just call you that!”

Jin Hongbao was taken aback, then suddenly understood and couldn’t help but laugh. Feiliqi and Ding Yi joined in the laughter, knowing only pilots could understand the depth of Lin Mo’s words.

Once in the cockpit of a fighter jet, all that mattered were the codes, not the names. It was common for pilots to get used to calling each other by their flight codes or mission codes.

“Hmm!” Lin Mo nodded, accepting the return to his old code. He noticed the bags they were carrying and guessed they were here for training, so he asked, “Are you here for the 85th enhanced training session?”

“Yes!” Feiliqi nodded, curiously looking at the three fighter jets in the parking area. He then asked, “Lin Mo, are you a fighter division pilot from Quzhou Airport?”

“No, I’m not!”

Lin Mo shook his head. If not for being sent by higher-ups to be an instructor for the enhanced training session, this air force base would have no connection to him at all.

“You must be here for the enhanced training session as well, right? Have you participated before?”

Feiliqi was both surprised and delighted. Finally, he had met someone who could help him gather information; it was always easier to find out news when someone arrived earlier.

Lin Mo nodded and replied, “Yes! This is my first time here!”

Feiliqi friendly put his arm around Lin Mo’s shoulder and said with a smile, “Hey, buddy, have you heard if the new instructor is tough? What’s the difficulty of this training session? Can you share some details? I would really appreciate it.”

If he didn’t get a certificate from this enhanced training session, the Captains would surely be furious with him.

“Feiliqi, you…” Jin Hongbao began to warn Feiliqi not to be so rude, but Ding Yi pulled him aside and whispered, “It’s fine, old Fei knows the limits. Let’s hear what Little Lin has to say.”

Jin Hongbao glanced at Ding Yi in surprise. These guys were sharp, leaving him with a wry smile.

To avoid getting turned into a noodle when he returned, it was essential to understand both sides and remain diligent.

“Instructors aren’t tigers; how could they possibly be tough?”

Lin Mo blinked, seemingly aware of their thoughts, and continued with a subtle smile, “As long as you study hard, you’ll definitely pass the final assessment smoothly.”

The combat experience of the Chinese in exams had remained top-notch globally for over a thousand years, flowing naturally and penetrating every gap without fail.

“You’re not being very loyal, brother!”

Feiliqi released his hand and pretended to be angry.

“How could that be? Isn’t there a secret manual?” Lin Mo smiled slightly, not bothered by it.

“A secret manual?” Feiliqi seemed to catch on to something, quickly asking, “Where is it? Where’s the secret manual?”

He looked like a child who had spotted candy.

“It’s the ‘Guide to Air Combat Techniques for the 85th Enhanced Training Session!’ Didn’t you get it when you arrived?”

Lin Mo grinned mischievously.

Feiliqi’s expression froze on the spot.

A secret manual? Indeed, it was a manual! But brother, that was just a textbook!

No matter what kind of exam it is, as long as you memorize the textbook, it naturally becomes a powerful tool for passing!

“Haha! Haha! You’re killing me!”

“Exactly, old Feiliqi, number one isn’t joking with you. That really is a secret manual!”

Jin Hongbao and Ding Yi laughed so hard they nearly fell down; Lin Mo’s response was simply brilliant.

Feiliqi’s face turned bright red as he said, “You’re not being honest, brother! Come on, let’s put our things away first! Then we can catch up with Little Lin!”

Using that as an excuse to back away, he stopped probing for insider information. On the way back, Feiliqi was teased by the other two, nearly driving him crazy.

Approximately thirty pilots participated in the 85th enhanced training session, gradually completing their registration over a week.

Usually, very few come individually; most military districts organize transport planes or simply book more comfortable commercial flight tickets to get to Quzhou Airport. Everyone is used to flying, and it’s rare to see anyone traveling by train.

On the first day of class, at eight o’clock sharp, all the trainees had gathered at the parking area.

Unlike the army’s playground or drill ground, the air force’s training ground is right on the parking area.

When gathered, pilots always keep the closest distance to their fighter jets.

Although the pilots came from all corners of the country and belonged to different air forces, they began to form lines spontaneously. This organization and discipline is the biggest difference between soldiers and civilians.

“Hey! Hey! Little Lin, come over here!”

Feiliqi, now in line, saw Jin Hongbao’s friend and waved him over.

He had already forgotten about the little joke from the day they registered; anyone who was Jin Hongbao’s friend was also his friend, Feiliqi.

Unexpectedly, the other person just smiled at him but stayed where he was, not coming over.

To avoid standing out too much, Lin Mo didn’t wear the “Dragon General” outfit; instead, like everyone else, he wore the military standard standard pressure suit, which was stored in the backseat of the “monstrous” cockpit as a spare.

Jin Hongbao, who was in the third row, also spotted Lin Mo and quickly gestured for him, shouting, “Little Lin, what are you standing there for? Get in line! If the instructors see you, you’ll get in trouble!”

“Shh, don’t shout. The instructors are coming; it won’t be good if they see you.”

An unfamiliar pilot next to Jin Hongbao whispered this warning. At that moment, everyone noticed a soldier in standard air force uniform accompanying two pilots dressed in pressure suits walking over; the instructors had arrived.

“Oh no! We’re going to get in trouble now!”

Jin Hongbao, Feiliqi, and Ding Yi, who also saw Lin Mo, panicked at the same time, but they couldn’t break ranks to pull Lin Mo in; they watched helplessly as the three “instructors” approached Lin Mo, who appeared utterly unaware.

“Commander Tang! Instructor Cao! Instructor Chen! Good morning!”

Lin Mo seemed to have eyes on the back of his head; just as they were only a few steps away, he suddenly turned around, raised his hand, and gave a standard salute.

“Instructor Lin! Good morning!”