Chapter 123 Unable to Draw the Bow
The bow in my hand feels heavy, and I can feel its weight when I hold it.
The bowstring was even harder to pull. Ye Qiongying tried to use all her strength, but could only pull it halfway before she couldn't help but let it go.
Oops.
Only then did she remember that when she was learning archery at home, she used a small bow that her father had made specifically for her, which was perfect for her body size and strength.
Now, of course, the military camp would not specially make an unusual bow for someone. The uniform longbows were aimed at batches of new soldiers, and these soldiers were almost all men.
Ye Qiongying...she found that she couldn't even shoot the arrow accurately, and now she couldn't even pull the bow!
At this time, Instructor Ren was already teaching the sixth to tenth teams of soldiers in the other square formation how to use swordsmanship.
The soldiers who had just received the bows and arrows were checking the bows and arrows in their hands with great interest.
The arrows consumed in the assessment and competition have also been replenished.
Because they haven't formally learned how to draw the bow and shoot arrows, no one put the arrow on at this moment to avoid accidental injury. Instead, they just pulled the bow and fiddled with it.
The posture may not be standard, but most of them can successfully pull the bowstring.
Especially Yao Dachuan, he only said that Li Yunwei's ancestors were hunters and had outstanding archery skills, but he did not mention himself.
When you see him drawing the bow, you know this is not the first time he has used a bow and arrow.
Perhaps noticing her gaze, Yao Manfu said to Ye Qiongying:
"Brother Dayao is also a good hunter! His family was in financial difficulty, so in order to earn money, Brother Dayao would go hunting in the mountains with a broken bow and then sell it in the county town.
But later, the fields were damaged by disasters, and the animals in the mountains gradually disappeared. With no other options, Brother Dayao brought us to the military camp.”
"You can also use arrows?" Ye Qiongying asked curiously.
"Uh..." The brothers Yao Manfu and Yao Fengshou shook their heads embarrassedly, "We are just mediocre at this level. We can only draw the bow at best, but we can't say we know how to do it. But you, sister Qiongying, are you also good at archery? I always feel like you know everything! This time we have to rely on you to teach us!"
"You are wrong," Ye Qiongying held up the longbow in her hand, looking helpless, "I can't even draw the bow now. Let's leave the task of teaching and answering questions to your brother Dayao!"
"Ah? This...this...how is this possible?" Yao Manfu opened his eyes wide in surprise.
In his heart, Ye Qiongying's origins were very mysterious, she was easy to get along with, and she was capable, as if nothing could stump her. Li Yunwei, who always made things difficult for them in the past, could never get away with anything in front of Ye Qiongying, and was always so angry at her.
How...is it possible that I can't draw the bow?
Yao Dachuan, who happened to be walking by, also heard this. He did not show any surprise. He tried the bow in his hand and said to Ye Qiongying:
"The bows used in the army are still too heavy for women. Girls are naturally weak, so it's normal that they can't pull them.
It is better to report the situation to the instructor. If it really doesn't work... I still know a little bit of skill in making a bow. Even though it is not very good, it can be used to practice archery without worrying about delaying training.
What do you think? "
Ye Qiongying shook her head:
"No need. We are already here, why should we do anything special? If we are on the battlefield, in a critical moment, can I still find a weapon that belongs to me before I can use it?
The reason why I can't draw the bow is that I don't have enough strength. Since I have shortcomings, I will practice!
Just like running, at the beginning I could only lag behind and barely keep up with you, but now I can walk side by side with you.
I can naturally develop the strength to draw the bow."
"But this..." Yao Manfu said worriedly, "There is only one month. Sister Qiongying, will you make it in time?"
"Of course I'm still in time," Ye Qiongying laughed, "I just can't draw the bow, not that I can't shoot. Once I get used to the power of the bow, I'll be able to catch up soon. You guys should work harder and don't let me overtake you."
Their conversation was not secretive.
People from several other teams nearby also heard it.
I had been thinking about asking Ye Qiongying for advice, but I didn't expect that she couldn't even pull the bow.
However, after spending a month together, no one said anything sarcastic. Instead, they all encouraged Ye Qiongying in a friendly manner:
"Miss Ye, you can do it!"
"Sister Qiongying, it's just a bow and arrow. I believe you will be able to master it in a few days. I believe in you!"
"Master Ye, you have to hurry up, we are still waiting for you to take on apprentices!"
Ye Qiongying smiled, but pushed Yao Dachuan forward and said:
"You don't have to wait for me as the archery master, but I have found a suitable candidate for you guys."
Yao Dachuan has always been a good guy with a lukewarm personality. He doesn't have much presence in other people's minds. They just know him as a person who swallows his anger in silence.
Now that Ye Qiongying had pushed him out, other people's eyes turned to him, and the tall and burly man was so embarrassed that his dark face turned red.
By the time Instructor Ren came over to teach them how to draw the bow, the atmosphere here was already full of joy.
As usual, demonstrations were given in all directions of the formation.
Have others follow his movements and practice together.
Instructor Ren also discovered Ye Qiongying's problem.
There is nothing wrong with the posture, it can even be called perfect.
but……
The power is not enough.
I couldn't even pull the bow all the way.
If this is the only way, then no matter how standard the action is, the arrow will not be able to hit the enemy accurately, and it will probably fall limply to the ground as soon as it leaves the bowstring.
"No one is perfect..." Instructor Ren stopped walking past Ye Qiongying and said in a low voice, "Women are naturally physically limited, so it doesn't matter if they are not good at this. Maybe you can use a smaller crossbow or other weapons later. There is no need to force it."
He was speaking from the heart.
If Ye Qiongying's previous performance had not impressed him, seeing that she couldn't even pull the bow, Instructor Ren's first reaction would definitely be to drive her away, thinking that this was not the place for her.
But with the previous preparation, the current defects become understandable.
As he said, no one is perfect.
Ye Qiongying has done well enough.
This bow is indeed not suitable for girls, so it is normal that it cannot be pulled open.
If Ye Qiongying was a person who would give in easily, she would not have appeared in the military camp in Pingwu City.
She still held the long bow that was almost half her height in her hand, and raised her head and said:
"Sometimes, if you don't force it, how can you know if you can get it? Instructor, I think I can do it."