In August, 2016, I went to the "Third Company" to interview the soldiers for a publication. It is a model unit under one of the brigades in the Eastern Army Theater.

While the soldiers were telling me their stories, I noticed about five or six scars, big and small, on the arm of a soldier. To me, those scars were somewhat fascinating, so I decided to focus the interview on the stories behind the scars.

Story one

Wu Mei's scar [Photo by Lai Qiaoquan]

Wu Mei, private, first class. Once stabbed by a dagger, a 2cm surgical suture scar is visible on her left hand.

Wu Mei began to learn kung fu in first grade of primary school, which kindled an interest in martial arts. At the start of last year, some of the female soldiers found a video of army men practicing with daggers and decided they wanted to try their hands, too. They requested to their company that the female soldiers should also be allowed to learn this exercise. The company, knowing that Wu Mei had practiced martial arts before, decided to appoint her, a private at that time, as the "martial arts instructor" for the dagger exercises. Once Wu Mei was practicing a new move and applied so much pressure on the dagger that it pierced her left hand and blood began gushing out.

"Is someone always injured by a dagger?" I asked.

"No."

"Why did you apply so much pressure on the dagger?"

No reply.

(A female soldier Sun Yuting who was standing beside us began laughing and said: "While others show fear at the sight of a dagger, she seem to enjoy playing with it.")

"Did you worry that your boyfriend might not like it?"

"Tut…why would he mind if it is such a small wound?"

"Did it hurt?"

"No."

The female soldiers hold the pistol with both hands when shooting from a kneeling position. I requested Wu Mei to strike the same pose for the photo, above, as I wanted the scar to be visible.