Chapter 134 - 90: Trapped in the Torrent

In the afternoon, the pull-up assessment began.

"Seventeen!"

"Eighteen!"

"Come on, Fang Huai!"

The new recruits were all cheering him on, and the Chief of Staff stood silently on the side.

Wang Jian, too, was watching the kid who had won numerous honors for Squad Seven, occasionally offering a reminder, "Grip the bar tightly! You have two more, don’t force it!"

Today, Fang Huai was doing the most standard pull-ups.

From the beginning until now, his body was straight without a single swing.

Fortunately, the two months-plus of evening exercises had caused a thick layer of calluses to form on his hands, which steadied his grip on the bar.

After resting for two seconds, Fang Huai exerted himself forcefully, kicking out his legs, and completed another one.

"Nineteen!"

The Chief of Staff also began to shout, "Fang Huai, the last one, if you don’t finish it for me, I’ve wasted half a day watching you for nothing!"

By this point, Fang Huai had no care for appearances, his facial features squeezed together as he exerted force from his waist, furiously kicking like a frog; finally, he completed the last one.

"Twenty!!" A round of applause erupted from those around.

Unexpectedly, the Chief of Staff’s traditional entertainment finally arrived:

"I’ve been watching here for half a day; aren’t you going to give me one?"

Laughter erupted among those around.

"I’ve been watching here for half a day"—what kind of lousy excuse is that?

Is it that useful?

Fang Huai gritted his teeth and flicked the bar with his hand, steadying himself after resting another two seconds, his lower body began to sway.

As the swinging became greater, Fang Huai seized the chance to exert force, suddenly reaching another one, and roared at the top, "Chief of Staff, stop talking, this one’s for the squad leader!"

Then swung for another, "This one’s for the Company Leader!"

And another, "This one’s for you!"

By the last one, Fang Huai put all his strength into it and swung high, "This one, for the Regiment Commander!"

Only then did Fang Huai dismount from the bar, eliciting a forceful round of applause from the onlookers.

Fang Huai’s face also showed satisfied pride.

I’m all too familiar with your tricks! No need to mention it, I’ve got to deliver one to everyone from bottom to top!

While he was basking in his moment of pride.

The Chief of Staff’s face fell, "Why did you get down? What about Vice Head Han’s? The Political Commissar’s? You’ve delivered to everyone, aren’t you going to go through the Regiment Department leadership? Don’t you care about politics?"

Fang Huai was stunned.

He had underestimated the Chief of Staff’s shamelessness.

"This... Chief of Staff, I’ve only seen Regiment Commander Han and the Political Commissar once at a military assembly!" Fang Huai argued.

"Alright, alright, I’m going to tell the Political Commissar that we’ll cancel your award!" The Chief of Staff said as he turned to walk toward the office building.

Fang Huai panicked and was about to stop him.

Unexpectedly, as the Chief of Staff turned around, the piece of paper he held behind his back was exposed.

Wang Jian immediately recognized what it was and promptly reminded him, "Fang Huai, quickly stop the Chief of Staff, he has brought the award order with him!"

Fang Huai’s eyes lit up, and he embraced the Chief of Staff in an instant.

Old Black had obviously prepared it well in advance! Today, whether he did twenty pull-ups or not, he was going to get it for himself!

The Chief of Staff turned to break free from Fang Huai and, only then, revealed a smile, slapping Fang Huai on the back of the head, "Scram back into position!"

Then, seeing that no one was left on the bars, he bellowed loudly, "Squad Seven! All members, assemble!"

The nearby new recruits and squad leaders instantly ran to stand before the Chief of Staff, forming up by company, while many other companies participating in other assessments also turned to look.

The Chief of Staff, with a solemn expression, held the piece of paper in his hand, smoothing it out before looking across the formation to himself straighten Squad Seven once again:

"Look right, dress!"

Shuffling footsteps sounded.

"Look forward!"

The field fell silent.

"At ease!"

Uniform footsteps resounded.

Only then did the Chief of Staff, satisfied, pick up the paper in his hand and announced in a clear voice:

"Order!

Third-class merit, commendation order!

Fang Huai, comrade of the Fire Brigade Headquarters new recruit group from Guizhou Province, has worked diligently, completing the tasks given by superiors on time, ideologically always aligning with... actively arming his mind with the latest theoretical achievements of the party, earnestly studying the significant speech on Eight Honors and Eight Shames, actively training, and displaying outstanding performance.

Given comrade Fang Huai’s excellent performance in his duties, the new recruit group’s leadership department has decided to award comrade Fang Huai with third-class merit!

We hope all personnel will learn from comrade Fang Huai, devote themselves wholeheartedly to their work, and contribute to the socialist modernization of our country!"

Third-class merit!

Applause surged like a wave.

Every soldier in Squad Seven respected Fang Huai, including the old soldiers.

In these three months, everything Fang Huai did stood out.

If there were a character with magical realist hues in the memory of the new recruits of Squad Seven, it would undoubtedly be Fang Huai.

He was like Edward Bloom in "Big Fish"; when everyone would later recount the miraculous individuals they had seen during their service, his name would certainly come up, and they would proudly say, "You people only heard of those, but I knew a guy, that year, when he did those things, he was right by my side, I saw it with my own eyes..."

This third-class merit perfectly punctuated Fang Huai’s three months of effort and left an indelible mark on this Chapter of his story.

Looking at the somewhat reverent gaze of his same year soldiers, Fang Huai felt for the first time that he truly had a third-class merit worth being proud of!

Completely different from the past life where, after five years of work, just a month before being discharged, a cadre quietly pulled him aside in the office, whispering, "With this merit, you’ll get a little more severance pay, you’re a non-commissioned officer being discharged, just accept it, everyone understands, but keep it low-key,"—that kind of third-class merit.

This was the merit he earned!

Even if there was his uncle’s influence in it, when he received the third-class merit, not a single person in the audience felt there was anything undeserved about the award.

The Chief of Staff also began to applaud and then, looking at Fang Huai in the formation, said sternly:

"Congratulations, lad! Our new recruit group hasn’t had a third-class merit in three years; you’re the first in three years!

It is also after summarizing your work performance that all leadership of our unit approved this third-class merit!

Firefighting is always prepared for war; there are many opportunities for earning distinctions!

I believe that in the future, more and more Military Merit Medals will hang on your chest."

"But for this Military Merit Medal, I hope you can hang it as the first one among all third-class merits!"

Another round of thunderous applause ensued.

Fang Huai suddenly felt a lump in his throat, snapped to attention, and saluted with military precision.

"Yes, Chief of Staff!"

...

Escorted by his fellow new recruits from Squad Nine, Fang Huai walked into the room with Hao Chengbin walking behind him, hands clasped behind his back and smiling.

"Wow, not bad, huh? Old Hao, you’ve brought up a new recruit with a third-class merit!"

Pan Zhaohui caught up from behind and patted Hao Chengbin on the shoulder.

Hao Chengbin glanced sideways with a smirk, "How’s it going with the transfer?"

"Soon! Vice Chief of Staff Qian from the Detachment called me, I’ll probably be transferred to the Provincial Brigade"

"The Detachment? The Detachment headquarters?!" Hao Chengbin’s eyes widened.

"You think I went through all this effort just to be transferred to a grassroots squadron?"

Hearing this, Hao Chengbin looked around, then whispered:

"Does Jiang Peng have that kind of clout?"

"Geez." Pan Zhaohui gave him a look reserved for idiots:

"I wouldn’t depend on that... Deputy Director Liu? My former boss when I drove for the Detachment... Got promoted! To the whole corps! He gave me a helping hand!"

"Damn..." Hao Chengbin pulled out a black cig from his left pocket and handed it to Pan Zhaohui:

"You’re lucky! To have a good leader! After three sessions, you get transferred, four years driving for the Detachment, off you go to enjoy life! Keep an eye out for me when there’s a new trend in the Detachment, brother!"

Pan Zhaohui accepted the cigarette and said meaningfully, "You’re already following in Captain Zhang’s footsteps, why envy me?"

But Hao Chengbin just shook his head and laughed, "I can’t keep up with Captain Zhang’s pace. In a couple more years, that kid Fang Huai might even make a big name for himself. With background, talent, and a willingness to fight, if I can nurture this rising star, I’ll be satisfied! My name, at least, will be passed down in the Firefighting forces for 20 years! I’m not after anything else, my one stint in the army was for the glory of a name!"

Pan Zhaohui laughed uproariously, "To each their own!"

...

While the two squad leaders chatted outside, Fang Huai inside had sunk into contemplation.

The moment the Chief of Staff announced the order, although he had not yet received the Military Merit Medal, the Military Merit Shop had acquired a dazzling third-class merit medal.

He now had the choice between a C Level "Immunity Enhancement" or "Core Strength Enhancement"!

There was no hesitation.

The instant he sat on the bench, he couldn’t wait to choose the Core Strength Enhancement.

This enhancement, Fang Huai finally experienced some different sensations than previous strength enhancements, but they quickly disappeared.

The imprint of the third-class merit medal from the Military Merit Shop was still there, but it no longer glowed; it had turned to a copper metallic texture.

Fang Huai felt a slight sense of loss.

That’s it?

That’s it?!

He rushed upstairs and only dared to initiate the enhancement once seated, for fear of an excessive reaction during the process. But when the moment actually arrived, it only took two or three seconds before he entered the empty state of the sage mode.

It seemed like he didn’t feel anything at all.

Fang Huai stretched his body and lifted his legs again.

The soreness he had felt in his hands had subsided somewhat, but he couldn’t tell if it was from resting or the effect of the enhancement.

He really wanted to try out his newly enhanced abilities on the training field, but it was almost time for lunch, so he had to wait until the evening.

Just as he was thinking this, Hao Chengbin pushed the door open and started with a remark that left Fang Huai speechless but thrilled the new recruits.

"It’s confirmed. Drill on Friday, leaving the Company on Saturday! Starting tonight, the Company will have additional training for formations! Everyone, give it your best and show the whole corps’ leaders your finest state!"

"Yay!!" The new recruits were elated.

The three-month new recruit group was finally going to be liberated!

...

"Comrades, hello!"

As Political Commissar Zou walked past the nine formations, he shouted out in turn, and the new recruits’ response was like a tidal wave.

"Leader, hello!"

"Comrades, you’ve worked hard!"

"Serve! The people!"

The ceremony quickly proceeded to the formal process of the parade march after a request for permission.

"The parade march, begin! Mark the positions for the Model Squad Leaders!"

With a loud command from the Chief of Staff beneath the rostrum, nine Model Squad Leaders ran to their assigned spots, and all the new recruits on the playground started to grow tense.

After more than a month of parade training, today was finally the day to test their skills.

The parade march is an exclusive ceremony for military parades.

After today, the new recruits would no longer have the chance to participate in such large-scale drills; at this moment, the troops stood proudly, bathed in glory.

"Marching, go!"

First Company heard the order and entered with a vigorous stride. The new recruits’ steps were still somewhat immature, but they all desperately tried to show their most solemn postures.

"Look right!"

"Follow the Party’s command, maintain excellent conduct! One, two!"

With a synchronized stride, everyone turned half to the right to salute.

Their chant shook the trees and their steps seemed to tread on mountains and rivers.

After passing by the rostrum, the commander leading the front once again shouted loudly.

"Look forward!"

"Strict discipline, effective support! One, two!"

Marching stepped changed to uniform strides.

The leaders on the platform clapped their hands, praising this year’s new recruits for their outstanding formation quality.

One after another, the company formations competed to showcase their military posture, winning applause from the entire field.

On today’s playground, there was no Fang Huai, no Squad Nine, no Hao Chengbin, no...

Nothing at all.

Everyone merged into the glorious collective of the "Firefighting forces," becoming a single screw in the machine.

Only when you are in the midst of a rushing current, do you realize how insignificant individual strength is.

After the drill, Political Commissar Zou gave a speech in his local accent that was quite long and barely remembered by anyone, except for one sentence, "I wish all new comrades a smooth journey to their new positions!"