Chapter 169 - 124: New Recruit Record?

One by one, they arrived at the rooftop, all with a dazed expression on their face.

"So many people..."

Little Black was the first to exclaim in surprise.

The people on the ground, watching the firefighters rush to the rooftop one by one, stopped groaning and just lay there haphazardly.

In two words: professionalism.

The cement ground at the end of February.

Chilling to the bone.

And there were some girls among them.

Yes, girls.

Those younger girls instantly became the priority for everyone’s rescue efforts.

Of course, when it came time to help, everyone was the picture of gentility. A bunch of rugged bastards instantly elevated their gentlemanly qualities on the spot, either lifting an arm or carrying a leg, not daring to carry them in their arms and preferring to prioritize moving them onto stretchers.

With Fang Huai’s sly old fox’s eye, he could tell those girls were there voluntarily; when they were lifted up, their expressions were hardly satisfied.

They kept complaining about the discomfort of the stretchers, as if they were ready to hook their arms around the necks of any soldier brave enough to carry them.

Fang Huai didn’t escape either, being asked by two girls for his QQ number.

He didn’t give it.

Nobody dared to; they all cited regulations.

Even Zhao Jinchen, who usually had a perpetually stern face, was teased by a 30-something lady until his face turned somewhat red from her persistent questioning.

Actually, most people were far from innocent; the topics discussed back at the squadron could be quite racy.

Those with plenty of practical experience were not in the minority either.

In his previous life, Fang Huai had stood night watch. He knew exactly who had come through the doors, and even how many minutes of stamina certain people had.

Some met with girlfriends, while others tangled with gambling and drugs, never to mix again.

He’d even seen someone who, in an attempt to preserve their dignity, deliberately loitered outside the squadron for twenty minutes before coming in.

Without their military uniforms, they were just a bunch of hot-blooded youths with pretty much ordinary sexual fantasies, occasionally yearning for a soulful visit with this or that teacher.

But while in uniform, everyone noticeably reined in their true natures.

Female comrades were relatively rare.

From older sisters to younger sisters, there were only about seven or eight.

Among the men, there were three or five who were skinny; the rest were fit for hard and dangerous work.

These people were all served by a 20-meter rope hanging from their belts.

Yes, the kind that had whipped Fang Huai in the water.

Rope-tying techniques, various double and triple waist knots, plus a rope harness used as a stretcher, carried at both ends.

Lying on it, the person swung up and down, like a sedan chair carried on Mount Qingcheng in Sichuan.

Going up and down repeatedly in full gear, everyone was parched and breathless. Even in the cold, the weather inside their combat uniforms was like a high-temperature zone with intermittent showers.

At this point, everyone wished the firefighting exercise had the Strong Army Combat Vehicle.

A bunch of mysterious figures were seen darting out of various buildings involved in the exercise, each with a large plastic box on their chest filled with chilled drinks, coming up to slyly ask:

"Bro, ice-cold Sprite, want one? Buy five bottles, and get some tips and hidden test points for this exercise for free!"

Not to mention ice-cold Sprite, even bootleg ice-cold Reb Bull, sipping on cola, and anything cola would do!

Unfortunately, the 24-hour convenience store was just downstairs, its fridge brimming with all sorts of drinks, but the Blue Army Headquarters was also downstairs, guarded by an impassable barrier formed by the Instructor’s watchful eye.

If you dared to sneak water and got caught by the Instructor, you’d be plagued for a year with more punishments than you could handle.

minutes later, the Instructor announced: the exercise was over.

But the work wasn’t done yet.

The next twenty minutes featured the Instructor’s debriefing, starting with a list of deficiencies in the exercise.

Flaws were innumerable.

An observation from the Big Team revealed that some did not carry firefighting protective gloves, most did not turn on their headlamps to illuminate evacuation routes, and there were even some who removed their SCBA masks to chat with passersby on the floors.

During the last rescue, almost everyone’s oxygen cylinders were nearly empty, but everyone chose to shut off their oxygen and remove their SCBA masks, with not a single person descending to the vehicle to replace the spare cylinder.

Even Fang Huai hadn’t expected such a tricky question to be posed.

And the Instructor had only one thing to say, "Such thick smoke! It’s pervading all the middle floors and even seeping upwards! If this were a real dispatch, without an oxygen cylinder, you’re going out to rescue others? How many of you would make it back?"

Then came the issues pointed out by the Squadron Commander. Summed up in four sentences:

Common equipment not readily available, command arrangements inadequate, complete silence throughout the process, half asleep with eyes barely open.

The Squadron Cadres nodded: The criticism from the leadership was correct.

The next half hour was spent retrieving hoses, picking up equipment, and running up and down again. The intensity of the half-day training, combined with the suffocating heat inside the full combat uniform, even made Fang Huai lose it; he leaned over a trash can and threw up for several minutes.

If it wasn’t for Cao Yi, who quickly spent 100 yuan to buy a bag of ice-cold drinks for everyone, in the dead of winter, someone might have suffered from heatstroke.

When the Old Soldiers came down, they all clutched their waists.

After a tiring afternoon flipping tires and then this exercise, even a Ferrari couldn’t withstand such abuse; any more and it would scrape its undercarriage.

The Squadron Leaders could no longer bear to watch, and they didn’t scold the soldiers for the problems raised by the old teaching staff.

After the Instructor left, they announced that tomorrow would be for washing the vehicles and resting.

The Big Team leadership, the devils; the Squadron leadership, long live.

...

Back at the squadron, everyone was greeted by a steaming hot pot of mushrooms.

Everyone couldn’t wait to scoop up a bowl of "health-recovery soup," blowing on it as they sipped.

At the new recruits’ table, Liu Jianfeng looked at the pot filled with a mishmash of mushrooms and loudly asked Chang Ming:

"You bought so many different kinds of mushrooms, is there a chance of poisoning?"

Chang Ming laughed: "Impossible! Squad Leader Han drove with me to buy them this morning! He’s from Yunnan! An expert!"

Squad Leader Xiong, also from Yunnan, waved his hand and sipped his soup with relish.

Xiao Haishan, another Yunnan native, was drinking and nodding so much, he asserted, "I can guarantee there’s no poison in this!"

Fang Huai just silently shook his head and sipped his soup, finding Liu Jianfeng’s question redundant.

If something did happen, Yunnanese wouldn’t blame the mushrooms for being poisonous; they’d only think they hadn’t cooked them thoroughly.

Now with various protective enhancements, he was really curious to experience what hallucinations felt like. After boosting his immunity, he might never get the chance again.

...

On Friday, everyone was tidying up equipment and washing vehicles in the front yard.

Fang Huai took the opportunity to publicly seek advice from the first-class soldiers, even asking Meng Qiang.

"Squad leader, I notice all your communication drafts follow the same format! The first paragraph lists the police dispatch time, the second details extinguishing fires and rescuing people, and the third is always about unanimous public praise, fully showcasing the good image of the firefighting soldiers."

"It’s too formulaic. Have you ever thought about... changing it up?"

Cao Yi, standing nearby, immediately chimed in:

"Yes! Meng Qiang! Our squadron hasn’t had an article adopted by the Detachment for a month! There’s no news of our Special Duty Team on the Detachment’s internal network anymore! When are you going to put some effort into writing a good piece? If not, just let Fang Huai do it! His brain is much more flexible than yours!"

"You combatants should really reflect on yourselves! Fang Huai was quick to respond during yesterday’s exercise report! He reported it well! It’s clear he’s been studying diligently! His vocabulary is indeed richer than yours!"

The old soldiers nearby started praising too: "Yeah, Fang Huai’s a quick thinker!"

Meng Qiang panicked.

He saw Fang Huai vomiting over the trash can yesterday. Was this damn recruit getting tired of being a combatant and trying to usurp my position?

The others were one thing, but Fang Huai’s computer skills indeed qualified him for a coup!

At this moment, seizing the timing, Fang Huai sidled up to Meng Qiang with a grin and whispered:

"Squad leader... I don’t really want to be the communication officer, but if I teach you, you have to be patient and learn! Every time I come to ask you, you lock me out, avoiding me! Don’t push me to the point where I have to do it myself!"

You son of a...

Meng Qiang’s lips moved rapidly, silently sending a string of telegrams cursing Fang Huai’s family.

Then, gritting his teeth, he said, "Instructor! Fang Huai mentioned this issue to me before! I’ve realized it! I’ll change! Absolutely! I’ll consult with Fang Huai thoroughly after the break this afternoon!"

Cao Yi didn’t have time for wishful thinking about aftereffects. His management style was simple and crude. He issued a stern order:

"I don’t care how you change it! If you don’t produce two adopted articles next month, you’re going back to being a combatant!"

Meng Qiang’s face went dark.

However, Fang Huai cheerfully said, "Squad leader, as long as you put your heart into learning, with your talent, you will definitely complete the task!"

The other two soldiers of the same year didn’t speak up for him either.

Those two were damn hopeful Meng Qiang would go back to being a combatant, to share weal and woe with them!

They’d even be happy to see Fang Huai "banished" to the communication room!

Fang Huai, the so-called apprentice who was supposed to learn from them, constantly brought strange equipment to them for questions, which made them have to take turns learning from Equipment Technician Squad Leader Chen every day!

It was enough he was asking questions, but after each question, he would add extra information! Teaching a pupil like him was like crossing a hundred kilometers with two exhausted masters!

Who in the hell could handle that?

Now, among the first-class soldiers in the squadron, only Chang Ming could still chat and laugh with Fang Huai without feeling the urge to hide.

However, as the military merit value gradually increased with each dispatch, Fang Huai couldn’t help but feel tempted to spend 30 points to exchange for "chef’s knife skills (advanced)" and seek advice from Chang Ming.

The System’s task for Fang Huai to "properly lead the conscripts" definitely poked at the scoundrel trait deep in Fang Huai’s heart.

...

At 8 o’clock in the evening, Fang Huai tormented Meng Qiang a lot, forcing him to start learning from the Control Panel in "My Computer", teaching him how to check and adjust some computer parameters.

He also taught him some practical features, such as using "Device and Hardware Management" to troubleshoot and upgrade hardware like printers and connected cameras.

And even how to change some basic parts.

Meng Qiang, who thought cameras, printers, and computers should be carefully used and protected, was shocked to see Fang Huai disassemble them with just two screwdrivers.

Then, pointing to some consumables and hard drives inside, he explained which parts could be replaced on his own.

Although Fang Huai’s knowledge wasn’t vast, it still triggered a change in Meng Qiang’s mindset.

Meng Qiang was initially resistant, but as he discovered that some features he considered "high-end" were actually that simple, and that he didn’t need to seek after-sales service in specialty stores, he started to become genuinely interested.

Fang Huai wasn’t sure if he had just opened Pandora’s Box for Meng Qiang.

After all, a man only has two states when it comes to dismantling electronics: never and countless times.

Once activated, this could significantly alter Meng Qiang’s life’s spending direction in the future.

But Fang Huai couldn’t bother with that now; teaching these things accelerated task progression.

Indeed, he’d get a little more task completion degree after just over 10 minutes.

After more than an hour’s explanation, Fang Huai was pleased to acquire an additional 5 points of task completion degree.

With today’s additional 6 points and the previous 11 points, he was only 3 points short of claiming his final cumulative task reward.

He had two other tasks in hand: once he broke 20 minutes for five kilometers, he should be able to embark on the second round of strength enhancement.

Wen Jingsong’s new recruit record? Only someone from our own camp deserves a new recruit record to be eternally kept in the Detachment!

No, in the whole corps!