Chapter 241 - 185: Deputy Squad Leader Once Again

During leg training, Fang Huai finally enjoyed the genuine new recruit treatment.

It was even more brutal than that of a new recruit.

"Hurry up!"

"Faster, don’t stop!"

The first-stage officers and conscripts were all jumping fiercely forward. The second-stage officers could go a bit slower, while Squad Leader Fang of the third stage and Cao Yi were leisurely covering the rear.

Hao Chengbin enjoyed special treatment, as he was allowed to walk.

Because his task was to keep Fang Huai company.

He even carried an air call unit loaded to capacity on Fang Huai’s behalf; once Fang Huai reached the destination, he would have to do push-ups with the air call unit on his back.

Keep doing them until exhaustion.

If Yang Shaoqing were here, he would know why Fang Huai was receiving such special treatment: The treatment was not just a reflection of performance, but was also earned through a training volume far exceeding others.

Only this kind of exchange could leave the old soldiers without a shred of resentment.

For the first half of the distance, Hao Chengbin chased after Fang Huai as he had always done, without any clear goal, just rushing forward.

It didn’t matter how fast they went; it was all too slow. Just charge through.

But today, Fang Huai exceptionally gasped for air and complained,

"Squad leader... how much faster do I need to go? The main force is all left behind!"

With that, Hao Chengbin looked ahead.

Only Little Black and a few others from the squadron with excellent leg strength were in front: Jiang Jun, the deputy squad leader of Second Squad, Zeng Zhigao who had just returned from vacation, and Kong Xiangzhong from the Northeast.

Not far from Kong Xiangzhong, only about three or four meters ahead.

A sudden turn.

The closest among the others were Liu Jianfeng and Hu Hongzhi, panting heavily seven or eight meters away.

These were the runners in the squadron known for strong leg bursts.

Hao Chengbin suddenly realized that this feeling was coming back!

How did Fang Huai’s legs suddenly become so powerful?!

Usually, during leg training, it was very difficult for Fang Huai to rank among the officers! Compared to the old soldiers, he was only slightly better than the chubby Chen Zhenghai, occasionally keeping up with Zhang Yang and Qi Xiaohui—that was already considered very good!

Let’s not even talk about Liu Jianfeng and Hu Hongzhi; he absolutely couldn’t catch up with Zhao Jinchen, Xiong Jie, Sun Jingwu and the other second-stage officers.

"Fang Huai, have your legs recently... experienced anything like your arms did, that sort of breakthrough feeling as if your Ren Vessel and Du Vessel pathways had been opened?" Hao Chengbin asked with a furrowed brow.

Fang Huai was startled upon hearing this.

He was getting close to the truth.

"Ah... yes, squad leader. You’ve been pushing me hard in training every day; after resting my legs for a couple of days, I feel like my meridians are more open," Fang Huai said.

In fact, Hao Chengbin’s knowledge was running out and he couldn’t explain what principle was at play, so he had to rely on martial arts novels for reference.

But hearing Fang Huai’s response, Hao Chengbin felt it made sense:

"Yes, that’s it! You’ve been training continuously and your muscles have been in a state of ongoing tears. After a period of rest and sufficient nutrition absorption, your muscles will recover! And they’ll even grow larger than before!

It’s very possible that your recent intense training buildup coupled with rest has allowed you to build muscle!"

Fang Huai chuckled, "Squad leader, I feel like it’s your excellent guidance. I think the way and intensity you train me is particularly suited to my growth, it’s really tough!"

"Bullshit!" Hao Chengbin glared with rounded eyes: "This is the result of training desperately. I don’t have any secret manuals!

A normal person can’t train as you do, constantly stimulating the same muscle group repeatedly. The muscles would end up damaged without the ability to repair, leading to decreased growth efficiency!

Only you, damn it, are truly a martial arts prodigy! You can withstand such training and the results are especially good!"

Tsk tsk.

Squad Leader Hao’s brain was not bad—he was smarter than expected, not a scapegoat anymore.

Fang Huai was still silently laughing when the panting sounds from the team at the back came through.

They had caught up.

In an instant, Hao Chengbin’s eyes narrowed:

"Stop the chatter, move it! Since you’re training hard, then train as if your life depends on it! If you can’t catch up with Kong Xiangzhong, that’s an extra round for you! If the ones behind catch up, you’ll add two rounds! This morning, I’ll stay here with you and train!"

Damn.

In the military, a smile can freeze so easily.

In the time it took Fang Huai to snap out of his daze, Liu Jianfeng, having heard Hao Chengbin’s voice, lunged forward like he was injected with steroids, quickly catching up, his face wearing a sly grin.

"Thump, thump, thump."

Liu Jianfeng, without uttering a single provocative word, put all his effort into jumping ahead of Fang Huai. His jealousy had reached the point where he didn’t care for a satisfying process; he only needed a satisfying outcome.

"Quick! Liu Jianfeng, surpass him!" Hao Chengbin didn’t cheer for Fang Huai but began to agitate Liu Jianfeng, who was only three or four steps behind.

In terms of motivating Fang Huai, Hao Chengbin had one trick after another.

Fang Huai clenched his teeth.

Damn it, there can only be one race car king on Akina Mountain.

"Squad Leader Liu, you really want me to do a couple more climbs? Impossible, absolutely impossible!"

Fang Huai shouted, continuing to leap forward frantically. Not just going all out—he was putting all he had into it.

When it came to masochism, Fang Huai had some insight.

Indeed, Liu Jianfeng behind, hearing Fang Huai’s provocative words, also kicked into high gear to pursue, even occasionally cheating by bending his body to dash forward, while Hao Chengbin pretended not to see.

Today, they just passed by General Hill, without actually reaching it.

The scenery along the road was only a blur seen through sweat.

...

Sunday, at the Squadron Department in the afternoon.

"Knock, knock."

Hao Chengbin knocked and entered.

"Instructor Cao, that thing, is it really happening?"

Cao Yi got up from his computer desk and sighed, "Yes, just this morning."

Hao Chengbin sat on the sofa, wiping his forehead and rubbing it repeatedly, somewhat frustrated and agitated.

"Tsk."

After a while, Hao Chengbin looked up and said, "By the way, about Fang Huai, should we reconsider it?

This morning I took him to test the five kilometers. If I’m not mistaken, he’s indeed improved, and greatly so.

minutes 27 seconds; even his weakest one-hundred meter sprint is at 12 seconds 19 now. I think he’s qualified."

Upon hearing this, Cao Yi slammed the desk:

"I really didn’t expect him to improve so rapidly!

But there’s nothing we can do now. In three days, the Corps Martial Arts Competition is set to begin, they definitely won’t allow us to change participants.

And tomorrow, we still have to go there, right?"

"Things might even get delayed by two days."

Hao Chengbin scratched his head, his thoughts somewhat disrupted, and after a long pause, he sighed, "Even this can’t be assessed?"

Cao Yi shook his head: "Looks difficult to estimate."

At that moment, Ye Jiahong walked out from the inner room, tying his tie as he said,

"Is there a squadron meeting today? Let’s have it now. I need to go somewhere once more people arrive."

After pondering, Cao Yi nodded, "Alright, let’s do it."

With that, he walked out of the office and took out a whistle from his pocket.

"Tweet~ Tweet Tweet!"

"All personnel, to the third-floor study room, meeting!"

...

Fang Huai and a few same-year soldiers were the first to arrive at the study room to clean.

This place, while commonly used by the county squadron in his previous life, had not been used by the Special Duty Team since they had been transferred down.

It was all covered in dust.

"Hey, Fang Huai, did you ask about your sister-in-law’s situation?" Xiao Haishan asked.

Fang Huai rolled his eyes: "I’m asking, I’m asking, but the key point is that none of her roommates are from Yunnan, okay?"

"It doesn’t have to be Yunnan, anything is fine!" Xiao Haishan insisted.

"Stop talking nonsense. Her roommates are all from big cities, the Yangtze River Delta. Can you afford houses there? Rushing off to be a live-in son-in-law?

When looking for a girlfriend, let’s not talk about other things; you have at least to match in living habits and tastes, right?

If you’re not becoming a live-in son-in-law, do you think they are willing to follow you to Kunming?

Never mind the taste, they live on the coastline, and you are living on the skyline, at an average altitude of 2000 meters; even the oxygen is different!"

With a barrage of retorts, Fang Huai totally silenced Xiao Haishan.

In fact, he hadn’t even had the guts to ask Yang Shaoqing.

However.

"Ahem, I did make some inquiries. Last time, that General Zhan, one of his subordinates, a girl with higher vocational education just graduated and is working as an accountant for another of his companies. They say she’s quite good-looking and she’s a local from Guiyang.

She is just two years older than you.

If you’re interested, I can help you get her contact information."

Xiao Haishan’s eyes lit up instantly, and he threw the cloth he was holding onto the table, excitedly saying,

"That’ll do! An older woman is like a treasure; sisters are the best! I don’t mind at all!"

Fang Huai rolled his eyes.

Let off a fart.

She’s 20 years old, the prime age for a woman, and you’re broke as hell, and you’re the one to turn up your nose?

At that moment, laughter came from outside the door.

"Matchmaker Fang, you’ve got quite the variety in your business, when did you start handling school admissions for kids? Help me out too."

Cao Yi led everyone into the room one by one.

Fang Huai smiled awkwardly: "Instructor Cao, didn’t I say that once your kid gets to middle school, I’ll definitely arrange it for you!

I’ll visit Old Sun whenever I get a chance to take leave!"

Cao Yi nodded his head.

He, too, intended to remind him.

Group Leader Sun was now at least a Deputy Director in the education sector, and to be appreciated by him was something quite remarkable.

Knowing that Fang Huai had this intention, he too was relieved.

"Alright, stop cleaning, this is Big Squad Leader Zhang’s cleaning area, right? It’s normal for it to be a little dirty, hurry up and sit down, we’ve got something to discuss."

Zhang Yang, who had just come in a hurry, was left standing there awkwardly alone by Cao Yi’s comment.

Zhao Jinchen and several squad leaders who had mentored Zhang Yang touched the dust on the tables and looked at each other with angry stares.

"Instructor, I went to practice on the horizontal bar just now; I didn’t hear the call. Or..." Zhang Yang tried to explain.

Cao Yi smiled: "If I didn’t know that you and Qi Xiaohui spent the weekend doing extra drills on your own, with this cleanliness, do you think you’d survive today?

All right! I see you’ve been quite conscious lately; I’ll spare you this time! After today’s meeting, you better clean up properly! Everyone, find a seat!"

Soon, everyone was seated.

"Today we have two matters.

First, after discussion between the Squadron Party branch and the lead and deputy leaders of Squad Four,

Zhou Yong will no longer serve as Deputy Squad Leader of Squad Four!

Fang Huai will take over the position of Deputy Squad Leader of Squad Four!

Let’s give a round of applause!"

The announcement was so sudden that the applause was sparse and scattered.

At this time, it was clear to see who were "in frequent contact" and "well-informed" with the Squadron Department.

Leading the applause were Hao Chengbin, Fang Hongliang, Zhao Jinchen, Sun Jingwu, Jiang Jun, Chen Zhenghai...

These were the ones who knew in advance.

Liu Jianfeng, Kong Xiangzhong, and the others who would run to the third floor whenever they had a break were all looking dumbfounded.

"Fang Huai," Ye Jiahong said.

"Present!" Fang Huai stood up.

Ye Jiahong spoke with a somewhat solemn tone:

"Your performance during this time needs no discussion.

But as a Deputy Squad Leader, you need to not only manage the squad well but also participate in the squadron duty roster work!

I heard you had been a Deputy Squad Leader during your time with the new recruit group and did very well!

However, this time is different; later on, you might become a squad leader, maybe even a cadre.

You now have to think with the mindset of a manager! How can you help the Troops Department solve difficulties, how can you help other comrades, you should think more about these things.

It’s not only about thinking when an issue arises; you should always think and think all the time!

More importantly, you have to put those thoughts into action!

This advice, I’m giving not just to Fang Huai but to the other squad leaders as well, think about it."

"Yes!" Several squad leaders responded loudly.

"Ahem," Cao Yi cleared his throat with a heavy cough:

"The second matter.

This morning, a comrade from our whole corps, Wang Yunkun, while performing an act of bravery, rescued a drowning child but unfortunately suffered lung injury, developed a severe infection, leading to renal failure, and despite 40 days of rescue efforts, passed away.

His body will be transported to his hometown in Guiyang this afternoon."