Chapter 304 - 240: New Monday

"Sigh~ Sigh sigh!"

The Monday morning bugle call signaled the start of another sorrowful week for the Second Squadron.

In the early morning washroom, the dragging sounds of slippers, the rustling of water, and muffled conversations, accompanied by the noise of teeth brushing, soon filled the air.

"Fucking hell, how did the weekend pass so quickly?"

"Hey, it’s Monday today, shouldn’t the Brigade be having a meeting this afternoon?"

"Stop dreaming, Old Cao said we have three days of training. Even if there’s a meeting, they’ll find a way to make up the training time. Afterwards, they’ll even say the meeting was a break, so dinner will be late today.

Damn, just sitting in the Brigade Conference room for two hours listening to Master He’s droning on, only to come back to more training. I’d rather just do the training straight-up."

A moment of silence.

"Second Senior Brother is right."

Fang Huai, unusually on time today, got up and entered the washroom.

"Squad Leader Chen, stop demoralizing everyone. I bet today’s work won’t start with training, just look at your blanket. There’s an 80% chance it’ll be picked for a ’Flying Fairy’ performance today. If not, it means Old Cao didn’t wake up on the right side of the bed.

Everyone else has made corrections yesterday, yet yours remains consistently... consistent."

Chen Zhenghai, holding his toothbrush, turned around in shock:

"My blanket? I tidied it up, doesn’t it look good?"

Fang Huai turned on the tap: "I advise you not to be too obsessed."

Chen Zhenghai hurriedly washed his face, placed his small green basin on the washstand, and was about to return to the squad.

"Hey hey, come back, your basin! Did you really expect it to make its way downstairs on its own?" Fang Huai reminded him, sounding incredulous.

Chen Zhenghai then looked back, stared at his messy basin, zoned out for a moment, and then neatly arranged his mug, soap, shampoo with the toothpaste and brush to the left facing right, and draped the towel neatly over the side of the basin, pinching the corners with his hands to make it look precise and square.

"People’s Armed Police of China" faced outwards on the basin.

Then, he let out a wail:

"F*cking hell, why did I join the army?"

Everyone nearby laughed.

As Fang Huai started brushing his teeth, he chuckled and said, "You’re one of the rare ones with the same enlistment motivation as me."

"Oh?" Chen Zhenghai raised an eyebrow: "What enlistment motivation?"

"You see," Fang Huai said, holding his toothbrush and walking to the doorway of the washroom. He pointed to the "Dream Life Column" on the wall and said:

"You’ve got a car, a house, even savings. Like me, you’re here looking for the meaning of life."

Chen Zhenghai fell silent for a moment, then nodded emphatically:

"Indeed. The meaning of my life is to fold blankets, train, and then drive the fire truck for you fucking people. I believe it, I really do."

In the washroom, Chen Gong laughed heartily: "He joined the army because there are lots of people here to bullshit with him!"

"Hahaha..."

Fang Huai was momentarily speechless: "Turns out you and Captain Ye have the same enlistment motivation. After all this time, I’m actually the lone wolf here!"

...

Cool as it might be to brag, there’s still work to be done.

Those with positions in the Squadron made a joint inspection of internal affairs.

After one inspection, several blankets were pulled apart.

And Zhang Tianwang, not only had he infiltrated this group, but he also acted like a deputy Instructor missing from the Squadron, sticking close to Cao Yi, who conducted the inspections, and pinched everyone’s blankets as he went from squad to squad.

"This one’s too thick. It should be ripped apart and sewn again."

"This canvas blanket, it’s made from very stiff canvas. Leadership will be able to tell at one glance."

"This blanket, it’s not lined up with the one next to it."

Fang Huai moved his bed a bit and the blanket too, lining up the blanket properly.

The last Squad Four, the Special Duty Squad.

Everyone in the squad was there.

"I saw Special Duty Squad’s this morning, apart from that white one, the rest are pretty lackluster," said Zhang Tianwang as he patted on Fang Huai’s bed.

Fang Huai’s carefully pressed corners were instantly flattened by the pat.

Fang Huai gritted his teeth.

At that moment, he really wished the system had a "bed-making" skill he could choose from.

Making a bed look presentable is easy, but making it right, that’s truly difficult.

Without any comment, Fang Huai stepped forward and flung his blanket into the air.

Zhang Tianwang was just about to continue his critique when Fang Huai’s action interrupted him.

The others also felt that Fang Huai might be about to lose his temper.

Everyone had seen Fang Huai, early in the morning before and after exercises and again after breakfast, several times he had brought a stool to sit beside, meticulously working on his blanket.

Cao Yi looked toward Fang Huai, cautioning, "Don’t get emotional!"

But Fang Huai shook his head, saying earnestly, "No emotions here, Instructor. I refolded it before exercise. Trust me, within a month, I’ll fold a model blanket just like Squad Leader Zhang’s!"

Zhang Tianwang then chuckled somewhat proudly, "Young man, actions speak louder than words. This blanket here, six and a half years of effort."

Fang Huai didn’t respond.

But Hao Chengbin couldn’t listen silently anymore. He patted Fang Huai on the head and laughingly said:

"I must have been too lax with you in the new recruit group. But if you’re persistent, I’ll tear mine up and fold with you!

You don’t need six and a half years, or even a month!

In twenty days, you’ll fold it well!"

Hao Chengbin was confident.

The white blanket that Zhang Tianwang had found no faults with belonged to Hao Chengbin.

Fang Huai nodded and thanked him with a smile, "Thanks, Squad Leader! But leave yours intact. It hasn’t been unfolded for too long; it smells. I’m afraid I won’t be able to stand it and end up washing it for you!"

Laughter broke out among everyone.

Zhang Tianwang’s cherished serious atmosphere had also dissipated.

He couldn’t help but say, "Squad Leader Hao, did you train Fang Huai in the new recruit group? Spoiling him won’t do. Look at Wang Peng; he excels in both physical fitness and internal affairs. Some things need criticism."

"Squad Leader Zhang, this is our Squadron’s Non-commissioned officer platoon leader, Captain Hao," Huang Yong reminded him.

By now Hao Chengbin had also adopted a serious posture, hands clasped behind his back.

He had sensed that this Zhang Tianwang was a bit overbearing in the past couple of days, but Fang Huai hadn’t mentioned that Zhang Tianwang was this prickly.

Although it was true that Fang Huai’s blanket hadn’t improved and the Squadron hadn’t intervened—which was indeed a shortcoming—it was still hard for Hao Chengbin to let it go.

But, how dare he discuss leading troops with him?

Just as he was about to blow his fuse, Fang Huai tugged at him.

Now, he was no longer a little soldier who needed the squad leader to speak up for his protection; he was the bona fide squad leader of the Special Duty Squad.

Fang Huai chuckled, coughed, and spoke up:

"Squad Leader Zhang is indeed good with Internal Affairs, as he is one of our Special Duty Squad soldiers. As the squad leader, I should commend him!

Everyone has seen his bedding, the quality is indeed higher than ours; I hope he keeps up the good work and continues this spirit!"

Everyone, clap!

Upon hearing this, everyone laughed.

This is the famously foul-mouthed Fang Huai who brought grievances to the entire Martial Arts Training team in his first year!

Everyone lifted their hands and clapped loudly.

Zhang Tianwang’s face instantly darkened.

A new recruit as a squad leader only brings audacity.

He was already brewing plans on how to make Wang Peng show his skills in the morning to put down Fang Huai, this so-called squad leader.

Cao Yi next to him did not know his thoughts and smiled appropriately.

Fang Huai was harsh with words, but as soon as he shamed you once, he wouldn’t hold a grudge. It’s good that Zhang Tianwang went through this.

However, Fang Huai was not done talking.

And his expression became serious.

"Cough, however, our Special Duty Squad should respond to fire alarms and emergency rescues, and we should be the elite squad in the squadron’s training.

I hope the new Squad Leaders Zhang and Zhou can quickly adapt to our Special Duty Squad’s intensity in training.

Starting this week, I will have additional requirements for our squad’s training intensity."

Everyone felt a bit numb upon hearing this.

Shit, he seems not just to be sparring words; he’s serious!

Ever since Fang Huai became the squad leader, he could joke about everything, but he never joked about training.

Zhang Tianwang couldn’t hold back anymore, stood with arms akimbo, and interjected, "Just training during the day, what kind of training is that? I think everyone should join the new recruits for additional training at night as well! Strict demands shouldn’t just be lip service!"

Those around him wanted to curse out Zhang Tianwang.

Damn it, do you enjoy torturing us? How can you keep up with the new recruits’ extra training?

New recruits have kitchen duties; that’s why they need additional training! Idiot!

Yet, Fang Huai simply raised his eyebrows and looked through the training log with mock seriousness, then laughed: "Train with the new recruits? Squad Leader Zhang, those are your own words."

...

8:20.

Today’s formation was exceptionally swift, a single "Look right" took them straight to the bars.

Seeing the bars, everyone seemed especially relaxed, without the usual dread upon encountering them.

This event was now everyone’s favorite since it meant a rest.

Fang Huai looked at his watch:

"We have new members in the team; traditionally, we’ll test once on the bars. This afternoon, we’ll go for a 5 kilometers weight-bearing run. From today on, except for assessments, there will be no more unarmed 5 kilometers runs in the team; all running must be with empty calls."

Everyone had no objections to this.

They were accustomed to it.

Zhang Tianwang also let out a chuckle.

You think you can scare me with this? Who can’t run?

Turning to look at the serious Wang Peng, he said in a voice neither too loud nor too soft, "You can get used to running with the empty call, right?"

Wang Peng grinned and said, "No problem, squad leader, we’ve done it back in our previous team."

Zhang Tianwang patted him satisfied: "Well done, keep it up, just like the push-ups the day before yesterday!"

"Tsk," Fang Huai glared at Zhang Tianwang.

You two even chat during training?

"Keep your voices down in the formation!

Go ahead! Two minutes per person, but for the newcomers, there’s no time limit, give it your best. Once you’re done with the pull-up bar, go line up at the parallel bars. After a ten-minute rest, we’ll start with the parallel bars."

Wang Peng immediately raised his hand: "Report! Squad Leader! I’ll go first!"

At this, everyone glanced at Wang Peng.

This kid calls Fang Huai squad leader?

Who taught him to call him that?

But Fang Huai didn’t mind: "Go ahead."

Wang Peng felt somewhat disheartened not hearing a single word from anyone.

But as he approached the pull-up bar, he immediately perked up.

This was his domain.

"Alright!"

Fang Huai nodded: "Han Yong, come out and count!"

Han Yong with a face as long as a horse’s: "Report, why is it me counting again?"

Fang Huai glared: "The one who does the least counts! Less physical effort, more vocal effort!"

Han Yong walked out of the formation disheartened and everyone tried to stifle their laughter.

"On the bar!" Fang Huai shouted.

Wang Peng jumped onto the bar swiftly.

In contrast, there was Han Yong’s listless voice:

"One, two, three, four..."

...

"Twenty-two, twenty-three..."

Zhang Tianwang was somewhat dissatisfied: "About to hit thirty, be louder! You sound like you haven’t eaten!"

Fang Huai also nodded and called out: "Han Yong, louder!"

"Twenty-seven! Twenty-eight! Two... nine!" Feeling irritated after being reprimanded by Zhang Tianwang, Han Yong raised his voice.