Chapter 310 - 246: Pickup truck? Armored Car?

"Yawning and dawdling," that’s just dilly-dallying, just doing yawning, doing heaps and heaps of dawdling.

The great private thinker Xu Sanduo once said this.

Wednesday.

The last day of April, early in the morning.

"Staff Officer Fang, as the internal affairs staff officer of our squadron’s Party branch, can you say that this sorry state of your blanket reflects your position?"

Ye Jiahong, along with several squad leaders who held duties, inspected the hygiene and internal affairs; they entered the Special Duty Squad, and the first thing they did was critique Fang Huai’s blanket.

But Fang Huai stood by the window, looking out to the backyard of the squadron.

He felt he had no right to inspect internal affairs, so he idled by the window alone.

Actually, Fang Huai’s blanket wasn’t bad among the older soldiers; he had spent nearly half an hour on it most days recently, though it also wasn’t outstanding.

However, opportunities to tease Fang Huai were few and far between, so they seized every chance they got.

Fang Huai turned around and glanced at Ye Jiahong, and said unenthusiastically:

"Captain Ye, let me educate you: typically, when the party member count exceeds 100, a primary Party committee is formed; with more than 50 but less than 100, a Party general branch is formed; with more than 3 but fewer than 50 official members, only a Party branch can be established.

Our squadron has 12 Party members and 4 probationary Party members, which means we only have a Party branch.

The Detachment might exceptionally upgrade to a Party committee, normally having only a Fire Prevention Counselor and a logistics counselor; brigade office level, with a Command Department, is where you find operations counselors.

You, as a cocky squadron leader, keep attaching these high-ranking titles to the squadron; aren’t you afraid that the leadership will hear it during a surprise inspection someday?

They might get so mad that they send you to the Big Team to become a printer counselor who spends his days shuffling papers without ever making a peep."

Ye Jiahong’s habit of running his mouth hadn’t improved in a day or two, and he spouted off even in view of surveillance cameras.

If it weren’t for the fact that the Brigade’s camera feeds had no sound, he would probably have been demoted to platoon leader by now in the face of a serious Detachment leader.

"Hey, you little brat, let me tell you, these words are our squadron’s internal secrets! Absolutely no leaking outside! Especially not to some Captain Zhang in leadership! If they hear about it, you’ll be the one who spread it!"

Ye Jiahong’s eyes widened, and he crossed his arms behind his back, clearly not taking Fang Huai’s half-serious reminder seriously.

The others laughed as well.

Fang Huai didn’t bother to remind him further.

A leopard can’t change its spots, that’s his reason for living.

He could only turn back to looking out the window and said, "Captain Ye, today’s Wednesday, I need to head out this morning, and I’ll have to take the new recruit with me."

As Ye Jiahong continued to inspect the blankets, he asked, "What for? To open a barber shop?"

"Yeah." Fang Huai nodded his head, "The publicity has been quite effective; now, whenever I go there, the seniors are all waiting there, ready to recite the ’fire safety formula’. If I don’t show up on time, they’d be waiting for nothing. Besides, the Instructor is also waiting for me to cut his hair today."

Ye Jiahong teased, "Wow, now Director Fang is a major figure at the entrance of the District Public Security Bureau, huh? Go on then."

Hao Chengbin immediately feigned nonchalance and stretched out like he had just woken up, "Ah... then I got to drive them again, hauling stuff!"

There seemed to be a lot of helplessness, and some Versailles, hidden in that yawn.

The others were green with envy.

The training in the past few days had been unimaginably hard, as if a bitter gourd side dish had been added to the "Old Strong Tea Set" from last week.

Monday had exhausted everyone to the point of collapse. Just when a bit of energy had been recovered after a night’s rest, a morning climb down General Hill had drained everyone’s stamina to zero again.

Especially the new guys, who hadn’t yet adapted to General Hill’s ferocity. Thinking they were just going for a hike and maybe a slow jog at worst, they were in high spirits heading out, enjoying the fragrant flowers and birdsong, even commenting on the appropriateness of the hill’s name, claiming generals should climb more hills!

On the return trip, they all looked as if they had tumbled down the mountain, hobbling and limping.

Oh my god, climbing while jumping around?

That’s a damn mountain!

So, the training sessions in the afternoon and evening were all the more torturous.

Hearing that Fang Huai was going to run some barbershop, even Zhang Tianwang wanted to say that he was dying to go.

What shop it was didn’t matter, nor did what they’d do there; just not having to stay in the squadron was sweet relief.

At this moment, Chen Zhenghai’s eyes lit up as well, "Director Fang! I can wash hair! Take me with you!"

Upon hearing this, Ye Jiahong immediately rejected the idea:

"No way! You can’t leave! Damn it, if you go, who will keep me company to chat about... national affairs during training?"

"Tch." Chen Zhenghai leaned close to Ye Jiahong and whispered, "You blockhead, if he leaves, what the heck will you train?"

As he spoke, he nodded his chin towards Fang Huai.

Ye Jiahong’s eyes brightened, "Oh my god... you’re right!"

Fang Huai turned with a smirk.

"Captain Ye, today I really need to cut the Instructor’s hair. Please remember our wager and discipline yourself accordingly. You wouldn’t want me to return with Old Teacher He to supervise your training, would you?"

Ye Jiahong gritted his teeth and pointed at Fang Huai, "Damn, look at this animal!"

However, Chen Zhenghai was exceedingly sycophantic, "Director Fang, I think Song Lin and Wang Peng shouldn’t go! They are the pillars of the squadron! They need to be properly trained. Just let me go; I’m the one without ambition! I’ll help you out!"

Everyone inside cursed under their breath.

With connections back home and as an experienced special vehicle driver, Chen Zhenghai naturally wasn’t worried about not being able to stay in the Second Squadron.

Fang Huai raised his eyebrows, noncommittally nodding, "I don’t mind; it’s up to the Squadron Department to agree."

With that, he again pointed out the window at the flower beds he had been closely observing, "Captain Ye, our Squadron should plant some trees there."

Ye Jiahong paused for a moment, then walked closer, checked the spot and finally put on a serious face, "Isn’t that a problem? If the outer wall is demolished for expansion in the future, that flower bed will have to be removed."

Fang Huai raised both hands in a placating gesture:

"Plant them on both sides, the place has always been naked. The two sides and the corner must be about twenty meters long, right? I’m thinking, it’s just in time for Labor Day, let’s organize a planting event. Every person who has ever been part of the squadron plants a tree named after themselves to commemorate their time here. How about that?

If the squadron ever expands, it’d be just by both sides of the entire squadron, as if everyone who has ever stayed in the Second Squadron is guarding it. How does that sound?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Jiahong’s eyes flickered with interest.

If Old Cao had heard this, he would have scoffed at it, saying that besides planting, they’d need to maintain the trees regularly, increasing the cost in terms of time; it would be better to rest more in that time.

But Ye Jiahong really liked the suggestion.

He thought these would be meaningful memories of the troops.

The others moved closer, surveying the backyard.

"I think it’s a good idea, do you guys want to plant them?" Ye Jiahong turned to look back at the squad leaders.

Everyone remained silent, but their thoughts varied.

"We have to take care of it on our own from now on?" Zhao Jinchen frowned.

"Of course!" Fang Huai coughed lightly and said, "I think our squadron could hold an internal tree-planting competition, and half a year later, whoever’s tree has grown the tallest, I will personally sponsor a reward: a set of branded sportswear, a pair of basketball shoes, and a pair of football shoes.

The second and third places will also have rewards.

Since it’s Labor Day, spending an hour or two holding an event, I personally think it’s very meaningful."

Somehow, everyone started to find this interesting.

It wasn’t just about the rewards.

It was also about the comparison, the rankings, and the honor.

Everyone began nodding their heads.

Ye Jiahong got excited too: "Alright! Let’s have a collective vote during training! If more than two-thirds agree, we’ll do it!"

Hao Chengbin raised his hand and smiled: "Count me in for a vote! I won’t be there, but I agree!"

Chen Zhenghai also said, "I agree too!"

But Ye Jiahong gave Chen Zhenghai a disgruntled look:

"What are you agreeing for? Did I tell you to get a haircut? Stay and keep me company!"

...

8:30.

Hao Chengbin, Fang Huai, Chen Zhenghai, Han Yong, and Xiao Haishan arrived near the District Public Security Bureau on time.

Chen Zhenghai still came.

Because of his physique and his work, neither Cao Yi nor Ye Jiahong insisted on making him train excessively.

In a squadron, there were always some special individuals, like the Logistics Officer, Chang Ming, Squad Leader Fang, and even Meng Qiang.

When everyone arrived at the scene, Chen Zhenghai was somewhat stunned.

"Damn... there are so many people?"

Outside the courtyard wall of No.1 Middle School on the road, just like the square dance starting ten minutes before, dozens of elderly men and women had gathered.

Some were chatting happily, and from the distance between them, it was clear they weren’t couples. They seemed to have taken this place as a senior dating corner.

Newcomers were stretching their heads to peek into a fenced area of No.1 Middle School, only to be reminded by others that this wasn’t where they came to get their hair done.

Some were silently reciting the "fire safety formula".

Others were being forcibly held by their children, not allowed to leave, so that their blood pressure and blood sugar could be measured.

As soon as the white pickup appeared, the old men and women immediately boiled over with excitement.

"Here it comes!"

An agile old lady had already run to the passenger-side window and began reciting to the car, which had not yet come to a complete stop:

"Young man! Uh... If your clothes catch on fire, don’t run; stop, drop, and roll!... In case of a fire... don’t take the elevator; getting stuck due to power failure would be dangerous!... Plastic buckets! Prone to static electricity, filling with gasoline is very hazardous!

Three lines, I got them all! I’m first!"

Fang Huai could only smile wryly.

"Yes, yes, aunty, you’re first! But next time, don’t run after the car!"

Chen Zhenghai looked on incredulously from behind.

"Damn, have you brainwashed them or what?"

Fang Huai just smiled, didn’t answer, and turned to Hao Chengbin: "Squad leader, I need to borrow a hundred."

Hao Chengbin unbuckled his seatbelt: "You out of money? Need me to go withdraw some for you?"

Fang Huai shook his head: "Tomorrow, I haven’t received my money yet today, there’s none in the card either."

By today, the Color Ring earnings should have arrived, this month’s commission, with the addition of the original work by Phoenix Legend and commission, it turned out to be higher and higher, the after-tax share was close to five million. The dividends of the previous two months hadn’t been given to Chen Cang, he should get a part of it, and more than half was left over.

Moreover, it might get even higher.

On Chen Cang’s side, the maximum intermediary fee increased to ten million, once it exceeded that number, he would only get a portion of the service fee, no longer based on a profit share.

He simply had his father transfer a hundred thousand over.

Hanging around this new recruit was too expensive.

After receiving the hundred dollars Hao Chengbin handed over, Fang Huai then passed it to Han Yong.

"Big buns are two yuan for three, right? Go buy some buns, get them in batches! After giving out one batch, buy another!"

However, Han Yong pushed the money back and somewhat reproachfully said:

"You should have told me earlier that you needed to borrow money, why not borrow from me? It’s not like I don’t have any!"

As he said this, he pulled out a bunch of crumpled, colorful paper balls from his pocket.

Each red paper ball was a hundred, the green ones, fifty.

All of them were a bit wrinkled, obviously soaked with sweat at some point.

After counting for a while, he didn’t seem to have enough.

Looking up he said: "You out of money? Do you want me to lend you a few thousand when we get back?"

Han Yong’s expression was filled with urgency.

He really wanted to be a creditor.

It had been a long time since he enjoyed the sense of superiority that comes with being wealthy.

Alas, no one in the squadron had ever borrowed money from him, and those who had borrowed before had all paid him back.

He couldn’t seem to spend the six thousand in cash he had kept when leaving the service, and when he proactively wanted to buy something for the squadron, the Squadron Leader wouldn’t allow it, saying he wasn’t the same as Fang Huai.

It was as though he had lost the right to spend money.

At the same time, Chen Zhenghai also pulled out a wad of neatly stacked bills from his pocket and said:

"Shall I lend you two thousand?"

But Fang Huai shook his head and pushed the money back to Han Yong: "Enough, stop messing around. I’ll have money tomorrow. Just take this and go buy the buns quick."

"Oh..." Han Yong took the money, looking somewhat disappointed.

The back and forth among the three of them made Hao Chengbin think of something and he suddenly turned around.

Oh my god.

Inside this shabby little pickup truck was sitting all the top tycoons of the Second Squadron!

He swallowed and suddenly had the feeling of being in an armored money transport vehicle.