Chapter 319 - 253: Exchange Fairness for Fairness

Police station’s inner courtyard.

It was past four o’clock when Old Teacher He led Fang Huai out of the police station they had entered after two.

The three dispatched fire trucks had already been waiting for him at the door for half an hour.

"Let go!"

"I know I was wrong! I know it! I’ll pay compensation, we will pay!"

The woman clutched Fang Huai’s sleeve tightly, wailing loudly.

Old Teacher He couldn’t help but snort coldly, "I told you to let go, did you hear me? Can you compensate for the honor of our firefighters with money? Wait and have a good two years of ’state food’, wake up to your senses!"

Fang Huai also shook off the woman’s hand and said, "I don’t lack money. Wait for the trial."

Having said that, he saluted Old Teacher He:

"Thank you, Instructor, I’m returning to the squadron!"

"Go ahead!" He Yongjun stood with his hands behind him, waving contentedly.

Behind him were the woman’s cries, but Fang Huai got into the car without looking back.

The vehicle started to move out slowly.

"Why is that woman crying so hard?" Hao Chengbin asked.

Fang Huai chuckled lightly, "They’ve only been married for two years, with no kids to speak of. Maximum penalty, detention for ten days.

The instructor found a lawyer at the police station to consult her on the spot about how to sue for her case.

The lawyer said she could take several approaches: the crimes of framing, defamation, insult, and the specific details would have to be determined from our recordings to see which aspect her subjective intent leans toward.

In any case, the impact has been very bad. A deferred sentence of one year with three years’ probation is the minimum scenario. There’s a fifty percent chance she’ll have to eat steamed buns in detention for two years. Both of them are officially employed, and it’s certain they’ll both lose their jobs now, and their future children will be affected.

The man is even more extreme; he wants to divorce her as soon as he gets out.

This guy is lucky. Originally, he was also in great danger, but he kept his mouth somewhat in check and didn’t say anything too damning.

Now, one is going home to prepare for detention and discuss divorce, and the other is getting ready to respond to legal charges and be divorced.

Lost their jobs, burned their house, spent all their money. Not to mention her, that guy was crying pretty hard just now too."

The people in the car laughed without much sympathy.

Cao Yi couldn’t help but laugh too, "Fang Huai, you’ve broken another record for our squadron, haven’t you? We’ve had our share of cursing and even fighting with the people who called the police, but you’re the first to send one of them straight in!"

"Hahaha... Serves her right!" Hao Chengbin laughed even louder, "That woman, saying those things, doing those things upstairs, I wanted to curse at her. Who would have thought she’d be even worse after coming down the stairs!

Today, it’s all thanks to Fang Huai’s cleverness that we have so much evidence.

If it had been me who entered the fire scene, even if I could prove my innocence, what would that do? She wouldn’t even apologize to me! I would’ve died of frustration!"

At that moment, Fang Huai smiled again:

"Maybe that woman would even use her social connections to keep reporting you to the Detachment, forcing the Command Department and the Political Department to conduct a joint investigation to maintain the image of the troops. Even if they found nothing, your years of excellent service could be tarnished by a baseless report, ending your military career."

At those words, everyone fell silent.

What Fang Huai said... it sounded so real?

And... it wasn’t impossible.

Hao Chengbin suddenly felt a cold sweat on his back.

Fang Huai also gazed out the window at the scenery, lost in thought.

If only the old squad leader could have received the fair treatment he did, things would have been so much better.

He had just called his uncle, hoping this incident could be reported up to the whole corps and involve a few reporters for coverage.

Today’s incident, though he could have forgiven that woman, he deliberately wanted to amplify the effect of the matter.

Having no power or ability to intervene in so many things, he only hoped that this case could serve as an example of how to handle such incidents, to awaken society, and also prevent some dear firefighters from suffering such undeserved injustices.

...

7:00 PM.

Second Squadron Cafeteria.

Today, Fang Kaiyang, Zhang Mei, and Yang Shaoqing were nothing special.

Squad Leader Fang’s wife, daughter, Instructor Cao’s wife, daughter, Captain Ye’s mother, Squad Leader Hao’s wife Aunt Bai Ling, Sun Jingwu’s wife, Zhao Jinchen’s girlfriend...

More than a dozen family members.

Six tables, all put to use today, the military families of the Second Squadron, gathered together.

Cao Yi stood up with a cup of drink, toasting the first cup:

"Come on, although yesterday was May Day, we’ve postponed it until today!

This Labour Day has become our day of joy and gathering.

On behalf of our Second Squadron’s Party branch, I want to thank the family members for their understanding and support, allowing our comrades in the squadron to serve with peace of mind and contribute to the development of our firefighting career!

The first toast, wishing everyone good health, career success, family happiness, and children’s academic achievements! Cheers!"

"Cheers!!"

The soldiers loudly gulped down their drink with gusto.

Some of the family members who were there for the first time were startled, and followed by picking up their drink cups and drinking.

Only Old Fang, shouting along with them, downed his drink as though it were strong liquor.

Zhang Mei smacked him irritably, "Drink less, you already have high blood sugar."

Fang Kaiyang hehe’d with a smile, "I’m just happy, it’s been so many years since I last had a meal in the barracks, and today, I’m blessed by my son’s good fortune."

Fang Huai too shook his head, peeling a shrimp for Yang Shaoqing who was next to him and putting it in her bowl, and he picked up a chopstick full of food for Zhang Mei, raising his eyebrows:

"Ah... no one gets three highs without a reason, Mom, don’t mind him, you enjoy your meal."

Zhang Mei, looking at her son who could now make decisions, and at Yang Shaoqing, who she previously couldn’t even dream of as a beautiful and well-behaved prospective daughter-in-law, felt the happiness had come all too suddenly.

While serving Yang Shaoqing some food, she said:

"Mmm, mmm, eat up, Shaoqing, have some more, you’re too thin."

The bowl in front of Yang Shaoqing was nearly overflowing, and through his clothes, he rubbed his flat stomach and whined:

"Auntie, stop stuffing me, I’ve already gained weight..."

Fang Huai chuckled as he glanced at her long, fair legs, peeled another shrimp into her bowl, grabbed a piece of paper, wiped his greasy hands, set it down, and casually placed it on that expanse of snowy white.

Smooth, delicate, blissfully satisfying.

A rush of emotions inside.

Yang Shaoqing’s face began to turn red from the ears.

But Fang Huai, seizing the moment she couldn’t lash out, pinched it once more.

"Hey, where did you gain weight? My mom’s right, you’re too thin."

No sooner had he spoken,

the front of Fang Huai’s right foot received some special attention from those long white legs.

Yang Shaoqing pressed down so hard she nearly stood up.

"Ow! Why’d you step on me!" Fang Huai’s yelps and howls were just like Fang Kaiyang’s at noon.

Quite a few people turned to look.

Fang Huai quickly pulled back his roaming hands, visibly embarrassed as he smiled sheepishly at everyone around him.

Yang Shaoqing felt wronged.

But as everyone turned back to their meals with a chuckle, her porcelain wrist stealthily rested on Fang Huai’s leg, her tender green fingers gradually applying pressure.

Fang Huai’s face quickly turned beet red.

"Cough, today’s drink is a bit strong. Mom, I’ll swap places with you, I need some fresh air."

He stood up as he said this, conveniently escaping from Yang Shaoqing’s two-finger grip.

Zhang Mei watched Yang Shaoqing’s still flushed face but made no move to exchange places. Instead, she put down her chopsticks and said irritably, "Don’t bully her!"

Fang Huai, looking indignant, prepared to sit down.

"Whoa! Squad Leader Fang is standing up, ready to offer the second toast. Aren’t you all going to give him a round of applause?"

Ye Jiahong, from the first table by the door, saw Fang Huai standing and seized the chance, cutting off his retreat.

The entire cafeteria erupted with cheers and applause.

Without a prepared speech, Fang Huai quickly waved his hands: "I’m just standing up for some air. Enjoy your food and drinks, everyone, and a big thanks to Squad Leader Chang’s cooking skills!"

He finished and tried to sit back down.

But Cao Yi loudly interjected, "Fang Huai, usually at such times, you speak on behalf of the soldiers. With your parents here today, shouldn’t you say a few more words?"

"Right, say a couple of words!"

"Fang Huai’s words really add flavor to our meal. Without them, the food just doesn’t taste the same!"

"Hahaha..."

The old couple beside him, seeing everyone hold their son—who had never received an award in school—in such high regard, began to eagerly anticipate.

They only knew that their son was doing well in the troops, had become a squad leader, but had no idea how he really performed.

Fang Kaiyang used to think that with seven or eight squads in a company, a squad leader was just another soldier, and since Fang Huai was a new recruit, even if he was a squad leader, it was thanks to his uncle’s blessings; all he needed to do in the squadron was to listen and behave well.

Zhang Mei had arrived with some expectations, thinking that in school, being class president was reserved for only the top students, but upon hearing that this one and that one were squad leaders in the military, she felt a bit disillusioned, feeling that everyone in the military was a squad leader and this position must be more about encouragement.

Yang Shaoqing, however, knew much more. She often talked on the phone with Fang Huai, listening to his life in the military and knew that many things in the squadron were arranged by him, especially during convenient station and Special Service Cup activities, he would even discuss them with her, hearing her thoughts.

After witnessing Chen Shuang’s life as a new recruit, she understood how difficult it was for a new recruit to get to this point.

At this moment, she watched him, her gaze flickering with what seemed like countless stars.

Fang Huai wasn’t someone who feared speaking in public.

Seeing that he could not dodge the situation, he picked up the drink cup from the table and thought for a moment. He felt there were some words that needed to be said.

He composed his expression and said:

"Instructor Cao toasted to the family members with the first cup. My second cup will be a toast to us soldiers."

The room fell silent.

And Fang Huai continued leisurely:

"Our firefighting tasks have always been particularly important, and this year, there have been plenty more.

The events of the first half-year have passed, but in the second half, the Olympics are coming up, followed by two Grand Martial Arts Competitions.

We need to train our soldiers and remain ready for police dispatch, not to mention the squadron’s development—a lot to handle, and this month, we all know, has been tough.

However, it’s exactly during such times that our worth truly shows! All the hardships are to make us physically stronger and more professionally competent!

I hope everyone here remembers when facing disasters: we are firefighters! Not just brave or strong firefighters, but professional firefighters!

Our presence should bring not just hope but confidence!

Confidence that one can survive!

In the execution of tasks, the bigger the danger, the calmer we must be!

With each rescue operation, we must maximize the use of our expertise and equipment to create the largest possible life-saving space for the people!

We are creators of safety, and I wish everyone safe returns from each mission. Bottoms up!"

"Bottoms up!"

Everyone downed another drink.

But this time, they were uncertain what Fang Huai meant with his words.

Fang Huai didn’t need them to understand immediately; as long as they could remember these words in critical moments, that would be enough.