Chapter 503 - 403: I file one report, and all three of you have to leave

Huang Zhongjiu’s face turned red.

However, Cao Yi’s expression remained as usual.

He had long anticipated that Fang Huai’s return would cause friction with Huang Zhongjiu. Cadre Huang needed to be managed well, especially with such important tasks ahead, and the superiors wouldn’t keep replacing cadres just because of them.

But even he hadn’t figured out how to make demands of Huang Zhongjiu, a veteran who had been around three years longer than him.

Huang Zhongjiu wasn’t lazy, quite proactive in fact, which made Cao Yi somewhat anxious about his overzealousness.

Fang Huai, on the other hand, was tough with a face like a stern dog, not giving an inch.

Then again, Fang Huai didn’t have to worry about the concerns they had.

Ye Jiahong took advantage of the fact that the two hadn’t started a formal confrontation and pulled Fang Huai outside.

A long conversation ensued.

He told Fang Huai everything he knew about Huang Zhongjiu.

"...Everyone was telling me that at his previous post, he was just like this. Can you blame me for not being satisfied with him?

He’s a cadre sent from above, he’s just arrived wanting to set a couple of fires, but we can’t be squeezing him out everywhere, can we? If we let him manage nothing, what would that make me and Instructor Cao look like?

Don’t worry, now that you’re back, manage as you should. Old Cao and I will support you! If he doesn’t listen to reason, we’ll report this after a while!"

In an immature manner, Ye Jiahong patted Fang Huai’s shoulder, clearly stating his position.

After hearing this, Fang Huai moved his hand away and chuckled.

"The anger I feel isn’t the same as yours. At such a critical time, the three of you are beating around the bush with me. Don’t turn a blind eye. If two chief officers can’t subdue a deputy, is it really a problem with the deputy? Be careful I send up a report that’ll have all three of you walking."

Ye Jiahong was stunned, "Hey! You little brat! Your words are getting wilder and wilder, huh!"

But Fang Huai walked to the wall, picked up two bags, and headed towards the squad room, leaving Ye Jiahong with a parting word.

"Once I’ve got a grasp of the situation back at the squad room, I’ll come back and talk to you."

Ye Jiahong stared with wide eyes, standing still, watching his retreating figure.

"Damn it, if you want to defy the heavens, you new recruit, and still want to submit a report, do you even know it requires the Squadron chief’s stamp?"

As he spoke, he cursed and entered the Squadron Department.

Upon entering,

"Some things Fang Huai said were not wrong, it’s just his attitude that is the issue. So, about the swearing, I’ll have him apologize to you later. You’re an old soldier..."

Huang Zhongjiu was so angry his face turned crimson, and Cao Yi was in the midst of trying to calm him down and reason with him.

When he heard the commotion behind him, Cao Yi turned to look over Ye Jiahong’s shoulder and asked, "Where’s Fang Huai?"

Ye Jiahong never spoke in a roundabout way, especially not after having been snubbed just now.

"He went back to the squad room! He said he’s going to understand the situation and if there’s any grievance below, he’ll come back and use the guillotine on both of us!"

Saying so and noticing Huang Zhongjiu’s angry face, he added, "Oh, on three of us."

Before Cao Yi could even respond, Huang Zhongjiu was already unable to contain his rage:

"Listen to that! Are these the words of a soldier? Are you all too indulgent? Just for his personal opinion, are we supposed to change the thinking of the whole Squadron Department? Otherwise, I, the deputy Instructor, will leave and clear the position for him to take over!"

Cao Yi just waved his hand and shook his head with a smile.

Whether Huang Zhongjiu left or not, Fang Huai wouldn’t go, and although he did hold the guillotine in his hand, the idea of decapitating a cadre was still unrealistic.

"This kid is lawless, but don’t worry, when he comes over later, I’ll have him admit his mistake."

After saying that to save some face, he looked at Huang Zhongjiu more seriously.

"However, Old Huang, you shouldn’t use your past management style to address issues. This is something I’ve been wanting to tell you for a while. Fang Huai’s development plan has been approved by the superiors. The reconstruction of our Squadron is under Boss Wu’s signature."

After speaking, he stood up, opened his desk drawer, took out a document titled "Guizhou Brigade: Implementation Plan for the Reconstruction Project of the Guiyang Brigade Special Service Squadron Second Squadron", flipped to the page with the responsible person’s signature, and pointed out Fang Huai’s name for him to see.

Huang Zhongjiu saw the plan he had never had access to before, his fury subsided, and he took it.

After a glance, his eyes widened, he turned his head and looked at Ye Jiahong.

Ye Jiahong suddenly had a sour expression on his face.

"Back then, when they asked me to sign it, I thought it was too much trouble and didn’t sign! Humph, if there’s any issue with the Squadron’s building quality, they’ll drag you two to jail! It has nothing to do with me!"

...

Special Duty Squad.

"Inside the agricultural exhibition hall, foreign friends gathered together..."

"I never knew the Chinese... (English subtitles are broken) would present the opening ceremony to us in such a style, well done! Really, really good!"

"This American elder sitting in a wheelchair has been attending the Olympic Games opening ceremonies since 1960."

"(In English) This is the most spectacular performance we have ever seen in our lives, nothing can surpass it, you could live to be a hundred and still not have the chance to see such an amazing show."

Hao Chengbin shook his head as he smacked his lips:

"Tsk tsk tsk, no wonder those foreigners were so excited, the display yesterday was even prettier than the Spring Festival Gala."

Zhou Tiannu laughed and said, "Hey, Fang Huai just got back today, he definitely missed it. Today, even the replays are over; he’s out of luck!"

Chen Zhenghai sneered, "Are you afraid he won’t see it? He’s definitely going to search it up online later!"

Huang Yong shook his head, "But it’s not as clear online, is it?"

"I don’t care! Damn it, an Olympic Games, those fireworks were popping off over my head, sparking everywhere, nearly peed myself from fright. You guys watched for three or four hours, but I was on duty for nearly eight hours."

Everybody turned suddenly at the sound, only then noticing Fang Huai was outside the squad room, packing his camouflage bag.

Hao Chengbin jumped up from his seat.

"Damn it, you’re back in the squad room and didn’t even say anything?"

"Squeak."

After Fang Huai squeaked, he continued packing his camouflage bag.

"You f*cking just squeak once?"

Fang Huai grinned: "Squeak Squeak! Happy now? Don’t make me squeak anymore, thinking of mice just pisses me off!"

Hao Chengbin was torn between laughter and tears, turning his head to look at Wang Peng in the study room.

Wang Peng hurriedly got up to help Fang Huai pack his bag.

"You’re back!... How was the study?"

Fang Huai just smiled: "Oh, they transferred you to our squad?"

Wang Peng beamed: "Yeah! Wu Di Platoon Leader went to the Detachment for training, so the Squadron Department transferred me over!"

Fang Huai nodded and patted him: "Do well."

At this moment, Chen Zhenghai noticed a significant detail in the earlier conversation.

"Damn, you’re on duty? Where are you going for duty?"

Only then did Fang Huai stand up, imitating the actions of the soldiers in the opening ceremony performance of "Drumming and Singing," air-drumming and shouting:

"What joy it is to have friends come from afar!"

Everyone’s eyes went wide.

"Damn, you were on site?"

Fang Huai nodded, pointing his thumb backward, proudly saying: "Yesterday, all the athletes passed right in front of me, only two or three meters away! Also, the little girl we rescued from the earthquake recognized me while circling the stadium, she even called out to me! To keep you from getting too jealous, I kept my head down and didn’t show my face!"

As he said this, he pointed to his clothes.

"See this? Olympic Games, special firefighting duty uniform!"

Everyone looked on like country bumpkins, bending down and leaning in close.

"Damn... We thought you couldn’t even catch a third-hand replay, but you were actually watching live on site!"

"That drumming performance, what was that shouting? ’What joy it is to have friends come from afar’? Why didn’t we understand it?"

"That’s the line. They were speaking Sichuan dialect! Sichuan dialect is the closest to ancient Chinese, so of course, you wouldn’t understand if you took it for Mandarin!"

After Fang Huai finished, he tilted up the corners of his mouth, letting them take a look.

He still had to show this uniform to his parents when he saw them.

One piece of clothing could make him happy several times.

This year’s two big events—the earthquake he couldn’t talk about in detail to avoid worrying his folks, yet participating in the Olympic security was indeed excellent bragging material.

Honestly, once his body was fully trained, he harbored the thought of competing in the Olympic Games to win gold for the country.

The country and the Olympic Charter both stipulate that active duty military personnel can participate in the competition, and there have been precedents, though they are few, and there’s quite a gap in training and professional level between active duty military and Olympic athletes.

He wasn’t sure if his body could ever reach the level for Olympic gold, but the world firefighters’ competition stage was definitely in his sights.

Ideally, he would take the Second Squadron’s soldiers with him, and Leader Hao could also go to take a look, to broaden his horizons.

That Old Deng, with his physical condition, would barely make it in the Corps Martial Arts Competition, but bringing him to see the world stage would at least fulfill one of his dreams.

Thinking this, Fang Huai straightened his face and said:

"What’s been happening in the Squadron these days?"

As these words fell, everyone’s expressions immediately changed.

You look at me, I look at you, unsure how to begin.

Fang Huai smiled: "Even if you don’t say it, I know, Squad Leader, you got a scolding, didn’t you?"

Then, Chen Zhenghai spoke: "This dumbass, why bother with him? Leader Hao just got married, and usually Sister-in-law takes care of the renovations, busy all the time. Leader Hao only goes back on weekends, returning two hours late gets scolded; it’s f*cking ridiculous."

Hao Chengbin sighed and patted Fang Huai’s shoulder: "I really am getting old, can’t even keep up with Instructor Huang, who’s been in service for 13 years, got caught out and scolded, so it’s deserved."

He said so, but it was just a mature sentiment of an old soldier; from the tone, it seemed he had compared martial skills with Huang Zhongjiu but couldn’t win, so he had to reluctantly accept the reprimands.

This Huang Zhongjiu must have some skills after all.

Fang Huai raised his eyebrows and sat down at the center of the table, patting it lightly.

"Squad Leader, please take a seat."

Hao Chengbin nodded and sat down.

The others immediately straightened up, ready for a meeting.

If this were any other squad, they would have cursed Huang Zhongjiu by now, but the Special Duty Squad has to be somewhat more mature.

"Instructor Huang’s criticisms, there are indeed some issues; we should formalize our leave of absence policies. However, Squad Leader, I’ll speak on your behalf, see if we can get a special exception, and on weekends, if there’s nothing much, you can go home for a day."

Just as Fang Huai started, Hao Chengbin interrupted him.

"Don’t do that, it’s not a good influence, and besides, when I filed my marriage report, leadership asked me about taking frequent leave. It’s not that it’s not allowed, but it would be better to go to another Squadron. You better not do that in the Special Duty Team.

You see, besides me and Old Fang, are there any other married non-commissioned officers? The leaders allowed us to stay; that’s leniency enough."

Fang Huai could only nod: "Well, if it’s not a combat readiness situation, we’ll try to extend it to six hours, you still have to cook for sister-in-law and... you still need to have children."

As soon as he said this, everyone laughed.

But Fang Huai didn’t laugh.

"Don’t rush to laugh, tell me about your problems."

(No swearing, I’ll make up for it with an extra Chapter tomorrow morning)