Chapter 524 - 414 Research-based Training Method... and Squadron Management (7K2)_4

A group fell silent as the cold cicadas, even Zhang Tianwang, who had thought about asking for the position of squad leader, couldn’t help but remember the time he almost had to do Evening Exercise with the new recruits when he first joined the Second Squadron and quickly shut his mouth.

"Pack up, get in the car."

Hao Chengbin walked up behind Fang Huai and patted him on the shoulder.

"Nicely done, kid! You’re starting to look more and more like a cadre! You’re getting into the role quickly! I think you’re up to snuff!"

Fang Huai turned his head slightly and chuckled softly, "Squad leader, I’m leaving the Special Duty Squad in your hands. Wang Peng, you’ve got to lead them well, just like you did with me, put your heart into it."

Hao Chengbin patted his back again, "With me here, don’t worry!"

Fang Huai then teased with a smirk, "Hehe, and remember, don’t skimp on the running. Look at that belly of yours, General. Sister Bai is almost thirty, and if you don’t improve your stamina and focus only on explosive power, I’m afraid the missus..."

He didn’t finish his sentence.

"Slap!"

A strong slap came as promised to the back of Fang Huai’s head.

Hao Chengbin glared with knitted eyebrows, "You little brat, you think I won’t dare to hit you now that you’re a captain, huh?"

"Hahaha..."

The surrounding people burst into laughter.

Fang Huai also touched his head and chuckled naughtily.

God damn, it actually felt kind of itchy not being beaten up for a while.

That felt good, really good.

...

The following days of training weren’t worth mentioning.

It was nothing but repetitive torture and wailing.

It was just that Lian Xu, who looked gentle and elegant but was actually a bit of a socially inept elitist newly assigned to the team, praised Fang Huai loudly at meals, claiming the first-rate food he mentioned was as good as promised, making everyone feel energized to stay there.

The Squadron’s expansion was even more energizing.

To minimize the construction company’s delays on the Second Squadron, the Detachment promised to pay in a 433 installment plan, depositing 40% of the project cost, another 30% upon completion of the new building’s roof and playground renovation, and the final 30% upon completion and acceptance of the overall decoration.

However, the entire construction period had to be kept within eight months.

Once the first payment was made, the construction team worked so efficiently that everyone felt getting paid by the military was reliable, and the boss was competent, very cooperative with the Fire Brigade construction, and paid the laborers well. It was heard that skilled workers could make 200 to 280 a day, while helpers could make 80 to 120, and wages were settled weekly.

How did other construction teams handle wages?

They typically gave about seven to eight hundred a month for living expenses to keep the laborers surviving, and those with special difficulties at home or who had good relationships with the subcontractors might get an extra three to four hundred yuan. The rest? Well, the boss had no money either, they said, waiting for the client to pay up.

Waiting for the client to settle accounts could mean two to three years passing by.

Wages turned into debts that still had to be collected.

If things didn’t go well, they might end up like the one who got impaled by rebar last time, giving the Fire Brigade a huge hassle.

Here, however, the wages were high and the efficiency of payment was unheard of; the laborers were all full of energy and worked until 12:30 before taking a rest.

The vast expanse of the Back Mountain, over one hectare, was completely flattened, a foundation was dug, various trucks and building materials arrived, and red and white helmets flooded the scene.

A new Squadron was rising from the ground.

It was said that in less than two months, the whole Playground would begin construction.

...

August 15, Noon.

Squadron Department.

"Um, yes, that’s right, Chief of Staff."

"Okay."

"Yes, the Playground is still unused, training can proceed there."

"Alright, we’ll be prepared today."

"Goodbye, Chief of Staff."

Cao Yi hung up the phone, turned around, and saw Fang Huai behind him, scratching his head and staring at the computer screen with confusion. He called out to him.

"Hey, hey! The notice has come down!"

Only then did Fang Huai lean back with his hands behind his head and look up to ask,

"What notice?"

Cao Yi picked up his water cup, took a sip, and said,

"The Martial Arts Competition format! This Corps Martial Arts Competition will be the same as the national one, with teams of ten representing.

This time, the Corps’ format has followed the Grand Martial Arts Competition’s lead and changed significantly—no more recommendations from the Squadrons. The Detachment didn’t hold a Summer Martial Arts Competition this year and skipped the internal competition, so the Command Department will assign the competition roster directly, based on the advice of the Chief of Staff.

The day after tomorrow, the competitors will come to our Squadron for a week of concentrated training, and by August 25th, they’ll head to the whole corps to compete."

Fang Huai listened, raised his eyebrows and let out a long sigh.

"This year’s national Grand Martial Arts Competition, the Corps Martial Arts Competition, it’s all different from what we knew before.

Remember back in February? We had just arrived at the troops, and you were still encouraging everyone to try for the national Grand Martial Arts Competition selection.

In the past, it seemed like we had to go through the competition, then select outstanding personnel for concentrated training before the final spots were decided, right?

But this year, heh, it was a direct selection— the whole corps is catching on to that... Huang Yong is probably not even going to make the squad, huh?"

Hearing this, Cao Yi also shook his head, "Nothing we can do, with two big events in May and August, the firefighting forces are overwhelmed everywhere.

Look, the earthquake in May scuppered the Detachment’s competition, and then we had to avoid the Opening of the Olympics in early August, pushing back the Corps Martial Arts Competition by half a month. Where’s the time to slowly pick and choose participants?

Honestly, I suspected that there might not even be a national competition this year. Managing to hold it at all shows the determination of the bureau.

However, don’t take it lightly. The dedicated are still training hard. I’ve heard from those in the Detachment that some Squadrons had already decided their rosters long ago, and many are intensifying their training.

The national Martial Arts Competition arena is only getting more professional.

In the future, some Corps might fix their rosters three months in advance and go through intensive training for dozens of days. If you were to participate in the national competition, you might end up facing those highly coordinated teams."

Fang Huai chuckled at what he heard, "For a competition, they really are going all out. But in the future, our Squadron will have many more qualified masters. We can perform our training right here.

Speaking of coordination, who can outmatch a whole Squadron’s worth?

No matter how good the coordination, when it comes down to it, it’s still about the level of the competitors. I’m just... concerned about Huang Yong. If he can’t go, he’s going to have trouble keeping his spirits up."

Cao Yi sighed, "With the system as it is, what can be done? You’ll make the announcement at the gathering this afternoon. While you’re at it, have a word with Huang Yong."

Fang Huai widened his eyes in disbelief, "Come on, I’m supposed to be the harbinger of doom? Why me?"

"Tsk, you’re the deputy captain and you’re in charge of training," Cao Yi retorted.

"Then find Old Ye, he’s the captain!"

"He went to the Detachment right after lunch to deliver the monthly summary and hasn’t returned yet."

Fang Huai couldn’t help but curse as he knocked on the computer screen, "Then you look at this, the ’political work program.’ Is this my job? Still running on the guidelines issued in 2004; you haven’t finished it till now, and here I am, a captain, helping you write a political report from 2004?"

In response, Cao Yi swiftly awoke his slumbering computer screen with the mouse and opened a document on the desktop, saying,

"Tsk, that report is based on the spirit of the 16th Party Congress, combined with the 10th National Public Security Conference. The spirit was talked about in ’04, but the task was only assigned at the beginning of the year! How could it have been delayed for three years? It’s only been half a year; half a year to comprehend the spirit, and then submit the report—it’ll seem more profound that way.

Look, I’m busy too. I only handed it over to you because I’m swamped."

Having said that, he still focused on the computer, tapping the keyboard a few times to appear extremely busy.

Watching this pretense, Fang Huai could hardly stop himself from applauding sarcastically.

"Great, tasks from the start of the year, assigned before I got deployed. You wait until I become cadres to say it’s due, then make me work on it. And if I hadn’t become a cadre, would you have waited until the end of the year?"

With a sheepish smile, Cao Yi replied, "It’s tough being a cadre. This is training your ability in political work. Eventually, you’re certain to become the secretary and will have to tackle these tasks alone."

Fang Huai laughed, "I don’t think I’ll need to. By the time I’m a secretary, I can just use your sweet talk to con new cadres into doing the work."

Cao Yi paused for a moment and then revealed a smile.

"Not bad, seems like you’ve caught on."

(End of Chapter)