Chapter 76 - 35: Think Clearly, Why Do You Become a Soldier?

"Hello, commander!"

Han Yong was actually the first to respond, and his voice was more passionate than ever before.

Everyone quickly stood up as well.

"Hello, commander!"

The colonel nodded slightly, hands clasped behind his back as he moved closer to observe the situation in the squad.

"Hmm..."

"Your speech was insightful and well-reasoned, but you need to pay more attention to the way you speak.

Our military songs carry the legacy of the older generation of soldiers and tell many stories. They lead us, as soldiers, to strive forward, and their purpose is not just to stir up passion but also to provide a baptism of the soul.

However, one point you made was correct.

Soldiers need absolute calm when executing tasks; life is the foremost creative and productive force. Each soldier’s life is extremely precious, and we also emphasize safety in training...

Never mind, let’s leave it at that, young comrade, you have quite an insight.

Staff Officer Yang, this wasn’t arranged on purpose because you knew I was coming, was it?"

The colonel was about to deliver a work summary-style speech but suddenly felt it was not quite appropriate. He stopped mid-sentence and made a half-serious, half-joking remark.

The officers and several squad leaders behind him laughed along.

Fang Huai’s heart twitched.

Arranged on purpose?

Colonel Huang, if I had known you were coming, I wouldn’t have said it like that no matter what!

Wouldn’t I have praised the military songs to the skies?

Fang Huai quickly straightened up and said loudly, "Report to the commander! My understanding was flawed and not deep enough, thank you for the correction, sir!"

"Hahaha..." The commander laughed, waved his hand.

"You, young comrade, have a flair for speaking, this isn’t a meeting, no need to be so serious with your words."

The Chief of Staff quickly joined in the laughter and chimed in, "Commander, I just found out about your visit myself. Even if we wanted to arrange something, there wouldn’t have been enough time!

Young man, the commander is complimenting you! Hao Chengbin is an experienced soldier, and the soldiers he has brought up have some level!"

The Chief of Staff clearly knew Fang Huai, but at this moment, he also became a master of playing dumb.

"Thank you, Chief of Staff! Thank you, commander!" Fang Huai didn’t try to be clever anymore; since the commander had directly asked him, he had to reply, but saying too much would be overdoing it.

"Hmm...not bad, this squad has done a good job with their internal affairs." The commander looked around, but by then all the new recruits had stood up, blocking a large part of the view, so not much could be seen.

"I came to inspect a couple of days ago and noticed that this squad was very meticulous in terms of hygiene."

The Chief of Staff also nodded, giving his full affirmation.

The commander turned around, clearly aware of who Hao Chengbin was, and directly asked him, "There hasn’t been any micromanagement, has there?"

Micromanagement.

The commander’s intention was clear.

Is the reason this squad appeared so different from the others due to some kind of trickery?

Hao Chengbin immediately stood up straight and said, "Commander, they’re all very conscientious! They have adapted quickly in terms of mentality, and it’s the most stress-free squad I’ve led!"

As for whose credit it was, Hao Chengbin didn’t say. The Chief of Staff would understand, and Fang Huai, the new recruit, didn’t need the commander’s recognition yet.

Hearing this, the new recruits couldn’t help but stand a little straighter.

The commander looked at Hao Chengbin, and seeing that he didn’t seem to be faking his demeanor, nodded with some approval.

"Good, very good, this shows that new recruits can be shaped under more scientific management, huh!

Chief of Staff, we need to tighten up on standardized, scientific training, and work even harder on ideological cultivation!"

The commander said some things the new recruits didn’t understand, waved at everyone again, and turned to walk out of Squad Nine.

This time, Fang Huai understood once again.

This "scientific" and "standardized" talk is the language of leadership. Translated, it means: in the future, hit the soldiers less, punish them less physically, and give me fewer headaches.

The most direct result is that political education will have to take on a heavier weight.

Singing military songs, reciting regulations, copying notes, group singing, cultural and entertainment activities, and so on.

This is related to the reforms in the following years; at the level of commander, they’ve already caught wind of the changes.

The Firefighting Corps is a small force; currently, less than 160,000 people nationwide, similar to two to three full-size armies, yet there are 31 whole corps (divisions, deputy army) and over 400 detachments (regiments, deputy divisions), spread widely, making it difficult to synchronize thinking. The new recruit group, which centrally manages the recruits from one province, thus has a heavier responsibility.

It starts with each batch of new recruits, subtly changing their mindset.

...

When Hao Chengbin returned, he couldn’t hide the smile on his face, but as soon as he closed the door, he began looking around nervously, touching this and that.

The Chief of Staff just said, today Squad Nine gets five extra points!

An additional five points at once, what does that mean?

That would make them the model squad of the whole corps for December! As long as there are no issues by the end of the month, it will be Squad Nine of the Seventh Brigade!

He had a comrade over last night, and they spent half the night chatting at the barbecue stall outside the base. This morning he was still asleep, and after getting up, he took several naps at the Brigade Department. Aside from sending out some materials, he basically hadn’t overseen anything all morning.

How they had ended up as the whole corps’ model squad, to be honest, he still had no idea.

After inspecting, the place was indeed clean!

"Who cleaned this morning?" Hao Chengbin turned around and asked.

Yue Tao raised his hand excitedly.

"Report! We all cleaned together!"

Even the most foolish knew that today would definitely bring praise.

Hao Chengbin frowned upon hearing this, "Why is it always ’we all cleaned together’? It should be the person responsible! Fang Huai, who was in charge of cleaning today?"

Fang Huai could hardly contain his amusement. Yue Tao hadn’t thought that the last person to speak like this was Jiang Peng.

"Squad Leader, it really was a collective effort. Since it’s the weekend, we all wanted to have a good mood, so we discussed it and did a big clean-up this morning. Didn’t you see when you came earlier?"

I was completely zoned out from sleep, what would I have seen?

If it hadn’t been for the call from downstairs notifying that Commander Wang Jian was coming, I would have been caught red-handed by the commander!

Hao Chengbin also felt a bit regretful inside. Ever since Fang Huai became the deputy squad leader, his vigilance had been declining day by day.

But that was something he could never say.

"Hmm... today I deliberately didn’t manage you guys, just wanted to see if you would relax your vigilance on the weekend!

Now it seems, not bad! However, the Chief of Staff said that our squad has a chance of becoming the top squad in the whole corps this month! We need to work hard for it, avoid arrogance and impatience!

Show good performance, and earn points for our squad!

I’ll set a rule! Whoever contributes points to the squad, if you want to eat or drink something, as long as it’s not against the rules, I can be an Aladdin’s lamp and fulfill your wish!

For those who lost points, just wait and see!"

Ah, Mom, that’s more like it! Bring on the tangible benefits!

Chen Zhongqiang also got excited and immediately patted Yue Tao, giving his local fellow a signal with his eyes.

Ah Tao! It’s time to charge! Cigarettes! Cigarettes!

Yue Tao turned his head, full of contempt.

I don’t f*cking smoke! Last time it was just for fun!

"Squad leader, is there a reward this time?" Han Yong stood up, hopeful.

Hao Chengbin was a bit startled and pointed at Han Yong, then looked at Fang Huai.

He... is he actually getting involved?

Fang Huai understood and nodded.

Han Yong immediately said, "Squad leader! The floor I mopped! Wiped with a towel!"

"Ahem." Hao Chengbin spoke, hands behind his back.

"This week the Commander is here, it’s not appropriate! Next week, at some point, I’ll treat you guys to a midnight snack! What we eat, you guys will decide!... You can have a cigarette as well."

Immediate fulfillment was not possible, the tactic of delayed gratification to pacify kids—having been a squad leader for so many years, he played that game very clearly.

But Squad Nine was still boiling with excitement.

Long live the squad leader!

The newcomer Han Yong was even a bit choked up.

In Squad Eight, he had never seen such a spectacle. Forget a midnight snack, even grabbing a dish was a fight!

Back home, everyone said the military service provided good meals, you’d be fed enough, but it turned out only the staple food was plenty!

F*cking Squad Eight’s Zhang Yizhang, just because his family had money, took every chance to disdain him, even snatching his food!

Squad Leader Fang is great! Squad Leader Hao is great! Socialism is great!

"Shush! Keep it down! Understand?!" Hao Chengbin quickly quelled everyone’s excitement, speaking somewhat fiercely.

"And stop with the ’long live’! Since the 80s, in the army, you only shout ’long live’ when charging! Don’t shout nonsense! If we eat, we eat, if we smoke, we smoke, but don’t go blabbing about it outside!

Other squad leaders don’t provide, only I do, how am I supposed to get along?

Alright! Go take a good shower this afternoon, for this weekend, I’m not adding extra drills to your schedule!"

A little bit of PUA later, everyone returned to their suppressed excitement.

The squad leader is awesome! We are so fortunate!

Fang Huai’s face followed with everyone else’s laughter.

Go ahead and shower without extra drills?

No need, really.

After a shower, there’s no need for extra drills.

And these kids are too damn easy to fool.

They all think that other squad leaders wouldn’t provide? They all secretly do! Even their lines are exactly like Hao Chengbin’s!

In the end, all new recruits feel they are the luckiest one.

When they meet their comrades from the same brigade later on and talk about the old days, everyone will be stunned.

Damn? Your squad leader also distributed cigarettes?

Damn! Your squad leader also provided midnight snacks?

Of course, Fang Huai was truly a miserable soul, a squad leader from his past life who really didn’t give anything.

Back then, he sat among the comrades sharing the moments of happiness, envying the crowd by himself.

...

That afternoon.

They went to shower in high spirits.

Zhao Bing specially changed spots, moving behind Fang Huai, a face with an apparently honest smile.

"Hey, Fang Huai, the things you said to me today really made an impact on me."

Fang Huai rolled his eyes.

"You’re always ’deeply moved,’ a military song moves you, a phrase moves you again, you still don’t understand what I’m talking about."

"Tell me! Say it slowly, I’ll listen word by word!" Zhao Bing said with sincere earnestness.

Fang Huai, tough on the outside but soft on the inside, was weakest against sincerity.

He sighed, thought for a moment, then turned.

"There are many I’ve heard of who’ve been determined to serve in the military since childhood and actually made it. You’re the first I’ve seen. If you’re really that pure, honestly, I admire you.

But this isn’t like what you see on TV. A TV show can skip an entire year in one scene, where a naive young man can mature into a soldier in one episode. In reality, you have to live it day by day.

It’s not easy to stick with any one thing.

If you really want to be a soldier, just do your job well and earnestly. Don’t overthink it, and don’t get overly hopeful or discouraged over one thing. If you learn your skills solidly and can become a top-notch soldier, the passionate military life you’re looking for won’t be far from you.

But if you can only be an ordinary soldier, then... dedicate your youth well and don’t complain."

As he spoke, the troops from Squad Seven had already assembled.

"Can you make it any clearer?" Zhao Bing was still somewhat puzzled.

Fang Huai sighed again: "The life of an ordinary soldier is naturally dull. I just don’t want you to feel like you’ve come here for nothing."

"Oh... you’re saying I shouldn’t have become a soldier?"

"You’d score full marks in reading comprehension."