Chapter 80 - 38 Traps Everywhere

In the afternoon meal, squad leaders were all absent.

The company leader went from squad to squad to inform, the squad leaders were in a meeting, and each squad should lead their team downstairs to gather on their own.

While singing the Ding-dong songs, the Chief of Staff arrived, had the duty officer lead everyone to sing all the military songs they had learned recently before letting them in. Having been reprimanded today, the new recruits were scared, thinking the Chief of Staff was dissatisfied. They sang with all their might, wailing like ghosts and howling like wolves.

Fang Huai knew that the Chief of Staff was here today to implement the superiors’ spirit and to strengthen ideological education.

Once inside the cafeteria, the regiment duty officer shouted from the center.

"Today all squad leaders are absent! New recruits, feel free to start your meal! After the meal, company leaders and clerks take your troops back!"

After saying this, it was as if he hadn’t said anything at all; no one dared to move their chopsticks.

The table from Squad Nine was staring at Fang Huai.

Fang Huai was also somewhat helpless, getting ready to call everyone to start eating, but seeing that many other squads hadn’t moved, he changed his mind, saying.

"How about we wait a bit longer? The squad leaders might also need to come to eat, many squads haven’t started yet."

Yue Tao said curiously, "They don’t have deputy squad leaders, but in our squad, when the squad leader is not here, you’re in charge. You just need to call to start eating, right?"

Fang Huai rolled his eyes, "Talk less, haven’t you been disciplined enough today? If you want to eat, go ahead and start!"

Recalling how Fang Huai reminded everyone to shower quickly this morning, and he stupidly didn’t listen, Yue Tao was silent, afraid to move.

Fang Huai’s words, they’re even more effective than the squad leader’s!

Before long, seeing many still hadn’t twirled their chopsticks, the corps staff stood up again and shouted.

"Didn’t you hear? Begin your meal!"

Some began to eat, but many new recruits still hesitated, looking at each other, all pondering one question.

Is the squad leader bigger, or the Chief of Staff?

Definitely the squad leader!

The squad leader can punish me, would the Chief of Staff dare to?

Only the company leader can issue orders to us when the squad leader is not here!

In the eyes of new recruits, the ranking of authority at each level would probably be in reverse order, of course, this rule does not apply once it reaches the level of Chief of Staff.

The main thing is, everyone knows that even the squad leader is afraid of the Chief of Staff.

Awkward.

The most authoritative Chief of Staff left after the new recruits finished singing, and the brigade staff had to accept the fact that even his fart didn’t make a sound, saying helplessly.

"Each company, company leaders and instructors, prompt the new recruits to start their meal!"

The company officers had stayed put, ready to fully enjoy the sight of the brigade staff’s powerless gesture; but once they directly spoke up, they also got moving.

The corps staff couldn’t trouble the new recruits, but troubling a company leader was more than enough, with the monthly work reports and attendance under his review.

The company officers went around each table, greeting them, and finally realizing with astonishment that in some squads, not even the words of the company leaders and instructors had any effect. They had to sternly explain: with the squad leader absent, orders from the company could be passed down directly!

Finally, all recruits began to eat, but everyone was still looking at each other when they reached out to grab food, not wanting to be the first to move their chopsticks.

In Squad Seven, Wang Jian went from squad to squad persuading them, but when he came to Squad Nine, he only glanced and then called out to Fang Huai.

"Fang Huai, tell them to start eating!"

After speaking, he left.

Fang Huai looked around, everyone was eating, so there was no need to be particular. He began by grabbing a big bunch of meat and putting it into Han Yong’s bowl, then swept his hand wide.

"Begin your meal!"

Han Yong was delighted, bouncing around, "Thank you, Deputy Squad Leader!"

Everyone was stunned.

While grabbing for meat, Yue Tao yelled, "Damn, Fang Huai, did you take Han Yong’s watch? Why are you giving him so much meat?"

Fang Huai didn’t pay attention, simply scooped up a spoonful of Mapo tofu into his bowl, then gave Han Yong a big spoonful, shoveled a couple bites of rice for himself before he leisurely spoke.

"Han Yong has to follow along with the Evening Exercise next week. Isn’t that tough? When the assessment comes, everyone’s scores will improve. If the squad leader is happy, won’t you get meat too? The Regiment Department values progress a lot. Han Yong was previously with the Flying Tiger Team, and if he can train well in our squad and improve further, what does that say about our squad’s leadership level? Wouldn’t the Chief of Staff praise our squad leader heavily? Then, I’ll talk about everyone’s efforts to the squad leader... Get it?"

Yue Tao’s eyes sparkled as he nodded repeatedly.

"Got it, got it!"

No one else voiced any opinions. Now, with Fang Huai’s nudging and Hao Chengbin’s encouragement, they all had a sense of unity.

And with Fang Huai’s words, the pressure was suddenly on Han Yong.

But Han Yong couldn’t complain, after all, the care he received in this squad was truly much better than in Squad Eight, and he really liked this harmonious atmosphere.

Fang Huai turned to Peng Yingqirui, smiling.

"Kid, want me to take care of you too? You can come with us to the Evening Exercise."

Peng Yingqirui immediately shook his head in terror, folding his hands in pleading.

"Squad Leader Fang, please just let me die in bed and don’t think about me! I’m thankful for your eight generations of ancestors!"

Zhao Bing said with a wry face, somewhat rolling his eyes.

"Squad Leader Fang... my training scores aren’t too bad either, if all the meat goes to Han Yong, I... can’t keep up!"

Fang Huai was taken aback.

Our squad’s physical fitness scores are all enviable because of you, so what’s the meaning of your "aren’t too bad"?

If you’re considered "not too bad," then what are all the rest of us here, trash?

He put down his chopsticks and said, "Stop being so negative, have some ambition. Tonight, you’re coming with me to the Brigade Department to have meat!"

Chen Zhongqiang heard this and immediately became anxious, ready to speak.

Fang Huai glanced at him, "Talk upstairs."

Fang Huai nodded earnestly, but Zhao Bing waved dismissively with a broad smile, "Forget it, I can’t do computers, nor can I handle those materials. Just think of me, that’s enough. Training is my own business; you don’t need to motivate me. If you’re free, just tell me some interesting stories about being a soldier, I love hearing those."

Fang Huai shook his head with a smile. This Zhao Bing, he was truly suited to be a soldier—the very name destined for it.

"Then Yue Tao and I will go with you, comfort your wounded heart today. Everyone takes turns, okay?"

Yue Tao always loved these treatments that others didn’t get and immediately chuckled, "Sure! I knew you were a great guy!"

"Hurry up and eat; you’ve got one minute left."

...

When they arrived at the dorm, Fang Huai went straight to the box under the bunk where the mattresses were kept and rummaged around inside.

Getting up, he signaled for Chen Zhongqiang to step outside.

After looking around, he handed Chen the cigarettes and lighter he was holding.

"The cigarettes, I got from Squad Leader Huang yesterday, and the lighter, I swiped from the Brigade Department, throw it out the window when you’re done, don’t get me in trouble. While the squad leader is still out, hurry up and have your smoke, and clean up afterward.

Today, all the squad leaders are out, so there’s not much risk, just this once.

I’ll be here watching for the Company Leader and squad leader, and I’ll shout if they come, so hurry up and go smoke."

Hearing this, Chen Zhongqiang also felt conflicted, feeling like he was making Fang Huai do something wrong.

He knew how much effort Fang Huai had put in to maintain his image.

"Maybe... I should wait for another time..." Chen Zhongqiang hesitated.

Fang Huai, growing impatient, scolded, "What the hell are you talking about? You would even risk getting blown up by a mine when it was so heavily guarded before, and now that the squad leader is away, you’re not smoking? Just remember to clean up afterward!"

Chen Zhongqiang nodded and, like a spy, slipped the cigarettes and lighter into his pocket, looked around, and went into the toilet.

He washed for a long time when he came out.

Before heading back to the dorm, Chen Zhongqiang firmly stated, "If the leader doesn’t give out cigarettes in the future, I won’t smoke anymore."

Fang Huai smiled, "You had a change of heart?"

"It’s too damn stressful worrying about getting you in trouble if something happens."

"As long as you know. If you get caught, the whole squad will suffer, and the deduction will come from our squad’s points."

...

At 6:30, the duty clerk Sun Lianhai returned, and Fang Huai organized everyone to learn military songs.

Zhao Bing liked the song "The Motherland Will Not Forget" the most.

Wang Jian, hearing the singing from Squad Nine, thought Hao Chengbin had returned and opened the door to check. Seeing it was Fang Huai leading, he simply said to report to the Brigade Department by 8 o’clock before leaving.

Fang Huai was gradually becoming the noun that truly replaced the squad leader in exercising some powers.

Soon, the singing from the neighboring Squad Eight could be heard, not wanting to be outdone. Led by Zhang Yizhang, they were singing "Unity is Strength," a song everyone knew, but their voices were scattered and feeble, a clear indication that the neighboring class was at odds.

The singing was genuinely awful – without unity, there was no strength.

So bad that Captain Wang had to to return and open Squad Eight’s door to yell at them.

"The others are learning new songs! Don’t mimic without understanding! Focus on memorizing your materials! Next week your squad leader will check!"

His voice was quite clear, leaving Squad Nine in stitches.

...

Around seven, voices and footsteps could be heard in the corridor; the squad leader was back.

When a group of Non-commissioned Officers, a group of junior officers, and a group of senior officers approach, even if you close your eyes, you can tell them apart just by the sounds of their chatter.

The Non-commissioned Officers often chat with laughter, the talks ranging from heaven to earth, petting cats and chasing dogs, occasionally accompanied by a few loud, wild chuckles, and there might be some hopping and jumping.

When junior officers chat, they often start with "your unit," "our unit," mostly complaining about being checked again today or what tasks some leader has assigned for tomorrow. Their footsteps are quieter, and they use fewer swear words.

Senior officers mostly utter sounds of agreement, with loud voices and many filler words. You won’t hear the sound of their footsteps.

The group of squad leaders outside didn’t seem to be entering their respective classes but were heading to the Brigade Department right across the hall.

The first thing upon returning, of course, was to find the Company Leader for an update on the day’s activities of the new recruits in their class.

Ten minutes later, the door was pushed open.

"Good evening, squad leader!" Everyone quickly stood up.

The moment Hao Chengbin stepped in, a torrent of curses came from a not-too-distant dorm.

"Who the hell let you guys eat by yourselves? Huh? Who gave that order?"

Everyone heard it loud and clear, suddenly feeling a little frightened.

Not eating wasn’t an option, but eating too early wasn’t either! You had to wait for the Company Leader’s encouragement to eat!

Sure enough, the military was full of traps!

"You guys did well today," Hao Chengbin said with a smile, clearly having gathered all the details about Squad Nine’s performance of the day.

Everyone remained silent.

Lighting a cigarette, Hao Chengbin smiled and said.

"Everyone got a rough time showering today, right? How many kicks did you all get?"

They looked at each other, uncertain.

Seeing Hao Chengbin so relaxed, Fang Huai actually wanted to say to him, "You got an earful from the Regiment Department today too, didn’t you? That three-hour-long meeting."

But let it be, Little Hao was a fiery young man, and I can’t handle it.

Hao Chengbin glanced over everyone and took another drag on his cigarette, then adopted a more serious expression.

"This probably won’t happen again. Today a few squad leaders were punished too, one even had to miss driving school.

You guys are lucky. When we were new recruits, we showered while being dragged by backpack straps... though this method isn’t good, I apologize to you all on the leaders’ behalf."