Chapter 92 - 50 Everyone finds fault (catch up as soon as possible, need to catch up)

On Sunday morning, everyone, as always, did a major cleaning.

Squad Nine had a different rule from the other squads; during weekdays, hygiene was an individual responsibility, but on Saturdays and Sundays, everyone was responsible for cleaning together, thoroughly. Everyone truly enjoyed this unity, and Hao Chengbin also approved.

At eight in the morning, with the sound of shoes and voices in the hallway, everyone knew that the Group Leadership had come for an inspection again.

As usual, the squad leader was not present. With a broad gesture, Fang Huai quickly got everyone seated on the small stools with materials out, posing as if they were deeply engrossed in study.

After two weeks of practice, the new recruits had mastered the skill of listening through walls; they were no longer as naïve. The sound of a deliberate, heavy step on the ground indicated it was the Chief of Staff.

Leaders higher in rank than the Chief of Staff wouldn’t be so frivolous, and those below him wouldn’t dare to be so reckless.

But this time, it seemed the Chief of Staff was not here for a hygiene inspection, as the Regiment Department hadn’t blown a whistle for an inspection, and the footsteps approaching Squad Nine were quite swift.

The voices of Instructor Liang and Captain Wang soon reached nearby Squad Nine and became clear.

"Lately we’ve had earlier inspections at the Brigade Department. Overall, the state of Internal Affairs has improved..."

The door opened.

The Chief of Staff appeared at the doorway with his hands clasped behind him.

The new recruits stood up.

"Greetings, Chief of Staff! Greetings, leaders, Instructor, Company Leader, squad leader!"

They called out greetings in descending order of rank, their voices unified and loud.

This was taught by Fang Huai.

When a group appeared, the order was to greet according to the hierarchy: Regiment Leader, Chief of Staff, Chief or cadre from another company (when there were too many people, just use ’leaders’), Instructor, Company Leader, squad leader.

It doesn’t hurt to be overly polite and greet every rank present.

The Chief of Staff burst into laughter upon hearing such a long series of greetings for the first time, then with a "hmm", he asked Fang Huai who was standing at the front.

"Fang Huai, where’s your Squad Leader Hao?"

Instructor Liang behind him seemed surprised.

The Chief of Staff could actually name a new recruit?

"Reporting to the Chief of Staff! The squad leader is engaged in an activity downstairs and will come up upon hearing the whistle! Squad Nine is currently in the midst of studying ’Internal Affairs Regulations,’ please instruct!"

After Fang Huai finished speaking, he saluted in a very proper manner.

Instructor Liang immediately corrected, "You haven’t been taught how to salute yet; don’t do it rashly!"

A new recruit, and he’s asking the leadership for instructions? Ridiculous!

"Yes, Instructor!" Fang Huai replied calmly and confidently.

This statement was much more measured.

Fang Huai was not the type to cozy up to someone who clearly wasn’t fond of him. Knowing they were unfriendly toward him, no matter the reason, he didn’t bother to show warmth.

With Hao Chengbin present in the new recruit group, they couldn’t do much to him anyway.

If it came down to it, once they left the new recruit group, no one would know anyone else anyway.

However, the Chief of Staff didn’t seem to care. He walked into Squad Nine, looking around, and even ran his hand over the table by the door and then over the bed frames.

Skeptical, he touched the inside and corner of the bed frame against the wall.

There were no water stains, but also no dust, clearly indicating it wasn’t spot cleaned at the last minute.

"Well done, lad. Does someone in your squad know fortune telling? It’s always so clean whenever I come by! It’s impossible you’re cleaning all day long, right?"

The Chief of Staff was experienced; such meticulous attention to every nook and cranny couldn’t possibly be the norm. Cleaning to such detail, even if mobilizing the whole squad, would take at least half an hour, and doing this daily would be unbearably exhausting.

Fang Huai also responded with a candid reply, "Report to the Chief of Staff! Every weekend our squad does a big clean-up together!"

The Chief of Staff scratched his ear.

"Alright, I know your squad is self-disciplined! No need to be so loud when I’m this close!"

As he said this, he turned to the cadre group and said irritably, "Last time I went up to Third Company’s floor to use the toilet, I had just come out when a new recruit let out a loud ’Chief of Staff good!’ Almost gave me a heart attack!

Notify all companies! No greetings in the toilet!"

The cadre group nodded, laughing.

Only then did the Chief of Staff return to the main subject, "Fang Huai, I came especially for you today! How’s the songwriting going?"

"Reporting to the Chief of Staff! I’m working on it, I should be able to finish before the New Year..." Fang Huai cautiously replied.

As for when it would be finished, that would depend on how many levels of memory enhancement it would take to jog my memory.

If this memory enhancement doesn’t come with a recall feature, then be prepared for my subpar version.

I have the music, and for most of the lyrics... I’ll have to rely on my high school literary foundation.

"Hmm... before the New Year... that’s very rushed," the Chief of Staff urged.

"You’ll also have to record the song, so move quicker, young man!

The Political Commissar and Regiment Leader, I’ve already reported to them this Monday; the Leadership is very supportive of your idea! If it’s well written, we’ll invest time and effort to promote it vigorously!

At that time, you could also use this opportunity to record and promote your newly written songs. Who knows, you might become a famous singer in the future!"

The Chief of Staff was anxious, calculating the time as well.

After the next month and a half when the term ends, if the song isn’t ready, you’ll no longer be under the new recruit group’s jurisdiction, whose merit will it be?

Hearing that his own song could also be promoted, Fang Huai dropped his reservations and quickly agreed, "Then it’s a month! I guarantee to complete the task!"

With such conditions, why dilly-dally? I’d even create something on the spot for you!

When the time comes... if I manage to produce a 10-song album, don’t go back on your word!

"Good! One month!" the Chief of Staff clapped his hands happily.

Upon reflection, those two songs were really good!

This kid is talented.

The Chief of Staff glanced at the big guitar in the corner of the wall, really wanting to ask him to play again.

Forget it, wait until the "settlement" in a month, then listen to the complete version.

Instructor Liang behind him was utterly confused.

This Fang Huai... can also write songs? The Regiment Leader and Political Commissar already know?

How come I’m not aware of it?

We have such a big project within our company, why hasn’t anyone told me?

Instructor Liang also reflected carefully, realizing that in the past few days, Wang Jian hadn’t mentioned anything about Fang Huai, and Hao Chengbin had barely spoken to him, suddenly feeling like he’d been backstabbed.

Fine, fine, everyone wants to go behind my back on such a big matter, not involving me. Well, I’d like to see what you can do without my oversight.

...

Less than ten minutes after the Chief of Staff and his group left, Hao Chengbin came back.

He looked somewhat strange.

The moment he entered, he began to interrogate them.

"Did Instructor Liang come by just now?"

Fang Huai stood up and said, "Squad Leader, the Chief of Staff was just here; he spoke about the songwriting. Instructor Liang came with him."

"No issues with Internal Affairs inspection, I hope?"

"No way! The Chief of Staff even said it was done too well, he couldn’t believe it!"

"Oh..."

Hao Chengbin felt increasingly that something was amiss.

He had just finished breakfast and, as usual, had taken a stroll downstairs to aid digestion – a habit known to all in the brigade. Yet, Liang Longhui had come downstairs looking for him, questioning why he hadn’t returned to manage the new recruits.

I’m just out for a walk to avoid putting on weight after the old soldiers’ training, just wandering around downstairs, not even a hundred meters straight-line distance, and that’s not allowed?

It’s not yet time for morning exercises, and the whistle hasn’t blown, plus it’s the weekend, and all the new recruits in the squad are behaving! What is there for me to manage?

Do I have to act like a Chinese language monitor and lead them in reading?

Is this guy sick in the head?

I’m a Third-term Non-commissioned officer, treated at the same level as brigade cadres, and this is just a temporary unit. Yet you speak to me with such disrespect?

I took such a long leave shortly after the start of training because I saw his family indeed had special circumstances. I held back from saying a couple of words about it – that should have been the end of it, but he has to make such a big deal out of it!

Cadres who have never served as soldiers really are different, huh!

Captain Wang, now in his ninth year, speaks to me politely, but Liang Longhui, this Instructor in only his seventh year counting his four years in university, talks to me as if he’s lecturing me!

Hao Chengbin had secretly gritted his teeth for quite a while but still swallowed his anger.

After all, the guy’s a cadre, and I’m just a soldier.

With a long sigh, he said, "Put on your webbing and wide-brimmed hats! After the whistle blows, we’ll go to the playground and practice some drill... Fang Huai, bring a copy of the ’Internal Affairs Regulations’ too. When we’re doing marching drills with fixed arms and legs, I’ll explain the regulations to you!"

The miserable day had begun.

The new recruits all had gloomy expressions.

Fixed arms and legs were one thing, but they even had magic attacks!

...

In the evening, before the squad meeting.

The new recruits of Squad Nine were all stretching their limbs.

"It’s inhuman! Weekend training lasts even longer than on weekdays! After eating, we have to go to the playground to practice marching!"

"OMG! When will this ever end!" bemoaned Peng Yingqirui while sitting on a stool, leaning on the bed with his upper body and wailing.

Even Fang Huai, who was quite proficient in drill, was barely enduring the day’s intense training and sat on a stool to rest.

But he couldn’t resist laughing as he replied, "Two weeks, I guess."

Peng Yingqirui’s eyes lit up: "Two weeks?"

Fang Huai nodded wearily: "Yeah... After two more weeks, if you’re not dead from exhaustion, you should be used to it."

That comment broke everyone’s defense.

Those who were usually quiet started shouting in shock.

"Damn it..."

"Deputy Squad Leader Fang, are you even speaking human language?"

Only Yue Tao stood up fiercely, looking at the guitar in the corner of the wall and said, "Fang Huai! Teach me to play the guitar. I want to write a song to condemn this f*cking military camp!"

Fang Huai’s face twitched.

I’m dog-tired, and you want me to teach you guitar and songwriting?

"Sure..." Fang Huai got up as if he really was going to fetch the guitar, but then turned around with a mischievous smile and said.

"Tell me, if I teach you, do I count as your master?"

"Yes!" Yue Tao said firmly.

"Hmmm..." Fang Huai nodded sagely and said.

"Once a master, always a father, so call me ’Dad’ first and let me revel in it."

"Hahaha..."

"Fang Huai, f*ck your brother!"

Yue Tao was seething with shame when the door opened.

All at once, silence fell.

Squad Leader Hao stood at the door, hands behind his back, looking at everyone.

"Let me ask you guys a question, do you prefer breasts or legs?"

The whole squad was stunned, and no one spoke.

Why was the squad leader suddenly interested in... this question?

Hao Chengbin looked at Lu Zexian, who was nearest to him, and asked again, "Lu Zexian, you go first, do you prefer breasts or legs?"

Lu Zexian stood up curiously and glanced outside.

Was the squad leader going to hook us up with girlfriends?

But there were no women around!

After hesitating for a moment, he cleared his throat and said, "Squad Leader... I, I prefer souls, the kind that resonate with one another."

Hao Chengbin was flabbergasted: "Who the hell asked you that?"

As he spoke, he pulled out a large bag from behind him.

KFC!

"I bought some snacks, including twenty chicken legs! Their shop didn’t have enough, so they gave me some chicken breasts instead! Those who don’t like chicken legs can have the chicken breasts! Fits well, since Lu Zexian, you like souls, you might as well not eat! Let them eat and have soulful exchanges with you!"

Lu Zexian’s eyes widened.

"I like legs! I like legs! Squad Leader!!"

...

Ten minutes later, the atmosphere was jovial.

The squad leader had gone out, telling them to hurry up and eat; they had a squad meeting in half an hour.

Everyone was still eating, and Han Yong had finished showing off, occasionally taking a piece of the few remaining popcorn chicken or fries from the bag and popping it into his mouth, sighing.

"I never used to eat these things when I was home... I didn’t expect them to taste so good..."

Zhao Bing immediately took umbrage: "You’re reluctant to eat, and I’ve never even had it! We don’t have it in our town; I’ve only seen it on TV!"

Hu Deli boasted a bit: "Hmm! We have it in our town! Right before I came here, our town opened a new one, with a name very similar to this! It’s called... ’Able to Gnaw Hamburger’!"

Lu Zexian laughed: "You fool! That’s a knockoff!"

As they were enjoying themselves, the door opened again.

Instructor Liang held the doorknob, pushing the door halfway open. Seeing the scene inside, he frowned, fully opened the door, and walked in.

He looked around the room and said.

"What are you guys doing? Where’s the squad leader?"

Fang Huai quickly grabbed a tissue to wipe his mouth and stood up.

Great, here comes trouble with that tone.