Chapter 10: My Name Is Lu Yang, a Scholar

"All squads, leave one person to clean up the dishes!"

After the meal, the recruits are taken back by each squad's Squad Leader.

The bowls and chopsticks left on the table must be cleared by a recruit, which is the so‑called minor duty.

The one left in Third Squad is, of course, the unlucky Ding Tengfei.

He didn't even get a share of the food, yet he has to stay behind to clean up the mess—truly heart‑crushing.

【Detected new knowledge point: Don't hit the diligent, don't hit the lazy, only hit the oblivious!】

【Knowledge point analysis: In the troops, never be a Troublemaker, because veterans love to pick out thorns!】

Lu Yang was startled; he hadn't expected the system to be like an encyclopedia, even summarizing the previous scene?

Is it afraid he might step on a landmine in the unit and repeat the same mistake?

……

After leaving the Cafeteria, everyone didn't return to the barracks but followed Zhou Kaidong to collect daily supplies.

In the unit, towels, toothbrushes, toothpaste, washbasins and similar daily items are issued uniformly.

Then each person writes their name with a black pen for identification, so there's no worry about taking the wrong one.

"Squad Leader, this isn't right—why is there only one basin?"

Just after collecting the items, Kong Long sensed something was off.

The others also realized belatedly, feeling that something was missing.

Yeah, why did they only hand out one basin?

What about washing feet, washing the butt, washing clothes later?

Zhou Kaidong's answer was: cold‑mix.

But Lu Yang knew that this item's function wasn't limited to washing face, feet, or clothes; it also had all sorts of uses you wouldn't even dare imagine.

But he didn't want to say it; after all, everyone had just finished eating, and mentioning it would ruin their appetite.

But Zhou Kaidong, unlike Lu Yang, had no such restraint; he directly described the ultimate usage of the all‑purpose little yellow basin in as much detail as possible.

He made the recruits' faces as grim as possible, nearly performing artificial fertilization on the flower bed on the spot.

Zhou Kaidong, laughing triumphantly at his prank, turned his head and saw Lu Yang not reacting, and immediately became displeased.

"What, have you seen the fecal‑sea maggot scene I mentioned earlier?"

"Before coming, I saw photos on a forum of scooping feces with a little yellow basin; the after‑effect was huge… I couldn't eat for two days."

Lu Yang was telling the truth; the veteran retirees had warned him never to search for it.

But human curiosity made him unable to resist searching for that picture, nearly vomiting from disgust.

……

After the group finished collecting the items and just returned to the barracks, a whistle outside sounded again.

The duty officer shouted from downstairs: "All squads, take your luggage, line up in the corridor, and come down for inventory check!"

"Inventory check?"

The recruits looked bewildered, clearly not understanding what that meant.

But Lu Yang's system provided a quick science‑pop explanation, instantly giving detailed information.

The so‑called inventory check is counting the recruits' personal items in their luggage, registering them, and storing them centrally.

And the inventory check is also known as a large social‑death segment in the unit.

Because during the check, you will have no secrets left.

Soon, the recruits, lugging their packs, arrived downstairs to undergo the inventory check.

Cool mats were laid on the ground, and the Platoon Leaders stood at the side, holding registration forms, ready to meticulously record the recruits' personal items.

At this moment, Lu Yang noticed that beside the Company Commander was a bespectacled captain.

Looking refined and kind‑eyed, he must be the New Recruit Company's instructor.

Instructor He Zhen Tao reminded: "When checking items, be sure to handle them gently, and absolutely, absolutely do not damage the recruits' personal items."

Just that one sentence made the recruits' favor for this amiable instructor increase dramatically.

At least he didn't look as fierce as the Company Commander, seeming easier to talk to.

But Lu Yang knew these were all façades; in the unit, one plays the red‑face, another the white‑face, all for work requirements.

If anyone were foolish enough to treat the instructor as a comrade and go complain, they'd definitely earn a drink.

As the inventory check began, each squad's recruits' personal items were taken out one by one and placed on the cool mats.

What everyone brought was bizarre, some even describable as inconceivable.

"Why did you bring so many underwear?"

"Afraid they won't be enough."

"How many butts do you have to bring fifty pairs of panties? And they're all patterned!"

……

"What is this shabby wool blanket, and why bring a household rag?"

"That's not a rag; it's A Beibei."

"Ah, what?"

"I've had to clutch it while sleeping all my life, otherwise I can't fall asleep. Squad Leader, can you let me keep it?"

"Why the hell didn't he bring the baby bottle too?"

……

Over at Third Squad, Zhou Kaidong had just finished the inventory check of Kong Long's personal items; aside from some intimate clothing, it was almost all various supplements.

Vitamin C, cod liver oil, creatine, nitrogen pumps, and small‑packaged protein powders of various flavors.

"You treat the unit as a free gym and got an annual pass?"

"Sign the form and press your fingerprint."

Kong Long honestly signed and stamped the form, and everything was uniformly collected.

Because it involves electronic devices, cash, bank cards and other valuables, the details must be sufficiently strict.

The next one is Ding Tengfei; Zhou Kaidong knows this kid is restless, but didn't expect a serious contraband to appear right at the initial inspection.

It's a metal rod about thirty centimeters long; with a light flick it can extend to sixty or seventy centimeters.

"You're in the army, you bring an extendable baton—what does that mean?"

"For self‑defense."

"Defend against whom—your comrades, or the Squad Leader?"

Seeing there was a situation in Third Squad, Instructor He Zhen Tao came up.

"What's going on?"

"We flagged a contraband item."

"It's not a big deal; just record it. Young people out in the world lack a sense of security, so carrying something for self‑defense is understandable."

He Zhen Tao's smoothing over made Ding Tengfei grin cheekily, as if he had been understood, and he immediately treated the Instructor as one of his own.

Immediately after, Zhou Kaidong pulled a knuckle duster from his bag, followed by a butterfly knife.

Now the Instructor's face couldn't stay composed; he asked what he was bringing these items into the unit for.

Ding Tengfei was nonchalant: "These were all gifts from friends; someone even gave me a Yellow River pistol. I thought the unit would issue firearms, so I didn't bring it."

Ding Tengfei's self‑styled humorous remark made Squad Leader Zhou Kaidong's expression turn very sour.

You still damn well want to bring a gun into the unit, why the hell don't you just die?

If it were in the dormitory with no outsiders, he would have already delivered a flying kick and a hard slap.

Not to mention in the unit; even in society these items are serious contraband.

"Yellow River pistol, hehe..."

The Instructor forced a smile, remarked that the kid was quite humorous, but had already added Ding Tengfei to his watchlist.

He turned his head, exchanged a glance with the Company Commander; the two said nothing, yet reached an unspoken agreement on the matter.

From then on, even if Zhou Kaidong displayed a bit of excessive behavior in leading troops, they would turn a blind eye, showing tacit understanding.

For some young people who have long lacked discipline, get into fights and trouble outside, and have a certain violent tendency.

Reasoning won't reach them, reformation is useless; only "strength over strength" or "using force to stop conflict" works.

But Ding Tengfei's absurdity didn't stop there; when Zhou Kaidong opened his wallet to count bank cards and cash, he actually found two small umbrellas in a compartment.

Zhou Kaidong's fists cracked, the blue veins on his neck pulsed, clearly infuriated by this damn kid.

"Come on, tell the Squad Leader, what does it mean that you brought this thing into the unit?"

"Do you have some special hobby, or are you planning to stab your comrades in the back with a bayonet?"

All the new recruits in Third Squad, including Lu Yang, flinched sharply.

Their gaze at Ding Tengfei was thick with suspicion, as if a traitor had appeared among them.

Ding Tengfei still wore a carefree grin: "It was leftover from before, I forgot it in my wallet."

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"No?"

"Then what do you mean by 'leftover'?"

"Damn! Squad Leader, you're so old‑fashioned? What era is this, insisting on having a partner—can't it just be a dry sister or something?"

At that moment, almost everyone's impression of this flippant, morally low‑brow guy dropped to the bottom.

Lu Yang also thought this guy spoke and acted without thinking at all—truly uncensored.

Such words that violate public order and morals were spoken aloud in public, with a hint of pride, as if it were impressive.

Seeing Squad Leader Zhou Kaidong's forehead veins jumping repeatedly, as if he was suppressing his inner anger, Kong Long's heart already began to shout.

But ultimately, the temperament of the third‑phase veteran NCO kept Zhou Kaidong restrained.

He suppressed his anger throughout and completed the inspection of Ding Tengfei.

The next few recruits were all normal; what they brought were mostly toiletries, nothing special, which also eased Zhou Kaidong's anger a bit.

Finally it was Lu Yang's turn; he willingly opened his backpack, which was packed full of books!

Especially when he saw two Chinese‑English dictionaries, Zhou Kaidong's eyes twitched wildly!

"You call this a hometown specialty?"

"Damn, no wonder my back hurt when I was loading luggage earlier!"

"Who brings this many books when they enlist? Can you even read them all?"

"Why did you bring so many books into the unit?"

The one asking wasn't Zhou Kaidong, but the Instructor who suddenly appeared before them.

Lu Yang answered honestly: "Report, Instructor, I didn't study properly before; seeing others get into university made me regret it and realize the importance of studying!"

"I want to use my spare time in the unit to study hard, aiming to qualify for the military academy!"

He Zhen Tao's eyes lit up, showing ambition: "What's your name?"

"Report, I'm Lu Yang."

"Better late than never; it's not too late to work hard now, keep it up!"

"However, the New Recruit Company doesn't have time for you to read books; these will have to wait until later after the company, then we can return them to you."

"However, the New Recruit Company doesn't have time to let you read books; these will have to wait until after the next company before they can be returned to you."

Yes!

What a stark contrast!

What a difference before and after!

From being unlearned and incapable, like mud that can't be helped up a wall, Ding Pengfei; to clearly recognizing the importance of study, determined to work hard in the army, striving to get into a military academy through study, Lu Yang!

He Zhen Tao was like discovering a piece of raw jade next to a pile of stinking dog dung, which genuinely gave him a pleasant surprise and also made his first impression of Lu Yang quite good.

Zhou Kaidong even proactively reported: "Instructor, I can testify that on his train ride here, he basically spent the whole time reading seriously."

He Zhen Tao was originally a cultured person; hearing this made him even more relieved, and the more he looked at Lu Yang, the more pleasing he found him.

Just as he was about to rally everyone to learn from Comrade Lu Yang, not to be discouraged by a temporary setback, but to always keep an enterprising heart, a sudden commotion came from the Ninth Squad.

Many new recruits were straining to hold back laughter, while Company Commander Gao Feng squatted on the ground, seemingly still kept in the dark?

He fiddled with a peculiarly shaped plastic thermos cup printed with an image of Tifa: "This soldier is kind of interesting, bringing a cup all the way from far away—this thing is open at both ends, so it won't leak when filled with water, right?"

That recruit's face flushed red, and he stammered, not daring to speak.

The Instructor walked over, took just one glance, and burst into laughter mixed with tears.

He bent down, whispered something into the Company Commander's ear.

Having reacted, Gao Feng's eyes bulged like copper bells, and he angrily cursed: "Damn it, they actually dared to bring this thing into the unit—are you trying to take off?"