Chapter 126: Commissioning Ceremony: A Qualified Soldier

"The commissioning ceremony begins now!"

"Raise the flag, play the national anthem..."

Amid the solemn and dignified sound of the national anthem.

The red flag, under everyone's gaze, slowly rose to the highest point.

The deep blue sky and that striking splash of red formed a strong, vivid contrast.

After the ceremony, Lu Yang lowered his head and glanced sideways at the notch on his shoulder.

From this moment, he will bid farewell to his Conscript status and officially become a member of the Longguo Liberation Army.

A Private!

Although this is the first step of a ten‑thousand‑mile Long March, it carries extraordinary significance.

Because it means he has been granted a rank and become a true Longguo soldier.

The flag fluttered in the wind, appearing especially vivid against the blue sky and white clouds.

Gao Feng stood beneath the podium and shouted, "Here, I first want to congratulate you on becoming a true Longguo soldier!"

"In these three plus months, the Instructor and I have witnessed your transformation from local youths into soldiers!"

"The process was hard, grueling, winding, and far from easy, but you endured it, which shows you are all exemplary!"

Gao Feng's generous praise made the new recruits' faces brim with pride and honor.

Because before enlisting, many of them were at the bottom of the class, the most underachieving students in the teacher's eyes.

In their parents' eyes they were disappointing, unable to get into university, early‑dating, browsing novels online, just loafing and waiting for death—the good‑for‑nothing, turtle son, little punk.

In Uncle Mao's eyes, they were incurable weaklings, petty thugs, who might one day end up taking a bullet.

But now, these lost lambs have all found new value and meaning in the army, discovering a sense of identity that belongs solely to them.

Soldier!

Longguo soldier!

A formally commissioned, rightful Longguo soldier!

Strangely, Ding Tengfei's tear ducts became a bit fragile; he felt like crying, yet didn't know why.

He felt as if the army had affected and changed him, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly what had changed.

During these three months, he repeatedly examined his former self, repeatedly berated and disgusted himself.

But he wasn't sure whether he had completely cut off his former self, fearing he might revert to that ghostly version.

Kong Long's heart was a mix of emotions; initially he joined the army simply because he didn't want to obey his parents and become a cook, nor be stuck all day in a kitchen filled with oil smoke.

He originally thought he could treat this place as a free gym, just get a two‑year membership first.

Instead, he was forced to shed a massive amount of the muscles he was proud of.

Although now his physique is still much sturdier than others, only he knows exactly how much his arm circumference has shrunk.

He worries that after discharge, the old iron‑pumps at the gym will mock him for getting thinner and smaller.

But he also grew stronger...

Indeed, Kong Long's endurance, strength, and speed were all greatly improved over these three months.

His core strength became more stable, and his waist and leg muscles grew denser.

Thus breaking the iron rule of never training legs in bodybuilding!

As for Lu Yang, due to system amplification benefits and his experience in the training squad, his gains were the greatest among all of New Recruit Company.

From being frail and catching a fever in the rain to now being able to single‑handedly beat several thugs and score ten rings in a hundred‑meter shooting.

In just over three months, Lu Yang truly completed an astonishing transformation and completely shed the initial stereotype of a "scholar."

Gao Feng's gaze swept over the vibrant young faces below, finally resting on Lu Yang's face.

"Although the New Recruit Company has ended, what I want to tell you is..."

"From this moment on, your life in the unit, your military career, is just beginning."

"Especially for those Conscript who, after two years, wish to stay in the army and develop there, you must seize the opportunity after the next company..."

The Company Commander and the Instructor each offered words of encouragement and urging.

The new recruits listened attentively, especially those who intend to stay in the army.

They especially kept the Company Commander's words firmly in their hearts.

They must learn skills, delve into them, and continuously improve core competitiveness.

Only then can they become the talent the unit needs and go farther in the future.

Many say the army is the final home for children from poor families, and that's not untrue at all.

Someone asked what kind of person truly loves the army from the heart and wants to stay.

Most likely, they are those from families with poor or even very bad conditions.

Guo Yongwen once talked with Lu Yang about his military experience, discussing why he was so persistent in seeking promotion and staying.

"I'm not afraid you'll laugh, but the first time I ever ate a cream cake was in the army."

"At that time, I earned a merit, and it happened to be my birthday; the Company Commander bought me a 12‑inch cream cake, and I ate it while crying."

"I was moved, but even more because, at my age, I had never... never eaten a cream cake, since my family was truly too poor."

"Later, someone grabbed a piece of cake and smacked it onto my face; I cried even harder. How could such delicious food be wasted? How many catties of rice, how many ears of corn would that cost?"

"My first time eating French fries, my first hamburger, my first beef and shrimp—all were in the army."

"I love this place so much, I love being a soldier to death, so I work harder and strive more than others because I want to stand out..."

Lu Yang will never forget the sparkling eyes Guo Yongwen had when saying those words.

Therefore, he can endure hardships others cannot, and bear punishments ordinary people cannot.

Because compared to other soldiers, he has no way out; he can only grit his teeth and move forward.

The conferring ceremony ended, and the troops were not immediately dispatched; the Cafeteria prepared a "practice meal" for everyone.

A brief gathering, and after finishing this meal we will officially transfer out of the company, each going our own way.

At the Cafeteria entrance, everyone as always stood at the foot of the steps, waiting for Gao Feng to say a few words.

"What should I say? What needs to be said was already said earlier under the Flag Platform."

"By the way, the Cafeteria has prepared dumplings for everyone, with thin skins and generous fillings."

"Dumplings when boarding, noodles when alighting—it's an old military tradition. Everyone, eat more for me later, got it?"

"Yes!"

The new recruits laughed and responded loudly.

Especially Kong Long, who is from the Northeast.

Dumplings are an indispensable winter delicacy and also his favorite.

Gao Feng looked at today's duty officer Zhou Kaidong: "Let's belt out a song, roar a couple of times, open our appetites, and we can eat more."

"That's right, this is the New Recruit Company's last sing‑along; stay spirited!"

Zhou Kaidong stepped onto the steps, just like on a recruit's first day of enlistment, waving his hands like a conductor.

"Hard‑standing Company, ready, sing!"

"Hard‑standing Company, hard‑standing soldiers!"

"Hard‑standing thoughts are bright red, hard‑standing bullets have eyes!"

"Hard‑standing bayonets stained red......."

The same song expressed two completely different mindsets from those on the first day of enlistment.

No muddy‑water fishing, no Zhang can't open his mouth, no whispering conspiratorial murmurs.

Each soldier puffed out his chest, hands pressed tightly against the trouser seams, howling loudly and singing with deep feeling.

The singing carried everyone's affection and reluctance toward the New Recruit Company, and their hopes and expectations for life after transferring out.

Lu Yang found the feeling strange; it had only been a little over three months, yet his understanding of the song had changed dramatically.

Seeing Gao Feng no longer wearing a stern, severe expression, but instead a paternal smile of satisfaction witnessing the children's growth.

Lu Yang knew that, in the eyes of the two senior officers of the New Recruit Company, they were just freshly hatched raw eggs.

They could barely be counted as a hard‑standing Company, a batch of hard‑standing soldiers.

"Stop!"

At the final moment, Gao Feng playfully cut it short.

He clenched the song in his hand and then ordered everyone to go into the Cafeteria to start the meal.

The new recruits lined up neatly and entered the Cafeteria, where bowls of plump, steaming dumplings were placed at the center of the tables.

Encircling them were six dishes, a soup, and a fruit—a rather lavish spread.

There was even a large 1 L bottle of cola‑Sprite, a standard only for banquet meals.

The soldiers did not sit down; they stood at the edge of the tablecloth, staring at the dumplings and gulping down saliva.

The Company Commander laughed and said, "Sit down, it's the last meal, don't be restrained. Once you leave the New Recruit Company, I will no longer be your New Recruit Company Commander; just call me Seventh Company Commander when you see me!"

The Instructor said, "I usually stay at the camp headquarters; if you run into me, don't call me Instructor, just call me comrade Lao He."

At this moment, the two senior officers of the company became very amiable, just like the big brother next door.

With the basic training over, their work also concluded, so there was no need to stay tense and put on a fierce face every day.

Pretending to be serious is exhausting, but to shape these mischievous kids into soldiers who can become the nation's warriors and the common people's support, they can only do this...