Chapter 127: The group meal isn

"Come, eat, while it's hot!"

Zhou Kaidong instructed everyone to sit down.

The new recruits, unable to wait, immediately began snatching the dumplings from the bowl.

Their frantic demeanor was as if they were grabbing some exotic delicacy they'd never tasted before.

"How is it? The flavor's not bad, right?"

"Oh my goodness, these dumplings are unbelievably tasty—thin skin, generous filling, and even broth."

That's approval from a big boy from the Northeast.

Halfway through, Kong Long even ran to the back kitchen to get a few cloves of garlic.

"You have to pair dumplings with garlic; that's the real flavor!"

"Give me some!"

"I'll have some too!"

"Assistant Squad Leader, do you want some?"

Lu Yang smiled and shook his head, politely declining.

As southerners, they rarely eat dumplings there.

So they never developed the habit of pairing dumplings with raw garlic.

However, he does like cilantro, though many people say they dislike its flavor.

"Come, Squad Leader will toast everyone."

Zhou Kaidong raised his glass, and the others followed suit, setting down their chopsticks and raising theirs.

Kong Long's mouth was stuffed so bulgingly like a big toad, and his slow, goofy demeanor made people really want to laugh.

Zhou Kaidong looked at everyone: "We're about to transfer to the next company. The Squad Leader hopes that, no matter which company or position you end up in, you won't lose heart or become lax."

"In the army, you can endure hardship and fatigue, but never let the days blur you."

"Especially you, Ding Tengfei..."

"Huh?"

Ding Tengfei, suddenly called out, felt a little embarrassed.

Zhou Kaidong didn't criticize, but said, "Whether you're still in the unit two years from now or not, the Squad Leader hopes you won't waste this period of time."

"Figure out how to turn from a soldier into a good soldier; even if you leave the service, you'll gain a lot."

"Understood, Squad Leader," Ding Tengfei nodded vigorously, taking Zhou Kaidong's words to heart.

"Next is Kong Long..."

"Report, I will eat less, I will lose weight!"

Kong Long forced the food down and quickly assured them.

Zhou Kaidong smiled and shook his head: "After the transfer, I won't be your Squad Leader anymore, nor will I be able to look after you; whether you eat more or less doesn't really matter."

"The Squad Leader thinks you don't need to argue about whether you can fit into a tank."

"The infantry fighting vehicle's cabin is spacious enough for you, and with your build, being a machine gunner suits you well."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Zhou Kaidong told him that after the transfer, when assigned to a new unit, he could proactively seek the machine gunner position.

It would satisfy your desire to swing iron while also strengthening physical training and forging muscles.

"Have you seen The Terminator?"

"Arnold Schwarzenegger's?"

"Right, anyone who can be a machine gunner is a tough guy!"

"Damn, then I want to be a tough guy; I won't drive a tank any more!"

Seeing Kong Long's blooming, radiant smile, Lu Yang silently mocked Zhou Kaidong's twisted sense of humor.

Finally, the Squad Leader, still deadpan, set a trap for Kong Long.

If Lu Yang had never been to the training camp or chatted with those veterans, he might also have been fooled.

In the unit, when mentioning a machine gunner, the default is a heavy machine gun; taking the Type 89 Heavy Machine Gun as an example, the whole weapon weighs 53 jin, using 12.7mm large‑caliber ammunition.

Its theoretical rate of fire is 450–600 rounds per minute, with an effective range of 1,500 meters.

It is used to damage enemy massed targets, suppress light fire points, and destroy light armored targets, and is currently the most widely deployed class of heavy machine gun.

But it has several fatal issues: in complex terrain it must be carried by hand.

Moreover, the larger the bullet caliber, the heavier it is; a high rate of fire and high lethality mean ammunition consumption is huge.

That means if Kong Long becomes a machine gunner, his future days will involve shouldering a 20–30‑jin pack while lugging a 53‑jin machine gun.

If manpower is lacking, he might even have to carry two boxes of ammo drums himself, trekking over mountains to the battlefield.

Vehicles can't enter mountainous jungle terrain; only people can transport the gear.

If Kong Long truly believes this, he'll no longer be called Kong Long; he'd be called Kong Donkey, or even Nuclear‑Powered Donkey.

At this moment, Zhou Kaidong turned his gaze toward Lu Yang, who was also waiting for the Squad Leader to say something to him.

But after a long pause, Zhou Kaidong still hadn't figured out what to say.

Because this kid is perceptive, quick‑witted, and ambitious.

He felt he didn't have much to teach him.

On the contrary, over these three months Zhou Kaidong learned from Lu Yang how to adjust his emotions, control his temper, and better interact with new recruits.

Seeing the Squad Leader silent, Lu Yang simply took the initiative, smiling brightly as he said to Zhou Kaidong.

"Squad Leader, I wish you many achievements and performances, striving to secure early retention for Phase Four; ideally you could be exceptionally promoted to staff officer and become a Platoon Leader!"

Haha, you little rascal, you're squad leader and I'm squad leader, still wishing me well here? But anyway, I'll take your good words, thanks!

Zhou Kaidong and Lu Yang clinked cups, and also clinked with everyone else.

Bottoms up!

He raised the cup and downed the cola in one gulp.

At this moment, whether it's alcohol or a beverage doesn't really matter anymore.

What matters is that after three months together, everyone has become like a family.

Faced with the impending parting, many people inexplicably felt reluctant to leave.

Even, some sentimental folks from the neighboring squad, emboldened by the "Sprite" spirit, hugged their own squad leader and burst into tears, saying they couldn't bear to part with the squad leader or with everyone.

Lu Yang actually felt fine inside, because he had left midway before, which counted as a brief separation, so he didn't have this reluctance.

On the contrary, Kong Long and Ding Tengfei's group were somewhat reluctant to part with him.

All along, the assistant squad leader's help and care for them was no less than that of the squad leader.

So when the moment of parting truly arrived, everyone felt a bit of bitterness in their hearts.

They worried they wouldn't encounter such an assistant squad leader again, worried no one would back them up, worried no one would help them take charge, and wondered what to do if they were bullied by veteran soldiers after returning to the company.

Lu Yang instructed them: "Don't hit the diligent, don't hit the lazy, only hit those who are oblivious. As long as you work earnestly and train seriously, no veteran will dare to cause you trouble."

"If anyone truly is that oblivious, no need to indulge them; if you can't beat them, just throw yourself to the ground."

"What do you do lying down?"

"Scam him!"

Lu Yang's words made that bunch of insecure people all burst out laughing.

This really is a good method, in case there truly are obtuse veterans giving them trouble.

Following Lu Yang's advice, throw yourself to the ground, and it's best to bite your tongue and spit out some blood.

At this point, even if the heavenly king himself came, it wouldn't work; you have to scam him to death!

The cafeteria atmosphere was warm and harmonious, with bowls of dumplings coming out one after another, and the rolling pin in the cook squad's back almost smoking from use.

Originally, they had prepared plenty, but they couldn't withstand this bunch of big and small fellows who could really eat; those dumplings simply weren't enough.

Later, they simply couldn't keep up, so they made half handmade, half frozen dumplings; anyway, it's just about eating, and nobody would really care.

"What do you say, want to go with me?"

He Zhen Tao had already eaten his fill by then, took a sip of dumpling soup to smooth things over, and asked.

Gao Feng gently shook his head: "I don't know; the regiment commander hasn't signed yet, saying he'll look at it when he has time."

He Zhen Tao exclaimed in surprise: "Could it be that the regiment commander wants to keep Lu Yang by his side? Or that Political Commissar Tan wants to keep him as an aide?"

The previous Political Commissar was transferred due to work reasons, and the vacancy was just right for Tan Yuanzhou to fill.

Although his rank didn't change, still a deputy regiment commander of lieutenant colonel rank, but it's only a matter of time.

So He Zhen Tao wondered whether Political Commissar Tan wanted to keep Lu Yang.

Gao Feng shook his head: "The chances aren't high; letting such a Soldier King seedling do a clerical desk job would be a waste of talent."

"Even though advancing quickly in the regiment headquarters is indeed fast, I think our regiment commander probably wouldn't agree."

"Such a path is too smooth, yields quick short-term results, but is not conducive to long-term development."

He Zhen Tao nodded in agreement; Lu Yang's talent in military quality is obvious even to a blind man.

Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot, to train hard and strengthen basic skills.

If the foundation is solid, the building won't lean, and the floors can be built higher and higher.

Gao Feng marveled at his change: "How did you suddenly change your mind? Weren't you always wanting Lu Yang to follow behind you, holding a pen?"

He Zhen Tao chuckled: "Forced melons aren't sweet, and besides, I think this kid..."

Before he could finish speaking, Gao Feng's pocket phone suddenly rang.

He raised his hand to interrupt, picked up and answered, and his expression changed immediately.

Gao Feng immediately stood up, pulled a metal whistle from his pocket and blew it hard.

"Everyone put down your bowls and chopsticks, gather outside and fall in, move quickly!"

The piercing whistle suddenly echoed in the cafeteria, leaving the soldiers bewildered.

The meal isn't even finished yet, and they're already dividing troops?

Isn't this too hasty?

With a rustle, they stood up and immediately ran outside to assemble.

Even the veteran squad leaders were a bit at a loss, not knowing what was happening.

Originally, the troop division was supposed to happen half an hour after finishing the meal; it hasn't even reached that time yet, so why start early?

Noticing the solemn expressions of the company commander and instructor, Lu Yang furrowed his brow, sensing something amiss.

He felt that this scene didn't look like an early troop division to go to the company, but rather like they were about to go into battle.