Chapter 131: Lu Yang's Worries and Doubts

Don't snatch, don't snatch!

Everyone gets a share, everyone gets a share!

Not enough to eat—there's still more over there!

Eight or nine new recruits gathered around a basin.

They went mad, holding chopsticks, constantly jabbing in and out of the basin.

Just like piglets crammed around a trough, frenziedly eating, they couldn't stop.

Although each person had a disposable paper cup and a pair of disposable chopsticks.

But before the noodles even fell into the cup, they were snatched straight to the mouth and straight to the stomach.

Oh my god, these noodles are too delicious!

Kong Long was almost crying from how delicious it was, just short of burying his head in the basin and slurping wildly.

Especially those who used chopsticks to pick up sausage, luncheon meat, or braised pork from the can.

It was just like opening a blind box—every bite filled them with happiness.

At this moment, nobody cared whether the container was a small yellow basin or something else.

Having been in the army for a while, everyone was well aware of the basin's multifunctional uses.

But because they were starving and conditions were limited, nobody cared whether the basin had previously held feces, soil, or been used to wash smelly feet.

Lu Yang only knew that this basin of instant noodles was truly damn delicious; calling it a top-tier delicacy would not be an exaggeration.

Especially, there was only one basin of noodles, and everyone, starving to the extreme, fought over it.

This deliciousness rivaled the old leader's memory of Chifeng sandwich and the Ice Peak set meal.

In just a moment, the large basin of instant noodles that Lu Yang had brought was empty.

"Squad Leader, there are still two strands of noodles—do you want to eat?"

Lu Yang lifted the last two strands of noodles with his chopsticks and looked at the Squad Leader, who had barely eaten but looked utterly shocked.

Zhou Kaidong shook his head helplessly; the disposable chopsticks he held were dry at the tips.

He sighed: "It's fine, you eat—Squad Leader doesn't like noodles."

Lu Yang knew this wasn't dislike; he was clearly saving it for the new recruits to eat first.

Kong Long simply picked up the small yellow basin from the ground, grinning, and asked: "Squad Leader, you don't like the noodles, but do you like the soup?"

Seeing Kong Long's starving-ghost appearance, Zhou Kaidong's eyelid twitched: "There's only this much left—why don't you drink it all?"

"That's what you said!"

Kong Long's carefree nature meant he didn't realize this was sarcasm.

He directly brought his mouth to the basin, pressing against its slightly rough edge.

With glug-glug sounds, he drank every last drop of the remaining soup into his stomach.

Ding Tengfei got angry, shoved him hard: "Holy shit, how did you drink it all without leaving a sip?!"

Kong Long chuckled: "Hey, isn't there still a piece of sausage in the basin? It's yours."

Ding Tengfei: "You're too petty— all the essence and nutrition are in the soup!"

Lu Yang, quick-eyed and quick-handed, snatched that small piece of sausage and gave it to Zhou Kaidong.

Then he glared at the heartless duo: "You only looked out for yourselves, leaving nothing for the Squad Leader!"

The two looked at Zhou Kaidong, showing embarrassed smiles: "Sorry, Squad Leader—next time we'll be sure."

Zhou Kaidong waved his hand: "Forget it, you're still growing—eat your fill, no need to worry about me."

Lu Yang picked up the small yellow basin and went over to prepare more; there was actually still instant noodles left.

The Third Squad recruits licked their lips, still wanting more, and their starving stomachs finally got some relief at this moment.

Nothing feels better than finishing work at midnight and eating a bowl of steaming hot instant noodles.

Soon, Lu Yang returned with another basin—this time the noodles weren't even fully softened, yet they were instantly devoured.

"Isn't it hot?"

"That's boiling water, damn it!"

"The noodles aren't even softened—can't you wait a bit?"

Lu Yang was speechless; before his basin even touched the ground, a bunch of chopsticks had already speared into it.

The splashing broth nearly scalded his hand.

Seeing this, Zhou Kaidong was also at a loss.

He felt less like he was leading recruits and more like he was raising a pig squad—each one could eat like crazy!

Ding Tengfei chuckled: "Assistant Squad Leader, you don't get it—instant noodles should be eaten half-cooked, with a firm core; that's the best texture. The previous batch was a bit too soft, with no chew."

Kong Long raised his thumb: "Mm, this guy's a seasoned eater—he knows his stuff!"

Having said that, he began to introduce the best staple sold at his family's barbecue shop: fried instant noodles.

Just hearing him describe how to fry and prepare it made this bunch drool.

Lu Yang looked at the once-again empty small yellow basin, feeling somewhat helpless as he gazed at Zhou Kaidong.

Zhou Kaidong, just like before, had barely taken two bites, so he gave Lu Yang a helpless, wry smile.

They both felt that even three more basins of instant noodles might not be enough to satisfy them.

After all, this watery stuff definitely can't stave off hunger like steamed buns or rice.

"Let's stop here."

Zhou Kaidong told everyone to stop right here.

Just a little bit will do; the firefighters and those old soldiers up the mountain haven't eaten yet.

If we keep eating like this, when they finish their work later, will there be anything left for them to eat?

Zhou Kaidong let everyone sleep another hour; later, the old soldiers will come down from the mountain, and they'll have to go up to take over the shift.

Although this mountain isn't particularly large, its area is still quite broad, because there's no road for fire trucks to drive up, and the water pipes don't even reach the mountainside.

Therefore, firefighting can only rely on the most primitive method—purely manpower, carrying fire extinguishers up the mountain, or using shovels to pat out the flames.

Next, they still had to continue fighting; the newly fed soldiers immediately huddled together, preparing to sleep a bit longer to recover their strength.

Lu Yang had eaten and drunk his fill, felt in decent shape, and so didn't lie back down.

Coincidentally, a truck of supplies arrived, and he went over to help move the goods.

Because he worked efficiently, he was also rewarded by the old soldiers with a bottle of Pepsi.

He drank one-third himself, and saved the rest to take back later, intending to give it to Kong Long and Ding Tengfei when they woke up.

But just as Lu Yang was earnestly moving the supplies, he suddenly spotted an old lady in a padded jacket, her head wrapped in a triangular scarf, carrying a burlap sack walking toward the bottle of Pepsi he had set on the ground.

He saw the old lady pick up his bottle of Pepsi, pour out all the contents that Lu Yang was reluctant to drink, toss the bottle into the sack, and only then did Lu Yang react.

"What are you doing?"

Lu Yang flew into a rage and ran over to confront her.

The old lady looked to be in her sixties or seventies, her face all wrinkled.

Faced with Lu Yang's questioning, she wasn't the least bit guilty; instead, she seemed somewhat impatient.

"I thought you didn't want it anymore?"

"I've barely had a sip—how could I not want it?"

"Hey, you're young—why quarrel with an old lady like me over this? It's not like you bought it with your own money; your unit paid for it, so what's the big deal?"

The old lady ignored Lu Yang, quickly walked aside, picked up three empty mineral‑water bottles, and tossed them into the plastic bag as if they were treasures.

Lu Yang's first lesson in the unit was not to waste anything—especially since that bottle of Pepsi was a reward from the old soldiers.

He had been reluctant to drink it himself, wanting to bring it back for his comrades, but now it had all been poured out.

On the contrary, the old lady turned the tables, acting as if she were the one meddling in others' affairs.

"What are you doing, running around here at this hour?"

"Oh, I—I was just passing by, scavenging."

"Scavenging? Dressed so cleanly?"

Lu Yang stared at the old lady.

The old lady felt a little uneasy under his sharp gaze.

Her gaze darted about, she tugged at the triangular scarf on her head, and she muttered some irrelevant remarks.

One moment she'd say her family was poor, the next she'd claim high blood pressure, then that her children were unfilial and her daughter‑in‑law mistreated her, driving her out.

Lu Yang felt that this old lady was somehow off, especially since it was the early hours of a winter morning, and on top of that her attitude was rather overbearing....

He was about to press on with his questioning when an old soldier came over to ask for his help.

"We're really short‑handed; could you help carry these two fire extinguishers up the mountain?"

"No problem."

After taking the two fire extinguishers from the old soldier's hands, Lu Yang left, his gaze continually sweeping over the "scavenging old lady."

As they went up the mountain, passing the area where the Third Squad's new soldiers were resting, Zhou Kaidong saw Lu Yang, who had just finished eating and was already busy, and quickly walked up to him.

But before he could say anything, Lu Yang spoke first: "Squad Leader, there's a scavenging old lady over there—I feel something's off."

Zhou Kaidong froze, turned his head to look that way, and indeed saw an old lady bent over picking up empty plastic bottles from the ground.

"What's wrong?"

"That old lady poured out my Pepsi—I'd only had two sips!"

Seeing Lu Yang fuming, Zhou Kaidong could only laugh and cry at the same time.

"I guess they just thought you didn't want it, that's all."

"No, I also think this person seems a bit guilty, her speech is incoherent, and she doesn't look like a scavenger."

"What do you mean—did she steal our stuff?"

"I don't know, but I just feel this old lady is problematic."

"Got it—you want me to keep an eye on that old lady?"

"It'd be best to detain her directly."

Zhou Kaidong immediately understood, and Lu Yang's worry and suspicion came out: "You suspect this mountain fire might be man‑made?"

Lu Yang didn't give a clear answer: "I can't tell whether it was this old lady who did it, and I can't reach a definite conclusion."

Zhou Kaidong nodded: "Understood, I'll go try to get her to talk in a bit. You go on with your work, be careful on the night road—the mountain path is rough."

Lu Yang winked at him, indicating he had fiery golden eyes and didn't need to worry about not seeing on the night road: "I'm off!"

Zhou Kaidong watched Lu Yang shoulder the two fire extinguishers and stride purposefully up the mountain, then glanced at the ground where Kong Long and the others lay asleep in a heap, out cold after eating.

Although they all joined the unit together, the gap between Lu Yang and the others had already widened considerably.

This kid—not only has his courage and physical ability risen, but his alertness is also far above that of the others.

Zhou Kaidong picked up two bottles of mineral water from the ground, twisted off the caps, and drank the remaining water down into his stomach.

Holding the two empty bottles, he walked toward the scavenging old lady Lu Yang had previously suspected.

He had a vague premonition that Lu Yang's guess was likely correct.

This mountain fire is very likely not an accident, but rather the deliberate act of someone....