Chapter 141: Having a New Love, Forgetting the Old

"What did you say?"

"Lu Yang just got assigned to the Sixth Company, and he's already damn crushing the veterans?"

"In five kilometers he ripped a veteran deputy squad leader to shreds?"

In the Seventh Company, the Company Commander's office, Gao Feng heard Guo Yongwen's report and his expression was as uncomfortable as if he'd swallowed a dead fly.

He stood up, stamped his foot forcefully: "What a sin, what a sin! Why wasn't he assigned to our Seventh Company? Why did the Regiment Commander put him into the Sixth Company? I damn feel like I lost a hundred million!"

Guo Yongwen's expression was also awkward: "I think the Regiment Commander wanted to balance the strength among the companies, right?"

Gao Feng, furious, pounded the table: "Balance what? Do we need balance? If the Seventh Company isn't strong, how can we lead the front in the upcoming exercises and lead the whole regiment to victory?"

Just as Gao Feng was fuming, a guard came to report that his girlfriend had arrived.

Gao Feng told Guo Yongwen to get out, then steadied himself and prepared to go downstairs to meet his sweetheart.

As soon as he reached the lobby, he saw Ma Shuyao carrying snacks, smiling as she walked toward him.

On the way, he kept greeting her, calling her sister‑in‑law.

"Why did you come?"

"I came to see you. What, can't you come?"

Ma Shuyao's smile is Gao Feng's most soothing medicine.

The two of them strolled around the camp, chatting about random things.

That's what dating is like—being able to walk together and chat, it's so pleasant.

During this, Gao Feng felt his mood ease and temporarily pushed the Lu Yang incident out of his mind.

Ma Shuyao stopped, gently lifted her hair, and shyly said, "Um, you're not still angry at my brother, are you?"

Gao Feng paused, forced a smile: "How could I be? Actually I wanted Lu Yang in the Sixth Company from the start. The unit values balanced development; outstanding soldiers can't all be concentrated in our company. A team isn't truly strong unless everyone is good."

"Do you really think so?"

"Of course, how could you not know my enlightenment?"

"Phew~ that's good, I was worried you'd be upset about this."

"How could I? I've known Old Ma for years, we're good brothers; he'll be my future brother‑in‑law, I haven't even had time to fawn over him yet, hehe."

Gao Feng's skin grew thicker and thicker; when he told lies his face didn't redden and his breath didn't falter.

Hearing that, Ma Shuyao felt relieved; her main reason for coming was this.

Suddenly, she remembered something: "By the way, I heard a troublemaker was assigned to your company?"

Gao Feng's eyelids twitched twice, and his complexion immediately turned sour.

Lu Yang being transferred to the Sixth Company was one thing, but it was like a piece of heart‑meat being taken away.

Yet the Regiment Commander tossed that stinky dog‑shit onto their Seventh Company.

That made him feel both disgusted and hurt.

Because that kid was the one he despised the most, the one he looked down on the hardest.

Even though his later performance was decent, he even helped put out a fire and rode the coattails of everyone, Gao Feng still looked down on him.

Gao Feng snorted coldly: "That's true, but I marginalized him. I can't let one rat‑dropping ruin the whole pot of soup!"

"Today's tomato egg‑flower soup at noon is really good; the tomato is tomato, the egg‑flower is egg‑flower!"

In the Sixth Company Cafeteria, Battalion Commander Ma Qing'an drank two bowls of soup but still felt unsatisfied.

The duty officer added another bowl, curious: "Battalion Commander, isn't this soup the same as before? I drink it and can't tell the difference."

Instructor Pan Yuan bluntly said: "The soup hasn't changed; the mood has. Now the soup tastes sweet."

The duty officer asked curiously if there was any happy news; Ma Qing'an waved his hand, unwilling to say more.

"Nothing, just eat, eat; hmm, the bean sprouts today are good, and there's some fish‑fragrant shredded pork, all good with rice."

"Old Pan, later you must properly commend the Cook Squad; their cooking has improved."

Pan Yuan knew exactly why Ma Qing'an was so happy.

A rookie just out of the company could, by his own strength, beat veterans and already mastered many military skills taught only after joining a company.

He had a rich reserve of professional knowledge and often expanded his knowledge by reading books.

Such a divine rookie is hard to find even with lanterns, yet now he's been singled out.

Moreover, Ma Qing'an also had to thank Gao Feng, who sent Lu Yang to the sniper training squad early during the new‑recruit phase.

Though it was only half a month, according to Cheng Jun, that half‑month the kid Guo Yongwen taught was full of pure, practical content.

And that knowledge acted like a bridge on Lu Yang's path forward.

It helped him, in a short time, quickly make the leap and accelerate his progress.

So Ma Qing'an deliberately had his sister buy some snacks to see Gao Feng, as a token of comfort.

That kid schemed everything, spent great effort cultivating the rookie, only to use him as a wedding dress; whoever takes him will feel the pain.

He guessed that Gao Feng's feeling now was just like when he first learned his own younger sister had been abducted.

Moreover, this discomfort will last a long time; the better Lu Yang performs, the more honors he earns, the more painful it becomes for Gao Feng.

Pan Yuan said: "Old Ma, you this time with Gao Feng are finally even."

Ma Qing'an raised an eyebrow: "Even? How can that be? The troop allocation was decided by the Regiment Commander, meaning the Regiment thought carefully and decided assigning people to us was the wise execution."

"Never mind that, Old Pan, I'll toast you with soup instead of wine, congratulating your upcoming promotion—when will the transfer be?"

"Probably in a couple of months. Ah, I'm a bit reluctant to let go."

Pan Yuan set down his chopsticks, sighed, and Ma Qing'an patted him.

"Why look so dejected? Moving up is a good thing."

"I still want to be active in the camp, aim for a Deputy Battalion Commander title, didn't expect you'd go up first."

Pan Yuan: "I'm uneasy about the Sixth Company; your temper is sour, you're impatient, always like to follow others' smoke. This Instructor isn't reliable, always drops the ball at work, I'm worried…"

Ma Qing'an cut him off: "Enough, why are you still hemming and hawing? Just because you left the Sixth Company, does it stop turning? Those three words 'Iron Foot'—did you earn them back, or did former company commanders earn them?"

This isn't overthinking; if I go to the regiment, would it be a problem for you to handle the work alone?

Then you might as well not go; tell the superiors you're not ready.

No way!

Ma Qing'an pointed at him, smirking: "One try and I'll have you figured out."

I'm just annoyed with you intellectuals, always overthinking, looking ahead and behind.

Who in the unit is irreplaceable? Who knows, maybe someone more capable will turn up.

Right now our company's focus should be on training the backbone; just do what you're supposed to. Wait till that kid Lu Yang gets going—you'll see, he'll definitely not lose to Seventh Company's Guo Yongwen.

Pan Yuan nodded in agreement; he also had high hopes for Lu Yang's future.

Although he's just been assigned to the company, his demeanor clearly shows he's ready to forge ahead vigorously.

In the New Recruit Company, everyone's pretty much the same—all raw rookies.

Once the melon ripens and falls, after being assigned to the company there's no need to hide anything—let everyone show their full abilities.

Pan Yuan could tell that Lu Yang was the type determined to do well in the unit; his future achievements would surely surpass Zhou Kaidong and Guo Yongwen.

Attending a military academy and becoming a platoon leader would be a piece of cake.

So even though Pan Yuan is about to be transferred to the regiment, Lu Yang's arrival also puts his mind at ease.

Shouldn't we replace our company's bulletin board? Last time the leadership came to inspect, they said we were just going through the motions.

If you hadn't mentioned it, I'd almost have forgotten—I'll go find Xiao Lu later to discuss it; I heard that kid's bulletin board is excellent, and even the regiment's political commissar praised it.

……

After finishing his meal, Lu Yang followed the squad leader out of the cafeteria.

Just as he stepped outside, the instructor called him over and asked him to help put up a bulletin board.

The theme is: new recruits joining the company, a new unit, a new atmosphere, new ideas.

The unit's bulletin board is often changed; different holidays, different themes each have their corresponding version.

It's mainly to coordinate with publicity work, to establish correct thinking among soldiers; secondarily it's to cope with higher‑level inspections.

The bulletin board has always been a major headache for us—we simply can't find anyone who can draw and has artistic talent.

Your coming also counts as helping the company solve a big problem; in a moment I'll take you to find the clerk—just ask him directly for whatever you need.

Although Pan Yuan is an instructor, he speaks to Lu Yang very politely.

There's none of the usual sternness of a superior toward a subordinate; instead he's very gentle.

Lu Yang didn't shirk his duties either, after all the New Recruit Company's bulletin board was also his work.

The more capable one is, the more work they get; in the unit, don't hide your talents—the more you can do, the more attention you'll attract.

Wow, I can also do the bulletin board?

What else is there that Lu Yang can't do?

This kid is simply multi‑talented, a jack‑of‑all‑trades!

Watching Lu Yang and the instructor leave, the old soldiers of the Sixth Squad were all dumbfounded.

Liu Ziqiang got smacked on the head by Cheng Jun for complaining too much.

What's with all this 'this kid, that kid'? They don't even have names, they don't even have positions.

If you make a bet, you have to accept the loss; from now on, when you see Lu Yang, don't act all big and mighty.

Even if he's just a private, you still have to address him by his position and shout 'Assistant Squad Leader Lu!'

Liu Ziqiang was completely speechless: "……"

He figured it out: the squad leader has found a new love and forgotten his old one.

How could these old-timers who see each other day and night compare to that handsome young man Lu Yang?

And as fellow new recruits, Chen Panpan's eyes held only admiration; her way of addressing Lu Yang gradually turned into "Older Brother Yang!"