Chapter 145: How about you take over as company commander?

Hey, is this Company Commander Gao Feng?

Leaving the road, He Zhen Tao held the steering wheel with one hand and made a call to Gao Feng with the other.

On the other end, Gao Feng seemed busy with something and didn't see the caller ID.

So he instinctively replied, "It's me. Who's this?"

He Zhen Tao laughed and said, "Just finished with the new recruit company, and you don't know who I am? You're too important to forget people."

Gao Feng stared for a moment, then said irritably, "I'm busy right now—why are you calling? What's up?"

What else could it be? I just went to the Sixth Company on behalf of the battalion and awarded Lu Yang an individual third-class merit.

Did you give him the thing?

Of course, otherwise I'd be calling to report to you. But I told him the knee pads were from you.

Jeez, why are you saying that? Just give it to him. If Old Ma finds out later, he'll think I'm deliberately avoiding him, like I did something shady, and won't dare go to his place.

I'm telling you, you're really strange. You and his sister are bound to marry eventually—what's with always avoiding him?

I've said it already—I haven't figured out what role to take when dealing with him!

Gao Feng isn't afraid of him; he just doesn't know what capacity to interact with Old Ma in.

Ma Qing'an and his sister's situation is more complicated: their parents were martyrs who died early in the South Border Defense War, leaving this young pair of siblings.

In Ma Shuyao's life, Ma Qing'an is technically her brother, but he's more like a father.

Originally, the Sixth and Seventh Companies were rivals, but Gao Feng and Ma Qing'an, through repeated contests, grew to admire each other—more like friends than enemies.

As a result, he secretly won over his 'daughter' (Ma Shuyao); moreover, this happened after a training exercise failure left Ma Qing'an extremely depressed, and he stumbled upon it unintentionally.

Otherwise, Gao Feng even planned to keep it hidden until after they got their marriage license, then come clean to him.

These days, Ma Qing'an is not only his brother-in-law but also takes on the role of father-in-law.

Moreover, the regiment commander, whether intentionally or not, always pits them against each other on the competition field.

The Sixth Company is light infantry; on the battlefield it needs to rely on armored units to fight. Nowadays, light infantry versus armored units—if they can win, it's practically miraculous.

Gao Feng was thus forced to repeatedly rub the face of this good brother—who is also his brother-in-law and father-in-law—into the ground.

Tell me, how does he dare to show up in front of the enemy privately? Isn't that deliberately causing trouble and making himself uncomfortable?

So this time, Lu Yang was assigned to the Sixth Company; although Gao Feng felt the pain acutely, his inner guilt was somewhat alleviated.

Nevertheless, to be safe, Gao Feng decided it's best not to appear before Ma Qing'an for the time being.

He Zhen Tao didn't offer any advice either—after all, even an honest official can't settle family matters, let alone someone else's.

Anyway, I said it outright—let Xiao Lu remember you as... holy shit!

What's wrong?

Gao Feng's side was just about to hang up and get back to work.

Suddenly, a 'holy shit' came from the other end of the phone, making him unable to resist asking curiously.

Damn, I actually ran into the military police!

Hahaha, talking on the phone while driving—you're doomed!

I'm hanging up, I'm not saying anything else!

He Zhen Tao hastily hung up, then forced a smile at the military police walking toward him from the checkpoint ahead.

Comrades, what's the matter?

We noticed you were taking calls while driving, a serious violation of military traffic safety regulations. Please turn off the engine, get out, and submit to inspection now.

I had an urgent work matter to handle; the leader called, I couldn't not answer, right? Please, cut me some slack—I'm from the D Propaganda Section of the Second Battalion's headquarters.

The two white caps looked at each other, then turned aside and whispered a discussion.

He Zhen Tao felt relieved, thinking he might escape this time.

But he didn't expect the two white caps to turn around and speak solemnly.

As a headquarters unit, you should set an example, especially since you're engaged in D propaganda work.

Now, please come with us right away to the unit to accept punishment.

He Zhen Tao nearly spat out a mouthful of old blood—how could the penalty be doubled?

By contrast, Lu Yang at this moment felt warm all over.

The wind was strong on the training field, blowing until faces ached.

But the goodwill He Zhen Tao brought, along with Gao Feng's concern, made a little sun rise in his heart.

Although most people in the unit are old-timers, this seemingly rough place also has his delicate side.

The harder you work, the better you perform, the more excellent you are, the more positive feedback you receive.

This is also one of the main reasons many people, after joining the unit, gradually go from dislike to fondness, reluctance to leave.

Afternoon training hadn't ended yet when the company commander summoned Lu Yang, preparing to take him out for a drive.

Arriving at the garage, Lu Yang saw his 'Good Forest 600' again, its fuel tank full.

Lu Yang swung onto his beloved little motorcycle, and that wonderful feeling returned.

Nothing is more wonderful than finishing training and going out for a motorcycle ride to catch the breeze.

With a swish, Ma Qing'an lifted an oilcloth, revealing a stylish red motorcycle before his eyes.

Looking at this obviously out-of-place, stunningly handsome Ducati V4, Lu Yang drooled.

Lowering his gaze to his own 'Good Forest 600,' he felt like a pheasant paired with a phoenix—an awkward sight he couldn't bear to watch.

"Company Commander, your motorcycle is so cool!"

"Of course."

"Can we swap rides?"

"Or how about I let you act as company commander for two days, and I go serve as assistant squad leader in the Sixth Squad?"

Hehe, it's not impossible.

Ma Qing'an glared at him: "Getting full of yourself? I'm taking you for a ride, or rather, doing it because you earned a third-class merit!"

He gripped the clutch lever, started the bike, and the Ducati immediately roared: "Want to ride? It's not impossible—next time bring me a second-class merit, and I'll let you ride this bike for a day!"

Lu Yang: "Really?"

Ma Qing'an: "A gentleman's word is hard to take back. Come on, let's do a lap around the camp to get you familiar with the controls, then we'll go out for a ride!"

Okay!

Ma Qing'an wore a fleece-lined windbreaker and put on a full-coverage helmet.

With that fiery red Ducati beneath him, he's simply handsome to the point of dropping jaws.

As soon as they headed out, they drew everyone's eyes on the training field.

Although, Lu Yang's Good Forest 600 pales in comparison to that Ducati worth several hundred thousand—it's worlds apart.

But even so, it remains something many in the company can only gaze at from afar, unattainable.

Only a select few of Sixth Company's finest can ride the motorcycles; the rest can only long for them.

Liu Ziqiang and the others still enduring grueling training watched from afar as Lu Yang rode behind the Company Commander, one after another, circling the camp, their envious, jealous tears nearly spilling.

"Damn, I wish I could be as suave as him!"