Chapter 149: Divine Unit, Paradise for the Incompetent Soldiers

Lu Yang, in a daze, felt that this wild boar looked somewhat familiar.

Guo Yongwen smiled and explained: "Don't guess, it's the one you previously shot and wounded; after the Agricultural Bureau treated it, they sent it back."

"Nowadays, crossbreeding domestic pigs with wild boars is all the rage; the production base here wants to give it a try, to see if we can change the breed."

"Cui Fen used to raise pigs and grow vegetables back home, so she was assigned here; the pay isn't high, but the life is stable and steady, which also counts as special care for military families."

Lu Yang watched the wild boar in the pigpen; after eating, it plopped down and began to snore loudly asleep, which also left him feeling both amused and exasperated.

Nowadays, even wild boars have been incorporated into the establishment, given an iron rice bowl?

With food and clothing provided, it's different; their faces have softened, and there's hardly any wildness left.

If you raise one for half a year and then throw it back into the wild, it would probably even forget how to survive.

"Come, eat a radish to whet your appetite."

Guo Yongwen casually pulled two carrots from the nearby field, rinsed off the surface dirt with tap water, and handed one to him.

Lu Yang didn't mind either; after taking it, he took a crunchy bite, and it was quite sweet.

The two of them just stood there in the field and started chatting.

"How's life after joining the company? Still getting used to it?"

"If you hadn't gone to the training team, you'd probably need a little adjusting; after going through the training team and coming back, it feels just like that."

Lu Yang, chewing on the carrot, remarked thoughtfully.

The life in the training team indeed served as a buffer for his transition to the company, allowing him to adapt seamlessly.

Guo Yongwen also took a bite of the carrot: "Originally, the company commander sent you to the training team just to prepare you for a seamless transition to the company; he never expected you'd be assigned to the Sixth Company."

"But actually, serving wherever, it's all pretty much the same, not much difference."

"It's just that the Seventh Company can't give you an infantry fighting vehicle to take out for a weekend joyride."

Lu Yang chuckled: "Any news on your confirmation?"

Guo Yongwen shook his head: "I don't know; I didn't ask, I haven't cared about it anymore—I've just kept my mind at ease; if the unit wants me to stay, I'll stay; if it wants me to leave, I'll leave; just a calm mind, a calm mind."

He clasped his hands toward Lu Yang and said with a smile: "Let me tell you, I've made a career plan—I've figured out what to do even after discharge."

"What?"

"Start a pig farm, specializing in breeding hybrid wild boar and domestic pig varieties—sure to make big money! I saw it on the Wealth-Making Classic just a couple days ago!"

Seeing his excited expression, Lu Yang knew Guo Yongwen wasn't joking.

He had genuinely looked up the information, studied it seriously, and felt that this wealth-making project, even recommended by TV stations, was quite promising.

At present, the Agricultural Channel's Wealth-Making Classic is specifically meant to teach new farmers how to get rich.

But later he found out that most of the schemes there actually lose money.

However, losing money isn't because the breeding is poorly done; it's mostly due to lacking sales channels.

And sales channels are actually the most crucial link in market economic circulation; without a market, even the best goods are wasted.

Lu Yang doesn't know the breeding industry, but his past life's entrepreneurial failure experience told him that money isn't so easy to earn.

A veteran who has been out of touch with society and the market for a long time stepping into an industry he doesn't understand.

The chance of success is actually not much better than winning five million in the lottery, because not everyone has the talent and foundation for business.

"My personal advice: not investing is the best investment; not starting a business is the best entrepreneurship."

"The four-installment discharge fee can be quite substantial; if you steadily hold onto that money and find a stable job, you can live very well."

"Although this idea is somewhat conservative, it involves no risk and is the safest; entrepreneurial trial-and-error risk is too great for ordinary people to bear—one mistake could wipe out the family fortune."

Guo Yongwen felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over him.

But he didn't retort, because he knew Lu Yang was speaking kindly.

Such advice to stay calm and think things through is far stronger than those brainless flatterers who say things like "once you're the boss, take me along," etc.

From this, Guo Yongwen realized that Lu Yang is a friend worth making a deep connection with.

"I was just saying it offhand; who knows, maybe one day I'll actually get confirmed."

"Then, at that time, I'll have to call you Platoon Leader Guo."

"Hahaha, you'd better not say it, you really shouldn't say it; it sounds much better as 'Platoon Leader Guo'; constantly being called 'acting' just feels awkward."

The two chatted on and off for a while; Lu Yang clarified the location of the tank training ground, then prepared to leave.

Guo Yongwen called him to a stop and said meaningfully: "Lu Yang, my advice is, you'd better not go. That kid is destined not to last long in the unit; he and you, and us, are not the same kind of people."

"Why say that?"

"The Seventh Company outwardly always has only nine platoons."

"What about the tenth platoon?"

"There is no tenth platoon; only nine platoons."

Seeing Guo Yongwen's solemn expression, Lu Yang also understood.

This is a platoon that is not recognized, squeezed out of the Seventh Company.

That place is remote and unrestrained; aside from the few days each quarter when tank live-fire drills are conducted, no one goes there.

But Lu Yang's heart still harbors a sliver of hope.

Perhaps because Ding Tengfei and he are from the same hometown.

Or perhaps because he has seen Ding Tengfei's changes, his determination.

Or perhaps because, during the joint effort to put out the mountain fire, everyone united and worked together.

In short, although Guo Yongwen's side from Wanbao Mountain has given only negative news, Lu Yang still wants to see it for himself.

After all, he has never seen that legendary "divine platoon," and he wants to witness what the so-called "paradise for useless soldiers" is really like.

After ten or so minutes, Lu Yang arrived at a vast open field; before him lay a pockmarked landscape of shell craters, the ground covered with tank tracks and wheel tread marks.

There is no gate here; the only guards should be this group from the tenth platoon.

Lu Yang looked around, and soon on a distant earthen slope he spotted a concrete building resembling a bunker.

He rode over, and upon approaching found the building's actual size was about that of a guardhouse, not looking like it could station a squad.

Lu Yang stopped the vehicle and went inside, only then discovering there was a staircase leading downward.

In other words, the real building is underground, the above part merely an observation post.

After all, it's a tank training ground; such a design is also for safety, to avoid being mistakenly hit by artillery shells.

"Straight flush!"

"A pair of old Ks!"

"Want it or not? Want it or not? I've got the last one left!"

"Little Four! Hahaha, we won, we won!"

Lu Yang went down the stairs, and before even reaching the bottom he already heard the slapping of poker cards and the sound of shuffling.

The underground space isn't large, about ten or so square meters, with two bunk beds, altogether four people.

Dirty clothes piled on the beds, blankets strewn about untidy; military bearing and discipline here are completely lacking.

The four soldiers wore their hats askew while smoking, slouching, with beer and peanuts scattered on the table.

Ding Tengfei squatted on a stool with his back to the stairs, his face covered in notes, shuffling cards there.

It's clear he's enjoying himself, having integrated very well.

Indeed, it's unexpected yet understandable; no wonder Guo Yongwen told him not to come.

This place truly lives up to its name as a "haven for lousy soldiers"; it's hard to find even a few such relaxed, leisurely classes in the whole army.

"Hey, who are you?"

At that moment, the second-phase veteran squad leader noticed Lu Yang and hurriedly stood up to ask.

Ding Tengfei on the stool turned around, saw Lu Yang behind him, his expression stiffened slightly, and he hastily rose, feeling guilty.

"Assistant squad leader, how come you're here?"

"I happened to be passing by and came to see you; how's your weekend going, pretty pleasant?"

"Hehe, just messing around."

"Yo, a fellow soldier dropping by for a visit?"

Ding Tengfei proactively introduced Lu Yang's identity, also saying he's his fellow townsman.

The second-phase squad leader chuckled and greeted Lu Yang: "I was saying, fellow townsman meets fellow townsman, eyes welling up. Come on, come on, let's play together!"

Lu Yang didn't refuse either: "Sure, let's play a couple rounds!"

Seeing Lu Yang also sit down, Ding Tengfei's mood changed instantly.

He didn't even know what he'd been nervous about before; fortunately Lu Yang also joined them and enjoys playing more than anyone.

"Holy shit, that motorcycle outside, is it yours?"

At that moment, a soldier went to relieve himself, saw the motorcycle parked outside, and excitedly ran down to ask.

Lu Yang, while picking up cards, nodded: "Yeah, our company commander gave it to me to ride; I just got my license a couple days ago."

The others gave a thumbs-up: "Tengfei, your fellow townsman is awesome—I've never seen a new recruit who can ride a motorcycle and go out alone!"

Ding Tengfei, as if basking in reflected glory, said: "That's right—you don't know how awesome my assistant squad leader is in the new recruit company: he's earned commendations, a personal third-class merit, and even attended a sniper training team!"

"Yang bro, could you lend me your motorcycle for a spin later?"

"No."

Lu Yang refused bluntly.

Ding Tengfei felt a bit embarrassed: "Um... I won't go far, just ride around nearby."

Lu Yang didn't even lift his head, still refusing: "No."

The atmosphere seemed a little awkward, and Ding Tengfei was left hanging there.

Still, the few veteran soldiers at the poker table joined in to smooth things over, easing the atmosphere.

"Oh dear, haven't heard of that—don't you usually not lend out your wife and your car?"

"Play, play, I have a pair of sixes; who wants them?"

"Four sevens."

"Huh?"

Watching Lu Yang lay down a bomb as soon as he came up, the other three exchanged glances and all shook their heads, passing.

Lu Yang smiled; his hand was good this round: "a straight, three twos, one king, one little joker; I win."

Without giving them a chance to play, Lu Yang laid down all his cards.

After finishing that hand, he found an excuse, got up, and prepared to leave.

Ding Tengfei chased after him, wanting to see him off and also give himself an explanation.

"Assistant squad leader, actually we're not usually like this; it just happens to be the weekend, so we're playing cards to relax..."

"You don't need to explain this to me; I'm not part of your company, nor any superior, and the title 'assistant squad leader' ends when the new recruit company does."

"Yang bro......"

Ding Tengfei knew Lu Yang was surely angry.

After all, he himself felt that this past month had been truly somewhat absurd.

If he weren't still wearing his uniform, he'd almost have forgotten he'd joined the troops, forgotten he was still a soldier.

Lu Yang interrupted him: "Two years of conscript service pass in the snap of a finger, in the blink of an eye."

"Liking ease and comfort isn't wrong, but those two words shouldn't appear on a soldier."

"Seventh Company is a fine place, but you lack that steel backbone, ending up just the sort of thing Gao Feng looks down on most."

Lu Yang pinched the clutch and twisted the throttle; the motorcycle roared, belching black smoke from the exhaust: "On my way here I ran into quite a few acquaintances, each of them steadily advancing at their own posts."

Don't let the days get you mixed up......