Chapter 166: Car given to you, but don't stand up and twist

Burp~

Burp~~~

Two burps came out one after another from the throats of the two Military Police.

Zhang Jiaheng shivered all over, and his gaze involuntarily fell on the dishes on the table.

He doesn't hold his liquor well; after chugging a bottle, if he doesn't eat some vegetables to ease it, his stomach will feel terrible.

But before he could speak, Liu Ziqiang and Sun Chen, like two closed automatic doors, used their bodies to block him from the food.

"Are you still thinking about our fruit platter, damn it?"

"If you so much as take a bite of my banana, I'll make you leave sideways!"

Zhang Jiaheng waved his hands repeatedly, indicating he was just looking, not coveting.

At this moment, his intestines were almost turning green from regret.

He's drunk, the matter's settled—why won't they let him go?

Last week being criticized for not meeting attendance standards was fine, but this time on night shift he got paired with these two morons.

Whenever he goes out with his squad leader, nothing like these screwed-up things would happen!

Although the Squad Leader hasn't been in the Military Police long, he's quite sharp.

He knows exactly when to punish, when he can punish, when to be lenient, when to just give a warning—everything is clear to him.

Now it's great: teamed up with these two numbskulls on duty, in the middle of the night they got blocked in the cafeteria by about a hundred people.

First they forced them to drink, then they might force them to eat a buffet in the latrine—that would be deadly.

Fortunately, after the two finished their drinks, Ma Qing'an didn't make things difficult for them; instead, he had the crowd make a path.

"Drinks are done, the matter is settled; the late-night snack was approved by me, and I'll write a self-criticism and personally hand it to your Military Police Battalion—I won't make things hard for you."

"Thank you, thank you so much!"

Zhang Jiaheng was deeply grateful and hurriedly thanked them repeatedly.

What does it mean to know how to handle things, what does it mean to understand human relations and worldly ways?

Otherwise, how could someone be a Company Commander, managing a hundred-plus people—this is the stature!

He Zhen Tao glared: "Still not leaving? Waiting for us to see you to the door?"

Zhang Jiaheng didn't waste words, nodded at Lu Yang, then hurriedly dragged his stubborn companion and ran off.

As they ran out of the Sixth Company gate, the on-duty Chen Panpan spat at their retreating backs.

Pah, bullying the weak and fearing the strong!

……

A cheer rose from the cafeteria.

Everyone united against a common enemy, drove off the Military Police—this is worth celebrating.

In the eyes of the rank-and-file soldiers, those who love to make a mountain out of a molehill and go around arresting and punishing people are no different from a plague god.

Otherwise, why do they say that when Military Police retire they must leave early, or else they'll surely be chased to the train station for an enthusiastic send-off?

Ma Qing'an dismissed the crowd, leaving only those who participated in the martial competition.

Regardless of whether they placed, as long as they fought for the Sixth Company, they're commendable and deserve praise.

Originally, He Zhen Tao thought the dishes weren't enough and planned to have the Cook Squad relight the stove to add two more dishes, but Lu Yang stopped him.

Instructor, enough, enough—we can't eat any more.

Ah, is this enough? We haven't even had our staple—should we have them cook some instant noodles?

Enough, truly enough—don't bother Squad Leader Hong and the others; our bellies are round from drinking.

Zhou Kaidong and Li Jiang also chimed in, saying the late-night snack just needs to be roughly okay.

It's just about the gesture; a simple celebration is enough.

It's getting late; we need to rest up, as there's training tomorrow.

But then Ma Qing'an's following words surprised everyone pleasantly.

"Tomorrow, everyone who participated in the martial competition gets a day off. You've endured a lot of extra training these days—sleep in until you wake naturally, then get up."

"Lu Yang, I'm giving you two days off—you can arrange your own activities; moreover…"

After saying that, Ma Qing'an slapped a beautifully crafted car key into Lu Yang's hand.

"My car will be yours tomorrow—treat her well, don't give me a hard time by standing up and twisting, got it?"

"Yes!"

For soldiers, nothing is happier than getting time off.

Although this two-day leave is only daytime, you must go out in the morning and return by 5 p. m. to clear the leave slip.

But not having to train and being able to wander around feels great!

Moreover, you can ride the Company Commander's Ducati out for a spin—where else could you find such treatment?

Ma Qing'an patted his arm and said earnestly: "Lu Yang, I originally thought you'd have to wait until you became a veteran non-commissioned officer and a squad leader before shouldering major responsibilities."

"In just under three months, you've given me such a big surprise, bringing back such a big surprise."

"We won't say more—work hard, and the unit won't let down anyone who's diligent and excellent!"

After saying that, he and Lu Yang clinked their bottles and downed the remaining half-bottle of beer.

After he set down the bottle, He Zhen Tao also said a few words to Lu Yang.

In the unit, there are many opportunities to earn merit; soon the regiment will start drills, and then you can give it your all.

Lu Yang's eyes lit up instantly.

He's always heard veterans talk about it, but never experienced it himself.

Thinking that his skills could soon be put to use on the battlefield and even score his first 'kill,' he felt especially excited.

"Who is our opponent?"

"Regiment exercise, naturally it's other units in the regiment. According to past convention, our opponent should be the First Battalion, while the Third Battalion fights the Fourth Battalion, and the two winners enter the final."

"The Special Third Regiment has four battalions and twelve companies."

"Lu Yang's Sixth Company belongs to the Second Battalion; if the opponent is the First Battalion, wouldn't we be able to meet Wan Baoshan, Kong Long, and some old friends from the training team?"

"Just thinking about being able to legally shoot this old friend on the battlefield, Lu Yang's heart becomes restless."

"Ma Qing'an found his eager excitement amusing: 'Other new recruits, when they first take part in drills, are nervous, worried, panicked, and even need the instructor to give a pre-lesson to strengthen their mental fortitude.'"

"You, on the other hand, can't wait to grab a gun and go slaughter everyone on the battlefield?"

"Lu Yang gave a hehe laugh: 'How does that song go? There's a truth that doesn't need saying—soldiers belong on the battlefield...'"

'"Well said!" Ma Qing'an slapped his thigh and gave him a thumbs-up: "For those words, I'll join you for another bottle!"'

"He Zhen Tao chuckled: 'You're just looking for an excuse to drink; I'll join you for a bottle too!'"

'"We all want to join you for a bottle!"'

'"Good, good, good, last bottle. After we finish, we'll disperse and go back to sleep; there won't be any more after that!"'

'"Good!"'

'"Cheers, cheers!"'

"..."

"The two, Zhang Jiaheng, fleeing the 'demonic lair', hurried along with a quick walk and a light jog."

"Afraid that the Sixth Company Commander might suddenly change his mind and send people to arrest them again."

"After all, they're Motorized Infantry; if they don't hurry, they'll easily be caught up."

"Of course, even if they hurry, they might still be caught, but at least it gives them some psychological comfort of 'I've done my best.'"

"However, on the way back, the hot-tempered, inept Military Police officer known as 'Second Cripple' grew angrier and more resentful the more he thought about it, thus breeding a sense of grievance."

'"Zhang Jiaheng, you were utterly useless just now—if they tell you to drink, you drink; if they tell you to eat shit, would you go?'"

'"Damn, I was the only one who drank—you didn't?'"

"Zhang Jiaheng was also annoyed by this guy."

"If it weren't for this guy catching the smell and insisting on going to the Sixth Company Cafeteria, and still giving them a lecture there, could they have staged a midnight scare?"

"And now he's still blaming himself—talk about trying to hide a scallion in a pig's nose!"

"Second Cripple's alcohol tolerance is even worse than Zhang Jiaheng's; after downing a bottle of industrial small beer, his face turns red as a monkey's butt."

"Even his speech is a bit slurred, and it's unclear whether he's trying to act drunk on purpose."

'"I only drank because I saw you drinking; otherwise, I'd rather be beaten to death than take a sip!"'

'"You're not an ace pilot, aren't you usually able to hold your own? How come you have no backbone at all?"'

'"Heh, I don't believe it—do those guys really dare to do anything to us? Look, didn't the Sixth Company Commander eventually give us a way out, apologizing and backing down?"'

'"What are we?" his companion slapped the white letters on his helmet: "We are the Military Police, the security Military Police, the defenders of military discipline!"'

"Zhang Jiaheng rolled his eyes: 'Then why don't you go make another trip to the Sixth Company? I'll wait here for you?'"

"His companion snorted, saying more and more: 'You think I don't dare? I just can't be bothered to make the trip.'"

'"Do you know what's most important for the Military Police? To stop at the point of contact, to be lenient where possible."'

'"I'm not so stupid as to make enemies everywhere and have everyone shouting to beat me; I'm just reminding them not to break discipline—unit harmony relies on self-discipline."'

'"Haven't you heard? Last year a discharged Military Police officer at the train station was chased by a group of dark-skinned buzz-cut guys carrying bricks, hurling family curses the whole way, all in the most beautiful Longguo language!"'

"Zhang Jiaheng gave a hehe cold smile: 'You just need to know that; they've given us a way out, so we should accept it and call it a day.'"

"His companion waved a hand, feeling utterly weak all over, unable to vent the pent-up frustration inside."

"Coincidentally, next door is the Third Company's barracks, unlike the Sixth Company—it's truly a soft persimmon."

"Although Zhang Jiaheng doesn't want to cause trouble right now and just wants to hurry back to bed to sleep."

"In the future, when on duty, he'll switch partners to get rid of this idiot."

"But for now, the two must act together; if that guy goes, he has to follow."

"Having learned from past experience, the Second Cripple Military Police has become smarter, wandering around the Third Company's barracks for a while."

"Indeed, he saw a sentry whose body swayed slightly, as if a bit drowsy."