Chapter 17: Shared Honor, Shared Loss

Hey soldier, why are you shaking?

Your butt just got a prick as soon as you sat down, huh? Ah!

Come, adjust, adjust... Everyone, on my command, pull the stools away, get into a squat and watch the news broadcast!

In the reading room, the new recruits who were about to watch the news broadcast together were all completely numb.

Squat training is a very basic drill in the troops, but after at most five minutes the legs go numb.

After that, it feels like fleas have infested you; the two legs feel like being pricked with needles—numb, sour, and painful.

Everyone knows the Company Commander is in a bad mood right now, so they quickly pull the mats away and let their buttocks rest on the raised heels.

Gao Feng glanced over, let out a cold snort: "What a problem! You're all damn spoiled, one after another!"

Normally, the Instructor would step forward now to say a few words, but this time he unusually stays silent.

Lu Yang knows this is the negative fallout from the daytime "leak" incident, and for the next few days they won't have any good days at all.

"Today's news broadcast program has finished, thank you for watching..."

At 7:30, the ending theme of the news broadcast rang up on time.

The new recruits present all wore pained expressions, squatting with their bodies leaning all over.

Even the veteran Squad Leaders had sweat‑dotted foreheads, looking slightly strained.

In any training, the torment and pain felt by veterans and recruits are actually the same.

Only, veterans, through constant body conditioning and willpower forging, raise their tolerance limits and gradually become accustomed.

At this moment, Lu Yang is also struggling to hold on; his right foot, pressed under his butt, has long been numb and he can't even feel it.

But the upward arrow on the system panel gave him the drive to persist, forcing him to grit his teeth and stay upright.

It is this perseverance that keeps Lu Yang's spine straight, making him stand out among the wobbly squatting recruits.

At first glance, one might get the illusion that there are two veterans in the Third Squad.

Compared with those steel‑hardened veteran Squad Leaders, Lu Yang still falls short.

But the willpower he displayed still left Gao Feng quite satisfied.

A good soldier must be forged into steel; if they can't endure this training, what great deeds can they achieve?

The Instructor shares the same view; even clerical staff must have ample stamina and resilient will.

Otherwise, when faced with a problem like today's, they'd be crushed instantly—how could they sort out and resolve it?

Only when the weather forecast began, the Company Commander used the remote to turn off the TV and allowed them to sit back on the stools.

Everyone's buttocks seemed redeemed, and their shaking bodies finally felt relieved.

At that moment, the numb legs released a tingling prick that made the scalp go numb.

This ultimate sour‑sweet feeling is only understood by those who have experienced it, only by former soldiers.

Gao Feng, face darkened, shouted angrily: "Just today, an extremely heinous incident occurred. In the Third Squad, a recruit secretly photographed the camp buildings, the Score Book and other pictures, and sent them online via a chat app!"

"Such an act is downright outrageous, what kind of behavior is this? This is a breach of secrecy; with such severity, the offender will be sent to a military court and spend the rest of their life in prison!"

The recruits felt panicked inside and collectively cleared their throats with a gulp.

In the closed environment of the troops, secrets are almost impossible to hide.

Moreover, the incident this morning caused such a stir that they all naturally heard about it.

And after each Platoon Leader returned to their squad, they immediately confiscated everyone's phones to check for similar leaks.

They also held a squad meeting, sternly emphasizing the importance of military secrecy and strictly preventing such occurrences.

Gao Feng was blunt, directly naming and criticizing the entire Third Squad, making everyone, including Lu Yang, feel uncomfortable.

Especially when Squad Leader Zhou Kaidong was singled out by name and ordered to step forward, making a profound self‑critique before the Whole Company, everyone felt a particularly helpless, stifled sense of oppression.

At that moment they realized what it means that one's honor is shared, and one's loss is shared.

One person's mistake, the consequence is borne by the entire squad.

In the future, trying to hold one's head up in front of other squads will probably be difficult.

After the morning incident, all electronic devices were confiscated, the weekend relaxation was declared over, and they were forced back into training.

Lunch time was shortened, the nap cancelled, and even watching the news broadcast at night earned a scolding from the Company Commander.

All of this stemmed from a single mistake by someone in the Third Squad, triggering a chain reaction.

Even if other squads don't voice it, being inexplicably hit by an unwarranted disaster surely leaves them very displeased.

"That's all, this is my full self‑critique of the recent 'leak' incident......."

"Get out!"

Zhou Kaidong finished his self‑critique, slunk back to his seat, looking dejected.

Seeing that the Squad Leader silently bore everything in the end made everyone feel even more uncomfortable.

It wasn't the Squad Leader's fault at all, yet that guy got to relax in confinement while Zhou Kaidong had to take the blame—what a damn self‑inflicted disaster!

After the Company Commander finished his criticism, the Instructor also stepped forward and said a few words; on principle matters, he was no longer as easy‑going as before.

"The Special Third Regiment is a heroic unit that existed since the anti‑Japanese war, a series of unshakable monuments on the snow‑capped mountains; the glorious deeds in the regiment's history museum are countless!"

"To date, our regiment has never had an incident like this, so we must take it as a warning, strictly guard against any leaks, and resolutely avoid fundamental mistakes!"

"Especially those who have partners outside, with flamboyant personalities and a penchant for showing off, you must keep your hearts in check!"

"Even if your parents or relatives ask about unit details and want you to take a couple of photos to send back, you must not compromise!"

"If this happens again, severe punishment without mercy! Those who must be punished, punish them; those who must go, send them away!"

"Alright, that's about it......."

The Company Commander glanced at his watch and summed up with this line.

Just as the recruits secretly rejoiced that it was finally over, the scene they dreaded most still unfolded.

"As usual, after the news broadcast ends, pick a few people to comment and summarize."

"Fifth row, third from the left, that's you—stop looking!"

The recruit who was called on shakily rose from the stool, his mind a blank.

Earlier during the news broadcast his leg was numb from being pressed, so he didn't pay any attention at all.

Moreover, after it ended he also criticized the Third Squad, got sidetracked, and now can't remember what the news reported.

Especially when he stepped forward, stared at by hundreds of eyes from the Whole Company, he shook with fear.

"Begin."

"Um, um, that, um, this......"

"You goose, just laying eggs here? Hurry up!"

The Company Commander's impatient urging made the already nervous recruit even more nervous.

Stammering for a long time, his words were incoherent, and nobody could understand him at all.

In the end, he happily got a small punishment of fifty push‑ups.

In the unit, everyone is willing to watch the news broadcast, after all it's their only chance to watch TV.

But no one wants to be singled out for commentary, especially those honest, simple soldiers who are a bit socially anxious and not good with words; commentary is literally a nightmare for them.

In fact, the purpose of doing this is to train everyone's eloquence and cultivate a poised demeanor.

The more nervous one is, the more they give an impression of lacking confidence and being timid.

A soldier should stand tall, head held high, brimming with confidence, with a spirit like a rainbow!

The Company Commander kept calling on people; his gaze swept the whole area like a radar, and no one dared meet his eyes wherever it fell.

Soon, he locked eyes with a blank stare.

"You're up!"

"Ah?"

"What the heck, come up!"

Originally, this soldier tried to go against the grain, but his cleverness backfired.

Although this soldier wasn't as nervous as before, standing on the stage under so many eyes still made him nervous and unable to relax.

"Um… I'll say a few simple lines: abroad is chaotic, home is fine, technology advances, culture develops. Report, I've finished my commentary......"

"Get out of my way!"

Gao Feng kicked his butt and then pointed at the soldier's Squad Leader: "You still dare give me a formula, you taught this?"

The Squad Leader shook his head wildly: "Report, it was definitely not me!"

Gao Feng, too lazy to waste words, said: "Both of you, a hundred push‑ups each, roll to the corner!"

The Instructor shook his head: the Company Commander was already fretting about having nowhere to vent, and yet someone still dared to take shortcuts and slam into the muzzle?

Seeing the punishment this time was even heavier, even the veteran Squad Leader got caught in the aftermath; everyone on the spot felt uneasy, fearing they'd become the next unlucky one.

Suddenly, the Company Commander's gaze fell on the Third Squad area, and even Zhou Kaidong felt a bit panicked.

Being singled out several times in one day would break even a veteran's mindset.

Goo‑dong!

"Don't pick me, don't pick me, don't pick me!"

Kong Long lowered his head, but his peripheral vision still connected with the Company Commander, frightening him so much his heart seemed ready to jump out of his throat.

Since school days, he has always feared being called on by the teacher to answer questions, especially the kind where you have to go up to the podium to solve problems.

Because he often couldn't solve them, his work was hung on the blackboard, and the teacher scolded him: "Simple mind, well‑developed limbs."

Who would have thought, after all, they ran to join the army and still couldn't escape this nightmare!

Just as the Company Commander extended his finger, sneering as he pointed at Kong Long, a loud report suddenly rang out.

Lu Yang unexpectedly stood up first: "Report, I want to comment!"

In that instant, everyone's gaze focused entirely on him.

Everyone shuns it, and you still dare to volunteer?

I don't know if the Company Commander ate gunpowder and is in a rage?

Kong Long turned his head toward Lu Yang, tears of excitement welling up: "Good brother, good brother!"