Chapter 177: Protecting the calf? We're protecting the squad leader!

"Squad Leader."

"Yo, the First Platoon Leader is also here?"

Lu Yang lifted the clothes drying in front of him and walked over.

First he greeted Zhou Kaidong, then he glanced at Kang Changyi with slight surprise.

Seeing Lu Yang arrive, the two stopped their argument, and Zhou Kaidong said, "Welcome back?"

Lu Yang shook the pearl milk tea in his hand and handed it to him: "Squad Leader, I brought this for you."

Zhou Kaidong paused: "My teeth have been a bit sore these past two days; I can't eat sweets."

Lu Yang glanced aside: "Not feeding the pigs anymore?"

First Platoon Leader: "????"

Zhou Kaidong smiled knowingly; this was a humor shared between the two of them.

During the New Recruit Company period, Zhou Kaidong forbade Kong Long from drinking protein powder, and even said he would take it to feed the pigs.

Kong Long then said, "Can pigs even drink that? Or should we give it to Lu Yang to drink?"

He inserted a straw, took a sip, and it was the classic taro flavor with chewy pearl balls.

At that time, the milk tea didn't have all those fancy extras; the glass jar contained various flavors of milk tea powder.

Three yuan per cup; when you wanted to drink, you just brewed it with hot water, added the pre-made pearl balls, and sealed it with a machine.

The packaging usually featured cartoon images like Pleasant Goat, it was tasty and inexpensive, and also a good deal.

Especially the taro flavor, it is a classic memory for many born in the 80s and 90s.

Seeing Zhou Kaidong have milk tea while he himself had none, the First Platoon Leader left standing to the side felt somewhat embarrassed.

People live by their face, trees by their bark; this made him feel that Lu Yang was still a bit immature.

Even if he were to give it, he should at least wait until after he left.

With two veteran soldiers around, he himself was still an officer.

Empty-handed, with nothing at all— isn't that embarrassing?

But Lu Yang knew well: as long as he wasn't embarrassed, the embarrassment would be on others.

He then took out two packs of Xiao Su from his pocket and gave them to Zhou Kaidong, knowing that Old Zhou liked smoking this brand.

Zhou Kaidong chewed the pearl balls, eyes wide with surprise: "You even bought me cigarettes?"

Lu Yang shook his head: "Not bought, a friend gave them to me; I don't smoke, so I brought them back for you."

Zhou Kaidong burst into a smile; even though he was no longer his squad leader, he still thought of him whenever something good happened.

More importantly, he had it now while the First Platoon Leader did not, and the gap immediately became apparent.

In other words, Lu Yang was using his own way to help him gain support, give him a boost, and vent his frustration.

And the First Platoon Leader indeed felt a kind of embarrassment, as if his toes were scraping the floor, along with the sense of disparity.

But out of a superior's concern for a subordinate, he still asked a question.

"I don't recall your family being from Guangling, do you still have friends there?"

"The two soldiers from the 441 Regiment, we met on the training field."

"You didn't go out for a stroll in the city?"

"No."

The First Platoon Leader expressed great surprise at that.

Because every time he had leave, he had to go to the city to enjoy a good meal.

Little barbecue, little hot pot; after eating, he'd sneak off to wash his feet and get a foot massage.

Of course it's the proper, legitimate kind; as an officer, he must lead by example and cannot violate regulations.

It's not that Kang Changyi loves foot massages that much; it's that the Iron Foot unit truly has terrible legs.

In other units, being an officer is usually quite comfortable, but serving here is pure suffering.

In training, quality and quantity must be maintained; at night he also has to write documents, make plans, draft summaries, plan activities— it's practically like being livestock.

Originally, after his internship ended, Kang Changyi was ready to pack up and leave quickly, but he never expected the division's order to forcibly lock him in place here.

Work wasn't going smoothly, and the soldiers below constantly talked back and refused to cooperate; a few words and they'd flip out, just like dealing with ancestors.

If it weren't for work reasons, he truly wouldn't want to communicate with Zhou Kaidong, that stubborn donkey, but Zhou happens to be the most capable squad leader in the first platoon.

Zhou Kaidong curiously pressed for more, and Lu Yang patiently explained again what he had done today.

He also added that he had run into division leadership there.

"The division's chief?"

"Yes, it's a Chief of Staff surnamed Xiong; he's a nice guy, and these cigarettes were bought by him."

"Holy cow, you've got such influence you can even move a bigwig like that?"

"It's a long story, but anyway, just smoke them."

"You said that Chief of Staff, is he surnamed Xiong?"

The First Platoon Leader interjected with a question, and Lu Yang saw his face turn pale.

It's clear that Kang Auntie fears Xiong Yao greatly, and it's of a physical nature.

Everyone, as a child, has a feared older relative; in Lu Yang's family there is a cousin who is a teacher, teaching math.

Every New Year, she enthusiastically brings him some exercises and test papers, making him feel uneasy whenever he sees that cousin.

It's quite obvious that the First Platoon Leader and the Chief of Staff Xiong have this kind of relationship; otherwise they wouldn't say, 'Have Lu Yang properly discipline this disappointing nephew of mine.'

The First Platoon Leader, feeling guilty, asked: 'What did the Chief of Staff Xiong say to you?'

Lu Yang spread his hands: 'He didn't say much, just mentioned that I performed not bad in the competition and gave me a couple of praises.'

"Just that— only a couple of praises, nothing else?"

"No, what's wrong?"

"It's fine, it's fine, just don't say anything."

The platoon leader let out a sigh of relief, found an excuse, and hurriedly left.

He was truly afraid the other side would bring up his affairs; it was a good thing he didn't mention it.

If his uncle found out how poorly he was doing in the company, he'd probably come over and slap him.

Whether as an elder or a superior, the platoon leader thought his uncle was a difficult, stubborn, and fierce person.

Since his parents couldn't control him from a young age, they sent him to his uncle's house for a harsh beating; over time, this left a psychological shadow.

In other words, Kang Changyi's excellent academic performance in middle and high school, which allowed him to easily enter the military academy, was largely thanks to his uncle.

"Platoon Leader, do you know this division chief?"

"Um, not really, not very familiar."

"Is that so?"

"Well, I suddenly remembered I have some things to do, and a summary I haven't written; I'll go get busy, you guys chat."

Seeing the platoon leader hurriedly walk away, Zhou Kaidong suspiciously narrowed his eyes, and instead became somewhat curious.

"I feel like Kang's aunt and the Chief of Staff Xiong you mentioned know each other."

"They indeed know each other, and are relatives."

"Since they're relatives, why does he have that expression, like a mouse seeing a cat?"

"Hehe~"

Lu Yang gave a hehe laugh, and quietly revealed that Xiong Yao had asked him to 'look after' his disappointing nephew.

Zhou Kaidong was greatly shocked: "You mean that Chief of Staff Xiong wants you, a mere private, to educate and discipline this lieutenant platoon leader? Isn't that messing up the hierarchy?"

Lu Yang shrugged: "This is an elder's instruction and also a superior's order; I have no choice but to obey."

Zhou Kaidong laughed heartily: "So that's the situation; if he dares to challenge me again, pretending to know what he doesn't and gesturing, I won't need to go to the company commander or instructor—I can just have you discipline him."