Chapter 18: You Call This a Treat?

"Come, let's give comrade Lu Yang, gua ji gua ji!"

"Clap clap, clap clap, clap clap!"

Just back to Third Squad, Zhou Kaidong led the applause, and the others also gave a round of applause.

Earlier in the reading room, Lu Yang voluntarily called for a report and went up to comment.

His outstanding eloquence and decisive vigor drew a burst of applause.

Not only did he receive praise from the Instructor, but also helped Zhou Kaidong pick up the face that had fallen to the ground.

But this made Lu Yang a bit embarrassed: "Squad Leader, this is all something I should do."

Zhou Kaidong waved his hand: "You restored our class's face, so you must receive praise. How about this: each person says what they want to eat, and I'll treat."

The crowd looked at each other, awkwardly speaking: "Squad Leader, just reward the Assistant Squad Leader, we didn't do anything, better not."

Zhou Kaidong gestured: "We are a collective, share honor and share loss. Through today's incident, I also understood a principle: the more troubles, the less we can lose heart, the more we must boost morale!"

He directly asked Lu Yang: "What do you want to eat?"

Lu Yang scratched his head: "I want, drink cola."

"What cola? That's a sperm‑killing play. Drink milk; milk is healthy and adds calcium, suitable for your small frame."

"Uhm, then milk."

Lu Yang felt offended, but having something to drink is better than none.

Zhou Kaidong pretended to record with a pen on his hand, then asked Kong Long.

"What do you want to eat?"

"I want barbecue."

"Barbecue‑flavored chips, right? Okay, got it."

"......"

"And you?"

"Squad Leader, I want to play on my phone."

"You look like a phone, go over there!"

"Your turn?"

"I want KFC, bubble tea, chocolate, Danone Prince......"

"Are you treating me like Aladdin's lamp? No KFC, only spicy chicken feet, which are still unhealthy, switch to milk, no Danone Prince, only high‑calcium biscuits!"

Pretending to record everyone's wishes on his hand, Zhou Kaidong turned and opened the cabinet, rummaging for the corresponding items.

Two boxes of milk, a pack of spicy chicken feet, a pack of spicy strips, half a pack of leftover biscuits.

Damn, said let them choose, but it was all Zhou Kaidong's leftovers!

This thing can be called a reward? That's chilling!

"Come, come, come, don't be polite!"

"Squad Leader, actually this little stuff, you don't need to keep it on hand......"

Lu Yang raised his eyebrows, couldn't help but complain.

Zhou Kaidong laughed heartily, saying it was to create an atmosphere.

Complaints aside, with snacks to eat, everyone was still quite happy.

Lu Yang tore open the bag named "Divine Eagle Lovers", a black‑white dual‑color spicy strip.

The taste was similar to memory, mainly salty‑savory, with mild spiciness.

Spicy strips are like the blankets in the troops, spanning many people's school days.

At that time the price was still cheap, half a yuan per piece, a bag for one yuan, later the price became absurd, rising higher.

Zhou Kaidong came in from outside, holding two more bags of chips, still barbecue flavor.

He forcibly scavenged them from the Squad Leader of the neighboring class.

Watching everyone joyfully divide the snacks, two bottles of milk passed among several people until the last drop was squeezed out, and Zhou Kaidong's mouth twitched slightly upward.

Back then he was also carefree like Lu Yang and the others, mindless, and in the blink of an eye had served in the troops for a full ten years.

How many decades can a life have?

How many more years can he stay in the troops?

Just as Zhou Kaidong was dazed, Lu Yang came over with spicy strips.

"Squad Leader, aren't you eating?"

"You all eat."

"I specifically saved you two pieces."

"No need, you all eat, that bag of spicy strips just expired two days ago, Squad Leader feared..."

In an instant, the dorm fell silent, everyone staring at Zhou Kaidong with a very pissed‑off look.

Even Lu Yang wanted to say: Zhou Kaidong, please be human!

"Assistant Squad Leader, I have a question: what does the confinement room actually look like?"

"If it's a small single room with a bed and a desk, wouldn't that make him comfortable to death?"

At night by the pool, Third Squad recruits were washing up and brushing teeth, asking curiously.

But regarding this question, Lu Yang wasn't very clear; he hadn't specifically looked into it.

It's like, who would have the time to waste checking what the detention center eats in a day, what the living conditions are?

"It definitely wouldn't be that comfortable, otherwise..."

"I think, we suffer outside, that guy doesn't even need training, is that a bit too comfortable?"

"Then if you make a mistake, you also...?"

"Never mind, I don't want anyone poking my spine to the point of breaking; that kid is a stinky bug, hated by everyone who sees him."

"Alright, stop talking, stay focused, later when the lights go out we'll still have to train extra."

"What, is it true?"

"Class two seems to have already started; when I first arrived I was already there holding my head and doing squats."

Everyone's expression instantly collapsed, continuously sending thoughts to Ding Tengfei's relatives in their hearts.

And sincerely hope the higher‑ups can quickly get rid of this disaster, and not trouble them any further.

The lights‑out signal has already sounded, but the Company office still has its lights on.

Company Commander Gao Feng, cigarette between his fingers, paced back and forth with heavy thoughts.

During the day the Regiment Commander was holding a meeting outside, and only returned near evening.

The Instructor has already gone to give a report, and we still don't know what the outcome is.

While waiting, Gao Feng smoked almost half a pack, his mood all over the place, unable to find a moment of peace.

They both hope the troops will retreat, yet don't want the penalty to be so severe; because once the retreat becomes a fact, the Special Third Regiment will set a record in their hands.

For Gao Feng, a damaged future is a minor issue, but losing the whole regiment's face is a major one.

Such a heroic unit has, over countless years, cultivated so many outstanding elite soldiers.

As a result, under his command a lousy soldier emerged and was even withdrawn; this is an outrageous humiliation!

Outside, footsteps suddenly sounded; before the other side could turn the handle, Gao Feng flung the door open from inside.

Seeing He Zhen Tao trudging in from outside, sighing and waving his hand, Gao Feng's heart cooled halfway.

"How should I put it, exactly how should I put it?"

"I've already reported the situation to the Regiment Commander, and his response is… damn it, can I get a glass of water? My throat is on fire!"