Chapter 19: I Want This Soldier, You Can

Thump thump......

He Zhen Tao took the big tea jar that was handed over, clamped it to his mouth and began drinking water with a loud gulp‑gulp‑gulp.

Gao Feng was frantic: "Say the line, say the line quickly!"

He Zhen Tao set down the tea jar, wiped his mouth hard with his sleeve: "What line are you talking about?"

Gao Feng slapped his head: "You've confused me, I let you speak, what exactly did the Regiment Commander say?"

He Zhen Tao cleared his throat, imitated the Regiment Commander's authentic Jiangcheng dialect: "The Regiment Commander said: 'I thought there was a big deal, after half a day it's just this? Lock him up, write a report, that'll be enough.'"

Gao Feng widened his eyes: "So… that's it?"

"Hmm, that's all."

"The Regiment Commander didn't get angry?"

"No, he said: these kids are still young, can't understand, just joined the unit a few days ago and their minds are still elsewhere; you need to work harder, otherwise why would you be the ones to train the new recruits?"

Damn! Damn!

Gao Feng, frantic, ripped off his hat and stamped his foot: "Lock him up, write a report, and just let this pass? You didn't tell the Regiment Commander that the kid brought a bunch of contraband into the unit, knives and clubs?"

"For a guy like this, if you don't send him back, who knows what trouble he'll cause later!"

"That's enough, Old Gao, are you just putting on a show?" He Zhen Tao rolled his eyes and called him out directly.

"Special Third Regiment is a heroic unit, you Company Commander, you treat the regiment's honor as heavier than life itself."

"If you really send the person back under your watch, not only will you be nailed to the pillar of disgrace, but the regiment's history will also bear this stain."

"Let's do it this way, turn big matters into small, small matters into nothing. Over at the local militia office, I've already made contact and will coordinate the follow‑up work......."

Having been called out, Gao Feng no longer pretended to be stubborn; his anger was just to assert his stance and attitude.

If, due to 'leakage', the retreat procedure is initiated and mishandled, the captain‑level Company Commander would be the end of his military career.

"No matter what, I just don't like that kid!"

"All slick and pretentious, not like someone who's here to be a soldier!"

He Zhen Tao didn't argue: "Alright, alright, later when you hate someone, just send him to whichever Company you want."

Gao Feng stared: "Hey, am I that petty?"

He pulled out a cigarette, irritated, lit it: "You say why is the gap between people so huge, can't he be grounded and learn something good from his fellow villager?"

"You're talking about Lu Yang?"

"Otherwise what?"

Gao Feng, holding the cigarette, said: "The book‑loving one's demeanor is different; during the evening news commentary, everyone else is timid, but he steps onto the stage and the feeling changes instantly."

"What's that phrase again, describing someone with stage presence?"

"Typhoon?"

"Right, right, that 'typhoon' is almost catching up with you, old political officer. If later the Company organizes an event, plans a speech, hosts a program, you'll be the one holding the mic, right?"

"Yeah, besides being a bit weak physically, he's good at everything else."

He Zhen Tao also freely praised Lu Yang, as if after a while he could keep finding new strengths in Lu Yang.

Moreover, each strength relates to the unit's cultural propaganda duties.

He's naturally suited for the literary‑type civil post, a good seed for the public affairs class.

"Just to let you know, this soldier, once he's in the next Company, I'll take him to the agency for proper cultivation."

"Whoa, you're asking for a man this early?"

Gao Feng's eyes widened as if he'd seen a ghost.

He Zhen Tao frankly: "Each year we scoop up a large number of well‑trained new soldiers, but someone like Lu Yang is truly uncommon, and I'm exactly short of hands."

"Also, the study‑review materials from previous years, I've already had someone prepare in advance. After he's in the next Company, little Lu will be with me and can study earnestly to prepare for the exams."

"Alright, it's getting late, you rest early. Tomorrow I still need to go find Ding Tengfei alone for some ideological work."

After He Zhen Tao left, Gao Feng wore a thoughtful expression.

He clearly hadn't expected this old partner to start requesting personnel so early.

And already began planning Lu Yang's future development, even preparing the study materials?

Not sure if it's a psychological effect, originally Gao Feng's impression of Lu Yang could only be described as "okay," not especially outstanding.

But after He Zhen Tao finished those words, Lu Yang's standing in Gao Feng's mind suddenly rose sharply, making him a bit reluctant to let go.

Especially, each year they hold events, their unit's activities are a mess, so they desperately need a soldier with talent in this area to take charge.

Gao Feng stubbed out the cigarette, snapped: "It's just study materials, learning environment, not only your agency can provide that? Our Seventh Company, if we need a tank we have a tank, if we need a desk we have a desk, whatever we need we have!"

Under the moon and sparse stars, Lu Yang on his dormitory bed had just finished a short physical drill.

The excitement from accelerated blood circulation made it hard for him to fall asleep.

He rested both hands under his head, stared at the ceiling board, his mind still replaying the day's events.

Zhou Kaidong's proactive taking on, which seemed fierce but was actually a veiled protection of Ding Tengfei, made the soldier image in his mind become more three‑dimensional.

Responsibility and accountability also made the phrase "Military Mother" especially vivid.

Yet regarding this matter, Lu Yang actually felt a bit of self‑blame, because it could have been avoided.

He knew this fellow villager's eccentric, show‑off nature, yet failed to keep an eye on him.

If then Lu Yang had gone out a little later to call home, or had Kong Long keep watch, perhaps it wouldn't be such a chaotic mess now.

"What are you thinking, not sleeping yet?"

Lu Yang turned his head, saw Zhou Kaidong standing beside him.

He was tucking blankets for everyone, an old military tradition.

The temperature is dropping, kicking off the blankets now would catch a cold.

Lu Yang: "I was thinking, what if during the day...."

Zhou Kaidong raised his hand and interrupted: "If a person wants to make a mistake, there's always a chance to make one. You've done the best you can within your abilities, this has nothing to do with you, and the mobile phone was also something I let you send."

You can keep watch for a moment, but not for a lifetime.

He can't constantly keep his attention on preventing Ding Tengfei from making mistakes.

Even if he doesn't make a mistake this time, perhaps next time, the time after that, similar incidents could still happen.

Or, making a mistake silently without anyone knowing, and when it leads to irreversible severe consequences, that is truly terrifying.

The only thing Lu Yang can do is to do his own work well, train earnestly, study new things seriously, and strive to solidify his own strength.

He closed his eyes and began to brew sleepiness; the Squad Leader tucked the blanket in for him, so the warmth wouldn't escape easily.

Zhou Kaidong sat up straight, looking at the empty bed Lu Yang had left, feeling somewhat melancholy.

The new recruits now are harder to lead each batch than the previous.

"Squad Leader..."

"What?"

Kong Long's voice sounded from behind the Squad Leader, causing even Lu Yang, who was about to fall asleep, to open his eyes.

Kong Long, looking bitter, rubbed his stomach: "I'm so hungry I can't sleep; it's uncomfortable."

"We are too..."

Then a series of voices followed, revealing that everyone hadn't fallen asleep.

Today's training volume increased, and after lights out there was an extra short physical exercise, so Lu Yang was actually a bit hungry.

They're all young; having dinner at twelve and feeling hungry at twelve‑thirty is normal, let alone today's especially high consumption.

However, Zhou Kaidong had no solution; he had nothing left to eat himself, and even if there were, it wouldn't be enough to share that much.

They say even a half‑grown kid can starve an old man; how much would this whole bunch of youngsters need to eat to be full?

"Endure the hunger, go to sleep quickly; after waking, have breakfast!"

The others helplessly had to lie back down, but the rumbling stomach growls rose and fell repeatedly.

The feeling of hunger is truly uncomfortable, especially that midnight craving and hunger, it's pure suffering.

Fortunately, after a short while everyone gradually fell asleep, and the growls turned into rhythmic snores.

"Burp~ That meat bun this morning really satisfied me!"

"By the way, that bottle of milk and the eggs that Ding Tengfei had, who ended up eating them?"

"Do we even need to ask? It must be Kong Long; he's always doing physical training and muscle work, doesn't he need to supplement more protein?"

"The food these past two days has been truly satisfying; the amount each person gets is just different. Once that guy leaves, can we eat like this every meal?"

"What are you thinking? That kid left, won't we just bring another person up, right Assistant Squad Leader?"

"Future little duty shifts should be more clever, don't be too honest; whatever we can take more of, we definitely shouldn't take less. Even if veterans from other squads are dissatisfied, we don't need to care. What ends up in our stomachs is truly ours..."

Lu Yang's final words sparked strong agreement from everyone.

When we first arrived, we were too honest, fearing that taking too much would upset the veteran soldiers.

The result was that other squads had round bellies, while ours would soon be hungry again.

In the troops, everything must be contested, everything must be grabbed, especially regarding food one must never be cowardly, and sometimes even have to "sneak and cheat."

For example, Lu Yang now has two flattened flower rolls in his pocket, which he had previously snuck in.

He plans to take them out to eat when he's hungry after training later.

Returning to the barracks where the Squad Leader was absent, Lu Yang, acting as Assistant Squad Leader, assumed the Squad Leader's duties, ordering everyone to promptly tidy up the interior and clean.

At that moment, a series of footsteps came from outside, and immediately the Squad Leader and the Instructor led a guy to appear at the doorway.

At this moment, Ding Tengfei looked much more haggard compared to two days ago, his eyes darkened, appearing wilted.

Clearly, the feeling of being locked up is extremely unpleasant.

"Go inside, next time you absolutely must not make such a mistake again!"

"Yes......"

As Ding Tengfei returned, the squad's atmosphere also showed subtle changes.

It's as if an unrelated stranger were suddenly shoved in, making everyone feel uneasy.