Chapter 206: A villain

Dismissal.

The dismissal order was issued.

Kang Changyi almost fell over because he was dazed and couldn't keep his balance.

The nearby soldiers seemed to have known in advance, all keeping their distance, afraid this guy would try to extort them.

All the soldiers from each squad, taking pleasure in his misfortune, returned to the barracks, ready to change into PT gear and do PT.

Kang Changyi was instead taken by the Company Commander and the Instructor to the office for a talk.

He Zhen Tao stretched out a hand, coldly staring at him: "Your rank insignia — will you remove it yourself, or shall we do it for you?"

Kang Changyi shook his head, his eye sockets red, obviously struck hard: "Can you… give me… one more chance? I'll prove I have the ability to lead the unit well."

Proof?

Ma Qing'an, as usual, casually pulled a cigarette from the Instructor's pocket and lit it.

He took a puff, exhaling a huge cloud of thick smoke, as if he were also venting the resentment he had built up over a long time.

Hehe, what makes you think we'll give you this chance?

Just because I graduated from the National University of Science and Technology.

Cut it out!

He Zhen Tao raised his hand in a stop gesture: "From now on, never tell anyone you attended a military academy, and certainly don't tell others you graduated from the National University of Science and Technology."

The National University of Science and Technology won't take the blame for you, nor can it afford to lose someone as important as you.

Kang Changyi grew anxious, his voice stammering: "But Lu Yang has only been in the army for less than a year; he simply isn't capable of fulfilling the platoon leader's duties — he hasn't even attended a military academy."

He Zhen Tao laughed: "First, he's no longer a rookie but a veteran. Second, whether he attended a military academy doesn't matter; as long as he can lead us to victory, that's enough."

And you, you're not even as good as an ordinary soldier; all you do is spout lofty principles.

Letting you stay here and start from the rank of a private is already giving you a chance; otherwise you should just get lost!

"Now, take off your rank insignia!" He Zhen Tao's tone grew impatient: "We'll assign you to the Third Squad under Squad Leader Zhou Kaidong."

"He's a good squad leader; follow him to learn how to be a proper soldier!"

Kang Changyi's heart was broken; being demoted was bad enough, but they also assigned him to the Third Squad.

In the past, Zhou Kaidong was the one he argued with most fiercely; now being placed under him, he's bound to be messed with.

But the order has come down; even if he is ten thousand times unwilling, he must obey, or else he'll be confined.

If he still refuses, he might really have to strip and leave; by then even his uncle won't be able to protect him.

Kang Changyi tore off his lieutenant's shoulder boards and put on the single‑crutch rank insignia that Lu Yang had previously taken off.

Such humiliation and heartache made his tears patter down onto his shoulders.

Seeing this guy actually cry, He Zhen Tao rolled his eyes hard.

Ma Qing'an, angry, pulled the cigarette from his mouth and kicked over: "Cry for your mom, cry! Still pretending to be a soldier — you don't lose skin or flesh, only tears?"

"You whine like a woman, tear up at the slightest setback — what can we expect from a civilian like you? Can we even rely on you to protect national security?"

"You worthless basket, if I see you cry again, I'll have someone hang you from a tree for a night!"

Hiss...

Kang Changyi immediately took a big sniff, sucking back the snot that was about to drip onto his lip.

Forcibly holding back his tears and inner resentment, he imagined himself as a dragon king son‑in‑law who endures humiliation to accumulate strength.

He wiped his face hard with his sleeve, saluted, turned and left the office; he thought he would be strong, but once he turned left outside, tears came again.

It wasn't because Ma Qing'an scolded him, but seeing that after four hard years at a military academy he'd ended up as a one‑crutch private made him feel awful.

Carrying his personal belongings, he arrived at the Third Squad dormitory; as soon as he entered, someone whistled a catcall at him, and everyone sized him up with ill intent.

Zhou Kaidong even rubbed his chin, crept behind him, and blew into his ear, frightening Kang Changyi so much he hastily dodged away.

"I, I warn you, don't mess around!"

"I was only temporarily relieved of duty; if I perform well later, I can still be reinstated!"

"You all had better be polite to me; during this time I hope we can get along well, not hurt each other, because that's no good for anyone……."

The Third Squad just gave a nasty laugh and didn't respond at all.

So he could only grit his teeth, nervously and fearfully, silently putting his belongings away.

Elsewhere, beside the Sixth Company's drill ground, Lu Yang was walking alongside the Regiment Commander.

"What do you think of this guy Kang Changyi?"

"He's not a bad person."

Faced with the Regiment Commander's sudden question, Lu Yang gave what he thought was a suitable answer.

Wang Zhongxi laughed and said: "Your answer is fairly reasonable, but it's lacking. He's not a bad person, just a bit stupid, a bit foolish, a bit slow‑witted."

Lu Yang didn't pick up the thread.

He isn't the type to kick someone when they're down.

For someone who spent four years at a military academy, acting high and mighty, and even looking down on the rank‑and‑file soldiers…

Being publicly criticized, stripped of his post, and then having someone who'd been in the army less than a year take over his duties was already a huge mental humiliation.

Wang Zhongxi said earnestly: "Actually, if he were just an ordinary soldier, these issues wouldn't be issues; but he happens to have attended a military academy and is still an officer."

"If war suddenly broke out, he would definitely get many people killed, and might even cause us to lose the entire campaign."

"A thousand‑mile dike can collapse from an ant hole; many battlefield failures stem from a critical mistake at a single point."

Lu Yang: "You mean, a wicked person racking his brains is no match for a dull person's sudden flash of inspiration?"

Wang Zhongxi paused, then burst out laughing: "That line of yours is actually quite interesting."

He said somewhat regretfully: "However, the unit is willing to give him a chance, to start from the rank of a private and truly let his mind sink down."

"Let him learn that theoretical knowledge in class and combine it with practice; perhaps he won't become an outstanding person, but at least he'll be a qualified soldier."

The unit will equally give everyone who joins a chance to achieve self‑redemption.

Ding Tengfei has already passed his awakening and is slowly changing toward a new direction.

As for how Kang Changyi will turn out in the future, only time can verify.

Of course, if he keeps messing up, Lu Yang, as Acting Platoon Leader, wouldn't mind slapping him awake.

That is his duty as Acting Platoon Leader, also entrusted by his elders, so it would be inappropriate both in feeling and in reason not to slap.

"Do you know that Kang Changyi's uncle is the Chief of Staff of our Division?"

"Seems so, I've heard something about it?"

Lu Yang chose a more vague way of speaking.

Because he couldn't take the initiative to explain, Chief of Staff Xiong had him give a lesson to his incompetent nephew.

Wang Zhongxi said, "The Division's Zhencha Daitui falls under Chief of Staff Xiong's jurisdiction. If he wants you to go to the Division, would you be willing?"

"Not willing?"

"Why wouldn't you be willing?"

"I can't bear to leave everyone."

Wang Zhongxi was very pleased with Lu Yang's answer: "I can see you're a soldier who values loyalty and righteousness. But sometimes, overvaluing such sentiment isn't a good thing."

Lu Yang didn't quite understand what the Regiment Commander was trying to tell him, but he could sense the Commander's emotions were complex.

Wang Zhongxi sighed, looking into the distance: "People strive upward, water flows downward; eventually you'll have to go to the Division. Your talent and ability predetermine that your future prospects won't be low."

"So, being sentimental is good, but when it comes to personal future and familiar comrades, you have to make a choice."

"Just like me, I can't be the Regiment Commander of Special Third Regiment forever; eventually I'll have to shed this uniform and leave the place I'm most familiar with."

He patted Lu Yang: "Lu Yang, you're a good comrade; no matter where you end up in the future, don't forget the road you came from."

Lu Yang looked at the Regiment Commander seriously and said firmly: "Commander, I will always, always be the 4,983rd soldier of the Mobo Sixth Company, Special Third Regiment!"

Wang Zhongxi grinned, laughing heartily: "With those words, that's enough, that's enough!"

The Regiment Commander got into the vehicle, rolled down the window before starting it, and asked Lu Yang a seemingly random question.

"Lu Yang, do you prefer land or the sea?"

"Huh?"

"I'm asking, do you think it's better on land or by the sea?"

"The beach is beautiful, but I feel more grounded when stepping on the yellow earth."

"Hahaha, I feel the same; we thought alike. However, the motherland's coastline is also beautiful and needs to be defended."

The Regiment Commander left, watching the vehicle slowly disappear into the distance.

Lu Yang reflected on the Commander's words, his mood inevitably becoming a bit complicated.

He thought the former Instructor Pan Yuan's departure was an accidental ending, but didn't realize it was only a beginning…