Chapter 21: Passionate Blood Boils, Lu Yang Leads the Fight!

"th Class Squad Leader, I ask you, what's this gel water used for?"

"Report, spray, spray hair......"

"Spray hair? You winter‑gourd hair, can you even make a style?"

"In front of the Shushe lou, Company Commander Gao Feng knocked the th Class Squad Leader's hat off in one blow and sprayed a faceful of saliva onto his face."

"The scolded th Class Squad Leader didn't dare move, but his throat gurgled once."

"Gao Feng looked at the gel water in his hand and sneered, 'Just joined the unit, and you're already teaching the recruits to cut corners, using gel water to shape their blankets? You as Squad Leader, doing a great job, excellent!'"

"He pinched the th Class Squad Leader's shoulder twice heavily, then went to the front of the recruits and shouted angrily, 'After this ends, take the Fourth Class internal‑hygiene Moving Red Flag off for me, what a disgrace!'"

"Every recruit in the Fourth Class looked as if they'd eaten dead flies; for that Moving Red Flag, they were rising early and staying up late to cut corners."

"Some even went several days without washing their feet, using the stench to mask the gel water's scent just to earn the honor."

"All to slip through the inspection, but they didn't expect a single oversight."

"A sudden inspection caused their efforts to fall short."

"Gao Feng said sternly, 'Being a soldier isn't about fooling around. If you falsify a blanket, can you train seriously?'"

"'If your fundamentals aren't solid, you'll die on the battlefield not even knowing how, don't think I'm joking with you!'"

"All the recruits fell silent as they watched the Company Commander get angry."

"Lu Yang's expression was also grim; his mind was full of that pack of cigarettes."

"Although the cigarettes were given by the Squad Leader, they were found in his own locker, so the unlucky one had to be himself."

"Such matters are hard to explain and only get darker, plus most of the Third Squad's blankets had also been tossed out, the Squad Leader's own safety now uncertain."

"The only thing Lu Yang could do was to stand his ground to the end, confess and accept punishment......."

【9】 "Gao Feng took the plastic bag from the Instructor, Ding Lingguang dumped everything onto the ground—various contraband."

Gao Feng took the plastic bag from the Instructor's hand, and Ding Lingguang dumped everything onto the ground; they were all various contraband.

"'Poker, cigarettes, matches, your extracurricular lives are quite rich, huh?'"

"'Those who are Squad Leaders, are all of you blind! Huh?'"

"'Some even convert novels to mp3 and sneakily read them in the blankets at midnight.'"

"'I just can't understand, it's so captivating, such a huge addiction? No matter how powerful the novel's protagonist is, it's not you, day after day dreaming and eating crap!'"

"Lu Yang suddenly felt as if the Company Commander were pointing at his nose and scolding him."

"Because he often did this before, staying up until dawn, causing him to be listless in daytime classes."

"But it's okay not to touch it; once addicted, it's truly intense, especially when the serialized book hasn't finished."

"Waiting for updates each day felt like ants crawling on his skin, wishing he could lock the author in a tiny dark room until they churn out a hundred thousand words a day."

"After Gao Feng vented, Instructor He Zhen Tao stepped in to smooth things over: 'The unit doesn't forbid you from relaxing or having fun, but you must mind the limits.'"

"'All these contraband are confiscated; each Squad Leader must lead a review after returning, and submit it at tomorrow's morning meeting.'"

"'Additionally, here we emphasize praising the Third Squad.......'"

"'Hm?'"

"Zhou Kaidong and Lu Yang's surprise was almost simultaneous."

"How could they not have expected that, instead of being criticized, they received commendation?"

"He Zhen Tao said, 'Although the Third Squad's internal standards aren't the best, it is the Whole Company's only class that had no contraband found. In discipline, the First Platoon Leader set an excellent example.'"

"'This week's Discipline Style Moving Red Flag is being handed to your Third Squad early; keep it up.'"

"'Yes!!'"

"Zhou Kaidong's snot bubble almost burst from joy; happiness came far too suddenly!"

"Immediately after, Gao Feng added, 'Take the Fourth Class Moving Red Flag and hang it on the Third Squad! This inspection showed great improvement in the Third Squad's internal standards, so consider it a commendation!'"

"Zhou Kaidong was almost speechless from the sudden two honors: 'Thank you, Company Commander and Instructor!'"

"Gao Feng, too lazy to watch these blockheads, waved his hand to announce dismissal, telling them to quickly retrieve the blankets."

"After dismissal, the recruits started a game called 'Find, Find, Find the Blanket.'"

"'Your blanket seems to be mine, right?'"

"'No way, I have a mark on mine?'"

"'I have a mark too!'"

"'My mark was made by me at midnight with a marker, drawing it on!'"

"'Oh, sorry, I used a black pen for the mark, you can take it then......'"

"During the surprise inspection, tossing blankets wasn't done casually."

"The slightly better ones were thrown in the hallway; the truly awful ones were unsightly and tossed out the window."

"Those lucky enough could pick up a blanket from a ground flowerbed, but whether it was theirs remained unclear."

"The truly unlucky had theirs thrown onto a tree, forcing them to climb up to retrieve it, only to find it belonged to someone else."

"Kong Long was such an unlucky guy; after searching half a day he still couldn't find his blanket, but Lu Yang suggested he just take any clean, odorless one—getting it was a profit."

"Anyway the total number of blankets stays the same; in the end everyone gets one, no need to be so tangled."

"After advising Kong Long, Lu Yang sped back to the Shushe lou, luckily the blanket was still on the bed."

"But the cigarettes and lighter in the locker had vanished, clearly confiscated."

"He scratched his head, utterly baffled?"

"Clearly his locker's contraband had been found, yet nothing happened?"

"'Instructor, hello!'"

"'Lu Yang, step out for a moment.'"

"At the doorway, He Zhen Tao waved him over; Lu Yang quickly shut the locker and ran out."

"Originally, he thought this time he would definitely be punished."

But he didn't expect that, while no one was watching, He Zhen Tao actually gave him the cigarette and lighter again.

"This won't set a precedent."

Watching the Instructor's departing back, Lu Yang finally understood why he could escape the danger smoothly.

He slipped the cigarette into his pocket, and after returning to the dormitory gave Zhou Kaidong a look; the Squad Leader instantly understood.

It was the Instructor who covertly exerted effort and saved Lu Yang.

In the troops, regulations are rigid, but people are flexible; as long as you're outstanding enough, a senior scholar will argue the rules for you.

This gave Lu Yang extra motivation to work harder and strive upward.

Turns out his older cousin was right: as long as you stand out in the troops, you can freely take the Squad Leader's cigarettes and even touch the Company Commander's butt!

Zhou Kaidong hung the Moving Red Flag of conduct and discipline on the wall, hands on his hips, smiling uncontrollably.

The new recruits of Third Squad saw the Moving Red Flag and were all cheerfully, genuinely happy.

"What are you still standing around for? Go to Fourth Class and bring back the other Moving Red Flag for me!"

"Lu Yang, you lead; you all go together, to prevent that old kid Fourth Class Leader from cheating and denying it!"

Ding Tengfei originally didn't want to join the commotion, but after Zhou Kaidong ordered him, he reluctantly followed the main force and went up the stairs.

He didn't know why, but while climbing the stairs with everyone, he inexplicably felt like he was about to have a showdown outside.

Both opposing groups were looking for trouble, each seeking a confrontation with the other's leader to bring back an explanation.

Sure enough, when they reached the upstairs, the Fourth Class room's door was tightly shut, showing strong unwillingness to cooperate.

As Assistant Squad Leader, Lu Yang went up and knocked: "Fourth Class Leader, we're here to take the Moving Red Flag!"

He shouted so loudly that the other squads on this floor could hear him clearly, and they all came out to watch the spectacle.

Soon, the Fourth Class Leader opened the door, his face grim, staring at the grinning Lu Yang: "What are you shouting for? My ears aren't deaf!"

Lu Yang chuckled: "We're following the Squad Leader's order to take the Moving Red Flag; you won't refuse, will you?"

The Fourth Class Leader was already irate, and seeing a fresh recruit daring to rub him the wrong way instantly sparked his anger.

He wouldn't dare defy the Company Commander's order, but he also would never let these kids snatch their class's flag so easily.

The Moving Red Flag is the grassroots unit's most prized collective honor, and essentially a class's lifeline!

The Fourth Class Leader gathered all the new recruits at the doorway, his demeanor fierce, and pointed his thumb toward the back.

"The Moving Red Flag hangs behind our class's door; anyone with the guts can come in and take it!"

"Damn, isn't this cheating?"

"Veterans still bully the small ones, that's over the line!"

"Our Squad Leader Zhou Kaidong is a First Platoon Leader, his rank higher than yours; how can you not be reasonable?"

The Fourth Class Leader, blocking the doorway, scratched his ear and said: "Same old line: if you're no good, scram, don't disturb our class's noon break!"

The Third Squad's new recruits were furious, clearly not expecting such brazen behavior.

Lu Yang knew there might be some trouble when he went up, but didn't expect it to be this messed up.

Reasoning is useless; the other side also made its stance clear—either we don't give it, or you can't get in yourself, and even dragging it to the Company Commander is futile.

Because the troops value force, at this moment only force can solve the problem, which is precisely what Lu Yang is least good at right now.

But as Assistant Squad Leader of Third Squad, having come there leaves no excuse to chicken out; today he must seize back Fourth Class's flag!

"Brothers, seize it for me!"

At Lu Yang's command, he led the charge inside.

The moment he made contact, something terribly messed up happened.

His small frame was ill-suited for the front line; Kong Long should have taken the lead!

On site, two groups of people, one pushing inward, one pushing outward, resembled a bride‑snatching scene.

But only Lu Yang, who was in the middle, knew it felt like American football, pure violent bodily contact.

In the chaos, Lu Yang's nose took a punch, and his nosebleed instantly dried up.

"Damn!"

Seeing the red, Lu Yang's bloodlust surged.

He lifted his leg and delivered a hard kick, not knowing whose it landed on.

But seeing the Fourth Class Leader's painful expression, it must have hit him, right on a weak spot.

The Fourth Class Leader, furious, gritted his teeth, his voice turning sharp: "You little bastard, that was really brutal, push them out!"

Seeing the confrontation intensify, Lu Yang quickly covered his nose and tactically retreated.

But the people behind him, all from Third Squad, wouldn't let him out.

Both sides were on top of each other; Lu Yang felt his ribs being crushed.

After finally moving back a spot, he was shoved forward again by Kong Long, the big fool.

Lu Yang wanted to shout for help; he was still bleeding from his nose, his combat ability weaker than before.

Fortunately, a hand reached from behind, grabbed his collar and yanked him out.

At first Lu Yang thought it was Zhou Kaidong, but turning around he realized it was Ding Tengfei pulling him.

Ding Tengfei, with a fierce look, rolled up his sleeve, kicked the person in front and let out a resonant 'guocui'.

"I __ your mother!" (fill‑in‑the‑blank profanity)