Chapter 217: Hard‑Bone Seventh Company, Yet You

Ding Tengfei's eyes couldn't hide his envy: "That's also a Platoon Leader......"

Lu Yang opened a bottle of ice‑cold beer and poured him a glass: "So the Platoon Leader made a small mistake, got suspended for reflection, and now the short guy gets a chance to step up, letting me take the lead first."

"It's only temporary; later I'll have to return the position to him, it doesn't count."

Guo Yongwen knew that Lu Yang said that purely to save Ding Tengfei's face.

Even as Acting Platoon Leader, it still has to be the most capable in the Whole Company to step up.

Having gotten this far, having clawed up for over a decade, I know best the true value inside.

Don't think it's just the smallest post in a grassroots command unit, it still oversees about thirty soldiers.

As for Ding Tengfei, he just entered the combat squad and still hasn't overcome his motion‑sickness, seeing his fellow year‑group hometown comrades already become the regiment's core backbone, naturally creates a gap.

"Come on, everyone, take a turn!"

"Eat the vegetables, try this stir‑fried pork, try this sweet‑and‑sour spare ribs; this flavor is definitely better than what a restaurant can cook."

"Lu Yang, now that you're here, don't be embarrassed, just consider it as your own home. Your Company Commander and our Company Commander are good brothers, even future big brothers‑in‑law; we're all one family."

"Drink the beer, finish these bottles on the table; there are more in the fridge, open them up and drink!"

"Ding Tengfei, you eat too; you and Lu Yang are New Recruit Company comrades and also fellow hometown folk, don't be so restrained!"

"Come on, I've already done all this, why are you still holding back a bite, as if you're raising fish here?"

"Here, let's raise this glass to Lu Yang, who came from afar in this scorching heat..."

The atmosphere at the dinner table was harmonious, with glasses clinking and everyone in high spirits.

The Sixth Company and Seventh Company are brother units, and the two Company Commanders are also brother‑in‑arms.

Gao Feng was Lu Yang's New Recruit Company Commander, Guo Yongwen had also taught Lu Yang many things in the training detachment, and Instructor Zhao was very talkative as well.

Lu Yang downed a mouthful of ice‑cold beer, then a bite of stir‑fry; this weekend was simply too enjoyable.

But at that moment, he noticed that beside him Ding Tengfei wore a sour expression and remained silent.

Not knowing Ding Tengfei's current situation in the Seventh Company, he proactively raised his glass to toast him.

"Come on, fellow hometown, let's have a drink together."

"Congratulations on taking the first step, successfully entering the combat squad."

Ding Tengfei lifted his glass and clinked it with his: "It should be me congratulating you; it took me this long to take the first step, and you've already taken a hundred steps."

Lu Yang paused, not knowing why his words tasted sour, but still comforted him: "The beginning is always the hardest, keep it up."

Ding Tengfei sighed: "The later it gets, the harder it is."

As soon as he said that, the atmosphere at the table instantly cooled.

Instructor Zhao and Guo Yongwen both frowned, thinking the kid was really tactless.

Lu Yang's encouraging and congratulatory words, even if just a nod in response, should not be let to fall flat.

Moreover, the troops despise those who give up on themselves and utter defeatist words.

Isn't this just crashing into the Company Commander's muzzle?

Bang!

Gao Feng slammed the cup onto the table, the word "unhappy" fully written on his face: "The later it gets, the harder it is? Then just quit being a soldier, spare me the daily eyesore!"

Ding Tengfei got flustered, trying to explain: "Company Commander, I didn't mean that, I just think..."

Gao Feng raised his hand to stop him: "You don't need to explain to me, I don't want to hear it; finish eating, pack up, and scram back to your training camp!"

"Old Gao, you've had too much to drink!"

Instructor Zhao quickly intervened: "Take it easy, what nonsense are you saying!"

Gao Feng yanked his arm away, pointed at Ding Tengfei and started berating him.

"Look at his deadpan expression, as if he's here to be a proper soldier, as if he's a Seventh Company soldier?"

"He gets dizzy getting in the vehicle, vomits getting out, I've never seen armored troops get motion‑sick!"

"The Seventh Company, hard as bone, harder than iron, stronger than steel, yet it produced such a soft‑bone!"

Having said that, he stopped drinking, grabbed any excuse about unfinished work, and left.

Before leaving, he told Lu Yang his hospitality was lacking, and that he'd come back later to drink properly.

In the small cafeteria, others were having a small gathering; seeing the Company Commander erupt, they didn't even dare to breathe.

As an outsider, Lu Yang couldn't say much; he could understand Ding Tengfei's sense of disparity.

But as an adult, some negative remarks can stay in one's heart, but must not be spoken, especially in public.

Instructor Zhao apologized to Lu Yang, then chased after Gao Feng, hoping to have a proper talk with him.

After all, he was the one who voluntarily suggested moving to the combat squad, so whatever is said, the person must be protected.

The originally lively gathering fell apart because of Ding Tengfei's comment, and Lu Yang used the excuse of going to the restroom, temporarily escaping the awkwardness.

"Come out with me for a moment!"

Guo Yongwen led Ding Tengfei to the propaganda board outside the cafeteria.

"I ask you, what am I doing?"

"I... didn't do anything..."

Ding Tengfei, feeling guilty, lowered his head and dared not look at him.

Guo Yongwen shoved his shoulder: "Look at me! Tell me, what did you mean by that comment at dinner, what does 'the later it gets, the harder it is' mean?"

Ding Tengfei lifted his head slightly, but facing the raging Platoon Leader, still dared not meet his eyes: "I feel I'm living a very exhausting life."

"Where is it exhausting?"

"Everywhere's exhausting; if only I were still in Training Camp Class Ten..."

"What the hell, you mother—!"

Guo Yongwen was so angry he wanted to slap them both, but he held back his hand.

Back then, you yourself volunteered to join the combat squad, saying you didn't want to stay in the tenth class like a useless person!

To get you transferred to the combat squad, I argued with the instructor and the company commander several times, and now you're dropping the ball on me?

Do you think I'm an idiot, messing around with me here, causing trouble, trying to have fun at my and the instructor's expense?

I didn't...

Bullshit, you didn't!

Guo Yongwen, blazing with anger: "As a soldier, your word is your bond! Either you don't open that mouth, or if you do, you'll die trying to get out of this!"

Ding Tengfei felt wronged: "I thought I could adapt, but I can't. I get nauseous as soon as I get on the vehicle, and I vomit as soon as I get off; the other day I even vomited all over the squad leader..."

Guo Yongwen said sternly: "Did the squad leader call you out? Did I call you out? Or did the company commander call you out?"

But in the tenth class, everyone treated me like a person; in the combat squad, nobody treats me like a person.

Am I not a person? Am I not a person?!

Guo Yongwen's eyes were blazing, his finger jabbing at his shoulder: "Or are you saying the instructor isn't a person?"

Ding Tengfei couldn't speak: "But the company commander doesn't like me."

The company commander doesn't like you because you're disappointing!

Nobody looks down on you; it's your own self-esteem acting up!

You think everyone's laughing at you, you think getting carsick is embarrassing, so you want to avoid it—how is that any different from being a deserter?

I'm not a deserter!

The two words 'deserter' made Ding Tengfei become very agitated.

But Guo Yongwen's eyes were like bronze bells, his aura suppressing him completely.

I say you are, so you are!

I'm not!

Then prove it—prove you're not a coward, not a weakling!

You've only been here a week, throwing up once or twice, and you're already wallowing in self-pity, saying these things at the dinner table—who are you disgusting here?

When I first saw Lu Yang, I also took a dislike to him; I thought he'd gotten in through the back door, so I deliberately made things hard for him, having him run laps around the field with his pack, and he kept running. He didn't utter a word, running from daytime until dark, until he collapsed from exhaustion without ever complaining of hardship or shouting that he was tired!

Do you really think their success is a fluke, that honor is as cheap as cabbage you can just pick up? In places you don't see, how much sweat have they shed, how much hardship have they endured?

You've been lounging in the tenth class for so long, waking up naturally every day, and after just one week in the combat squad you're saying you're tired, you can't adapt—does that mean we who are in the combat squad every day should just go die?

I'll tell you, vomiting once or twice makes you a clumsy bear, but vomit a hundred times, a thousand times, and you're a hero!

Nobody will mock someone who can't be knocked down or suppressed! And you? You've only thrown up a few times!

Ding Tengfei fell completely silent; he just felt stifled and miserable.

Just as the tenth class squad leader told him at the beginning, the harder he tries, the farther he gets from his goal.

Without a reference point, he might have been able to endure a bit longer, but when he saw how outstanding Lu Yang was while he himself was so inadequate, that sense of defeat left him breathless.

Especially during the earlier meal, Lu Yang's handling of interpersonal affairs was thorough, making Ding Tengfei feel like a worthless piece of trash.

On the contrary, Lu Yang seemed more like a member of the Seventh Company, while I'm an outsider who doesn't belong here at all.

The only reason I was pulled in to eat together was to keep Lu Yang company.

Guo Yongwen stared at him fixedly: "Tell me now, do you want to go back, or do you want to stay?"

If you want to stay, I can help you plead with the company commander to retract the order and give you another chance; if you want to leave, go pack your things right now and get out!

But I can tell you straight: if you go back, you'll never be able to become a non-commissioned officer in this lifetime, and finishing your conscript service will guarantee you're kicked out for good.

Because the Seventh Company is all hard bones—they'll never take in soft bones, let alone someone like you, a deserter!

Ding Tengfei's inner turmoil raged, his clenched fists trembling...