Chapter 235: Broaden the Road, Don

"I let you do the frog jump, what the hell are you jumping?"

"Do frogs jump like that? You have to jump and ribbit at the same time!"

On the camp's tree‑lined path, Kang Changyi held a branch in his hand, banging—bang bang bang—on Zhang Jiaheng's head.

Zhang Jiaheng had grievances in his heart, but couldn't speak.

Since being promoted by Lu Yang, the training load has increased.

Originally, he only needed to train together with the others, but now he has to do extra training.

Moreover, having Kang Changyi supervise his training truly gave him a death‑wish impulse.

Having been in the Sixth Company for a while, he also knows this guy is about the same level—both are no‑obs.

Now, at last, he finally has a chance to let this guy torment him!

"Jump, huh? Do you think I look like a frog?"

"Physical fitness is subpar, military matters are careless, you can't do anything—what kind of soldier are you supposed to be?"

Under Kang Changyi's urging, Zhang Jiaheng could only clasp his hands behind his back and frog‑jump forward step by step.

After two jumps, he had to let out a "ribbit" to satisfy that guy's perverse demand.

In the troops, frog jumps are the best training for thigh muscles and core strength, and also a leg‑torment drill required by the Iron Foot unit.

Kang Changyi lifted his head and placed his hands on his hips, gradually regaining the feeling of commanding people he had when he was a Platoon Leader, and his mood became bright.

Since that former white‑hat arrived, his days have been very comfortable, and he has pleasant dreams every night.

Moreover, the Company is conducting military theory training, and he, who is responsible for planning and implementation, has also been heavily utilized by the Company.

At this moment, even without bearing the rank of Lieutenant, he still feels valued and noticed; he is full of vigor and confidence!

"What are you standing here for?"

Lu Yang's cold voice sounded from behind.

"Hehe, Platoon Leader."

Kang Changyi rubbed his hands, instantly switching from hands‑on‑hips to a submissive posture: "I'm supervising that kid's training, don't worry. Once he's in my hands, I'll train him until he's completely obedient!"

Lu Yang rolled his eyes: "I let you take him along, not to have you just stand here idle; later, when your physical fitness gets surpassed, you'll have reason to cry."

"No way, no way, that guy can only surpass me in the next life!"

Kang Changyi said that while clasping his hands behind his back, frog‑jumping forward in pursuit.

He really looked like a big frog; in no time he caught up with the panting, resting Zhang Jiaheng ahead.

He didn't forget to taunt as he passed: "Garbage, useless, good‑for‑nothing; Iron Foot unit, it relies on those two legs—if your leg skills are poor, even if you marry a wife she'll still put a hat on you!"

Zhang Jiaheng instantly became angry and embarrassed, furiously trying to chase after him.

But as soon as he strained his thigh muscles, the pain made him unable to straighten his waist, and he couldn't even squat steadily.

Sunlight filtered through the treetops, dappled across the cement ground, leaving patches of light.

Lu Yang stood by the flowerbed, watching the two in the distance ribbit‑ribbit‑ribbit competition, and inexplicably became dazed.

He didn't know when it started, but he felt he was no longer a simple ordinary soldier; he had acquired traits he didn't have before.

In exercises, he would crave victory, treating holding the position as more important than anything.

During training, he would use various methods to spur the soldiers who lagged behind.

At first, Lu Yang could feel some pride, but after many repetitions over time, fatigue inevitably set in.

He spread his own energy too thin among the troops below, no longer having ample time to improve himself as before, which made Lu Yang inevitably a bit melancholy.

"What are you thinking, spacing out here?"

Ma Qing'an walked over from the side and handed him a bottle of mineral water.

Lu Yang twisted it open, took a sip, and said with slight melancholy, "Company Commander, I feel that after becoming a Platoon Leader, my time no longer belongs entirely to me."

Ma Qing'an laughed, "If you have that feeling, it shows you are already a very competent commander."

"Why do you say that?"

"Because you are diligent and responsible."

Ma Qing'an looked at the two 'big frogs' in the distance and said calmly, "Take Kang Changyi as an example: without your intervention, without your bowl of minced meat and shredded potatoes over rice, he would still be the self‑righteous good‑for‑nothing he was before."

Lu Yang: "But even without me, wouldn't he later encounter other responsible people who could change him?"

Ma Qing'an: "Then he would have wasted several years for nothing."

He looked at Lu Yang: "After becoming an officer, you'll find your perspective shifts. From the soldier who only buried his head in training and needed nothing else, you become someone responsible for the collective."

"Actually, in a sense, my role as Company Commander isn't much different from a kindergarten principal."

"You have to patch things up everywhere and be responsible for about a hundred little kids, caring for them wholeheartedly and personally."

"As Acting Platoon Leader, you're like a homeroom teacher, a substitute teacher. You manage about thirty soldiers; whoever quarrels, whoever isn't paying attention in class, you have to find a way to resolve it."

Lu Yang laughed, "Your analogy is surprisingly apt; right now I really feel like I'm taking care of a baby."

"That's normal," Ma Qing'an laughed. "If you don't have that feeling, it just shows you're incompetent at your job."

"Human energy is limited; when it's scattered all at once, the time left for oneself naturally shrinks. But this is temporary—once things are on track, you can rest a bit."

"But you must understand, a soldier who only pushes forward selfishly, no matter how capable or honored, is destined not to last long in the troops."

"The unit is a collective; it cannot tolerate selfish, narrow‑minded, petty people who only think about showing off. Unless you only want to be an ordinary foot‑soldier, with no desire to improve or be promoted."

Lu Yang deeply agreed with the Company Commander's words.

The troops are not lacking in talented soldiers, but to broaden one's path, one must not be overly self‑focused.

In his past life, Lu Yang had also read some special‑forces 'Soldier King' novels.

The protagonists all came from military families, with domineering, overbearing personalities, taking down an entire company single‑handedly.

Such plots are certainly exciting and eye‑catching, but when he entered the barracks himself, he found it wasn't like that at all.

Life in a grassroots unit is as calm as a pool; everyone is busy with their own lives, with no pointless quarrels, deliberate provocations, or pretentious showdowns.

Honor lies in the mundane, hardship lies in the length, and it is the main theme of every grassroots company.

In peacetime, soldiers mainly stand guard and train; there isn't so much fighting and killing.

And worldly wisdom and mutual help will broaden your path, open your eyes and expand your horizons.

A towering building rises from the ground; without foundations, without a solid 'mass base', relying solely on one person's effort cannot raise a building very high.

As for those wild, flashy scenes in military novels, never bring them into reality; who would like a crooked-mouthed dragon king who loves to show off and get slapped in the face?

Besides, I can tell you clearly." Ma Qing'an added: "Of course, saying this may seem a bit utilitarian, but it's also a fact.

When the organization evaluates whether a soldier can be entrusted with important duties or hold a key position, besides looking at merits and contributions, grassroots investigations and visits are also a major factor.

If you, as a company backbone, only care about your own advancement and achievements, ignoring others' lives, letting them repeatedly make mistakes on the wrong path, the final result will be continuous denial by the organization.

Before you, there was already a good negative example?

Who?

Guo Yongwen of the Seventh Company. In the past, at least before he knew you, he had always been like this, so he wasn't given important responsibilities.

Lu Yang recalled the scene of their first meeting, when Guo Yongwen made things difficult for him.

It seems, it really is as the company commander said?

Ma Qing'an patted his shoulder: 'Lu Yang, you are truly suited to be a soldier and good at being one. You probably don't even realize how many people you have subtly influenced and motivated.'

Lu Yang raised the corners of his mouth: 'Getting such high recognition from the chief makes my work more energetic!'

At that moment, a sentry ran over from the distant gate and saluted the two in turn.

'Company commander, platoon leader, someone is here to visit; from the Seventh Company, saying they happened to be passing by and came to see Platoon Leader Lu.'

'One is an acting platoon leader of the fourth session, Guo Yongwen; the other is a private named Ding Tengfei.'

Lu Yang and Ma Qing'an exchanged glances, their faces showing a meaningful smile.

'Gao Feng's mind works really fast; despite our tight information blockade, he still managed to guess it.'

'Company commander, could it be that he didn't guess it, but your sister told him?'

'Hahaha, this shabby padded jacket—impossible to guard against. Lu Yang, you go receive them; I'll go back to prepare, we must put away all the good things.'

'Alright, then I'll go.'