Chapter 242: Even if it

"You've gotten so bold, huh, copying the homework for others? If everyone acted like you, what's the point of my teaching?"

"Platoon Leader, next time, I won't dare again."

"There's a next time?"

"No next time, absolutely no next time!"

Kang Changyi kept defending himself: "They kept pestering me, asking for it, so I gave it."

Lu Yang sneered: "They want it, so you give it? They want you to eat shit, would you? No principle at all—how will you lead troops or command battles on the battlefield later?"

Kang Changyi, feeling aggrieved, seemed about to cry: "......"

Lu Yang: "Put on your backpack and run twenty laps on the field! The others, ten laps! After you return, each gets five sets of theory exams, and Kang Changyi gets ten sets!"

The entire Third Squad collapsed outright; running laps is one thing, but can we skip the theory?

Even if they have to grab the rifle stock and dislocate their shoulder on the firing range, they still refuse to touch the theory exam papers!

But Lu Yang gives them no chance to argue; if they don't finish before nightfall, he'll add more exam sets— it's all about sheer volume!

While waiting for the guys to all run to the field, Lu Yang shakes his head and turns to check the homework status in the other classes.

He plans to collect the exam papers in advance to prevent another plagiarism incident.

Class One and Class Two are doing relatively well; having learned from the previous case, even unfinished work is honestly submitted.

But when Lu Yang reaches the Sixth Company upstairs, he finds the same scene playing out in the dormitory.

Liu Ziqiang, Sun Chen, and Chen Panpan huddle together, copying answers from an unknown source.

"Quick, quick, quick, seize the time; the morning meeting will end soon!"

"Don't turn the page, I haven't finished copying yet; the last fill‑in‑the‑blank, what's the blast radius of a grenade launcher again? Let me glance again!"

"Hey, can you hurry up? Copying an exam this slowly—if the Squad Leader discovers it later, we won't get any good fruit to eat!"

Suddenly, the dormitory, which should have been noisy, fell silent.

Liu Ziqiang and the other two seem to sense something, and anxiously put down their pens.

The three exchanged a glance, their throats gave a harsh gulp, and they all turned their heads together.

In the hallway, Lu Yang's smiling face peered out from the window, staring straight at them.

Then, a few more aspiring youths chasing their dreams appeared on the field.

Time flashed by; several months passed swiftly.

The Sixth Company not only improved in training, but its theoretical progress was breathtaking.

In a military theory assessment held by the Regiment, the Sixth Company's Liu Ziqiang, Li Jiang, and Chen Panpan were singled out and praised by the Regiment Commander.

They not only answered fluently on their own military specialty, but also had knowledge of professional theories from the Armored Company, Artillery Company, and Anti‑Aircraft Company.

Thus, the Sixth Company was awarded a "Learning Vanguard" honor certificate by the Regiment Commander, and for the first time surpassed the Seventh Company, becoming the regiment's sole learning benchmark.

When Ma Qing'an held the certificate aloft on stage to receive the award, his mouth almost twisted into a grin.

In contrast, Gao Feng's darkened face below the stage was stewing, determined to reclaim his face.

Back at the battalion, Ma Qing'an called Lu Yang and Kang Changyi into the office and gave them a hearty commendation.

Especially Kang Changyi, who took the blame, stirred resentment, and contributed: "You get half of this credit!"

Kang Changyi, excited, asked: "Company Commander, can I be reinstated to my former post?"

Ma Qing'an smiled and nodded: "Hmm, you wish!"

"......"

"Credit is credit, reinstatement is reinstatement."

Ma Qing'an lifted his chin at him: "When the day comes that you can surpass Lu Yang at work, I'll have him give the Platoon Leader position back to you."

Kang Changyi pulled his dark face, "That'll be when the monkey year and horse month come?"

Lu Yang's prestige among the Sixth Company's soldiers ranks only below the Company Commander and the Instructor.

If that day ever comes, he wouldn't even be Platoon Leader; his odds of directly running for Company Commander are higher.

Lu Yang consoled: "Alright, stop sulking. Your current ability still isn't enough for the Platoon Leader role. However, I have a suggestion."

Ma Qing'an: "Tell me."

"The demobilization season is approaching; isn't the clerk position being vacated? We could let him take it."

"Hey, now that you mention it, the clerk role does suit you!"

"But I don't want to be the clerk…"

Kang Changyi is single‑minded, only wanting to be Platoon Leader.

But Ma Qing'an patted him and said: "Food must be eaten bite by bite, the road walked step by step; I think the clerk role fits you, plus you're good at organizing documents, writing and drawing."

Lu Yang: "The clerk belongs to the company headquarters unit; that's also a step upward, you get to handle computers and phones daily; if you don't want it, then stay in the Third Squad, okay?"

Kang Changyi, with a dejected face: "Fine then, I'll be the clerk."

"Now that's right!"

The Company Commander and Lu Yang exchanged a smile.

Kang Changyi: "I have a small request."

Ma Qing'an: "Go ahead."

"I want a motorcycle of my own."

"Hahaha, Lu Yang, what do you think?"

"We'll see his performance; if good, I think we can give it."

"Alright, both the Platoon Leader and I agree!"

"Thank you, Company Commander, thank you, Platoon Leader!"

Kang Changyi left the office, hopping away.

Ma Qing'an poured a cup of tea: "Kang Changyi has already made obvious progress, Zhang Jiaheng has also become more honest, the Whole Company is advancing steadily, and even earned the Learning Dagger Honor Certificate; all of this is thanks to you."

"You say, how should I properly reward you?"

"Give you a few days of home‑leave, so you can go home and have a good look?"

Lu Yang politely declined: "Let's take it slower; we've only just achieved a small result, and the follow‑up still needs consolidation. Moreover, discharge season is approaching, and Zhou Kaidong's re‑enlistment matter hasn't been settled, so I remain uneasy."

Ma Qing'an hummed: "I kept you here precisely to discuss this. Division‑level policies have tightened, the wind has changed, and the re‑enlistment requirements have risen considerably."

"When I went to the Tuan Bu to collect the award a few days ago, I heard other Company Commanders say that many veterans in the Special Third Regiment who could stay for a fourth term are now in very dangerous situations."

"I've submitted Zhou Kaidong's re‑enlistment application twice, and there's still no sign of movement."

"I'm worried he may not be able to secure a fourth term and thus cannot continue serving…"

Lu Yang remained silent for a long time.

Within the unit, people come and go; it's truly the norm.

No soldier can stay in the unit forever and ever.

Because each year excellent new recruits join the unit, and each year some formidable characters appear.

And Zhou Kaidong hasn't had any standout performance lately, and has never broken the record set by Cheng Jun, making his re‑enlistment already very difficult.

Moreover, the tightened Division policies have raised the standards for senior Non‑commissioned Officers' re‑enlistment, meaning the difficulty has climbed another level.

He asked: "If he is discharged and returns, will the organization arrange a suitable job for him?"

Ma Qing'an nodded: "As long as one serves twelve years in the unit, a position with an official establishment will be assigned, though the specific unit depends on circumstances. After a twelve‑year military career, the local authorities will certainly give special consideration; that's guaranteed."

"However, Zhou Kaidong's situation is a bit special…"

"What does that mean?"

"Has Zhou Kaidong ever mentioned his family situation to you?"

"I think not."

Lu Yang thought for a moment; after knowing him for a year, indeed he hadn't heard Zhou Kaidong bring it up.

Ma Qing'an, in a serious tone: "Zhou Kaidong's hometown is in Sichuan Province; are you aware of that?"

Lu Yang shook his head: "I only know that he can handle spicy food; nothing else has come up."

"His family is from the Aba Tibetan Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province."

"Wenchuan???"

Lu Yang startled, feeling a very ominous premonition rise within.

Ma Qing'an let out a deep sigh: "His parents and relatives all perished in that great earthquake, so leaving the unit and shedding his uniform is, for others, merely returning to society and becoming a civilian again."

"But for him, it's no less than being sentenced to life imprisonment."

Lu Yang felt a pang in his heart; he had never known that Zhou Kaidong had endured such suffering.

In daily interactions, there was no hint at all, and his impression was always positive and optimistic.

In that sense, every weekend when he sends a message, watching others call home to report safety is like having his wound reopened, subjecting him to both mental and physical torment.

"I know what you're thinking, but you must understand that as long as he's still in the unit, he can continuously avoid thinking about these matters."

"He can create for himself the illusion that his family is still there, only that training is too busy for him to return."

"Although, fundamentally this is self‑deception; once he leaves the unit, this dream can only be forced awake, and he must face the reality of being homeless."

"Therefore, in this final month and a bit, we must find a way together, no matter what. Even if we have to cobble something, we must still earn him some credit!"