Chapter 244: The Transmission and Inheritance of the Soldier's Spirit

Damn, on what basis are you the Squad Leader and I'm the Deputy Squad Leader?

Just because I'm good!

Good, your mother and all, it's obviously that you just like to flatter when you have nothing else to do!

Nonsense, what I said isn't flattery, every word is heartfelt. Lu, the Platoon Leader, a dragon and phoenix among men; Ma, the Company Commander, brave and resourceful; He, the Instructor, both wise and courageous!

Now that you're the Squad Leader, you're still sucking up, still sucking up? I'll choke you to death, I'll choke you!

In the Sixth Squad dormitory, Cheng Jun went to the New Recruit Company for a briefing, and Sun Chen smoothly took over as Squad Leader of the Sixth Squad.

Liu Ziqiang, unwilling to stay behind, was almost exploding with anger; his former close brother suddenly got on his nerves—how could he stand that?

Then the two started to brawl, rolling on the floor, on the bed, on the desk, grabbing each other's necks and pulling each other's genitals.

Chen Panpan, frantic on the side, spun around: "Don't fight, don't fight. Suan Niao, Suan Niao, it's not easy, it's not easy......"

In the Fifth Squad, Li Jiang, who had been a daughter‑in‑law for years and finally turned into a mother‑in‑law, finally advanced from Deputy Squad Leader to official Squad Leader.

When he, all excited, held the things and was about to go to the company office to find the clerk for printing.

But he saw a crowd gathered around Kang Changyi's desk, some from his own company, and surprisingly, also from other companies?

"Kang the clerk, do me a favor, just make a form, quickly."

"Is yesterday's PPT done? Our Instructor is waiting to take it."

"Deputy Battalion Commander wants the fun activity planning sheet, have you finished it? Hurry up, everything in the battalion is top priority, you need to distinguish what's urgent and what's not!"

"Kang, Kang, I'm talking to you, did you hear?......"

Kang Changyi stared with his eyes wide open, blankly staring at the computer screen.

His fingers mechanically tapped the keyboard click by click, like a soulless husk.

Since being transferred to be a clerk, he hasn't had a good day.

They say it's to sit in an office, they say it's to play on the computer, play on the phone.

In reality, every day it's either printing documents, making spreadsheets, or PPT.

Because he's proficient with all kinds of office documents and writes great articles, not only people from the Sixth Company seek him.

Other companies, even the battalion and regiment, people come to him for work; every day from the moment he opens his eyes until he closes them, nonstop.

At this moment, he finally understood why the previous clerk left the service; this job is damn not something a person should do!

"Kang Changyi, help me print this document, I'll come get it in half an hour, okay?"

Li Jiang squeezed in front of him and, without saying a word, placed a stack of documents on his desk.

And these sheets of paper, like the last straw crushing him, made him completely collapse.

Aaaah!

Kang Changyi's loud shout silenced the office.

Everyone stared at him as if he were a fool, and a Platoon Leader slapped him directly on the head.

What are you losing your mind over?

Kang Changyi covered his face, wanting to cry but unable to.

He almost forgot that clerks have no real authority in the troops.

He took a deep breath, composed himself again, and patiently explained to the people in front of him.

"Everyone, calm down, calm down. Finish yours, yours, finish yours, yours, one by one, one by one, don't be impatient, okay?"

"No!"

The crowd glared at him viciously: "We're still waiting to go back and report, hurry up!"

Kang Changyi, under the urging and supervision of the group, kept working nonstop like a beast of burden.

At this moment he truly cursed Lu Yang, who had recommended him for the clerk position, claiming the job suited him perfectly.

Daily training is tough, but there's still a chance to catch a breath; even sitting here there's not even time to take a pee.

It's literally more exhausting than a damn beast of burden; the workload is endless, impossible to finish!

At this moment, he truly misses the days in the Third Squad, fulfilling and happy.

Occasionally, he could still straighten up the oblivious airplane brothers.

But he can't go back, everything is gone.

"Zhou Kaidong, you are absolutely messing around!"

In the office, Ma Qing'an was sternly scolding Zhou Kaidong.

"Do you think this is the time when you can do as you please?"

"The unit's discharge process has already started; next week people will start leaving one after another."

"Your request to stay in the unit wasn't approved; at most, in ten days you'll have to pack up and leave."

"I've thought of a way now that can guarantee you stay in the unit 100%; you say you disagree, what are you playing at here?"

Zhou Kaidong lowered his head, silent.

Ma Qing'an pointed at him: "I'll ask you one last time, this method—do you agree or not?"

Zhou Kaidong looked up, staring at him: "Company Commander, serving is hard."

"Obvious!"

"If it's just to become a Non‑commissioned Officer, there's no need to work this hard."

He Zhen Tao turned his head to look at him, and even Ma Qing'an was momentarily stunned, not knowing what he wanted to say?

Zhou Kaidong took a deep breath and solemnly said: "I know, if I get my situation published in the military newspaper so everyone knows I'm homeless, I will definitely receive special treatment from the unit......"

"Your primary issue now is staying in the unit, not these things!" Ma Qing'an tapped his fingers on the table, raising his voice a few notches.

"But if staying means using self‑pity to gain sympathy, I'd rather leave right now." Zhou Kaidong's tone was very resolute.

Ma Qing'an's tone softened a bit: "I know this method may stray from your true intentions, may be opportunistic, but you must understand that at this critical juncture it's the only way to help you stay."

He Zhen Tao also earnestly urged: "Some things can be ignored and passed. You've fought in the troops for twelve years, shed a lot of sweat; to leave like this—are you willing?"

Zhou Kaidong admitted: "Of course I'm not content, but if memories were all beautiful, they wouldn't be called memories."

He looked at the two superiors: "Company Commander, Instructor, I know you have my best interests at heart, but no feast lasts forever; troops always have arrivals and departures. Only through the turnover of old and new can all things be renewed, and the unit grow stronger."

"Being able, over these twelve years, to earn honor for the Sixth Company, contribute my part, and give our company a soldier as outstanding as Lu Yang, I'm already very satisfied."

"Whatever lies ahead, good or bad, I want to face it myself, and I hope you respect my choice. Let me leave in the most dignified way, rather than stay in the most humiliating way."

"I don't want to be treated differently, I don't want to receive this stay‑in‑the‑unit slot out of pity or compassion. It's unfair—to me and to others."

He Zhen Tao and Ma Qing'an were silent for a long while, then finally sighed: "You—have you really made up your mind?"

Zhou Kaidong smiled and nodded: "Since the first day I enlisted, I've resolved to shed the uniform and become a civilian again! Let Lu Yang walk the road ahead for me."

"Then, do you have any wishes?"

"No, the unit has treated me well enough; I have no other wishes, nor any regrets!"

"Understood, you may go back first."

"Yes!"

Zhou Kaidong gave a vigorous salute, turned and left the office.

Yet the moment the door closed, his heart felt as if an invisible hand squeezed it hard, causing sharp pain.

Zhou Kaidong leaned against the wall; a few short steps made his collar soak with tears, his heart aching immensely.

He didn't want to leave, yet he had to.

He wanted to stay, but a soldier's backbone wouldn't allow it.

He is a soldier, a steadfast Longguo soldier of iron bones, and he won't let himself live forever in others' pity and compassion.

Zhou Kaidong wiped his face hard, took a deep breath and stepped out of the office building.

Yet at the corner propaganda board, he saw Lu Yang preparing a blackboard bulletin.

The bulletin's theme was very fitting, precisely: "Old and new turnover, all things renewed, the transmission and inheritance of the unit's spirit..."