Chapter 268: Being an Ordinary Soldier Is Actually Quite Good

"From Platoon Leader to ordinary soldier, how does this feeling of falling from the clouds feel?"

"I can't say."

"Why can't you say?"

"It's just... quite complicated, quite hard, and also..."

Kang Changyi paused, then sighed, "Anyway, there are gains and losses."

Xiong Yao stopped, turned back and looked at him, "First, tell me, what did you lose?"

Facing this uncle who had taught him how to be a person since childhood and would resort to violence at the slightest disagreement, Kang Changyi really dared not conceal anything.

"I lost my status, lost the military academy aura, and feel like years of effort have gone down the drain."

"I know I'm taking a detour, but I also know this stretch must be walked, so I've also wasted a lot of time."

Xiong Yao: "Then what did you gain?"

Kang Changyi's weary face lit up a little, "I gained everyone's respect, affection, help, and the most precious frontline practical experience."

"In the past, I always stood from an officer's perspective looking down on the troops below, feeling cultured, having received formal military education, and thought I was great."

"But now I can truly know the hardships of frontline soldiers, to feel and understand their difficulties."

"From ordinary soldier to clerk, I'm exhausted every day like a dog, my mind only wants to lie down and sleep."

"Actually, I just happened to be better at studying, so I got into a military academy; it's just a different duty, never superior to anyone."

Xiong Yao told him, "In this world there are two kinds of people; one kind is born knowing what they should do, working and living step by step, without excessive desires, thus without excessive thoughts, a life plain and uneventful."

"The other kind aims too high, heart higher than the sky, fate thinner than paper; many ideas, many desires, and is destined to fall."

"I am the latter."

Kang Changyi could now very calmly accept and acknowledge his own mistakes.

In fact, on many recent nights he would suddenly open his eyes and slap himself on both cheeks.

No wonder his uncle always beat him before; back then he simply thought Xiong Yao was a violent maniac; now he knows his past self truly deserved a beating.

Xiong Yao said earnestly, "The current you is someone who has fallen many times; when a person takes a detour and crawls out of a mud pit, they will cherish the present more and understand better how to walk their future path."

"Some people, even after leaving the troops, remain the same as before, never growing up."

"So now you understand why I insist on keeping you here?"

"Hmm."

Kang Changyi nodded.

Back then he was single‑minded about being transferred.

He wanted to go to a broader platform to showcase his abilities.

He even once thought the Sixth Company was a small unit with no prospects.

Only now does he realize there has never been a bad unit or bad soldier, only incompetent commanders.

Kang Changyi voluntarily said, "Actually, the one I owe most thanks to for where I am now is Lu Yang."

Xiong Yao responded with a knowing "oh", then asked, "He was the one who beat you black‑and‑blue in the exercises; why would you thank him?"

"I commanded recklessly, causing the battlefield situation to worsen, I deserved a beating!" Kang Changyi said seriously, "If it were someone else, after beating me they'd probably never talk to me again. But he's really different; he has an indescribable aura..."

"Just like earlier on the stage, his actions were always so unexpected, yet I couldn't help thinking: Hmm, indeed it's you, it has to be you!"

"Strangely, he never attended a military academy and has only been enlisted for a year, yet I always feel he's born to be a commander; he has an innate leadership aura that unconsciously influences those around him."

"It's like this: Chen Panpan, Liu Ziqiang, Zhou Kaidong, and many others; even the Instructor is drawn to him."

Kang Changyi smiled, "I've never seen, nor imagined, such a soldier; it's amazing, yet it truly happens around me."

Xiong Yao agreed with these words, which is also the main reason Lu Yang could be exceptionally promoted by the Division.

Although their merit this time was indeed great, many in the Division have received individual second‑class merits.

But oddly, over all these years only this one was exceptionally promoted, directly to the rank of Lieutenant.

That shows the Division's regard for him; precisely, they value his ability to inspire more people with good leadership qualities.

A good soldier is one in a thousand; someone like Lu Yang who can lead a collective is truly one in a hundred thousand.

"Alright, let's stop talking about others and talk about you."

"You've made mistakes, accepted punishment, walked the necessary detours, and should now be qualified for a frontline command position."

"I intend to lift your punishment and restore you to the Platoon Leader position."

Kang Changyi was overjoyed, "Really? That's great!"

But immediately he was stunned, "But Lu Yang has already been promoted to Lieutenant, and the Sixth Company has no extra Platoon Leader for me to take?"

Xiong Yao explained, "The reason Lu Yang could be exceptionally promoted is partly because he filled your vacancy, and also..."

Xiong Yao hesitated, but after much thought still didn't finish: "If you want to be reinstated to your former rank, you naturally cannot stay in the Sixth Company."

"Huh?"

Kang Changyi was shocked, "Where will you transfer me? It won't be the tough Seventh Company, will it?"

Xiong Yao shook his head, "I plan to transfer you to the Division, serving behind me as intelligence staff; it's a great training opportunity, and you may later become a Chief of Staff."

"I refuse!"

Kang Changyi refused outright.

Xiong Yao frowned, clearly not expecting him to defy him.

"Weren't you the one constantly calling, saying you wanted to come to the Division? I agreed now, and you still refuse?"

"Back then I was immature; now I don't want to go anywhere, I just want to stay in the Sixth Company."

"But the Sixth Company has no position for you."

"Then I'll keep doing my clerical work, I don't want a promotion."

"Nonsense!"

Xiong Yao flared: "You've gotten hooked on grunt work at the base? Four years at military academy wasted? Clerical work—any soldier can do it, what do they need you for?"

Kang Changyi still shook his head: "Uncle, I know you mean well, but I really don't want to leave. I finally have a sense of presence in the Sixth Company, I finally am liked and accepted by everyone."

"If you don't come with me, next year you could be assigned to the Navy System; you've been afraid of water since childhood, you can't even swim—if you go there you'll be nothing!"

"When catching spies, I can't swim, but I still dare to go down!"

"How deep is that water? Do you know how high the waves get?"

"I don't need to know; I only know that with comrades around, with Lu Yang and them, I feel at ease! Army, Air Force, or Navy—I don't care; even starting from zero, even taking a detour, it doesn't matter!"

Kang Changyi stuck out his neck, resisting with reasoned argument.

This is the first time he's ever mustered the courage to stand up to his uncle from childhood.

He knew that going to the Division would definitely have better prospects; with his uncle's backing, he might even become a Deputy Chief of Staff in a few years.

But if the precondition for promotion is leaving the collective, leaving the Mechanized Infantry Sixth Company, having to part with Lu Yang and the others, he'd rather remain a private.

Xiong Yao angrily raised his hand; Kang Changyi instantly tensed his neck, flinching and closing his eyes.

But the imagined slap never landed; it merely lightly touched his head.

When he opened his eyes, Xiong Yao's previous fury vanished, his eyes filled with deep relief.

"You little brat, you've finally grown up, finally understood what a collective is, what comrades are."

"Seeing you like this, I'm relieved. Your future path is yours to walk—whether on land or at sea, Uncle won't interfere."

Kang Changyi's eyes were full of disbelief; he never dreamed this was just his uncle's test.

Perhaps he had actually agreed earlier, and thus couldn't go to the Division.

Maybe Uncle would have already slapped him, then scolded him for forgetting his roots, being shameless.

"Alright, go eat; your comrades are waiting for you. You did well this time, keep it up."

"Yes!"

Kang Changyi saluted his uncle, then turned and sprinted toward the Cafeteria.

Xiong Yao watched his retreating back, feeling moved and also deeply relieved.

Back then, he had merely wanted to give it a try, asking Lu Yang to teach his good-for-nothing nephew.

But he never expected that in just half a year he would be transformed, as if washed clean and reborn!

Xiong Yao muttered as he turned away: "How could such an outstanding soldier be given to the Navy? That's absolutely impossible!"

"Holy crap, what dish is this? And what is this dish again?"

"You guys don't leave me any, the food's cleaner than a dog's!"

Kang Changyi arrived late, only to find many plates on the table already empty.

Bare, not even a scrap of scallion or broth left—can't even tell what dish it originally was.

Although it's just a commendation, he did earn some merit, after all he's a company hero—why is it like this?

"Here!"

Just as Kang Changyi was there feeling sorry for himself, Lu Yang patted him from behind and handed him a plate.

Inside were a few pieces of sweet-and-sour spare ribs, a few stir-fried large shrimp, and a plump roasted duck leg.

"I saved this especially for you."

"Boo-hoo-hoo, Platoon Leader, I love you to death!"

"I don't love you, hurry up and eat—it's already getting cold."

"Mm!"

Kang Changyi gnawed on the duck leg, looking at the cheerful atmosphere around him, his heart both warm and steady.

At this moment, he truly felt that being an ordinary soldier, carefree, was actually not bad at all.