Chapter 275: I

"Hey, little brother, tell me—I need you to tell me yourself; this rank of yours, you stole it from your Platoon Leader, right? You brought his rank back?"

"It's fine, speak boldly; we're family, I promise not to tell anyone else, just the two of us need to know."

"Tell me the truth, don't force me to beg you; I'm begging you, I really am begging you!"

The older cousin rushed anxiously to Lu Yang's house, and when he saw the military uniform draped over the back of the chair, the corner of his eye twitched sharply.

Immediately after, he grabbed Lu Yang's arm, wanting him to tell the truth.

Even though he knows Lu Yang isn't the type who likes to pretend when not forced.

But he still wants Lu Yang to say with his own mouth: actually I'm joking, this rank is my Platoon Leader's, I'm just a Senior Private.

Even if, even if he was promoted to Non‑commissioned Officer early, even if he was kept in the unit early, Lu Lin could still barely accept it now.

Lu Yang let out a helpless sigh, "Alright, I won't fake it any longer, I'll lay my cards on the table."

"Hmm, hmm?"

A glimmer of hope finally flickered in his cousin's eyes.

Go on, keep talking, then?

Lu Yang took a Non‑commissioned Officer Rank from his travel bag and slapped it on the table: "Actually, I was just promoted to Non‑commissioned Officer early; these shoulder boards belong to my Platoon Leader."

"Ah ha!" his cousin slapped his thigh, eyes bright: "I knew it, I knew you were joking me. You little brat, you've got some guts, still daring to mess with your brother—does that mean the two years I served as your brother were in vain?"

There are so many talents in the unit; it's not that easy to be promoted out of turn. The odds are lower than winning a million in a lottery.

But you managed to get promoted to Non‑commissioned Officer after just one year; that's already impressive, already badass.

By the way, what's your current position in the unit? You must have been to the training detachment and become a Squad Leader, right?

Lu Yang shook his head: "I did go to the training detachment, but I never became a Squad Leader."

His cousin's mouth twitched, but he still spoke seriously: "As a veteran, I have to criticize you a bit; you need to set your mindset straight. Just because you've been to the training detachment doesn't automatically qualify you to be a Squad Leader."

Although you served as Deputy Squad Leader during your time in the New Recruit Company, after moving to the next company, to become a backbone of the battalion you need extensive experience and mature leadership experience.

In the unit, you have to settle your mind, earnestly follow the veterans to learn experience; who knows, maybe next year you'll become a Squad Leader and a backbone of the battalion.

Lu Yang nodded vigorously, looking sincerely eager to learn.

His cousin said with a sigh, "If I hadn't been discharged back then, maybe by the third year I could have become a squad officer. Back then, I was just that close—just that close—to earning the Four‑Have Medal…"

He pressed his thumb and forefinger together, making a tiny gesture, and asked, "Do you know what the Four‑Have are?"

Lu Yang hummed, "Having soul, having ability, having blood, having virtue."

His cousin laughed, "You know quite a lot? You need to work harder, strive to get a Four‑Have soon; then as a Squad Leader you'll definitely have the upper hand, and the grassroots commanders especially recognize this honor!"

Lu Yang fumbled in his bag, took out a small box and opened it, asking earnestly, "Brother, is the Four‑Have you mentioned something like this?"

"Damn!" his cousin's eyes widened, he stared for two seconds, "You… you also brought back your Squad Leader's honor medal?"

"You stole the Squad Leader's, you stole the Platoon Leader's, your nerve is too big! I only dared to pick up a whistle after being discharged; you're specifically targeting valuable stuff, and if you're caught they'll skin you!"

Lu Yang grinned, saying, "Alright, this time I'm not faking at all, I'm really laying my cards down. This Four‑Have Medal is mine."

"Yours?"

His cousin took it and examined it closely, his face full of disbelief.

Lu Yang simply pulled out the certificate as well; seeing the name and steel seal on it, his cousin had to believe it.

"You… you actually got the Four‑Have?"

"Actually, I not only have the Four‑Have, but also these…"

Lu Yang promptly took out the regiment‑level commendation honor certificate.

Also a Division competition medal: first place in the 5‑kilometer run, second place in precision shooting.

Next were a personal Third‑Class Merit Medal with its accompanying certificate; finally a personal Second‑Class Merit Medal and its certificate.

His cousin was dumbfounded, speechless; especially when Lu Yang pulled out that Second‑Class Merit Medal, it startled him so much he shot up from his chair.

"No, you, you, you aren't kidding me? All these honors, certificates, medals, awards, you earned them all in one year?"

"Uh."

"You've got some cheat mode, right!"

"Maybe."

Lu Yang honestly scratched his head, anyway he never cared.

His cousin was completely unsettled; he felt a bit short of breath.

If there were an oxygen tube nearby, he'd definitely put it on his mouth and take a few deep breaths.

Since childhood, Lu Yang had always been the little tag‑along running behind his backside.

As family, as cousins, his older cousin also hoped Lu Yang would do well in the unit, but didn't expect this kid to go full throttle in the troops.

This is just too exaggerated, insanely over the top!

Which family, after a year of enlistment, brings back this many honors?

Crazy, completely crazy—this is still the unit he knows, the frail little cousin who couldn't even do a few pull‑ups?

His own mediocrity is regrettable, but his brother's success is even more heartbreaking; he even wishes Lu Yang had just won a 5‑million lottery or landed an unbelievably gorgeous girl, so his heart could feel a bit better!

"Now, how many pull‑ups can you do?"

"Around a hundred in one go, no trouble."

"......"

"Brother, what's wrong with you? Why aren't you speaking, why did you leave?"

"Well, uh, at home the water's boiling…"

"Don't sit any longer, my dad went to buy groceries, let's stay a bit later and have a meal?"

"Not eating, no appetite, can't finish!"

His cousin suddenly got worked up.

He turned his head to look at the neatly arranged certificates, medals, plaques, and merit badges on the table, and that old face looked as if it had been twisted.

After two years as a conscript, he hadn't even gotten a four-haves, let alone become a non-commissioned officer; yet Lu Yang quietly brought back all that and even became an officer in the unit?

He's been putting on an act all this time, just waiting for this final moment to show off and get slapped in the face.

Damn, it's so infuriating, so heartbreaking!

It hurts my self-esteem, it really hurts my self-esteem!

Watching his cousin leave, Lu Yang chuckled.

The joy of life lies in showing off wherever you go.

All the honors and medals on this table were earned through his sweat and effort; it's only natural to show off a little in front of family.

Who let his cousin, before he enlisted, make a whistle from a bullet casing to mess with him and even teach him to blow the emergency assembly whistle?

Fortunately Lu Yang was quick-witted; otherwise, if he'd really believed that nonsense and gone to the rooftop at midnight to blow one long and five short, he'd definitely have been strung up and beaten by everyone.

Mom came out of the kitchen wearing an apron, holding some chives she'd picked, and said, "Why did Linlin Ge leave? Didn't you ask him to stay for a meal?"

Lu Yang chuckled: "I asked him to stay, but he didn't want to."

Why?

He's afraid to eat with the chief because it puts pressure on him.

Hahaha, you, don't get arrogant, hear me? After becoming a cadre in the unit, you should be even more down-to-earth and focused.

Lu Yang hurriedly put the certificates and medals back in his bag, stood straight with his legs together, and said, "Yes, female chief comrade!"

Hahaha......

Just then, the sound of an electric bike's chain came from outside; Father rode back on his little electric scooter, carrying a cartload of vegetables.

Seeing his lover so happy, he stopped the bike and asked curiously, "What's up? Why is Mom laughing so happily?"

Mother held some chives, imitating Lu Yang's earlier pose with legs together, and said, "Your son just did that, and even called me female chief comrade—oh my, it made me so happy!"

Lu Yongqiang burst out laughing: "In our family, your word is law—aren't you the biggest chief? Right, son?"

Lu Yang chimed in: "Mom, take a rest; I'll handle the kitchen. In the unit I specially learned a couple of skills from the cook squad, and I'll show you later. I'll take charge of the kitchen together with Old Lu comrade; you just sit aside, sip some tea, and relax."

Yuan AiQin couldn't stop smiling: "Good, good, good—I'm enjoying my blessings too~"