Chapter 301: What caliber dares to compare with Platoon Leader Lu?

"Old fellow, what are you doing?"

Kang Changyi hurriedly tucked the thing into his chest, feeling uneasy as he turned back.

"Um, can I try the water to see if it's still hot?"

"Oh, oh, oh, it's fine if it's not scalding; as long as it's hot water, that's fine."

"Do you want hot water?"

"No, I wanted to ask if you sell that…"

"Which one?"

Seeing the soldier squirm, Kang Changyi was full of questions.

After a long hesitation, the soldier finally squeezed out a voice from between his teeth: "It's that thing girls use."

Kang Changyi let out a sound: "You mean a sanitary pad? We don't have that thing."

"Alright."

The new recruit left dejectedly, and Kang Changyi handed the hot water kettle to Lu Yang.

The Strong Army armored vehicle sells instant noodles with hot water; that's practically standard equipment.

After all, you can't let them chew on plain instant noodles, right?

The new recruits sat on the ground, eating, drinking, and resting, finally feeling like they were alive again.

Fortunately, they ran into a Strong Army armored vehicle halfway, where they could buy something to appease their stomachs.

Otherwise, relying only on fried noodles, cold water, and compressed biscuits, they truly wouldn't know how to get through the rest of the journey.

Now that I think about it, how the predecessors endured those hard years and defeated the enemy under such extreme, starving conditions is nothing short of a miracle!

LiMin crouched on the ground, asked Lu Yang for more hot water, and then, with practiced ease, struck up conversation.

"Old fellow, do you live nearby?"

"Hmm, just the county town ahead."

"You don't look that old; how long have you been in this line of work?"

"Less than a year. We're cousins; his wife ran off with someone not long ago, and I graduated from a technical secondary school last year, didn't know what to do, so we just partnered up and started a little bread‑van business."

When you're out in the world, identity and face are things you give yourself.

Even though Lu Yang was spouting nonsense, the new recruits still listened attentively.

And the way Lu Yang and the other guy dressed, their demeanor, even their ages, matched the fresh graduates from the county town.

However, the looks they cast at Kang Changyi carried a hint of pity.

"How's the money coming in?" someone asked curiously, wondering if the Strong Army armored vehicle was making profit.

"So‑so, but we don't expect to make money off this."

"Then what do you rely on?"

Lu Yang chuckled, lowered his voice: "Fifty yuan for an enemy sniper spot, a hundred yuan for an enemy fire‑position layout, five hundred yuan and I can directly lead you to the enemy Headquarters. Believe it or not?"

"Whoa, is it really that awesome?"

"Five hundred yuan and we get led straight to the enemy Headquarters—that's such a bargain!"

"No wonder they say the Strong Army old fellows have boundless abilities; you guys are amazing—how do you get your hands on everything?"

The new recruits' eyes flashed with admiration, their faces full of reverence.

Lu Yang boasted that they had inside information and that anyone in need could just give them a call later.

Anyway, the units stationed nearby have various assessments and drills, and they've become intimately familiar with the terrain.

"Handsome, let's exchange contact info; if we need anything later, we can call directly and get a discount."

Lu Yang was giving a straightforward, honest new recruit his phone number, when someone unexpectedly warned him.

"My advice: don't try to take shortcuts."

"Why?"

The honest new recruit looked very puzzled.

LiMin, at a forty‑five‑degree angle, gazed up at the crescent moon climbing over the horizon, and said coolly, "Winning by such shortcuts isn't honorable. In the army you need backbone; as a person, you must rely on yourself."

"Well said!" someone led the applause: "Look at Brother Li's insight; when we get to the drill field, we should win by strength, not by cheating—what skill is that?"

"No wonder Brother Li is the undisputed Soldier King of our cohort!"

"Later, when we go down to the lower unit, Brother Li will definitely be assigned to Sixth Company, I say that myself!"

"I heard the top performers from the previous cohort also got assigned to Sixth Company, but I don't know who would be stronger compared to Brother Li."

The topic not only sparked the new recruits' interest, but also got the veterans perked up.

Leading the charge were Gao Feng, He Zhen Tao, and Cheng Jun; Kang Changyi, fearing Lu Yang hadn't heard, nudged him quietly.

Lu Yang also became interested; he wanted to hear how his senior was perceived by these new recruits.

"Do we even need to ask? Anyone who enlisted a year later than us would definitely be crushed by Brother Li."

"Ah, I don't deserve the praise, really."

LiMin's face was about to blossom with laughter, yet she kept waving her hands.

"If they're the same year, I can say Brother Li would absolutely crush them."

"He excels in both civil and martial arts, is all‑round, and his grasp of human affairs is top‑level."

"That's what you call the new generation beating the old; the new wave smashes the old wave on the beach."

"The troops have always let strength speak; who knows, after the lower unit, if Brother Li runs into him, he'll give him a lesson and he'll be silent? Hahaha......"

The new recruits burst into laughter; LiMin, though she told them not to speak recklessly, didn't refute anything.

Because he truly is the strongest overall in this cohort of the New Recruit Company.

Whether in dealing with people or handling conflicts and relationships among comrades, he exudes a certain maturity.

Even the Company Commander and the Instructor handed him an olive branch early on—doesn't that already explain the problem?

They say people lift each other up; watching LiMin immersed in his comrades' praise and unable to pull himself away, the veterans all gave a knowing smile.

The main figure is right in front of you, even your examiner, and you still can't recognize him; with that, you still want to smash the preceding wave on the beach—can you survive a single move under his hand before you speak?

Kang Changyi snorted coldly in his mind: What level are you, daring to compare with Platoon Leader Lu? At best you're only three‑quarters of Chen Panpan's level!

Lu Yang didn't mind; a new recruit should have the vigor of a newborn calf that isn't afraid of tigers.

Among soldiers, there has never been anyone who truly submits to anyone else.

New recruits challenging veterans is also a common occurrence.

Moreover, the New Recruit Company is cut off from information; they don't know what's happening outside, so mysterious confidence is normal.

Watching Lu Yang silently carrying the thermos, smiling as he pours water for the new recruits.

The veterans truly have that feeling of a web‑novel protagonist stepping into reality.

Enduring humiliation and bearing weight, playing the pig to eat the tiger—this part has indeed been mastered by that kid Lu Yang.

Military life is dull and tedious, but as long as you have eyes that can spot fun, you can make the days quite enjoyable.

Lu Yang looks forward to the expression this kid will have after joining the Sixth Company under his command; and that, too, is what Kang Changyi anticipates.

A moment later, Lu Yang and the other person used a Black Garbage Bag to pack up all the leftover cardboard boxes and take them away.

Protecting the environment is everyone's responsibility.

Before leaving, Gao Feng and the others gave a look, indicating that the next act was yours to perform.

"Ha~"

"Why are you sleepy right after eating?"

"Been tired all day, just ate, so sleepiness is normal."

Having just finished eating and drinking, someone in the squad started yawning.

Then the yawns spread like contagion, reaching the entire company.

Gao Feng simply ordered everyone to nap on the spot, and resume marching after two hours.

During a field forced march, sleeping in the woods is perfectly normal.

But considering the possibility of sabotage, the new recruits in LiMin's squad heightened their vigilance.

Having the sling on the neck wasn't enough; it also had to be wrapped around the wrist, then the rifle clutched tightly to the chest, fearing that someone might steal it while asleep.

Soon the sedative took effect; the new recruits collapsed in all directions in the woods, snoring so loudly it shook the heavens.

"Everyone asleep?"

"Checked, all asleep."

"They won't wake up, will they?"

"Wake up? After taking a sleeping pill, how could they?"

"Then let's begin!"

At Gao Feng's command, the veterans all grinned wickedly, rubbing their hands, their knives flashing as they approached the defenseless new recruits on the ground.

The night's cool wind brushed by, making the treetops rustle.

LiMin, chilled, curled his body and groggily opened his eyes.

The sky had turned completely dark, but by moonlight one could barely see the companions sprawled haphazardly nearby.

He felt the 81mm rifle in his chest, cold as an ice pop, confirming the gun and magazine were there, and his heart steadied.

He closed his eyes, preparing to nap a bit longer, but suddenly felt his lower body chilling.

He reached out to grab, only finding a leg hair—nothing else.

LiMin jerked his eyes open, looked down and saw his long pants and trousers had vanished, leaving only a pair of underwear and two hairy legs exposed to the air.

"WTF, where are my pants?!!"

"What's wrong, what's wrong, what happened?"

"Did you see my pants? My damn pants are gone!"

"Ah, how could that be? Your pants... WTF, where are my pants? Mine are gone too!"

"All of ours are gone, what on earth is happening?"

"It must be flower thieves, it's over, as a soldier my chastity is gone. Eek eek eek, I can't go on~"

Just as the new recruits were in chaos, searching everywhere for their pants.

Behind a tree not far away, Lu Yang stuck out a half‑face, looking grim.

He had a metal whistle made from a shell between his teeth, a mischievous grin crossing his lips...