Chapter 345: Whipping Up Some Night Snacks, 7‑7‑8

"Where's my knife, where's my knife?"

"Don't block me, don't let anyone block me!"

Time rushed backward, returning to the deep night thirteen hours earlier.

At 3:25 a. m., in the office of the Armed Police Mobile Third Detachment's headquarters building.

Bound hand and foot, Lu Yang watched the three angry armed police officers in front of him, their faces flushed red, and couldn't help yawning.

Before coming, Lu Yang was a bit worried, but when he learned the other side had a request of him, their positions switched.

Since they had a request, of course they wouldn't dare to do anything to him.

Lu Yang tested this with a cheeky comment of his own and got confirmation.

Lu Yang proactively asked, "What do you want me to help with?"

Only then did the three fall silent; Deputy Political Commissioner, Lieutenant Colonel Xu, spoke, "You should know?"

"I don't know."

"Can you know?"

"I really don't know."

The three turned their backs, huddled, and unanimously thought Lu Yang was being overly cheeky.

Playing dumb with him, this guy would keep pretending to be deaf and mute, acting as if he didn't know.

Deputy Political Commissioner Xu said bluntly, "I know your Special Third Regiment will start a full equipment replacement next week; we want you to step forward and help coordinate it."

Lu Yang, surprised, said, "You think so highly of me; is this something I can actually do?"

The tall, burly Detachment commander Zou Bin explained, "Old Xu and your Regiment's Political Commissioner Tan are good friends…"

"Then why not go straight to him? Why involve me?"

"We need a lobbyist."

"But I have no clout."

"You do have clout; you just earned a first‑class merit in the Regiment, highly valued by the Division; moreover, this mess was caused by you, so you must agree!"

Lu Yang tried to scratch his nose to ease the awkwardness, only to find his hands and feet were still bound.

He instinctively lowered his head, intending to rub his nose against the shoulder, but suddenly stopped.

He gave the three a very odd look, as if saying, "You're being so clueless, why haven't you untied me yet?"

Deputy Political Commissioner Xu hummed, "If we untie you and you run away, what then?"

Lu Yang sneered, "If I run, won't you catch me?"

"Hahaha, you damn fool!"

They've never in their lives seen such a shameless, foul‑mouthed guy.

But for the sake of the whole Detachment's nearly thousand soldiers' re‑equipment issue, they untied Lu Yang.

Lu Yang wiggled his wrist, curiously asking, "You're armed police, we're Army; the uniforms seem different, right?"

Detachment commander Zou Bin hurriedly explained, "The 07‑type armed police summer camouflage and the 07‑type summer Army uniform you're wearing are basically the same in style and construction; only the camouflage pattern has slight differences."

"We don't wear them out; daily training wear is sufficient, just don't put our Detachment's shoulder boards and armed police insignia on them later."

"As for the 07‑type combat boots, the Army and armed police look almost identical; you can't tell the difference externally, only the internal steel stamp differs."

Deputy Political Commissioner Xu added, "We mainly want combat boots; training uniforms are secondary. In the unit, many junior soldiers' shoes have been patched repeatedly and are now too worn to wear."

That final sentence left Lu Yang feeling somewhat guilty.

No wonder they say a single grain of sand of the era falling on an individual becomes a mountain.

Back then, Lu Yang only wanted to help a desperate, pitiful mother and daughter and resolve the trouble quickly, never imagining it would trigger a butterfly effect.

Seeing Lu Yang begin to reflect, showing signs of conscience, Deputy Political Commissioner Xu quickly seized the opportunity.

"You handled that mother‑daughter case; what's past is past, we don't intend to hold you accountable."

"After all, our own staff also had some negligence, failing to promptly care for the martyr's family, not being the first they thought of in trouble."

"But our Third Detachment is innocent, merely got shot while lying down; you should understand that, right?"

Lu Yang nodded like a chick pecking at rice, agreeing with his point.

Zou Bin took over, "I know rescuing the abducted, trapped women was your idea; you also deliberately fired to leave a clue, leading us into the mountains."

"That shows you have responsibility, conscience, kindness; now, our Detachment's nearly thousand soldiers are yearning day and night to wear new shoes and new clothes."

"As long as you go back, explain the specifics to the Regiment, show that you want to lend a hand; with us pushing our weight, I think this won't be hard."

Head of the Administration Department said, "Our training volume is huge, shoes and socks wear out badly, irregular replacements just don't work; your Army's training volume is small, you can endure a bit."

Deputy Political Commissioner Xu: "Lu Yang, this matter started because of you, but as long as you can do us this small favor, we will never pursue it again."

Facing the three's successive persuasion, Lu Yang remained silent for a while before asking.

"How did you find me?"

"We have connections in the headquarters."

"So the headquarters commander also knows?"

"Hmm."

A flash of panic flickered in Lu Yang's eyes.

He immediately thought of that little old man in a jacket at the night market.

So it wasn't an ordinary old armed police officer at all, but a senior officer of the headquarters?

He had previously heard that some idle old officers, who were a pain, liked to disguise themselves to frighten the junior officers; this appears to be true.

What, making the old man buy cigarettes, buy sunflower seeds, steal watermelons—these were all the works of those old officers.

"For now, no other Detachment knows about me, right?" Lu Yang asked tentatively.

"If you agree to help, the other detachments won't know; if you refuse, we guarantee that all industry colleagues will know the name Lu Yang."

"From now on, whenever you take leave, go out, visit relatives, even if it's a field exercise, I guarantee a bunch of old soldiers will be waiting for you; I'm done talking, believe it or not."

Facing such blunt threat, Lu Yang sweated profusely, truly caught on a tiger he couldn't get off.

He probably understood the other's intention, already knowing the Regiment's Political Commissar Tan, and also doing his own lobbying.

If the Regiment Commander wants to suppress the impact of this matter, to keep himself and his future political prospects, he'll probably have to bite the bullet and agree.

Although it started as a good deed, it inevitably alarmed the Army theater command and the Armed Police Corps.

According to reports, later even the Eastern theater's Navy command and the Air Force command learned of this.

So the impact is so great that not even the Regiment can withstand it, and even the Division is overwhelmed.

One Army regiment corresponds to one Armed Police detachment, with roughly the same manpower.

Using a few clothes and shoes to buy some peace, this deal is still relatively worthwhile.

But Lu Yang has always been a soft‑over‑hard kind of person; how could he be so easily manipulated?

"Helping with this favor isn't impossible."

"Did you agree?"

"Uh‑huh."

Seeing Lu Yang nod, the three instantly got excited.

As long as this kid agrees, they are at least seventy percent sure they can get that batch of equipment.

Later, waiting for the weekend, when the soldiers are asleep at night, they plan to quietly place new clothes and shoes at each bedside like Santa Claus, giving the junior soldiers a surprise.

Lu Yang: "But I have a condition?"

"No problem, I can let you go right now!"

"Not that, I've changed my mind now; I don't want to leave that quickly."

"What does that mean?"

Lu Yang didn't answer, but instead rubbed his stomach and shyly asked.

"I'm a bit hungry; could we get some midnight snack?"

"Alright, what do you want to eat? Shall I cook you some instant noodles?"

"I'm a patient; eating instant noodles isn't healthy."

"Then what do you want to eat? Let the Cook Squad make it for you."

"Oh, no need to trouble yourself; actually I'm not that hungry…"

Zou Bin waved his hand: "Since you're here you're a guest; once you reach our three detachments we can't let you go hungry, can we?"

Since that's what was said, Lu Yang bluntly replied, "Then let the Cafeteria simply make a hot pot, slice a few plates of beef and lamb, prepare a cold platter, stir‑fry a couple of hot dishes, and bring a dozen beers, that'll do."

Zou Bin's face was full of disbelief: "In the middle of the night, ordering so much—can you even eat it?"

Lu Yang said earnestly, "Just a simple fix for now; we'll have a proper meal later at breakfast."

The three were instantly speechless: "Are you a pig, you can eat so much?"

"The condition you mentioned earlier is just to eat a full meal?"

"I haven't decided yet; let's talk after I'm full."

……

"Hurry up and make food; I have hypoglycemia, and if I get too hungry I can't remember things. Alright, you all go out first; I'll catch a quick nap, call me when I'm done."

Watching the old fellow lie down on the sofa, close his eyes and fall asleep, Lu Yang—who never sees himself as an outsider—made the three's eyebrows seem about to catch fire.

If anyone had a gun at hand, they would hate to empty their magazines on Lu Yang.

Considering they still had to rely on him for help, they could only suppress their anger, constantly reminding themselves not to get angry.

They must prioritize the big picture; everything is for the detachment, everything for the grassroots company soldiers!