Chapter 35: I suspect your soldiers, their hands and feet aren't clean!

"What's the situation over there?"

"You don't know?"

"I think I heard someone shouting 'catch the thief'?"

"You must have misheard; why does it sound to me like digging a ditch?"

Zhou Kaidong's front foot had just left, and the Third Squad new recruits immediately started chatting.

Because they were facing away from the Cafeteria, they didn't see what happened clearly.

While talking, they were collectively led astray by Kong Long's dog‑brained ideas, ending up completely confused.

Just as they were debating whether to go over and see what was happening, the First Squad Leader whistled from afar and ran over.

Before Zhou Kaidong left, worried that the new conscripts would be undisciplined without supervision, he specifically asked them to help keep an eye on things.

"What are you doing, what are you doing, who told you to come down from the Flag Platform, did you damn think you could disband, all of you stand back up!"

"First Squad Leader, we've reached the time."

Kong Long hurried to explain, but the First Squad Leader didn't listen at all.

"Don't try to fool me with a few tricks!"

"Stand in military stance on the balls of your feet, get up right now!"

"I'm not as easygoing as your Squad Leader, don't make me repeat that a second time!"

The Third Squad new recruits wanted to cry but had no tears; damn, we just finished punishment standing, and now this again?

The First Squad Leader's bad temper is famous throughout the Whole Company; every sentence is full of emotional particles, the kind that can't speak without throwing in some profanity.

Can't we replace him with another Squad Leader? The Second Squad Leader's personality is much better; he smiles at everyone!

"Stand straight!"

"Body slightly forward!"

"I tell you to lean forward, why the damn heck is your butt sticking up so high!"

Kong Long wanted to cry but had no tears; his butt got hit again, a second time.

He now has no mind to worry about what happened over there; he just wants this hot‑tempered First Squad Leader to leave quickly.

This guy not only speaks harshly, but also hits with deadly force, much harsher than the Squad Leader!

"Run, run again?"

"Can't you run?"

"You fresh conscript, really think our Cook Squad doesn't do physical training, huh?"

Meanwhile, at the corner of the junkyard wall.

Ding Tengfei panicked and ran blindly, eventually being caught up by two or three Cook Squad veterans, who pressed him against the wall.

These veterans were very strong, giving him no chance to resist; no matter how he struggled, it was useless.

Lu Yang arrived a bit late, rushed in and shoved the people aside, shielding Ding Tengfei behind him.

"Squad Leaders, if there's something to say, say it properly, if there's something to say, say it properly— is there some misunderstanding?"

"Misunderstanding?" Senior Private Liu Cheng gasped, a cold sneer on his face.

"I tell you, this afternoon I was watching you work, mainly to keep an eye on this kid!"

"I knew from early morning this kid's hands and feet weren't clean, and indeed I actually caught him!"

Lu Yang tried to say something to buy time, but was roughly shoved aside.

At that moment he realized his physique compared to the veterans was far from a little bit inferior.

In the unit, after serving two or three years, one's physical ability far surpasses that of ordinary people.

My older brother, after two years as a Conscript, has been back for many years; he can easily do ten pull‑ups and beat all his peers.

And Cook Squad soldiers, who daily chop vegetables and wield ladles, do all physical work, so their hand strength is not small.

It is said that during drills and field military skill contests, Cook Squad soldiers can carry a Big Iron Pot and two buckets of oil and still move swiftly as if flying.

Especially after cooking, a dedicated person must carry a Special Insulated Box across the battlefield to deliver meals to the front line; this skill is beyond what ordinary soldiers can match.

Lu Yang, because his foundation is really weak, is, up to now, only average in physical ability among all new recruits.

Although there is a system, the growth system starts slowly, taking a steady, methodical approach, needing time to catalyze, and the results become more evident in later stages.

If Lu Yang had a physique like Kong Long's before enlisting, he wouldn't have been directly ignored and roughly shoved aside by those veterans!

This further fuels his determination to break through physically and become a Soldier King!

"Hand it over!"

"Let go!"

"Let go of my hands!"

Two veterans pressed Ding Tengfei, while Liu Cheng went up to snatch the Black Garbage Bag from his hands.

He believes that inside, it's bulging and heavy, definitely stolen goods.

If they can capture both the thief and the loot, that would be defending the Cook Squad's property.

At worst it would be a verbal commendation; if done well, they could even get a reward.

But subjectively, Liu Cheng had no intention of seeking merit; he spent the afternoon watching the two, also worried Ding Tengfei might cause some trouble.

After all, from top to bottom of the Whole Company, who doesn't know this is a universally disliked Trouble Spirit, who has caused many messes before?

It's like a blind cat meeting a dead mouse, finally catching him dead on the spot!

Ding Tengfei struggled fiercely, even opening his mouth to bite one man's arm.

"Ah— damn, you are a dog!"

In pain, someone let go.

The other person, clearly also afraid of being bitten, voluntarily released his hand.

But they also helped Liu Cheng, together snatching those two Large Garbage Bags from Ding Tengfei's hands.

The bag mouth faced down, and with a whoosh, everything inside tumbled out.

Fruit fragments, rotten vegetable scraps, packaging bags, and all kinds of bottles and jars scattered on the ground.

The mixed smell of kitchen waste was truly unpleasant, yet no "stolen goods" were found?

Liu Cheng was a bit bewildered, even squatting on the ground, picking and sorting with his hands, but still found nothing.

"What's going on?"

"How could there be none?"

"Liu Cheng, what are you up to?"

"Did you actually see him steal anything? Don't miss it!"

Pushed like that by the veteran, Liu Cheng's face instantly became a bit flustered.

He muttered, uttering words like maybe, should, perhaps, or something of that sort.

Lu Yang, seeing this, finally breathed a sigh of relief, intending to take Ding Tengfei away, but was blocked again.

"Wait a moment!"

Liu Cheng stood up, still staring at Ding Tengfei unrelentingly: "Since you didn't steal anything, I let you stay put; if you weren't feeling guilty like a thief, why would you run?"

Tengfei explained: "You chased me, that's why I ran."

"If you didn't run, why would I chase you?"

"If you didn't chase, how could I run?"

"If you didn't run, how would I…"

Liu Cheng almost got drawn into it, but immediately raised his hand to stop.

He was about seventy‑or‑eighty percent confident that Ding Tengfei had indeed done something.

Even if he didn't steal anything, he likely caused some damage or performed a retaliatory sabotage.

So for now he can't be let go; it's best to bring him back to the Cafeteria for a thorough check, and release him later if there's no issue.

But Lu Yang cannot let them just seize Ding Tengfei and haul him away like a prisoner; even if something's up, they must wait until the Squad Leader arrives!

As Lu Yang and the other side were having a verbal dispute, hindering them from taking the person away, Zhou Kaidong finally arrived.

But he didn't rush in; instead, with a cold face, he walked step by step from the training ground direction.

Even with his anger, Zhou Kaidong's aura was still very strong; the three cooks together were younger in service than him, and they instantly, without hesitation, released Ding Tengfei.

"What's happening?"

Zhou Kaidong, with a cold face, walked over, not looking at Ding Tengfei, but first questioning the three cooks.

The two first‑phase Non‑commissioned Officers all turned to Liu Cheng; earlier they had also chased out after hearing someone shout about stealing.

Now there's nothing, maybe even a blunder, so naturally Liu Cheng, that kid, has to take the blame.

Liu Cheng was still quite intimidated by Zhou Kaidong, because Zhou Kaidong reminded him of the strict Squad Leader who had once led him.

"Platoon Leader, I suspect your troops are not clean‑handed!"

"Suspect?"

"Yes!"

"Any evidence?"

"Um, currently none..."