Chapter 37: There is only one truth!

What's wrong, urgently urging me to come back?

Gao Feng took some time to return to his old unit to handle some errands, when He Zhen Tao suddenly called, urging him to hurry back.

On the phone, he kept asking about the situation, but he refused to say, insisting on waiting until he came back to talk.

This made him frantic, almost summoning the roadside military police due to speeding.

At the base of the compound, He Zhen Tao was already waiting ahead of time, even proactively opening the car door for him.

What's wrong, what happened?

A small issue came up.

A small issue?

Come on, let's go to my office.

The two walked up the stairs with small steps.

Gao Feng, however, was unusually curious: 'What exactly is going on, making it so mysterious? Could it be that you know my birthday is coming up and prepared a surprise in advance?'

He Zhen Tao didn't have the mood to joke: 'It's Ding Tengfei causing trouble again.'

In detail?

He stole something, caught red-handed by the cooking squad, with both person and goods seized.

Damn it, truly a dog can't change its habit of eating feces. I thought this kid had turned over a new leaf, but it turns out it was just a smoke bomb?

Gao Feng was furious: 'What did he steal, is it serious?'

Stir-fried noodles.

Stir-fried noodles?

Gao Feng had just placed his hand on the handle, ready to push the door open, when he suddenly stopped.

He turned his head, looking somewhat bewilderedly at He Zhen Tao beside him.

What stir-fried noodles, sea cucumber stir-fried noodles?

It's the first meal upon enlistment, the stir-fried noodle powder given to new recruits to recall hardship and think of sweetness, plus two bottles of milk nearing expiration.

That kid isn't used to eating it, why would he steal that?

He Zhen Tao spread his hands: 'I'm not sure either; we can only ask him.'

Gao Feng furrowed his brow, thought for a moment, then pushed the door and entered together with the instructor.

In the office, Ding Tengfei stood with red-rimmed eyes, shoulders twitching, punished to stand against the wall.

His body, cap, and hair were still dotted with a light beige powder, also filling the room with a faint aroma of toasted grain.

……

Squad Leader.

Squad Leader?

In the cafeteria at dusk, the new recruits were eating.

Just as Kong Long had anticipated, there was stir-fried leek yellow with eggs on the table tonight.

It's a side dish that rivals garlic sprout stir-fried meat, a favorite of every soldier, perfect for mixing with rice.

But tonight everyone ate unusually restrained, even Zhou Kaidong seemed a bit dazed and distracted.

Lu Yang called out twice, and the squad leader finally snapped out of it, asking him what was wrong.

Squad Leader, would you like some soup?

Oh, sure.

The soup was closer to Lu Yang's side, so he would conveniently serve the person sitting farther away, saving them from having to stand up.

Lu Yang ladled a full bowl of tomato egg soup and handed it to Zhou Kaidong.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Their exchange made the others at the table pause their actions, unable to help exchanging glances.

Before, when helping the squad leader serve rice, soup, or pass chopsticks, he would just grunt or nod slightly.

Saying thank you so formally seemed like a first time.

This sudden politeness made everyone inexplicably feel somewhat distant and unaccustomed.

It was like a very familiar friend suddenly becoming formal and courteous.

At that moment, Kong Long and the others suddenly lowered their voices, quietly asking Lu Yang.

Assistant Squad Leader, why on earth did Ding Tengfei steal the stir-fried noodles?

He's not used to it, yet he secretly took it back—what's the point?

It's dry and hard on the throat; without water it's impossible to swallow—why must he steal this, aren't apples and oranges fragrant enough?

Lu Yang didn't answer, but instead told everyone to eat and not think about these random things.

But actually, he already had a guess in his heart, but couldn't voice it.

Furthermore, Lu Yang believed the squad leader also harbored the same suspicion.

It was precisely this suspicion that made him deeply regret his previous actions, regretting his overly harsh behavior toward Ding Tengfei and even uttering such unpleasant words.

But just then, Kong Long, whose brain was usually not very sharp, suddenly seemed to have an epiphany.

You say, is there a possibility?

I mean, suppose, if, assuming, could Ding Tengfei possibly be because……

Lu Yang kicked him under the table to remind him not to speak nonsense.

But Kong Long, like a simpleton, directly asked Lu Yang.

Why are you kicking me with your foot?

"There isn't?"

"It wasn't you? Then who shoved me?"

Kong Long lowered his head in confusion toward the space under the table, and Lu Yang, seeing the scene, was also speechless.

This speculation isn't unspeakable, but it's best not to say it now, especially not in public.

Because for Zhou Kaidong, this would be a public execution.

Many things are neither black nor white, nor must they be judged right or wrong.

If the speculation is eventually confirmed, Zhou Kaidong would be in a very awkward position.

When he should be praising, he would mistakenly strike and humiliate a soldier's self‑esteem, and would surely feel deep remorse and guilt.

Unless this speculation is wrong…

But Lu Yang thinks it's highly unlikely.

In the past, whether it was being reprimanded for smoking or being locked up for a mistake, Ding Tengfei never cried even once.

Yet this time the Squad Leader didn't actually lay a hand on him; after saying a few harsh words, he cried so sorrowfully.

Besides feeling aggrieved, Lu Yang truly can't think of any other reason.

As for why he feels aggrieved and upset…

"There is only one truth…"

Kong Long's eyes flashed with cleverness as he boldly hypothesized: "He must be trying to use that thing to secretly swap out my protein powder! Who wouldn't crave protein powder, who wouldn't keep it in mind?"

Lu Yang's mouth twitched; he had somewhat overestimated Kong Long's IQ.

If Kong Long could even think of that level, his brain would have to be at least ninety‑nine percent developed, requiring dozens of pounds of tendon meat to exchange!

The others nodded one after another, thinking Kong Long made a lot of sense.

Some also guessed that he might be trying to destroy all the Cafeteria's fried noodles to prevent another bitter‑sweet reminiscence.

Even some said Ding Tengfei did it simply to deliberately toy with that Senior Private.

Who let that guy deliberately pick fights and trouble them, even watching Lu Yang and the others as they work like a stalker?

"If Ding Tengfei only took a bit of fried noodles, the problem shouldn't be that serious, right?"

"We've also stolen eggs, buns; I even secretly took an extra bottle of milk. If it were pursued, it'd be far worse than his."

"So, I'm curious: who actually stole the items the Cook Squad lost?"

"Could it be that our New Recruit Company really caused a thief uproar?"

……

"You tell us, you tell us?"

In the back kitchen, the stove had already been quieted, and the hygiene that needed cleaning was cleaned up.

The Director of Affairs pointed at the group of veteran Cook Squad members before him, his anger uncontainable.

"I just went out to handle some business, delivered a few things to the Regiment, and you all caused me such a big trouble?"

"Director of Affairs, you can't blame us; it's that Ding Tengfei…"

Senior Private Liu Cheng was about to speak when the Director of Affairs forcibly cut him off.

"Don't tell me that. I'm asking you: for a bag of fried noodles and two bottles of near‑expiry milk, is it necessary to make a big fuss, stirring up the whole city?"

"Even if he didn't take fried noodles, but apples, oranges, bananas, what difference does it make?"

"We're a Cafeteria, not an ammunition depot, not an armory! Our purpose is to feed the soldiers well so they have strength to train, not to act like a security checkpoint for everything!"

The Director of Affairs pounded the table, angry: "That new recruit from the sixth squad came to help, every time he's stuffed his chest and back full, like bringing in supplies—what did I say?"

Liu Cheng awkwardly explained: "Report, that's different."

"Different how?"

"Little Zhou from the sixth squad has a chef's certificate; he'll become one of our Cook Squad members, so…"

"So we can turn a blind eye, so we can treat them differently, so the one who worked all afternoon, tidied the Warehouse perfectly, is the thief, while the other isn't?"

The Director of Affairs raised his voice sharply; Liu Cheng hurriedly fell silent, daring not to speak further.

He patted his chest, sorrowful, and said: "Comrades, my heart aches, I am truly pained!"

"For such a trivial matter, you forcefully pinned a new recruit in the trash‑corner, even rummaged through his belongings; how is that any different from street thugs?"

"All of you must reflect properly, especially you!"

Liu Cheng is like a mute eating bitter herbs; he has bitterness he can't voice.

He originally thought they could make a commendation, but instead got scolded.

The other veterans who suffered an unexpected disaster now hate that guy; if he hadn't shouted about stealing, they wouldn't have chased him.

But one thing they still can't figure out is who stole the things hidden in the jars.

The Director of Affairs asked: "By the way, earlier you said something was lost; what was lost?"

The Cook Squad Leader quickly said: "Several mobile phones, mp4s, and two packs of cigarettes."

"Aren't these already turned in? How do you still have them?"

"Um, this…"

The veterans stammered, clearly nervous and guilty.

The Director of Affairs sneered, instantly realizing these guys had all been illegally stashing electronic products.

No wonder they were so agitated earlier; they feared the East‑window incident, being scolded by the Company Commander and Instructor.

"Where did you hide the items, and how did they disappear?"

"We hid all the items in the Warehouse's kimchi jars, and in a blink they were gone."

"Kimchi jars, which ones?"

"Just the ten‑something jars of pickled radish and salty vegetables in the corner—aren't a few empty? Anything we can't let see the light we put in there; the last time the Deputy Political Commissioner came to inspect, we escaped that way."

Upon hearing this, the Director of Affairs first froze, then slapped his head, anxiously jumping up and down.

Oh dear, you lot, you lot, you've really gotten me into trouble!

I specifically went this afternoon to deliver pickles to the regiment's leaders, and on a whim I just grabbed two jars and left.

What? You, you actually sent it to the regiment leaders???

The veteran soldiers were stunned, all asking which regiment leader it was sent to, and whether it could be retrieved.

The Director of Affairs anxiously scratched his ears and cheeks—having just sent it off, now he wants it back; isn't that just like trying to hide three hundred taels of silver?

But in the end he still decided to take a chance, planning to visit again, using the excuse that the pickles had spoiled or weren't properly pickled to see if he could get them back.

Just as the Director of Affairs and the Cook Squad Leader were rushing over, in the duty room on the second floor of the Tuan Bu headquarters...

The Deputy Political Commissioner in charge of standby duty, Tan Yuanzhou, held a bowl of porridge in one hand and chopsticks in the other.

Seeing the phone and MP4 inside the pickle jar, he wore an expression of bewildered incomprehension, yet also great shock.