Chapter 372: In Full Military Gear, Setting Aside Longing

Hahaha......

Everyone burst into laughter, even Wang Zhongxi and Tan Yuanzhou were caught by the atmosphere.

Zheng Chengfeng's smile, on the contrary, was a bit stiff, somewhat forced.

He felt his appearance was like that of a villain.

What a harmonious team, what an amusing group of people.

If I didn't show up, the team's glory could continue, and its story would keep being written forever.

Just as a hint of melancholy rose in his heart, someone suddenly called his name—Lu Yang.

"Before the banquet officially begins, let's give the warmest applause to welcome the arrival of the South Sea Fleet chief of the Southern Theater."

"The chief's arrival is our greatest recognition and encouragement; everyone, give a warm welcome."

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Amid the applause, Zheng Chengfeng stood up and walked to the front.

Lu Yang, acting as the opening MC, stepped back half a step, handed the microphone over, but he shook his head and refused.

A company isn't that many people; even a slightly higher voice can be heard clearly.

"First, what I want to say is, you all surprised me; why would you say that?"

"Because today I came to your company and saw your wildly varied training methods; it was like a tiny knife pulling a butt, I couldn't take my eyes off it."

Hahaha......

Everyone laughed.

Thinking about what they've gone through this month, it's truly strange and bizarre.

Those inexplicable, wildly imaginative trainings are not something ordinary people could devise.

Especially the 'Lu Travel Device' invented by Lu Yang, a stroke of genius; anyone with a normal mind could never invent such a thing.

Zheng Chengfeng continued: "During this period, due to work requirements, I have been to many of your Army units one after another."

"But no unit is as proactive, optimistic, confident, and upward‑moving as yours."

"I told your Platoon Leader that every soldier in your company has light in their eyes—the light of hope for beauty, courage to challenge the future."

The multicolored tiny lights on the tree reflected in the eyes of Zhou Kaidong, Liu Ziqiang, Sun Chen, Chen Panpan, LiMin, Kang Changyi, Zhang Jiaheng and others.

The fleeting lights, dazzling, reflected in the soldiers' eyes as myriad colorful specks.

Even knowing the future road may be rough, they can maintain a calm composure at this moment.

Because seeing Lu Yang steadies their hearts; his warmth and positivity infect every member of the Sixth Company.

"Finally!" Zheng Chengfeng raised a finger, his voice a bit louder: "Lastly, I want to say, the seaside is beautiful, the sea is blue, you will not leave this trip empty‑handed!"

"Good, well said!"

Zhang Jiaheng was the first to shout and clap vigorously.

The others were carried along, clapping together.

But immediately after, sharp gazes locked onto that guy.

Kang Changyi: Damn, that move was fast, actually stole my spotlight?

Sun Chen: With that rebellious look, does the pilot brother intend to revolt?

Liu Ziqiang: Again, again, another lackey!

Chen Panpan: When do we eat? I'm so hungry, drooling.......

"Regiment Commander, Political Commissar also say a few words?"

"Enough said, enough, let's have the seventh meal, we're starving!"

"Start eating!"

"Ah ah~ give me a cup of Forget‑Love Water, exchange me a night without tears......"

"Little tiny person, wind rises and water flows, every day must be miserably happy......"

"At the end of the Eastern Han, the Three Kingdoms divided, beacon fires lit the sky endlessly......"

"I love you, love you, just like a mouse loves rice......"

One familiar popular song after another, one cheerful smiling face after another, gradually pushed the banquet atmosphere toward a climax.

Some people grabbed the Squad Leader for a drinking contest; some ran to toast the Company Commander and Instructor; and an ace pilot insisted on performing a 'Dragon Drinking Water' for the Navy chief and the regiment leader, ending up spraying the chiefs' faces.

There were troublemakers who deliberately played the song 'Green Flowers in the Army', forcibly drawing tears from LiMin and other new recruits longing for home.

Lu Yang sipped beer, ate the kebab Zhou Kaidong had grilled for him, a faint smile always on his face, thoroughly enjoying this hard‑won pleasant moment.

Suddenly, a group lifted him, shoving and pushing him to the front, and shoved a microphone into his hand.

"Platoon Leader, one more, Platoon Leader, one more!"

No one knows who started, a big crowd followed the lead and began to make a ruckus.

Zheng Chengfeng, Wang Zhongxi, Tan Yuanzhou, Ma Qing'an and the others, who were chatting, turned their heads, smiling, looking ahead, all waiting for his talent show.

Generally, if one has a specialty, there won't be a second.

People good at drawing are usually mediocre singers, not very good.

Seeing Lu Yang looking a bit uneasy on stage, everyone naturally thought he was a bit stage‑frightened.

Wang Zhongxi led the applause: "Come on, come on, let's all give comrade Lu Yang a big cheer, go, boost him!"

Applause rang out, along with whistles and the clatter of bowls and chopsticks.

Lu Yang was at a loss, truly not knowing what to sing.

"Maybe better not, the song I want to sing, it's not here?"

"Then a cappella!"

Lu Yang found an excuse to step down, but Kang Changyi and his group pushed him back up again.

Lu Yang's expression was extremely awkward, just like when he was a kid tagging along with his family at a drinking gathering, only to be suddenly summoned by the elders to go on stage for a talent performance.

"A cappella? It feels a bit lacking; it would be nice if we had an instrument."

"Oh, you can play an instrument? I couldn't tell! Harmonica, or drums?"

"Do you have a guitar?"

"Yes, we really do!"

The ever-inconspicuous deputy company commander responded.

Then he darted off to the warehouse and quickly brought out an old guitar covered in dust.

The deputy company commander harbored an artistic youth within, longing for poetry and distant horizons, but his work was simply too busy, so the guitar he bought gathered dust.

Many people, when they were eighteen or nineteen, bought a guitar, only for it to lie quietly in the corner of their youth.

"Whoosh!"

Lu Yang blew off the dust and discovered the guitar's quality was actually not bad.

As for how he knew the quality was good, the label at the back was still intact—it cost over four thousand, definitely not cheap.

In his previous life, he attended a technical college, trying to look artsy to pick up girls; the guitar he bought online was only about three hundred.

Lu Yang swept his fingers up and down the strings, and the bright chord instantly lit up everyone's eyes.

"He's got skill—this is definitely an expert!"

"Older Brother Yang, you can do anything, learn anything—no wonder you didn't get into college!"

"Hmm, makes perfect sense! As long as it's not studying, he's passionate about everything!"

The venue gradually fell silent, and everyone turned their heads to look forward.

He Zhen Tao instinctively pulled out his digital camera from his pocket, aiming the lens at Lu Yang, who sat on the horse stance, guitar in hand, slightly tipsy.

Lu Yang adjusted the stand to a suitable position, slowly approached the microphone, and with a magnetic, emotive voice said, "A song, dedicated to all of you."

"Ink has entered the water, crossing a pool of azure blossoms."

"Gathering five parts of rosy clouds, picking bamboo to return home."

"With a leisurely wind coming, burying a patch of mulberry and hemp."

"In military attire, letting go of longing."

"If the landscapes I see are also seen by you, then I will pray step by step, lotus by lotus."

"How could I know that this fleeting life is but a blade of grass, as the years urge us onward, and wind, moon, flowers, and birds smile, ending our dust‑bound fate......"