Chapter 39: Abnormal Conduct, Did the Squad Leader Take the Wrong Medicine?

Company, in the restroom.

Gao Feng has a cigarette in his mouth, his feet stepping on both banks of the Yellow River.

He holds a nearly wrapped-in-foam BBK music phone in his hand, eyes fixed on the screen.

When the time came, he immediately clicked quickly, stealing all the vegetables from the Battalion Commander and Instructor's QQ Farm cleanly.

After that, he parked all his few second‑hand Oto cars into other people's parking spaces.

Having done these, he felt extremely exhilarated, as if he had accomplished something especially remarkable.

Just as Gao Feng let out a mischievous chuckle, hurried footsteps arrived.

"Old Gao, Old Gao, stop pulling, the Regiment has more people coming!"

"What?"

Gao Feng's smile vanished in an instant.

He immediately staged a scene: "There's a mole, abort the deal."

After forcibly interrupting the spell and wiping haphazardly, he hurriedly pulled up his trousers and walked out with He Zhen Tao.

Gao Feng adjusted his hat, his expression hurried, and asked, "Which leader from the Regiment is coming this time?"

He Zhen Tao replied, "It's still the Deputy Political Commissioner, but this time he didn't come personally; he sent a clerk, saying he's bringing us something."

"Bringing something, what exactly?"

Gao Feng's steps faltered briefly, his mind racing to think.

Could it be that it's cold, and they're bringing warmth?

Seeing this, He Zhen Tao grabbed him and headed toward the gate post guardroom, "Don't overthink it; we'll know when we get there."

The two took three steps as two, quickly reaching the gate guard post, yet they saw no sign of the Tuan Bu clerk.

The guard on duty saluted, "Good day, Company Commander, Instructor!"

"Where's the person?"

"He left a minute ago, but said he wanted me to hand the items to you."

Seeing the guard bring up a jar of kimchi, the two exchanged a puzzled look.

The guard: "He said the Deputy Political Commissioner has a bad bite, can't tolerate the salty pickles made by your New Recruit Company Cook Squad, so he let you try them yourself. He also said, you handle it yourselves."

Gao Feng, suspicious, stepped forward and opened the lid of the kimchi jar.

The Instructor immediately leaned in, wanting to see what was inside.

When the two saw the electronic products inside, their faces turned ashen.

They finally understood why, when they talked to the Cook Squad yesterday, the group was stammering and covering up.

Together, these silent guys stuck the damn thing, and it ended up in the Tuan Bu!

……

"Damn it, Director of Affairs, are you actually capable or not, huh?"

In the Cafeteria back kitchen, Gao Feng, holding a kimchi jar, raged at the people in the Cafeteria.

The Director of Affairs, who is in charge of Logistics, also oversees the Cafeteria.

Now that the Cook Squad has a slip‑up, the first to be held accountable is naturally him.

The Director of Affairs admitted fault and punishment: "Company Commander, I have severely criticized and educated them; this matter was indeed excessive. Here is everyone's self‑criticism…"

Gao Feng's surge of anger was instantly lodged in his throat.

The Director of Affairs is a typical old slickster, having served longer in the unit than Gao Feng.

Last night he went to the Tuan Bu; not being able to retrieve the items, he knew trouble was inevitable.

So that night he had everyone write inspection reports, ready for any contingency.

Sure enough, the storm eventually arrived,

These self‑criticism papers are the little umbrellas that can shield them from the storm.

Gao Feng is blunt‑tempered, not good at dealing with old slicksters, but that doesn't mean He Zhen Tao is so easily fooled.

"Director of Affairs, yesterday I came to talk to you, why didn't you report or explain? I see it's clearly a lucky‑break mentality at work!"

"Heh, just a few crumpled sheets, and the matter is over, no trace left!"

"After lunch cooking, everyone fully armed, run twenty laps on the field, then after finishing, clear that wasteland on Hou Shan for me!"

"Whether planting radishes or cabbage, raising chickens or ducks, you must show results, otherwise after the new training ends everyone gets recorded penalties!"

"Furthermore, you must immediately find a way to solve the soldiers' hunger and frequent stomach‑emptiness problem; if you can't produce a solution I'll deal with you!"

"Finally, rewrite the self‑criticism papers: two thousand words each; Director of Affairs, three thousand!"

A rapid series of punishments clanged down, leaving everyone bewildered.

Originally, the New Recruit Company Cook Squad was a cushy post; besides the three daily meals, they had plenty of idle time.

But now there's no chance to slack off; when idle they must go to Hou Shan to clear land—this is damn miserable.

The Director of Affairs, knowing the Instructor isn't easy to please, tried bargaining with the Company Commander: "Company Commander, this punishment is too severe, can we…?"

Gao Feng glared, "Now you know it hurts, why didn't you do it earlier? A bag of fried noodles made a mess, a city of wind and rain—that's the mess your Cook Squad caused!"

The group glanced at Senior Private Liu Cheng, cursing his ancestors in their hearts.

Liu Cheng felt aggrieved inside; clearly the Director of Affairs was at fault, why blame me?

But for now they can only confess and accept punishment, because everyone knows.

The reason the penalty is heavy is because the Regiment's leadership is watching.

If the punishment were lighter, Deputy Political Commissioner Tan would probably trouble the Company Commander and Instructor.

……

"Yo yo yo, look, look, it's a Ninja Turtle!"

"What Ninja Turtles, that's taking the blame!"

At the noon three‑kilometer run, a noticeable group of packs showed up on the field.

These folks, carrying pots on their backs, shouldering rice, lugging oil, huffed and puffed while running, their faces full of pain.

Lu Yang watched and couldn't help but feel a bit like laughing, and roughly guessed it must be related to yesterday's incident.

Especially the Senior Private named Liu Cheng suffered the most; others carried one bag of rice, he had to lug two, because he was so rowdy yesterday?

Retracting his gaze, Lu Yang turned back to look for his fellow villager's figure, only to see he was at the very rear.

His position was squeezed between Third Squad and Fourth Class, a sign of alienation, indicating he was gradually beginning to disagree with the squad collective.

At that moment, he saw Zhou Kaidong slow down intentionally or not, seemingly wanting to use the running opportunity to talk with Ding Tengfei.

But as soon as Zhou Kaidong approached, the other party actively withdrew, and even the th Class Squad Leader deliberately ran to the front, blocking between the two.

From the th Class Squad Leader's look, it was clear he still harbored resentment over the previous Moving Red Flag incident.

Moreover, this time Ding erred on behalf of the group, and Zhou Kaidong's handling was biased.

This also made him view Zhou Kaidong with greater displeasure; even though he also held the First Platoon Leader position, he paid it no mind at all.

The unit, sometimes straightforward, sometimes winding, with knots that cannot be untied.

Lu Yang watched Zhou Kaidong's dejected demeanor, wanting to help yet feeling helpless.

The one who tied the bell must untie it; the conflict between them can only be resolved by them.

Whether it can be solved, Lu Yang can't say; if it goes badly, that stubborn fellow will remain in a twisted state until the next training.

At this moment, Kong Long slowed down from the front and came up to Lu Yang: "Do you think the Squad Leader is acting a bit off?"

Lu Yang was surprised: "Even you noticed?"

Kong Long hummed: "During this morning's training, he didn't utter a single dirty word, and even when I walked crookedly he didn't scold me; would you say that's very abnormal?"

Lu Yang gave a wry smile; Zhou Kaidong is now full of self‑blame, having no mind to criticize you, he hasn't even had time to criticize himself.

Kong Long said bluntly: "So, is the Squad Leader… on the wrong meds?"

"Hmm?"

"Either his head got caught in a door, or he's tangled with something filthy!"

Lu Yang was also exasperated; he once again overestimated this guy's intelligence.

Kong Long said bluntly: "I'm telling you, we have a healer there, this thing works wonders. When I was ill before, my mother took me to see it, saying I had three little immortals on my shoulder."

"Di San Xian?"

"What is it, it's that kind of …"

Lu Yang cut off his confusing remark, saying the thing wasn't appropriate to discuss further: "Kong Long, be honest, what formula milk did you grow up on?"

Kong Long thought for a moment: "I think it was Three Roads?"

Lu Yang nodded: "Hmm, that makes sense."

"What makes sense?"

"Long, if your brain isn't being used, just donate it."

"You can donate that too? I thought only heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys could be donated."

"..."

The next morning, the temperature was much lower than usual.

At a little past five, the sky showed no sign of light; wind blew through the door cracks, squeezing in, emitting a chilling whimper.

Lu Yang sat up from the bed, habitually scratching his back twice.

He glanced at the system time and found it was five minutes later than usual.

It was so cold that even he overslept a bit!

He hurriedly got up to wake the others, but was met with a belly of complaints.

"Assistant Squad Leader, let us sleep a bit longer; I can't even open my eyes."

"It's too cold; let me nap a bit more, just a little."

"The Squad Leader hasn't gotten up either; when he gets up, we'll get up."

Lu Yang turned his head toward the bed leaning by the doorway, seeing Zhou Kaidong curled up in the blanket, showing no intention of getting up.

"The prescribed wake‑up time is six o'clock; keep sleeping."

Zhou Kaidong's voice came, and everyone rejoiced.

They quickly slipped back into the blankets, enjoying the lingering warmth.

No one dislikes sleeping in, especially winter slumber; Lu Yang is no exception.

But in the unit, aside from weekends, it's almost impossible to let anyone sleep until the full hour; that's too abnormal!

Strictly speaking, since yesterday the Squad Leader has been very abnormal, as if he became a different person, no longer as strict as before, but turning "understanding" instead.

But Lu Yang knows this isn't a good sign; one reckless soldier leads to a whole pack of recklessness.

The consequence of the Squad Leader no longer being strict is that the new recruits collectively slack off, causing a severe decline in the whole squad's level.

Lu Yang didn't return to the bed, nor did he take any overstepping action; he simply silently put on his clothes, squatted on the ground, and tidied his own affairs.

Zhou Kaidong, back to the inner room, could hear Lu Yang's sounds of tidying, yet remained unmoved.

Soon after, the sound of footfalls on the bunk board came, and Ding Tengfei also came down from the upper bunk, silently carrying the blanket into the corridor.

One was inside the dormitory, the other outside, each sorting their own affairs, neither speaking.

Time quickly reached six o'clock; as the wake‑up call sounded, Kong Long and the others finally rose comfortably from their blankets.

Even though it was only half an hour more than usual, it felt more delightful than eating meat.

The dormitory was too cramped; as usual, everyone found their own spot to fold blankets.

The sky outside was gloomy, and wind was blowing, looking like it was about to rain.

Sure enough, a rumbling thunder sounded, pea‑sized raindrops fell, quickly soaking the ground, and even the air turned damp and cold.

Watching the thunderstorm outside, every rookie wore an excited, thrilled expression.

"Assistant Squad Leader, it's raining—does that mean we don't have to do the drill?"

"Have you heard the idiom 'thunder never moves'?"

"What does it mean?"

"It's just rain, not knives; it won't kill anyone."

That guy finally spoke, but his little mouth was as if laced with poison.

Lu Yang peeked outside, thought that he could just keep his mouth shut and stay mute, which was fine enough.