Chapter 393: I went to the navy, but I still wanted to be your soldier

Pff!

After making a wish, just as he opened his eyes, Lu Yang got a face full of cream.

Seeing Lu Yang's cream-covered face, everyone present and everyone watching on screen laughed.

Following the principle of not wasting food, Lu Yang grabbed a small lump of cream with his finger and chased Ding Tengfei around the cafeteria.

Gao Feng and Cheng Jun also laughed until they slapped their thighs, tears streaming down.

The lively birthday ended around nine.

Everyone shared the cake, helped clean up, and then left.

On the quiet dormitory hallway, Lu Yang was on the phone with his family using his mobile.

He received a text message from his mother, a brief birthday greeting that contained the family's endless longing for their son.

"Mom and Dad, I'm fine here; today my comrades gave me a birthday and bought me a cake."

"I drank some beer, but not much; it's fine, the superiors won't criticize."

"Lately work has been busy; I might not be able to call you, but when I get family leave I'll come back to see you."

"Son."

"On the other end of the line, his mother hesitated and said, 'Next time you come home for family visit, could you not make a surprise attack?'"

Lu Yang asked: "Why?"

"His mother said lovingly, 'I know your unit is busy, leave is short, and when you come back you're in such a rush you can only stay a few days before you have to leave.'"

"But if you tell Mom a week in advance, Mom will know in her heart that her son has come back early, and she'll be happy for a week."

"If you tell Mom a month in advance, she'll be happy for a month."

Lu Yang showed a gentle smile: "Okay, Mom, next time I won't pull a surprise attack; when I have leave I'll call you in advance."

"All right."

After hanging up, Lu Yang felt the night was soft and beautiful, the moonlight especially gentle.

Returning to the dormitory and lying on his bunk, his mood was excited with a hint of agitation.

Although, earlier everyone in the video learned that after going to the navy, everything was fine.

But regarding this completely new environment and new training state, there would inevitably be some anxious anticipation.

This feeling is like the last day of summer after the college entrance exam, about to step onto the university campus.

It is also like being about to board a plane to complete one's first overseas trip.

In short, this surge of excitement made Lu Yang toss and turn, unable to sleep.

Also unable to sleep were Ding Tengfei, left behind in Seventh Company, and Gao Feng sleeping in the bunk above him.

Seventh Company was empty; sleeping alone in the dorm felt too lonely, so he moved into the dormitory to share a room with the soldier he had initially looked down on.

"Company Commander, are you asleep?"

On the lower bunk, Ding Tengfei laid his head down, his face full of anticipation for the future.

Gao Feng, on the contrary, had some worry and bewilderment in his brow, a stark contrast to the jovial self he had been at the dinner table earlier.

He had always harbored unease, worrying that he would mess up the upcoming work, worrying about dropping the ball, worrying about bringing shame to the Special Third Regiment and tarnishing the Hard Bone Company's reputation.

The closer this day came, the more he felt a sense of being at a loss, shrouded in fog; at night, lying down, he could always hear a thumping 'thump-thump-thump' like a drumbeat in his ears.

"Company Commander, Company Commander..."

A big head suddenly popped out from beside the bed, scaring Gao Feng so much his heart almost stopped, and he tumbled off the bed.

"What the hell are you doing, scaring people to death?!"

"I just wanted to see if you were asleep."

"Nervous, in the middle of the night!"

Gao Feng patted his little chest and breathed a sigh of relief.

Ding Tengfei lay back down on the bed, a smile always on his face: "Company Commander, you say, after going to the Sea Training Base, will I not soar straight up and make a stunning debut?"

Gao Feng rolled his eyes: "You haven't even fallen asleep and you're already dreaming."

"Oh, I was just talking off the cuff, just thinking like that."

Ding Tengfei: "Actually, I was still a bit nervous earlier, worried."

Gao Feng paused: "What are you nervous and worried about?"

Ding Tengfei answered truthfully: "I'm worried I'll do poorly; worried I'll again be a burden; worried I'll bring shame to Seventh Company and the Regiment."

Gao Feng's tense expression eased a little, letting him continue.

Ding Tengfei said: "But today at the dinner table, seeing in the video those comrades who walked out of the Regiment, that confidence, sunshine, and positive, upward drive gave me great encouragement, and I immediately stopped being nervous."

"In the past, I've always been scaring myself; there aren't that many difficulties—many of them are ones I set for myself."

"The biggest obstacle is inner fear; once you actually get to that new environment, you'll find it's really just that."

"You really think that way?"

Gao Feng turned his head and asked the one below.

Ding Tengfei gave an affirmative hum: "Before, we went to the armed police for study and exchange; before going, I was also panicking to death, afraid of being beaten, afraid of losing face."

"As it turned out, the soldiers there were actually easy to get along with; I spent two or three hundred yuan and enjoyed a high-quality foot massage service."

"Company Commander, the person I admire most, besides Lu Yang, is you; no, strictly speaking, I should say I respect you."

Gao Feng's brows gradually relaxed, and he said with interest: "What is there to respect about me? What do I have that's worthy of admiration?"

Ding Tengfei: "I admire your steadiness, your experience, your perseverance. Also, all along your help, tolerance, encouragement, and assistance toward me."

"I know that in previous training you deliberately pretended to be unable to run, not wanting to undermine my confidence, but to give me more chances to perform."

"Everyone in Seventh Company has left; you were afraid I'd be lonely and scared alone in the dorm, so you deliberately moved over to keep me company......"

Gao Feng's mouth corner twitched slightly, thinking to himself, 'I'm this awesome, how come I didn't know?'

He gave a deep, inscrutable cough: "Just knowing is enough; never let down my and the instructor's painstaking efforts. You're a good prospect; the company commander initially misjudged you. After joining the navy, you must strive harder and do well."

Ding Tengfei said solemnly: "Company Commander, after joining the navy, I still want to follow you and remain your soldier."

Gao Feng's heart fluttered; he quickly bit his wrist and threw a powerful punch at the sky, unable to contain his excitement.

These were absolutely the most sincere, most heartfelt words he had ever heard in his life.

Back then, having failed to get Lu Yang, the regiment commander assigned Ding Tengfei over, and he still had strong objections.

But now, the soldier he once looked down upon most stood with him to the end, saying he would always follow him and remain his soldier.

This sense of achievement made him immensely proud and was the finest honor for his years of effort in training troops.

Gao Feng deliberately put on a stern face and snorted, "Do you think the Sea Training Base is yours to run, or mine?"

Wherever you're assigned, go there; obey all commands and follow orders.

However, if I could bring it, I would definitely bring you along!

Yes!

The bunkmate Ding Tengfei smiled and raised his hand in a salute.

He turned over, pulled the blanket over himself, and slowly drifted into sleep.

In the blink of an eye, it was the next morning in the Sixth Company's honor room.

Lu Yang carefully folded the Iron Foot Company's flag, packed it into a dust cover, and placed it in his backpack.

After one last look at this most familiar place, Lu Yang took a deep breath, picked up his pack, and stepped outside.

Outside the honor room, hundreds of soldiers stood in neat rows, most of their faces daubed with rouge.

His gaze was dull and dazed, as if he had been infected by some inexplicable feeling from a Tibetan youth of the 441 Regiment named Zaxi Nima.

The company commander's skin was rough, his lips chapped, his hands and face covered in cracked wrinkles, making him look several years older than his actual age.

He saluted Lu Yang: "Platoon Leader Lu, as the last soldier holding out here, could you say a few words to everyone?"