Chapter 425: Not good—still didn

A little after eleven in the morning, in a conference room at the Sea Training Base, Zheng Chengfeng was holding a meeting with his subordinates.

They discussed the training results since March, the assessment arrangements for the following week, and issues concerning specific precautions.

"That's all the content. All Sea Training Battalions should seize the last week for a sprint and find ways to pull the scores up a notch."

"One point to stress: during the assessment, the headquarters will send personnel to inspect the results. I don't want anyone to make a fool of themselves or drop the ball."

"Dismissed!"

The sound of bench legs scraping the tiled floor rang out in succession as everyone rose, saluted, and left the conference room one after another.

Zheng Chengfeng did not leave, but continued to peruse the documents in front of him, occasionally circling and marking, making the final arrangements.

At that moment the door was knocked, and a lieutenant colonel with small eyes and a face full of shrewd, scheming calculation walked in.

"Deputy Brigade Commander Zheng, busy?"

"Zhao Haishen?"

Zheng Chengfeng looked up, slightly surprised: "Chief of Staff, why aren't you staying with your Special Operations Battalion, and why did you come over to me?"

Seeing the other party place two boxes of tea on the table, he hurriedly pushed them outward: "What is this for? Take it away quickly; if anyone sees, they'd think I'm indiscriminately accepting gifts, which violates regulations."

Zhao Haishen said with a smile: "Commander, please don't misunderstand. These two boxes of tea were asked by our Battalion Commander to bring to you. They're not especially rare, but they taste quite good."

"He has been thinking of you, old comrade, old Squad Leader!"

Zheng Chengfeng said irritably: "He thinks of me but doesn't come in person? Ha, feigned affection—does he even remember me, the old Squad Leader?"

But he still accepted the tea, since it wasn't particularly valuable—just standard rations, and his tea supply was running low lately: "If there's nothing, don't go to the Three Treasures Hall; if there's something, just say it outright."

Zhao Haishen sat down with a beaming smile: "Since you've seen through it, I won't hide anything. This time, I really have come with a mission."

"I heard your Sea Training Base has an assessment next week; can we pick a few to go?"

"The fruit hasn't ripened yet, and you want to pick the peaches early?"

Zheng Chengfeng said sarcastically: "The troops at the Sea Training Base aren't that great; they're a bunch of former Army transfers, fresh‑out of training, wet‑blanket ducks. You think they're worth it?"

Zhao Haishen quickly replied: "Deputy Brigade Commander Zheng, don't say that; I actually have spotted a few promising seedlings!"

"You spot them but don't give them! Didn't you just hold a selection recently, with so many good ones for you to pick? You refuse, then come to my side to take people?"

"That's where you're unaware."

Zhao Haishen began to explain, saying that they too were undergoing adjustments and reforms.

In the past, they selected outstanding talent from the Navy; now they aim to look further ahead.

He also said that the batch coming from the Army were elite; after three months of training, they have basically adapted to amphibious land‑sea combat requirements, meeting their talent selection standards.

Zheng Chengfeng wiggled his fingers: "If you want people, you can; have your Battalion Commander come over to talk to me in person."

"Really?"

【9】 "After the assessment ends and the troop allocation is done, the remaining unqualified ones—if you want them, you can take them all away; I don't mind."

Once the reassessment and troop deployment are over, any remaining unqualified personnel—if you want them, you can pack them all up and take them away; I don't care.

"......"

Zhao Haishen saw through it; Zheng Chengfeng simply didn't want to give them.

It was because he didn't bring up Lu Yang's matter right away, but instead gave a vague answer.

If he had come up and gone straight to the point, there would have been no need to discuss it at all; there would have been no chance.

"I'm going to eat. If you want to stay, eat here; if not, leave. If you really want them, later have your Hou Battalion come personally to discuss with me."

"Then don't look back; picking a day is no better than crashing into one!"

Zhao Haishen quickly grabbed him, suggesting they go to a restaurant outside for a meal.

He said they'd call the Battalion Commander over in a moment, reminisce together, and discuss the unit's future development.

Considering they hadn't met in a long time, being old comrades, and it was already mealtime, Zheng Chengfeng agreed without much thought.

Changing into civilian clothes, he drove to a nearby seafood restaurant of decent grade, even reserving a private room.

After sitting down, they ordered plenty of fine wine and dishes, making Zheng Chengfeng feel a bit embarrassed.

"Such a high‑spec setup?"

"Of course. You old comrades haven't met in ages; you have to catch up properly."

Zhao Haishen quietly set a timer in his mouth, and after a while the alarm rang.

He pretended to be formal, took out his phone, walked to the window and answered: "Hello, Battalion Commander, where are you? Here we have fine wine and dishes, all on the table, just waiting for you."

"What? Changed clothes, just about to set off, and suddenly got an emergency mission; the commander singled you out to lead the situation, can't make it?"

Zhao Haishen covertly glanced at Zheng Chengfeng across the table with his peripheral vision, while Zheng Chengfeng also craned his neck to look.

"No, Battalion Commander, we've already ordered the dishes. You say you won't come, then how is that appropriate?"

"You and Deputy Brigade Commander Zheng are comrades; you don't come… I know, I know you have difficulties, I know orders are like mountains, missions can't be delayed, but you can't stand someone up either, right?"

"What do you mean by letting me keep you company? I'm just the companion; you're the protagonists… How about this: you explain it yourself to Deputy Brigade Commander Zheng, I'll hand him the phone!"

Zhao Haishen, flustered, thrust the phone to his ear, muttering incoherently.

Zheng Chengfeng took it and gave several beeps, but there was no response on the other end.

Zhao Haishen, feigning composure, glanced and exclaimed in surprise: "He hung up?!"

Zheng Chengfeng waved helplessly: "Fine, fine, the mission is priority; we must distinguish main from secondary. Whether he comes or not, we'll eat."

"That old Hou, really… later I'll criticize him!"

Zhao Haishen, angry, slapped the phone onto the side: "Earlier didn't come for the mission, later didn't come for the mission, yet the dishes are all set and you say you can't make it! That's a serious dereliction on my part; I punish myself with a drink!"

"No problem, even if he doesn't come, we eat the same; this much fine wine and dishes, there's no place for him!"

"Commander, truly sorry; for today's meal, we'll drink the wine freely, serve the dishes abundantly, and later we'll make sure to note it to our Battalion Commander, let him feel the sting!"

"That's what you said?"

"Yes!"

"Then I won't be polite; I want it all—both the food and the take‑away!"

It's fine, loosen up a bit!

Zheng Chengfeng wasn't standing on ceremony either; he immediately called over a waiter.

He pointed to the most expensive page on the menu, ordered braised sea cucumber with scallions, seafood sashimi, and also asked for some kind of bread crab.

Zhao Haishen looked pained, but he didn't feel comfortable stopping him, and instead had to go along praising his ordering and eating skills.

The atmosphere at the table didn't become awkward or cold just because the battalion commander was absent.

On the contrary, Zhao Haishen is extremely good at socializing and very skilled at livening up the table atmosphere.

In just a few sentences, he brought up the minor grudges and entanglements between Zheng Chengfeng and their battalion commander from back in the day.

It was nothing more than trivial stuff like you coordinating my clothes, me secretly drinking your soda, or both of us falling for the same female soldier from the neighboring company at the same time.

Just like most enlisted soldiers, we were all like that in our reckless youth; after all, everyone grew up that way.

But Zhao Haishen is no ordinary person—he's the chief of staff of the Special Operations Battalion, and his talent lies in speaking to people in human terms and to ghosts in ghostly terms.

I say, all of this is entirely our battalion commander's fault!

What right do I have to secretly drink your beverage, eat your biscuits, or pine after that female comrade you liked first?

He, he noticed her first; I only saw her later and then fell for her; but in the end, neither of us ended up with her—our squad leader snatched her away.

Zhao Haishen slapped his thigh: 'That's also not allowed—you two are brothers, and you're his squad leader! If I were him, knowing you like that girl, I'd have to voluntarily step aside and then help you win her over.'

What is this? It's the snipe and clam fighting, with the battalion commander reaping the benefit; who does that to a brother? It's utterly underhanded!

Drink, drink, drink, fill it up!

Zhao Haishen poured wine into Zheng Chengfeng's cup.

Seemingly not a strong drinker, Zheng Chengfeng's face was already red, with a faint flush of intoxication showing.

He took a sip of wine, waved his hand, and said, 'Let's not bring up the past, let's not bring it up; it's been all these years already!'

Zhao Haishen raised his thumb: 'What does it mean to have a prime minister's belly that can hold a boat, what does it mean to be magnanimous? I, Zhao Haishen, have never admired anyone in my life—except you, Brigadier Zheng!'

Zheng Chengfeng raised his hand and pressed down his raised thumb, correcting his mistake: 'It's the deputy, the deputy brigade commander.'

Now he's the deputy brigade commander, and he'll be confirmed in the position soon!

Zhao Haishen added more wine to his cup: 'For such an important task at the Sea Training Base, logically it should be handled by a deputy division commander, an officer of brigade rank.'

Why wasn't it given to someone else, but instead to you? Everyone knows the reason; it clearly shows your outstanding abilities and that you're highly valued by the superiors.

Zheng Chengfeng laughed so hard he couldn't close his mouth, yet he kept waving his hand: 'There's nothing like that; it's just good luck, happening to be in the right place.'

You can't say that—luck is part of ability; I guarantee it, at the earliest this year, at the latest next year, Old Brother Zheng, you'll definitely be confirmed!

Hahaha, hahaha, I dare not say that, I dare not say that; it'll take at least three or four years—I only made colonel two years ago.

Our navy's bold reforms leave opportunities for those who are prepared and capable; someone like you, I wouldn't be surprised if you became a general in just a few years.

Zhao Haishen used honeyed words to make Zheng Chengfeng laugh so hard he was almost blowing bubbles from his nose.

Add to that the effect of alcohol, and he felt somewhat light-headed and floaty.

Taking the opportunity, Zhao Haishen chatted with him about the navy's future development, and also talked about the army supporting naval construction through blood transfusions.

Taking this chance, he went around in a big circle and brought the topic back once more to wanting to pick a few people from the Sea Training Base to go.

Under the influence of alcohol, the delighted Zheng Chengfeng completely changed his previous demeanor, his whole person becoming extraordinarily bold and generous.

It's just a few soldiers, right? Tell me, how many do you want?

Five.

Only five?

Zheng Chengfeng rolled his eyes in annoyance: 'I'll give you another five, make it ten, okay?'

Zhao Haishen suppressed his smile and hurriedly declined: 'Too much, too much, too much—just five, I don't want more; I wouldn't want to cause you trouble, Old Brother Zheng.'

Fine, no problem, drink, and I'll give them after you drink.

Zheng Chengfeng picked up his cup and downed several drinks with him, making Zhao Haishen's head feel a bit dizzy.

While he was still clear-headed, he rolled his little black eyes and hurriedly pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket.

Old Brother Zheng, verbal promises aren't binding; you need to give me a written IOU, otherwise if you renege later, where am I supposed to find you?

How could I not acknowledge it? Would I not acknowledge it? If I didn't, I'd be your grandson!

Better to write an IOU then; I'll feel reassured once it's written down.

Alright, alright, you staff officers have the most scheming minds.

Zheng Chengfeng took the pen he offered impatiently, but looking at the blank paper before him, he scratched his head in confusion: 'Wrong, there's nothing on this paper—how am I supposed to sign?'

What if you write a hundred of them? I couldn't possibly fulfill them—I wouldn't really become your grandson? Burp~

Zhao Haishen gave an embarrassed laugh: 'He hasn't even had enough to drink yet!'