Chapter 45: Don't Wander Off, the Squad Leader Will Pick You Up Tomorrow

Lu Yang arrived at the Tuan Bu Military Personnel Service Center, and at the same time unlocked a new map for the unit.

The Military Personnel Service Center's name sounds fancy, but in reality it's just a small supermarket,

Inside it sells a fairly complete range of goods, from food and drink to daily sundries; everything from towels, toothbrushes to washbasins is there.

But Lu Yang wasn't there to shop; he came to make a phone call.

"Hello, is anyone there?"

There was no one at the counter, so Lu Yang stuck his head in a bit and called out toward the aisle area.

"Just looking to buy some stuff, take your time."

A slightly plump middle‑aged man with a Jiangcheng accent, holding a bowl of steaming instant noodles, rose from behind the bar.

Lu Yang only then noticed that the man had been sitting on a small stool eating instant noodles.

Since the counter was a bit high, he hadn't seen him when he came in.

The man wasn't in uniform; he was draped in a thick, old military coat, his kindly expression not at all like a soldier's.

He heard that the service centers in the unit are run by military dependents, so Lu Yang was momentarily unsure what to call him.

But out of politeness, he called him "boss" anyway.

"Boss, I want to make a call, but I have no money on me. Could I run it on credit and pay you later when I have a chance?"

Lu Yang felt a bit embarrassed; he came here to get water, not to think about bringing money.

The boss pushed the landline on the table toward him: "No problem, go ahead. As long as it's an internal line, it's free of charge."

Lu Yang's eyebrows lifted with joy: "Really? Thank you, boss!"

He said that and picked up the handset, but just as he was about to dial, his hand suddenly hovered in midair.

"What happened?"

"Um, I don't know the number..."

"Which unit are you from? Don't you know the duty office number?"

"I'm from the New Recruit Company."

"New Recruit Company, huh? Wait for me, okay?"

After saying that, the boss pulled a flip phone from his pocket, searched his contacts, and then dialed the number with the phone.

"Here, take it. I have the numbers for all such units."

"Thank you."

Lu Yang didn't think further, reached out to take it, then gave the boss an embarrassed glance.

The boss slurped his noodles, smiled and waved his hand, indicating he didn't mind Lu Yang making the call in the corner.

Lu Yang took the phone to the corner; the line connected, and a duty officer's voice asked a question.

"Hello, I'm Lu Yang, a new recruit of First Platoon, Third Squad, and I want to reach our Squad Leader Zhou Kaidong."

"Lu Yang?"

The duty officer clearly recognized Lu Yang.

Because this soldier's overall performance was very good, and he had been praised many times by the Company Commander and Instructor.

At the same time, he was the only soldier in the whole Company who got rained on, caught a cold and fever, and went to Tuan Bu to get water, which made him somewhat famous.

Lu Yang made an excuse, saying he was short of supplies here and wanted the Squad Leader to bring them over when he came for the re‑inspection tomorrow.

There was no much suspicion, so they told him to wait a moment, then went to fetch someone.

About two minutes later, Zhou Kaidong's slightly panting voice came over the phone.

"Lu Yang, I'm the Squad Leader?"

"How are you? Has the fever gone down? Are you feeling better? Have you eaten? Where's the call coming from?"

Hearing Zhou Kaidong's series of concerns, Lu Yang felt warm all over and instantly stopped feeling cold.

They say the Squad Leader is the "Military Mother"; in Zhou Kaidong he truly felt the care of home.

It also strengthened his resolve to keep the Squad Leader.

"Squad Leader, I'm much better now, the fever's gone, and I'm calling you from the Tuan Bu Military Personnel Service Center."

"I want to tell you something: you're a good Squad Leader and also a good Platoon Leader; Ding Tengfei's matter isn't your fault, don't blame yourself or doubt yourself."

"After tomorrow's physical exam ends, I'll go back with you all; I'll find a chance to talk properly with him. If there's a conflict, we'll resolve it; if there's a problem, we'll solve it."

"Finally, I hope you can hold a squad meeting tonight to align everyone's stance; the Instructor will talk to everyone tomorrow, and if even one person says you're not good, you'll be replaced."

"I don't want you removed, nor do I want another Squad Leader to replace you; I think you're more competent than any Squad Leader in the whole Company!"

"Understood, thank you, Lu Yang."

"Rest well there, don't wander around, the Squad Leader will pick you up tomorrow."

The call ended, and Zhou Kaidong's eyes were already a bit red.

He hadn't expected that Lu Yang, dragging his sickly body, would go all the way to the small shop to call him with these words.

These encouragements were exactly what he needed most now, and the best comfort.

"Platoon Leader, what's wrong with your eyes?"

"Nothing, sand got in them."

Zhou Kaidong rubbed his warm, moist eye sockets and turned to walk out of the duty room.

The wind outside seemed no longer so biting, and his body felt as if reawakened.

Zhou Kaidong returned to the training ground and found that, in his absence, the Third Squad new recruits had all slacked off, instantly igniting his long‑suppressed anger.

"Are you trying to die, one by one? Can't even stand straight?"

"Ding Tengfei, why are you rolling your eyes? I've got a bruise on my face!"

"Stop training, all of you stop. Everyone line up, start timing with the stopwatch!"

If you can't run three kilometers in under fourteen and a half minutes, you might as well skip lunch—I'll go hungry with you!

The new recruits were scolded from head to toe, trembling with fear as they stepped onto the track.

Seeing Zhou Kaidong, who seemed as if he'd swallowed gunpowder, everyone looked as if they'd seen a ghost.

Just a moment ago he was fine; how come after answering a phone call, that short-tempered squad leader is back again?

On the other end, Lu Yang hung up, returned the phone to the boss, and said thanks.

Just as he was about to leave, the boss called him back.

You new recruit, you're pretty loyal.

Let me treat you to something; take whatever you like from the shop.

Lu Yang shook his head and refused; it was already embarrassing enough to borrow someone's phone to make a call—how could he then take something else from them?

But the boss deliberately put on a stern face, saying that if Lu Yang didn't give him this face, he'd demand payment for the call.

This left Lu Yang with no choice; he could only take a sausage as a token gesture.

Thanks, boss; if I get the chance later, I'll definitely bring more people to patronize your business.

It's a deal, hahaha...

Lu Yang reflected that the military still has many good people; as the saying goes, if you have trouble, look for the People's Liberation Army uncle.

He had just lifted the curtain and stepped over the threshold when he suddenly saw two white things floating in the distance.

He focused his gaze, took a closer look, and saw they were two white helmets!

Lu Yang quickly pulled his foot back and lowered the curtain again.

The regiment headquarters hardly sees any new recruits; Lu Yang doesn't even have a shoulder insignia, so going out would be too conspicuous—he'd surely be called over for questioning.

It just happened to be month-end; who knows if these people might try to pin something on him to boost their performance, fabricating some fault?

Better to avoid trouble; keeping a low profile is the safest course.

What's up?

The boss saw him retreat back and curiously asked.

Lu Yang turned his head and gave an embarrassed smile.

The boss turned sideways, glanced out the window, and saw two white-capped military police walking side by side.

Thus he laughed and pointed at Lu Yang: 'Hahaha, you're pretty sharp (smart)!'