Chapter 49: Arriving All Well, No Turning Back

"Chief, those old women are definitely incompetent doctors!"

"You've seen Lu Yang's earlier blackboard bulletin, the color matching, the colors used—how could it be color weakness?"

Inside the regiment headquarters building, Deputy Political Commissioner Tan Yuanzhou, just out of the conference room, walked briskly.

Gao Feng and He Zhen Tao were on his left and right, trailing behind, hurriedly reporting the situation.

Tan Yuanzhou asked while walking, "What did the physical‑exam doctor say?"

He Zhen Tao was furious: "She kept saying that color weakness and being able to draw are unrelated; our lips are worn out from arguing, yet she stubbornly refuses to stamp the physical‑exam form, and even says we lack medical knowledge!"

Tan Yuanzhou frowned: "If it's color weakness, why wasn't the problem discovered during the conscription physical?"

Gao Feng quickly added: "We also said that the conscription physical was passed, so what does your hold‑up mean? That woman kept saying something; now they are using the latest national‑standard color‑weakness test card, whereas the local hospital must still be using the old version."

"In any case, from what she meant, she thinks Lu Yang got in by paying a backdoor, so she's determined to get him out."

Tan Yuanzhou stomped up the stairs: "So, is there really such a thing? Have you investigated it thoroughly?"

He Zhen Tao quickly followed, shaking his head vigorously: "No way! I've seen Lu Yang's background file; his father is an ordinary worker at a bearing forging plant, and his mother left the job early and is a self‑employed individual."

"They earn their hard‑earned money rain or shine; the couple is an ordinary family, where would they know any influential people?"

"Their Squad Leader Zhou Kaidong was originally in charge of Lu Yang's home visit; he said the family had planned to spend money for him to repeat a year, but Lu Yang himself voluntarily applied to enlist."

"There happened to be a slot in the town, and the village officials had the quota, so he came in smoothly, without needing any connections; a completely clean soldier with not a speck of flaw."

Reaching the fourth floor, Tan Yuanzhou stopped, turned back to look at the two, their faces full of anxiety.

"What exactly are your demands? Do you want me to step in and do some ideological work, or what?"

"We want to keep this soldier, let him continue regular service!"

The two spoke in unison, causing other officers in the corridor to turn their heads, curiously looking this way.

Tan Yuanzhou, seeing their coordination, was rather surprised: "It's rare to see you two so unified on a single matter."

Gao Feng also went all out: "Chief, aside from being a bit physically weak, this soldier has no flaws at all!"

"He is diligent and reliable, not arrogant nor impatient, eager to learn and ask questions, and especially capable of handling tasks; he will surely become an outstanding reconnaissance soldier in the future!"

"With proper training, he could even become the next Xiao Guo, a model soldier of our Armored Seventh Company!"

"Whoa, that's a big expectation!"

Tan Yuanzhou clearly hadn't expected the usually demanding Seventh Company Commander to give such high praise to a recruit who has only been in service for a month?

But the most surprising was He Zhen Tao; he never imagined he'd be backstabbed at this moment!

He even said he hadn't been keeping an eye on my soldier?

Got exposed!

Tan Yuanzhou told the two to wait in the corridor while he went to the regiment commander's office to report.

Just as his front foot entered, He Zhen Tao could no longer hold back.

"Well, the fox's tail finally showed!"

"Gao Feng, Gao Feng, I truly didn't expect that you, with your thick eyebrows and big eyes, would also use that underhanded trick?"

Gao Feng had earlier spoken hastily, unintentionally spilling his thoughts.

But to steady He Zhen Tao, he also prepared a set of excuses.

He said he said it on purpose to highlight the recruit's importance and draw superiors' attention.

In short, keep the person for now; if he is really sent back, that would be a loss to the unit.

He Zhen Tao was half convinced: "So you're saying you're helping me?"

Gao Feng, dead serious: "I'm helping the unit! Doesn't the regiment need someone who can draw? Otherwise the blackboard bulletin has to borrow someone from the adjacent regiment each time, and we always have to watch their expressions."

"Fine, stop looking at me that way; I really am not that kind of person."

"You swear?"

"Hey, stop messing around."

"Who's messing with you? I warn you, no one may have designs on anyone, especially not on Lu Yang!"

He Zhen Tao, fierce, "Every day slogging soil, wind and rain, sitting in a tank makes his brain almost shake out!"

Gao Feng, irritated, brushed off: "Right, right, you should just sit in the office with the air‑conditioner, read newspapers, doodle, and that's comfortable."

He Zhen Tao glared at him: "What's wrong with holding a pen?"

Gao Feng: "How is a gun barrel any worse than a pen barrel?"

The arguing voices outside made the regiment commander, who had just finished listening to the report in his office, laugh out loud.

Wang Zhongxi tapped a cigarette, smiled and pointed outside the door: "Looks like this recruit is rather likable. If no one stopped them, they'd probably start fighting right here with me."

"I just can't believe it; it's only a recruit, how can he be so in demand?"

Tan Yuanzhou: "That soldier indeed appears more steady and mature than the other recruits, not so restless."

Wang Zhongxi asked: "Could it be… just an act?"

Tan Yuanzhou shook his head; he didn't know about that.

He hadn't had much contact with that soldier, only glanced at him from a distance a couple of times.

More impressions came from the specific descriptions of the two new‑recruit company commanders.

"Regiment Commander, how do you think this should be handled?"

"How about this: you go talk to that doctor, have her stamp it first."

"What if she refuses?"

"Then you persuade her with emotion, explain with reason, present the facts, reason logically. It's just color weakness, not a serious issue; you can't ruin a young person's whole life over a trivial matter."

"Alright, I'll go right now."

Tan Yuanzhou stood up to leave, but was called back.

Wang Zhongxi flicked ash at the ashtray and asked a question.

"What was the name of that new recruit you mentioned earlier?"

"Lu Yang."

"Call those two outside over here with Lu Yang, and bring him to me. I want to take a look. I actually want to see what extraordinary qualities this new recruit has—whether he grew three heads and six arms?"

"Yes."

"Lu Yang... Lu Yang? The name sounds rather familiar."

Meanwhile, beside the tree‑lined path on the east side of the Tuan Bu.

Lu Yang was sitting gloomily by the flowerbed.

Both hands propped his cheek, his face looking despondent.

Zhou Kaidong handed him a bottle of water, equally agitated.

On the phone yesterday, he said he would come to pick Lu Yang up and take him back.

But when he came, everything was fine—so he can't go back?

"Don't even think about it; the Company Commander and Instructor have already gone to see the regiment leadership, they definitely won't send you back."

"Thank you, Squad Leader."

Lu Yang took the water, took a sip, and then fell silent.

Kong Long suggested from the side, "If it really doesn't work, shall we steal that form and stamp it—then it'll be fine, right?"

"It's not that easy, and besides, this isn't just a matter of stamping or not."

"If it really gets decided, they'd have to send the person back, one way or another."

"Otherwise, like a weasel swapping the crown prince—find someone to replace Lu Yang?"

"Are you just trying to fill a headcount? And who would you replace, you?"

"I don't know if I can hold up; I made many mistakes?"

Ding Tengfei opened his mouth, only to be bluntly scolded by Zhou Kaidong.

"You think that's beautiful, huh? Just as you wish, right? Stay over there!"

Ding Tengfei's eyes twitched twice, and he switched back to silent mode.

Facing everyone's varied attempts at consolation, Lu Yang felt even more reluctant to leave.

After a hard‑won transition from strangers to familiarity, he gradually grew to like the atmosphere of the unit.

When he went for the medical exam earlier, he was actually a bit worried.

Because during the previous conscription medical exam, similar issues had arisen.

It was just that the doctor used a relatively simple color chart, with only one number on it, and the standards weren't that strict; he didn't expect to encounter someone so meticulous this time.

If the conscription regulations were applied strictly, Lu Yang's case indeed has a certain probability of being processed as a discharge, sending him back to his hometown.

But after finally achieving some results here—becoming a Deputy Squad Leader, still not a Platoon Leader, with no meritorious deeds—how could he possibly be content?

At that moment, the Company Commander and Instructor jogged over, and everyone hurriedly gathered to inquire about the situation.

Gao Feng said, "The Deputy Political Commissar went personally to handle the matter; the exact details are still unclear."

He Zhen Tao grabbed his hand, "Quick, come with us; the Regiment Commander wants to see you."

Watching Lu Yang being pulled away by the two, everyone's hearts also tightened.

Initially, they were worried whether the Squad Leader would be replaced; now it turns out Lu Yang is the one being discharged?

This whole thing is just too chaotic!

But at this point, everyone can only comfort themselves with the phrase "good things take many trials," hoping everything will develop positively.

Ding Tengfei wondered, if he himself were discharged, would the Squad Leader, Company Commander, and Instructor be as anxious as they are now?

At this moment, he inexplicably felt a bit envious of Lu Yang, envying that he is surrounded by so many caring and concerned people.

"Go in; the Regiment Commander is waiting for you inside."

"Don't be nervous; the Regiment Commander is very amiable, just be natural."

"Yes."

Lu Yang glanced at the three characters "Regiment Commander Office" on the door plate, feeling a bit uneasy.

It's not that he's uneasy about meeting the Special Third Regiment's commander; rather, he's worried the commander wants to discuss his discharge.

If that's the case, Lu Yang can only resort to his trump card, but that move is too lethal…

Lu Yang took a deep breath, knocked lightly, and a voice soon came from inside.

"Come in."

Lu Yang found the voice somewhat familiar, yet couldn't recall where he'd heard it.

He pushed the door open and entered; a middle‑aged man with a round head and round face, wearing the Colonel insignia, was bent over writing.

Lu Yang just called out a report, and the other person put down his pen and lifted his head.

The next second, both of them were stunned.

"Boss?"

"Ah, so it's you!"