Chapter 5: Joining the Army, You Must Bring Your Brain

That soldier, that soldier, I'm talking to you!

Huh?

At the train station waiting hall, Lu Yang looked left and right, when a dark-faced man suddenly came up to him with a cold expression.

Lu Yang hastily closed his book and stood up, but his movements were sluggish due to sore muscles.

Squad Leader, are you talking to me?

Nonsense! You didn't hear the assembly call—are you deaf?

Sorry, I got lost in my reading...

Zhou Kaidong angrily snatched the book from his hand: "How is steel made? Heh, not bad taste. Why don't you read out the most famous passage?"

Lu Yang: "A person's life should be lived like this......"

Alright, alright, that's enough!

Zhou Kaidong gave a cold snort, shoved the book back into Lu Yang's hands, and suddenly said: "You didn't study hard in school, and now you're reading in the army—what were you doing earlier?"

Lu Yang felt a bit embarrassed, but didn't retort.

Zhou Kaidong was one of the conscription officers responsible for household registration visits in his hometown.

Having visited his home before, he knew Lu Yang had joined the army because he was obsessed with novels, his grades had plummeted, and he had no other choice.

Young people of this age, though adults, are hardly different from children in mindset—likes to show off, enjoys expressing themselves through rebelliousness.

So Zhou Kaidong instinctively thought Lu Yang was doing this to gain attention, deliberately opposing him.

Naturally, he wouldn't give Lu Yang a good look.

Pick up your gear and get outside to assemble!

Yes!

Lu Yang picked up the issued backpack and hurriedly followed the unit outward.

Before even reaching the unit, someone got a dressing-down as a warning to others, yet afterward acted as if nothing had happened.

Many newcomers looked at Lu Yang with newfound respect, even secretly giving him a thumbs-up.

He dares to step on a veteran's sore spot right off the bat—this guy's got guts!

But in fact, Lu Yang was merely refreshing the system panel data.

The system "Knowledge is Power" not only converts newly learned military knowledge into personal strength,

but also enhances focus, mental agility, and broadens horizons through reading quality books.

Focus can improve learning efficiency and better comprehension of knowledge points; meanwhile, during shooting and sentry duty, it also prevents distraction.

Mental agility needs no explanation—it's essential in any line of work; joining the army without using your brain means you'll stay a mere soldier for life.

Only by serving with your mind can you hope to rise higher and go farther!

Even before the train arrived, the platform was already buzzing with gongs and drums, lively as ever.

The crowd seeing off the recruits bustled about; for many children it was their first trip far from home, and relatives mostly came with their whole families to bid farewell.

Although the People's Armed Forces department staff struggled to maintain order, the reluctance and sorrow surged like a tide, impossible to hold back.

There were new recruits sniffling, relatives with tearful eyes expressing their reluctance, and couples clinging to each other in sorrowful parting.

In the crowd, Lu Yang instantly spotted two figures not far away pushing their way toward him.

Dad, Mom!

Lu Yang also hurried over there.

Seeing their son in uniform, chest adorned with a big red flower, looking spirited and spry, the couple couldn't help but smile.

As with many seeing-off parents who bring dumplings to eat on the train and noodles after getting off, Mother Yuan AiQin also made dumplings.

But as a southerner, she wasn't skilled at making dumplings or similar wheat foods.

The dumplings varied in size, and the wrappers were rolled thin or thick.

Even two of them burst open from the jostling, spilling their filling.

Tell your dad to ride slower, slower—these dumplings are getting shaken apart!

How can that be my fault? The seals weren't tight. Everyone says adding water twice is enough, but you wouldn't listen and added it three times.

Lu Yang stuffed dumplings into his mouth one by one, watching his parents bicker as usual, and inexplicably felt at ease.

After finishing the dumplings, he took a sip of the old father's chicken soup, wiped his mouth, and looked at them.

Mom, Dad, you should head back—we're about to board the train.

Our son will surely make us proud and amount to something in the army!

Lu Yang stepped forward and gave his parents a big hug.

Before leaving, he said, "The filling's a bit salty, but it's still just as delicious."

Then he picked up his luggage and, amidst the whistle, boarded the green-skinned train together with many other reluctant recruits.

The whistle blew, and the train carried this group of youths, dreaming of future military life, off into the distance.

Yuan AiQin finally couldn't hold back her emotions, shedding tears of reluctance; even her usually inexpressive father reddened at the eyes.

A son traveling a thousand miles makes his mother worry—let alone going so far away.

Conscripts get no family-visit leave for two years, meaning they won't be able to see Lu Yang again during that time.

Only after the train vanished from sight did the seeing-off military relatives gradually leave, eyes red.

Lu Yongqiang and his wife were walking out when they spotted a man clutching a briefcase, a thick gold chain around his neck, the very image of a nouveau riche, rushing over in a fluster.

Old Ding?

Qiangzi, Lu Yongqiang?

Lu Yongqiang recognized him; the man was Ding Yongxin, a junior high school classmate of his.

After dropping out due to a fight, it's said he's been running a local building materials wholesale business these years, doing quite well.

"Why are you here?"

"I'm here to send my son to enlist."

"Your son also enlisted?"

"Yeah, just got on the bus. Why are you so late? It's already this late."

"Langli Ma, last night drank with those engineering bosses, drank until damn late night, then went to sing and have a midnight snack, and ended up damn overslept......"

Ding Yongxin patted his head, spinning anxiously in circles; it was clear he wanted to send off his child, but missed it.

Seeing such a muddle‑headed parent, Lu YongQiang and his wife also didn't know what to say.

After all, after this miss, the next meeting would be two years later.

Lu YongQiang curiously asked, "Why did you also send your child to enlist? Your family's circumstances are so good?"

Ding Yongxin took out a pack of Huazi and politely asked.

"Do you smoke?"

"No, I don't smoke, no."

Ding Yongxin put the cigarettes away, his face full of frustration that he hadn't become steel.

"Sigh, if I don't send him, there's nothing I can do, I can't control him!"

"That little brat is always causing trouble for me outside, picking fights everywhere."

"Last week at the stadium, he fought someone and broke their nose bridge, costing over a hundred thousand, and only because I asked someone to pull strings did the matter get settled."

"His mother does want to send the child abroad to study, but I worry that once he's out, he'll become even worse; if he picks up smoking again, his whole life will be ruined!"

"Indeed, every family has its own hardships; having money doesn't mean there are no worries."

"Having such a troublemaking son, the parents truly have to worry endlessly behind him."

"By contrast, my own son is like a clear stream, at most he likes reading novels and doesn't love studying."

"He doesn't have those chaotic, troublemaking bad habits."

"Stop making a ruckus, what's all the noise? Quickly find a seat and sit down!"

"Put luggage on the luggage rack; if it doesn't fit, put it under the seat!"

"No walking around; if you need to use the restroom, shout 'Report!'"

On the tracks, the green‑skin train trudged forward like an old yellow ox, humm—humm— as it went.

Inside the carriage, most recruits had stowed their luggage and found seats.

A few who couldn't find suitable seats were now anxiously spinning in circles, not knowing what to do.

The Squad Leaders of the recruitment unit went back and forth inspecting each carriage, managing order inside.

But a few daring ones were sneaking under the seats, pulling small tricks.

Seeing Lu Yang holding a rear‑carry bag, looking around for a long time without finding a rack to stuff it into, Zhou Kaidong briskly stepped forward.

Stepping on the seat, he pushed the packages on the overhead rack hard to both sides, forcing a free spot.

"Stop dawdling, give me the bag!"

"Thank you, Squad Leader."

Lu Yang strained to hand over the bag; Zhou Kaidong reached out to catch it, his body instantly lost balance and he almost fell off the chair!

Fortunately his reaction was quick; he planted a foot on the opposite seat and steadied himself.

He glared down at Lu Yang, "How the hell did you bring so much stuff? Why is this bag so heavy! Moving houses?"

Lu Yang gave an awkward smile, "Just a few books and some hometown specialties— oranges, apples, that sort of thing."

Zhou Kaidong helped him place the bag, gave him another glare on the way down, but said nothing more.

When a recruit leaves home for the first time, parents, feeling sorry for their hungry child, will vigorously stuff food and drink into the bag; this is only natural.

But a pack as heavy as Lu Yang's, I've never seen before; it's as if two dumbbells were jammed inside.

Lu Yang sat back down, first glancing around the carriage, then reopened the book in his hand, continuing to work on his focus.

The higher his focus, the better he can block surrounding noise to concentrate on a task, and this good habit will help him advance farther in the troops.

The scenery outside the window kept changing, and the previously quiet recruits soon began chattering away.

The veteran Squad Leaders were too lazy to intervene; after all, this journey required a long ride, they couldn't forbid talking the whole time, could they?

The train stopped and started repeatedly, the passengers on the road changed one after another, but Lu Yang stayed in his seat without moving.

At this moment, most soldiers in the carriage spoke with various regional accents, and their topics ranged widely.

They talked about games, novels, entertainment gossip, and even some whispered about island anime and female teachers.

Lu Yang didn't join; he was blocking external distractions, using the time to work on his focus.

He had also tried reading ten lines at a glance, finishing a book quickly, attempting to bluff his way through.

But the system simply didn't buy it, giving him no chance to exploit a bug; he had to invest seriously to reap any benefit.

And it was this dedication and reading drive that made him stand out from the other recruits in the carriage.

Moreover, his delicate appearance and thin, slight build resembled a sour scholar who once rushed to the capital for exams.

"Look at that guy, reading all the way, so serious, huh?"

"Tch, just showing off; if he really loved reading that much, he'd have gotten into a top university already, why come to enlist?"

"True enough, look at him like a thin bamboo pole; once in the troops, the Squad Leader will definitely train him to death!"

Lu Yang glanced over at the chatter; that person's slightly arrogant look seemed vaguely familiar to him.

"Seems like he was the leader of one side in that recent stadium fight?"

Lu Yang ignored it and lowered his head to read again.

The sky grew dark; after a day of sitting on hard seats, the recruits' backs and legs ached, feeling uncomfortable all over.

At seven p. m., the train stopped at an unfamiliar platform again, but this time the stop lasted a bit longer.

"Why did it stop again?"

"Are we there?"

"Where is this? It doesn't even look like a unit."

The whistle blew, and Zhou Kaidong shouted hoarsely in the carriage: "Everyone take your luggage and get off the train. The local passenger station's crowd has surged, there aren't enough carriages. Everyone get off now and give the train to the common folk!"

Troop transport trains usually run very slowly.

Because they have to circle around the country to recruit new soldiers, stopping and starting has become the norm.

But the sudden order for everyone to get off and give the train to the common folk was the first time Lu Yang had heard of such a thing.

"Squad Leader, do we need to switch to other vehicles now?"

"Yo, a scholar is a scholar, pretty clever, huh?"

"......"

Lu Yang doesn't really like those three words, but the Squad Leader is an old yin‑yang person, and his skill at taunting is top‑notch.

Zhou Kaidong didn't answer directly; he just repeated his earlier words: "Quick, quick, quick—move fast, grab your things and get off without dawdling! Later we still have to keep moving!"