Chapter 58: A World in Shambles, Lu Yang Mends It Stitch by Stitch

"Let's hold a class meeting!"

In the Fourth Class dormitory, the new recruits hold their IDs and sit in two rows.

The th Class Squad Leader sits at the front, with a sour expression, Zhang.

"First, I want to stress the recent discipline issues; four characters to describe it: a total mess!"

"The barracks hygiene… is even a pile of dog poop!"

The recruits shrink their necks under the scolding and dare not utter a sound.

"Zhu Yangyang, this Assistant Squad Leader is useless; get out of here right now!"

"Discipline ignored, hygiene ignored, and damn it, five or six people keep coming to ask me for a smoke—am I really giving you so much face?"

The new recruit named Zhu Yangyang immediately looks unsettled.

Lately, their class has indeed been lax, and they haven't earned the Moving Red Flag in a long time.

Since the flag was forcibly taken by the Third Squad last time, they've felt deflated.

Whether in training or daily routine, they just get by, with not a hint of fighting spirit.

The th Class Squad Leader asks him: "How many equipment reps can you do now?"

Zhu Yangyang straightens his back immediately: "Twenty‑two parallel‑bar dips, sixteen pull‑ups!"

In the New Recruit Company's equipment test, exceeding twelve in a single event counts as excellent; reaching sixteen counts as outstanding.

Although he truly can't show off in hygiene or discipline, he considers his training results fairly outstanding.

Seeing his slightly proud demeanor, the th Class Squad Leader sneers: "Feeling smug, huh? Let me tell you, Lu Yang from the Third Squad downstairs can do forty‑five parallel‑bar dips and eighteen pull‑ups!"

"Huh?"

Zhu Yangyang opens his mouth wide, stunned on the spot.

The th Class Squad Leader bursts out: "What nonsense! From now on, don't tell anyone you were a sports committee member in high school—was your sports taught by the PE teacher?"

"Lu Yang when he first enlisted was like a skinny bamboo pole—blow a wind and he'd fall—but now he easily pulls off a comeback!"

"What is that? Full bottle doesn't move, half bottle shakes!"

Zhu Yangyang's face burns hot, but he feels deeply resentful.

If it were someone else, it'd be fine, but with Lu Yang's physique, how can he manage so many?

Technology—must be technology!

I heard this guy often drinks protein powder, creatine, that sort of thing!

It must be some hardcore tech, otherwise how could he improve so dramatically in such a short time!

Zhu Yangyang says firmly: "Squad Leader, give me ten days, and I'll definitely surpass him!"

The th Class Squad Leader wants exactly this result: "I'm not only after a training comeback! For hygiene and class discipline, if they stay the same as before, you might as well quit and let someone else take the Assistant Squad Leader role!"

"He's the Assistant Squad Leader, you're also the Assistant Squad Leader—why is there such a gap in how you conduct yourself?"

Zhu Yangyang seems to have taken a soul‑crushing blow; his whole being is stirred.

They say comparing goods makes you discard them; comparing people makes you kill them.

Now, his own Squad Leader praises soldiers from other squads right in front of him, which he finds hard to accept.

At least Zhu Yangyang doesn't feel he's any worse than Lu Yang; even if he's briefly overtaken, he can instantly make a comeback.

He will never give up this Assistant Squad Leader position; he's too eager to improve.

Being a soldier and leading soldiers are completely different matters.

Even though the New Recruit Company's Assistant Squad Leader is only a temporary post, the feeling of being just below one and above eight is real.

Back in school, as a sports committee member, he was always ignored, with no sense of existence at all.

Strictly speaking, the PE teacher fared worse than him; anyone could just step in and steal the spotlight.

For the Fourth Class, to keep his Assistant Squad Leader spot, he must this time, no matter what, defeat Lu Yang and reclaim those former honors!

The th Class Squad Leader continues: "Next week, the main training items are battlefield first aid and chemical‑defense training; on Saturday, higher‑up leaders will come to inspect. We must perform well and bring the military training Moving Red Flag back to us!"

"Any confidence?"

"Yes!"

"Any confidence?"

"Yes!!"

"Very good, Assistant Squad Leader, come up and cooperate with me for the demonstration. Next, I'll explain how to correctly use a triangular bandage to dress a wound..."

"Place the triangular bandage one finger above the eyebrow, run the two lower edges over both ears and around to the back of the head, then tie a knot."

"Anything you didn't understand? Ask now."

In the Third Squad dormitory, Zhou Kaidong is demonstrating with Kong Long, explaining battlefield first‑aid knowledge.

Seeing Kong Long wrapped like a farmer in the card game 'Fight the Landlord', everyone is straining to hold back laughter.

Even Lu Yang feels a kind of facial muscle soreness, as if he could burst into laughter at any moment.

This guy naturally has a round face, thick lips, and an unshaven beard.

His goofy, clueless look, combined with the white triangular bandage on his head, is downright comical.

Lu Yang is afraid he might suddenly shout: "Can't handle it! Too big! The flowers I've been waiting for have already wilted~"

"Report, I didn't see it."

Kong Long raises his hand and shouts "Report!"

Zhou Kaidong directly points at his freshly bandaged head, calling him a fuzzy nut.

"Of course you didn't see it; your eyes aren't on your forehead!"

"That's all for the demonstration; if anything's unclear, ask your Assistant Squad Leader!"

"The Squad Leader's technique is a bit rough; he's not the type for delicate work, just get a general idea!"

Zhou Kaidong truly wasn't being modest; he really wasn't good at battlefield first aid.

He can't even recall clearly how long ago the last time he practiced this was.

So he just did a brief review and, following the first‑aid manual step by step, demonstrated the most basic procedures.

Inevitable flaws, omissions, or unclear explanations were left for Lu Yang to fill in later.

"Next is pair practice; everyone, form groups and bandage your comrades."

The recruits cooperated, bandaging each other.

For this new knowledge, everyone was quite enthusiastic and took it seriously.

When someone didn't understand, Lu Yang would point it out, help adjust, and even demonstrate once.

Seeing Lu Yang's fluid, meticulous bandaging technique, everyone suddenly had an epiphany.

It turned out Zhou Kaidong's earlier words weren't modest; he really isn't the type to do delicate work.

Compared with Lu Yang's careful bandaging, the Squad Leader seemed careless and clumsy.

Nevertheless, each specialty has its own focus; not every Squad Leader is a jack‑of‑all‑trades.

It's like having a math teacher teach PE or an English teacher teach chemistry—there will always be weak points.

"All right."

Lu Yang wrapped a bandage around Ding Tengfei's arm and tied a bow at the end.

He hadn't even reacted, and it was already over?

So bandaging is that easy.

If I'd learned this trick earlier, I could've saved a lot on medical expenses!

Lu Yang asked, "Got it?"

Ding Tengfei smiled awkwardly, "My eyes got it, but my brain didn't keep up."

Lu Yang didn't say much more and, patient as ever, demonstrated it again.

Helping the whole class improve is precisely the duty of an Assistant Squad Leader.

But his earnest, responsible attitude made Zhou Kaidong feel moved.

This isn't just hiring an Assistant Squad Leader; it's like getting another Squad Leader!

Lu Yang's presence not only perfectly bridged the gap between veterans and rookies, creating a buffer zone,

but also patched his own oversights, making Third Squad more cohesive, more like a family.

Moreover, Lu Yang filled in Zhou Kaidong's weak areas, such as making bulletin boards, sewing, and battlefield first aid.

If Lu Yang previously had shortcomings in stamina and physical fitness, now he's truly blossomed in every way—no flaw at all!

Zhou Kaidong leisurely went to the restroom for a cigarette, needing no extra worry about this task.

After finishing his cigarette and returning, he directly inspected the results—indeed, each one turned out quite presentable.

"Hmm, not bad, it has a bit of merit."

"Your tying is decent, but the bottom is a little loose; watch that next time."

"Yo, you even tied a bow on that bandage—pretty creative, keep it up."

Zhou Kaidong just turned his gaze to the next person when he suddenly froze.

The guy had his face covered, his head wrapped, and one eye shielded—he looked as if he were about to go out on an assassination.

"Kong Long, what's this look? Quite stylish."

Kong Long lifted one eye, coolly asking, "Squad Leader, do I look like a ninja, Kakashi!"

Zhou Kaidong placed a hand on his shoulder and, very seriously, told him, "I think you look like a huge watermelon, like a big fool…"

Beep, beep—

The duty officer's voice came up from below.

"Everyone, go downstairs and assemble; prepare for the evening roll call!"