Chapter 61: Man, Crying Isn

"Kids, your big boss is back!"

At 1 p. m., the new recruits were still in the barracks figuring out first‑aid bandaging.

The door was pushed open, and Lu Yang, big‑belly and head held high, strode into the barracks.

Zhou Kaidong, seeing his swollen, puffed‑up appearance, knew the kid had been taking a lot of perks from the Cafeteria.

Sure enough, as he unzipped his jacket, Lu Yang's gear burst out like an exploding load, spilling a heap of items.

"Whoa!"

Seeing Lu Yang bring so many goodies, the previously dazed recruits instantly perked up.

"My god, are you robbing the Cafeteria?"

"Instant noodles again, little buns, and a big apple!"

"Hehe, as expected—once the Assistant Squad Leader makes a move, you know there's no shortage!"

Lu Yang handed out the items, laughing as he explained that they were all earned through his own labor.

He demonstrated battlefield first‑aid bandaging to the veteran of the Cook Squad, and the veteran, to show gratitude, gave him these foods and drinks.

However, such perks couldn't last long, because those veterans already had a solid foundation.

They just hadn't trained in ages, so they were rusty and forgot some details.

A few short practice rounds, and they could pick it up instantly.

"Not full yet?"

Kong Long, just receiving the food, stuffed it in his mouth as if it were emergency rations.

Zhou Kaidong gave his hat a smack and said, "You ate that much rice at noon and still want more? No wonder you only shed ten jin; the weight won't drop."

Kong Long, thick‑skinned as ever, grinned and kept shoving the food into his mouth.

Obviously, he also knew Zhou Kaidong was just bluffing each time, never actually hitting.

Even the Squad Leader's strikes weren't as harsh as a dad's; that fellow's feather‑duster‑like smack on the butt was so painful he couldn't sit on the stool.

Lu Yang placed two bottles of milk in Zhou Kaidong's locker: "Squad Leader, it's calcium supplement; drink more, and you'll be able to climb higher later."

Zhou Kaidong laughed and scolded, "You kid, are you saying I'm short?"

"N—o—!"

Before Lu Yang could answer, the whole squad laughed and shook their heads.

Zhou Kaidong was left both laughing and crying; these little brats were no longer that afraid of him.

After spending time together, everyone understood each other's temperaments; as long as no one slips up in training or duties, the Squad Leader is actually easy to get along with in daily life.

At that moment, Lu Yang rolled up his pant leg, pulled out two packets from inside, and handed them to Ding Tengfei.

"For you?"

"What's this?"

"Open it and you'll see."

When Ding Tengfei got it in his hand, he had already guessed what it was.

But when he opened it, the creamy‑tan fine powder inside and the familiar grain scent still stirred something in his heart.

On the day he enlisted, he complained about the food and was punished to stand and be scolded by the Company Commander.

Later, he stole this packet, causing a misunderstanding.

Now, seeing fried noodles again, his heart is a mix of five flavors.

Zhou Kaidong stepped forward: "Later at night, if anyone's hungry, they'll come to you for a bite—don't hide it. Also, just do good deeds as good deeds; don't act like a thief, it easily causes misunderstandings."

"Mm!"

Ding Tengfei nodded vigorously, and his tear glands loosened.

All the scoldings, punishments, and grievances he'd endured before were completely released at that moment.

It's so hard—wanting to be a good soldier, to earn recognition in the unit, it's just that hard!

Seeing him clutch his face with his arm and sob wildly, Kong Long and the others gathered around.

In fact, over this period everyone sensed Ding Tengfei's change and were gradually accepting it.

They say a prodigal's return is priceless; who didn't err in youthful recklessness? Actively correcting mistakes is always good.

"Man, crying isn't a sin."

"Don't do stupid things anymore; think before you act."

"If you really feel like being foolish, ask the Assistant Squad Leader first; he's sharp. If he says you can't, then don't do it."

"Pretending to be tough and scaring people isn't cool at all; it's actually lame. Back in school, with people like you, I beat up who knows how many."

"Turn the page on the past, settle your heart firmly, be a good soldier, do what you're supposed to, fulfill all duties, and let your parents see your change."

"Even if you later discharge and return home, you can at least proudly and openly say you once served in the glorious People's Liberation Army of Dragon Country, not as a despised scoundrel."

Zhou Kaidong's final words struck Ding Tengfei's heart, making his crying even more painful.

After so many days in the unit, he had also reflected seriously on his past follies.

His father was uneducated, but years ago started from scratch in the building‑materials trade.

Sometimes he had to deal with all sorts of low‑life characters.

Over time, his speech and actions acquired a touch of the wandering‑knight's habit, which eventually affected him.

They say parents are a child's best teachers; Ding Tengfei's childhood was spent amid his parents' fights, his father's drunkenness, and various beatings.

In his first year of middle school, he was righteous and his eyes shone.

He even got battered, nose‑bruised and face‑swollen, protecting a female classmate from the technical school thugs.

But within days, that girl started dating an off‑campus thug, and his worldview began to warp.

Influenced by a black‑society web novel back then, the saying "Good people don't live long; villains survive a thousand years" became his motto.

Until they enlisted, completing the break with their past living environment, and watching Lu Yang receive praise again and again, while they themselves kept getting scolded and berated, only then did they realize that their previous way of life was wrong......

"Alright, stop crying, wipe your face. Everyone take a short rest; there's training this afternoon."

After Zhou Kaidong finished speaking, everyone hurriedly pushed the blankets to the foot of the bed and reclined on it.

Stacking blankets is a hassle; if they get messy you have to fix them, too much trouble.

Anyway, now every dorm has a curtain hanging, and with many people it feels quite cozy, not very cold.

They say having food in hand steadies the heart; feeling secure, soon snoring sounds drifted out.

Longguo people have long had the habit of stockpiling grain, so many post‑apocalyptic works are jokingly called stockpiling literature.

In the five‑thousand‑year history of Huaxia, there has been a long struggle against hunger, so a full stomach has become the obsession of every commoner.

Zhou Kaidong sat on the bedside, watching the new recruit An Tian recline on the bed for a nap, and felt much more at ease.

Lu Yang's handling of this completely dissolved the rift between him and Ding Tengfei.

From now on, even if this soldier is not outstanding, he won't go down a crooked path or learn to be bad.

To put it bluntly, this also removes a potential safety hazard for society; truly an immeasurable merit.

Lu Yang lay on the bed with his eyes closed, yet did not fall asleep; he was also pleased to have accomplished something big.

Everyone says the troops are a great furnace, but how they melt, many people actually don't know.

Discipline restrains behavior, regulations shape thought, and political education classes plus daily interactions with comrades reshape a person's worldview.

No matter how many bad habits you had before enlisting, under the army's discipline and regulations, they will be forcibly changed within three months.

But not everyone is as lucky as Ding Tengfei; a few remain scrap after the melting process and are eventually discarded by the troops.

Ding Tengfei was lucky; he met a responsible good Squad Leader; he met his fellow villager, who has lived two lives, can see into people's hearts, and is willing to give him a hand; and he met Kong Long and a group of tolerant comrades.

If he were transferred to any other squad, the melting effect could not be this efficient or obvious.

In fact, by the day of discharge, there might be hardly any effect at all.

The troops are sometimes very pure, sometimes very realistic.

He is like a high‑speed machine; it won't stop to wait for you, nor waste energy on someone who stays stuck in place.

Lu Yang's fellow villager's advantage is that his flaws aren't thorough, so if you pull him, he's willing to move forward; but if you encounter someone who clings desperately, Lu Yang not only won't pull them, he doesn't mind kicking them twice.

Sleepiness gradually crept in, and Lu Yang soon drifted into dreamland.

But just as he was about to fall asleep, the whistle for assembly training sounded.

"Weren't you at the camp headquarters meeting? When did you get back?"

The Instructor returned to the office and saw Gao Feng trying again to bandage himself.

Gao Feng didn't even lift his head and said, "Just got back a moment ago; tie a knot at the back for me, I can't manage it with one hand."

He Zhen Tao was too lazy to help: "It's about good enough; the assessment is of veterans and new recruits, not you, a new‑training commander. Are you love‑drunk and trying to show off?"

"What's the matter, can you control it?"

"I'm too lazy to care. Have you eaten?"

"I already ate at the camp cafeteria."

"Listen, the cafeteria's vinegar‑stirred shredded potatoes and green‑pepper pork strips at lunch were amazing. Guess who cooked them?"

"Who?"

"Take a guess."

"Xiao Liu?"

"No."

"Then it's…"

Gao Feng let the Cook Squad members guess in a circle, and He Zhen Tao kept saying it was wrong.

Gao Feng understood: "The Director of Affairs cooked it personally."

He Zhen Tao waved his hand: "All wrong, reveal the answer—Lu Yang cooked it."

Gao Feng looked up in surprise: "He can cook?"

He Zhen Tao laughed and explained: "Lu Yang was teaching the cafeteria crew how to do emergency bandaging, and when he wasn't watching, the cooking time passed. Since there was no time, he went up to help fry a couple of dishes, and the flavor was actually quite good."

"Wait, wait, why does this sound a bit confusing?"

Gao Feng's mind was tangled: "Lu Yang, a rookie, teaching the veteran Cook Squad emergency bandaging and also helping fry a couple of dishes? How could I not believe it?"