Chapter 71: Father of the Army, Mother of the Army

Lu Yang carried two empty thermoses and walked toward the water room.

After getting up, bringing hot water to the others in the squad has always been his primary duty.

Just then, he saw Zhou Kaidong rubbing his arms, his two hairy legs swinging under his trousers, talking to a stranger.

"Squad Leader, aren't you cold?"

"It's fine."

"Hello, th Class Squad Leader."

Hearing the other call out th Class Squad Leader, Li Jiang raised an eyebrow and asked.

"How do you know I'm the th Class Squad Leader? You didn't introduce yourself at night, did you?"

"The former th Class Squad Leader just left, and you showed up right after."

That wasn't hard to guess; a little thought makes it clear.

But Lu Yang's tone was neither servile nor arrogant, and his steady gaze made him far stronger than many fresh recruits.

Because rank and service years naturally suppress them, many new recruits instinctively feel intimidated by veterans, speaking timidly as if their mouths were glued shut.

Such a situation usually takes a month or two after joining the company before it improves.

But in the New Recruit Company, this is unlikely to happen, since veteran squad leaders represent authority here.

Li Jiang looked at Lu Yang's delicate face and seemed to have guessed his identity.

"You are Lu Yang?"

"Mm."

"Hello, I'm Li Jiang, and our Squad Leader Zhou Kaidong and I are in the same regiment."

Seeing the other extend a hand, Lu Yang paused, then offered his hand as well.

Veterans rarely initiate a handshake with new recruits; they usually just nod.

However, upon learning the other was a comrade from the same regiment as Zhou Kaidong, Lu Yang instinctively felt some goodwill toward the veteran.

Previously, the th Class Squad and the Third Squad had minor frictions; now they've formed a united front, which is good.

Lu Yang filled the two thermoses and prepared to carry them back.

"Squad Leader, I'll head back now."

"Alright, go back."

Watching Lu Yang's back, Li Jiang nodded approvingly.

"This recruit looks promising; just being able to get up early to bring hot water to comrades makes him far better than the others."

Having said that, he looked down at the two thermoses at his feet, feeling an inexplicable irritation.

The former squad leader was removed for mistakes, yet he never properly reflected on where the problem lay.

He can still sleep soundly, so self‑satisfied?

It's like a dead pig not fearing scalding water!

If this isn't dealt with properly, the next company will be full of rotten roots and bad seedlings, twisted melons and split dates!

Zhou Kaidong casually asked, "Company, nothing happened these past two months, right?"

"What could be new? Same old routine."

Li Jiang suddenly thought of something: "Actually there's a matter, a bit of a mess."

Zhou Kaidong: "What matter?"

Li Jiang: "Your platoon's Intern Platoon Leader has been promoted to Formal Platoon Leader."

Zhou Kaidong's face fell: "Weren't we told the intern would be transferred after the internship ended?"

Li Jiang pursed his lips: "He has connections, you know; rumor has it he's related to the Division leadership. We don't know the details, but either way he's stayed, still in your platoon."

Zhou Kaidong inexplicably felt a bit annoyed; although veterans in grassroots units look down on those freshly graduated from military academies and newly assigned Intern Platoon Leaders.

But regarding that Intern Platoon Leader, Zhou Kaidong was initially quite courteous and respectful.

Until that guy started meddling in everything, directing training and doing superficial tasks, which interfered with his work progress.

Before coming to the New Recruit Company, Zhou Kaidong had repeatedly clashed with that guy over training issues.

This time being assigned to train new recruits also carried a hint of cold‑shouldering.

Originally, Zhou Kaidong thought that once basic training ended, that guy should have left.

But unexpectedly, he went straight from Intern Platoon Leader to Formal Platoon Leader, rooting himself in their platoon.

Damn it, will we have to fight every day now?

"Other platoon squad leaders, didn't they report to the Company Commander or Instructor?"

"We reported it, but it was useless; the appointment order came from the Regiment, and no one's words matter."

"Damn!"

Zhou Kaidong, fuming, immediately stopped feeling cold.

Originally, he was looking forward to the end of training so he could return early to his old unit.

Now he doesn't want to go back at all; he wishes the New Recruit Company could keep operating forever.

He truly believes that someday he'll get so angry with that guy that he'll pin him to the ground and beat him up.

Li Jiang comforted him: "Forget it, don't overthink it; if the sky falls, a tall one will hold it up."

In fact, the Company Commander and Instructor are as clear‑sighted as a polished mirror; everyone in the Whole Company knows that guy is a total idiot, just there to polish our Regiment's reputation.

"To cause his downfall, you first make him swell; just wait, that guy won't be able to bounce for long, he'll be dealt with sooner or later!"

"However, I heard that this guy stayed, taking the Regiment's only regular‑position slot; other units hoping to move up will probably have to wait again......"

Zhou Kaidong had a throbbing headache, truly not knowing what to say.

He only hopes the Company Commander will act soon and kick that lump of dog‑shit away.

Otherwise, looking back, this training work is truly hard to get started.

Dammit!

Which unit holds a Platoon duty meeting three times a day—morning, noon, and night—each lasting half an hour?

At night we also have to write reflections and reports; this damn thing isn't an insurance company?

If training isn't tightened up and all they do is hold meetings, it would be a miracle for the results to improve!

If there's a chance, Zhou Kaidong really wants to pry that damned skull open and see whether it's filled with paste!

"Why aren't you up yet?"

Zhou Kaidong, with a darkened face, returned to the barracks.

He discovered that only Lu Yang had gotten up, while the others were still tucked under their blankets, sleeping soundly, and he was instantly fuming.

Seeing this, Lu Yang prepared to wake everyone up, but was stopped by Zhou Kaidong.

He walked over to Kong Long's bunk, flung his blanket onto the floor in one swift motion.

Exposed to the air in an instant, Kong Long immediately froze into a ball; then a hand as cold as an ice pop clutched his leg.

Sss!

Kong Long was instantly frozen awake, his whole body trembling.

Looking back at the instigator, Zhou Kaidong, he was already pulling off someone else's blanket.

Imagine, in the dead of winter, you're sleeping soundly, warm inside your blanket.

Suddenly someone violently yanks your blanket to the floor, then grabs you with a hand as cold as an ice pop—what kind of experience is that?

"All up, all up—did you stop having fun after you got up?"

"One after another like pigs, eat then sleep, sleep then eat!"

The recruits, full of complaints, scrambled to their feet and reluctantly began dressing.

Back home, during the holidays they could still lounge in bed, sleeping until nine or ten o'clock.

But once you join the troops, sleeping in late becomes a luxury.

Fortunately, Lu Yang had already prepared hot water for everyone in advance.

Such meticulous care gives off a real "Military Mother" vibe.

Nowadays, Zhou Kaidong's temper is more like a "Military Father", the kind of stepfather who, after drinking, comes back to beat the kids.

After brushing teeth and washing face, it's still the same old routine of tidying the barracks.

The basic training has been going on for two months now; at this point everyone's barracks upkeep barely meets the qualification line.

Not to say there are sharp edges, but basically everyone is moving in that direction—that's progress.

After tidying up, the next subject is battlefield first aid; to prepare for the noon inspection, everyone has to cram on review.

Zhou Kaidong took the opportunity to wander into other classes, and found that each class got up early, trained with great vigor, all determined to seize the Moving Red Flag.

This left him feeling insecure; clearly he hadn't expected the competition this time to become so fierce.

Especially after the th Class Squad Leader was dismissed at night, the veterans felt a new thread of tension and a sense of crisis.

Anyone who dares to mess up now might as well turn on a light in the restroom and invite death.

Zhou Kaidong approached Lu Yang and asked, "The leaders will come for an inspection at noon; what method are you planning to use to win?"

Lu Yang no longer kept it hidden, leaned close to his ear and said, "I'm preparing, first this, then that, and then..."