Chapter 79: Not Knowing the Outcome Is a Gamble, Securing Victory Is Investing!

"Admit defeat, Lu Yang."

"Why should I admit defeat?"

Zhang Jiaheng glanced at Lu Yang and realized he had never handled a gun before, so he gave a friendly reminder.

"The Squad Leader already said I come from a military family; I was with my father in the troops since I was very young, handling and firing guns. In gun disassembly and assembly, you can't beat me."

"My suggestion is to concede early, which would let you surrender at half loss, only giving our Eighth Squad three days of laundry and stinky socks."

The Third Platoon Leader crossed his arms, wearing a confident smile.

Even though the competition hasn't started, he feels he has already won.

Every squad has its own prized little one.

And this new soldier born into a military family, Zhang Jiaheng, is the big treasure of his Eighth Squad.

Whether in conduct, internal affairs, or training, this kid performs quite well, clearly influenced by his military‑family background.

And the happy little cup used during the inspection actually proves that he has harbored a singular obsession and love for guns since childhood, doesn't it?

Facing Zhang Jiaheng's well‑meaning suggestion, Lu Yang shook his head: "No problem, the brothers in our squad are willing to back me, so I'll take a match with you."

Zhang Jiaheng thought Lu Yang was unflinching, acting as if he were a ten‑event all‑rounder, stubbornly challenging him.

Since that's the case, he'll have to act and give Lu Yang a taste of his own medicine.

"What's the point of gathering here?"

At that moment, Gao Feng suddenly inspected the area, saw the two squads gathered, and wondered what they were up to.

Everyone promptly saluted in unison: "Company Commander, hello!"

Zhou Kaidong explained: "We're sparring with each other, seeing which squad can disassemble and assemble the gun faster."

Upon hearing that, Gao Feng immediately got interested; he had just taken his rifle and couldn't wait to start the contest.

That's a good thing; he needs to watch.

With the Company Commander present, the atmosphere instantly shifted from a simple sparring to a serious contest.

This is not only a duel between Lu Yang and Zhang Jiaheng, but also a contest between the Third Squad and the Eighth Squad, and a competition between the two platoons.

"I'll be the judge!"

Gao Feng stood before the two, pulling out a Stopwatch.

At the sound of "Begin", the two crouching on the ground, Lu Yang and his counterpart, swiftly started taking the rifles apart.

But their steps weren't identical; Zhang Jiaheng followed the orthodox teaching sequence, first removing the barrel, then the sight, the magazine, the bolt carrier…

His movements were fast and his steps flawless; even Zhou Kaidong and the Third Platoon Leader, both veterans, couldn't spot any flaw.

However, Lu Yang's disassembly steps differed; he started with the magazine.

As he removed the magazine, the barrel came down together, followed by the bolt carrier…

His speed was equally rapid, almost matching his opponent's pace.

In just a few seconds, the two Type 81 Automatic Rifles were completely broken down into pieces, evenly placed on the mat.

Both raised their hands simultaneously, signalling the disassembly was done, then began assembling together.

Zhang Jiaheng grew impatient, not expecting this rookie Lu Yang to be no slower in disassembly.

Especially when he saw Lu Yang, during assembly, snap the bolt into place a step ahead of him, his mind clearly flustered.

Because this technique, he had only seen among a few veterans; it's a quick‑assembly trick not known to everyone.

Lu Yang knew it thanks to system prompts and what he read in the Extra Book.

It's like taking a shortcut while running.

Clack!

He reinstalled the magazine, pulled the bolt back empty, and Lu Yang swiftly set the Type 81 down, raised his hand and shouted a report.

"Done!"

"…Done!"

Two reports, one after the other.

Lu Yang first, Zhang Jiaheng second.

Although the interval was less than a second, it still declared Lu Yang the winner.

"Ohhh!"

A Third Squad rookie rushed forward, toppling Lu Yang in one fell swoop like stacking monks.

First Kong Long, then Ding Tengfei, one after another piled on, nearly crushing Lu Yang.

Zhou Kaidong crossed his arms, a victorious smile on his face: "Third Platoon Leader, what did I say? My soldiers have never lost!"

The Third Platoon Leader's face couldn't hide it; looking at his proud new recruit, a hint of regret rose within him.

Zhang Jiaheng has a solid foundation, works hard, and comes from a military family—a naturally gifted seed.

But in the end, he was beaten by Zhou Kaidong's line that effort is negligible before talent.

He only received his rifle a few hours earlier, yet could reach this level after first touching gun disassembly and assembly.

Even the Third Platoon Leader himself might not be 100% confident of beating Lu Yang.

Scary!

This rookie's learning talent is terrifying!

Gao Feng felt the same; after serving as Company Commander for so many years, he has trained countless rookies.

But he has never seen a rookie like Lu Yang, who memorizes instantly and adds his own unique insight.

Earlier, Lu Yang's gun disassembly and assembly didn't follow the standard teaching protocol, yet it didn't affect the final functional result.

You should know, when this kid first enlisted he was frail, catching a cold in the rain that led to fever and hospitalization.

Such a soldier, in any era, would be a sickly recruit that veteran squad leaders would avoid.

As the new training work nears its end, Lu Yang's changes and progress keep soaring like riding a rocket.

It's no exaggeration to say that Lu Yang's current level could easily beat some lower‑ranking veterans in grassroots units.

But Gao Feng neither praised Lu Yang nor criticized Zhang Jiaheng, because both performed very well.

So he said a few encouraging words, urging everyone to keep working hard and not lose heart.

Gao Feng, hands behind his back, arrived at the Cafeteria, where the Cook Squad Leader was preparing dinner.

Seeing the Company Commander arrive for inspection, everyone stopped their tasks and saluted.

"I have a question,"

"Company Commander, you say?"

"What food is good for the brain and the eyes?"

"Carrots, beef, and walnuts, maybe fish?"

"Add a meal for the Third Squad tonight: stew carp soup and carrot soup, then candied walnuts."

"But Company Commander, isn't there a banquet tonight? The Whole Company is all getting extra dishes?"

"Then give the Third Squad two extra portions!"

The members of the Cook Squad looked at each other, wondering if this was a bit against the rules.

Previously, when Lu Yang in the Third Squad fell ill, the sick‑room meals were reasonable, but the expenses had to be recorded on the books.

Now they just say extra meals are extra meals, with no justification—how will they account for it later?

Gao Feng rolled his eyes, pulled fifty yuan from his pocket, slapped it on the table: "I'll pay out of my own pocket for the Third Squad's special meal; that shouldn't be a violation, right?"

The Cook Squad Leader hurriedly pushed the money back to him: "As you say, how could we take your money? Xiao Liu, ride a tricycle to the town market, buy a carp, and two jin of walnuts!"

"Ah, me again?"

"If you don't go, who will? Hurry up!"

Gao Feng left, hands behind his back, nodding with satisfaction.

Lu Yang's brain is already like this; if I give him another boost, won't he just take off, ha ha ha!

He calls this preparing for rain, investing in the future, laying a foundation for Lu Yang's later development!

"Alright, no more laughing!"

"What's so funny? Isn't it just that someone's washing our dirty clothes for a week for free?"

"Ahem, well, let me say a couple of words, hee hee hee......"

Zhou Kaidong was about to speak, but he couldn't hold back and laughed first.

Originally, the new recruits below could barely hold back their laughter; when the Squad Leader started, the scene got out of hand.

Kong Long kept slapping his thighs, Ding Tengfei looked as if electrocuted, his right foot wildly stomping the ground.

The laughter turned into a chaotic uproar, so noisy that it even drew the attention of the Squad training nearby.

"What are you looking at?"

"Our Third Squad's Lu Yang disassembles weapons so fast he's catching up with the veterans!"

"Each of you still hasn't memorized the steps; either you can't assemble this, or you're missing a part over there!"

"On the battlefield, if your firearms break and need repair just as the enemy arrives, they can fix them instantly and turn the tables, while you become dead souls under the gun…"

"Especially you, Zhu Yangyang, a bit too clever, using all the social tricks. Give you a minute, and if the gun isn't reassembled properly, you'll have to run ten laps before coming back!"

All the surrounding squads are using Lu Yang to spur the new recruits in their own squads.

At this moment, Lu Yang has become, in the Squad Leaders' words, "the other family's soldier."

It's a feeling he never experienced while studying, and he didn't expect it to be this exhilarating.

At this point, Zhou Kaidong also adjusted his condition and began teaching the next training material.

"Next, practice Gun-Pivot Aiming!"

"As the name suggests, maintain the shooting posture, stay still, watch my demonstration!"

Zhou Kaidong swiftly raised his gun, tightened his neck, aligning his sight, front sight, and target in a straight line.

The movement was swift and decisive; the Gun-Pivot stance was strikingly cool and fierce.

"Cool!"

That gun‑raising move left everyone utterly mesmerized.

Everyone has seen it in games and movies, but experiencing it firsthand was truly a first.

Zhou Kaidong's mouth twitched upward as he began the Gun-Pivot Aiming drill: "Time: fifteen minutes!"

At first, everyone had no clear idea of what fifteen minutes meant.

It's just holding the gun and aiming forward—how hard can it be?

But when they lifted this seven‑jin heavy, cold iron lump and kept a level aiming stance, they realized the seriousness of the problem......