Chapter 8: Hard‑Living Regiment, Hard‑Living Soldiers

"How long—how long until we get there?"

"Damned New Recruit Company, where the heck are you?"

"Damn it, we're here to enlist, why does it feel like we're fleeing a disaster...."

On the wilderness trail, the recruits trudged thinly like sheep dropping dung, panting heavily as they ran forward.

Having gotten off the train, everyone thought they'd arrived at the unit, i. e., the so‑called New Recruit Company.

But they didn't expect the actual destination to be so far; they ran for over half an hour without seeing a single sign.

Whenever someone asked Platoon Leader Zhou Kaidong how much longer until arrival, the answer was always: "Almost there, almost there, we're about to arrive."

The wilderness road was rugged, unlike smooth cement or asphalt; the soldiers carried packs and wore Liberation rubber shoes, which naturally chafed their feet and were uncomfortable.

"No, I can't go on, I need a break..."

Kong Long, with his pack, leaned against a roadside tree, gulping breath.

Lu Yang had indeed predicted it; his massive, dead‑weight muscles made running a far heavier burden than for the others.

In the gym, he was always the flashiest guy in the equipment area; fearing loss of muscle, he never even touched cardio machines like treadmills or ellipticals.

Nevertheless, Kong Long's condition was still better than Lu Yang's, since he had a solid exercise foundation.

Lu Yang's truly systematic training hadn't lasted long; even with the system's aid, his foundation was too weak for a major breakthrough in the short term.

"Need a hand?"

Kong Long, generous by nature, reached out to help Lu Yang share some of the load, but was turned down.

Lu Yang, sweat dripping from his forehead, forced a smile at him: "Thanks, but I still want to make it to the end on my own."

Even with system assistance, it still mostly depends on personal effort; if he feared hardship, he wouldn't have enlisted.

People always ask, is military life tougher, or is a regular job tougher?

But Lu Yang, as someone who's been through it, deeply knows the pain of being battered by society until skin‑deep bruises, teeth broken yet forced to swallow.

Massive financial pressure, inability to pay rent or afford food, exploitative bosses shifting blame, endless overtime, and relatives urging marriage...

These all‑round mental torments are far worse than physical fatigue, driving one to despair and suffocation with no hope in sight.

An hour later, the group finally arrived at the New Recruit Company one after another, all exhausted and tottering.

Lu Yang was drenched in sweat, looking as if he'd just taken a shower; his condition was almost the worst among that batch of recruits.

There's no way around it; his foundation was too poor—since childhood he was a sickly weakling, barely passing the conscription medical exam.

Otherwise, when Lu Yang first said he'd sign up, his parents' first reaction wouldn't have been: "Can the army even take you?"

However, he believes that with the system's help, it won't be long before he catches up with the main force, reaches average level, and gradually overtakes!

"Stand at attention! Crooked, wobbling, you think you count as soldiers?"

The Company Commander's rebuke rang in their ears; everyone quickly pretended to stand properly.

Gao Feng nodded at the First Platoon Leader, and Zhou Kaidong immediately opened the roster.

"Now we begin class assignment!"

"Zhang, Eighth Squad!"

"Li Si, Sixth Squad!"

"Ding Tengfei, Third Squad!"

"......."

"Kong Long, Third Squad!"

Kong Long immediately grabbed his luggage and ran to the Third Squad Leader's side.

And the Third Squad Leader was also serving as First Platoon Leader, Zhou Kaidong.

As class assignment neared its end, seeing fewer and fewer recruits around, Lu Yang, still unassigned, grew increasingly uneasy.

Don't send him to the Cafeteria or Logistics or such, okay?

"Lu Yang!"

"Here!"

Zhou Kaidong looked up, giving him a cold sneer.

"Third Squad!"

"Yes!"

Lu Yang never expected that, in the end, he'd be assigned to the hands of Zhou Kaidong, that old yin‑yang man.

Being under this guy's charge, the next three months would likely be miserable.

However, Lu Yang's arrival made Kong Long very pleased.

He actually liked the southern comrade's personality; it suited him well.

When class assignment ended, Company Commander Gao Feng spoke again: "Squad Leaders, bring your men back to the barracks, drop your luggage and assemble immediately downstairs, prepare to go to the Cafeteria for a meal! Dismissed!"

"One by one, take that broken flower off!"

Just as they entered the barracks, Zhou Kaidong's foul curses rang from behind.

Lu Yang hurriedly untied the big red flower that marked his recruit status and tossed it onto the bed.

Kong Long, his arms too bulky, fumbled and couldn't untie it, so Lu Yang gave him a hand.

And the overly honest one even ran to ask Zhou Kaidong: "Squad Leader, where should I put this big red flower?"

Zhou Kaidong chuckled: "Put it in my pocket? Or maybe in my hat?"

The recruits: "......."

Zhou Kaidong, seeing some still stalling, thundered: "Assemble downstairs immediately, don't make me repeat this a second time!"

The "teng teng teng" footsteps sounded as each squad's recruits dropped their luggage and hurried downstairs to assemble.

If you're not eager to eat, your brain's got a problem; everyone looked forward to the first meal after enlistment with great anticipation.

After the assembly, the unit headed toward the cafeteria, with people constantly whispering and chatting along the way.

"I wonder what the food is like in the unit cafeteria?"

"It shouldn't be bad; I heard that the first meal after enlistment is always noodles."

"Maybe not? We arrived in the daytime, not at night, so we should get a proper meal."

"Whatever they serve, as long as we get a hot meal—I'm about to starve!"

The new recruits arrived at the cafeteria steps, marking in place while adjusting their formation.

Company Commander Gao Feng stood on the steps, glanced over, and saw several staring blankly and others looking around.

"You in the second platoon, what are you fidgeting about?"

"Third person in the rear platoon, what are you doing with your mouth? If you like to talk, speak up!"

Gao Feng only pointed out a couple of typical cases, and the originally lax new recruits immediately became serious.

Lu Yang stood in the ranks, secretly on guard, afraid that any slip-up would get him singled out.

After standing for two or three minutes, Gao Feng didn't say another word, just stood with his hands behind his back staring at the recruits below, applying pressure with his gaze.

"Let me explain the unit's rules!"

"Once you're here, you are a soldier; every aspect of your conduct—walking, sitting, lying down, speaking—must bear the appearance of a soldier."

"The earlier whispering, looking around, and dazed stares—I don't want to see a second instance. If it happens again, you'll deal with it yourselves."

Soldiers' speech and actions emphasize swift and decisive execution.

Lu Yang liked the company commander's manner of speaking—direct, simple, blunt, without unnecessary circumlocution.

Gao Feng continued: "Before meals in the unit, you must sing; it's also a rule. Sing well, you get food; sing poorly, you get none."

The new recruits instantly deflated like punctured balls—why does eating a meal involve all this rigmarole?

Why not hold a vigorous song-and-dance contest, then have you all come up and dance?

At that moment, Platoon Leader Zhou Kaidong stepped forward: "This song is called 'Steadfast Company.' I'll sing a line, you sing the next!"

He extended his hands like a band conductor and began waving vigorously: "Steadfast company, steadfast soldier, steadfast thoughts blazing red, steadfast bullets with eyes, steadfast bayonets stained red with blood....."

Having sat on a train all the way and then run such a distance, everyone was listless and lacking energy.

Although the company commander spoke harshly, he actually didn't make things difficult for anyone.

He merely instructed each platoon leader to return and conscientiously carry out their teaching duties.

Soon, the hungry crowd entered the cafeteria with great anticipation.

But when they saw the food laid out on the tables, everyone's jaws dropped.....