Chapter 84: I Found a Treasure, I Really Found a Treasure!

"Made the newspaper, made the newspaper, Lu Yang made the newspaper!"

"Where is it, where is it, let me see?"

In the upstairs reading room, the Third Squad recruits were jostling together, eager to get ahead.

Kong Long held a military newspaper in his hand and found two reports about the New Recruit Company on the back.

There were text and photos, all closely related to the Third Squad.

The first piece concerned Lu Yang's bulletin board notice and the battlefield first‑aid assessment where oil paints were used to give the soldiers a "battle‑damage" makeup.

The article noted that this battlefield first‑aid training method was highly immersive, recommending Division‑wide promotion and strengthening of battlefield first‑aid training.

The second piece reported, after the New Recruit Company's wild‑boar injury incident, Lu Yang faced a direct boar attack without fear and shot it, wounding it severely.

At the end, the article especially praised the unnamed Lu‑surname recruit for his bravery and cleverness, calling his courage commendable.

His trigger pull had force, his aim had precision, his bullets had warmth.

The text specifically mentioned that the rampaging boar was protecting its young and, starving, had snuck into the Cai Di to eat cabbage, making its behavior understandable.

Lu Yang's action both demonstrated a soldier's fearlessness and brave responsibility, and also showed a soldier's keen insight and tolerant kindness.

"Assistant Squad Leader, Assistant Squad Leader, look quickly, look quickly, they're all praising you!"

"You all take a look."

Lu Yang sat aside, leafing through books on gun maintenance.

Two days ago, the Publicity Department Staffer had already come to interview.

What needed to be said and what needed to be celebrated had all been expressed.

Knowing it would be printed and knowing why, his heart no longer held such strong anticipation.

On the contrary, this Comprehensive Manual of Gun Maintenance sparked his interest more, because it recorded the structural disassembly of our army's various firearms.

It even noted certain firearms' usage flaws, such as conditions that cause shell‑jamming or an awkward reverse‑hand trigger pull.

When the distance is too short, ejected casings can land on a comrade's collar and cause burns, among other issues.

Currently, Lu Yang has only studied the disassembly, assembly and cover of the Type 81, and has not learned other weapon structures.

Being able to preview and study ahead from the book's content is also good.

It's like a middle‑schooler previewing a high‑school textbook.

In the hallway outside the reading room, two figures stood.

Li Jiang peered through the crack, looking at the earnest, delicate face immersed in a book, and couldn't help commenting: "Unpretentious, unhurried, proactive, the New Recruit Company isn't even finished and you're already self‑studying the material for the next company; a soldier like this is hard to find in ten years."

Zhou Kaidong admitted: "That learning drive, I have nothing to add. Sometimes I don't even know whether I'm leading him or he's leading me."

Li Jiang expressed understanding.

He's been at the New Recruit Company for a while, and has heard about the earlier incidents.

The minor friction between Zhou Kaidong and Ding Tengfei was smoothed over with Lu Yang's help.

In other words, the Third Squad can miss anyone, but not Lu Yang; otherwise it would have fallen apart long ago.

Therefore, Li Jiang this time decided to represent Zhou Kaidong and the Sixth Company to talk to Lu Yang, asking what his thoughts really are.

As the deadline for the next company draws nearer, Lu Yang can gauge the situation and have more options, right?

But just as Li Jiang was about to push the door open and talk heart‑to‑heart with Lu Yang, a figure ascended the stairwell.

"Company Commander, hello!"

"Hmm."

Gao Feng's mood was clearly good.

When returning the salute, he even smiled.

Obviously, he had also seen that newspaper, which was a recognition and commendation of their new‑training work.

Relying on those two reports, Gao Feng could even try again to compete for the Deputy Battalion Commander position!

"Company Commander, hello!"

Earlier, the noisy Third Squad recruits still fighting over the newspaper in the reading room quickly stood at attention and saluted upon seeing Gao Feng.

Lu Yang also rose from his desk and saluted together with everyone.

Gao Feng walked over, picked up the book on the desk, and glanced at it.

"'Comprehensive Manual of Gun Maintenance?'"

"'Just got the Type 81 a few days ago, and already started self‑studying other firearms material?'"

"'Looks like you're preparing, after the next company, to become a legendary gunner?'"

Lu Yang modestly replied: "Report, Company Commander, I was just idly flipping through, expanding my knowledge."

Gao Feng handed the book back, smiling: "When the next company comes, there will be plenty of chances for you to get to know them slowly. The firearms in this book, you and all of you will have the opportunity to handle them later."

"Especially you…"

"Me?"

Kong Long pointed at his own nose and laughed heartily.

Gao Feng nodded: "With your build, you're well suited to be a heavy machine‑gunner."

"I'll definitely work hard!"

But he didn't know what it takes to become a machine‑gunner.

He only thought it looked cool, flashy, and sounded violent!

Gao Feng's words gave the Third Squad recruits great encouragement; no one refused to hear praise.

"Come on, Lu Yang, come with me outside for a moment."

"Where to?"

"On official business."

Without further discussion, Gao Feng directly took Lu Yang away.

Zhou Kaidong and Li Jiang were completely confused, not knowing where the Company Commander was taking the person.

However, since it was said to be a public duty, it was most likely work of some sort, and it might also be to take them to the regiment for an interview with the propaganda officer.

In short, this kid Lu Yang this time gave the Third Squad, the First Platoon, even the Whole Company a big face.

Lu Yang got onto Gao Feng's military small Jeep.

Originally, he was supposed to sit in the back seat, but was asked to sit in the co‑driver seat.

"Are you taking me as the driver, showing off here?"

"No, no."

Lu Yang sat in the co‑driver seat and fastened his seat belt.

The vehicle slowly drove out of the New Recruit Company, heading outward.

On the road, Lu Yang didn't ask where they were going or what they would do; he figured he'd find out once they arrived.

But Gao Feng spoke up first: "Lu Yang, when the wild boar charged toward us that day, were you scared?"

Lu Yang: "Scared."

"Then why didn't you dodge?"

"Because I had a gun in my hand, and the gun had bullets."

Gao Feng smiled; he was very satisfied with that answer.

A qualified soldier should possess such courage.

He asked again: "I heard that at the La Ji Zhan, others didn't notice the wild boar hidden in the fence's grass stack. How did you discover it?"

Lu Yang shook his head: "I'm not sure either; I just felt something over there."

Gao Feng: "Then how did you spot the wild boar hidden beside the tree behind me on Hou Shan? It was so dark, foggy, visibility under ten meters, and I was standing that close yet didn't notice."

Lu Yang: "Maybe my eyesight is better?"

Gao Feng: "How did you find those two small wild boars when the Whole Company searched a large area and saw nothing?"

Lu Yang: "I saw them early on. As soon as I got onto Hou Shan, I spotted two tiny outlines; at first I thought they were big rats, then realized they were small wild boars."

Gao Feng glanced at Lu Yang out of the corner of his eye, and, recalling the incident at the Tuan Bu, a bold conjecture suddenly formed in his mind.

He pondered this conjecture for a full two days, consulting a great deal of material.

Even though he knew the probability was low.

But to verify its accuracy, he still brought Lu Yang along.

The road the vehicle traveled was familiar; when they came down from Men Guan Zi, they had run back to the New Recruit Company along this very road.

At this moment, the vehicle drove over the uneven yellow earth, its surface scarred with track ruts, and Lu Yang recognized it as the Special Third Regiment outdoor training ground.

Tanks and armored vehicles often passed here, and with the rain, it created the pitted, scarred terrain.

A 'training ground' is a place for outdoor encampment and training, intended to pull soldiers out of comfortable garrison life and let them experience combat training in the wild.

Lu Yang will also go through this after his next lower‑level posting.

It's said to be miserable and hard, but he really wants to try sleeping in a tent outdoors.

It's also said you can eat from a field stove, the kind of temporary smokeless stove dug out in the wild for cooking.

Just thinking about it feels a bit exciting, like a large‑scale outdoor camp; it must be fun.

While Lu Yang was daydreaming about the colorful training life after his next posting, the vehicle stopped at the edge of a forest on the west side.

"We've arrived."

Gao Feng cut the engine and got out.

Lu Yang also got out of the vehicle, but was puzzled.

"Weren't we supposed to be on a public duty?"

"Why bring us out to the desolate wilderness?"

"Company Commander, what are we doing here?"

"This is the Special Third Regiment outdoor training ground, bringing you here to experience it."

"Experience what?"

"What do you think of the air here?"

"It's fine, just a bit cold."

Lu Yang scanned the surroundings; aside from the shade of green trees, the vegetation was fairly lush, though most of it was withered yellow.

A light breeze blew, chilling him so he pulled his neck in and involuntarily tightened his toes.

Gao Feng looked at him: "In this forest, can you see anything different?"

Lu Yang, puzzled: "Company Commander, I don't understand?"

Gao Feng: "I'm asking whether you can spot anything besides the trees, dead leaves, and vegetation…"

Lu Yang: "Can."

Gao Feng, surprised: "You can see it?"

"Mm."

"Find it and show me?"

Lu Yang walked about ten steps forward, pointed at a clump of grass on the ground, and glanced back at the Company Commander.

Then he walked a bit farther to the right, pointing at a pile of dead leaves beside him and at the overly green shrub on the left.

Gao Feng laughed, shouted: "Seventh Company, camouflage exercise paused, everyone stand up!"

Swish—

All the areas Lu Yang had pointed out earlier now had people standing up.

These guys had thick camouflage paint smeared on their faces, wore fuzzy ghillie suits, and their eyes were full of clear question marks.

Lu Yang spotted all three camouflaged targets at once, making Gao Feng's scalp tingle with excitement and the hairs on his arms stand up.

Noon sunlight streamed through the gaps between branches, irregularly sprinkling onto Lu Yang's shoulders, making him look even more handsome and radiant.

Gao Feng stared intently at Lu Yang, his heart racing and his breath quickening: "Indeed, indeed, that's exactly it—I guessed right!"

"I've found a treasure, I've found a treasure—hahaha... Seventh Company has found a treasure!"