Chapter 19: Lao Ma of the Red Third Company Fifth Squad

Horizon, horizon, besides the horizon, there was only the horizon; the semi-desertified land made people feel lost.

The vehicle finally stopped in front of a small camp gate. Inside the camp was a patch of lush green vegetable fields, and several soldiers who looked like dirt clods were waiting in front of the gate; one of them was even holding a hoe.

He Hongtao began to distribute work: "Lv Ning, Liu Hongbing, you are here, the production base."

The two soldiers got off the vehicle woodenly. He Hongtao encouraged them: "The regiment's intake of various vitamins depends on you."

Following that, the vehicle stopped at another small camp gate, where several soldiers who looked like fried dough twists were waiting at the gate.

He Hongtao continued to distribute: "Oil depot—Ma Rong, Lin Dongzhi."

The two soldiers moved off the vehicle step by step.

He Hongtao encouraged them mechanically: "The vast world, there is much to be done."

The singing had stopped long ago, and there were many fewer people on the vehicle. The vehicle continued to sway forward, endlessly, not knowing when it would stop swaying.

The listless soldiers faded from the vehicle one by one.

Gradually, He Hongtao was already drowsy, and the vehicle finally stopped, and it didn't intend to drive again.

He Hongtao woke up, rubbed his eyes, and looked back at the vehicle; only Feng Yuxiu was left.

Compared to the previous places, this could be considered desolate to the extreme. Outside the vehicle were four simple houses standing on the wilderness, and there wasn't even anyone to welcome them.

"Xu Sanduo, this is where you'll be, Red Third Company, Second Platoon, Fifth Squad, guarding the oil pipeline."

Feng Yuxiu walked off the vehicle and looked at this boundless Gobi Desert.

A trace of a smile finally appeared on the corner of his mouth.

Enjoying loneliness, liking loneliness.

This was the environment he lived in.

Inside the dormitory.

Feng Yuxiu looked around at the place that was like a pigsty.

There were scattered papers everywhere on the floor, and playing cards were placed on the table.

Three veterans in disheveled clothes, with long strips of paper stuck to their faces, looked at He Hongtao sluggishly.

"Where is your squad leader?" He Hongtao's expression was so gloomy it could almost drip water.

He had already informed these veterans of the Red Third Company Fifth Squad that a recruit would be reporting today.

But there wasn't the slightest appearance of a welcome here.

Li Meng, Lao Wei, and Xue Lin shirked responsibility to each other, none of them wanting to speak.

He Hongtao took a deep breath, "Forget it, forget it. I'll leave the person to you. Xu Sanduo, this is your squad from now on."

Lao Ma rushed in from outside, holding a spatula.

"Ouch, Instructor, I thought you wouldn't arrive until dark. You arrived early, haha."

Lao Ma put down the spatula with a humble and polite face.

He Hongtao laughed out of extreme anger, "Lao Ma, you've been in the Red Third Company longer than I have. Look at you, do you intend to just drift along like this? Drift yourself into nothingness?"

Lao Ma lowered his head and muttered: "Isn't it just drifting through the days in this place? Having a ground rat is like having a relative visit."

"Instructor, please drink some water, drink some water." Seeing He Hongtao's bad expression, Li Meng hurriedly changed the subject.

He also gave Feng Yuxiu a glass of water.

Feng Yuxiu smelled it, and a strange smile appeared on his face.

He Hongtao didn't hesitate at all and gulped it down.

He had also stayed in this place for a period of time.

He had long known what the water quality in this place tasted like.

"The regimental headquarters will lay the pipeline in the second half of the year, and you will be able to drink clean water. Don't say the regiment has abandoned you just because they are laying a pipeline specifically for four people."

Lao Ma hurriedly revealed a smile, "That would be great. Thank you in advance for the regiment's concern for us."

"Lao Ma, come out with me, I have something to say to you." He Hongtao called Lao Ma out.

Li Meng and the others enthusiastically put down Feng Yuxiu's luggage.

"Comrade Xu Sanduo, right? I'm Li Meng, this chubby one is Lao Wei, that short one is Xue Lin, and Lao Ma... the one who just went out, is our squad leader."

The personnel were introduced very quickly.

Li Meng thought for a moment, "How about I take you out to familiarize yourself with the terrain?"

"No need."

Feng Yuxiu stretched, and walked out on his own.

The three of them were stunned.

Lao Wei shrugged his shoulders, "He's not a team player."

Xue Lin laughed: "It's fine. In this bird-doesn't-poop place, it's better not to be a team player. What do you think, Li Meng?"

Li Meng pondered for a moment, "A lonely person, a... lonely person."

"Look at this guy, starting to put on his writer airs again." Lao Wei sneered, sat down, and continued playing cards.

——

Vast land.

Yellow sand swirling.

Feng Yuxiu stood on the loess slope, looking into the distance.

Besides the light blue lines, there were no other colors.

If someone died here, they would be buried by the yellow sand in no more than three days.

It was a good place to kill and dump a body.

It was also a place suitable for him to truly begin tempering his martial arts.

The army had this one good point.

In such a remote place, the supply of ingredients could still be constant.

Feng Yuxiu slowly lowered his head and looked at his hands.

Last time, he was almost discovered by Gao Cheng and Shi Jin.

This method of tempering his was bound to cause damage to his body.

In this place, it was a very good cover.

——

He Hongtao was eating bland noodles: "Squad Leader of the Fifth Squad! I'm talking to you... Stand at attention! Look at me! Stop rolling your eyes around!"

Lao Ma immediately stiffened into a human stake, but his eyes flickered, avoiding He Hongtao's angry expression.

He Hongtao hated that iron wouldn't turn into steel: "You were so good before. What about now? Now you're just like those soldiers in that room."

This was a humiliating tone for an old squad leader, but Lao Ma just lowered his head, twisting the rag in his hand, silent.

"A year and a half." He Hongtao sighed, "It only took a year and a half to fall from the best squad leader in the Red Third Company to what you are now. Why?"

Lao Ma didn't speak, his eyes looking straight at the horizon outside the window.

He Hongtao noticed the change in his eyes: "Are you going to blame this place again?"

"I don't know. Maybe I blame myself. I've become decadent."

He Hongtao patted him: "I know the hardships. The company still remembers your good points. The company is fighting for a Third Class Merit for you. To put it bluntly, just being able to stay in this place deserves a Third Class Merit unconditionally. It's useful for finding a job after retirement, so you don't just waste away here."

Lao Ma lowered his head and hurriedly opened his mouth: "No, no! Instructor, I didn't say I wanted to leave."

He Hongtao laughed out of anger: "Then what should we do? Are you going to ruin your reputation at the end of your career? You didn't lead those few well, and instead let them corrupt you! If you don't retire honorably sooner... what on earth are you thinking?"

Lao Ma exhaled a breath: "I don't know."

"Do you know about that Xu Sanduo? He outran Wu Liuyi from the very beginning of recruit training, it's just that his shooting is no good. I still have selfish motives. I'm handing him over to you. Can you re-train him just like you trained those elite soldiers back then?"

"As long as you bring him out, I will personally fight for a Third Class Merit for you. The regiment might be reforming recently. How long can you drift? How long do you want to drift?"

Lao Ma was somewhat incredulous, "You mean that recruit?"

He Hongtao stood up, "Lao Ma, don't let yourself walk away. I don't even dare to imagine what you'll be like when you retire!"

This sentence finally stung this veteran.

He was somewhat lost.

"Xu Sanduo has a future. You figure it out."

This was the last sentence He Hongtao said before leaving. ===== CHAPTER 20 =====