Free Web NovelChapter 161: Chapter 117: Gathering to Reflect
Fang Huai had always thought he was the tree that longed for stillness but was forced to sway in the relentless wind.
He never wanted to compete. It was the system that kept pushing him to.
Because his "core interest" was something no one else dared to dream of—earning accolades and being promoted to the cadres.
This gave him a certain sense of superiority. After all, few people had the ability, the protection of patrons, and the ambition that he did.
Another thing was making some money.
It didn’t need to be much, just enough for him to live comfortably for life, without having to curry favor with anyone.
After all, money, once it exceeded 10 billion, became a hurdle. An endless stream of troubles would find you, you’d be targeted by capital, and you might have to toil for it your entire life.
Living comfortably was but a pipe dream.
Therefore, he wasn’t in a rush, nor did he plan to cross that threshold of capital.
But that afternoon, he felt he might have been too naive.
There were people competing for the accolades and promotions he wanted; the money he earned, too, was never enough.
What he wanted was also desired by others.
And once he developed the goodwill to help some people, the small amount of money he had was nowhere near sufficient.
In 2008, a year of disasters and opportunities came together. Some events had already begun, and others were about to happen.
Before the year’s end, Fang Huai occasionally helped out with documentation at the Brigade Department and overheard Wang Lian complaining every day. The First Company had lost an Instructor, and yet no one had been sent as a replacement, leaving him to handle all the company’s work alone.
Fang Huai jokingly suggested that he could draft a report for him to submit, to express how arduous his work was.
At that moment, however, Wang Jian slumped on the marching bed and waved his hands, saying:
"Forget it, brothers outside have it much harder than us! They’re out there every day shoveling snow with foreign-made shovels! Their hands are blistered up something fierce!
In freezing rain, they still must drive all the vehicles out to spread salt!
A few days ago, our Squadron’s grocery truck went out to spread salt and de-ice, and before it even reached the highway entrance, whoops, it slipped and overturned!
The Logistics Officer of the Squadron is such a simpleton, sitting in the back tossing out salt! When the truck flipped, he smacked his head and got a huge lump!
And here I am, having the nerve to complain?"
Fang Huai knew that month, continuous snowfall hit the entire central and western regions, with Guizhou experiencing severe freezing for an entire month.
Police, People’s Liberation Army, road management, electricity, firefighting... Numerous simpletons, as Wang Lian referred to them, used primitive and inefficient methods to provide rescue during that natural disaster.
At that time, he also wanted to go.
He also wanted to do something great, to leave something behind, to be a loyal guardian of faith and a fleeting lover of material wealth.
All of these ambitions required competition.
"Don’t worry, Instructor Cao, squad leader, I’m firm about this. I won’t change my mind, I will definitely compete with him," Fang Huai declared resolutely.
Hao Chengbin was equally shocked, but he left a comment that made Fang Huai both laugh and cry:
"Compete? What’s the point of competing with him!
You’d better set your sights higher for me!
Even if his physical fitness is good, can he surpass He Zhijun? He Zhijun is also a student of higher vocational education at an electric university night school!
If He Zhijun hasn’t been promoted, what makes him think he can?
He’s never participated in the Grand Martial Arts Competition, nor does he have any significant accomplishments. If he gets promoted, I’ll encourage everyone to report him!
You, too, make me proud!
Everything else is just a means to an end. Surpassing all else, true strength is the real deal!"
At these words, Cao Yi was left speechless.
After a moment, he nodded and said:
"Captain Hao is right! I was setting my sights too low! You should aim for a higher goal!"
...
The afternoon soccer game was vigorous and exciting.
Song Lin waited quite a while on the sidelines before he got to play.
To everyone’s surprise, the lad actually brought a professional edge to the game, dazzling Captain Huang, who had changed into a rather expensive-looking soccer uniform and shoes.
Throughout the match, Song Lin assisted one goal, scored another himself, and the Second Squadron won over the First Squadron 4 to 3.
After the game, since there was still time, everyone gathered in a large circle to engage in some bragging. fгeewebnovёl.com
Captain Huang specifically inquired about Song Lin’s training results, which made him enviously respect Instructor Cao to no end.
Kepo China complaining that all the good soldiers were allocated to the Second Squadron: one Fang Huai, one Song Lin, and one such strong man, Xiao Haishan.
Instructor Cao, quite inhumanely, pointed at Han Yong and asked, "And there’s a little fatty. Do you want him too?"
Fang Huai quickly wrapped his arm around General Han’s shoulders to prevent his tears from falling.
"Indeed, I shouldn’t have come here to get aggrieved..." General Han said in a frustrated tone.
Fang Huai felt that Cao Yi went too far, so for the first time in front of everyone, he shouted,
"Instructor Cao, can’t you recognize a good thing when you see it? If Han Yong’s dad came to visit our squadron, it would be enough to cover our food expenses from the second half of the year until spring!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
After all that, turns out the Second Squadron got someone with a wealthy family. However, Fang Huai’s comment was taken as a good-natured joke by everyone.
Cao Yi was dismissive, "Just keep bragging. Our squadron has thirty people! Do you know how much the catering costs for a squadron over half a year?
For one person per day, 14 yuan and 3 jiao! For thirty people, that’s four hundred and thirty, and nearly thirteen thousand for a month!
Half a year, it’s about a hundred thousand in food expenses! You really have no idea!"
At that moment, Hao Chengbin saw that Han Yong didn’t seem to care about this discussion, so he sauntered over, hands behind his back, and started chatting,
"Fang Huai is not ignorant. When Han Yong boarded the train, his relatives altogether gave him thirty bundles of spending money.
Company Leader Wang Jian didn’t dare to count it himself, worried there might be an issue, so he called all First Company’s non-commissioned officers to the office to count it together—306,000.
Just with Han Yong’s own spending money to sponsor us, it would be enough to cover our squadron’s food expenses for more than a year!"
As soon as he said that, a series of exasperated ’Damn’ echoed.
Everyone looked at Han Yong differently.
Hao Chengbin had been holding in this information for a while; he was quite shocked by that amount of money himself. If it weren’t for fear of what Han Yong might think, he would have mentioned it earlier to garner the same reaction from the others.
The old soldiers might just take it as an interesting tidbit, but a few first-class soldiers, including Wen Jingsong sitting across, were genuinely envious.
Young people newly enlisted began to realize just how different life could be when someone had money to this extent.
This batch of new recruits is truly full of hidden talents.
This little fatty, also having such a good relationship with Fang Huai, meant that Fang Huai would have a powerful benefactor even after he left the army.
Captain Huang immediately smiled and joked,
"I think this little fatty... Han Yong! If the Second Squadron doesn’t want him, you could always file a report to transfer him to our squadron! Every year, to ensure our brothers eat well and plentifully, we still have to go begging those bosses for food and supplies.
Look, just with little Han here, a single family visit would solve everything!"
Cao Yi was left speechless by what Hao Chengbin said, but upon hearing this, he immediately raised his hand and said,
"There’s a rule, guys! Those in the Second Squadron are forbidden to borrow money from Han Yong! And those few who often borrow money, you know who you are! Those who borrowed money to gamble during Chinese New Year, once this month’s salary is paid, promptly repay what you owe!
If you can’t settle it in a month, keep a little for basic living expenses and continue paying back next month. Don’t wait for me to take your IOUs to the Detachment and forcibly deduct it from your wages! You’ll lose face!
Recently, I didn’t crack down on your gambling because I knew everyone was having a tough time during Chinese New Year, and I wanted to let you relax a bit!
But now, as we enter March, regardless of the reason for the loan, all debts must be repaid!
Some of you are still sneaking to the reception room on the third floor to play cards, with some even calling floors above the third the ’Happy Area.’ Don’t think I don’t know! freewebnoveℓ.com
Gaming is fine, on weekends! From today on, card playing is utterly banned!
What does gambling bring? Constant distraction! No focus on training, on work! You want to gamble? Fine, gamble on training results! Even if you bet a month’s salary, I can act as a witness for you!
I’ve given the warning!
Continue at your own risk, and watch out for the day when I flip your nest and dish out collective punishment!"
At these words, everyone fell silent, feeling peeved. Instructor Cao was really good at putting on a stern face. A small issue was suddenly blown out of proportion, ruining the mood for everyone.
The new recruits of the Second Squadron finally understood. So this was what Squad Leader Xiong meant by ’Happy Area.’
The First Squadron was relieved that they didn’t have such a strict leader, and Captain Huang stood up clapping as he smoothly took over the discussion,
"Instructor Cao is right! You all heard him!
The rules of the Second Squadron are also the rules of our First Squadron! Old soldiers, be conscientious when you get back! Don’t tell me about playing sans gambling—I don’t believe it!
The Special Duty Team needs to look like a Special Duty Team! I saw some of you even started using paper mahjong. From today, not even playing with cards is allowed!"
The First Squadron listened with a sigh, while Fang Huai had a clear realization.
It turns out the earlier conversation between the two was to look for an opportunity to assert authority now that the New Year was over and to hold a session to refocus everyone.
No wonder the friendly cadres didn’t show up today, only the two in charge.
Alternating between lax and strict—that’s freaking management art!
If I were really to be a cadre of a big squadron, managing the well-being of thirty-some people, I’d need to pay more attention and learn more.
...
On the way back,
Just when they reached a traffic light intersection, the two-way radio on the glove box in Car 1 suddenly rang out.
"Car 1, turn back! Someone has fallen into the water at the Shiertan Reservoir!"
