After Being Reborn, I became a firefighter again?

Chapter 165: Chapter 121: The Abnormal Old Teacher He

Master He’s face was scowlike, with sagging skin and pronounced forehead lines.

Of average stature.

Up close, Fang Huai thought that when he pulled a stern face, he looked just like Spike the bulldog from "Tom and Jerry".

No wonder everyone was scared, with a face like that. If you said he doesn’t bite, it must be because his wife at home had trained him well.

His intonation had dramatic fluctuations, definitely carrying a Sichuan Guangyuan accent, as he stepped out to answer a phone call.

The conversation began with a forceful "What’s up!"

Followed by an exclamation: "How can you be so damn slow with just one thing, you tortoise son!"

This big shot didn’t need anyone to eavesdrop on his call—if he was upstairs, you could hear him loud and clear from downstairs.

When old man He left, the Instructor called Fang Huai over.

With all buttons on his shirt undone, legs crossed Erlenmeyer style, he tapped the couch with his fingers and pondered for half a day before scratching his head and saying:

"Ah, that... Little Fang! Good performance! I’ve already asked your uncle about this matter!

He said you’re racking up merits too quickly! You’ve got a third-class merit on the way and to report another so soon, it’s a bit much!

Being a leader’s kin, you have to be aware of the impact!

Typically, this kind of thing would warrant a third-class merit!

Anyway, to sum it up, your uncle’s position as a leader has tripped you up, so if you’ve got any complaints, go to him directly! Don’t go whispering curses about me behind my back, alright!"

His words left Fang Huai not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

This big boss of the squadron talked so bluntly! And why so loud, as if he were afraid others couldn’t hear him!

The squadron’s cadre were all sniggering in secret.

Then Cao Yi seized upon the reveal, saying somewhat perplexedly, "Instructor, Fang Huai has another third-class merit?"

Master He sized him up and responded, "Yeah, that! Little Fang’s promotional song will soon be broadcast on the provincial station! You’re the Instructor, how come you’re clueless about your own squadron’s affairs?"

Cao Yi looked at Fang Huai.

Fang Huai, eyes wide, threw up his hands: "Instructor, I had no idea either!"

Master He slapped the sofa, starting to get heated.

"Cao Yi, what are you looking at him for? It’s been announced on the headquarters intranet!

It’s required for cadres like you to check in daily on the headquarters intranet. I’ve emphatically reminded you three times and five times over in meetings to keep an eye on the internal network, and be aware of the province’s activities and the leadership’s directives. Have you taken it seriously?

If you’d truly reviewed it, how could you not know?"

As he spoke, he glanced towards the office where Ye Jiahong was, along with Deputy Squadron Leader and Platoon Leader Wu Di.

Everyone else kept their eyes fixed on their own thoughts.

"Right, Little Fang, Captain Zhang asked me to pass on a message to you—this weekend, your parents are coming to visit! Cao Yi, make arrangements for him to go out and have a meal with his parents. It’s better not to have him stick around the squadron; it can cause unease among the other new recruits."

In truth, the troops aren’t too supportive of parental visits; it’s tough enough to train soldiers to be independent, and familial visits might just revert them to an entitled state of mind.

There have been cases of soldiers refusing to serve just because their parents visited.

However, Master He found it difficult to refuse Fang Huai’s situation.

Fang Huai’s status as a leader’s family member had cost him a third-class merit, but it also came with certain benefits.

Cao Yi frowned slightly, turning to Fang Huai and bluntly saying,

"You aren’t facing any hardships, so why have your family come? Since they haven’t left yet, better not trouble them to make the trip!"

Fang Huai was also taken aback for a moment. He was wondering why his parents were suddenly coming.

But then, he saw it as an opportunity and explained,

"Instructor, I really didn’t know they were coming, but it’s okay. They’ve made the trip, and I sold a song before I enlisted that made some money. When I was leaving the squad, I saw a text message; the money’s been wired to my card, and it’s quite a bit. My family isn’t well-off, and I want to give it to them to improve their living conditions."

Upon hearing this, Cao Yi nodded, approving of Fang Huai’s sensible nature, knowing to contribute to the family expenses. He casually asked,

"How much money did you make?" fгeewebnovёl.com

Fang Huai hesitated, then said, "A few... tens of thousands, I guess."

This revelation left not just the squadron cadre but even the Instructor shocked.

"A song sells for tens of thousands? Bloody hell, are you robbing banks!"

His own monthly salary was just over four thousand yuan. With the good welfare in the provincial city, all benefits considered, it’d total just over five thousand.

Fang Huai said somewhat speechlessly, "Instructor, the other song I wrote even got on the provincial station, worth a third-class merit!"

As for my ’several tens of thousands,’ there might have been an omitted ’hundred’ or ’thousand’ in there! In my previous life, those two songs’ sales volume couldn’t be capped with just ’ten thousand’; it would have to be ’billion’!

The Instructor was at a loss for words, itching to say, "I have several third-class merits, but my retirement compensation won’t see an increase of tens of thousands either!"

Cao Yi also couldn’t help wanting to ask, "You call tens of thousands ’improving living conditions??’ "

Seeing Wu Di already scouting for musical instruments around, apparently yearning to pursue his musical dreams again, Cao Yi cleared his throat and said,

"Ahem, alright! Since there’s really something going on at home, when your parents come this weekend, I’ll arrange for you to go out.

Since it’s so much money, try to save it all for your parents!

Some of the non-commissioned officers in the squadron have... not the best habits! That day on the football field, take to heart what I said! Don’t pick up their bad gambling habits and lose all your money! Since your family isn’t wealthy, you need to be sensible and save more money!"

Some things were an open secret, and Cao Yi wasn’t afraid to say it in front of old Teacher He.

But as he spoke, Cao Yi unintentionally glanced at Master He.

Their eyes met for a second, and both felt a tinge of awkwardness.

Master He felt Cao Yi was alluding to something, and Cao Yi suddenly remembered there was an avid mahjong player right in front of him. It wasn’t very appropriate to bring this up now.

Master He immediately glared and thumped the couch:

"What (are you implying)? Looking at me for what? I just enjoy a bit of mahjong, to soothe the craving! But I don’t play for money, understand!"

"Claws! You still want to school me, huh?!"

God, he doesn’t play for money.

Fang Huai curled his lips inwardly.

This particular hobby of Master He was known throughout the whole corps.

Not playing for money, just mahjong during rest times, how old are you? Still incessantly honing your intellect?

Seeing Master He getting angry, Fang Huai quickly said in a low voice, "Instructor, see you later, I’m off to train."

He then, with the reverence of a pilgrim, quietly backpedaled, retreated from the Squadron Department, and even closed the door behind him.

From inside came Cao Yi’s voice trying to explain, followed by the Instructor’s furious scolding.

...

A short while later, Master He took the lead, with a group of cadres following behind, chatting as they walked to the Squadron’s main gate.

"Work’s been busy since the New Year, nearly a month since I last came to Second Squadron, huh!" Master He remarked as he looked at the greenery on either side of the gate.

"Yes, your last visit was before the New Year," Ye Jiahong said with a flattering smile.

Cao Yi also pointed at a small tree in the yard and added, "That’s right, that’s right, Instructor, look, the tree you planted has grown bigger!"

But Master He didn’t take up the conversation, waving his hand instead, "This second half of the year is the Olympic Games, and we might have to go into a month-long Second-Level Combat Readiness State. Have you implemented the regular management regulations I asked for?"

"We’ve implemented them! The report has been sent up!"

Master He frowned, "Just sent a report? What about the training, exercises? Have you done them?"

The Squadron Leaders secretly cursed in their hearts.

Every time you simply speak, we run our legs off! One training session and the squadron washes cars for a day! Cleaning hoses and changing equipment takes another half a day!

Besides, where do we find units to coordinate with for exercises? Flooding someone’s floors with water, wouldn’t that offend people?

But Cao Yi still bravely answered, "We did it! Last week we went to Jiahua Community and did a high-rise water supply operation!"

Actually, it was a load-bearing climb, and they simply turned on the fire hydrant and took a few photos.

"Oh?" Master He raised his eyebrows, strolled leisurely over to the duty booth by the gate, opened the door and peeked inside.

A bad premonition filled the minds of the Squadron Leaders.

From inside the booth came Master He’s voice, "Is that so? Should I give it a try?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Master He pressed the manual alarm bell inside the duty office.

"Ring!!!"

At the back yard, soldiers who were huffing and puffing while flipping tires, clutching their sorely trained waists, sprinted towards the garage. Someone even yelled:

"What alarm? What alarm??"

If it was a minor alarm and they didn’t need to go, they were ready to rest right there.

But Fang Huai quickly reminded, "Squad leader, don’t ask what alarm! The Instructor is at the Squadron, he probably hasn’t left yet!"

Upon hearing that, someone immediately shouted, "Damn it, Instructor’s training! Quick, everyone in combat uniforms, get in the vehicles!"

Meng Qiang also thundered as he arrived at the front yard, "Training, training!!"

Everyone doubled their speed.

Upon reaching the garage, they saw drivers rushing into the vehicles and starting them up.

For the fire brigade’s training, it generally just involved pulling up to the Squadron gate, everyone getting out, and checking if they deployed on time and if everyone was wearing their personal gear properly.

Sometimes, they might also casually check military appearance and discipline, such as if anyone had hair or fingernails that were too long.

It’s daytime now, and the cars must leave the Squadron gate within 45 seconds, and after disembarking, if someone is missing a piece of personal gear, the Squadron Leaders will face a fierce reprimand on the spot.

If the Squadron Leaders are reprimanded, everyone else certainly won’t have an easy time either.

During normal police dispatch, if one doesn’t have enough time, it’s acceptable to carry equipment onboard and slowly get dressed. However, that won’t do during training—upon reaching the Squadron gate, everyone must disembark and be ready for inspection.

In 30 seconds, everyone put on their combat uniforms, grabbed their hats and belts, and scrambled towards the vehicles. Fang Huai saw Han Yong and Xiao Haishan had forgotten their belts, so he quickly followed and threw their belts into Number 1 vehicle through the window.

As he turned to get into Number 2 vehicle, it had already started, and he nearly missed it.

Master He watched everything with keen eyes and snorted, "Little brat, still playing nanny for others!"

But Cao Yi seized the opportunity to remark, "This kid has a strong sense of team spirit, good material for an officer."

On Number 2 vehicle, Fang Huai quickly adjusted his own belt.

Little Black wailed from the same vehicle, "Damn it... just did two laps, and my waist is killing me! And now training!"

Sun Jingwu, the driver, laughed, "It’s okay, the training will be over in a bit, then you can go rest and eat."

"That works, training means we can finish up early and get some rest."

Listening to the others you-ing and me-ing about getting an early rest, Fang Huai had a foreboding feeling.

As they were saying that, the vehicles had already arrived in front of the Squadron gate. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

Cao Yi shouted, "Everyone, get out of the vehicles and prepare for inspect..."

"Get out for what?" Master He glared, then his gaze swept across several immovable Squadron Leaders, and suddenly he kicked one in the behind:

"You lot, not wearing combat uniforms, standing here for what? Waiting for me to teach you how to dress?"

Ye Jiahong was taken aback, "Instructor, we’re supposed to assist with the training inspection..."

Master He folded his arms behind his back and said loudly, "Inspection? Did I say we were doing training in the Squadron?

Get out and train!

Wonderful Mall! Once we get there, I’ll give you an on-the-spot assignment!"

Everyone was stupefied.

Wonderful Mall?

Was it that same Wonderful Mall without an elevator?