Free Web NovelChapter 198: Chapter 149: 708 Shattered
Several non-commissioned officers were looking at Fang Huai.
Just when everyone thought Fang Huai was going to make a big deal and check for mobile phones, he chuckled and skipped the topic:
"Fellow squad leaders, copy down the regulations. Just submit them to me before the training ends, don’t make things difficult for me.
During the training, devices that shouldn’t make noise had better not ring. When we’re training, don’t bring them with you. Imagine doing an exercise and something falls out as you lift your leg—with so many eyes around, you can’t expect me to pretend I didn’t see it, right?"
Everyone suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.
From the call that Zhang Yang just received, several non-commissioned officers had already gotten a clear picture of the situation. This new recruit represented the will of the Special Duty unit for this training, but some resistance was inevitable.
But now that Fang Huai had put it that way, they felt much better.
The new recruit might be a bit slick, but he still understood "the rules".
Chen Dakang stood up and let out a dry laugh.
"Hehe, don’t worry, little brother. We won’t bring them to the training field, we understand the rules of training."
This statement still maintained the attitude of "we respect the rules," just much softer than before.
Zhang Guangxu, being a new officer who had just stayed on with the team, could only nod slightly after being intimidated.
In fact, at this moment, he was the one most eager to mend fences with Fang Huai. As long as things were smoothed over with Fang Huai, at least he could return with the treatment of "turning back is the shore."
"Alright, call me if you need anything. I’m right across the door, Special Duty Squad.
The whole corps is strict this year. Don’t break the rules. If you get caught, not only will you get reprimanded, but I can’t escape either."
After saying that, Fang Huai pointed to his cap, then closed the door.
Ha, you understand, understand my ass. You just got here and you’re making call after call; just wait until the day the camp’s cameras catch you.
One report and your whole detachment will have to submit to rigorous phone checks, and you can’t escape being the public enemy of the detachment.
Why does Second Squadron not like to stay downstairs? Isn’t it because of the cameras in the front and back yards?
...
Fang Huai returned to his squad and did not go out again.
Today, he did not want to deal with issues one after another.
It would be best to get everyone in line and then catch someone for a serious violation to set an example.
Of course, this was all to complete the task, to retain the power to report and to force people to respect the rules.
There was no need to take someone down for no reason; he had no vendetta against anyone.
In the list of personnel coming for the training, the only one he really wanted to deal with was Wen Jingsong, but he didn’t have enough authority for that.
Fang Huai was well aware of the dynamics.
If Wen Jingsong were caught, as long as the offense was not extremely serious, Wen wouldn’t need to confront him directly. All Wen would need to do is sign his name with dignity when asked to.
Once these records entered the whole corps, they would disappear on their own.
...
Around noon, Fang Huai looked out the window from upstairs and saw that the space downstairs was densely packed with people.
Those involved in training, the drivers who couldn’t make it back in time for the meal, were preparing to experience the Special Duty Unit’s meals.
Once the voices from the public area exceeded four or five groups, it started to sound like a countryside banquet.
Zhang Guangxu and his group were also down there, surrounding two young non-commissioned officers.
It was only Shi Chenhui from the second stage who was talking with a few veteran non-commissioned officers.
From the surprised expressions of both groups and the occasional pocket-touching gestures, it was clear that the topic of discussion was certainly someone with the last name Fang.
Wen Jingsong was chatting here and there downstairs, handing out cigarettes, occasionally joking loudly as if the downstairs area was some kind of Western-style cocktail party.
However, judging by his behavior, he did not seem too arrogant. Most of the non-commissioned officers seemed curious about the Second-year soldier’s family background, and when they received the cigarettes he handed out, they examined them thoroughly before observing him.
"Jiu~ Jiu Jiu!"
"Time to eat!"
Fang Huai immediately ran downstairs to the kitchen door where he intercepted three same year soldiers working as helpers in the kitchen.
Han Yong had a look of disdain, and upon seeing Fang Huai, he looked even more aggrieved:
"Aren’t you going to help out in the kitchen with us anymore?"
Xiao Haishan was also somewhat unhappy: "Yeah, we had a lot of tasks this morning. Song Lin was serving as the safety officer and went to prepare equipment; he didn’t arrive until after 11 o’clock. We were really busy!"
Song Lin said helplessly: "I was called over by squad leader Zhang Yang, you think I wanted to go? The training team has practice in the afternoon; it’s been a busy morning, I’m exhausted."
Fang Huai chuckled awkwardly: "My fault, my fault. How about this, after lunch, when it’s time for cleaning, you guys rest, and I’ll take over, okay?
It’s just for these few days. If I’m not around, please bear with the squadron’s matters!
But during this time, whether Song Lin and I are there or not, we all have to line up to leave, with everyone from all squadrons watching. Don’t forget the rules.
Even if there are just two of you, form up!
During breaks, don’t go outside. Just flop down in the squad study room and sleep.
Don’t worry, as long as Song Lin and I are in the squadron, we’ll come and help out.
Once I’m done with this task, I’ll make it up to you properly, okay?"
Only then did the two big brothers, Han Yong and Xiao Haishan, let go of their anger.
"Fine, but remember to come if you’re not busy!"
Fang Huai nodded, knowing that with the sudden increase in people eating in the cafeteria and less help, they must be exhausted and deserved an explanation.
"Let’s go, line up, march, go!"
As the four of them lined up and left the building, the outside crowd began discussing, with their voices faintly audible.
"Which one?"
"That one, the third in line! The skinny one!"
It was the first time Fang Huai had heard someone refer to him as "the skinny one."
He wasn’t particularly fat when he enlisted, nor could he be considered skinny. But now he had slimmed down quite a bit, and with the slightly chubby Han Yong in front and the robust Xiao Haishan behind, he indeed stood out by comparison.
Fang Huai was quite pleased inside.
But Wen Jingsong was also in the formation, wearing a light smile and occasionally speaking a few words to the people around him, clearly not saying anything nice.
The Special Duty Squad stood on one side, and the Training Team on the other.
Each side formed up in their lines, and the one responsible for the assembly on the Training Team’s side was Liu Shoulin from the Special Duty First Squadron, who had completed a load-bearing run up to the tenth floor in 44.3 seconds and had obtained a second-place finish nationally in a single event.
As a second stage officer, it was clear that everyone had quite a bit of respect for him.
After the two sides had assembled, a lean deputy corps level cadre with a buzz cut followed the sequence of command to exchange positions before stepping between the two lines to begin speaking.
"First of all, welcome everyone to Special Duty. I am the Chief of the Combat Training Department, Chen Zhechang. Those who have participated in the Corps Martial Arts Competition more than twice should recognize me.
Secondly, I would also like to thank Special Duty for their cooperation in providing the training grounds, and Instructor Cao for dispatching soldiers to assist us in our work!"
I saw that today the canteen even prepared special beef brisket soup! frёewebηovel.cѳm
Special Service Squadron 2 is very enthusiastic, and I hope that the comrades from the Training Team will live up to this enthusiasm!
This time for the training, the whole corps has issued orders to correct some bad habits of the past!
The Combat Training Department will be responsible for managing everyone during training time, while the Second Squadron will manage rest time, along with the patrol, who will oversee your conduct and manners at all times!
I hope everyone will maintain a good training condition while also strictly implementing the related regulations of the troops!
About the Corps Martial Arts Competition this time, I only have an old saying for everyone!
The sweat above your eyebrows, or the tears below, you have to choose one! freewebnøvel.coɱ
This saying, ever since I came to the Combat Training Department, I’ve repeated it to everyone at every Martial Arts Competition training session!
I hope everyone prepares well and doesn’t leave any regrets in your military career!
All right, I am done speaking. Instructor Cao, do you have anything to add?"
Cao Yi nodded his head, turned around, and said:
"For those from the city squadrons, if your squadron needs to pick up someone tonight, tally up! We need to arrange to remove the extra beds to help you maintain an orderly and tidy internal standard of living!"
Chen Zhechang, however, shook his head to interrupt:
"For this training session, those from the city squadrons are not allowed to go back. Everyone will stay at Second Squadron!
The unified standard for internal affairs is also an order from the whole corps!
Members of the city squadrons, don’t even think about running back to your own squadrons for a comfortable and pleasant night!
During future training sessions, there will be no special treatment!
If anyone didn’t bring enough supplies, get your squadron to send them over!"
At this remark, those from the city squadrons started looking worried.
Many had just been showing off their superiority, claiming they would go back to their own squadrons to live at night, not having to squeeze with forty-odd people, fight for the shower room, or fold and lay out their bedding.
Indeed, it wasn’t really crowded, with only 16 people excluding the two from Second Squadron.
The large squad space could comfortably fit eight twin bunk beds without it feeling cramped at all, and there were eight shower stalls, which were more than enough even though it wasn’t summertime.
But after all, staying in one’s own squadron meant not only that you’d have everything you needed without bringing anything but also that new recruits would help make the beds. Even if Special Duty 2 was refurbished to be nicer, it couldn’t compare to the comfort of one’s own nest.
Plus, the Training Team did not allow "semi-permanent beds" – you had to set up and take down your bedding daily.
Oh ho.
Now even the members of Special Duty First Squadron couldn’t go back!
Everyone had to honestly dismantle and fold their bedding after a full day of exhausting training!
The one who was most troubled was actually Cao Yi.
With so many people, the Second Squadron canteen was under significant pressure during that time.
But he couldn’t say much, and when Chen Zhechang looked towards him, he shook his head, indicating there was nothing else.
"All right, let’s eat!"
...
The midday meal could be called sumptuous.
Braised beef brisket soup, Mei Cai Ko Rou (steamed pork with preserved vegetables), stir-fried pork, dry-fried chicken, pickled pepper tendons, cold mixed Folded ear root, hot and sour fern root noodles, cornbread.
There was even dessert at the end: rose-flavored shaved ice.
Shaved ice was one bowl per person, with condiments provided on the side for self-service.
Just a small thoughtful touch costing twenty to thirty yuan elevated the whole experience significantly.
Who had ever seen dessert after a meal before?
The soldiers from the Training Team were very happy with their meal, praising it left and right.
Special Duty Squad 2 was good, really good.
It made the drivers from the county squadrons want to stay.
The food at the county squadrons wasn’t bad either, with plenty of oil in their dishes, but it was always the same meat dishes like twice-cooked pork that were greasy and off-putting or a big bowl of vegetable and pork stew, nowhere near as refined as this.
Chang Ming was also pleased; he had truly put effort into this. Even though he would skimp on training, he never skimmed on grocery shopping. He’d visit over a dozen shops daily, looking for inspiration for new dishes, working hard to change up the menu, making everyone look forward to their meals each day.
Overall, he was living up to his chef certification.
But every time the Logistics Officer processed the pile of receipts, he’d have to scold Chang: buying vegetables that cost mere cents, which then also had to be accounted for, was nothing but an unnecessary hassle!
The residual value of a cow weighing several hundred pounds was finally completely squeezed out.
Cao Yi was indeed good at managing a household; buying a cow saved two days of food expenses, treated the squadron and the Big Team, hosted a Detachment Training Team, and the last two big chunks of beef were processed by Chang Ming into dried beef, which might still be useful for something else.
Being a Squadron Leader meant worrying about both big picture issues and minor details alike.
Sometimes, a minor issue like a malfunctioning water heater or a single broken lightbulb in the hallway could affect everyone’s mood or even cause a hurried soldier to sprain an ankle.
To be a good grassroots cadre, there were indeed a lot of things to worry about.
Fang Huai observed and learned; these were experiences a system award couldn’t provide.
