Free Web NovelChapter 226: Chapter 171: Ran Out of Rice?
Outside the squadron, on a stretch of road by the entrance, General Luo was walking slowly, leading Luo Tong on one side, with Han Yong following on the other.
With an elder present, the two youngsters didn’t goof around.
"Little Yong, I heard that you’ve made significant progress in physical fitness...pretty good. As a young man, you need to be aggressively patient."
"I know, Uncle Luo."
"You and Tong Tong are engaged now. You should call me Fifth Uncle. I grew up with your father, and even if we discount Tong Tong’s relationship, you don’t need to be so formal with me."
"...Fifth Uncle."
"Mm, Tong Tong is a bit younger than you. Don’t be too hard on her... That Fang Huai, you’re close with him, right?"
"Yes! I came to the Second Squadron because of him! He has taken good care of me!"
"Hah, naïve and foolish, thinking everyone is kind to you." Luo Tong finally spoke up.
"Who’s the fool?"
"You are!"
"Alright, fool." Only then did Han Yong smile and respond.
"...You’re the fool! You were always dumb, getting tricked out of money. Have you ever gotten back the money you lent out? People were nice to you because they borrowed a lot from you, right? At this rate, you’re going to squander all of your parents’ money!" Luo Tong grew angrier as she spoke.
"Oh? Is that so?" General Luo’s expression became serious, somewhat stern.
Han Yong burst out, "Luo Tong, stop talking nonsense! The money I lent out in the new recruit group, everyone has paid me back!
And Fang Huai doesn’t lack money! He is very rich. He treated the whole squadron to beef, buying a whole cow. And when we go out, he brings food for us, very generous!"
Hearing Han Yong’s praises, General Luo couldn’t help but look a bit envious as he said:
"Um... You’ve just enlisted, and you’ve made a lot of trustworthy, excellent comrades, good friends. Don’t be proud, learn from each other.
The military is a school no less valuable than a university. It can make a person mature quickly. Take it seriously, it will have a great impact on your life in the future."
Han Yong nodded earnestly, "I know, I’ve learned a lot already."
Hearing this, General Luo couldn’t help but smile with interest:
"Oh? What have you learned? Tell me about it."
Han Yong became somewhat excited, "When I first arrived at the new recruit group..."
...
"...In light of Comrade Fang Huai’s outstanding achievements, the Provincial Fire Brigade Headquarters has decided to award Comrade Fang Huai with a third-class merit reward!
Everyone applauds!"
"Clap clap clap..."
Minister Zhong from the corps finished reading the order, encouraged Fang Huai again, and then stepped out of the formation. He walked over and started chatting with Political Commissar Cheng, waiting for General Luo to return.
Everyone maintained their formation and started chatting casually.
Two young men outside and inside the wall, one admired, the other astonishing.
Especially Han Yong.
He’s so young, and already talking about marriage!
And the girl, she’s also quite pretty! By the looks of it, she seems to be General Luo’s daughter?
A son-in-law indeed!
"Hey, Squad Leader Liu, the new recruit is already discussing marriage, what about you and that online friend of yours... when will there be a result?" Meng Qiang stood on the side of the formation, holding a camera, and couldn’t resist teasing.
Liu Jianfeng was just as sharp-tongued, and since he was only in his third year, he pointed confidently at Zhou Yong, who was in his fourth year: "Squad Leader Xiao Hei hasn’t even married yet, why should I hurry?"
Xiao Hei glared, pointing at Zhao Jinchen: "Squad Leader Zhao is still single, why bring me up?"
Zhao Jinchen, standing in the first row, turned around: "Damn... Captain Hao isn’t even married, why are you mentioning me?!"
Captain Hao: ...
"Big talkers, I’ll confiscate all your mouths in a moment!"
Captain Hao bellowed, then looked fiercely at Fang Huai: "Kid! When will you finish writing my song? I’m waiting to propose here! You’re holding me up!"
Fang Huai was startled and spread his hands: "Squad Leader, don’t just pass the buck! I prepared it for you ages ago! You can’t blame gravity for your constipation!"
There was laughter from behind.
Hao Chengbin went along with it, saying:
"Alright, wait for it! Once this week’s rush is over, everyone will come and work for me like slaves! Help me with my proposal! I’m telling you, your future sister-in-law is from the District Public Security Bureau, and there are a lot of pretty police ladies at her unit. If we make her happy, she’ll definitely introduce girlfriends to you guys!"
"Deal!"
Upon hearing this good news, everyone immediately became as excited as if injected with adrenaline.
Fang Huai suddenly realized.
I see.
At first, I thought Captain Hao insisted on coming to the Provincial Special Duty Team to be at the place with the highest training standards in the province, then I thought he wanted to honor his older cousin’s legacy.
Turns out, he came chasing after the lady cop who will be our sister-in-law!
But that’s the thing about the Fire Brigade – it’s quite different from other military units.
Non-commissioned officers with some years of service can have their wives visit whenever they like, as long as it’s not during training time. Coming here for a meal before heading home is fine, and no one objects.
There aren’t many people in the Fire Brigade Squadron, and everyone knows each other well. Even if a Squad Leader is busy elsewhere, whoever is on guard will help greet any visiting wives.
And the wives are also very enthusiastic, especially the locals with jobs. They bring over colleagues and acquaintances, leading them to the Fire Brigade. They’ve actually helped a lot of the Fire Brigade’s young men solve their bachelorhood.
Many of them settled down and started families right where they were stationed and didn’t go back even after being discharged.
The senior leaders nearby vaguely heard what the soldiers were discussing. Today’s official duties were completed, and they did not interfere, only smiling.
They too once had squadron lives and felt somewhat nostalgic hearing this.
Some leaders had found peace working and living away from their original places too.
...
After General Luo returned, the leaders took a look at the training team. The training team immediately organized a hooked ladder exercise with much hustle and bustle.
General Luo encouraged them with a few words and mentioned that starting this year, there would be a focus on improving training discipline. It was almost the same message from Zhang Zhongting, and of course, everyone assured their compliance.
After the leaders left, Instructor Cao looked at the time—it was already past ten. The training tower had been taken over by the training team, so he started arranging for everyone to go upstairs, planning to use the time to copy some political notes and complete the task.
Fang Huai stopped Instructor Cao and made a report, preparing to take the same-year comrades to help with cooking.
Cao Yi thought for a moment and agreed, saying he’d catch up on his notes downstairs.
Unexpectedly, Chang Ming ran out in a panic, saying:
"Instructor, they called this morning about delivering rice, but it hasn’t arrived yet!"
Cao Yi was taken aback: "Can’t we just buy some rice as a temporary solution?"
Chang Ming was at a loss for words: "The place where we buy rice is appointed by the Big Team, and the price is already negotiated and very cheap! Buying rice elsewhere, the Logistics Officer will have a hard time accounting for it!"
"How much rice is left?"
"We’ll have to tighten our belts! There’s only enough for one bowl per person! And we still have the training team, their daily training demands a lot, definitely not enough food!"
Cao Yi glanced in the direction of the training tower, hearing the clamor from the training team, who were still likely climbing ladders.
He then looked at the time and said:
"Alright, go cook the rice we have on hand first, and I’ll handle the rest."
"Alright, Instructor, those are your own words! If their training team starts cursing, it’s not my fault!"
Cao Yi clicked his tongue and waved his hand, "Go on then!"
Fang Huai, standing nearby, saw Cao Yi’s confident expression and suddenly had an ominous premonition. He hurriedly said:
"Instructor! I have money! I can sponsor the squadron with 50 kilograms of rice!"
The new recruits all looked somewhat puzzled, and Han Yong quickly tugged at Fang Huai.
Isn’t this kid just plainly sick? The Instructor said he’d take care of it, what are you sponsoring for?
I haven’t even acted like a rich guy yet!
Cao Yi, however, smiled and patted Fang Huai on the shoulder, "As a new recruit, even if you’re rich, how can the squadron keep taking advantage of you? Rest assured, you don’t need to pay, just contribute your effort."
With that, he headed straight upstairs.
Fang Huai’s face darkened.
Han Yong, puzzled, asked, "What’s going on? Why would you offer to buy rice for the squadron?"
Song Lin and Xiao Haishan also stared curiously at Fang Huai.
Fang Huai’s mouth twitched.
"...You’ll find out soon enough."
...
A minute later, the squadron blew the whistle.
"Squadron, all personnel, downstairs for training! Quick, quick, quick!"
The old soldiers cursed as they came downstairs.
"Damn, it’s 10:15 and we’re still doing training?"
"Quit yapping and hurry up!" Cao Yi roared from the stairwell.
It’s been a while since the Instructor blew up, so everyone promptly sped up.
Soon, the squadron was assembled.
Cao Yi loudly gave the command, leading everyone proudly towards the training tower.
Upon arriving in front of the training tower, they lined up.
The training team and the Second Squadron faced off against each other.
"Instructor Cao, what’s this, you’re doing training too? We need to use this training tower!"
Chen Zhechang spoke as he walked over with his hands behind his back.
But Cao Yi was all arrogance, "Head Chen, does your training team only practice this all day? This intensity doesn’t even match half of our Second Squadron’s regular training!"
Whoa.
The training team was stunned.
Is the Instructor channeling Fang Huai?
"Oh! Instructor Cao, are you coming to give us some guidance?" Chen Zhechang asked with a half-smile.
"What’s there to guide? I can’t do that!
But I’ve been watching for several days, and your training team definitely doesn’t cut it! Our Second Squadron, today, has come to challenge the training team!"
Cao Yi’s triumph was so great it almost set off the training team.
"We accept the challenge!"
Before Chen Zhechang could respond, members of the training team behind him had already started shouting.
Upon hearing this, the Second Squadron didn’t even ask why but began rubbing their hands in anticipation.
They were also select elites! In terms of physical fitness, they all believed they were not a bit inferior to the training team!
"Alright! What’s the competition?" Chen Zhechang, sensing the mood stirred up by Cao Yi, readily agreed.
"Our Second Squadron doesn’t beat around the bush; we practice to achieve perfection! Let’s do it with tires!"
"Oh, together we have nearly forty people on both sides, what can we train with?"
"Hehe." Cao Yi chuckled:
"Our squadron might not have much, but we certainly have plenty of tires! Liu Jianfeng, lead the new recruits and get all the tires from our equipment storage!"
...
The supply of tires in the Second Squadron was so ample that each person had one.
The large ones were flipped, the medium ones were pulled, and the small ones lifted.
Fang Huai was even tasked by Cao Yi with the duty to provoke the entire training team, requiring him to play with tires of each size for 10 rounds.
Many old soldiers wanted to take on the challenge but all failed. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com
As Fang Huai earned praise from everyone, he was also panting like a dog and cursing Cao Yi dozens of times in his mind with "MMP".
For an hour and a half, Cao Yi cursed and ridiculed as he flipped, ensuring that not one person let go of their tire.
This included four new recruits from the Second Squadron.
Han Yong initially thought he was quite strong, arriving at his forte, and trained with loud enjoyment.
Lately, his voice grew fainter and fainter, and the cries sounded ever so miserable.
More and more pitiful.
At assembly time, soldiers were either holding their waists or dry heaving.
When it was time for the meal, almost none ate much, their hands quivering as they scooped up less than half a bowl.
Han Yong felt as if it were broad daylight yet the sky was filled with stars; he didn’t get even a single bite of food.
Today’s meal was a bit difficult to digest.
Difficult to get into one’s mouth.
Everyone’s hands trembled uncontrollably, each like they had a cramp, shaking more as they lifted, all afraid to pick up their bowls for fear of dropping them.
After the meal, some rice was actually left over.
The dishes that were typically cleared within ten minutes were half remaining.
The three new recruits, exhausted from training and wanting to skip, just had some soup, while Fang Huai, trembling, grabbed a soup spoon, cursing under his breath as he ate voraciously.
When the new recruits went to the kitchen to clean up the dishes and utensils, Instructor Cao made his way back. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
"Chang Ming, can we get the rice this afternoon?"
Chang Ming looked at the pile of leftovers, with a wry smile: "Instructor, aren’t you just wasting my dishes? I’ll head to the designated rice-buying place in a while, I’ll have to fight to bring back two bags of rice!"
Only then did Cao Yi smile with satisfaction, "No worries, next time you run short, call me, I’ll take care of it!"
"I’ll take care of it!"
"I’ll take care of it."
"I’ll take care of it..."
Cao Yi’s words seemed to echo in Han Yong’s ears, and suddenly, as if possessed by madness, he found some unknown source of strength, rushed up, and firmly grabbed Cao Yi’s wrist, shouting loudly:
"Instructor, I’ll cover the cost of rice for the squadron for the whole year!!"
