Free Web NovelChapter 246: Chapter 190: Martial Arts Competition Information
Four times the LPR (loan prime rate), that doesn’t exist these days.
Before 2015, the protected annual interest rate was within 24%. Lenders could sue to claim it, but any amount above that wouldn’t be supported by courts.
However, if a borrower voluntarily paid at a rate of 36%, they could not file a lawsuit to ask for a refund.
In other words, if you haven’t paid the interest, you only have to pay two percent, and the court will only protect up to that much; but if you have already paid, nothing over three percent can be reclaimed through a lawsuit.
Any parts before August 2020 were governed by the old rules.
For a loan that lasted a year and four months, the interest paid was $62,400.
Still, Zhang Zhongting pulled his leather jacket to one side and said a few things like "I’m on assignment at the City Public Security Bureau," "lending qualifications," and "debt collection methods," and helped the family "fight" for a better deal.
The man in the leather jacket made a phone call, and not long after, he returned with a forced smile.
"Two percent, just two percent. We’ll refund what’s extra, refund it."
After a bit of conversation, another twenty thousand was saved for the old couple.
The old couple was so moved, they couldn’t stop wiping away their tears.
Ye Jiahong and several soldiers were also stunned; they had been toiling all night and had been unable to negotiate down the loan interest rate that they’d been bickering with the man in the leather jacket over, but with a few words from Captain Zhang, the man relented.
Old Teacher He pulled Ye Jiahong to one side, giving him a strict talking-to.
"You can’t reach Captain Zhang’s position. You, a mere squadron leader, think you can help others? Do you have that ability, huh?
You’re overestimating yourself!
Without organizational support, what are you worth out there?
Doing your primary job well is the most important! With the organization’s promotion, you will have a voice!
If they really decided to punish you this time, your bright future would be ruined, and even I wouldn’t be able to stop it!"
Old Teacher He had always looked out for his fellow man from Sichuan to some extent, so taking him aside for a lecture was also a way to show his support to Captain Zhang and the Chief of Staff.
A child who’s done wrong but can still be scolded and beaten is a child who is wanted.
At this point, Ye Jiahong was completely convinced.
A person cannot truly recognize themselves until they encounter a problem they cannot solve.
...
Cao Yi took a few squad leaders to the People’s Square exercise site. When they returned to the squadron around ten-thirty, Ye Jiahong had already come back.
Before getting out of the car, Fang Huai took off his combat uniform and pulled out his mobile phone from his camouflage uniform to check a message.
After a while, he smiled and said,
"Instructor Cao, the thing you asked me to do is taken care of."
Cao Yi, just about to step out of the car, was taken aback,
"What thing?"
Fang Huai glanced at the curious looks from everyone in the car and coughed lightly, "Didn’t you ask me to prescribe some special remedy yesterday?"
Cao Yi was a bit speechless, "Can’t you talk plainly? Can you say something I understand?"
Fang Huai curled his lip, "Captain Ye is back!"
That confused everyone.
Putting together Fang Huai’s statements: Captain Ye is back, and it was accomplished by Fang Huai.
What does that mean?!
Cao Yi finally remembered what Fang Huai said about "solving it once back."
In shock, he gave Fang Huai a resentful look.
Damn, is that something to say openly?
Fang Huai returned the look without saying a word.
Ni ma, you told me to say it.
...
As everyone went upstairs, Ye Jiahong was still in the corridor, staring at the "Dream Life Column" Cao Yi had someone set up this morning.
Kong Xiangzhong, who was coming towards them with a book in hand and quick, furtive steps towards the staircase, stopped when he saw Cao Yi and the others.
"What are you sneaking around for, stealing a landmine?" Cao Yi casually asked.
Hearing this, Ye Jiahong looked over and immediately yelled,
"Kong Xiangzhong! You’re trying to sneak up to the third floor again! Go back to your squad and memorize ’What the Firefighter Should Know and Do’!"
Kong Xiangzhong immediately pulled a long face and turned back.
With that, the returning squad leaders realized that the members of every squad were actually in their squads, reading the "Essential Handbook for Firefighters."
Cao Yi didn’t know how Ye Jiahong managed to return; after all, they had just had a big argument that morning and weren’t speaking. He turned and looked at Fang Huai with a questioning gaze.
Fang Huai smiled and took a few steps forward, saying, "Captain Ye, you’re back."
Ye Jiahong nodded, "Thank you, buddy."
"No problem, Captain. I guess I don’t have to memorize ’Knowledge and Ability’ now, right? I’ve memorized it all already. I’m going down to help in the kitchen," said Fang Huai, about to turn and head downstairs.
Just as he finished speaking, Cao Yi came from behind and grabbed Fang Huai,
"Where do you think you’re going? Tell me, what happened?"
After Cao Yi spoke, he glared at Ye Jiahong.
But Ye Jiahong seriously said, "Secretary, I was wrong. I need to give you my self-critique!"
With that, everyone behind them was stunned.
Ye Jiahong, who had angrily left the day before and ignored everyone even at the funeral parlor, why had his attitude changed again?
Upon hearing this, Cao Yi didn’t care about Fang Huai anymore and immediately pulled Ye Jiahong towards the Squadron Department,
"Let’s go, we’ll talk in the department!"
Everyone stood somewhat dazed on the spot, while Hao Chengbin quickly grabbed Fang Huai,
"Come on, we’ll talk in the squad!"
Hehe, I’ve also got some intelligence at hand.
...
Soon, the Squadron Department reverberated with Cao Yi’s astonished voice:
"Seventy thousand??
"One hundred thousand??!!"
"Twenty thousand?"
After that, a clear voice echoed down the corridor,
"Fang Huai! Call Fang Huai to the Squadron Department!!"
...
Half an hour before mealtime, the whole squadron exploded again.
Ever since Fang Huai joined, this squadron has been unsafe, constantly exploding.
"What?"
"Damn, he donated a hundred thousand?"
"This guy really isn’t short on money!"
"Tsk, tsk, Fang Huai, the army allowance hasn’t been that much, yet he’s spent over a hundred thousand already." freewebnσvel.cøm
The fact that Fang Huai’s family donated a hundred thousand to Squad Leader Wang’s parents spread like wildfire, prompting frenzied discussions among everyone.
And the protagonist went to help in the kitchen instead.
The people who scolded Fang Huai yesterday all felt extremely awkward.
Damn, no wonder he talked so tough!
The whole squadron collectively donated around ten thousand yuan, even Captain Ye, the highest donor, only contributed two thousand, but that guy alone donated the equivalent of 50 captains!
...
At noon, when everyone saw Fang Huai coming out of the squadron, their eyes held respect for the wealthy.
But today, Cao Yi personally formed up the troops, with a serious look on his face.
"Dress right, dress!"
"At ease!"
"Sing a song!"
"The bugle is loud and clear... ready, sing!"
"The bugle is loud and clear, we march in step, the people’s army has iron discipline!
Obeying orders is our bounden duty, regulations and laws we must remember!
Commands must be followed, prohibitions must be enforced, consciously uniting into a combat collective!
Ah discipline, discipline!
In discipline there is me, in discipline there is you, in discipline there is boundless combat power!
All actions follow the command, only with unity can we achieve victory!"
Today’s atmosphere felt unusual, and everyone sang "Discipline Song" with an unusually loud voice.
"Attention!"
After the song, Cao Yi glanced at the training team and said:
"This week, we will sing this song before meals!"
He had considered deeply and still did not agree to let Ye Jiahong make a public self-criticism, but used a song instead as the closure of the incident.
Having said that, his tone relaxed somewhat:
"Just to let you know, the Detachment’s exercise has been postponed until after the Grand Martial Arts Competition!
Today is March 31st.
Tomorrow starts a brand-new month!
The training team’s training will also come to an end tomorrow, and they will soon represent the Detachment at the whole corps to compete. Let’s give a round of applause to cheer on the comrades of the training team!"
Clap clap clap.
However, those in the training team didn’t show much excitement.
Over the past week, every Detachment has been in intensive training, and their intelligence has already spread.
This time, Liupanshui, ZY, and Bijie, each of the three Detachments has quite a few strong contestants, and the Provincial Brigade’s individual first place and overall first place are both at risk.
With these thoughts, Chen Zhechang’s face tensed, and he stepped out of the line, loudly addressing the 18 soldiers behind him:
"There are only two days left!
Brothers, during this trip to the Second Squadron, we’ve been eating well from the Special Duty kitchen for ten days! Plenty of nourishment!
Some even found girlfriends! All glowing and happy!
But what is your main task?
Has your physical fitness improved?
For these two days, please do not forget your original intention! You’ll have a whole day to rest and adjust after reaching the Training Base on Wednesday!
To be honest, the pressure on me for this Martial Arts Competition is enormous!
So, today and tomorrow, I hope you bring your full fighting power to training, and on the field of competition, don’t disgrace our Provincial Brigade!
The first place was ours two years ago, and last year, it was still ours!
Brothers, do you have the confidence for this year!"
"Yes! Yes! Yes!" The training team shouted three times like thunder.
The Second Squadron was somewhat surprised.
These few days, the training team had been training outside every day, and not even their meals were on a regular schedule, working day and night.
Now, all of a sudden, their previously arrogant attitude was completely gone. Not only was their demeanor grave, but even their shouts seemed to be filled with a murderous intent.
During the meal, no one from the training team spoke.
It was so quiet that even the Second Squadron settled down, and the discussion about Fang Huai’s wealth lost much of its zest.
Fang Huai looked at the expressions of the training team and remembered something.
In his previous life, it was the Anshun Brigade that had won the Corps Martial Arts Competition.
Back then, he was just an ordinary new recruit, always worrying about where to sleep to avoid the squad leader’s discovery and not get beaten; he wasn’t clear on the specifics, but his county squadron seemed to have produced a top ten individual.
This dark horse—should he mention it to Chen Zhechang?
But seeing their gloomy faces, they probably already knew, right?
...
In the afternoon, it was breezy and sunny.
The training team went out for a crazy fifteen-kilometer run, vowing to make a final stand against their menisci.
The Second Squadron was also squeezing in as much time as possible to use the training tower, practicing the One Hundred Meters Ladder Attack Drill, preparing for the Army’s Big Contest team race.
"Charge the hose!"
"Go!"
"Liu Jianfeng, damn it, hurry up! I knew I should have let Xiong Jie run with his injury! You’re the slowest one there!"
Cao Yi ran with the team, his angry roar echoing across the playground.
Panic-stricken, Liu Jianfeng shouted as he ran, "Instructor Cao, he’s... he’s dragging me down! My C..."
Before he could finish.
"Dang!"
A crisp sound rang out as Liu Jianfeng’s helmet hit the entrance of the obstacle passage.
Liu Jianfeng was left outside the passage, and surprisingly, without one person dragging the hose, the speed of the hose’s advance hardly slowed down.
Fang Huai sensed something was off; it seemed like the hose had hit the ground behind him, and a coupling at the back of the hose got momentarily stuck at the entrance.
He glanced back abruptly, only to see that Liu Jianfeng was gone.
"Damn it."
Fang Huai looked at the hose caught on the edge of the entrance, gritted his teeth, hoisted the two hoses up, and then gave a fierce yank.
What followed was astonishing for Cao Yi and Zhang Yang, who was arranging the hose at the entrance.
The hose at the entrance, like a dying snake struggling, jerked slightly.
The movement wasn’t large, but a large section of hose weighing over two hundred pounds jolted like that, and the previously stuck coupling seemed to leap over the threshold of the entrance, then surged forward with great force.
"Damn it..." Zhang Yang, who was fervently feeding the hose into the passage, was also stunned.
This...
If you can adjust the hose yourself, what use are we?!
(The easter egg Chapter has been released; if you don’t understand it here, go back and check out the easter egg at the end of Chapter 138.)
