Free Web NovelChapter 508: Chapter 407 Leaving and Staying
Noon meal, clanging and banging.
After tormenting Huang Zhongjiu’s butt until it split, everyone’s mood brightened up as if a gap had opened in the dark clouds during mealtime, and the atmosphere improved significantly.
Aside from Huang Zhongjiu, who sullenly tried to adapt to the Second Squadron’s vibe, everyone else was cheerful and laughing.
As for Fang Huai, he focused on eating.
Breakfast doesn’t count; this was his first proper meal since coming back. Fang Huai sat at the Squadron Department’s table, busily moving his chopsticks and hitting the edge of the bowls. Now and then, he would knock Ye Jiahong’s chopsticks away to snatch a piece of pork liver and flaunt it in his mouth.
"F*cking... after just a trip to the training class, you’ve learned to guard your food?"
Ye Jiahong cursed and picked up a soup spoon, vengefully scooping up a big spoonful of pork liver with green onion oil and plopping it into Fang Huai’s bowl.
"Eat, eat, eat! Have your fill!"
Fang Huai gave him a glance, "You know shit! If I threw you over there and you came back, I’d like to see how you’d lick the plate clean!"
During the training class, he had 17 dreams.
In the beginning, four or five were about Yang Shaoqing’s pale thighs, and a few others were about dark Chiling, Mizuho Shoumei, Kurea Hasumi, Yua Mikami, Uehara Ai, several "teachers." fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
But towards the end, the one who appeared most often in his dreams... was Chang Ming with his chubby back.
The round spatula dancing by the stove testified to the deep assurance of "feeding the people is paramount, contentment breeds lust."
Kung Pao tripe, spicy kidney slices, fragrant pork liver, hot and spicy blood curd; each bite was piping hot and yet had a fresh, tender and smooth taste that showed the chef’s ultimate respect for a pig given sincerely from the heart.
I don’t eat offal, but I do eat intestines, lamb liver, exploded stomach, kidneys, grilled chicken heart.
I love whatever Chang Ming cooks.
When Fang Huai reached the peak of delight, he couldn’t help but howl:
"Squad Leader Chang, I heard you’re getting discharged? How the hell am I supposed to live without you! The Second Squadron can’t be without Chang Ming, just like the West can’t lose Jerusalem!"
This immediately resonated strongly with those around him.
"Yeah! Chang Ming, you can’t leave!"
"Without you, our meals won’t taste good anymore!"
Ye Jiahong, loving this kind of chaos, slammed his chopsticks on the table and started chanting slogans.
"If Chang Ming gets discharged, I’m getting discharged too! I flat-out refuse to eat anybody else’s stinky tofu!"
"Captain Ye is right! If Chang leaves, I’m leaving too!"
The whole Second Squadron began banging their chopsticks.
Chang Ming wiped his plump hands on his apron and looked at a bunch of ungrateful wolves, snorting:
"I’ve already filled out my discharge intentions, and now you think of keeping me? Who was it that complained I wasn’t fit enough and didn’t take me to the Wen C disaster relief? Who gossiped behind my back that I was too fat to train properly? Who said I disgraced the Second Squadron during evaluations? I don’t want to stay in this damn kitchen!"
At that, a couple felt guilty.
"Bang!"
Liu Jianfeng stood up abruptly, glaring fiercely:
"Who? Who said that?"
Fang Huai wiped his mouth and chuckled, "It was you, in the study room of Squad One. You also said Chen Zhenghai was such a fatso, he couldn’t run, only had brute strength."
Liu Jianfeng’s face went numb.
Damn, human surveillance has returned.
"Damn?"
Chen Zhenghai immediately stood up and slapped the back of Liu Jianfeng’s head.
"Later, let’s take him outside and give him an Aruba!"
Ye Jiahong immediately pointed at Liu Jianfeng and cursed, "This son of a turtle, always badmouthing people behind their backs! Let’s finish him!"
Fang Huai glanced at Ye Jiahong, speaking with calm certainty, "And you, in the second batch of reinforcements, you crossed off Chang Ming’s name, didn’t you? What use would it be bringing Chang Ming? Are you planning to cut off his flesh and use it for cooking? You also talked about Chen in the garage..."
Before a clap of thunder could cover his ears.
Ye Jiahong instantly grabbed a spoon and covered Fang Huai’s bowl with another spoonful of kidney slices.
"Eat meat! Big brother! Eat meat! You look so damn handsome when you don’t talk!"
At this moment, Cao Yi chuckled, set down his chopsticks, and clapped his hands:
"Don’t worry! Chang Ming isn’t going anywhere! I threw away his discharge papers. I won’t report them! If he dares to leave, that’s desertion!"
Everyone was immediately relieved.
"Right! How can our Second Squadron’s administrative chef leave?"
Chang Ming couldn’t help but laugh and cry, "Instructor Cao, that’s against one’s own will!"
Although he said that, he didn’t argue any further.
He took pride in his cooking, and it warmed his heart to feel the strong approval from his brothers.
His family wasn’t short on money, and he wasn’t worried about his future. If his brothers still wanted to eat what he cooked and didn’t mind his lack of fitness, he was willing to dedicate another three years.
Every time they ate, everyone was happy and he stood by, watching with delight, occasionally showing off.
When the new recruits were called away and there was no one to help in the kitchen, he would leave the kitchen, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Does nobody want to eat anymore?" The squad leaders would then rush to return the new recruits to the kitchen, no longer making any fuss.
Because everyone acknowledged his skills.
The previous Cooking Squad leader didn’t receive this kind of treatment; his cooking was perfunctory and he just rotated through a few easy dishes, which no one enjoyed. He was frequently called away and criticized for his poor cooking and for not being helpful in the kitchen.
When Fang Huai left the troop, Chang Ming had just taken over. Back then, there were still frequent quarrels about the lack of helpers in the kitchen.
All of this was a status Chang Ming earned through his dedication to his work.
That recognition was vital.
It was precisely because Cao Yi understood everyone’s mindset that he didn’t consult with Chang Ming, to avoid any hesitation.
Not allowing him to be discharged was also a form of recognition.
Many people ended up serving for years in the military in a daze of this kind of recognition.
Cao Yi waved it off with a smile and continued:
"It’s only Shen Hao among Zeng Zhigao, Sun Jingwu, Chen Zhenghai, Meng Qiang, and Zhang Yang who has said his family has arrangements for him and is sure he wants to be discharged; Zhang Yang is certain he wants to transfer."
The rest of you, stop going back and forth on your decision. Think clearly about your life ahead. In tonight’s meeting, listen carefully to the Squadron’s future planning, and then make up your mind whether you want to be a part of this flood of firefighting reform or not!
The benefits of firefighting are getting better every year, which is clear for all to see. More importantly, even if you go back to look for work after being discharged, you may not be able to take part in such meaningful endeavors!
As for the spots, there’s no need to worry. Our Squadron has plenty of them. Even if some of our brothers are not outstanding in training, there will always be non-combat positions in a Squadron. You are very good, and I don’t want to lose any of you, and nobody wants to let you go. If any brother wishes to stay, we all welcome you!"
When everyone heard this topic, they all fell silent for a while.
Chen Zhenghai, a special vehicle driver, the best driver in the Squadron, with three years of accident-free records, and the joy of the Squadron.
Sun Jingwu, who also knew how to drive every vehicle and even served as a squad leader.
Meng Qiang, who single-handedly managed both the roles of clerk and communication officer, was always stationed in the communication room between the first and second floors and never made any mistakes, becoming more proficient over time. frёewebnoѵēl.com
Zeng Zhigao, the emergency response team’s best operator of various breaching equipment.
Shen Hao was average in many aspects but never lagged behind in any subject. He was the melancholic intellectual of the Squadron, having written an essay entitled "Firefighting Times" that was published in the whole corps.
Just thinking about these people possibly leaving made everyone’s minds fill with their strengths, and all the lovely memories they had tucked away came flooding back, while the flaws they usually teased each other about seemed to vanish.
No one wanted to let go.
Those who had thought about leaving were even more reluctant when they looked at those familiar faces.
At this moment, Shen Hao, now in his fifth year, perhaps didn’t expect that he was the only one confirmed to be leaving. As his brothers stared at him, making him feel awkward, he stuttered as he spoke:
"Instructor Cao, I was thinking... maybe I could reconsider, is that okay? Chen Zhenghai told me that I’ve just used up a Squadron quota to learn driving this year and leaving right away would waste the quota. Chen Zhenghai offered to teach me how to drive... The job my family arranged, it could wait a few more years..."
Seeing him hesitate, Cao Yi waved his hand:
"Come to the Squadron Department later, let’s have a talk sitting down."
Finally, Fang Huai put down his chopsticks and began to ponder quietly.
...
After the meal.
A group of people begged and coaxed Instructor Huang upstairs to the third floor.
All the resentment dissipated in a symbolic torture session of Aruba.
Fang Huai allowed everyone to vent rudely before it would have been impolite to cause more trouble.
Huang Zhongjiu felt uncomfortable with this kind of soldierly affection but getting taken upstairs by the men seemed to evoke his long-lost anticipation from when he first started as a cadre.
Fang Huai agreed with one sentiment from this morning’s discussion: The soldiers of the Second Squadron had been given a tough path, so there was no need for him to make it more difficult. He should focus his efforts elsewhere.
Still, there were those who held grudges.
Fang Huai didn’t leave after eating. Instead, he intentionally wandered around the kitchen.
The four new recruits, previously under the strict discipline of Huang Zhongjiu, didn’t dare to come and chat with Fang Huai last night. Now, seeing him enter made them as excited as countrymen meeting each other.
Song Lin and Xiao Haishan were as thrilled as if they had seen a woman, coming over for a big bear hug.
Song Lin let out a strange cry, "Fang Huai! Damn, you finally showed up!"
Xiao Haishan was even more torrential, "If you didn’t come back, my girlfriend would be history! She came to see me twice last month, and I didn’t dare to let her in!"
Fang Huai was surprised for a moment, "Xiao cousin, your girlfriend?"
"Tsk, that nurse!"
"Oh, okay." Fang Huai waved his hand, "Behave well, and I’ll make arrangements for her to come to the Troops for a meal. As for the cell phone on weekends, I’ll discuss with the Squadron to get it back for you."
With that said, Fang Huai approached Han Yong, patted his shoulder, and said, "General Han, I know it’s been tough for you."
Han Yong sighed.
"We all know you’re becoming a cadre and need a hand. No worries, I won’t report him; you can rest assured."
"Ah, this Instructor Huang, who among us hasn’t been hit by him, it’s nothing." Song Lin stepped forward to say.
"Me." Wang Peng was as provocatively cheeky as ever.
Quick as a flash, Fang Huai grabbed Wang Peng’s head with an outstretched hand, yelling:
"You haven’t been hit yet? Time for revenge then!"
"Hahahaha..."
The three of them piled on for a good slap, while Fang Huai’s wrist clamped down like a pair of iron tongs, leaving Wang Peng unable to struggle free.
"Do you give up?"
"Do you give up?"
After a good pounding, Wang Peng finally gave in:
"I give up, I give up!"
That’s when everyone burst into laughter.
Fang Huai joked around with them for a while, then his face turned serious:
"During this time, you should also give it a thought whether you want to stay next year. The Squadron might have quota for training, like diving, driving, communications—professions that the Squadron cannot train by itself.
Once certified, it could be useful in the society. If you decide to stay, the Squadron will give priority to you.
I’m going to be very busy from now on and probably won’t have the time to look after every single thing for you. If there’s anything, find me in the squad."
The guys exchanged glances and smiled.
Song Lin patted his arm, "You’d probably have to be found at the Squadron Department, right? Don’t worry, we’ve discussed it, and we definitely won’t let you down! In just over four months, we will be First-class soldiers! It’s just a pity that you’ll be receiving your officer’s rank, unable to be promoted with us!"
Fang Huai was touched. These same year soldiers always said they wouldn’t let him lose face, but in fact, they just didn’t want him to leave the collective.
"Hey, who says we can’t be promoted together? I’ll wear two ranks! When it’s time for First-class soldiers to get their new ranks, I’ll change mine together with you guys!"
"Haha, great! Then you will be our second year’s big boss! Big Boss Fang!"
"Alright, alright, then you guys decide who’s Old Two!"
After some roundabout, Fang Huai finally made it to the door.
He picked up his cell phone, thought for a moment, and dialed his uncle’s number.
