Free Web NovelChapter 537: Chapter 421 Fair Scale
Reinforcements actually have a perk, which is that once you rescue someone, you don’t need to worry about anything else.
The aquatic equipment, boats, ropes, and all that stuff belong to the Southwest Guizhou Special Services. We leave it to them to sort out. I heard they also have to transport the body to the funeral home and carry the deceased to the place where they prepare the corpse.
After a dispatch, everything afterwards takes about two or three hours.
But for Special Service Squadron 2, after stripping off their diving suits and resting for a dozen minutes, Cao Yi shouted, "Let’s go." He greeted Li Zhi and the other soldiers, then got in the car and set off.
It really carried a sense of the demeanor of ancient chivalrous heroes.
Complete the mission and leave without fuss, keeping achievements and fame deeply hidden.
As they were leaving, many people were pointing at their vehicle, clucking their tongues in admiration.
A person who hadn’t been found for a whole day was located by them in just one morning!
The diving experts from the provincial city are truly something else!
The people aboard the IVECO straightened up in their seats.
Although everyone didn’t play the advisory role as the plan had laid out, diving in to do the job and then leaving under the astonished gaze of onlookers afterwards was extremely satisfying.
The fierce sun blazed outside, but it seemed to make the sky feel higher and the spirits soar.
Fang Huai couldn’t resist pulling out his cell phone and snapped a photo of the outside, and then turned to take another picture of He Zhijun and Lian Xu in the back row. He composed an MMS and sent it to Yang Shaoqing quickly.
"Today I went for a dive in Southwest Guizhou with these two nitwits."
Send.
Real-time reporting.
Soon after, a photo came back from the other side.
It was a face, looking disgustedly at the camera.
Not Yang Shaoqing, but her roommate, Sun Ya.
The photo was clearly snapped abruptly, with Sun Ya sitting on a flower stand, holding a donation box, with a very clear meaning in her eyes that read "show off your love and die."
"Today is Saturday, we are helping with fundraising for disaster area reconstruction at the school.
(^_^)"
Fang Huai looked up.
August 16, Saturday.
"Instructor Cao, I’m going to the Military Academy late September!"
"Hmm ... how long will you be gone?" fɾēewebnσveℓ.com
Old Cao felt that this was quite magical. Fang Huai, being from the Military Academy, seemed to be able to go whenever he pleased, like he was heading off to a meeting.
Fang Huai smacked his lips.
"Maybe a month or so, depends on the situation! ... Hey, I could have just stayed over there and snagged a month or so of winter break! Non-commissioned officers who’ve served for over a decade don’t even get that much leave! Wasted, now I have to spend the New Year with you rough guys. Boring!"
Despite Fang Huai’s words, Cao Yi seemed unsatisfied and retorted:
"Then wait until after the National Day holidays to go! The Squadron has to perform duties outside during the holiday, and it’s going to be busy! Plus, there’s the third-quarter work report ..."
Fang Huai’s face contorted upon hearing this.
My god, you sound like the infamous Zhou Papi from the stories, extremely demanding!
"Ha, no way, absolutely impossible! I’ve decided, I’m leaving right after the competition!"
...
Back at the Squadron, it’s four in the afternoon.
Although today is Saturday, with the Corps Martial Arts Competition and the National Martial Arts Competition coming up, training is as usual.
Mainly because Cao Yi had been fiercely criticized by Fang Huai the day before for playing in the mud at construction sites ever since he’d become a cadres.
He was literally playing with mud.
A few days earlier, Fang Huai spotted Ye Jiahong shirking his duties by making a little mud house with rescue gloves and happily told Fang Huai that, actually, his dream in high school was to study civil engineering.
Ye Jiahong, of course, didn’t take it well.
What do you mean playing with mud? That’s called childlike innocence!
So today, he got everyone up early and practiced the One Hundred Meters Ladder Attack Drill for a whole day, two groups for comparison.
The few who came back stood aside and watched each group take their turn.
Group one finished in 1 minute and 32 seconds, group two in 1 minute and 28 seconds.
Not bad at all. Considering the members were randomly selected and could perform this well in routine training, it was really good.
Their Corps champion team only managed 1 minute and 19.25 seconds, with second place at 1 minute and 23 seconds and change.
But after the two groups finished, Fang Huai still loudly reminded:
"Huang Yong, when you take my third man’s position, be more alert with your hands and feet! Both midsections of the hoses rest on your shoulders, so when running, you have to push forward quickly, give enough lead so that the guys in the front can move freely!"
"Okay!" replied Huang Yong, raising his hand, but he didn’t seem too enthusiastic.
Fang Huai, perceptive as ever, frowned and asked:
"What’s wrong with you?"
Hu Hongzhi, who was rolling up hoses nearby, joined in the conversation: "Today Captain Ye announced the selection rules for the Corps competition, saying there are only 10 spots and the Command Department will choose the contestants. Huang Yong might not make it. He didn’t even attend the training class because he was focusing on the competition, and now he might not be able to go."
Fang Huai looked at Old Cao in surprise.
"Didn’t you want me to announce that?"
Cao Yi leaned back in a defensive stance: "Didn’t you want to avoid being the bearer of bad news? Since we were out on dispatch, I had Ye Jiahong talk to everyone."
Fang Huai gave a dismissive snort and clapped his hands loudly.
"Hold on a minute, I have something to say!"
Taking advantage of this moment, Ye Jiahong, having just finished a round of single-man triple-hose practice with Huang Zhongjiu, heard the call and came over, huffing and puffing loudly:
"The leader returns from dispatch with important directives, let’s give him a hand!"
Everybody laughed.
Fang Huai made a face and said, "Captain Ye announced the wrong intel! Although the spots for the Corps competition will be selected by the Command Department, the higher-ups are placing great emphasis on our Squadron! Our Squadron’s training members will claim half the territory!
There are four spots!
Instructor Huang! Me! Assistant He, and Squad Leader Huang Yong!"
The announcement stunned everyone around.
They all knew Huang Yong was a physical beast.
But this was a drill competition.
Apart from Huang Zhongjiu being exceptionally strong among the cadres, making it almost impossible to alter the quota, the physical fitness foundation of the soldiers in the squadron is there, and everyone has their own strengths in drill technique. Even if the squadron were to hold an evaluation, it’s unlikely that Huang Yong would definitely rank within the top three.
Furthermore, there’s the newcomer, Lian Xu.
He was the one who overpowered several leading figures from other regiments in the last Grand Martial Arts Competition.
"How... how could I be chosen?" Huang Yong felt somewhat unconfident.
Fang Huai said, with a serious look, "If the Detachment has chosen you, then you are the one. If they ask you to fight, then fight for the Detachment’s honor. What’s with the why? Or do you lack confidence?"
Huang Yong’s face instantly lit up with vigor as he shouted, "Confident!"
The others began to speculate that perhaps Fang Huai had pulled some strings.
They were somewhat moved, but nobody spoke up about it.
However, Lian Xu seemed to be heartbroken as he wailed,
"Ah? Why not me?!"
Fang Huai glanced at him sidelong.
He had never realized before that this guy, once familiar, was quite the drama king.
"Pretending for what? Don’t you know why the Corps brought you here? If we sent you up, would the Liupanshui Regiment be convinced? Go full out preparing for the national Grand Martial Arts Competition! This Corps Martial Arts Competition concentrated training, every individual drill, you must also participate! If you don’t place in the top 20 individually in the national competition, heh, wait until you come back, I’ll be your sparring partner." freewebnoveℓ.com
Lian Xu was truly heartbroken then.
Individual ranking within the top 20.
With 10 people from each Corps, even if the XZ and XJ Corps couldn’t make it, that’s still a whopping 300 people!
Fang Huai as a sparring partner?
His extreme physical strength, back in the training class, only Lin Chong was able to stick it out and train with him to the end!
Even though they’re all freaks, the training class taught Lian Xu that there are different levels of freaks.
"...I’ll try my best! I didn’t agree though! I said I’ll try my best!"
The others saw Lian Xu’s crestfallen look and felt a surge of emotion.
This was the former champion of Liupanshui!
Last time during the Corps Martial Arts Competition spring training, many were discussing how Lian Xu was the dark horse from Liupanshui and how formidable he was. They treated him as a roadblock, an imagined adversary.
Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, he became one of their squadron members.
And it seemed like he was already tamed by Fang Huai.
As everyone felt proud, they recalled the contrast between the last competition and now, which broadened their horizons.
"Fang Huai, this time in the competition, our Detachment should secure first place easily, right?"
"Yeah, with Assistant He there too, with you and him, isn’t that a wrap?"
"Exactly! Lian Xu doesn’t even need to go!"
But Fang Huai waved his hand.
"Don’t underestimate others. How many dark horses emerge in the Corps each year?
Wasn’t it my first year? Didn’t the squad leader also just three years? Squad Leader Huang, Assistant He, weren’t they also just in their fourth year?
Moreover, our Detachment isn’t just aiming to take first place in this Corps Martial Arts Competition, we must take it! But our goal should be to break the Corps records in various drill techniques!
Competitors, prepare with all your might!
The rest of you also need to stay alert, set high standards for yourselves, because you might be the next ones in the competition!
Please take full advantage of the platform that is Special Service Squadron 2. Our squadron won’t always select the same few people to compete. I can assure everyone that as long as you work hard, everyone will have the chance to participate!
The Martial Arts Competition arena should not be dominated by just a few people; this does not foster mutual stimulation!
All of you, if you want to stay well-positioned in Squadron 2, you must participate in Corps, regional, or national Martial Arts Competitions at least once!
We need to use these competitions to broaden everyone’s horizons!
In the future, the selections for leaders of sub-teams, squad leaders, and deputy squad leaders, will not consider those who lack Martial Arts Competition experience!
Squadron 2, although heading towards specialization, physical ability is fundamental, drill technique is the basis; this is not a place for anyone who wants to slack off!
Our ultimate goal is for everyone to be competent!"
"Yes!"
Everyone answered with the loudest voice they could muster.
At this moment, Chen Zhenghai stood to the side, somewhat awkwardly touching his waist and muttered,
"Damn, do I have to compete in the Martial Arts Competition too?"
Fang Huai said with hands behind his back, "Special vehicle drivers will also have specialized competitions in the future! There will also be competitions for equipment technicians and communication officers! Even the Logistics Officer will undergo training and assessments in logistics and finance before taking their post! Don’t think that non-combatant positions don’t have their contests; it’s all the same!
In our squadron, the only one who doesn’t need to compete is Chang Ming!
However, I think even in a cooking competition, Chang Ming would have an advantage! Heck, he might even rank higher than you guys!"
"Hahaha..."
With Chang Ming brought into the conversation, Lian Xu finally showed a smile,
"That’s right! That’s right! Both the Liupanshui Special Duty and Guiyang Special Duty have 30 people, the same food budget, but the quality of food they get is worlds apart!"
Now, Fang Huai also laughed, patted Lian Xu on the shoulder, and said meaningfully,
"If you say that, it’s not necessarily just the cook’s issue. It could be the Logistics Officer’s problem, or perhaps, even the cadres might have a problem."
The four cadres exchanged looks and all laughed.
They were well aware of the little tricks with the food budget.
The rest also realized: Right! We eat so well usually; is it all thanks to Chang Ming?
With the same food budget, why do we get pork ribs while some squadrons get sauerkraut tops?
Given this thought, seeing how Cao Yi and Ye Jiahong, who always scrimped and saved and vehemently opposed using the food budget for unclear financial collective activities, went out to bring back food for the brothers during holidays, everyone’s eyes filled with respect.
When Instructor Huang had just arrived, he had looked for the Logistics Officer several times to reconcile some accounts.
But as the Logistics Officer was nearing discharge and had sustained injuries during training in earlier years, he wanted to make the most of the time left in the troops for medical insurance and often went to the hospital for treatment. Thus, the Detachment leadership specially approved his absence from the squadron.
The Logistics Officer ended up handing over many of his accounting responsibilities to Chang Ming, hardly dealing with money himself, with most financial matters being handled by the cadres.
Once Instructor Huang found out, he ate the Squadron’s meals for a few days, and the urgency of reconciling accounts gradually subsided.
Only later did everyone learn that he thought the Squadron was making up "Special Service Cups" and distributing prize money without explanation, thinking that someone was finding reasons for embezzlement. Unwilling to offend people but determined for clarity, he wanted to investigate thoroughly.
As for Fang Huai, needless to say, it was irrelevant to suspect him of embezzlement; without a wealth of several million as a foundation, he wouldn’t be able to afford serving in the army for a few years.
With such leadership, everyone had a drive to train and work.
In a squadron like that, there was no need to intentionally investigate embezzlement; the brothers’ stomachs were the fairest scales of all.
