Chapter 12 Looks Quite Perverted

He legitimately ate three full bowls of noodles.

The new recruits of Squad Nine were all stunned.

Fang Huai was very hungry, yet his stomach wasn't as fragile as one who hadn't eaten in a while. By the time he was downing the third bowl of noodles, even the spicy noodle topping was gone. He added some soy sauce and it still tasted amazing.

Hao Chengbin watched him inhale the food, his mouth twitching as he spoke.

"Brother, with an appetite like yours, were you being too modest during meal times these past two days?"

Zhao Bing smiled naively and provided an answer close to the truth, "Squad leader, maybe it's because I used up too much energy this morning, so I'm hungry. Back at home, I would also eat several bowls after working in the fields."

"Mm..." Hao Chengbin nodded in acknowledgment.

"Having a good appetite is a benefit. When we were new recruits, we would also eat seven or eight bowls of rice."

That said, the bowls they used to eat from were 4.5-inch ones, whereas Fang Huai was devouring from 8-inch soup bowls.

After this meal, even a 200-pound pig would be satisfied and burping.

Fang Huai felt like none of it had actually entered his stomach; all that remained was the lingering taste of chewing in his mouth.

"Squad leader... can I have one more bowl?" Fang Huai asked after his last spoonful of noodle soup went down, wiping his mouth, still not quite satisfied.

He definitely hadn't replenished enough energy, but he felt quite energized already.

The nine people beside him had already lined up, gaping at him like he was a monkey.

"Stop eating, anymore and your stomach won't be able to take it! Besides, we can't have everyone waiting for you. The meal-duty soldier will give you two extra bowls of rice at noon!" Hao Chengbin frowned and dragged Fang Huai into the formation.

"The meal-duty soldier stays behind to wash dishes. Target, Seventh Regiment Squad Nine, march!"

Hao Chengbin had intended to have everyone run upstairs, but seeing Fang Huai's way of eating, he also feared it might harm his stomach.

This new recruit was messing up his rhythm. He wasn't easy to manage; although very conscious of the rules, bedroom management, and anything else, training was still life-threatening for him.

Easy to manage yet training to the point of risking his life.

And hell, eating was also done in a life-threatening manner.

To him, a freak, it was quite a freakish spectacle to behold.

...

Ten minutes later, at the Seventh Regiment Squad Nine.

Yue Tao held his thigh, looking aggrieved.

Hao Chengbin had his leg propped up, pointing at the new recruits.

"Remember this, when you see the squad leader, stop marching, maintain a distance of more than half a meter and loudly say 'Hello, squad leader!' Loudly, not shouting! I'm telling you, people have a stress response! If you do like Yue Tao just did, getting too close to the squad leader's face to say hello and then getting punched, well, that's on you!"

"Yue Tao, I'll let it slide for the others, but how long have you been here? Have I not taught you the rules?"

Yue Tao replied sullenly, "Squad leader, I've got it! That kick from Squad Leader Pan, that roundhouse kick, was really cool!"

Everyone burst out laughing, even Hao Chengbin cursed with a laugh.

"Shameless!"

Fang Huai pondered deeply.

A person without shame is invincible. Yue Tao, with his remarkably thick skin, could take being yelled at without holding grudges. Even if he wasn't good at anything else, leaders tended to like those kinds of people.

"Alright, let's talk business," Hao Chengbin said sternly.

"From now on, wake up at five o'clock. I've set your alarms for you. The Regiment Department's orders have officially come down. It's half an hour earlier than winter training schedule, 6:30 Brigade Department will blow the wake-up whistle for washing up, 7 o'clock you're out for morning exercises, and you must have your room and bed in order before 6:30.

The strict requirement is to rub your blanket for at least half an hour every day. You can choose the place in the corridor outside. As soon as the wake-up bugle sounds, I'll inspect the room. After you go to the training ground, the Brigade Department will also randomly check. If you come back from training to find your blanket gone, it means it's been thrown downstairs, and you'll have to fetch it yourself.

If you think you can't tidy up in an hour and a half, get up earlier on your own accord. If anyone's bedding isn't up to standard, before morning exercise they'll do 50 push-ups, and everyone else will do 30 for solidarity!"

"Ah?" Jiang Peng looked a bit uncomfortable as he said,

"Squad leader! What if someone just can't fold it properly no matter what?"

As he spoke, he glanced at a few comrades whose bedding was not very neatly folded.

Hao Chengbin said seriously, "Then find a way to help him! Remember, in the troops, everyone is an entity! You share honor and disgrace! Those who abandon their comrades for personal growth are trash!

Especially in the firefighting forces, there's no such thing as a solo police dispatch! At least one vehicle responds to accidents and rescues. In the event of a fire, it's done by the squad as a unit, at least two vehicles minimum!

Jiang Peng, if you are the second man holding the hose, and the third man behind you, the water supply officer, falls, will you help? Without them, can you do it alone?

Don't think a water gun is not dangerous!

If the water pressure exceeds two megapascals, no matter how strong you are, the hose will drag you around. If it exceeds three megapascals and no one's behind you to hold it down, one tug and you'll be sent flying. If you let go of the water gun, it can knock you out!

Rescue equipment is even more dangerous: a saw without teeth, a multi-functional electric saw, diesel equipment, a hydraulic toolset—any one of those easily lethal. Have you seen how heavy those things are? Do you know how many people it takes to operate them flexibly?

Just one squadron's worth of equipment and vehicles is at least tens of millions. Can you handle that alone? There are too many places that need collaboration!

The first thing you need to learn is to encourage each other and grow together with your comrades. We firefighters train for a thousand days to serve for a thousand days. You have the opportunity to go into battle every day, and your comrades beside you will be your lifesaving capital in critical moments!

I was also a Special Duty Squad leader in the squadron, and I don't want the soldiers I lead to be labeled as trash! Be a person first, then do things. If you don't understand the principle of unity, don't leave this new recruit group! If you go to the grassroots, you'd be nothing but a menace!"

After this talk, everyone understood a basic principle: It's okay if your physical fitness isn't up to par or your room isn't well-organized, but you cannot be disunited.

Without unity, you might get beaten up or looked down upon.

Jiang Peng quickly admitted his mistake as well, "I understand, squad leader! I'm sorry!"

Hao Chengbin laughed, then waved his hand dismissively.

"It's not me who you owe an apology, but your comrades... And Jiang Peng, don't think you're something special just because you have a higher education level. The world is a vast place, full of capable people. Isn't Squad Leader Huang from the Brigade Department also a university graduate who hasn't been promoted to an official rank, and isn't he still working diligently?

In this squad, there are many more grounded and capable than you! Fang Huai's family has been in the military for generations! Has he ever mentioned that? Sun Lianhai's family is well-off, with a father who is a civil servant and a mother who is a doctor—has he boasted about it?

Yesterday, coming out of the Brigade Department with a grim face, who were you showing? I just couldn't be bothered to say it—did you really think I didn't see it? Fang Huai has good computer skills, even Squad Leader Huang admits that!

Once you're in the troops, everyone is equal! Yue Tao is just 17, and I see his psychological resilience to be much stronger than yours—and you're 21!"

Fang Huai rolled his eyes inwardly at being so highly praised.

My god, big brother, if you're going to educate, leave me out of it, will you?

How did I suddenly become from a family of military men?

If I brought Chairman Jiang's Military Merit Medal to you, would you be responsible for recognizing me as a hero's progeny?

Mentioned alongside, Sun Lianhai displayed modesty, "Squad leader... my family really isn't..."

Fang Huai quickly pulled at Sun Lianhai.

Workplace rule: When the leader praises you, especially in front of others, don't argue back. At most, you can simply say thank you or credit the leader's wise guidance, that's enough.

Often it's about using you to teach others or indirectly showing off the leader's capability to mentor outstanding talents. If you modestly deflect, what are you playing at?

Plus, Squad Leader Hao is in the midst of chastising people—just look grievously sorrowful, and that'll do.

The core meaning of sharing honor and disgrace is: when someone scolds your comrade, you must feel as if we're all in this together at least in appearance.

Jiang Peng genuinely looked bereft.

He never dreamed that he, who fancied himself as the candidate for Deputy Squad Leader in the squad leader's eyes, would attract so much scolding for just one remark.

Actually, Hao Chengbin was just warning everyone.

He was merely the pig caught in the crossfire at this tempestuous moment.

Evaluating subordinates is also part of establishing authority.

Hao Chengbin lifted his finger.

"Let's go over the rules once more, in addition to what I've mentioned about Internal Affairs. Also, salute to the old soldiers with a 'Hello, squad leader' and to officers with a 'Hello, commander.' Report any issues, limit bathroom breaks to three minutes for a number two and one minute for a number one, and do not leave the squad without permission!

Starting today, I will either be in the squad or at the Brigade Department. Do not get out of my sight, especially, do not go downstairs without permission! This is the most important rule. One violation, and the whole squad will be punished—severely! Watch each other!

The rest of the rules are in the regulations—there will be time for you to write them down. The squad rules will be posted on the wall by the door shortly, go look at them yourself. If there's anything you don't understand, ask me!

Understand?"

"Understood!"

"Understood, squad leader!" Fang Huai hurriedly set an example.

Soon, the voices were uniform, and Hao Chengbin seemed to choke back yet another half-lesson.

Fang Huai took notice.

He wasn't really a person who cared about unity. The mentality of workplace deception he had for the past dozen years hadn't quite adjusted yet.

But now was different from then.

Rather than talking about sharing honor and disgrace, it would be more apt to say they were grasshoppers tied to the same string. He had to remind everyone in the squad of their actions if he didn't want to end up being collateral damage.

The discussion on rules came to a swift end.

"Cough, Fang Huai."

"Present!" Fang Huai stood at attention.

"Come here for a second."

Hao Chengbin gestured for him to step outside the squad room.

The door closed, Hao Chengbin looked at him and slowly said, "I know you may have experienced some military-style education at home, but the growth of comrades requires their own exploration. There's a difference between helping and enabling, understand?

Like this morning, it was you who fixed Peng Yingqirui's blanket, right? You can tell him how to do it, but don't do it for him, and don't let him imitate without understanding—he needs to learn through his own realization, otherwise he will never learn, understand?"

The two 'understand's plunged Fang Huai into thought.

Perhaps he had been too selfish.

He stood at attention and responded, "Understood, squad leader! But this morning, I only helped because I saw he wasn't done yet and I was worried about the Brigade Department inspection costing our squad points! I won't spoil anyone by helping too much from now on!"

Fang Huai said this, feeling a mixture of emotions.

An experienced squad leader sure is different! Always seemingly absent, but he knows everything!

"Hmm!" Hao Chengbin patted Fang Huai on the shoulder.

"I feel relatively at ease with you in the squad! Initially, I didn't want to appoint a deputy squad leader to maintain unity, but I see potential in you! Do well!"

"Yes, squad leader!" Fang Huai showed rare excitement.

He had to take the initiative now; he was genuinely concerned that Hao Chengbin might leave without appointing a deputy squad leader. Who would then take responsibility for his Merit System?