Chapter 121: Road-building News Reaches The Regiment
Steel Seventh Company has fully launched integrated training, officially striding from the previous Assault Company’s mistaken route toward a Reconnaissance Combined Arms Company that is more adaptable to the future informatized battlefield and has stronger combat effectiveness than before.
Every warrior and officer in the company has also ushered in their brand new starting point.
Shi Jin, who did not participate in the mid-year Grand Competition because Wu Liu Yi and Cheng Cai were soldiers in his squad, thus gaining good fortune, received a regiment commendation issued by the regiment a few days after training began.
Excellent troop-leading backbone honor plus one.
After the entire company completed the synthesized modification, Shi Jin naturally became the Squad Leader of the Vanguard Reconnaissance Squad.
As the “core” meticulously crafted by Chen Jun, as long as Shi Jin leads this squad, relying on the importance of this squad, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future to earn merit and receive awards.
At that time, even if Shi Jin wants to leave the troops, the superior leaders probably won’t approve it.
The tragedy of being unable to transfer to fourth level and having to retire tearfully will never happen to Shi Jin again; he will follow Chen Jun all the way to the end.
Wu Liu Yi is the Machine Gunner of the Reconnaissance Squad, one of the core main forces, and cannot go to other squads.
The qualifications of a backbone Squad Leader for promotion to officer can only be brushed later.
Wu Liu Yi is also willing to be Shi Jin’s Squad Deputy Leader, and taking advantage of not yet being Squad Leader with more free time, under Chen Jun’s arrangement, he makes early preparations for promotion to officer.
Chen Jun specially prepared some books for Wu Liu Yi, including cultural books and military theory books.
After the daily training during the day ends, Chen Jun asks Wu Liu Yi to seize the time to study and self-learn, learning as much as he can with his ability.
Promotion to officer in the troops is a complex matter, not just about having merit.
After preliminary approval, one still needs to go to military academy for further study; if one cannot keep up with the rhythm of cultural classes and fails to graduate, there will be big trouble.
Moreover, there will be some assessments in the early stage, related to theory and culture, which will also affect whether one can successfully be promoted to officer.
Laying the groundwork in advance for military theory and cultural classes is to be prepared; Chen Jun hopes that before he becomes Company Commander, Wu Liu Yi can be promoted to officer and become Platoon Leader.
Wu Liu Yi also knows Chen Jun’s good intentions and does not feel hardship from having his rest time occupied; instead, he puts in even more effort.
He even proactively compresses sleep time, carving out two hours every day for self-study.
And since Xu Sanduo went to Grassland Fifth Squad, for Chen Jun, Cheng Cai, who was the biggest problem, has now embarked on the most suitable path for him.
Becoming the Sniper of his dreams.
And he is the Sniper of the Vanguard Reconnaissance Squad.
Through a series of chemical reactions produced by the Martial Arts Competition, Cheng Cai’s change is the greatest among everyone.
It seems he has found the value of his existence in life, the value in the army; the transformation in thought and soul has turned Cheng Cai into another person.
A person recognized by his comrades and now able to blend in with everyone.
Not like the Cheng Cai in the original drama who flattered everywhere, pulled connections everywhere, but because his purposes were impure and his intentions crooked, ended up with nothing, without a single friend.
To transform so quickly in just over half a year can be called a miracle, or it can be called inevitable.
Chen Jun’s great role in it goes without saying.
Mainly it’s various effects in psychology.
Cheng Cai, because he extremely craved to stay in the troops and did not want to return to the poor mountain ditch to farm for a lifetime, produced strong unease due to that craving.
Strong unease brings psychological reactions, the most direct being fear and terror.
Afraid of not having the ability to stay in the troops, afraid of returning to the poor mountain ditch, afraid of insufficient ability, afraid of offending superiors and being given small shoes…
Even in the end, abandoning the mission in the old A assessment was because of lack of confidence in his own ability, afraid of failing the mission and dying, thus giving up.
If Cheng Cai’s ability was also very outstanding and confident he could complete the mission, there would be no question of giving up.
People’s fear.
All comes from lack of confidence.
Nothing else!
It was because there were too many various fears that completely buried Cheng Cai.
That’s why Cheng Cai lost his original intention, his eyes no longer able to see the world clearly, and under the influence of fear, he took a crooked path.
Ultimately becoming a selfish and self-interested person.
Until he received a heavy blow in old A, his spirit completely gone, sprouting the idea of leaving the troops.
Everything returned to the original point; without the “root” of craving to stay in the troops, Cheng Cai finally woke up and returned to clarity.
Cheng Cai at that time finally grew up and became a qualified warrior.
Somewhat like putting down the butcher’s knife and instantly becoming a Buddha.
So.
The reason Cheng Cai became selfish and self-interested, the reason he betrayed Steel Seventh Company, the reason he abandoned the mission in the assessment, all boils down to two points at root—
Afraid of being eliminated by the troops, afraid of his own insufficient ability.
And now, Cheng Cai, single-handedly promoted by Chen Jun, now carries honors like third-class merit, collective second-class merit, collective third-class merit, etc.
He can still take first place in the division Grand Competition, and has become the Sniper of Seventh Company’s strongest squad.
Most importantly…
Through obtaining the title of strongest company in the division Grand Competition, it stimulated Cheng Cai’s sense of honor and sense of mission, giving him a strong sense of belonging to Steel Seventh Company.
Human emotions are extremely magical.
A timid mother who fears snakes and rats, once her own child is in danger, dares to rush at even a tiger, not afraid of death at all.
The sense of honor and sense of mission of a soldier, once stimulated, can burst forth with even more terrifying energy.
Cheng Cai has been stimulated.
It means he has the potential for courage.
Today’s Cheng Cai can fully be called having strength if he wants strength, status if status, honor if honor, background if background, benefactor if benefactor.
Compared to the Cheng Cai in the original drama who could only struggle alone with no one to help, it is worlds apart.
Would such a Cheng Cai still worry about being eliminated by the troops? Still worry about insufficient strength and lack confidence? Still be cautious and fear offending superiors?
Of course not.
Exactly the opposite; now Cheng Cai is extremely confident.
Confidence makes his heart free of various fears; without fears, his eyes become clear, and his mind is no longer swallowed by interests.
So Cheng Cai has essentially skipped a stage and directly grown into a qualified warrior.
Of course.
Cheng Cai, who skipped stages and grew up early, is not as perfect as in the final original drama; he still has some flaws to varying degrees.
For example, because of excessive confidence in himself, he is a bit cocky in the company.
Already showing signs of turning into a troublemaker soldier.
Not only dares to sit on equal footing with veterans, but even Squad Leaders of other squads, he dares to go up and hook shoulders, completely without the fear and respect a new recruit has for veterans.
Making the veterans quite unaccustomed.
After all, used to new recruits being respectful, like rats seeing a cat in front of them, suddenly encountering a different kind of new recruit who doesn’t serve tea or water, it really makes the veterans uncomfortable.
If in ordinary troops, or if Cheng Cai were an ordinary new recruit, daring to be so arrogant, he would definitely get beaten.
At least dragged to the hillside behind the toilet for a good lesson in love education.
In this late 1990s troop, the troop atmosphere still likes to go by seniority, and doing things is quite rough.
Veterans bullying new recruits is very routine.
Even into the 21st century, veterans messing with new recruits is still very common.
Unfortunately, Steel Seventh Company’s Company Commander Gao Cheng has a weird personality; he likes competitive, somewhat temperamental soldiers with outstanding ability—troublemaker soldiers.
He really doesn’t want obedient soldiers without ability.
Plus Cheng Cai is known as 702 Regiment’s strongest new recruit, carrying third-class merit and collective second-class merit; he really has the qualification to show off in front of veterans.
Not to mention the Vanguard Reconnaissance Squad that Cheng Cai joined—anyone with eyes knows it’s under Chen Jun’s protection.
Who is Chen Jun?
That’s a tough character even the Company Commander has to give way to.
Therefore, although the veterans are a bit unhappy inside, they don’t get angry at Cheng Cai because of it, and can only force themselves to adapt to the new recruit being on the same level as them.
Chen Jun also discovered Cheng Cai’s eccentricity, not very polite to the veterans.
He has already regarded himself as a veteran.
But he did not interfere in any way; just like some expert said, young people need to be vigorous.
This is a manifestation of young people’s guts.
In Steel Seventh Company, this wolfish culture company, it won’t have too many bad effects and doesn’t need too much interference.
Just casually say a couple of reminders when chatting idly.
Cheng Cai treats Chen Jun’s words like an imperial decree; he listens quite well to what Chen Jun says, and in the following days, he indeed restrained himself a lot.
And taking advantage of his good relationship with Chen Jun, he occasionally mentions Xu Sanduo a few times.
Mentioning Xu Sanduo’s super good memory, running super fast, and listing all aspects of advantages, also explaining that Xu Sanduo is just a bit dumb, but actually a pretty good guy.
Chen Jun knows what little scheme Cheng Cai is playing, clearly wanting Chen Jun to help pull him out.
Cheng Cai knows Xu Sanduo was assigned to Fifth Squad, that place called the paradise of bad soldiers, the grave of veterans, and worries Xu Sanduo can’t stay in the troops.
Once the obligatory service is over, he’ll be kicked back!
Plus in Cheng Cai’s mind, he always thought Chen Jun had a good impression of Xu Sanduo.
So at this time, he beats around the bush, trying to get the famous legendary First Lieutenant Chen Jun to pull Xu Sanduo into Steel Seventh Company.
Actually, with Chen Jun’s current influence, he really has the ability to get Xu Sanduo into Seventh Company.
But he did not do it.
Because Chen Jun calculated with his fingers that Xu Sanduo’s current path should be about fixed; it won’t be long before he comes back on his own.
No need to expend effort to pull him; better to put energy into leading troops and training.
Cheng Cai is thinking about this dumb Xu Sanduo, and Xu Sanduo is also thinking about coming to Seventh Company that has Cheng Cai; at that time, Xu Sanduo will proactively request to come to Seventh Company.
Chen Jun’s calculation is quite accurate.
Just as Steel Seventh Company entered integrated training, one week later in the afternoon, Grassland Fifth Squad’s telephone rang; the caller was Red Third Company’s Political Instructor He Hongtao.
“Looks like we went from joy to sorrow.”
Squad Leader Old Ma received the call and learned that the Political Instructor would personally come tomorrow to check the repaired road, thinking something went wrong, his emotions low and very worried.
Thinking that yesterday afternoon a team of helicopters flew over the road they just repaired, even hovering in the air for a good while.
Everyone in Fifth Squad also got nervous and started guessing.
Some guessed if it was because repairing the road destroyed the greening near the camp.
Some guessed if they violated some discipline.
Others guessed if repairing the road exposed the oil depot’s position, becoming a missile attack target, causing superior leaders to hold them accountable.
But the oil depot’s location is in Inner Mongolia, desolate and uninhabited for a hundred li around; even if really at war, no one would find this place.
Not to mention the oil depot has only one oil pipeline, not a refinery; blowing it up has little value.
After five people wildly guessed, none were reliable; everyone was truly uneasy inside, even more worried that Xu Sanduo would be held responsible.
In the process of repairing this road, everyone in Fifth Squad was convinced by Xu Sanduo’s perseverance.
Unknowingly, they all came to like this dumb-headed new recruit.
Worried that Xu Sanduo would be held accountable by superiors, the four veterans in Fifth Squad all started taking responsibility onto themselves, wanting to protect the culprit “Xu Sanduo”.
Xu Sanduo seemed to understand, yet seemed not to.
Under this atmosphere of anxiety, time unknowingly came to the next morning; what was to come still came.
“Fifth Squad’s people, where are they? Why not come out yet; living people have come to see you.”
Political Instructor He Hongtao rode in the 212 military vehicle, too lazy to even step into the dormitory door, just standing on the roadside outside, shouting at the top of his voice.
Not even willing to enter the door? That angry?
Now Fifth Squad’s people were even more nervous!
Quickly putting on hats and grabbing webbing, under Old Ma’s lead, they hurriedly ran out, all coming before the Political Instructor.
“Come come come, Political Instructor, have a smoke.”
“I have fire here.”
“Come on, go inside and sit; windy outside.”
“Political Instructor, how come you have time today, thinking of us here.”
Except for Xu Sanduo keeping his head down without speaking, the other four in Fifth Squad enthusiastically greeted He Hongtao, trying to use the tactic of not hitting a smiling face.
“I don’t smoke.”
The Political Instructor pushed away the smoke Old Ma handed over, then straightforwardly got to the point, starting to inquire about Fifth Squad’s road repair matter.
The four veterans in Fifth Squad inwardly sighed disaster, all starting to take responsibility onto themselves.
Not afraid at all of what disciplinary action the responsibility would bring; all just wanting to protect the new recruit egg Xu Sanduo with their status as Squad Leader and veterans.
This purest comradeship is one of the most precious emotions in the troops.
However.
He Hongtao wasn’t here to hold accountable at all, but because the regiment called the camp, and the camp called the company.
Wanting to know why there was an extra road, how exactly this road was built, etc.
The regiment specially called, so He Hongtao had to pay extra attention, thus rushing over early in the morning by car.
Seeing everyone in Fifth Squad vying to say they built it, He Hongtao thought they were robbing merit.
Irritably laughing and scolding: “Just this little thing, at most a regiment commendation; look at you all, that spineless look, is there any need to rob merit like this?”
“Regiment commendation? Robbing merit?”
The four in Fifth Squad, hearing it wasn’t about holding accountable, immediately let go of their suspended hearts, and instantly did a one hundred eighty degree big turnaround.
