Chapter 123: Know Platoon Leader Chen? Great, Head To Seventh Company!
Regiment Commander Wang Qing Rui’s reaction was so strong that it surprised Officer Zhang quite a bit, but fortunately he quickly reacted and began to speak in detail about Xu Sanduo.
“Yeah, that soldier who repaired the road, he’s a new recruit. That day I specifically went to interview him.
During the interview, I discovered that this new recruit, while repairing this road, also withstood criticism from outsiders, as well as cold mockery and sarcasm.
Besides repairing this road, this soldier is also extremely self-disciplined and self-taught. Normally, he consciously persists in rigorous military skills training.”
Officer Zhang’s artistic praise ended with a very serious summary: “Regiment Commander, I think this soldier is truly a good soldier. Placing him in Grassland Fifth Squad is really burying his talent.”
During Xu Sanduo’s time in Grassland Fifth Squad, besides silently burying his head in road repair, he basically didn’t do anything else.
But after Officer Zhang’s artistic beautification, he almost became a good soldier who developed comprehensively in virtue, intelligence, physique, and aesthetics, with absolutely no shortcomings.
A new recruit accomplished something he himself couldn’t complete. At this moment, Regiment Commander Wang was deeply touched inside.
Inspired, he earnestly said: “I originally thought that the new recruit named Cheng Cai who participated in the martial arts competition was already the best new recruit in our regiment.
Chen Jun, who only arrived in our regiment last year, is even an outstanding performer among the young new cadres.
I never expected that Fifth Squad guarding the oil depot actually had such a good soldier hidden. If he really is like that, then placing him in Fifth Squad is indeed a waste.
How about transferring him to the front line, letting him charge into battle with our combat vehicles? What do you think?”
Regiment Commander Wang’s emotions were very excited at this moment, which is why he made the decision so quickly to transfer him to regiment headquarters without any verification.
Those in news media love to exaggerate, especially love to shape typical and advanced representatives.
Now, after shaping Xu Sanduo himself, he received such high recognition from the regiment commander. Officer Zhang was even happier inside than the regiment commander.
Facing the regiment commander’s question to him, Officer Zhang nodded his head like a chicken pecking rice, repeatedly saying yes several times.
“Come, come, the chief of staff is here. You come and explain to the chief of staff what exactly is going on with this matter. Get it done as soon as possible.”
Regiment Commander Wang was quick and efficient in doing things. He immediately brought Officer Zhang to the chief of staff.
With Regiment Commander Wang having nodded in agreement first, the chief of staff just went through the motions and soon confirmed the matter.
The order regarding Xu Sanduo’s transfer to regiment headquarters was sent to First Battalion that very afternoon.
The battalion quickly sent it to Red Third Company.
Political Instructor He Hongtao, who received the order, personally drove to Grassland Fifth Squad early the next morning and relayed the order to Fifth Squad.
“This is an order from regiment headquarters. You have to report to regiment headquarters first thing tomorrow morning. Xu Sanduo, pack your things now, and we’ll leave in the same car later.”
He Hongtao thought this was great news, and Xu Sanduo would definitely happily go with him.
But Xu Sanduo’s reaction was very negative. He lowered his head and nervously said in a sullen voice: “Ins, instructor, why, why do I have to go to regiment headquarters?”
If this transfer order had come three or five days earlier, Xu Sanduo really would have gone without saying anything.
But after the events of the past two days, everyone supported Xu Sanduo, letting him feel cared for and the joy of having friends.
Now, after several months, Xu Sanduo had finally integrated into Fifth Squad, which was very important to him.
He absolutely didn’t want to leave Fifth Squad again!
With Xu Sanduo’s unopened elm-wood head, he couldn’t distinguish at all what the difference was between regiment headquarters and Fifth Squad, nor did he understand that going to regiment headquarters would mean better development.
He only knew that wherever his heart liked, he wanted to stay there forever.
Now he liked Fifth Squad.
So he wanted to stay in Fifth Squad.
He Hongtao hadn’t spent much time with Xu Sanduo, so he didn’t know Xu Sanduo was such a weirdo. Seeing him unwilling to go to regiment headquarters, he said in astonishment: “Why you’re going to regiment headquarters—that’s the regiment commander’s decision. How would I know.”
“Could it be that he made a mistake, instructor?” Old Ma worried for Xu Sanduo.
“Old Ma, with that mouth of yours, do you think anyone in the regiment can go there? That’s a rare good opportunity. How could it possibly be for making a mistake?”
He Hongtao immediately corrected Old Ma and said very seriously: “I’ll say a few more words. Rumor has it, because of the road repair matter, the regiment commander thinks Xu Sanduo is a good soldier, and placing him in Fifth Squad is too much of a waste.
The regiment commander’s original words might not be exactly that, but the meaning is more or less the same.”
“How is it a waste?” Xu Sanduo retorted.
“Xu Sanduo, these are the regiment commander’s words. Don’t express opposing opinions. Is your ideological awareness only at this level?” He Hongtao sternly criticized.
“No, no, instructor, he doesn’t understand what ‘waste’ means. He’s just like that, silly and dumb. Don’t take it personally with him.”
Old Ma hurriedly helped explain, but Xu Sanduo wasn’t pleasing, lowering his head stubbornly: “I understand what it means. I just don’t want to go. I want to stay in Fifth Squad.”
“Ah~”
He Hongtao sighed helplessly, encountering such a soldier who was both stupid and stubborn, not even wanting good things—it really gave him a headache.
He could only do some ideological work: “Fine, having your own thoughts is okay, but you have to come back to regiment headquarters with me first. Report first, and we’ll talk later.”
The regiment’s order was to report at nine tomorrow. Not going would be equivalent to defying orders.
In the troops, military orders are above all. This wasn’t a small matter.
“I’m not going.”
Those from Rongshu Village are all stubborn ones. When Xu Sanduo got stubborn, he wasn’t inferior to the single-minded Wu Liu Yi.
“Hey, I say, you this soldier…”
He Hongtao was so angry his eyebrows twitched, but for a moment he didn’t know what to say.
“Xu Sanduo, shut your mouth.”
Old Ma sternly scolded Xu Sanduo to stop him from angering the instructor further.
Then, without waiting for Xu Sanduo’s agreement—he knew Xu Sanduo wasn’t good at rejection—Old Ma simply acted first and reported later, directly ordering: “Li Meng, Xue Lin, Old Wei, you all help Xu Sanduo pack his things.”
“Yes!”
Li Meng, Xue Lin, and Old Wei responded and went together to pack Xu Sanduo’s bedding and clothes.
Seeing his things being packed, Xu Sanduo really was just as Old Ma thought—he just sat there watching and didn’t go to stop them.
It must be said that Old Ma really was a good squad leader, truly able to grasp the soldiers under him.
Old Ma could understand Xu Sanduo’s mood. To prevent Xu Sanduo from continuing to be stubborn, he wanted to do some ideological work for him, and by the way, it would be like a farewell celebration.
He invited the instructor to have a meal together, and take Xu Sanduo away after eating.
But because of Old Ma’s soft heart—not wanting to force Xu Sanduo to go—it led to that scene from the original drama appearing magnificently.
Xu Sanduo took advantage of Old Ma accompanying the instructor, and Old Wei and the other two busy cooking in the kitchen.
He played a little cunning and slipped out to hide.
With his extremely simple mind, he thought that as long as he hid and wasn’t taken away by the instructor, he wouldn’t have to go to regiment headquarters and could continue staying in Fifth Squad.
When Old Wei and the others finished cooking and brought the dishes to the table to start eating, everyone then discovered that the protagonist Xu Sanduo was gone.
Now everyone panicked.
They searched everywhere frantically but saw no sign of him.
Xu Sanduo had deliberately hidden, and in this desolate and uninhabited place, hiding in any haystack made it impossible to find him.
The instructor had originally planned to take Xu Sanduo back to the company today, so he could report to regiment headquarters tomorrow morning.
But now with this mess, everything was disrupted.
In the end, Old Ma could only request the instructor to give him one more night. He guaranteed that before reporting tomorrow, he would personally deliver Xu Sanduo to the company.
With things having come to this, there was no other choice. Instructor He Hongtao could only agree.
Xu Sanduo’s elm-wood head was both dull and stupid. He thought if he could hide for a moment, he could hide forever, stubbornly hiding until the early hours of the next morning before returning to the dormitory.
As a result, Old Ma and the others, who had waited one night, caught him on the spot and gave him a thorough ideological education.
In the end, even though Xu Sanduo was extremely unwilling and still thinking of running away, Old Ma and the other two didn’t give him a chance, nor time.
The three of them set out together, with Old Ma personally leading. They only left Old Wei on duty standing guard, escorting Xu Sanduo to the company.
To arrive at regiment headquarters in time for reporting, Old Ma also mobilized his connections from years rooted in Fifth Squad and borrowed a cart from the local herdsmen for transport.
They started hurrying from dawn and finally arrived at the company a little after eight.
One of his own company’s soldiers defying regiment headquarters’ orders—if not handled well, the company could face disciplinary action. Therefore, the instructor, who hadn’t slept well all night, seeing Xu Sanduo, wished he could bite a piece of flesh off him.
His face was blacker than charcoal!
He was truly furious, gnashing his teeth. If not for regiment headquarters still waiting for the person, he would have kicked this living ancestor Xu Sanduo out of Red Third Company.
But seeing Old Ma constantly speaking good words for him, and Xue Lin and Li Meng also continuously helping Xu Sanduo.
And the Xu Sanduo who was stubborn as a donkey yesterday, upon seeing the squad leader and others doing so much for him, finally awakened and took the initiative to apologize and admit his mistake.
He Hongtao was moved by this scene and suddenly discovered Xu Sanduo’s shining point.
As the longest-serving political instructor in 702 Regiment, having led over a thousand soldiers, He Hongtao had seen all kinds of soldiers.
But a soldier like Xu Sanduo, who was so loyal and righteous, daring to defy regiment orders for this—he had never seen one before.
Such a loyal soldier.
He did seem to qualify as a good soldier.
Having thought it through inside and recognized Xu Sanduo, the instructor’s mood suddenly improved again.
He even took the initiative to propose to Xu Sanduo that he would find a way to let Xu Sanduo stay in Red Third Company headquarters, and guaranteed that it would absolutely be better than Fifth Squad in the company headquarters.
Moreover, it was in the same company as Fifth Squad, with plenty of opportunities to visit Fifth Squad.
Now Xu Sanduo smiled.
Old Ma and the others even represented Xu Sanduo in thanking the instructor for his help.
He Hongtao figured the regiment commander definitely valued military appearance, so before departure he specially called the company communicator, had the dusty Xu Sanduo who hurried over wash his face and tidy up, then personally took him to the regiment commander’s office.
Old Ma and the others, upon hearing the regiment commander wanted to see Xu Sanduo, were all stunned with mouths big enough to fit a goose egg.
That was the regiment commander.
Most soldiers, even if they served a lifetime, never had the chance to say a word to such a leader.
Xu Sanduo this new recruit egg not only had the chance to speak with the regiment commander, but even a private chat—what glory.
If this were on Li Meng, Xue Lin, and the others, they could brag about it for at least thirty years.
Xu Sanduo was just rather dull and slow-reacting compared to ordinary people—he wasn’t a fool. He also knew the difference between regiment commander and company commander.
Seeing “regiment commander platoon leader” hanging at the office door, Xu Sanduo’s heart trembled nervously.
“Report to Regiment Commander, Third Company Political Instructor He Hongtao bringing Private Xu Sanduo to report.” Arriving at the regiment commander’s office, He Hongtao saluted and reported.
“Isn’t he the one who repaired the road?” Regiment Commander Wang focused on reviewing documents without looking up.
“Yes.”
He Hongtao said, tugging Xu Sanduo to signal him to reply quickly.
“Rep, report.”
Xu Sanduo was nervous to death, head down, hiding behind He Hongtao’s butt, not daring to move.
“Xu Sanduo stay. You, dismissed.”
Regiment Commander Wang still didn’t look up, ordering while writing with his pen.
From the regiment commander’s treatment, it could be seen that He Hongtao becoming the longest-serving political instructor in 702 Regiment was not without reason.
“Stand properly, don’t mess around.”
He Hongtao gave a final instruction, opened the door, and left the office.
“Who taught you military posture?”
Regiment Commander Wang was bent over his desk, still not looking up.
“Wha, what?”
Xu Sanduo was so nervous he stuttered and hadn’t even heard clearly.
“I said, who taught you your military posture.” The regiment commander glanced once and continued writing.
“New, new recruit company, Chen, Platoon Leader Chen taught it.”
“Chen Platoon?”
Regiment Commander Wang, hearing the surname Chen, finally raised his head and curiously asked: “The Chen Platoon you’re talking about, is he called Chen Jun?”
“Yes, yes.”
Xu Sanduo was really too nervous and couldn’t speak coherently at all.
“So it’s a soldier led by Chen Jun. He is our regiment’s Soldier King. A new recruit trained by the Soldier King—this makes sense. Now I believe you really are the kind who can repair a road single-handedly, haha.”
Regiment Commander Wang had infinite good impression of Chen Jun and couldn’t help laughing as he spoke.
Xu Sanduo didn’t know how to respond and could only try to stand even straighter, making his military posture even more standard, to appear more spirited.
This was something the instructor had specially instructed him to do on the way here.
“Haha.”
Regiment Commander Wang was amused again by Xu Sanduo’s dull and clumsy appearance and said with deep feeling: “I’ve met a soldier stronger than I was back then. Something even I couldn’t do, you accomplished.
Hey, I’m planning to change your post for you. Tell me, what are you good at, what can you do—anything you’re skilled at is fine.
For example, making clay figures—Officer Zhang at regiment headquarters can make clay figures. That’s why I transferred him to regiment headquarters. Tell me what you can do?”
“…”
Xu Sanduo still didn’t know what to say, standing there like a wooden post, motionless, saying nothing.
After waiting a long time without Xu Sanduo speaking, Regiment Commander Wang helplessly urged: “Hey, say something. I won’t eat you if you speak.”
“I, I only know marching drill. Nothing else, nothing else. In new recruit company, I, I was the worst at marching drill. In Fifth Squad, there’s a gun but no bullets, so I could only day after day, day after day practice marching drill.”
Xu Sanduo stammered for a long time, but in the end it boiled down to five words—
Only knows marching drill!
Regiment Commander Wang looked at Xu Sanduo’s silly yet persistent spirit and couldn’t help laughing again: “So your military posture is very standard, right? Haha.”
After laughing for a while.
“Hey~~”
Regiment Commander Wang sighed again, somewhat helplessly saying: “You say you can’t do anything, and I really don’t know how to arrange you.
How about this—the political commissar has long advised me to station a soldier in the corridor outside the office.
Since you only know marching drill, then you march back and forth in the corridor every day, like a door god. Are you willing?”
To arrange such a bizarre job, Regiment Commander Wang had really racked his brains.
But marching in the corridor every day…
Just thinking about it felt weird.
“I, I, obey organizational arrangements.”
Xu Sanduo said with his mouth that he obeyed the arrangements, but his facial expression was the complete opposite.
“Obey my ass.”
Regiment Commander Wang looked at Xu Sanduo’s fallen face and laughed scoldingly: “From every word behind your words, I heard ‘unwilling’ three times.
Otherwise, how about coming to the duty squad? Every day just pour tea and deliver documents. How’s that?”
“Tha tha tha, then, issue gun?” Xu Sanduo mustered courage to ask.
“Delivering documents to me and you need to carry a gun? Is my regiment headquarters that dangerous? Haha.”
Regiment Commander Wang was amused again. Xu Sanduo’s dull stupidity made him find it quite interesting, not so impatient.
He even gave Xu Sanduo time to think: “Think it over carefully yourself. I’ll finish looking at this document.”
Xu Sanduo’s simple brain, how could he think of a way out for himself? In less than three seconds, his attention was drawn to the cool-looking 92-style infantry fighting vehicle model painted in camouflage on the nearby table.
Regiment Commander Wang saw that Xu Sanduo liked it but clearly stated he couldn’t give it to him.
Because this was personally rewarded to Regiment Commander Wang by the Group Army Leader, a testament to his one year of training results, one of his few previous “honors”.
Seeing Xu Sanduo’s eyes fixed on it unblinkingly, and out of his liking for Xu Sanduo.
Regiment Commander Wang promised that as long as Xu Sanduo did one thing that made Regiment Commander Wang feel it was worthwhile, he would give him this infantry fighting vehicle model.
Xu Sanduo said with his mouth that he didn’t want it, but his eyes still couldn’t leave the model.
And Regiment Commander Wang, seeing how much Xu Sanduo liked armored vehicles, and that he was a soldier once led by Chen Jun, plus a company was carrying out modernization reform and just needed good soldiers, immediately had an idea in mind.
“Alright, I know. I know where to arrange you.”
Regiment Commander Wang decisively made the decision without even asking Xu Sanduo. He picked up the telephone and dialed out, calling Officer Bai to come to the office to find him.
Calling Officer Bai over was for one thing: to take the “good soldier” Xu Sanduo to report to Steel Seventh Company.
Officer Bai heard that Xu Sanduo wouldn’t even go to the duty squad or stay in the regiment, and as he led Xu Sanduo out of the regiment commander’s office, he straight-up cursed Xu Sanduo as a fool.
The extremely anxious He Hongtao waiting downstairs, along with Old Ma and the others, saw Xu Sanduo come out and immediately swarmed up wanting to hear good news.
The result was learning that Xu Sanduo hadn’t stayed in regiment headquarters, nor in Red Third Company.
But had gone to Steel Seventh Company.
And it was personally ordered by the regiment commander.
Instructor He Hongtao was dumbfounded now, and Old Ma and the others were even more stunned.
