Chapter 3: Company Commander Gao Cheng Adds Fuel To The Fire
“The squad deputy’s running is his strongest event; there aren’t many in the whole company qualified to arm wrestle with him. You? Are you even qualified to challenge him? Beat me first.”
Gan Xiao Ning’s words were full of sarcasm, prompting the other veterans to chime in.
“Exactly, what makes you qualified to challenge the squad deputy? Go to the parade ground with me and compete first.”
“Chen Jun, you don’t think becoming acting squad leader means you’re really up to it, do you? Did you forget you were dead last in running the day before yesterday?”
“You had to pick someone, and you picked our squad deputy. The squad deputy won awards at the regiment level; he was first in the 5 kilometers at the grand competition the year before last.”
The veterans didn’t give him any face; their words got cheaper and cheaper.
It was clear how much Chen Jun, this jerk, was despised before Cheng Long crossed over; even Cheng Cai would probably have to call him master.
Chen Jun had seen too many people with no strength, no ability, but who loved to show off.
Truth be told.
He didn’t like them himself.
But now that he had become Chen Jun, he had to figure out how to clean up the mess he had made before and try to change everyone’s attitude.
From being despised by everyone to being respected by everyone, even admired by everyone.
“Everything is hardest at the start; let’s begin here.”
Chen Jun set this goal in his heart, ignoring the crowd’s cold mockery and sarcasm, and still smiled: “If everyone wants to join, sparring together would be even better.
How about this: one week later, we hold a light load 5 kilometers, as a squad activity. What do you all think?”
Chen Jun had laid down the gauntlet and even framed it as a squad activity, clearly determined to compete.
Wu Liu Yi had never been one to shy away from trouble, let alone from a baggage like Chen Jun; with the acting squad leader position snatched, he had a belly full of anger.
He agreed readily: “Fine, just as you said, but let’s add some stakes.”
“Stakes?”
Chen Jun got it instantly and laughed: “No problem at all; adding some small bets makes it more fun. As for what the bets are, you decide, and I’ll take them all.”
“My demand is simple: if you lose, during your time as acting squad leader, don’t mess around; just manage yourself.”
Wu Liu Yi said it very seriously, clearly not recognizing Chen Jun as squad leader and unwilling to follow his command.
“Acting Platoon Leader Chen is generous. My demand is simple: if I win, you buy a pack of Hongta Mountain cigarettes for the whole squad to enjoy.”
Gan Xiao Ning claimed his demand was simple, but what he wanted wasn’t simple at all.
Hongta Mountain cigarettes weren’t cheap back then; one pack cost over 100 yuan, while Chen Jun’s monthly subsidy was only 65, so two months’ worth for one pack.
Cadet soldiers had no salary during internship, just subsidies like enlisted soldiers; even after internship and rank conferment, a junior officer’s salary was just over
“Wanting to bite off two months of my subsidy; Gan Xiao Ning’s heart is really black.”
Chen Jun joked in his mind and agreed outright: “Fine, I agree to whatever you say. In return, if I win, you buy me cigarettes too.
And for the next month, you must recognize me as squad leader.”
“Hope you can keep your word and admit defeat when you lose the bet.” Wu Liu Yi was sure he wouldn’t lose and gave Chen Jun a preemptive warning.
“Good, good, good; it’s settled then.”
Gan Xiao Ning’s mouth was grinning ear to ear, like he’d slaughtered a fat pig.
Normally, they couldn’t even afford Honghe; thinking of soon getting a high-end pack of Hongta Mountain, the other veterans were all beaming with joy.
They even found Chen Jun pleasing to the eye now!
Who doesn’t like a sucker?
“Yo, Third Squad is pretty lively; very good, that’s the kind of squad atmosphere we need.”
At that moment, Company Commander Gao Cheng suddenly came in; he was worried the cadet soldier acting squad leader couldn’t handle Third Squad, so he came specially to check.
Third Squad was Steel Seventh Company’s most excellent squad and represented the most rebellious veterans in the company.
“Attention, Company Commander good.”
Wu Liu Yi habitually took charge, and everyone habitually stood and shouted along.
Chen Jun, this acting squad leader, clearly hadn’t taken over yet.
“I didn’t come for anything specific; mainly to tell you this: Chen Jun’s internship in our company is a mission arranged by superiors; he’s acting squad leader now, so don’t mess around. Wu Liu Yi, you’re a company veteran; help out more and set a good example.”
Gao Cheng seemed to have expected this and specifically warned Third Squad not to go overboard, to mind their limits.
Then he smiled and asked: “Oh, right, what were you talking about just now? You all seem pretty happy.”
“Report, Company Commander.”
Wu Liu Yi straightened up and said solemnly: “The acting squad leader says he wants to organize a squad activity with some stakes: one week later, a 5 kilometers run together.”
“Oh? There’s that.”
Gao Cheng was equally surprised and looked at Chen Jun in astonishment: “A squad leader should lead by example; I really like your spirit.
But a squad activity is no fun; how about the whole company does it.
Like this: one week later, the whole company holds a light load 5 kilometers cross-country mini-competition; everyone participates. Whichever squad gets first place gets the training red flag.
As for your own stakes, that doesn’t affect anything; settle it among yourselves.”
During the period new recruits join the company, it’s a rest period; companies have no training tasks, basically just hanging around, and the atmosphere is quite monotonous.
Gao Cheng thought organizing a small activity to liven things up was a good idea.
With Company Commander Gao Cheng’s personal arrangement, what was originally just an internal sparring in Third Squad turned into a company-wide event.
Facing this sudden unexpected turn, the happiest person was none other than Chen Jun.
He’d originally only thought of establishing authority in Third Squad; now with Gao Cheng’s move, if he could take first, the effect would be explosive.
At that time.
Not only would Third Squad’s veterans admit defeat, even Gao Cheng would look at him differently.
Thinking of this…
Chen Jun started getting excited!
However.
Excitement aside, pressure came sweeping in too.
From dead last to first place, one character’s gap but worlds apart; the difficulties to overcome were more than you could imagine.
For an ordinary person, forget one week; even a month would be impossible.
Fortunately, Chen Jun wasn’t ordinary.
Chen Jun was no longer a rookie; daring to challenge Wu Liu Yi meant he already had a method to complete this impossible challenge.
But it wasn’t a sure success; it still depended on actual training results.
To maximize the probability of success, the moment Gao Cheng left, under the collective gaze of Wu Liu Yi and the other veterans.
Chen Jun changed into his physical training gear.
Facing the over thirty degrees sun outside, he began his Challenge the Impossible training.
“Whoa, full of energy; will it work? In the end, he’ll still have to buy cigarettes.”
Gan Xiao Ning watched Chen Jun run off, grinning as he pulled out soft Honghe, passing them out while saying: “Come on, brothers; just these few bitter days to endure; one week later, we can comfortably live the good times.”
“Hahahaha.”
The veterans all laughed.
Only Wu Liu Yi didn’t laugh; gazing at Chen Jun’s receding back, he muttered to himself: “This Chen Jun… how does he seem like a different person? Strange!”
