Chapter 43: Gao Cheng Finally Softens!
Shi Jin obtained Gao Cheng’s agreement, and seeing Gao Cheng smiling broadly in a good mood, he finally felt confident and mustered that bit of courage.
“There is a soldier… I, I want him, I want to take him to Seventh Company.”
It was rare for Shi Jin to make his own request, so Gao Cheng was surprised at which new recruit had such great ability to make Shi Jin break the rules for him.
He jokingly said, “To make you, Shi Jin, open your golden mouth, which new recruit has that capability? It wouldn’t be a relative of yours, would it?”
“Hahaha.”
Chen Jun and the others were all amused and laughed.
“What the heck, where did that come from.” Shi Jin was left both crying and laughing.
“No, I’m serious. If it’s a relative of yours, I’ll really take him. Just one requirement—no need to be excellent, just meet the standard in all assessments.” Gao Cheng tapped the desk and said straightforwardly.
“Meet the standard… I think he should be able to. No big problem.” Shi Jin wasn’t very confident.
If it were Xu Sanduo from the original drama, more than half of his assessments wouldn’t be qualified. Even if Gao Cheng lowered the standard to the minimum, he’d still fall short by a mile.
That assessment result was originally grounds for discharge, all thanks to Shi Jin using his veteran face to make Gao Cheng reluctant.
In the end, though he didn’t agree to take him to Seventh Company and even cursed Shi Jin out thoroughly, he still showed mercy for Shi Jin’s sake.
Instead of sending the unqualified Xu Sanduo back to his hometown, he arranged for him to go to Third Company’s Grassland Fifth Squad.
A “grave” with no dreams or hope, where one could only eat and wait to die.
But now, under Chen Jun’s plan, Xu Sanduo had rallied the efforts of all new and veteran recruits in the platoon, raising his results a level above the original drama.
But just a level higher!
From an unqualified new recruit who was about to be discharged, to one who could barely qualify—not reaching the ranks of excellent elite soldiers.
This lump of gold wrapped in steel that was Xu Sanduo wouldn’t awaken so easily either.
In the original drama, Xu Sanduo went through Grassland Fifth Squad, Shi Jin’s tearful discharge from the barracks, and Steel Seventh Company’s reorganization—these three major events—before finally awakening.
In Old A’s selection, he gradually revealed his talent, and clumsy birds fly first, becoming a special forces soldier one step ahead of Cheng Cai.
It shows how thick that shell was!
In this life, Chen Jun’s appearance as a top veteran could indeed accelerate Xu Sanduo’s awakening to some extent, but three months as a new recruit was definitely not enough.
Shi Jin himself knew Xu Sanduo’s baseline well. Gao Cheng saying just meet the standard made the hope in his heart even greater.
But he still didn’t dare say the name directly.
Gao Cheng got annoyed by the hemming and hawing, raised his tone, and urged again, “Why are you being so stubborn? Hurry up and say the name.”
“Xu Sanduo, I want Xu Sanduo.”
Shi Jin went all out, afraid Gao Cheng wouldn’t agree, and added, “Company Commander, assign him to our squad. I’ll train him myself. I guarantee I can bring him along well.
He’s not the one with the best talent, but he’s the most serious in new recruit company training, and the most hardworking. I believe diligence can make up for lack of talent. Just give me a bit more time, and I definitely can bring him out.”
Xu Sanduo really was the most hardworking in training. After all, under Chen Jun’s training plan, he hadn’t taken a single afternoon break in three months at new recruit company.
Every day he practiced at least two extra hours, which added up to at least half a month more training than others.
“Putting him in Third Squad, I disagree.”
Before Gao Cheng could speak, Wu Liu Yi jumped out first to oppose, “He is indeed the most hardworking, the most diligent, but he’s also the dumbest.
Three months in new recruit company, our whole platoon helped him, but him? Probably can’t even reach good.
Have you thought about how much effort it would take to bring him out?”
Wu Liu Yi didn’t hate Xu Sanduo that much. The main reason he anxiously jumped out to oppose was that, like Gao Cheng, he worried about Shi Jin getting into trouble three years later.
Three years was neither short nor long; the opportunities left for Shi Jin weren’t many.
Wu Liu Yi just wanted Shi Jin, in the coming time, not to be disturbed by any external matters and to wholeheartedly strive for himself for three years.
If Xu Sanduo were placed in Third Squad, the consequences would be dire.
As the last batch of three-year enlisted soldiers, Xu Sanduo perfectly covered the remaining time Shi Jin had.
Bringing a baggage along in the most critical three years—even with his toes, one could figure it out. With Shi Jin’s good-guy personality, how could he focus on himself?
The result would only be getting dragged down to death!
Between Shi Jin and Xu Sanduo, Wu Liu Yi would definitely choose Shi Jin without hesitation, even if Xu Sanduo was his compatriot—it wouldn’t matter.
Shi Jin knew Wu Liu Yi was concerned for him, so he stayed silent without speaking.
Gao Cheng cared more about Shi Jin’s future than Wu Liu Yi. Earlier, he had declared that no matter what tricks were used, he would definitely keep Shi Jin.
Hearing Shi Jin wanted this big clumsy bird Xu Sanduo, though he didn’t fly into a rage like in the original drama.
He still didn’t have a good expression.
His face visibly fell, and he said hatefully, unable to forge steel, “Comrade Shi Jin, what does company headquarters use to evaluate a squad leader’s performance, even including his retention? Repeat it to me.”
“Everything about the whole squad’s warriors.” Shi Jin said softly.
“Louder.” Gao Cheng barked.
“Report, everything about the whole squad’s warriors.” Shi Jin stood up and said loudly.
“So you knew, huh? Knew and still put a baggage on yourself?”
Gao Cheng threw the cigarette butt on the ground, crushed it heavily with his toe, and said with a black face, “You know what I care about. That’s my biggest worry.
Right, Xu Sanduo probably can meet the standard, but how he meets it—you know better than me.”
“Squad Leader, he will drag you down to death.” Wu Liu Yi also said seriously.
“Company Commander, I know what you said, but you already promised me earlier. As long as he can meet the standard, you would agree. You can’t go back on your word.” Shi Jin persisted, steeling himself.
“You…”
Gao Cheng was so angry his teeth ground, but he couldn’t retort—after all, he had spoken first. He could only point at Shi Jin virtually in frustration, unable to forge steel.
Seeing Shi Jin still standing straight there, with an attitude of continuing to persist, he irritably took out the cigarette case, lit one up.
“Squad Leader, you have to think for yourself. Xu Sanduo really isn’t someone you can bring along.” Wu Liu Yi said anxiously.
“I can. I have that ability. If I can bring you, Wu Liu Yi, out, I can bring Xu Sanduo out.” Shi Jin’s voice was soft, but his will was firm.
“Ah~~”
Wu Liu Yi let out a long sigh. Now he was out of moves.
“Shi Jin, I’ll ask you one last time. Have you really decided? Even if he drags you down to death, you still want this Xu Sanduo?”
Gao Cheng took two fierce drags to calm his emotions, staring seriously into Shi Jin’s eyes.
Though this was a question, the tone had changed.
It was clear that for this squad leader he liked the most, when he saw the determination in those small eyes, thinking this was the first time Shi Jin had ever asked for something.
Gao Cheng ultimately softened!
