Chapter 9: Joining The Company
During the time Chang Ning was locked in solitary confinement, thanks to Xiao Zhuang, he and Xiao Zhuang together earned a bad reputation in the New Recruit Company for beating up the Squad Leader.
For a while, even the Squad Leaders who had previously been enthusiastic about him and eager to pull him into their own units began to keep their distance out of respect. Everyone knew this soldier was indeed impressive, but hard to discipline—he was just a hot potato.
At this moment, Chang Ning, still in solitary confinement, had already fainted from crying in the Solitary Confinement Room. This matter had absolutely nothing to do with him, okay!
Fortunately, Chang Ning temporarily did not know what was happening outside.
“Kid, the taste of solitary confinement isn’t pleasant, is it.”
Chang Ning looked up and saw that the observation window on the door had opened at some point, with a thick-browed middle-aged man outside smiling at him.
“The Solitary Confinement Room is just a bit dark; otherwise, it’s fine. But Leader, who are you?”
Chang Ning was somewhat curious about the identity of the man standing outside the door. He didn’t think he knew any officers.
“Who I am, you’ll find out later. For now, you can go out.”
After saying that, the middle-aged officer opened the door and left Chang Ning with a view of his back.
‘Who exactly is that person? Could it be…’
Chang Ning thought of the most likely person to appear. His neighbor was Xiao Zhuang, and at this time, the only one who could come to the Solitary Confinement Room and was an officer was Miao Lian.
Soon, Chang Ning had no time to guess who the officer who opened the door for him really was.
“Chang Ning, hurry up; only you and Xiao Zhuang are left.”
Lao Pao said loudly and hurriedly without waiting for Chang Ning to return to the unit.
The previous incident where Xiao Zhuang beat him up was originally his scheme to pull Xiao Zhuang into their Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company. The injury around his eye could only be considered an accident—who would have thought the one pulling them apart would get involved too.
Besides, Chang Ning was also someone Miao Lian had his eye on. Chasing one sheep or two made no difference; it was just a convenient matter, so Chang Ning got pitted into the Solitary Confinement Room as well.
It was Lao Pao who schemed against people first, so facing the main culprit, he really couldn’t bring himself to put on a stern face.
Everyone in the entire New Recruit Company except Chang Ning and Xiao Zhuang had finished their assessments. Seeing this, Chang Ning felt embarrassed to dawdle and directly signaled to Lao Pao that the assessment could begin.
After a “begin,” Chang Ning shot out like an arrow off the string, charging toward the Training Ground.
Five kilometers, single and double bars, firearm assembly, target shooting… Chang Ning’s scores in every assessment item were excellent.
The Company Commanders in the audience felt even more conflicted inside. Chang Ning was good, sure, but the problem was he had just been put in solitary confinement for beating up the Squad Leader. Who would dare take such a troublesome soldier? One slip-up and he might cause big trouble.
The military unit’s efficiency was high; by afternoon, the new recruits’ scores and assignments were out. As expected, Chang Ning took first place in the overall scores.
The new recruits were dressed neatly, all wearing regular uniforms with cap badges and collar flowers, excitedly standing at the entrance of Company Headquarters.
The Company Commander was calling roll, announcing their respective units.
“Liu Tong!”
“Here!”
“First Battalion, Second Company!”
“Wang Yiguang!”
“Here!”
“Signal Company!”
……
Right up to the end, Chang Ning and Xiao Zhuang’s names were not called. Xiao Zhuang was a bit dazed, while Chang Ning acted as if nothing had happened, not worried at all. Anyway, they could definitely go to the Night Tiger Reconnaissance Company in the end, so why worry?
The New Recruit Company’s Company Commander closed the roster: “Go back and pack up, prepare your backpacks; your Company Commander will come to pick you up soon.
Starting today, you will truly become soldiers of the Great Merit Regiment!
Comrades, the three months in the New Recruit Company were very tough; you worked hard! I congratulate you!”
After speaking, the Company Commander raised his hand in salute.
The new recruits raised their hands in return salute.
The Company Commander lowered his hand and was just about to announce dismissal when Xiao Zhuang mustered his courage and shouted: “Report!”
“Speak!”
“Report! I-I, which company am I going to?”
The Company Commander looked at him for a long time and said, “It’s not written above; I don’t know either.”
Xiao Zhuang was stunned; he hadn’t expected such a result.
“Dismissed!”
The new recruits cheered and dispersed like the tide receding. Starting today, the young new recruits would begin a brand new military life.
Xiao Zhuang stood dumbfounded in place for a moment and saw that Chang Ning hadn’t entered the dormitory yet: “Everyone has been assigned to a company; how are you not anxious at all?”
“Why hurry? There’s always a road ahead when the cart reaches the mountain; worst case, we get sent back, though it’d be a bit embarrassing.”
Chang Ning knew the later plot, so of course he wasn’t anxious. But Xiao Zhuang didn’t know, so Chang Ning gently comforted him.
“You’re right.”
In the dormitory, the comrades were excitedly chatting, their words mostly full of beautiful expectations for their new companies.
Chen Xiwa happily packed his backpack, his face beaming with a silly smile: “Wow, this time I got assigned to the Reconnaissance Company! I never thought I could become a scout…”
After being enlightened by Chang Ning, Xiao Zhuang wasn’t anxious anymore either. He turned with Chang Ning into the dormitory and began sorting his own luggage.
After Miao Lian walked into the dormitory and saw Xiao Zhuang packing his luggage, he was stunned. He had originally thought Xiao Zhuang would throw a tantrum, and he had prepared a speech in his belly for it, but it ended up unused, leaving him with a feeling of punching cotton—powerless.
How could Miao Lian know this was thanks to Chang Ning? Without Chang Ning’s earlier words, Xiao Zhuang would probably have gotten chewed out again.
“Why so slow, dawdling like that!”
The new recruits were all busy sorting their own luggage and didn’t notice Miao Lian had arrived.
“Attention!”
Chang Ning turned back, saw the person’s appearance clearly, and immediately recognized him as the one who had spoken to him in the Solitary Confinement Room earlier.
Confirmation: it was definitely Miao Lian.
“You three, come with me.”
Since Xiao Zhuang hadn’t caused any trouble, Miao Lian didn’t waste time and directly named Chang Ning and the other two.
At the Reconnaissance Company barracks, the scouts were shirtless, their dark skin glistening with a healthy sheen under the sunlight.
They were all tendon meat, wearing camouflage pants and military boots, conducting various physical fitness and combat training.
Chang Ning and the other two carried backpacks and things, following behind Miao Lian. Miao Lian strode up to Company Headquarters and waved to the three second lieutenants already standing at the entrance: “You three, come here!”
The three Platoon Leaders hurried over by running and stood in a row in front of the Company Commander. Miao Lian nodded toward them: “These three soldiers are new. This is Xi Wa, very honest, sturdy build; with some training, he’ll be a good prospect who dares to fight hard.
I won’t introduce the other two; you definitely know who they are.
Which of you wants these three soldiers?”
Normally, they would definitely be happy for the Company Commander to assign them new recruits, but today among the three soldiers, two were big trouble. Without some real skills, there would be plenty of headaches later.
Seeing no one speak, the First Platoon Leader seized the initiative and directly took Chen Xiwa.
“Xi Wa, come to our platoon; we’re short a capture specialist.”
“What about the other two?”
Miao Lian saw the two Platoon Leaders hemming and hawing, knowing they didn’t want these two troublesome soldiers.
“Alright, I won’t make it hard for you.”
“Xiao Zhuang, Chang Ning, looks like no one wants you. How about I make arrangements for you?”
Looking at Miao Lian’s smiling face, Chang Ning couldn’t help but think of Wolf Fang’s Fan Tianlei.
‘Miao Lian isn’t going to dig a pit for us, is he?’
Alarm bells rang loudly in Chang Ning’s heart; he didn’t speak. Xiao Zhuang, being more naive and sweet, happily said: “I have no opinion.”
“Then it’s settled: Xiao Zhuang, you be my clerk. Chang Ning, you go to the Cookhouse; they’re short-handed there.”
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Three updates tomorrow, extra for the above readers!!!
