Looks Perverted

He downed three bowls of noodles, enough to stun everyone in Class Nine.

Fang Huai was very hungry, but his stomach wasn't as fragile as someone who hadn't eaten in a long time. By the third bowl, there was no more topping, so he added some soy sauce and still ate with gusto.

Hao Chengbin watched him inhale the noodles, his lips twitching as he said, "Brother, with that appetite, were you being too modest the last couple of days?"

Zhao Bing chuckled heartily and gave an answer close to the truth: "Squad Leader, maybe he's hungry because he used up a lot of energy this morning. Back home, after working the fields, I used to eat several bowls too."

"Mmm..." Hao Chengbin nodded. "Having a big appetite is a good thing. When we were recruits, we used to eat seven or eight bowls of rice."

He said that, but they were eating from small 4.5-inch bowls, while Fang Huai was eating from an 8-inch soup bowl.

This meal could have filled a 200-pound pig until it burped.

Fang Huai felt like none of it had actually gone into his stomach, leaving only the lingering taste in his mouth.

"Squad Leader... can I have another bowl?" Fang Huai asked, finishing his last mouthful of noodle soup and wiping his mouth, still wanting more.

He definitely hadn't replenished his energy, but he felt quite invigorated.

The nine people next to him were already lined up, staring at him like he was a circus animal.

"Stop eating, your stomach won't be able to handle it! And we can't wait for everyone forever! The duty soldier will get him two more bowls of rice at lunch!" Hao Chengbin frowned and pulled Fang Huai into the formation.

"The duty soldier stays to wash the dishes. Target: Seventh Company, Class Nine, forward march!"

Hao Chengbin had originally planned to have them run upstairs, but seeing how Fang Huai ate, he was afraid of hurting his stomach.

This recruit was messing with his rhythm. You couldn't say he was a hassle; he was quite self-aware, knew the rules, managed his personal affairs well, and trained with all his might.

But then again, he trained with all his might.

And he ate like he was training for his life.

Even Hao Chengbin, who considered himself a freak, found him to be quite the freak.

Ten minutes later, Seventh Company, Class Nine.

Yue Tao clutched his thigh, looking wronged.

Hao Chengbin crossed his legs and pointed at the recruits.

"From now on, remember this: when you see a squad leader, stop marching, maintain a distance of more than half a meter, and loudly greet them. Loudly, not shouting! I'm telling you, people have stress responses! If you greet a squad leader by shouting right in their face like Yue Tao just did, you'll get beaten and it'll be your own fault!

Yue Tao, the rest of you can be excused, but how many days have you been here? Did I not teach you the rules?"

Yue Tao said sheepishly, "Squad Leader, I know! That roundhouse kick from Squad Leader Pan just now was really cool!"

Everyone laughed, and even Hao Chengbin laughed and cursed, "Shameless!"

Fang Huai pondered.

People who are shameless are invincible. Someone like Yue Tao, with thick skin, who can take criticism and doesn't hold grudges, even if he's not good at anything, leaders will still like him.

"Alright, let's talk business," Hao Chengbin said, his expression turning serious.

"From now on, you'll get up at five every day. I've set your alarms. The Regimental Headquarters order has officially come down, half an hour earlier than the winter training schedule. At six-thirty, wash up when the company headquarters blows the wake-up whistle. At seven, we start morning drills. You must have your personal affairs in order by six-thirty.

It's a strict requirement: you must tidy your blankets for at least half an hour every day. You can choose your own spot in the corridor outside your rooms. As soon as the wake-up call sounds, I'll inspect your personal affairs. Once you're on the training ground, the company headquarters will also conduct random checks. If we find your blankets missing when you return from training, it means they've been thrown downstairs, and you'll have to go pick them up.

If you think you can't get your personal affairs in order in an hour and a half, be sensible and wake up earlier. For every instance of personal affairs not meeting standards, you'll do an extra 50 push-ups before morning drills, and everyone else will join in for 30 push-ups!"

"What?" Jiang Peng's face turned a little grim.

"Squad Leader! What if someone consistently can't fold their blankets properly?"

He glanced at a few of his classmates whose blankets were not neatly folded.

Hao Chengbin's expression became stern. "Then find a way to help him! Remember! In the military, everyone is a collective! Honor and disgrace are shared! Those who abandon their comrades and only focus on their own growth are trash!

Especially in our fire department, there's no such thing as individual deployment! Rescue operations require at least one vehicle, and in case of a fire, it's by squad, with at least two vehicles!

If you, Jiang Peng, are the second person holding the water hose, and the third person behind you falls, or the water supply operator has a problem, will you help? Can you do it alone without them?

Don't think the water gun isn't dangerous!

Once the water pressure exceeds two megapascals, no matter how strong your body is, the hose will drag you around. Exceeding three megapascals, without someone behind you to hold it down, the hose will launch you into the air! If the water gun slips from your grasp, it can knock you unconscious!

Not to mention the rescue equipment, like the cutoff saw, the multi-purpose chainsaw, the diesel equipment, the hydraulic tool set – which one of them isn't capable of easily taking a life? Do you know how heavy that equipment is? To operate it flexibly, how many people are needed for coordination?

Just one squadron, with equipment and vehicles, is at least ten to twenty million. Can you handle it alone? There are too many areas that require cooperation!

The first thing you need to learn is to encourage each other and grow together! We firefighters train for years to be used for years. You have opportunities to go into battle every day. Your comrades by your side are your lifelines in critical moments!

I'm also the squad leader of the Special Operations Squad in my squadron. I don't want the soldiers I lead to be called trash by others! Be a person first, then do things. If you don't understand the principle of unity, then don't even think about leaving this recruit training corps! Once you go to the grassroots, you'll be a disaster waiting to happen!"

After his speech, everyone understood a fundamental principle: it was okay if their physical fitness wasn't up to par, or if their personal affairs were lacking, but they absolutely could not lack unity.

Lack of unity could lead to beatings and being looked down upon.

Jiang Peng quickly admitted his mistake, "I understand, Squad Leader! I'm sorry!"

Hao Chengbin chuckled and waved his hand.

"You haven't wronged me, you've wronged your comrades... Also, Jiang Peng, don't think you're so great just because your education is a bit higher than theirs. The world is vast, and there are many capable people. Squad Leader Huang, the clerk at the company headquarters, is also a graduate from a second-tier university. He's not on the fast track, but he's still diligently doing his job, isn't he?

I see many people in this squad who are more down-to-earth and capable than you! Fang Huai's family has been in the military for generations! Did he mention that? Sun Lianhai comes from a very good family; his father is a civil servant, and his mother is a doctor. Did he mention that?

Yesterday, you came out of the company headquarters with a long face, who were you showing it to? I just couldn't be bothered to say anything, but do you really think I didn't see it? Fang Huai's computer skills are excellent; even Squad Leader Huang admits it!

Once you're in the military, everyone is equal! Yue Tao is only 17 years old, and I think his psychological resilience is much better than yours, a 21-year-old!"

Fang Huai inwardly rolled his eyes at being praised.

Oh my god, big brother, educate him if you must, but don't bring me into it!

How is my family in the military for generations?

If I brought out Chairman Jiang's military medals, would you recognize me as a martyr's descendant?

Sun Lianhai, also mentioned, humbly said, "Squad Leader... my family isn't exactly..."

Fang Huai quickly pulled Sun Lianhai.

Workplace rule: When your leader praises you, especially in front of others, don't refute them. At most, thank them, or deflect the credit back to the leader for their excellent guidance.

They might be using you to lecture someone else, or to indirectly highlight themselves as leaders capable of nurturing outstanding talent. What's the point of being humble in this situation?

Besides, Squad Leader Hao is scolding people right now. You just need to look heartbroken.

The core meaning of sharing honor and disgrace is this: when others scold your teammate, you have to feel like the tower was sold by everyone, at least in terms of your expression.

Jiang Peng truly looked as if he had lost his parents.

He never dreamed that he, whom he considered the likely candidate for deputy squad leader in the squad leader's eyes, would be scolded so much for just one sentence.

In reality, Hao Chengbin was just warning everyone.

He was just the pig that stuck its head out into the wind to take the blame.

Evaluating subordinates is also part of establishing authority.

Hao Chengbin raised a finger.

"Let me reiterate the rules. Besides the interior affairs we just discussed, when you encounter an old soldier, greet them with 'Squad Leader Hao is good.' When you encounter an officer, greet them with 'Sir is good.' If you have something to report, do so. When going to the restroom, major business takes three minutes, minor business takes one minute. Without assignment, you cannot leave the squad area!

Starting today, I will either be in the squad area or at the company headquarters. Do not leave my sight, and especially, do not go downstairs without permission! This is the most important rule. Violate it once, and the entire squad will be punished, severely! You will supervise each other!

The other rules are in the regulations. I will give you time to copy them down. The squad rules will be posted on this wall by the door shortly, so go and read them. If you don't understand anything, ask me!

Do you understand?"

"Understood!"

"Understood, Squad Leader!" Fang Huai quickly chimed in.

Their voices quickly synchronized. Hao Chengbin seemed to have another half-sentence of a lecture stuck in his throat.

Fang Huai observed this.

He wasn't naturally inclined towards fostering unity. His decade-long experience with workplace intrigue hadn't been fully adjusted.

But at this moment, things were different from before.

Rather than sharing honor and disgrace, it was more fitting to say they were all tied to the same rope. He had to remind everyone in the squad about their words and actions if he didn't want to be caught in the crossfire.

The lecture on rules quickly concluded.

"Ahem, Fang Huai."

"Present!" Fang Huai snapped to attention.

"Come here for a moment."

Hao Chengbin beckoned him out of the squad area.

As the door closed, Hao Chengbin looked at him and slowly said, "I know you might have received some military-style education at home, but the growth of your comrades requires them to explore on their own. There's a difference between helping and supporting, do you understand?

Like this morning, you tidied Peng Yingqirui's blanket, didn't you? You can tell him how to do it, but don't do it for him, and don't make him just copy your actions. Let him figure it out himself, otherwise, he'll never learn, do you understand?"

The two "do you understand"s made Fang Huai fall into thought.

He might have been too selfish.

Standing at attention, he said, "Understood, Squad Leader! But this morning, I saw he hadn't folded it properly yet, and I was afraid we'd lose points during the company inspection! From now on, I will definitely not try to rush the process!"

As Fang Huai spoke, he couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.

The old squad leader is truly the old squad leader! Even though he's often not around, he knows everything!

"Good!" Hao Chengbin patted Fang Huai's shoulder.

"With you in charge of the squad, I'm quite at ease! Originally, I didn't plan to appoint a deputy squad leader; it's not conducive to unity! But I see potential in you! Work hard!"

"Yes, Squad Leader!" Fang Huai showed a rare display of excitement.

He had to take the initiative. He was genuinely afraid that if Hao Chengbin didn't appoint a deputy squad leader when he left the unit, who would be responsible for his military merit system?