At 6:50, the new recruits of Seventh Company lined up and entered the tiered classroom in the base's teaching building, looking around as if they had entered some secret missile base.
There was only an outdated plasma TV on the podium, yet the recruits gathered around it for ages.
The standards here were getting lower and lower.
In just one day, before this bunch of recruits had even become qualified soldiers, their values had already regressed to before the Reform and Opening Up.
This day had been fucking long.
So long that they had accepted that they would probably only get to make phone calls during holidays. The sudden sight of an electronic device made them feel a little unaccustomed.
Holy shit? The army had appliances other than electric lights?
An advertisement was playing on the TV: "Global glory, world-famous brand, Bosideng."
"Honor your parents with Nao Bai Jin, honor your parents with Nao Bai Jin, Nao Bai Jin."
The constant stream of information from the TV gave Fang Huai thoughts of becoming a rich second-generation heir again, and his confidence kept growing.
If even that bald bastard Shi's Nao Bai Jin could dominate an era, why couldn't someone like me?
It was just that startup capital... that was hard to come by in any era.
No matter how good his ideas were, if he handed them to his dull-witted father to carry out, the final results would be discounted by at least seventy percent.
You couldn't make money in the army. He had to plan for after he left the service, right? Even if he became an officer and devoted his youth to the people... he still had to wear a Richard Mille and drive a luxury car to work in the future, didn't he?
When responding to an emergency, he could take off his watch and show off first. "Your squad doesn't need to enter the fire. It's too dangerous. Just help me keep an eye on my watch!"
Besides, firefighters were all stationed in cities. If he became an officer in a brigade or detachment, then as long as he wasn't on duty and there wasn't a major incident, he could go home after work.
As a tycoon, experiencing military life—that would be the perfect life!
"Each squad, sit separately. No whispering! If any squad starts slacking off, I'll spot it at a glance! Watch the news carefully. Later, I'll teach you a military song!"
With one sentence, Wang Jian dragged Fang Huai back to the reality where he could not even change the channel while watching TV.
Yet the excitement in his heart refused to settle for a long time.
The news began soon afterward.
"Good evening, viewers."
"Good evening."
"Today is Tuesday, November 27th, the eighteenth day of the tenth lunar month. Welcome to the news."
"Today's main headlines are..."
"...Tangta Village paints a picture of a new life..."
"Governments in Jiangxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Anhui, and other regions support energy conservation and emissions reduction, benefiting businesses and citizens alike."
"Cadres and citizens across the country gain a deeper understanding of the spirit of the 17th National Congress through exchanges with members of the Central Propaganda Team."
"The Chang'e-1 satellite carries out various in-orbit tests..."
"Dear viewers, today's broadcast has come to an end."
"Thank you for watching. Goodbye."
Wang Jian walked to the front, picked up the remote, and shut off the TV with a click.
A wave of groans rose below.
"They won't even let us watch the weather forecast? I wanted to see what the weather was like back home!"
"The news was so boring..."
"I just saw a preview on TV! Heavenly Match! Huang Shengyi is in it—the girl who ate lollipops in Kung Fu!"
Wang Jian smiled and said loudly, "Since you're all discussing it so enthusiastically, why don't you come up and say a few words?
"I wasn't planning on doing any news commentary today, but I can see you all have strong reactions!
"Come on, I'll give you some time. Come up and tell us what today's news was about. One person from each squad. None of you are getting out of this."
The illiterates below immediately fell silent.
News commentary?
If we knew how to do that, why wouldn't we have studied properly? Why join the damn army?
Pan Zhaohui, who had been standing at the back, folded his arms and walked to the front. His round, chubby face beamed as he said.
"That's right. Since you all love talking so much, come up onstage and talk! If you can't move your mouths up here, then move your legs! Later, I'll take you out for an extra Three Kilometer Run!"
As he spoke, his gaze casually swept toward Ninth Squad.
Fang Huai immediately had a bad feeling.
Fuck, some crafty bastard wanted to stab me in the back.
With my stamina, if Old Ghost Pan caught me and made me do a Three Kilometer Run, wouldn't he kill me on the Training Ground?
It was just a pack of cigarettes. Was it really necessary, bro?
As Fang Huai was thinking, Hao Chengbin walked over and tapped his desk.
"Can you go up and speak?"
Fang Huai was speechless. "Squad leader, who the hell are we? How are we supposed to comment on that?"
Hao Chengbin frowned and quietly warned him, "Stop talking nonsense and hurry up and prepare! Don't lose to Eighth Squad!"
Jiang Peng, sitting diagonally behind them, had a gleam in his eyes. He volunteered, "Squad leader! I'll go up and speak!"
Hao Chengbin turned around, thought for a moment, then said, "Prepare first. When it's our squad's turn, raise your hand."
Jiang Peng immediately nodded excitedly and began muttering to himself. Judging by his posture, he looked ready to spend two hours up there pouring out every drop of the diluted ink in his head, the kind with less than five percent concentration.
But Hao Chengbin knew full well that Fang Huai would probably not escape having to go up today.
Old Pan was the duty squad leader today. He had led the formation during morning drills, so Hao Chengbin was in no position to step in now.
This Old Pan was carrying a lot of resentment!
Old Pan had taken out a loan to buy a house in the provincial capital. When he heard Guiyang Special Services needed people, he had always wanted to transfer there and had been trying to find connections.
During the province-wide major training competition before this, Old Pan had been there too, but Hao Chengbin had been selected first. Ever since the new recruit squad leader training began, Old Pan had been speaking to him in a snide, sarcastic manner.
Old Pan had entered his third service term this year too, only one year later than Hao Chengbin, so Hao Chengbin could not really say much.
Actually, Fang Huai had misunderstood this point. He thought the two Old Ghosts had been playing good cop, bad cop during the Parallel Bars and Horizontal Bar training that afternoon. Who would have thought that this bad cop had genuinely gone pale?
"First Squad, who's coming up!"
Not a sound.
The first squad leader smiled, then slammed his palm onto the first-row desk, issuing an obvious threat.
"Anyone who doesn't raise a hand gets extra training tonight!"
All ten raised their hands.
All ten took a step forward, which was basically the same as nobody moving.
But the competitive atmosphere suddenly surged.
For a moment, everyone wished they could rewind the dull thirty minutes they had just spent watching the news.
"Then I'll pick one! First row, third person!" Wang Jian casually pointed at someone.
When that lucky fellow stood up, his legs were trembling like sieves.
"E-everyone, hello. I'm... I'm..."
"Wang Fangcai, did you even forget your own name?" The first squad leader slammed the desk again.
Wang Jian, however, looked easygoing. "Come on, get up here and speak."
Wang Fangcai walked onto the stage and swallowed.
"My name is Wang Fangcai."
His voice was barely louder than a mosquito's.
"Can't hear you!" the first squad leader deliberately shouted.
"My name is Wang Fangcai!"
Silence.
Wang Jian broke it. "And then?"
"I... watched the news! Today... I'm very happy!"
The atmosphere below loosened considerably, and many people began to laugh.
Mainly because everyone felt that someone had already set the bottom line. No matter how bad they were, they could not possibly be worse than that.
Wang Jian's expression darkened, not at Wang Fangcai, but at the recruits.
"What are you laughing at? He's the first one to speak. Of course he's nervous. What's so funny? Whoever laughs again, I'll make him come up and speak! Now, everyone, applaud Wang Fangcai!"
The audience immediately began clapping.
Wang Fangcai swayed slightly, his chest heaving violently. Then he gathered his courage and said loudly, "After watching it, I felt that everyone was living happily! I'm really happy! Before I enlisted, the village cadres helped my family plant all our pumpkin seeds. They said that when it was time to harvest the pumpkins, they would help my family too! They wouldn't let my dad work himself to death alone! They told me to be a good soldier and not worry about home! I'll definitely be a good soldier, repay the village, and repay the country! I'm done."
This time, everyone fell silent.
Everyone understood that half-dialect Mandarin from the Northwest. It made their eyes sting as though sand had blown into them.
"Well said! Although Wang Fangcai didn't talk about today's news, he told a moving story. Everyone, applaud!"
After Wang Jian finished speaking, he began clapping.
The applause was thunderous.
Fang Huai felt a lump in his throat too.
Sincerity really was the ultimate move! It would be hard for anyone to surpass that today.
"Next one, fourth row, third person!"
This time, the person who came up was fair-skinned and delicate-looking. Wang Jian probably wanted to find someone with contrast.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Chen Huaibing. Today, I saw a news report about Chang'e-1 going into space..."
"Chang'e-1 went into space last month! They were conducting in-orbit tests, and they succeeded!" Wang Jian corrected him.
Scattered laughter rose from below again.
"In-orbit tests... I think our country's space program is making progress! I believe that in the next step, we'll be able to move into outer space..."
"You don't even know what Chang'e-1 does. Get down!" Wang Jian's face was full of black lines.
"Next, Eighth Squad!"
"Report!" The pride of Eighth Squad, Battalion Commander Zhang, stood up.
Fang Huai narrowed his eyes.
Old Pan really had come prepared. This guy did not look like someone who was particularly articulate, yet he had volunteered now. He had probably prepared in advance.
The previous few had all been pretty bad. What they said had nothing to do with the point. It was not that they had no content, but none of it hit the mark.
Old Ghost Pan was on duty today. The company had arranged this little event tonight, and he was clearly determined to pull off a standout performance.
Battalion Commander Zhang walked onto the stage and saluted.
Eighth Squad immediately applauded to support him, and Wang Jian smiled faintly too.
"Hello, everyone. My name is Zhang Yinzhang. Today, I want to talk about the new socialist countryside. Tangta Village, mentioned in the news just now, is a typical example of this new countryside. Rural people are becoming wealthier and wealthier, which shows that our country's issues concerning agriculture, rural areas, and farmers are being resolved..."
He spoke at length for more than two minutes. Though he stammered a little, his points had depth and extension.
After Zhang Yinzhang finished, he saluted again and stepped down amid enthusiastic applause.
"Very good. Zhang Yinzhang spoke very deeply about rural issues." Wang Jian nodded, but his expression did not change much, as if he had expected this result all along.
When Old Pan had come to him after dinner and suggested having the recruits comment on the news that evening, he had already guessed it.
Consider it giving the veteran some face.
"Ninth Squad, who will speak?" Wang Jian looked at Hao Chengbin.
"Report!" Jiang Peng stood up excitedly.
Fang Huai was also waiting inwardly.
The system did not react.
He probably would not get today's mission reward.
Wang Jian raised a hand and pointed at Jiang Peng, signaling him to go up.
Jiang Peng strode onto the stage full of fighting spirit and saluted as well.
"The first news today was... live broadcasting was achieved..."
"The second news was about the new countryside, Tangta Village..."
"The third..."
Jiang Peng was incredible.
The moment he got onstage, he began replaying the entire news broadcast.
His memory was indeed among the best in the company. He practically recited the news from beginning to end.
There was no understanding, only pure repetition. During the time he had spent preparing, he had probably put all his effort into memorizing the content.
But he had taken it seriously. He had definitely taken it seriously.
When he had been speaking for nearly five minutes, Company Commander Wang finally could not stand it anymore.
"Get down, Jiang Peng."
Fuck, he had made him sleepy. Watching the original thirty-minute broadcast had not been this exhausting.
"Everyone, applaud." Company Commander Wang was too lazy to comment.
Jiang Peng still looked unsatisfied, making Hao Chengbin roll his eyes below the stage.
"Huh?"
A sudden voice rang out.
Pan Zhaohui walked to the side of the podium, tilted his head toward Ninth Squad, and smiled. "Ninth Squad's martial champion, aren't you going to come up and say something?"
Fang Huai stood up with a smile, frantically calling out in his heart.
System bro, I'm about to show off. Aren't you giving me some kind of reward?
Where's that damn awesomeness?
"Come on up, come up and say something!" Pan Zhaohui called out affectionately.
Finally.
```
Was it really that direct?? There wasn't even any mission content??
This system was seriously badass!
Hao Chengbin stood with his arms folded, watching silently. He didn't know why, but when Fang Huai took the initiative to stand up, he didn't feel too worried.
Fang Huai went up to the platform and added another set of movements: quick march, halt, right turn.
They were remarkably smooth, leaving even Wang Jian somewhat astonished.
"Leaders, squad leaders, my name is Fang Huai, and I'm from Ninth Squad."
After pausing briefly and noticing there was no applause, he continued.
"Everyone gave excellent news reports today. The company commander said we could speak freely, so I'll give a summary as well."
"Today's news covered domestic matters ranging from rural economic development to aerospace, energy conservation and emissions reduction, and the spirit of the 17th National Congress. There were many topics, but in my view, they all centered on economic development.
The main content of the 17th National Congress was the comprehensive construction of a moderately prosperous society, which also highlighted the importance and urgency of economic development and reflected the principal contradiction in the country's current development.
Energy conservation and emissions reduction reflected the long-term problems that should be avoided during development and put the Scientific Outlook on Development into practice.
Rural development highlighted which social class's survival issues needed to be addressed first through development.
Aerospace, meanwhile, was the main direction for the next stage of scientific research funding.
Science and technology were likewise a measure of national strength, while aerospace technology was an even more critical force safeguarding future communications, networks, and the military.
At the same time, I have some thoughts related to ourselves. The advancement of comprehensive national strength cannot do without the protection of soldiers.
Political Commissar Zou mentioned it at the start of training, and the squad leader told us the same thing during lunch today: as firefighter soldiers, in the course of economic development, we should shoulder the heavy responsibility of protecting the people's lives and property, escorting the next five-year development plan.
Life came first; property came second.
I feel immensely proud to be able to shoulder this responsibility for development, and I should devote myself actively to training, striving to begin performing my duties as a firefighter soldier as soon as possible.
That concludes my remarks. Thank you, everyone."
His speech was extremely steady, without much rise or fall in tone, as though he were delivering some kind of report.
Company Commander Wang felt like he was attending a meeting.
The squad leaders felt as if they had returned to the day training began, listening to the Corps Leader's speech.
Damn, wasn't this practically the level of a battalion Political Instructor?
Squad Leader Hao was incredibly proud, his face blooming with a grin.
It was because Fang Huai had said, "Political Commissar Zou mentioned it, and the squad leader said it too."
Wait, when had I ever said that?
Old Pan had already slipped out through the back door, and a string of lighter clicks came from outside.
"Fuck! Why won't this thing light?"
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