Resisting High-Interest Loans Starts With Me!

[Mission complete.]

[Generating rewards…]

Fang Huai saluted a returning officer and left the stage.

Company Commander Wang took the stage, looking quite moved.

"Comrade Fang Huai's speech was very insightful and professional! This is exactly what we should take away from watching Xinwen Lianbo!"

Company Commander Wang forgot his lines and said "speech" instead of "remarks."

The new recruits felt like they were watching a sci-fi movie. Why would a martial arts champion also be scholarly?

What the hell is this… Xinwen? Is he like Su Shi in literature and Yue Fei in martial arts?

Forget watching Xinwen Lianbo tomorrow, you come and perform instead!

This is a dimensional reduction attack, a dimensional reduction attack.

An entire company's orderly competitive system had just collapsed. There's a cheater in the revolutionary ranks!

As Fang Huai stepped down, Hao Chengbin waved his hand. Peng Yingqirui, Lu Zexian, Zhao Bing, and the others from the first squad all shifted over one seat, leaving the two outermost seats vacant.

"Squad Leader, you want to sit here?"

Fang Huai pointed at the seat and asked, then naturally sat down.

Hao Chengbin grinned and sat down next to him.

"Xiao Fang, you've got some serious practical skills! Did you practice this in school before?"

Fang Huai found it amusing and casually replied, "I read some materials on how to write speeches, Squad Leader."

This Squad Leader Hao is a firm believer in practical theory!

Anything that goes beyond the norm, and it must be practice, not my exceptional talent?

Fine, I did practice.

When he first joined the public institution after retiring from the service, the older employees were all slacking off. They, the newcomers, were the fish and the dogs. For any speeches or meeting PPTs, as long as you had the skill, they'd milk you dry.

Back then, Fang Huai was still a passionate youth. If he didn't know something, he'd learn it, believing that when heaven is about to bestow a great responsibility upon a person, they must first suffer hardship, toil, and starve.

He had a big appetite and couldn't even fill up with three large flatbreads a day.

"Young people need to endure more hardship. Leaders all went through it."

"Everyone else can do it, why can't you? If you work a little harder than others, you'll gain a little more."

"Learning more things never hurts."

"Salary isn't important; what's important is the platform. Representing the unit in official matters is something many people envy."

"Don't always come asking me. Is this your job or my job? When you become a leader in the future, how will you handle subordinates asking you questions like this?"

"When it's time to leave, don't just think about going home. Think more about how much work you've completed today, whether you've summarized your experiences, and if you can help colleagues. Only those who can shoulder responsibility can take on great tasks."

Those "big pies" were too damn tempting.

He dreamed of being a leader for two to three years. Only when the new recruits he trained became his leaders did he wake up and resign.

He never imagined that the hardships he endured in his past life yielded nothing, and that outdated knowledge would become his foresight and capability now.

The leaders truly didn't lie to me; learning more things doesn't hurt.

It will be useful in another lifetime.

"Today's news commentary is to cultivate everyone's speaking and summarizing abilities, and also to change everyone's attitude. Don't think that you don't need to learn after joining the army. You all need to adjust your mindset! Learn more from Fang Huai. The army of the new era needs talents who are both capable in civil and military matters!

Next, I'll teach you to sing our fire department's military song, 'The Red Police Camp, The Red Me'!"

"The red police camp, the red vehicle

Our red youth, the red me

How many times have we sweated like rain on the training grounds

How many times have we silently persevered

We are calm and persistent

We remember our mission and strive bravely

We train hard and find joy in hardship

For the peace and happiness of our elders and villagers

We firefighters are always ready!"

Fang Huai sang loudly along with everyone. When Hao Chengbin left his seat to go out for a smoke, the system finally gave a prompt.

[Please choose your reward.]

[1. Memory Lv1 (Description: Yesterday's happenings are like today's birth, giving you a stronger hippocampus)]

[2. Heart Enhancement]

[3. Slight Leg Strength Improvement]

Fang Huai swallowed.

He made a decision in his heart: Only children make choices, I want them all.

After a while, the selection page remained there.

Testing was ineffective.

Fang Huai felt a bit helpless. If possible, he even wanted to take out a loan shark from the System to choose all three. He coveted all three rewards; he needed them so badly.

The moment the thought arose, a line of text suddenly flashed.

[If you choose all three rewards simultaneously, the System will charge 1/3 interest, and you will be unable to obtain rewards for the next 9 missions. (The next 9 missions will be mandatory; refusal will result in the forfeiture of all three rewards.)]

Fang Huai: ???

What the actual f**?*

Is this necessary? Is it really a loan shark? One-third interest???

Wait! Let me sort this out!

Three rewards, nine missions. I've already completed three, so I'm borrowing for six. One-third of six is two. The interest should be two missions!

But it says nine missions, and three for interest. Isn't this still an upfront fee?!

This is illegal! Brother! Charging interest on unissued principal is fraud according to the central bank's regulations!! I don't even have to repay the principal, you know??

[Interest rule modified: Interest rate adjusted to 50%, interest remains the same]

Things started to make sense.

No more upfront fees, now it's pure usury. The principal is legal.

The key is that he can't escape the interest either! Does this System need violent debt collection? It can deduct directly from my paycheck!

The lender is Gao Qiqiang!

If I don't pay, he'll make me donate blood!

Within these 9.6 million square kilometers, there's still this lawless land in his mind.

I'll choose heart modification! No more borrowing!

Resist usury, starting with me!

Fang Huai felt his back straighten.

Not owing money feels so good.

Actually, memory enhancement was what he most wanted to try. After all, memory is a prerequisite for intellectual development. His mother used to nag him about this whenever she forced him to drink that "Life No. 1" when he was a child.

Moreover, for a reincarnator like him, memory was the most valuable part.

However, given this System's nature, it was hard to say how effective this "Lv1" strength would be for something so important.

Could there be more than a dozen levels?

Without strengthening the heart, this vital organ core, he couldn't proceed with other enhancements. Over time, he genuinely feared that his increasingly unbalanced body would develop serious problems, just like when he was doing pull-ups and chin-ups today; he clearly felt some discomfort.

He couldn't pinpoint exactly where the discomfort was.

But he knew that a cheetah could only run at high speed for three minutes before overheating and dying.

Even a single weak point in the body could lead to severe consequences.

A stream of warmth surged from within his body, and Fang Huai quickly felt his breathing become smoother.

His mind also cleared up a bit, and he felt stronger.

The heart, the center that maintains blood circulation, getting better brought quite a few buffs.

He just wasn't sure how much of it was psychological.

As he was carefully sensing it, the last song also ended.

Wang Jian glanced at the back door and shouted loudly.

"This song describes our firefighting life, and it's also a firefighter's military song. Everyone must know how to sing it! The Regimental Headquarters has already notified us. Starting tomorrow, we will sing it for a week before meals! Squad leaders, go and collect the regulation books for the new recruits to study!"

"The entire company, assemble outside the door, form three columns, and return!"

On the way back, still marching to the beat and singing, Company Commander Wang was explaining. Most military songs are in 4/4 or 4/2 time, making them easy to sing while marching.

Fang Huai listened and suddenly had an epiphany.

The first pot of gold!

Plagiarize!

When Hao Chengbin returned to the squad, Fang Huai was hunched over a table by the door, writing and drawing.

"What are you writing?"

Hao Chengbin asked, handing Fang Huai a copy of the Regulations and Ordinances as he spoke.

"Put it in the desk drawer."

"Just writing something, Squad Leader." Fang Huai snapped out of his thoughts, stood up, and wasn't sure how to answer.

"Let me see?" Hao Chengbin asked, but without waiting for Fang Huai's reply, he leaned in.

After looking for a while, he asked with some suspicion, "You write poetry too?"

The ears of the nine comrades behind Fang Huai perked up.

"Reporting, Squad Leader, they're lyrics!" Fang Huai said with some helplessness.

"You can write songs too? ...The wind blowing through the wilderness, slow down, I'll tell you in silence, I'm drunk... Looks good! Does it have a melody?" Hao Chengbin read along, even sounding a bit impressed.

He had never seen such a versatile soldier, and a new recruit at that, in his entire life.

"I wrote the lyrics to a Mongolian folk song, Squad Leader. If you want to hear it, I can play it for you if I have a guitar!"

He plays guitar too!

Hao Chengbin and the other ten people thought the same thing.

"With this kind of talent, why didn't you say anything before? You should have registered it! If there are any performances, the company headquarters can arrange for you to participate!"

"Reporting, Squad Leader! I just remembered, it's not much of a talent, just something I learned to play with before." Fang Huai chuckled.

Hao Chengbin had already decided he had to call the cadres of the new squadron.

What kind of soldier is this! He can do clerical work, combat duty, speak eloquently, and even put on a show for cultural performances!

If he's brought to the new squadron, taught about equipment, and becomes a certified Equipment Technician, won't he be a benchmark for the entire detachment, an all-rounder?

He brought him from the new recruit regiment to his current post... this is a soldier he trained himself!

"Fang Huai," Hao Chengbin said after thinking for a while.

"Here!"

"Your training results today are supposed to be reported to the regimental headquarters. I've spoken to the company headquarters, and we won't report such high scores. For the parallel bars and horizontal bar, just 8 reps. But in future tests, just do your best, understand?"

Fang Huai looked confused. "Huh? Squad Leader, what do you mean?"

Hao Chengbin reminded him, "Didn't the Chief of Staff say this morning! 20 reps! Outstanding Soldier! If you do over 30 right off the bat, where's the room for improvement?

Right! And if anyone from the regimental headquarters talks to you, asking about your usual physical training scores, Zhao Bing is the best in our squad!

I know the people at the regimental headquarters! If anyone talks nonsense, I'll hear about it! That would be a problem with their security awareness! Understand?"

The new recruits of the First Squad nodded indignantly.

Their Squad Leader was really bending over backward for someone else!

Fang Huai also suddenly understood, feeling a bit touched.

"Thank you, Squad Leader!"

"Alright, don't just stand around now, tidy up your bedding!

I've already found the tools for you... Fang Huai, you supervise! The whistle blows at 9:30, and it's time to wash up. I'll be at the company headquarters. If anything comes up, have Fang Huai come find me!

As promised... cigarettes! We'll talk about that after the Three Kilometer Run assessment the day after tomorrow!"

After Hao Chengbin finished giving instructions, he took two bamboo slips and two pairs of chopsticks from his pocket, placed them on the table, and left.

There was a long silence.

Chen Zhongqiang looked somewhat dazed.

"Why is it the day after tomorrow... again?"

Jiang Peng didn't seem to care about the cigarettes, only looking resentful and speaking sarcastically, "Vice Squad Leader Fang, I need to use the restroom."

"What the hell, Mr. Jiang, what are you saying?" Fang Huai was shocked. "Don't jinx me! I'm not the vice squad leader! If you need to go to the restroom, I'll call the Squad Leader for you!"

Peng Yingqirui also looked resentful. "Ah, no luck again!"

Yue Tao looked gossipy. "What, little guy, you want to be the vice squad leader too?"

"Hell no!" Peng Yingqirui leaned against the bed frame, rolling his eyes.

"I thought Fang Huai was mysteriously writing something to transmit intelligence to some overseas organization, and the Squad Leader caught him, so we wouldn't have to train for at least three days!"

Everyone burst out laughing.

Only Fang Huai's face darkened. "Damn it, little guy, if I ever become vice squad leader, I'll carry you to the training ground even if you're gravely ill and can't be cured. If I don't die, you won't live!"

"No, no! Brother Fang! I was just kidding! I'm still waiting for you to help me fold my blankets!" Peng Yingqirui backed down.

Hearing this, Fang Huai stopped writing and picked up the small bamboo slips and chopsticks from the table.

"Come on, friends. The biggest difference between humans and animals is the use of tools. The Squad Leader has made arrangements, so today I'll teach you how to evolve into humans."

A chorus of groans.

"Damn, it's already nine! We have to unpack the blankets in half an hour! What are we tidying for!"

"Yeah, Vice Squad Leader Fang, don't make a mountain out of a molehill!"

Fang Huai chuckled, "Don't want to mess with the blankets, huh? Didn't you guys hear anything just now? I was sitting by the door, and I heard it all clearly."

Yue Tao walked to the door, a bit curious, "Hear what?"

Fang Huai turned directly and pulled open half the door.

A moment later, howling from the next room could be heard.

"Report, Squad Leader!"

"Shut up! Hold on! Whoever comes down gets an extra five minutes!"

Fang Huai turned back with a smile. Everyone had already brought out their small stools and sat by the edge of their blankets.

Peng Yingqirui was particularly focused, fiddling with the corners of the blanket with his hands.

"Fang Huai, teach me quickly! Tidying blankets is so much fun!"

The night passed without incident.

The new recruits were asleep within five minutes of hitting their beds.

At the company headquarters, Wang Jian and a few non-commissioned officers were eating grilled fish.

"Commander Wang, are you just going to let them off the hook today? ... Not going to teach them how to pack their bags or anything? They're all tired from training today. I just checked, and they're all sleeping soundly. This is the perfect time!"

First Squad Leader Sun Yi rubbed his hands together, a bit impatient.

Wang Jian said helplessly, "How could the company arrange something like this? It has to be a regiment-wide decision! Our company's parallel bar test was moved up today. The regiment's consolidated physical training test is the day after tomorrow. You guys should teach them how to tie their pack ropes these two days, don't let the whole regiment embarrass themselves later!"

Hao Chengbin took a few more bites, spitting out fish bones.

"Right, for you few squad leaders, the vice squad leader... have you picked anyone yet?"

"Isn't it too early? They just arrived, and you want to appoint a vice squad leader?" Sun Yi frowned.

Second Squad Leader Xiang Zhiyuan also shook his head, "The guys in my squad aren't up to par. I don't see anyone suitable to be a vice squad leader, so I'm not planning to appoint one."

Hao Chengbin thought about it and felt it was a bit inappropriate too.

But Wang Jian laughed, "You guys don't have any qualified new recruits yet, but that Fang Huai from Old Hao's squad... he really has the ability. He can be appointed vice squad leader early."

Hao Chengbin had been leading troops for several years, making him a veteran. If he approved of a vice squad leader... when it came to assigning troops, he could speak to the detachment headquarters and ask them to try and get Fang Huai transferred over.

Pan Zhaohui was displeased upon hearing this.

If Old Hao's squad could appoint a vice squad leader early, why couldn't he?

He put down his chopsticks.

"Commander Wang, what do you mean by that? My squad's Zhang Yinzhang isn't good enough? If Old Hao appoints one, I will too!"

Hao Chengbin looked at Wang Jian but then mused, "Forget it, let's observe a bit longer. I don't think he's fully mature yet, he's still a new recruit after all."

Wang Jian probably had intentions of poaching him, so it was best to wait until he contacted Guiyang Special Services first.

As they ate the grilled fish, the new squad leaders were only thinking about how to train the recruits tomorrow, while the veterans each had their own hidden agendas.