Bring Happiness to Your Squadron!

Soon, the whistle blew, signaling the start of the interior hygiene inspection.

Not long after, the sound of voices drifted in from the hallway.

"Reporting for duty, sir!" the new recruits began to greet them.

The communal washroom was packed, filled with new recruits cramming at the last minute.

The Chief of Staff, wearing white gloves, went from squad to squad, touching everything. Under the beds, at the feet of tables, the inner frames of the beds, door gaps, window frames, outside window sills – all the hygiene blind spots. Wherever his gloves passed, the traces of laziness were revealed.

The staff officers from the Regimental Headquarters followed behind, taking notes and deducting points from each squad.

They had been penalized almost every step of the way. People downstairs had called to say that one squad on the first floor, the first to be inspected, had completely blackened one of the Chief of Staff's gloves. This had caused a furious outburst, a torrent of curses, and he had even smeared the soiled glove onto the face of that squad leader.

That's why Wang Jian, upon receiving the news, had ordered all squad leaders to return to their squads immediately and arrange for another cleaning.

Actually, everyone had cleaned, but the Chief of Staff had come with the intention of establishing strict rules today, so the inspection was naturally much more rigorous. A normal level of cleaning would definitely not pass.

Hearing the Chief of Staff's voice, Hao Chengbin also quickly got up and went out, following behind the inspection team.

The time was too short, and there was no time for detailed arrangements. Everyone cleaned in a hurry, and there weren't enough cleaning tools. Dust was found in many blind spots in every squad.

Squad One was criticized, Squad Two was criticized, Squad Three was criticized...

Until the Chief of Staff was roaring in the next room.

"Pan Zhaohui! Did your squad use a water gun to clean? It's all wet! Go buy me a new pair of gloves!"

"Ren Ri Long, hard to describe!"

(ps. Ri Long: means stupid, idiotic. Extended usage: Ri Long Bao.)

The voice grew closer.

"Your company is worse than the Fifth Company downstairs! At least they knew to wipe the windows! I think you guys..."

The door opened, and a dark face appeared.

The new recruits of Squad Nine had already arranged their neatly made beds, presenting them for the Chief of Staff's inspection for two seconds before they all stood up in unison and shouted loudly.

"Reporting for duty, sir!"

The Chief of Staff noticed there were no traces of mopping in the squad and was indeed taken aback.

"Well now, Hao Chengbin, your squad isn't even putting on a show of effort? Looking down on me?"

Although there was the solemnity of the military, there wasn't much formality between the leaders and the veteran soldiers. They often joked around.

Hao Chengbin's skill in playing dumb was also perfected. He immediately put on a serious expression and said, "Fang Huai, didn't I arrange it this morning? Haven't we cleaned the squad?"

Fang Huai cooperated skillfully, "Reporting, Squad Leader! We clean every day!"

The implication was clear: we maintain this regularly! Do we need to cram at the last minute?

No!

The Chief of Staff was a bit unconvinced by this.

He immediately changed into a fresh pair of gloves.

The intention was also clear: don't try to fool me. These gloves are new, and any dust he found would be from their squad.

As a result, "lion's droppings are better than bear's droppings."

The Chief of Staff felt around. The room, which these 10 people had cleaned together diligently, truly gave him many surprises.

He even felt along the inner side of the bed frame twice. Aside from a bit of screw oil, there wasn't much dust.

The only thing on the floor were the footprints they had just made; otherwise, there really weren't any particularly dirty blind spots.

He then looked at the beds.

The edges and corners showed that they had been tidied.

The Chief of Staff's expression softened into a smile. "Alright, you finally didn't disappoint me completely."

Wang Jian also felt a bit relieved.

At last, there was one squad he could be proud of.

After the Chief of Staff left with his hands behind his back, Wang Jian playfully punched Hao Chengbin in the chest.

"Squad Leader Hao, not bad! You saw through the Chief of Staff's feint today? You didn't even tell us? I was rushing to call you for a meeting just now to discuss the morning training..."

Wang Jian glanced at the new recruits inside and then paused.

Hao Chengbin immediately spread his hands.

"How would I know? If I knew, wouldn't I have told you? He asked us to meet to discuss new recruit education, thinking he could pull a surprise show of force while we were away!

Our squad... we just got lucky today! When I went to the company headquarters, I thought Old Hei might check on the squads to get them to tidy up! I didn't expect them to actually clean it up!"

He said this, smiling at the new recruits.

"Good job! You performed well today!"

Everyone chuckled. Fang Huai turned his head, ready to hide his merits and fame.

But Jiang Peng loudly declared, "Squad Leader, Company Commander, the Chief of Staff said he'd visit this morning, so we hurried back and cleaned everything up! ...Everyone cleaned it together!"

His words made it sound like he'd come up with the idea, and everyone else had done the work, yet it also sounded like the truth, making it hard to refute.

If this guy became a minor leader in any unit, he'd definitely be the type to hog all the credit while his subordinates got none.

However, he was overthinking it. Lu Zexian wasn't going to indulge him at all.

"If Fang Huai hadn't reminded us today, pointed out the hidden dirty spots, and assigned tasks, how could we have cleaned so thoroughly? Jiang Peng, your bed frame was the dirtiest! If we hadn't cleaned it just now, you definitely would have been reprimanded!"

Jiang Peng's face fell. He was racking his brain, trying to figure out what he'd done to offend Lu Zexian.

Hao Chengbin and Wang Jian looked enlightened.

So it was Fang Huai.

That made sense.

Training started with a whistle at 9 AM, and Fang Huai's prediction was successful again.

The first physical training class this morning was a run for the entire regiment.

The slogans were unified.

"Wasting is shameful, saving is glorious!"

This physical training class was exceptionally long. The mountain-shattering, tsunami-like shouts echoed across the training ground for a considerable time.

The pace of the march was noticeably faster than the morning exercise. After half an hour, they had run more than six laps.

Many new recruits were exhausted and kept shouting, "Report!" but were pushed forward by the momentum of the group.

"What are you reporting for? Where's the energy you had fighting for steamed buns this morning? I'm helping you digest!"

"Run faster! You've only run a kilometer! You're already giving up?"

The squad leaders yelled and cajoled from the sidelines.

The new recruits groaned in unison, gasping for breath.

"This... one lap is 400 meters... Squad Leader! We've run... seven laps!"

"Who said one lap is 400 meters? Each lap is only 200 meters!"

Soon, people started falling out of formation. No matter how much the squad leaders yelled, they could only move forward slowly, gasping for air.

The squad leaders directly pulled these individuals back into the formation.

"Hurry up and run! Stop playing dead!"

It looked a bit like sheepdogs herding sheep.

Fang Huai felt alright. With the Heart Enhancement buff, his physical recovery speed could basically keep up with this intensity of running. Apart from sore legs, he wasn't in too bad a state.

Finally, at the 40-minute mark, someone fainted.

The squad leaders rushed forward to clear a space in the crowd and helped the person out, preventing a stampede.

The company cadres arranged for someone to escort them to the infirmary.

The entire formation stopped exactly one hour later.

Three people in the entire regiment fainted.

Seventh Company had one lucky individual: the wealthy second-generation fatty who brought over 300,000 yuan when he enlisted, Han Yong.

The entire company was gathered in a clear area.

The sounds of dry heaving and gasping for air were everywhere.

Peng Yingqirui from the Ninth Squad, who had the worst stamina, was so exhausted he was rolling his eyes, wishing he could lie down on the cold ground to rest. If he hadn't been so light, he probably would have collapsed before Han Yong.

However, Zhao Bing, Hu Deli, and Zhang Yinzhang from the adjacent Eighth Squad, among others, were still chatting casually.

This same intensity of exercise starkly highlighted the physical fitness differences among the new recruits.

The squad leaders brought over several thick mats from somewhere and had the new recruits who looked the most uncomfortable lie down. They then demonstrated leg stretches for the others.

The recruits lying down trusted their squad leaders and lifted their legs, handing them over to the smiling instructors.

The leg stretches felt incredibly comfortable.

So incredibly comfortable.

Peng Yingqirui also groaned along with them.

The squad leaders first demonstrated gently: "When stretching your legs, do it step by step... If you feel the other person exerting force, ease up a bit."

The recruits lying down looked blissful: "Ooooh..."

"Relax for a moment, then apply a bit more force."

The recruits felt something was wrong. "Ow! That hurts a bit, Sergeant!"

The sergeants chuckled. "Then relax a little... now, push harder!"

The recruits' eyes widened. "Oww!!!"

The sergeants finally laughed. "Press down more, use your strength! Straighten your legs! Resist, use your legs to resist me! 20 seconds!"

The recruits thrashed on the ground, crying out, "Ow! Ow! Sergeant, no more! No more! I can't hold on!!"

"A man never says he can't!"

"Oww!!! ...Mmm... Huh?... This feels so good..."

Anyone who didn't know what was going on would think something else entirely.

Twenty minutes later, the entire training ground was filled with recruits groaning "Mmm mmm mmm" after a full-body stretching and relaxation session.

Wang Jian stood smiling at the front of the formation.

"This full-body stretch and relaxation, feels good, right?"

"It feels good, Company Commander..."

"Alright, this stretching routine has been formatted into a PDF by the General Staff and distributed. From now on, you'll need to teach it yourselves and bring this happiness to your own companies!"

The training session ended early at 10:30 AM. They returned to their barracks for collective cleaning.

The entire regiment became busy, and amidst this busyness, the recruits gradually shed their childish mentality of being praised as sensible just for washing a dish at home.

Although Ninth Squad's cleaning passed inspection, Hao Chengbin didn't let the recruits rest. Instead, he had Fang Huai lead them in reading regulations and rules.

At lunchtime, the Chief of Staff gave a twenty-minute speech at the entrance of the mess hall, covering everything from what the army is to the requirements of the "Four Haves" soldier, making everyone's mouths water.

In summary, it boiled down to the most repeated phrases.

"You company commanders and sergeants, don't just focus on training; first, teach them how to be soldiers!"

"To learn to be a soldier, first learn to be a person!"

"Be a soldier for a while, be a person for a lifetime!"

These words, let alone the recruits, even the sergeants in their early twenties and the young officers found abstract.

Fang Huai, however, understood.

When coming to the army, the extent of one's gains depends on how much this experience changes one's entire life.

Those who have truly undergone a spiritual baptism in the army will experience many changes in willpower, execution, values, and ideals. In contrast, their time in the army is very short, but the "post-army era" is very long, enough to influence a lifetime.

Some people treat their time in the army as a long vacation, and that's it; at most, it's a life experience they talk about; others see it as a transition point after university, moving on to jobs in society; still others embark on a new life, leaving behind their former idle selves.

In the afternoon.

A formal drill class.

Hao Chengbin wore his hat and belt, his expression serious.

The recruits below were also wearing winter training uniforms, their faces flushed red from the sudden drop in temperature and gusts of wind.

"Look right! Look forward! Look right! Look forward! At ease!"

Hao Chengbin completed the formation adjustments twice, saluted, and continued speaking loudly.

"Time: One morning.

Location: This training ground.

Subject: Individual soldier's unarmed drill movements.

Content: At ease, attention; standing at ease, attention; halts and turns.

Requirements: Comrades, be serious and attentive, listen clearly to the commander's commands, and execute movements uniformly.

Are the above requirements clear to the comrades!"

The recruits snapped to attention and shouted in unison.

"Clear!"

"At ease!"

"Let me explain!"

The recruits stood at attention again.

"At ease!"

After Hao Chengbin shouted, he finally relaxed his posture and strolled back and forth in front of the formation with his hands behind his back.

"The opening remarks for drill training are very detailed; they are meant to make you understand the solemnity and seriousness of drill discipline!

Today's morning content! At ease, attention; standing at ease, attention; halts and turns, all involve standing at attention!"

"Attention, that means returning to the military posture!

The key points of the movement were explained yesterday!

Upon hearing the command 'Attention,' bring your heels together, with your toes spread about 60 degrees! Keep your legs straight, and your inner knees pressed together! Squeeze them tight!"

Hao Chengbin unbuckled his belt, holding it in his hand, and would occasionally tap someone's knee or adjust someone's stomach.

"Slightly tuck in your lower abdomen, and stand tall naturally!

...Little sprout, why are you hunching your shoulders? Are you lactating? Going to feed a baby? Or do you have relatives among the ants on the ground?"

Everyone stifled their laughter.

"Laugh! Whoever laughs now, I'll make them come up and do it alone!

Keep your upper body upright, leaning slightly forward!

Shift most of your body weight to the balls of your feet, keep your shoulders level, slightly pulled back, let your arms hang naturally straight, fingers together, slightly bent, with the tip of your thumb touching the second joint of your index finger, and your middle finger aligned with the seam of your trousers!

Keep your head straight! Your neck straight! Your mouth closed! Tuck your chin slightly, and look straight ahead!

Why are soldiers so easily recognizable when they're out and about?

Three 'xing'!

A robust physique! A sharp haircut! A tall and straight posture!

The third 'xing' refers to the 'xing' of appearance! Standing at attention is about cultivating your appearance!

We prefer to call it bearing! This word truly embodies a soldier's pride!"

As Fang Huai listened to Hao Chengbin's nagging, his body remained tense. He silently felt the differences in his various body parts and organs, planning the order for his future physical enhancements.

The benefits of Heart Enhancement were already quite apparent. Besides finding his morning runs easier, his mental clarity had significantly improved, and his breathing felt smoother.

Of course, quitting smoking also played a part. Since he hadn't been smoking heavily, the coughing and phlegm he used to experience every morning had decreased.

His legs... felt a bit weak, and they ached after standing for a while.

The basic physical training subjects in the recruit regiment included: Parallel Bars, Horizontal Bar, 3km run, and 100m dash.

Basic training consisted of: push-ups, sit-ups, and squats.

After being assigned to a unit, the advanced training would add Exercise Two for the Horizontal Bar, and the 3km run would become a 5km run.

Once he mastered these, the only things left to improve would be his lungs, legs, and grip strength. For stamina, if he didn't receive any system rewards, he'd train himself. With internal organ enhancements, improving his overall physical function shouldn't be too difficult.

Fang Huai was lost in thought when the back of his knee was suddenly nudged. He quickly tried to push back, but it was too late, and his leg bent slightly.

Immediately, he felt a rap on the back of his head.

Hao Chengbin's stern voice simultaneously boomed into his ears: "Don't get distracted during training! Otherwise, you'll end up like this!"

Seeing Fang Huai get hit, everyone else felt a sense of balance.

So Fang Huai wasn't infallible!

Even the crown prince is punished for breaking the law, just like a commoner!

Unknowingly, the new recruits had come to accept Fang Huai's status as the "Crown Prince."

Only Jiang Peng felt that he was at least a prince qualified to usurp the throne.