Appointment at Two-Thirty in the Morning

Fang Huai had no choice but to come out.

He felt an immense strangeness during this reinforcement, almost losing control just now.

His scalp itched terribly, as if a new brain was growing.

And it wasn't just his scalp; his whole body felt itchy.

Fang Huai quickly went to the window at the end of the corridor, stood there, and took a couple of breaths of fresh air, twisting his body unnaturally.

Damn! The independent reward is truly different, the reaction is too intense!

Pleasure mixed with pain.

About two to three meters outside the window, a bird perched on a dead branch pecked at something. The entire action, until it swallowed, became gradually clearer in his eyes.

For the first time, Fang Huai felt his abilities improving so significantly. He felt that if that bird flew past him, he could catch it with just one reach.

When the uncomfortable feeling passed, Fang Huai, not entirely convinced, took out a wad of toilet paper from his pocket and pinched off a tiny paper ball.

He tossed it into the air.

Reached out.

His index and middle fingers accurately pinched it.

Not only faster, but also more precise.

Thinking this, Fang Huai felt a sense of foreboding and carefully sensed himself.

Phew... I feel okay.

If his whole body reacted this fast, his life would be over.

Sigh, what time is it, still thinking about these things.

Fang Huai mocked himself, quickly went to the washroom, got a basin of water, washed his face and feet, and returned to the squad.

As he entered, he ran into a group of new recruits coming out of the squad room, their faces filled with the satisfaction of having found a good leader. Even Peng Yingqirui and Zhao Bing were grinning.

As soon as he entered the squad room, Hao Chengbin tossed him a candy.

Alps.

The veteran squad leader had a firm grip on the new recruits' needs. He gave everyone a treat; if he didn't hand out cigarettes, he gave out candy.

"Thanks, Squad Leader. Can I eat it tomorrow? I just brushed my teeth," Fang Huai said, taking the candy.

"Mm, get some good sleep tonight. And don't worry about the physical examination; it's nothing serious. Even if there are real problems, you're already enlisted, and I can speak for you at the regimental headquarters," Hao Chengbin said. Without waiting for Fang Huai's response, he took his basin and left the squad room.

Fang Huai felt a surge of emotion.

The veteran squad leader is indeed the veteran squad leader. Even his pep talks are so resolute.

2:20 AM, outside the company headquarters.

As Sun Yi, the First Squad Leader, stepped out, he couldn't help but cover his nose.

"Holy crap... this corridor, it's toxic! Smells like hydrogen sulfide leak!" Sun Yi grumbled.

Wang Jian pointed outside and laughed, "You guys finally smell it? Eighty to ninety pairs of shoes, all lined up at the door. Every night when I walk past here, it's like a chemical weapon!"

Just as he finished speaking, someone from the Seventh Squad came out, covering their mouth in the same way.

"Damn, that's foul!"

"Squad Leader Wang, why are you out so early today?"

"No choice!" Wang Jian whispered, but his voice was still quite loud.

"Do you know when the earliest new recruits wake up? The regimental headquarters said some new recruits in the Fifth Company wake up at three AM! Afraid of being scolded by their squad leader for oversleeping, they sleep in the corridor wrapped in their blankets. Yesterday, it startled Staff Officer Zhang when he returned!"

"It's still an emergency assembly at 3:30 AM like before, and some new recruits are already awake!"

The Seventh Squad Leader stared, then repeated, "Damn... that's foul!"

Pan Zhaohui also came out of his squad room, yawning. He took a breath, then closed his mouth.

He sniffed, his brow furrowing deeper.

"Damn! Why does it stink so much!"

"Old Pan, keep your voice down! The whistle hasn't blown yet, only eight minutes left!"

Pan Zhaohui waved his hand, fanning the air.

"It's fine! I saw them; every single one of them is sleeping like a pig! ... Huh? Hao Chengbin isn't out?"

"He said he's in the squad room, watching the new recruits' reactions."

The First Squad Leader suddenly understood, "Veteran Squad Leader, huh! That's experience! I'm going back to the squad room too! I'll watch the show later!"

Pan Zhaohui glanced at his own squad's door, a look of doubt in his eyes.

In the Ninth Squad room, Hao Chengbin, wearing his service uniform, leaned against the wall, his feet resting on the bed frame, quietly watching the new recruits in his squad sleep soundly.

The door creaked open, and Pan Zhaohui poked his head in. Hao Chengbin glanced over and nodded at him.

Pan Zhaohui surveyed the room and, seeing Yue Tao fast asleep in just cotton pants, with his quilt clamped between his legs and his bare backside exposed, finally closed the door with a sense of relief.

Hao Chengbin couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.

This Old Pan, he's worried I'll cheat?

What kind of soldier is he, lacking this basic awareness?

Forget deliberately reminding them, even if no one woke up today, I wouldn't be the one to rouse them. I want to see just how slow this bunch of new recruits can be.

In the room, Jiang Peng's snores ebbed and flowed. Chen Zhongqiang provided emergency backup whenever Jiang Peng's snores weakened, filling the room with a chorus of snoring.

Peng Yingqirui slept like the dead, his quilt pulled over his head.

Zhao Bing was in a daze, sleeping on his stomach, and occasionally let out a snore.

Fang Huai, by the window, tossed and turned restlessly.

Hao Chengbin checked the time again.

Perfect. Exactly 2:30 AM.

Through the crack in the door, the light from the hallway suddenly extinguished.

"Beep beep beep beep beep..." A series of short, sharp whistles echoed throughout the building.

The Chief of Staff's resonant voice followed.

"Attention, entire regiment! Assemble downstairs within five minutes!!"

Wang Jian's voice was even clearer.

"Seventh Company! Downstairs! Emergency assembly!"

"Bang!" A figure shot up into a sitting position.

Peng Yingqirui.

First bewildered, then furious.

"What the hell! It's not even dawn! What's going on!"

After saying that, he immediately flopped back down.

Fang Huai was already on his feet, quickly rummaging through his bag on the upper bunk, then shouting, "Emergency assembly! Get up! Emergency assembly!"

Only then did the room begin to descend into chaos.

"Damn..."

"What is it, what's this emergency assembly?"

"Quick, quick, quick, get up! Fang Huai, can you pass me my bag! It's the fourth one down!"

Whoosh! A bag flew onto Zhao Bing's bed.

"Fang Huai, can you grab mine too!"

"Me too! It's the second one from the left on the top!"

Fang Huai was closest to the camouflage bags, and for a moment, he seemed to become everyone's personal delivery service.

After tossing the third one, Fang Huai stopped caring. While packing his own bag, he yelled, "Get your own bags yourselves!"

Peng Yingqirui, still groggy, sat up again.

"Why are you guys grabbing your bags?"

"Idiot! Pack your bags! Emergency assembly!!" Hao Chengbin, seeing his sluggishness, couldn't help but curse.

He was the first one up, and everyone else was already out of bed, but he hadn't moved yet!

Fang Huai's first instinct was to find his own backpack, not to remind his comrades.

Apart from this... in other aspects, he was already up to the standard of an outstanding soldier. While others were still fumbling for backpack straps inside their bags, he had already folded his quilt, secured his straps, and started tying the ropes.

16 seconds.

From the start of the rope-tying action to its completion, considering the dim lighting conditions at night, it was quite fast.

"Holy crap, where are my pants? Jiang Peng, did you put on my pants?" Liu Yue's voice was frantic.

"Huh? How could that be? I'm wearing my own! Look again!"

"Turn on the lights! Turn on the lights!" Liu Yue was getting anxious.

"Turn on what lights? They've cut the power in the hallway! There's no electricity!"

Fang Huai had already finished packing his bag and rushed over, helping Liu Yue search. In just a few moments, Fang Huai spotted a pair of pants by Jiang Peng's bed.

He didn't say anything, just tossed the pants to Liu Yue.

"Quick, wear his!"

Fang Huai didn't have time to scold Jiang Peng because the moment he woke up, he had already received a system mission.

During the emergency assembly, help all new recruits in the squad keep up.

At this moment, Hao Chengbin suddenly spoke with his arms crossed.

"Fang Huai, don't worry about them! Go down first. The Chief of Staff is downstairs, get a good ranking!"

If Fang Huai went out now, he would likely be first in the entire company. Making a good impression on the Chief of Staff would make it easier for him to ask for that Outstanding Soldier award later.

However, Hao Chengbin didn't know that the Chief of Staff had already dismissed Fang Huai in his mind.

Fang Huai was stunned when he heard this, then put on a look of righteous indignation.

"Squad Leader... how can an individual ranking be more important than the class ranking! I'll help them first!"

I appreciate the thought, buddy, but the Chief of Staff is just a passerby in life, rewards are the ultimate destination.

Hao Chengbin was a little moved!

This kid, he thought his teamwork was a bit lacking just now, alas! He misjudged him!

Yes, he was more perceptive than he thought. In this situation, one had to take care of themselves first before they could help others.

Fang Huai aimed for the last-ranked Peng Yingqirui, teaching him how to pack his rucksack as if taking a child to school, adjusting the straps.

"Yes, it goes through here!"

Peng Yingqirui tied the last knot and realized something was wrong: "But I saw the Squad Leader tie three horizontal knots!"

"Two horizontal knots are fine! As long as the rucksack straps don't sag, tuck in the extra rope, arrange it neatly, don't change it! There's no time!"

"Put on your clothes and pants, and come down directly!"

A medical miracle.

In one minute, Fang Huai had managed to get Peng Yingqirui, this semi-crippled child, out of bed successfully.

Then his gaze swept left and right again, and he found a new person to help: Liu Yue.

Hao Chengbin finally began to chime in with reminders.

"I taught you how to pack your rucksacks yesterday! Is this how you do it? Didn't you all tell me you understood? How are you doing it now? Lu Zexian, how are you packing your rucksack while holding it? Flip it over! Flip the side!"

Fang Huai quickly instructed Liu Yue, then ran to Lu Zexian and corrected his mistakes.

"Untie the knot in your hand first! Flip those two ropes over before tying them! Tighten it! Tighter!"

Hao Chengbin saw the chaos inside and opened the door: "Those who have packed their rucksacks, put on your hats and belts, and assemble outside the door! Don't crowd inside!"

Originally, Hao Chengbin had planned to let these people fend for themselves today and then come back to teach them a harsh lesson. After all, he knew what kind of results these people could achieve. As their squad leader, he couldn't go up to help. Instead of struggling, it was better to watch coldly.

Since he was going to lose his temper later, he had to start by staying silent and gathering his energy, preparing to unleash his fury.

But seeing Fang Huai dragging and pulling, he actually managed to speed up the slowest few people in the class, and his thoughts began to change.

More than five minutes after the whistle blew, the Ninth Squad was all out.

"Go downstairs quickly! Line up, don't scatter! Fang Huai, lead the way downstairs!" Hao Chengbin called out one last time, hands behind his back, and went downstairs.

Other nearby squad leaders stood by their respective class doors, glaring at the new recruits of the Ninth Squad lining up. Fang Huai, from the Ninth Squad, stood at the entrance, helping them organize their rucksack straps one by one before leading them down.

The squad leaders became even more anxious.

They were being left far behind by the Ninth Squad!

Squad Leader Hao, could he have cheated?

"Quick, quick, quick! Those who have packed their rucksacks, hurry down and find our class's assembly point!"

"Line up! Go downstairs in an orderly fashion to the right!"

With Hao Chengbin's clear instructions, Fang Huai stepped aside, directing everyone to maintain their formation and not to blend in with the scattered soldiers rushing downstairs.

When they reached the entrance, the complete formation of the Ninth Squad caught the attention of the Chief of Staff standing by the door.

The new recruit next to him, who was giving directions and had no insignia, was even more puzzling.

"That soldier! The one leading the team! Why is a new recruit leading the team?"

Fang Huai quickly stopped.

Turning his head, the Chief of Staff recognized him and clicked his tongue.

"Young man, why is it you? Where is your Squad Leader Hao?"

"Here!"

A loud response came from the front of the new recruit formation at the door.

Hao Chengbin hurried over and said.

"Chief of Staff, this is our class's Assistant Squad Leader! I had him lead the team!"

"Oh?"

The Chief of Staff sounded confused, but didn't ask further. Whether an assistant squad leader was appointed or not was the squad leader's own business. Although most appointments were late, everyone could walk their own path even if they walked the same road.

He just didn't expect that this weak kid who had been unconscious for so long could also be an assistant squad leader.

The Chief of Staff didn't waste any more time and nodded, saying.

"Alright, go! Your formation was neat and orderly, and you weren't slow either. Good job! Hao Chengbin, you've handled these new recruits well this time!"

In reality, they had definitely exceeded five minutes.

It was just a case of picking the tallest person in a group of short ones.

For the first emergency assembly for new recruits, managing to get the entire squad down in seven or eight minutes, with their formations intact and not a single backpack out of place, or even recruits carrying their blankets directly, was indeed quite good.

When Hao Chengbin said, "Our squad's assistant squad leader," the Chief of Staff remained unfazed, but the new recruits' hearts were in turmoil.

Assistant Squad Leader... it was decided just like that?

Fang Huai's heart also surged with excitement upon hearing this, and he intently watched for any system prompts to appear.

This night, double happiness had arrived!

What functions did this new branch system have?

If there were no military merit points... could it offer some trial items or something?

Ninth Squad merged into the formation and quickly reorganized.

Although the new recruits of Ninth Squad had arrived late, after reorganizing, they found their squad to be the longest and most complete, which made them feel quite uplifted.

Seeing that people were still continuously coming down, Hao Chengbin suddenly turned around and faced the crowd of new recruits behind him.

"Did you all hear that just now? Fang Huai will be Ninth Squad's assistant squad leader from now on!"

His voice was not quiet, and new recruits from several nearby squads and the neighboring Eighth Company all looked over upon hearing him.

Damn, on the fourth day, and they already have an assistant squad leader?

Many people in Seventh Company also looked at Jiang Peng, whose expression was grim.

This kid was Ninth Squad's "social butterfly," usually chatting with people from other squads. After a few days, he had become quite friendly with many of them. Wasn't the assistant squad leader of Ninth Squad supposed to be him?

Fang Huai was, of course, also famous.

His performance on the parallel bars and horizontal bar... it wasn't strange for him to become the assistant squad leader, but many people's curiosity was piqued.

That kid Jiang Peng wasn't being honest. He had said just two days ago that he would run for assistant squad leader! He had been so boastful, and now he had messed up?

The "Supreme Emperor" of Ninth Squad completely ignored him!

Jiang Peng also felt quite wronged. He hadn't understood the situation when he arrived and had brought the methods of running for student union president in university. He had intended to influence public opinion from both internal and external perspectives, but the new recruit regiment operated on absolute control by the squad leader.

The Chairman didn't even hold a meeting and simply issued a verbal order, and the CEO was set!

Fang Huai truly didn't have the time to concern himself with these petty thoughts.

His mood felt as if he had just been doused by the cold rain of February.

[Merit Exchange Shop unlocked.]

As Fang Huai's thoughts moved, a large amount of reward information appeared in his mind.

Looking towards the end, there were only two rewards related to physical enhancement: Core Strength Enhancement and Immunity Enhancement.

Both required Third Class Merit to redeem!

The rest were all knowledge! Different types of knowledge, requiring different Military Merit Points to redeem!

Firefighting professional categories, medical categories, language categories, business categories, music categories... at least seventy to eighty types!

The sheer variety was insane!

A perfectly good merit system, instead of selling combat power, was now selling ink!

Fang Huai stared blankly at the large slogans on the wall of the New Recruit Building.

Learning is necessary to improve the quality of soldiers!

Learning is necessary to fulfill the mission of the army!

Learning is necessary to strengthen national defense!

This system had a very strong political awareness!