Who Can Wear a Watch?

Ten minutes later, at the training ground.

"Ten!"

"Eleven!"

"Maximum five seconds rest!"

As Hao Chengbin urged them on, Fang Huai suddenly pulled himself up, reaching the point where he would swing over the bar, then swung himself off.

"Huh? Why did you get off the bar?"

Fang Huai panted, "I definitely can't do the next one, Squad Leader. I won't be able to swing over."

"That makes it eleven." Hao Chengbin walked over, patted his back, and encouraged him, "I think you have a good chance. Don't pull too fast at the beginning. Take a few seconds to rest after each pull. Pace yourself, practice more, and you'll have a chance."

Fang Huai didn't reply. He knew how difficult this was.

If someone could train this well in the recruit company environment, there wouldn't be so many recruits who couldn't do a single pull-up when they joined their units.

Their schedule was packed from morning till night, and they couldn't fall behind. Morning classes, afternoon classes, evening news, political study. The company commander said they'd have to start copying notes next week.

They even had to fold their blankets now during lunch and practice drill movements. Every day, there were groups of recruits milling around in the hallways, occasionally shouting slogans and doing a few steps of parade march.

The scene was like prisoners on a yard break at a mental hospital.

Sleep time was only from 10 PM to 4 AM, meaning they only had a little over six hours to squeeze in any extra training.

If Kobe Bryant came here and said, "You've seen Los Angeles at 4 AM," all the recruits in the entire recruit company could confidently tell him, "I haven't seen Los Angeles at 4 AM, but I see Guiyang at 4 AM every day. Sometimes I have to see it at 3 AM. If I don't want to see it, the Squad Leader will make me see it."

Kobe could only say something like that because he lacked a Squad Leader.

Fang Huai was still managing, but he still had to march around with the formation every day.

Thinking of this, Fang Huai gritted his teeth.

"Squad Leader, if it's okay, can our squad do evening training from now on?"

Han Yong wasn't here, otherwise, he would have cried very loudly.

He had just escaped the clutches of Squad Leader Pan and now fell into the wolf's den of Deputy Squad Leader Fang.

Hao Chengbin immediately shook his head, "No, we can't have the whole squad join extra training just for you. Training is good, but it can't be excessive. We have to take it step by step... If you want to train, I'll take you out to the training ground for individual practice, half an hour every day, either running or push-ups."

Fang Huai pointed at the sky with a speechless expression.

"Squad Leader, it's cold outside!"

Hao Chengbin frowned, "You can't even endure this little hardship?"

Fang Huai chuckled, "No, I won't feel cold while training, but Squad Leader, what if you catch a cold?"

Hao Chengbin's eyes widened.

"What the hell? Kid, are you looking down on me? Starting today, you'll have extra training alone at night!"

Fang Huai said speechlessly, "...How about next week? I have to work overtime at the company headquarters these past two days."

If any other recruit spoke to the Squad Leader like this, the grass on their grave would already be blooming with lilacs.

But Hao Chengbin actually felt that Fang Huai's thinking was on the same wavelength as his, and his abilities were sufficient. It wasn't bad to have someone in the squad who could communicate and discuss with him on equal footing.

"Alright, then starting next week! Not a single day can be missed! Don't you dare whine then!"

Fang Huai stood at attention, completely satisfied.

"Yes, Squad Leader!"

He was well aware of his habit of slacking off. If he relied on himself to train, he didn't know how long it would take. It was better to provoke the Squad Leader and force himself to train; that was more reliable.

During the last class of the afternoon, Han Yong and Jiang Peng had already sorted out the shift change. Both sides seemed a little eager, and Wang Jian directly led the two to the training ground.

As Han Yong ran over, even Fang Huai could feel how thick the guy's skin was.

He had been leaning on a crutch and limping in the middle of the training ground just moments ago, but now he could run and jump. Everyone on the field was watching him as he came, but the guy seemed completely unfazed.

"Reporting!" Han Yong shouted as he ran to the side of the formation.

Hao Chengbin glanced at him, judging his height. He looked a bit stout from a distance, but not short up close. Without any further ado, he pointed to the spot next to Yue Tao and said, "Fall in! After forming ranks to the right, you'll be fifth."

"Yes!" Han Yong obediently ran to the last position.

Zhao Bing, who was originally fifth, deliberately put his heel down and said stubbornly, "Squad Leader, I think I'm taller than him!"

Everyone stifled their laughter.

Over the past few days, they had discovered that Zhao Bing was also a master of deadpan humor. His Huaihua accent had a natural comedic effect. He usually didn't speak, but when he occasionally uttered something, everyone had to laugh obediently.

Hao Chengbin ignored him and gave the command to "form ranks to the right" again. Han Yong quickly moved in front of Zhao Bing.

That's how it worked in the formation: without a command, no one was allowed to move arbitrarily. New members could only go to the end of the line, and only after the commander gave the command to form ranks to the right could they return to their positions.

Although Han Yong had been out of training for two days, he had clearly been watching others train. He hadn't made any mistakes since arriving, which earned him a lot of goodwill.

"Let me tell you something," Hao Chengbin began, his words like thunder.

"Starting next Monday, after lights out, the whole squad will have a half-hour evening workout."

"Oh my god!" Lu Zexian exclaimed in broken English.

Han Yong's face instantly soured, but he didn't dare say anything.

Hao Chengbin observed Han Yong for a moment, seeing that the guy had no intention of objecting, and then smiled.

"When I'm not here, you'll train yourselves. Every day at 10 PM, I'll take Fang Huai to the training ground for extra practice. If you want to join, you can sign up, but I need to clear it with the company headquarters, so once you sign up, you can't back out! You must attend every day!"

As soon as he said this, those who were relieved let out a sigh, while those with better physical fitness began to consider it cautiously.

"Squad Leader, I'll go!" Zhao Bing raised his hand.

"Me too!"

Yue Tao actually raised his hand as well.

Fang Huai suddenly spoke.

"Chen Zhongqiang, you're small and muscular, you can practice on the parallel bars and the horizontal bar more."

Chen Zhongqiang immediately felt betrayed and looked at Fang Huai with surprise.

Fang Huai chuckled and stopped talking.

But he quietly extended two fingers and wiggled them.

Chen Zhongqiang's eyes lit up, and he immediately wanted to cup his fists at Fang Huai.

Right! After training on the field, it'll be dark and there won't be anyone else around. It's normal for the squad leader to give out a cigarette, right?

What a benefactor!

He quickly shouted, "Squad Leader! I'll go too! I'll go too!"

Fang Huai had completely conned them this time.

He had assessed that only Yue Tao and Chen Zhongqiang, his fellow Fujianese, had the physical conditions most suitable for training.

With the physically weak Jiang Peng gone and the unwilling-to-train Han Yong arriving, they couldn't let the squad's performance drop, could they?

Hao Chengbin saw this small gesture and sneered.

Kid, keep bragging. Let's see how you deliver.

After dinner, as soon as Han Yong returned to the squad, he did something outrageous.

While Fang Huai was helping him pack his camouflage bag, he found that the guy had brought a lot of things, and among them were some items that made his eyes widen.

He couldn't help but pick up the bag and weigh it before putting it down.

Han Yong also remembered something, rummaged through his bag, and took out a packaging box. When he opened it, a Rolex Submariner lay inside.

Fang Huai saw it clearly and then glanced back at Hao Chengbin's hand.

Damn it, it's like Li Kui meeting Li Gui today.

Han Yong stood up with the watch and asked.

"Squad Leader, can our squad wear watches?"

Hao Chengbin couldn't help but laugh at the question. "Does Squad Eight allow watches?"

"No."

Hao Chengbin raised his voice slightly and said, "Then can there be two different rules in one company?"

He said, pointing to the watch on his hand.

"Remember this, in our company, squad leaders wear watches, company commanders wear watches, and political instructors wear watches!"

Everyone couldn't hold back their laughter.

Yue Tao乐道, "Squad Leader, does the Regimental Commander wear a watch?"

Hao Chengbin's mouth twisted. He picked up the peaked cap from the bed and placed it on Yue Tao's head again, speaking each word distinctly.

"Regimental Commander!"

"Wear a watch or not!"

"Your Grandpa!"

"Doesn't care!"

Yue Tao was a true man, always bravely charging forward even after being beaten repeatedly.

Han Yong was also happy to see this. This squad was clearly much more relaxed than Squad Eight.

Then his eyes shifted, and with a look of regret, he took the watch and its box to Hao Chengbin and handed it to him.

"Squad Leader... I guess I can't wear it either, can I give it to you?"

The entire squad was stunned.

This is f***ing awesome, openly giving gifts!

Hao Chengbin was stunned at first, then he took a closer look.

Rolex.

Then he looked at the watch on his own wrist.

Rolex.

They looked quite similar...

Han Yong leaned in to get a better look.

"Squad Leader... yours looks fake..."

The word "looks" was Han Yong being very polite.

Fake goods had several tiers, from high to low: original production, replica, 1:1, Grade A, Grade B.

Hao Chengbin's, at the very least, could start a new tier below: "Grade C."

All the recruits in the squad were quietly watching the spectacle.

Hao Chengbin immediately felt a bit embarrassed: "What do you mean fake? My girlfriend bought this for me in Shanghai! Shanghai!"

Fang Huai coughed: "Cough, Han Yong, that's not a Rolex the squad leader is wearing, it's another brand. Also, giving your forty or fifty thousand yuan watch to the squad leader, isn't that bribery! Quickly put it away! And can you say this in front of us? If you're going to give it, you should do it quietly!"

The recruits chuckled at Fang Huai's attempt to smooth things over, and the awkwardness was immediately resolved.

Fang Huai was also reminding Old Hao not to argue, that the other guy's watch was the real deal, worth tens of thousands.

Hao Chengbin also coughed at the same time, pulling his hand back, and said sternly: "Han Yong! Don't pull these stunts with me again! Once you're in the recruit company, understand the rules! Quickly put it away!"

Awkward.

This situation had truly touched the limits of his knowledge.

When his girlfriend gave him that watch, she said it was a Rolex, a big international brand, and he had even shown it off to many of his comrades.

Most of them were kids from the countryside, and the conditions in the towns weren't great either, who would know about this?

When his girlfriend said she bought it for over eight hundred yuan, he thought Rolexes could be bargained down!

Hao Chengbin gritted his teeth. Damn it, if it's fake, it's fake, so what!

He immediately started talking nonsense, declaring: "This is a domestic brand! You wouldn't understand! ... Never mind, I'll take it to the company headquarters for safekeeping for you!"

A watch worth tens of thousands, if it was just put in a camouflage bag like that, it would be a real problem if it got stolen.

Hao Chengbin said, took the watch, and walked straight out the door.

The gift wasn't given, and Han Yong sighed, then suddenly turned to look at Fang Huai.

"Squad Leader Fang, you're the deputy squad leader, can you wear a watch? Otherwise, I'll ask for it back and give it to you?"

Fang Huai's eyes widened, and he quickly shook his head.

Oh my god, this is testing my party spirit.

Was this testing his party spirit?

Fang Huai took a deep breath, putting on a fierce but weak front: "I'm warning you, Han Yong, even if your family is rich and you don't care about money, this kind of talk... you're not allowed to say it again!"

If he said it again... he wouldn't be able to hold back anymore!