Relationship Soldier, I'll Make You Serve

The train station.

The People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police formations were clearly distinct.

PLA officers and the soldiers picking up new recruits had helped the recruits repack their bags at the People's Armed Forces Department. The blankets were folded neatly, with shoes placed on top, and their camouflage uniforms were different from the People's Armed Police.

The People's Armed Police internal security forces also tidied up their blankets.

Only two people came to pick up the firefighters. Their backpacks were packed according to the People's Armed Forces Department's instructions. Some had stuffed their blankets into their backpacks, while others hadn't. Their camouflage bags were bulging, and they carried them in their hands, looking quite disorganized.

While waiting to board the train, everyone seemed to notice this awkwardness. On this train from Chongqing to Guiyang, there were only about ten firefighters. They stood in a separate line, and the difference was very obvious.

This year, the Guiyang Fire Department did not recruit in Chongqing. Their main recruitment areas were Hunan, Hubei, and Guizhou itself.

So, these ten or so people were probably all connected through relationships.

Those who knew the situation acted nonchalant and resigned to their fate, thinking they were going to be pampered and look cool and unique. The more worldly ones quietly inquired about others' connections.

Those who were unclear looked around, their faces showing envy for the upright posture of soldiers from other units, thinking that was what a proper army looked like.

Fortunately, the leading officers and non-commissioned officers noticed the problem, discussed it, and walked over to start organizing the group in low voices.

"Dress forward!"

"I'm Liu Mangong! Your leading officer, and behind me is Squad Leader Hao Chengbin!"

As Liu Mangong spoke, he gestured to the side.

"Seventh person, move in a bit, adjust the ones behind!"

Liu Mangong spoke at the front, while Hao Chengbin behind him helped each person adjust their straps, chatting softly.

"You need to listen carefully. This is your new recruit regiment's Deputy Chief of Staff Liu. We'll be together for three months. If anything happens on the train, call me. Don't wander off... My name is Hao Chengbin, 'Cheng' for literary and 'Bin' for military. Just call me Brother Bin."

Fang Huai chuckled as he heard this, recalling many past events.

Hao Chengbin was indeed mischievous and was acting up again.

This guy really liked to mess with the connected recruits.

If these new recruits really called him Brother Bin, they probably wouldn't even get a moment of warmth on their first night in the recruit regiment.

Most of the people leading the troops were first-term non-commissioned officers, corporals, and squad leaders who would call him Squad Leader Hao. You call him Brother Bin?

Have you ever experienced the passionate heat of 3:30 AM?

"Brother Bin, do we firefighters get guns?" A guy behind Fang Huai, with rolling eyes, raised his hand.

"We get cannons, water cannons," Hao Chengbin said with a chuckle.

That guy was also mischievous and immediately let out a mournful sound.

"It's over, this military service is wasted!"

Laughter erupted from behind.

Hao Chengbin stared at the new recruit for a moment, then walked forward with a smile and patted him on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, this military service definitely won't be wasted!"

The laughter behind them immediately stopped.

After Hao Chengbin walked to the front, the back of the formation began to mock the guy who had just spoken.

"Brother, you're going to have a good time in the army! That's an old squad leader, he's definitely going to mess with you!"

That guy was quite bold: "What's there to be afraid of? He's just scaring you! My uncle is also a deputy chief of staff in the detachment! A Major! He said that Captain is the deputy chief of staff of the regiment, I don't believe it!"

Those behind who were watching the excitement and not afraid of trouble immediately gave him a thumbs-up.

"Then ask him later, see if he's in your uncle's detachment, maybe he'll really look out for you!"

"No talking in the back! Follow the last column on the right to board!"

The adjacent formation began to move.

Hao Chengbin walked to the outside of the formation, becoming much more serious, and his voice became louder.

"Listen to my command, forward march!"

On the train, some played Dou Dizhu, some chatted, and those who craved a cigarette went to the smoking area for a few puffs, chatting and bragging about how good their respective units were.

"I heard from my squad leader that our equipment is the best, and you guys in the People's Armed Police are a bit behind."

"We'll be managing prisoners in the future!"

The firefighters walked over leisurely, their faces looking a bit cautious: "I heard from my brother that you PLA and internal security forces have a lot of people, so your food expenses are lower. Our fire department only has a dozen people in a company, so our food expenses are the highest! No matter how good your equipment is, can you handle it? Good food is what really matters! And I heard we get a higher hazardous duty allowance, so my salary will be a few hundred more than yours in the future!"

As soon as this was said, the PLA and the People's Armed Police internal security forces fell silent.

When joining the army, everyone talks about defending the country, and you're talking about food and salary?

Damn it! Jealousy!

After a long pause, someone managed to blurt out: "Your casualty rate is the highest, you earn it with your lives!"

Fang Huai sat by the window, quietly pondering how to get a mission and see what rewards this system offered.

He had already walked around the carriage once with no reaction. He had mentally recited the system's name countless times, but it still hadn't appeared.

If this system had no money-making function, he would have to find a way to get assigned to Guiyang, the provincial capital.

Guizhou was no longer an option. Once he got to the provincial capital, he'd have more opportunities.

He had even canceled his household registration, so he couldn't do business. However, if he had his dad come over to guide his entrepreneurship and he could be a rich second-generation, that would be fine too!

As Fang Huai was lost in thought, Hao Chengbin, who was in front of him, stood up.

"Anyone among you not bring money? We still have over 7 hours before we arrive, and there's nothing else on the train. I'll treat you to instant noodles!"

Hao Chengbin asked this casually. After all, these recruits from Chongqing were all connected soldiers, and their families should all be well-off. There were no rural soldiers; he and Liu Mangong knew this.

Someone immediately chuckled.

"We all brought money! Squad Leader, I have bread here too, from Qinyuan! Do you want some? And Want Want! If I can't finish it, it'll be a waste when we arrive!"

"Don't worry, you'll have time to finish it when we get there," Hao Chengbin said with as gentle a tone as possible, then prepared to go buy instant noodles.

Fang Huai had planned to freeload some food and drinks from other recruits. After all, everyone knew they wouldn't get such things in the military.

But then, a line of text suddenly appeared before his eyes.

"Squad Leader, I didn't bring any money! And I didn't bring any food!" Fang Huai raised his hand and said loudly.

Hao Chengbin turned his head, looking a bit surprised.

This train was practically hosting a bonfire party, with people even bringing alcohol. Was there really someone who brought nothing?

Someone next to him nudged him with an elbow, pulled out a bag from under the seat, and said generously, "I have plenty to eat, just eat mine."

Fang Huai showed a troubled expression. "I still want to eat something hot. Squad Leader, can I go eat instant noodles with you?"

Hao Chengbin didn't mind. His monthly income was over three thousand yuan, plus various subsidies. He could afford a five-yuan bowl of instant noodles on the train.

He beckoned, "Come on, I'll treat you."

Fang Huai nodded, got up, and followed behind, his mind racing.

The system's current task for him was not simple.

[Mission: Go beg for food, beg for food that is not defined. (Find a way to get close to Hao Chengbin and join his recruit squad.)]

This wasn't impossible.

In his previous life, he had been a soldier in the Seventh Company of the recruit regiment, and Hao Chengbin was also a squad leader in the Seventh Company. He should have gone to the Second Squad. He couldn't quite remember which squad Hao Chengbin led, but he was a model squad leader. When the teams were assigned and training concluded, his squad was one of the drill-standard squads.

It was all about connections.

Hao Chengbin was the most senior soldier, having led new recruits for several years and being familiar with the base leadership. Getting someone assigned wouldn't be a problem.

Moreover, his squad was indeed the most comfortable back then.

When training went well, everyone got to eat grilled fish and smoke cigarettes.

When he joined the Second Squad, the squad leader was incredibly cunning. He took out a piece of candy and said whoever trained the best would get it.

Fang Huai clearly remembered that the candy in the squad leader's left pocket had brainwashed the ten of them from December until the New Year.

There was meat in the recruit regiment, but they rarely got to eat candy, let alone snacks. Every day before training ended, the duty recruit responsible for serving meals looked forward to pumpkin soup the most. If they encountered it, they would secretly scoop two spoonfuls under their own rice, and that meal would be incredibly satisfying.

The taste of not having candy for months was something only those who experienced it would know.

"Is one bowl enough? If not, take two."

Hao Chengbin had already reached the door of the dining car at the back and turned to ask.

Fang Huai quickly replied, "Squad Leader, one bowl is enough."

Fang Huai, holding two bowls of the GOAT of instant noodles – Master Kong Braised Beef Noodles – carefully handed a bowl to Hao Chengbin.

"Squad Leader, it's hot, be careful."

Hao Chengbin nodded, took it, stirred it a couple of times, blew on it, and took a forkful into his mouth.

"Rinse... Did your family not bring you anything?"

Fang Huai held his bowl of noodles, feeling like he was in an interview.

"Uh... My elders all served in the military and told me not to bring anything. The military has everything."

Fang Huai casually bragged, unintentionally achieving a spiritual connection with his father.

Hao Chengbin's first reaction was that this kid was showing off his connections.

He chuckled, "Your elders? Leaders in the military, from the fire department?"

"Oh, no, just common soldiers. My great-grandfather fought the Japanese and later died. My dad was also a soldier, served in the reclamation corps for a few years before retiring and becoming a chef... A comrade of his was in the fire department, and he asked them to recruit me." Fang Huai wasn't entirely lying with his words.

His great-grandfather's own brother had fought the Japanese, but he was a "yellow-skinned" one, from President Chiang's forces, and was killed by the Japanese.

Who his maternal uncle was, was not mentioned at all.

He had done many foolish things back in the day. When he joined the recruit corps, they had him fill in his family relations. Besides his parents, he also listed his maternal uncle. His name, his official position – his thought at the time was: I don't want any special treatment, but at least don't let me get bullied, right?

The result was a round of mockery from the squad leader and extra attention during training. Every time the squad was inspected, they searched his bag first, afraid he'd hidden a phone to secretly report to his uncle.

The veterans were afraid of being assigned such "connections soldiers." Recruits were already having a tough time. Those with connections would seize any opportunity to exaggerate their reports to their families. When blame trickled down, there were no benefits, only trouble.

These "connections soldiers" numbered at least a hundred out of every thousand recruits each year. Who didn't have someone in the family who was a soldier? Should they coddle all of them? What about everyone else's lives?

The only solution was to break them, to make them more obedient than anyone else.

(Already signed, will send the contract in a couple of days. You can invest.)