Traps Everywhere

At dinner that afternoon, none of the squad leaders were around.

The company commander came around to notify each squad that the squad leaders had gone to a meeting, and every squad was to lead itself downstairs to assemble.

While they were singing the meal song, the Chief of Staff arrived and had the duty officer make everyone sing through all the military songs they had learned recently before letting them enter. The recruits had been scared stiff by the day's training and assumed the Chief of Staff was dissatisfied, so they sang their hearts out, howling like ghosts and wolves.

Fang Huai knew the Chief of Staff was there to implement directives from above and strengthen political and ideological education.

Once they entered the mess hall, the regiment's duty officer shouted from the middle of the room.

"None of the squad leaders are here today! Recruits, eat freely! After the meal, the company commanders and clerks will lead everyone back!"

After saying that, it was as if he had said nothing. No one dared touch their chopsticks.

Everyone at Ninth Squad's table stared at Fang Huai.

Fang Huai was helpless too. He was about to tell everyone to eat, but seeing that many squads in the mess hall still had not started, he considered it for a moment and said,

"How about we wait a little longer? The squad leaders might come eat too. Lots of squads haven't started yet."

Yue Tao asked curiously, "They don't have an Assistant Squad Leader. Our squad leader isn't here, so you're in charge. Just tell us to eat!"

Fang Huai rolled his eyes. "You sure talk a lot. Haven't you been messed with enough today? If you want to eat, go ahead!"

Thinking of how Fang Huai had reminded everyone that morning to hurry up in the shower, only for him to stupidly ignore it, Yue Tao no longer dared move.

When Fang Huai spoke, it worked even better than the squad leader's words!

Before long, seeing that so many people still had not touched their chopsticks, the regiment staff officer stood up again and shouted,

"Didn't you hear me? Eat!"

Some started eating, but some recruits who still had not picked up their chopsticks continued looking at one another, all pondering the same question.

Who ranked higher, the squad leader or the staff officer?

Obviously, the squad leader ranked higher!

The squad leader could deal with me. Would the staff officer dare?

Only the company commander could give us orders when the squad leader was absent!

In the recruits' eyes, the hierarchy of authority probably ran in reverse order. Of course, that rule no longer applied once one reached the Chief of Staff's level.

Mostly because everyone knew even squad leaders feared the Chief of Staff.

Awkward.

The Chief of Staff, the man with the highest prestige, left after hearing the recruits finish singing. The regiment staff officer could only accept the fact that his words carried less weight than a fart and said helplessly,

"Company commanders and Political Instructors, get your recruits eating!"

The company officers had not moved at first, ready to enjoy the regiment staff officer making a fool of himself. But now that he had directly spoken up, they had no choice but to get moving.

The regiment staff officer could not make things difficult for recruits, but making things difficult for a company commander was easy enough. After all, he approved the monthly work reports and attendance records.

The company officers went from table to table urging everyone on. To their surprise, some squads would not listen even to the company commander or Political Instructor. They had no choice but to explain sternly that, with the squad leader absent, company orders could be issued across ranks!

The recruits finally began eating, but even then they kept looking at one another, none wanting to be the first to pick up their chopsticks.

Over in Seventh Company, Wang Jian went from squad to squad persuading them. But when he reached Ninth Squad, he only glanced inside, then called out to Fang Huai.

"Fang Huai, get them eating!"

Then he left.

Fang Huai looked around. Everyone else was eating now, so he stopped being so particular. He casually picked up a huge chunk of sliced meat and put it in Han Yong's bowl, then waved his hand.

"Eat!"

Han Yong was delighted. "Thank you, Assistant Squad Leader!"

Everyone was stunned.

As Yue Tao reached for the meat, he howled, "Holy shit, Fang Huai, did you take Han Yong's watch? Why are you giving him so much meat?"

Fang Huai ignored him. He scooped some mapo tofu into his own bowl, then gave Han Yong a heaping spoonful too. After shoveling down two bites of rice, he said leisurely,

"Han Yong's going to join us for evening training next week. Isn't that hard enough? When the assessments come around and everyone's scores improve, the squad leader will be happy. You think you won't get any meat then?

"The Regimental Headquarters really values improvement. Han Yong was already in the Flying Tigers Squad before this. If he trains hard after coming to our squad and improves even more, what kind of leadership does that make our squad leader? Won't the Chief of Staff praise him to the skies? Then I'll mention everyone's contributions to the squad leader... you get it?"

Yue Tao's eyes gleamed as he nodded repeatedly.

"Got it, got it!"

No one else offered an opinion. Under Fang Huai's pulling and prodding, along with Hao Chengbin's encouragement, everyone had developed some sense of unity.

And with Fang Huai's speech, all the pressure immediately landed on Han Yong.

But Han Yong could not say much. This squad truly treated him far better than Eighth Squad had, and he liked this harmonious atmosphere.

Fang Huai turned to Peng Yingqirui with a smile.

"Little guy, want us to take care of you too? You can come to evening training with us."

Peng Yingqirui immediately shook his head in terror and clasped his hands together.

"Squad Leader Fang, just let me sleep myself to death in bed. Please don't set your sights on me! I thank your ancestors for eight generations!"

Zhao Bing pulled a long face and rolled his eyes slightly.

"Squad Leader Fang... my training scores aren't exactly bad either. You gave all the meat to Han Yong. I... can't get motivated like this!"

Fang Huai was taken aback.

Our squad's physical training scores are only impressive because of you. What did you mean by "aren't exactly bad"?

If even you were only "not bad," then everyone here was trash, right?

He put down his chopsticks and said, "Cut the sarcastic bullshit. Be promising. Come to company headquarters with me tonight for meat!"

When Chen Zhongqiang heard that, he became anxious and was about to speak.

Fang Huai shot him a look. "We'll talk upstairs."

Seeing Fang Huai was serious, Zhao Bing generously waved his hand. "Forget it. I don't know computers, and I can't handle documents either. It's enough that you thought of me. Training is my own business, so you don't need to motivate me. Just tell me some interesting stories about being a soldier when you have time. I love hearing them."

Fang Huai shook his head with a smile. Zhao Bing was truly suited to be a soldier. Even his name matched his fate.

"Then Yue Tao can come with me. I'll comfort your wounded heart from today. We'll take turns, all right?"

Yue Tao loved this kind of special treatment no one else got. He immediately grinned. "All right! I knew you were loyal!"

"Eat up. One minute left."

Back in the squad room, Fang Huai directly opened the box beneath the bed frame where they stored bedding and rummaged around inside.

Then he stood and motioned for Chen Zhongqiang to come out.

After looking around, he handed the cigarettes and lighter in his hand to Chen Zhongqiang.

"I got the cigarettes from Squad Leader Huang yesterday. I swiped the lighter from company headquarters. Throw it out the window when you're done, and don't drag me into it. Before the squad leader gets back, finish smoking and clean up after yourself.

"Today, all the squad leaders are gone, so there's not much risk. This is the only time.

"I'll keep watch for the company commander and squad leader. If they come, I'll shout. Go smoke."

Hearing that, Chen Zhongqiang hesitated. He felt like he was making Fang Huai do something wrong.

He knew how much effort Fang Huai had put into maintaining his image.

"Maybe... I'll wait until next time..." Chen Zhongqiang mumbled.

Fang Huai said impatiently, "What the fuck are you babbling about? Even when things were watched so closely, you still wanted to step on a landmine. Now the squad leaders are all gone, and you won't smoke? Just remember to clean up afterward!"

Chen Zhongqiang nodded, slipped the cigarettes and lighter into his pocket like a secret agent, looked around, and went into the bathroom.

When he came out, he washed himself for quite a while.

Before the two returned to the squad room, Chen Zhongqiang said firmly, "If the squad leader doesn't hand out cigarettes in the future, I won't smoke."

Fang Huai smiled. "Found your conscience?"

"If something happens, I'll drag you into it. The mental pressure is fucking huge."

"Good that you know. If you get caught, you'll drag down the whole squad. They'll deduct the squad's points."

At six thirty, Sun Lianhai, who had been assigned cleaning duty, returned, and Fang Huai organized everyone to practice military songs.

Zhao Bing liked "The Motherland Will Not Forget" best.

Hearing Ninth Squad singing, Wang Jian thought Hao Chengbin had returned. He opened the door and took a look, only to find Fang Huai organizing it. He merely said, "Come to company headquarters before eight," then left.

Fang Huai was gradually becoming a real title, one capable of exercising part of a squad leader's authority.

Soon, the singing from neighboring Eighth Squad drifted over as if refusing to be outdone. Zhang Yinzhang led them in "Unity Is Strength," a song everyone knew. Their voices were scattered and uneven, perfectly illustrating how no one in the neighboring squad respected anyone else.

And it sounded truly awful. There was no unity, and no strength either.

Company Commander Wang had no choice but to make another trip over. He opened Eighth Squad's door and roared,

"They're learning a new song! Don't imitate them badly! Study your materials properly! Have your squad leader inspect you next week!"

His voice carried clearly, and Ninth Squad nearly laughed themselves to death.

Around seven, voices and footsteps came from the hallway. The squad leaders were back.

When a group of sergeants, a group of lieutenants, or a group of field-grade officers walked toward you, you could tell which was which just by closing your eyes and listening to their conversations.

Sergeants mostly chatted and laughed, discussing everything under the sun, from petting cats to chasing dogs. Every now and then, there would be one or two loud, wild bursts of laughter, perhaps mixed with some skipping and hopping.

Lieutenants, on the other hand, were always saying things like "your unit" and "our unit." Most of them complained about being inspected again that day or about which leader had assigned some task for tomorrow. Their footsteps were quieter, and they swore less.

Field-grade officers mostly went "mm-hmm" and "ah-huh," with loud voices and plenty of verbal fillers. You could not hear their footsteps at all.

The group of squad leaders outside did not seem to enter their respective rooms. Instead, they went to the company headquarters diagonally across the hall.

The first thing they did upon returning was naturally to ask the company commander about their recruits' movements that day.

Ten minutes later, the door opened.

"Hello, Squad Leader!" Everyone hurriedly stood up.

The moment Hao Chengbin entered, a burst of cursing came from a squad room not far away.

"Who the fuck told you to eat on your own? Huh? Who gave the order?"

Everyone heard it clearly and immediately felt lingering fear.

Not eating was wrong, but eating too early was wrong too! They had to wait until the company commander persuaded them before they could eat!

The military was truly full of traps everywhere!

"Boys, you did well today."

Hao Chengbin was smiling. He had clearly learned all about Ninth Squad's performance that day.

No one spoke.

Hao Chengbin lit a cigarette and smiled.

"Today's shower really got you all messed up, huh? How many kicks did each of you take?"

Everyone exchanged glances.

Seeing Hao Chengbin's relaxed expression, Fang Huai really wanted to say, "You guys got chewed out by the regimental commander today too, right? You had a meeting for over three hours."

Forget it, forget it. Little Hao was young and hot-blooded. This old man could not take it.

Hao Chengbin glanced at everyone, took another drag on his cigarette, then adopted a more serious expression.

"It probably won't happen again. Those squad leaders were punished today too. One of them can't even go to driving school anymore.

"You're lucky. When we were recruits, we were dragged around by pack straps during showers, dragged and made to jump... But that really wasn't right. Your squad leader owes you an apology."