Over the next week, assistant squad leaders sprang up in every squad like mushrooms after rain.
Some squads even had two or three rotating assistant squad leaders.
Every squad entered its own Taiping Heavenly Kingdom era—kings everywhere, brief but glorious.
The New Recruit Regiment entered the "memorize the regulations" era. Starting Monday, aside from folding quilts, every rest period was spent memorizing regulations. The squad leaders' slogan was: "One hand on regulations, one hand on quilts. Both hands must be grasped, and both must be strong."
But Ninth Squad's days were a little rough.
More precisely, a little oppressive.
After Squad Leader Hao received a phone call and went out on Tuesday, he returned quite late. Fang Huai was a light sleeper and woke up once, clearly smelling alcohol on him.
After that, the squad leader became somewhat taciturn. He did not joke around during formation training anymore, either.
Although his attitude toward the recruits had not changed, no one was stupid. Everyone could tell that the squad leader was in a bad mood, so they did not dare joke around much.
Fang Huai felt that something was off. He casually asked Hao Chengbin whether Provincial Capital Special Services had given a response. Hao Chengbin's expression was a little strange, but he still said there should not be a problem.
Until yesterday afternoon, when the system inexplicably triggered a mission: teach clerk Huang Yi how to use Excel.
So after dinner, Fang Huai took a regulations manual and wandered back and forth outside Ninth Squad's door while reciting it, passing by the Company Headquarters Office several times.
Finally, Squad Leader Huang, who was staring helplessly at the computer, spotted him and called him into the company headquarters.
While teaching him the ropes, Fang Huai intermittently overheard some things. But when the noncommissioned officers noticed Fang Huai was there, they seemed to avoid speaking around him. They would be talking as they entered the company headquarters, but the moment they saw Fang Huai inside, they stopped.
Fang Huai simply waited until no one else was in the company headquarters, then asked Huang Yi.
After hesitating for a long time, Huang Yi finally sighed and said,
"A Provincial City Detachment officer from First Company came to talk with Company Commander Wang at the company headquarters a couple days ago. He said Squad Leader Hao seemed to have offended someone. The whole Provincial City Detachment has heard about it, and his transfer probably won't happen."
Fang Huai's suspicions were confirmed.
Hao Chengbin had been in the New Recruit Regiment. The only person he could have offended was Jiang Peng's uncle-in-law.
He also wanted to ask whether Squad Leader Pan was being transferred to the provincial capital.
But everyone had different pieces of information, and asking that question would invite pointless speculation. He would definitely offend someone.
Hao Chengbin had not mentioned it after coming back that day, and Fang Huai tactfully had not asked. The people who knew the full story best were probably the few who had gone to the Chief of Staff's office that day.
No, the person in the entire company who understood it best was probably Jiang Peng, the recruit.
When Fang Huai left the company headquarters that evening, he left Huang Yi a shortcut reference sheet. The task of teaching Huang Yi was complete.
But Fang Huai immediately received another mission.
Use his own abilities to resolve Hao Chengbin's troubles.
Without even thinking, Fang Huai accepted it.
Squad Leader Hao had treated him so well, and this whole matter had started because of him. Now that the man was in trouble, how could Fang Huai not step up for real?
So after lunch today, Fang Huai hesitated again and again before wandering over to Eighth Squad's door.
When he saw Jiang Peng, Jiang Peng was chatting and laughing with an Eighth Squad recruit as they headed back to the squad room, a regulations manual in his hand.
"Jiang Peng, I have something to ask you." Fang Huai stopped him.
Jiang Peng gave a dry laugh. "What else do you want to say? I'm not even bringing up switching squads anymore. Are you still looking to cause trouble for me?"
Fang Huai froze.
Then his mind spun rapidly, and he smiled as he tested the waters. "You know about Han Yong's background too, right? You can't mess with him, so now you want to pull some other stunt?"
Jiang Peng clenched his teeth. Then, remembering his uncle-in-law's instructions, he gave a mocking laugh, unable to get angry even though he wanted to.
"Yes, yes, yes. General Manager Luo's connections are incredible. I'm just some lowly person. What would I dare do?"
Fang Huai's pupils shook.
Holy shit, General Manager Han keeps a pretty low profile!
Of course Fang Huai knew who General Manager Luo was—the next Corps Commander!
With connections like that, Deputy Director Liu still dared make trouble?
No.
He was only targeting Hao Chengbin. A noncommissioned officer who led troops—once he left the New Recruit Regiment, he would have nothing to do with Han Yong.
Thinking that through, Fang Huai threatened him again.
"Your uncle-in-law has some nerve. He still dares mess with someone under these circumstances. Just wait. I need to teach Han Yong how to reasonably express his grievances to General Manager Luo."
With that, he turned and left.
"Fuck, what do you mean?" Jiang Peng panicked and hurriedly rushed up to grab Fang Huai.
His uncle-in-law had made everything very clear that day. Especially Han Yong—they could not provoke him again.
Fang Huai unhurriedly walked toward the end of the corridor. Once they reached a spot with no one around, Fang Huai turned back and asked seriously,
"What did Squad Leader Hao say about you when he went to see the Chief of Staff that day?"
Jiang Peng did not understand what that had to do with Han Yong, but concern clouded his judgment, and he answered honestly.
"What could he have said? He wouldn't let me switch squads! He said Han Yong performed well! My uncle-in-law didn't say anything either! Were we wrong?"
"What about Squad Leader Pan?"
Jiang Peng immediately became wary. "He didn't mess with me! It was normal training! Is that not allowed? Does he have to mess with me so you people can vent?"
For a well-connected recruit who had once been so arrogant to speak with such grievance, he had probably received quite the lesson that day.
Fang Huai gradually sorted out the sequence of events.
If Old Pan was going to the provincial capital, then this was a backroom deal: you take care of my nephew, and I'll take care of you. If he was not going, then this was simply revenge.
For them, getting revenge was far too easy.
They did not even need to go to headquarters and interfere with troop transfers. They only needed to spread word that Hao Chengbin was insubordinate or difficult, and Special Services would naturally think more deeply about it. Was transferring Hao Chengbin worth it? Would it offend some leader?
Headquarters handled troops and training. The Political Department handled personnel reviews and ideological matters. When grassroots officers were promoted, their paperwork had to pass through those people's hands.
The squadron officers definitely did not want to curry favor with leaders by helping them target Hao Chengbin. If they did that, the squadron's noncommissioned officers would be dissatisfied. But with too many concerns, they might find an appropriate excuse to stop the higher-ups from transferring him.
But if they wanted to block Hao Chengbin while also transferring Pan Zhaohui over, then he would have to step forward himself and ask headquarters for help. That was much harder, and doing so would openly put him at odds with the leader arranging Hao Chengbin's transfer.
It was easy to ruin something and difficult to make something happen. That was the principle.
These matters seemed roundabout and complicated, but compared to the real scheming in local units, they were barely a drop in the bucket.
If this was a squadron issue, Fang Huai could handle it. If it involved headquarters, then it was already a procedural problem. The "own abilities" requirement was practically telling him to ask his uncle for help.
So it had to be only a squadron issue.
The Second Squadron of the Special Services Brigade he was supposed to join did not want to offend Deputy Director Liu, so they found an excuse to block Hao Chengbin's transfer.
Having figured out those key points, Fang Huai smiled and left Jiang Peng with a question he could mull over until joining his unit.
"Enough. I won't say more. Your ideological issues are serious. You might even drag your uncle-in-law down with you, so watch yourself."
Fang Huai walked away with his hands behind his back, calm and composed, leaving Jiang Peng standing there as though his universe had exploded.
After taking a piss and returning to the squad room, Fang Huai happened to run into Hao Chengbin coming back.
"Where did you go?" Hao Chengbin asked casually.
"Reporting, Eighth Squad." Fang Huai answered without thinking.
Hao Chengbin immediately frowned.
"You went to Eighth Squad to..."
Then he sensed something was wrong and got up to head outside.
"Come out with me."
Fang Huai followed him outside.
Hao Chengbin looked around. Seeing no one nearby, he lowered his voice. "Did you hear something?"
Fang Huai nodded and said directly, "Squad Leader, this is all my fault. I caused problems with your transfer, so I wanted to think of a way to help you."
"What does it have to do with you? Someone's intentions are just rotten!"
Hao Chengbin said unhappily, "Don't put your mind toward things you shouldn't! I just can't go to Special Services for the time being! Their squadron is participating in the National Competition, and they want to use this vacant noncommissioned officer slot to temporarily assign a younger noncommissioned officer for the eight-man drill!
The squad leader is getting old and can't place anymore! It's time for him to make room too!
Isn't it only a few months?
Once they come back, I'll go over there. Don't worry about your situation—I've already talked it over with them. They'll come ask for you!
Second Special Services Squadron has a full complement of thirty people. There should be five recruit slots. Make me proud! By the time I arrive, you have to be the best recruit. Do you understand?"
Fang Huai's entire face scrunched up.
"Squad Leader... the National Competition isn't until next September, right? If you transfer over after it ends, I'll practically be a Private First Class already. How would I still count as a recruit?
The Special Services officers came up with such a crude excuse, and you actually believe it?"
Seeing Fang Huai looking at him as if he were an idiot, Hao Chengbin was stunned too.
I'm trying to reassure you! What the fuck does that look mean? You think I'm naive?
Hao Chengbin gritted his teeth, then sighed. "Don't worry! A leader personally told me about this during last year's Detachment Competition! They can't stop it! I just don't want to fall out with them right now. If they still don't transfer me next year, I'll go find that leader!"
Listening to him, Fang Huai almost felt sorry for him.
It was precisely because there were big fools like Hao Chengbin that society remained so stable.
"No... Squad Leader, do you know where that fucking lea—where that leader lives? How can you be sure that after not thinking of you for a whole year, he'll still remember who you are next year?"
"He will." Hao Chengbin waved his hand impatiently.
"He's a major leader! To tell you the truth, he's an experienced regimental commander. He used to be the base director too! His next step might be becoming a major leader in the corps! His word definitely counts!"
Fang Huai froze. This person... sounded familiar.
"Squad Leader, his surname isn't Zhang, is it?"
Hao Chengbin was shocked. "You know him?"
"Cough." Fang Huai choked on his saliva.
"Don't know him. Don't know him."
This Squad Leader Hao really was incredibly unlucky!
My uncle... isn't he going to die next September? Where will Squad Leader Hao go to argue his case then?
No, no.
If it were not for him, Squad Leader Hao would not have hit Jiang Peng, and this would not have happened.
That was not right either.
With Jiang Peng's shitty temper, even without Fang Huai, he might have gotten beaten over something else...
Did that mean Hao Chengbin... had been this unlucky in his previous life too?
No wonder the system assigned him to this squad. They were fucking kindred spirits!
No, fellow sufferers!
Is this paying back a debt for Uncle?
"Cough, cough, Squad Leader, weren't there four recruit slots? How about... reporting Han Yong to Second Special Services Squadron too?"
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