They Really Still Pack Dumplings!

"Why is everyone silent?"

"Those holding shovels, come over and dig a path first! The rest of you can start transporting."

"Carry all the overflow into the pit dug next door. We'll use it to water the vegetables later!"

The duty officer yelled at the New Recruits.

Not a single New Recruit dared to step forward. Finally, with the duty officer leading the way, they slowly began the process of scooping out Oli Ge.

The faces of the New Recruits were completely pale; it was clear they were trying their best to restrain themselves.

Ji Baichang, standing nearby, was about to vomit stomach acid. He finally managed to force himself to hold it in and joined the glorious ranks of the TF New Recruits.

This grand public chore ceremony lasted a full three hours, and the arduous task was only successfully completed at eleven in the morning.

"After you go back, don't enter the Barracks yet. I'll go get a water hose. After I rinse you all off outside, then you can go back to the Barracks."

The duty officer seemed to have thought of a solution.

Looking at the New Recruits in their current state, if they entered the Barracks, the smell would linger for at least a month.

At this point, the New Recruits had no intention of arguing. They walked in formation with vacant eyes and stood in front of the Barracks.

The duty officer signaled them to take off their camouflage uniforms. Then, several Veterans came out with water hoses and proceeded to rinse off each New Recruit.

The September weather was still somewhat hot. Ice-cold raw water sprayed from the faucets, washing each New Recruit thoroughly.

Basically, everyone returned to their squad wet.

"Whoa! What were you guys doing? Why are you all smelly and wet?"

Xue Daochao, who was sitting by the door folding his quilt, saw Ji Baichang and the other New Recruits return and asked in surprise.

"Old Xue, you dog! Did you already know this was going to happen today?"

Ji Baichang was fine at first. After all, the New Recruits had all gone on the public chore together, scooping out Oli Ge together, so he felt balanced.

But!

When he saw that scoundrel Xue Daochao looking innocent and completely clean, he became unbalanced.

Why did he have to go dig Oli Ge in the back hills while Xue Daochao only had to organize the storage room!

"What's wrong? Why would I calculate this stuff? What did you guys do? Why do you smell so bad, like you fell into a latrine?"

Xue Daochao pinched his nose and fanned his hand. His disgusted expression made Ji Baichang even angrier.

Actually, no one could really be blamed. When Squad Leader Chen Ting asked earlier, no one wanted to organize the equipment storage, thinking the public chore would be easier.

It just so happened that the good job fell to Xue Daochao, so he couldn't really blame anyone else.

"They probably went to scoop out the latrine. I heard my Brother talk about it; it's a tradition in the army. They use a yellow basin to scoop out feces, and in the afternoon, they might even make you wrap dumplings with the same yellow basin you used for Oli Ge."

"Ah?! Qinglong, don't talk nonsense! Wrap dumplings with our yellow basin? I was planning on throwing this yellow basin away and getting a new one!"

Ji Baichang immediately became anxious upon hearing Lü Qinglong's words.

No way! Wrap dumplings with the yellow basin they used to scoop out Oli Ge?

What's the difference between that and eating Oli Ge directly!!!

"I'm not sure either, just guessing. It depends on what the duty officer decides."

Lü Qinglong shook his head, feeling somewhat fortunate.

Fortunately, Squad Leader had them organize the equipment storage, giving them an easy job. Otherwise, he wouldn't want to come back smelling so foul.

"Report."

The duty officer, standing outside the Company Headquarters, had changed his clothes and showered to ensure he had no odor. He knocked on the door of the Company Commander's office.

"Enter."

Chen Tianjian, the Company Commander's voice came from inside.

"Company Commander, the septic tank at the back hill has been dealt with."

"Mm. The drying ground, has anyone returned my camouflage uniform?" Chen Tianjian nodded and asked.

"Company Commander, that one hasn't been returned yet. Could it be New Recruits from another Company?"

"Impossible. In that case, this afternoon, have all these New Recruits go to the Cookhouse Squad to wrap dumplings."

"Understood, Company Commander."

The duty officer nodded and turned to leave the Company Headquarters.

When it was time for lunch, perhaps influenced by the morning's public chore, all the New Recruits had low enthusiasm for eating.

This greatly benefited Lü Qinglong.

After all the New Recruits had finished getting their food, there were still quite a few chunks of meat left in the large metal plates, all of which became Lü Qinglong's spoils.

He ate his fill, which was a rare occurrence.

In the afternoon, everyone returned to the barracks. Most of the New Recruits chose to wash off the camouflage paint they hadn't managed to remove that morning.

"Brother Long, I see the Company Commander's clothes hanger is still empty. How about we..."

The New Recruit found Lü Qinglong again, still filled with unease.

"Don't worry. Just pretend you don't know about it. The Company Commander will find the person who stole the clothes."

Lü Qinglong shook his head. The New Recruit didn't say anything more and quietly returned to his bunk.

"There's no drill practice this afternoon. The Cookhouse Squad is short-handed, so the whole Company is going to make dumplings. Remember to bring your own yellow basin, everyone."

The duty soldier's words struck the New Recruits like a bolt from the blue, leaving them questioning life itself.

Making dumplings with a yellow basin that had been used to scoop Oli Ge? What were they even doing?

Ji Baichang turned his gaze away, his eyes filled with numbness and speechlessness. He stared blankly at Lü Qinglong, as if questioning why he was such a jinx.

Lü Qinglong helplessly waved his hand in response, indicating that it really had nothing to do with him.

The New Recruits had washed their yellow basins over and over again, to the point where they were about to scrub off the surface layer.

Even so, they still felt they weren't clean, as if they were still stained with Oli Ge.

The painful yet fulfilling day soon ended. After eating the dumplings they had made themselves, the Company's Political Instructor called all the New Recruits to the club.

"Excellent. I'm already seeing some qualities in you that belong only to soldiers!"

"Most of you are post-2000s, aren't you? I hope you can inherit the spirit of your predecessors who fear no hardship or fatigue!"

The Political Instructor stepped forward and spoke at length, mostly offering encouragement to the New Recruits.

"Alright, so the Political Instructor is playing the good cop."

Ji Baichang shook his head, filled with worry about his own mental state.

He truly felt very fragile right now, the kind that would shatter at the slightest touch.

"All you new comrades have performed very well. Tomorrow, there will be a physical examination specifically for you New Recruits. If any of you are nearsighted, you can tell me, and I'll send you home in advance."