"Good combat effectiveness cannot be separated from neat discipline. This is especially true for Third Squad, First Platoon of Steel Seventh Company. The matter of barracks upkeep was covered in recruit training, so I won't repeat it.
Wang Yan, you'll use locker number three. Bai Tiejun, you'll use locker number four... You'll share desk number two."
"Yes!"
Wang Yan and Bai Tiejun snapped to attention. There was actually a third person, but an extra was unimportant...
Wu Liuyi then assigned their bunks. "Wang Yan, bunk one. Bai Tiejun, bunk three. Put your gear down."
"Yes!"
The two of them snapped to attention again.
Next, Wu Liuyi went over once more where to place their toiletries and personal belongings. Though he had said he would not repeat himself, he basically explained barracks upkeep all over again.
Then he had Wang Yan and the others make their beds, and introduced the other soldiers in the squad. The only one particularly worth mentioning was Gan Xiaoning.
During the later Old A selection assessment, he had refused to hold everyone back and voluntarily withdrew.
Later, when Gao Cheng was promoted to deputy battalion commander of the division reconnaissance battalion, Gan Xiaoning was transferred there as well. As one of Gao Cheng's own men, he continued following Gao Cheng.
This included Ma Xiaoshuai, the final soldier of Steel Seventh Company—a military academy student-soldier full of a soldier's radiance and personal conviction. He, too, continued following Gao Cheng afterward.
But Ma Xiaoshuai had not arrived yet.
After a brief rest, the assembly whistle sounded outside. The soldiers, who had known recruits would be arriving today and had changed into their dress uniforms beforehand, quickly went downstairs to assemble.
Downstairs, Company Commander Gao Cheng and Political Instructor Hong Xingguo were already waiting in their dress uniforms.
The