Chapter 44: Escorted Back
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
“Oh, so you really are buying cigarettes!”
“Haha, what a clever excuse. Hey, new recruit, who is your class monitor? Maybe we know each other!”
“Haha, like he would tell the truth!”
The group of veterans burst into laughter once again upon hearing that Wang Ye was indeed there to buy cigarettes. Some even called out to Wang Ye, urging him to reveal the name of his class monitor.
They believed that Wang Ye must have snuck out on his own. It had happened before. Although there were veteran sentries downstairs, there were still ways for recruits to sneak out if they were determined enough.
They had heard stories of recruits who climbed out of the second-floor window to smoke and then jumped down to the service center to buy cigarettes. After all, some recruits possessed hidden talents, having practiced martial arts since childhood. For them, climbing down from the second floor was a piece of cake.
However, going back up was a different story. This was the reason why the recruit had been caught and left behind a legendary tale.
…..
“We don’t sell cigarettes to new recruits here. You’d better go back quickly and admit your mistake!” the auntie stated, obviously misunderstanding the situation. However, perhaps due to Wang Ye’s good looks or some other reason, she kindly advised him.
Ignoring the comments from the veterans, Wang Ye maintained his focus on the auntie. He repeated once again, “Auntie, my class monitor really asked me to buy cigarettes!” As he spoke, he presented the ten yuan that Ye Sanshi had given him.
“My class monitor told me to buy the cheapest pack!”
The auntie looked at the money in Wang Ye’s hand and smiled. “Well, it seems like your class monitor did ask you to buy them. Tell me the situation and why your class monitor asked you to do this.”
Wang Ye was taken aback. He then glanced at the other seasoned soldiers. He didn’t recognize any of them. They shouldn’t be the squad leaders of the recruit companies but rather veterans from the regiment.
In front of them?
“Hey, what are you looking at, newbie? Trying to deceive us?”
“Sister Liu, this new recruit is definitely not being honest. How about this? We have some free time. Sister, give him the cigarettes. I’ll go with him and see if his class monitor really asked him to buy them.”
“Hehe, that’s right, right, right! We have some time to spare. Hurry up and come back.
We still have time!”
Usually, veterans were not allowed to enter the new recruits’ company area. This place was not a marketplace, and the closed training applied not only to the new recruits but also to those outside, including the veterans from the regiment headquarters.
But now, wasn’t Wang Ye delivering himself right to their doorstep?
Regardless of whether the new recruit was telling the truth or not, the veterans saw an opportunity to follow him under the pretense of verifying his claims.
“Alright, do you still want it?” the auntie asked Wang Ye with a smile.
“Yes!” Wang Ye replied without hesitation. If they wanted to follow him, he would let them.
In fact, Wang Ye had already figured it out. These seasoned soldiers seemed determined to stick to him. Even if he hadn’t come to buy cigarettes, they might have found another reason to catch him and bring him back. After all, if they caught a recruit who had sneaked out to buy cigarettes and returned him, they might even be rewarded.
“Alright, I’ll get it for you!” the middle-aged woman said. She reached under the counter and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. It was the type that sold for six or seven yuan outside, but the woman said that they were ten yuan.
Wang Ye had no idea about the actual cost of the cigarettes since he had never smoked them before. Therefore, if the lady said ten yuan was enough, he trusted her judgment. He took the pack of cigarettes and glanced at the group of veterans.
“Yo, it looks somewhat legitimate, but the new recruits these days are quite crafty. Brothers, anyone want to join in?” a first-year officer remarked.
“Hehe, let’s go together and watch the show!” another veteran chimed in.
The two veterans who were eating instant noodles quickly finished their meals in a few bites.
Inside the shop, there were about seven or eight veterans. In the end, they all decided to follow Wang Ye.
However, the lady at the convenience store spoke up, “Why are you sending so many people? The company behind is for the new recruits, not your own company. Two of you should be enough. Two veterans. You won’t let him escape, right?”
Her words held weight, even though she wasn’t a soldier. As soon as she finished speaking, one of the seven or eight veterans voluntarily stepped back. The remaining third-class sergeant took the initiative to speak and approached Wang Ye alongside a first-stage soldier.
“Let’s go, recruit. We’ll accompany you to find your squad leader. Don’t lie, and don’t even think about running away!” one of the veterans said, perhaps secretly hoping that Wang Ye would attempt to escape. If that happened, their reward would be confirmed.
However, Wang Ye had no intention of running away. He was telling the truth.
“Alright!” Wang Ye replied confidently and turned to leave. The two veterans followed him into the camp of the recruit company through the back door.
“Hey, newbie, who is your class monitor? You haven’t told me yet,” one of the veterans asked with a smile as they walked in a row, with the two veterans holding onto Wang Ye from the front and back.
“Reporting to the class monitor, my class monitor is Ye Sanshi, Class Monitor Ye!” Wang Ye replied.
“Oh, Old Ye! Tell me the truth now. Did he really send you here to buy cigarettes? You just entered the camp yesterday, right? Did he trust a recruit like you to come here?” the veteran in front asked, keeping a close eye on Wang Ye.
It was clear that he had some expectations and was waiting for something.
However, Wang Ye maintained his expression and replied, “Yes, sir!”
He had no interest in answering their questions. The truth would become clear once they arrived at their destination.
“Hehe, alright, you better not be lying. Of course, if you want to run, you can try now!” the veteran said before turning his head back.
Wang Ye ignored his words, but internally, he cursed, “Run? Run where? If I try to run, you guys will chase after me and beat me up. Then, you’ll get the credit for capturing me!”
There was still some distance between the service center and the barracks, and they had to pass through the physical training ground. Along the way, Wang Ye endured the verbal harassment from the veteran. After about seven to eight minutes, they finally reached the dormitory.
“Hmm?”
At the entrance of the corridor, a new recruit stood guard on duty. Wang Ye had greeted him earlier when he left, and the instructor had also spoken to him, so Wang Ye was naturally allowed to pass. However, now that he returned with two unfamiliar veterans, it raised eyebrows.
The guard immediately stood up and saluted before taking the initiative to speak, “Comrade, what can I do for you?”
Given the large number of soldiers in a regiment, even officers couldn’t recognize everyone. Knowing soldiers within a company was more feasible, but recognizing soldiers from other companies or battalions was challenging. Additionally, the guard was only a first-class soldier.
After saluting, the guard looked at Wang Ye, whom he recognized, and asked, “Wang Ye, what’s the situation?”
“Reporting, class monitor. I went to the service center, and these two squad leaders thought I had sneaked out and insisted on following me back!” Wang Ye replied.
“Alright, I understand,” the squad leader said.
He then turned to the two sergeants and stated, “Squad leaders, this recruit didn’t run away. I have a record here.”
“He really didn’t run away?”
“What is Old Ye thinking? Sending a recruit to buy cigarettes at this hour!” The other third-class sergeant muttered softly, almost inaudible if Wang Ye wasn’t standing beside him.
The sergeant didn’t want to make too much noise and draw the attention of the recruit company commander or instructor. They preferred to keep this matter low-key.
“Alright then, let’s go back,” the two veterans agreed. Since they were now certain that Wang Ye hadn’t run away, there was no reason for them to stay.
They turned around and left.
After watching the two veterans depart, Wang Ye turned to the recruit squad leader in front of him.
“What are you looking at? Go upstairs. Your class monitor’s meeting isn’t over yet!” the squad leader ordered.
“Yes, sir!” Wang Ye replied and proceeded to go upstairs.