? Downstairs dormitory building.
The Recruits were crooked and wobbly, barely forming a line.
Wang Hai held the roster: "Now we begin assigning platoons. Step forward when your name is called!"
"Wang Yong, First Platoon!"
"Ma Xiaoshan, First Platoon!"
"Luo Chaochao, Fifth Platoon!"
? "Li Tieniu, Fourth Platoon!"
"..."
"Lin Hui, First Platoon!"
"Here!"
Lin Hui immediately jogged towards the First Platoon's line.
Chen Erhu greeted him with a smile: "Hey, Big Brother, we meet again. We're really fated!"
"Tch, clearly it's bad luck!"
Lin Hui turned his head. Wang Yong was looking at him with a displeased expression, his head held high.
Lin Hui rolled his eyes. How did he get assigned with these two weirdos?
Generally speaking, places with many weirdos are usually not easy to live in.
No, it seems he needs to be more careful.
Soon, everyone was assigned to their respective platoons.
Wang Hai closed the roster: "Now, each Squad Leader will lead their respective teams back. Today is the first day, everyone rest well, there will be no training. Training officially begins tomorrow."
"Yes! Follow me!"
Each Squad Leader immediately led the Recruits towards the dormitory building.
"Xu Da!"
"Yes!"
The dark-faced Squad Leader was just about to lead the team back when he was called over by the Company Commander.
"You guys go back to the dorms first!"
He turned and shouted towards the First Platoon, then immediately ran towards Zhang Jiantao.
Lin Hui frowned slightly, secretly guessing: The Company Commander just arrived and already doesn't like me. Now he's called the Squad Leader over. He's not going to mess with me, is he?
He had lived in the compound for so long.
He was perfectly clear on how Old Soldiers educated Recruits.
He was afraid that in the eyes of these Old Soldiers, he was already a troublemaker.
Thinking of this, Lin Hui was filled with regret: "If I knew this, I wouldn't have climbed on that broken tank to play. Isn't this just causing trouble?"
Never mind, I'll meet force with force and adapt to circumstances.
Even Jesus won't be able to stop me from laying low for two years. At worst, I'll just be more low-key in the future.
Xu Da came before Zhang Jiantao and saluted: "Company Commander, do you have any instructions?"
Zhang Jiantao smiled slightly: "You'll have to retire this year. This time, I specifically transferred you to the New Recruit Company to lead Soldiers. As long as you perform well and get a commendation, there's hope for a promotion."
Xu Da was instantly excited, his eyes shining.
Promotion!
He thought about it every day in his dreams!
He had been a Soldier for eight years and was supposed to retire this year.
In eight years, he had received two third-class merits, three outstanding Soldier awards, and countless commendations.
Despite this, Xu Da had a low level of education, only junior high school.
If he didn't have any special performance this year, he would have to leave at the end of the year.
He was a rural Soldier, unlike city Soldiers who could still be assigned jobs.
If he was sent back, he could only find another way to make a living.
But all of Xu Da's skills were learned in the Military Region. What could he do after going back?
He didn't want to leave the place he loved for eight years, nor did he want to return to that big mountain where he couldn't see hope for a lifetime.
If he could stay, he was willing to give everything.
Xu Da said excitedly: "Please rest assured, Company Commander, I will definitely work hard and lead the First Platoon to be number one!"
Zhang Jiantao smiled and patted his shoulder: "This time I specifically picked a few weaker ones for you. It's because I see you're capable. As long as you lead the Soldiers to achieve results, I'll have a reason to speak to the higher-ups."
He lowered his voice: "Keep a close eye on that kid named Lin Hui. This kid is not Soldier material at all. If it doesn't work out, kick him out anytime. Don't let him drag you down, understand?"
Xu Da nodded: "Company Commander, don't you know what kind of person I, Xu Da, am? I never tolerate any sand in my eyes, and I have zero tolerance for bad apples!"
Zhang Jiantao nodded in satisfaction.
"Alright, you can go."
"Yes!"
Xu Da saluted, turned, and entered the dormitory building.
Zhang Jiantao's lips curved into a cold smile: "Lin Hui, let's see how long you can last..."
...
Inside the dormitory, there were five cots.
Lin Hui was on the lower bunk, which was quite good.
"Big Brother, I'll sleep above you!"
Chen Erhu looked at Lin Hui, his big white teeth showing in a smile.
Lin Hui also didn't expect to become bunkmates with this silly kid: "Don't call me Big Brother, just call me Lin Hui. Once we're in here, we're all comrades."
Chen Erhu nodded: "Okay Big Brother, no... Okay comrade!"
But what surprised Lin Hui the most was that kid Wang Yong was assigned to the bunk next to him.
Wang Yong sneered: "Being in the same platoon is bad enough, but being so close? Really unlucky!"
Lin Hui said dismissively: "If you think it's unlucky, then don't sleep next to me."
He had been annoyed with this kid for a long time.
He kept arguing with him the whole way.
The more he ignored him, the more energetic he became!
Wang Yong grabbed the iron railing with a slap: "I just can't stand you pampered city folks. What are you guys?"
Lin Hui smiled: "If you're capable, become a Leader and get me sent back? Do you have that ability?"
Wang Yong was instantly furious!
Seeing the two at loggerheads, Chen Erhu quickly stepped forward to stop them: "Two Big Brothers, the Company Commander just said that we are now one family, comrades. Being assigned together is fate. Before I came out, my mom also said..."
"What's with all this Big Brother talk?"
A low growl came, scaring everyone into standing straight immediately.
Xu Da walked in from outside, glaring at Chen Erhu: "This is the Military Region, there are only comrades, no Big Brothers! Did you hear that?"
Chen Erhu was sprayed in the face with spit and shouted at the top of his lungs: "I got it!"
"Answer yes, or no!" Xu Da said coldly: "Answer again, yes or no?"
"I heard you!"
Chen Erhu tensed up nervously.
Xu Da was so angry his teeth itched, almost cursing out loud.
Seeing the situation was bad, Lin Hui worried that the Squad Leader would pull the 'one person makes a mistake, everyone gets punished' routine again, and quickly tried to smooth things over.
"Squad Leader, this kid isn't very bright. I'll educate him for you in a bit."
"I'll definitely help him get rid of this bad habit."
Xu Da snorted coldly and said to everyone: "Let me introduce myself. My name is Xu Da, and for the next three months, I will be your Squad Leader! It's still early for dinner, and we're just idle anyway, so I'll teach you how to tidy up your internal affairs."
Everyone immediately started whispering.
"Internal affairs, what does tidying up internal affairs mean?"
"It means folding blankets."
"What? We have to learn to fold blankets? I never folded blankets at home, my mom always did it for me."
Lin Hui didn't speak.
Because he knew very well the importance of tidying up internal affairs.
Looking around the world, every Country's Military Region has its own standards for internal affairs.
Sam is polishing shoes, John Bull is ironing shirts, and Yan Country is folding blankets.
Good standards for internal affairs are a reflection of a Soldier's good Military Region appearance.
Blankets must be square, with sharp edges.
There are not allowed to be any wrinkles on the sheets.
Even the placement and direction of toiletries, toothpaste, and toothbrushes have extremely strict requirements.
Although Lin Hui was a playboy, as long as he returned home, his Old Dad would require him to tidy up his internal affairs with a standard so strict it was perverted.
As long as there was even a tiny flaw, his backside would be beaten.
Therefore, in tidying up internal affairs, his skill level was completely not inferior to any Old Soldier.
"I will explain the Military Region's standards for internal affairs. Blankets must have sharp edges, be square, mosquitoes should slip when standing on them, and flies should do the splits when landing..."
After Xu Da finished his introduction, he began preparing to demonstrate: "Next, I will give you a demonstration. Watch carefully."
He walked to the side of the bed and picked up a blanket.
After shaking it completely loose, he began folding the blanket.
Aligning, pressing the seam, smoothing, folding in half!
A hint of admiration appeared in Lin Hui's eyes: As expected of an Old Soldier, his movements were both fast and skillful, and every step was quite standard!
Soon, a bulky blanket, as if by magic in Xu Da's hands, turned into a tofu block.
Just as he had said, it was square, with sharp edges.
Xu Da asked: "Did you see clearly?"
The Recruits looked bewildered, shaking their heads like rattles.
Xu Da frowned slightly: "Then I will give another demonstration. You must watch carefully and remember every detail and movement."
He said seriously: "Good standards for internal affairs are also a reflection of a Soldier's appearance! Furthermore, internal affairs scores will be included in the assessment criteria. I don't want anyone to be unable to do something this simple!"
When Xu Da's gaze swept over Lin Hui, it lingered for a moment.
Lin Hui didn't take it to heart. If he messed up in any other area, he definitely wouldn't in internal affairs.
If he couldn't even fold a blanket properly, he would have taken those beatings for nothing all these years.
Soon, Xu Da completed another demonstration.
"Alright, practice freely. Ask me if you don't understand."
The Recruits attempted with full confidence.
But after a while, they were all scratching their ears and cheeks as if they had fleas.
Chen Erhu looked at Wang Yong: "Did you see clearly when the Squad Leader demonstrated just now? After folding it in half, how do you do it? I forgot."
"You ask me, who should I ask?"
Wang Yong was also a mess, no matter how he tried, it wasn't right.
He secretly glanced at Lin Hui next to him, saw that he was just as clueless as himself, and immediately felt relieved.
Good thing this kid doesn't know either!
Otherwise, he would be utterly humiliated!
But he had no idea that Lin Hui was just pretending.
If he really wanted to fold it, he could make a standard tofu block in just over ten seconds.
But to avoid attracting attention, he still slowed down, keeping pace with the others.
He even deliberately made mistakes to mislead them.
Xu Da looked at Lin Hui and sneered inwardly. As expected, he was really stupid!
"Well done, Xu Da. Other platoons are resting, but you've already started learning internal affairs?"
Xu Da turned his head. Instructor Wang Hai was standing at the doorway.
He jogged over and saluted: "Hello, Instructor. Since we're idle, I'll familiarize everyone first."
Wang Hai looked around and said with a smile: "As expected of you, kid. It seems next month's rotating red flag will definitely belong to the First Platoon."
"However, everyone just finished running five kilometers. You should also pay attention to resting when you need to. Don't wear out everyone's bodies just for the ranking."
"Understood."
Wang Hai glanced twice towards Lin Hui and said earnestly: "Xu Da, this platoon is not easy to lead. You might have to put in more effort."
Xu Da lowered his voice: "The Company Commander has instructed me. I'll keep a close eye on that kid!"
"That's not what I meant."
Wang Hai smiled and waved his hand: "Old Zhang is like a firecracker. You were brought up by him, so you should know better than me that he's impulsive when doing things."
"You're different. You have a calm temper. Be more tolerant towards these Recruits, teach them more if they don't understand."
Xu Da nodded on the surface, but didn't take it to heart.
As long as that kid Lin Hui dared to mess up and lower the entire platoon's score, he would absolutely not agree.
"Alright, you get back to what you're doing. I'm just looking around."
After Wang Hai left, Xu Da turned and returned to the dormitory.
But he froze the moment he entered.
Because Lin Hui's blanket was actually folded.
Although it looked like a big loaf of bread, it already had a basic shape.
This kid even ran to other bunks and started teaching others how to fold blankets.
"Yours isn't right. You have to do it like this."
"Hey, you, your method is wrong."
"Er Hu, how can you not even fold a blanket?"
Xu Da's eye twitched.
This kid could fold a blanket this well on his first try?
He guessed, he definitely guessed!
Seeing Xu Da walk over, Lin Hui asked with a smile: "Squad Leader, is my blanket folded alright?"
Without a word, Xu Da directly pulled his blanket to the floor: "What are you showing off about? What kind of thing is this folding? It looks like a freshly baked loaf of bread. You still have the nerve to teach others? Do it again!"
Lin Hui looked at the blanket on the floor and rolled his eyes.
Great! It seems he's being targeted again.
He originally wanted to coast along peacefully in the Military Region for two years, but now it seems it won't be that easy...
