Chapter 231: The Sound of a Horn in the Midnight!
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
In the eighth grade, the third platoon leader swiftly straightened his bed.
But before he could join Wang Ye for a chat, a cheerful guy appeared at the Class Eight dormitory door.
“Hey, Brother Wang!”
Zhang Ping’an arrived.
“Hey there!”
Wang Ye was originally seated on a small stool, pretending to peruse the regulations.
Upon Zhang Ping’an’s arrival, Wang Ye promptly rose with a friendly grin.
“Come on, let your comrades chat outside!”
At that moment, Zhou Qi, who had been standing with the third platoon leader, proactively turned and greeted.
This scene once again stirred envy in Zhang Wen and the other two.
Comparisons were unforgiving!
Look at Wang Ye; he didn’t even utter a word when he memorized the questions earlier. If someone came looking for him, he didn’t need to say anything; he willingly let them go for a walk. And what about them?
He lowered his voice and glanced over with a solemn expression.
That was the reality!
“Okay, thanks, class monitor!” Wang Ye expressed gratitude, and Zhang Ping’an also chimed in, “Thanks, class monitor!”
They exited together, but they didn’t wander far. They simply went downstairs to the spot where Ye Sanshi had taken Wang Ye that morning.
Seated on a stone bench, Wang Ye smiled and inquired of Zhang Ping’an, “How was it? Did you enjoy the kitchen class?”
Zhang Ping’an’s expression immediately shifted as he grumbled, “It’s not enjoyable, Brother Wang. You don’t know; we have to wake up at 430 every morning!”
This guy’s face was already somewhat round, and although he likely intended to convey his hardship, Wang Ye found it amusing no matter how he looked at it.
“You must have some time for napping during the day and night, right?” Wang Ye grinned.
Zhang Ping’an’s expression remained unchanged. “Not in the morning. We get an hour and a half of rest in the afternoon, just like you. At night, we can sleep earlier than you; we turn off the lights and go to bed at nine o’clock!”
Wang Ye was slightly surprised, then he inquired, “What time do we turn off the lights?”
He had already turned them off when he returned last night, so he had no idea.
“One hour earlier than our recruit company; you guys are at 930!”
“Alright then!” Wang Ye nodded.
In the next moment, Wang Ye noticed Zhang Ping’an glancing furtively left and right. He then discreetly pulled a rolled-up black plastic bag from his pocket.
“Here, Brother Wang, hide this!”
Zhang Ping’an suddenly whispered and swiftly concealed the rolled-up object in the black plastic bag.
“What is it?”
Wang Ye was taken aback as he took hold of it and gave it a squeeze.
It was somewhat pliable but not excessively so.
Moreover, when rolled into a ball inside the black bag, it wasn’t particularly large; about the size of a fist, yet it had some weight to it.
“Shh, put it away for now. I’ll tell you once you’ve hidden it.”
Wang Ye had initially been curious to see what it was, but observing Zhang Ping’an’s anxiety, he refrained from probing further and stashed it in his pocket.
“What exactly is it?” Wang Ye asked in a hushed tone, baffled by Zhang Ping’an’s behavior.
Zhang Ping’an smiled and whispered, “It’s beef, cooked. 1 braised it and cut it into pieces. It won’t spoil, Brother Wang. You can take it with you. If you’re training or get hungry at night, you can have this!”
Uh…” Wang Ye gazed at him in astonishment, touched by the gesture.
This guy.
Patting Zhang Ping’an on the shoulder, Wang Ye smiled and said, “You’re a good friend. Since you’re so considerate, I won’t refuse!”
It would be a shame not to enjoy some beef, especially when hunger might strike during nighttime training.
They weren’t aware of what awaited them in the fourth Company.
Nevertheless, if the new recruits had to endure a five-kilometer run after dinner and engage in some light training, they’d definitely appreciate having something to fill their stomachs at night.
After all, at the age of eighteen or nineteen, one could truly consume a substantial amount of food, particularly with physical training and the assistance of the system, which had pushed Wang Ye’s physical abilities and other fundamental attributes beyond human limits. In reality, he could consume more than the average person.
Eating in the canteen wasn’t an issue for him, but there were still moments when he’d feel hungry at night without anything to munch on.
Now that he had some beef, it was indeed a welcome addition!
In fact, Wang Ye was getting an idea.
It seemed that if there was an opportunity in the future, he could procure more cooked food from outside to store in the system space.
He typically stashed it there and retrieved it when he wanted to eat.
If others asked, he’d simply attribute it to Zhang Ping’an’s generosity.
Hehe, the kitchen is great in that regard. They don’t skimp on food, and we can grab a bite in the middle of the night when we’re hungry.”
Zhang Ping’an paused for a moment, then grinned and added, “But, you know, beef is technically a rationed item. This time, I traded it with Squad Leader Dog. Brother Wang, don’t let this slip!”
“Uh… Squad Leader Dog?” Wang Ye widened his eyes, puzzled.
What did he mean by that?
Was the beef meant for dogs?
“Hehe, don’t fret, Brother Wang. The beef is perfectly fine and carefully selected. It’s just that our company’s dog squad leader eats better than us. He devours one or two pounds of beef daily. I exchanged it for three ham sausages!”
Wang Ye gazed at him and couldn’t help but feel a bit flabbergasted. Even though it didn’t sound that bad, why did he feel like he was snatching food from a dog’s bowl?
“Brother Wang, it’s really not a big deal. Squad Leader Dog can’t finish his portion every day!”
Lowering his voice once more, Zhang Ping’an leaned in. “Brother Wang, if you ever get hungry in the future, or if it’s your turn for guard duty, just give me a heads-up. I’ll leave something for you to eat. That way, you won’t have to rely on instant noodles like the others after being dismissed!”
“Sounds good!” Wang Ye didn’t hesitate to accept. Why would he turn down such an offer?
After a moment of contemplation, Wang Ye reached into his pocket and said, “How about this? Take this back and share it with your class monitor and the others!”
“Uh…”
Zhang Ping’an watched as Wang Ye retrieved a pack of Chinese cigarettes from his pocket, this time leaving Zhang Ping’an stunned.
“Brother Wang, you actually brought cigarettes with you?”
Typically, it took new recruits about half a year to quit smoking. In the Iron Blood Fourth Company, it could take up to a year.
Even in the kitchen, the rules were the same.
While it might not be as stringent as in the combat units, there were still regulations to follow.
However, Zhang Ping’an quickly smiled again.
“Brother Wang, there’s no need. Our class monitor is a good guy. You don’t have to offer him cigarettes.”
He politely declined.
Wang Ye patted his hand and placed the pack of cigarettes in his palm.
“It’s fine to share them occasionally to build camaraderie. I bought these cigarettes two days ago, but I’m not a smoker, so I can’t finish them when I return. You know smoking really affects one’s physical fitness. 1 haven’t even opened the pack. I’ll take them off your hands now so that I don’t pull them out of my pocket for no reason!”
Wang Ye casually explained.
In reality, he had placed the cigarettes in the System Space and had no intention of smoking them.
However, today, Zhang Ping’an had brought over beef, so Wang Ye decided to return the favor and retrieved the cigarettes.
As an adult, Wang Ye understood that the bond between brothers could be pure, but one-sided giving or suffering losses constantly would strain the relationship. Such brotherhood wouldn’t last long. Even if the brother in question didn’t mind, others around him might start saying negative things, causing the relationship to drift apart.
“Alright, I’ll take them then!” Zhang Ping’an accepted with a smile.
Then, he looked at Wang Ye and inquired, “By the way, Brother Wang, what’s the situation with Deng Hai?”
This topic seemed inevitable.
Ye Sanshi had asked about it earlier in the day, and now that Zhang Ping’an had come over, he felt compelled to ask as well. Wang Ye even suspected that if he encountered other students from his original class, they would also bring up the subject.
After all, Deng Hai was also from Class Five.
Wang Ye shook his head and replied softly, “I’ve already been to the military court. Let’s not delve into too many details. We’ll have to wait for the outcome.”
Zhang Ping’an sighed, saying, “He’s in a really tough spot. Our class monitor mentioned that he might end up in jail this time.”
Zhang Ping’an was unaware of Deng Hai pulling a knife on Wang Ye or his other transgressions. He only believed Deng Hai was a straightforward deserter, just like their class monitor. Only Wang Ye and those who went to apprehend Deng Hai’s group, along with the regiment commander and division commander, were privy to the full story.
“Brother Wang, do you think this is necessary? If he had known today would come, he would have either retreated earlier or not joined the army at all!” Zhang Ping’an mused. “They say being a soldier is an honorable duty, but because of this, his whole life is ruined!”
Wang Ye shook his head and redirected the conversation, stating, “Let’s not dwell on that topic any longer. Deng Hai is not just a soldier, actually.”
With that, Wang Ye closed the discussion and changed the subject. “Do you know where Qin Li and the others have gone? Have you seen them around?”
“No, I’ve actually been outside with everyone these past two days. The main team was searching, and we were providing logistics support. We even took the food truck out…”
After conversing with Zhang Ping’an for over ten minutes, a whistle sounded.
“Let’s go. We’ll chat next time. We should head back now.”
It wasn’t an emergency assembly or anything crucial. It was just that it was nearing seven o’clock, and it was time for the evening news.
“I’ve received a notice from my superior. Starting today, the entire company will cancel all leaves for the next three months!”
During the roll call, Wu Jianfeng delivered an order that sent shockwaves through all the seasoned soldiers in the company.
On the other hand, Wang Ye and the other recruits remained unfazed.
Leave? For conscripts, that was a distant dream.
Well, some may still harbor fantasies, but most recruits knew better. It wasn’t usually their turn to go on leave.
Considering Wang Ye’s performance, he might have had a chance, but for now, it was fine to stay put. It was just three months, and the recruits hadn’t gone on leave in three months, so what was there to fuss about?
After lights out, Wang Ye lay on his bunk, contemplating how he would spend the following day and what the week after would entail. He had just returned to the company, so Wang Ye was genuinely curious about what lay ahead.
In a daze, he felt like he had only recently fallen asleep when…
“Woo!!”
The sound of the emergency assembly siren jolted Wang Ye, causing his eyes to snap open.
“Hurry up… Move it!”
In the dormitory, both Zhou Qi and the third platoon leader were already urging everyone.
Without needing any further prodding, Wang Ye swiftly threw off his blanket.
“Damn, it’s the emergency assembly siren, not sentry duty. Did something major happen in the middle of the night?”
Wang Ye heard a voice from the side.
It wasn’t a fellow recruit but Wei Qinghai, who had two packs of cigarettes on hand.
“Don’t waste time talking, get a move on!” Qiao Xuan snapped.
Simultaneously, his actions weren’t sluggish either.
Wang Ye didn’t even glance around; from start to finish, he efficiently packed his backpack.
Hurry, both of you, move faster. What’s going on with your recruit company!”
Wang Ye had already slung his backpack over his shoulders. At this moment, a voice came from the side. Wang Ye turned his head to see Zhou Qi berating Zhang Wen and the other two with a stern expression.
Zhang Wen had already retrieved the small yellow basin and was stowing it away, showing reasonable speed.
However, Peng Yuhang was still struggling to stuff his blanket into his backpack.
Zhou Qi rushed over to assist Peng Yuhang.
“Hurry up, I’ll head out first!”
Once the third platoon leader had finished, he dashed toward the exit. As the platoon leader, he needed to assess the situation in the other two squads.
In roughly three minutes, the entire company had gathered in front of the company building after retrieving their weapons and gear from the armory.
“We’ve received an urgent message from our superiors. There are terrorists planning to attack our regimental headquarters. Our superiors have ordered us to eliminate all the enemies!”
Standing before the formation, Wu Jianfeng wore a stern expression and bellowed loudly.
At that moment, Wang Ye’s eyes widened, thinking he had misheard.
“What nonsense! Terrorists daring to attack a field army’s headquarters?”
Had these terrorists been infected by the zombie virus? Why else would they act so recklessly?