Chapter 9
“Song Yuejin!”
“Here!”
“Gu Yingnan!”
“Here!”
…
Before him stood a group of veterans, each shouting out their names one by one. The ritual had begun after Wu Jianfeng’s brief speech, and it was time for attendance.
One by one, the squad leaders stood up to take attendance. Those whose names were called collected their belongings and fell in line behind their respective leaders.
“Wang Ye!” A sudden call snapped Wang Ye out of his thoughts, and he quickly responded. He gathered his belongings and made his way out of the room.
Yan Zhiming’s voice interrupted his exit. “What a pity, Old Wang. It looks like we can’t be in the same class anymore!”
Wang Ye had no time to respond, and he continued on his way out.
Out of the ten new recruits, Wang Ye was the last to be called. He found himself standing behind the squad leader, Ye Sanshi.
Suddenly, a message appeared in his mind.
“Mission reminder. A good soldier must stand out. The system has detected that you have joined the new recruits’ company. Your mission is to make the class monitor notice you within 24 hours and make the company commander remember your name within three days. The reward for this mission is one skill point.”
Wang Ye was stunned. He had no idea that there were missions to be completed.
But then, he felt a wave of excitement wash over him. Now he understood what skill points are.
It was true that his system could turn any knowledge or skill into a valuable asset, but if he wanted to level up, he had to rely on his own training. Fortunately, the effect of the skill points was simply astounding. With a few clicks, he could directly add points to upgrade his skills. It was incredible and immensely powerful.
But what impressed him, even more, was the mission system. Unlike the punishing mechanisms found in the novels he had read in his previous life, this system only had a reward mechanism for completing missions. According to the information the system had just sent him, if a mission was triggered and he failed to complete it, there would be no punishment, only a loss of potential rewards.
Naturally, Wang Ye wouldn’t refuse any mission that he was capable of and wanted to complete. After all, the skill points from completing missions could speed up his growth, and who wouldn’t want that? Plus, the missions were always in line with his own goals and aspirations.
Wang Ye had given up on the luxurious lifestyle that came with his rebirth and joined the army not just to help his father overcome his alcoholism, nor to simply inherit his family’s garment factory after two years of service. No, he had grand ambitions. A soldier who didn’t aspire to become a general was a lousy soldier in his eyes.
Since joining the army, Wang Ye had been determined to make a name for himself. He had only one day to impress his class monitor, and a mere three days to make the company commander remember his name. It was a daunting task, but he was more than ready for it. With the help of his system and the missions it provided, he was confident that he could achieve anything he set his mind to.
…
“Come, come, come… Brother, we are your squad leader Ye’s comrades. Give us the stuff, and we’ll help you settle in!” the veterans exclaimed with warm smiles, beckoning the new recruits to hand over their luggage.
“Don’t worry about it! We have nothing else to do tonight. Give us your things and we’ll send you to your dormitory to put your things away!”
Wang Ye stood behind the class monitor, contemplating the upcoming mission. But the veterans’ kind offer reignited his enthusiasm. He eagerly helped with the luggage and hugged his new comrades, ready to follow them to their dormitory.
The veterans’ informal demeanor raised some eyebrows, as the recruits had expected a more disciplined and structured army. But since their new companions seemed at ease, and Squad Leader Ye had already left, the recruits decided to go along with it.
“Brother, where are you guys from?” A veteran soldier carried something and asked the recruit with a smile.
“I’m from Xiangnan!”
“I’m from the northeast!”
All the recruits were a little passive.
As they walked, the veterans engaged in friendly conversation, asking about their hometowns and backgrounds. Wang Ye, being new to the place, also shared his story.
Soon, the ten recruits arrived on the second floor of the building with the help of the five to six veterans.
205.
This was the dorm room number.
“This will be Class 5’s dormitory for the next three months. Come on, let’s just put the things in a place first. We’re going to regroup at the canteen. The canteen has prepared some welcoming noodles for you.”
Squad Leader Ye’s complexion was actually very dark. He wasn’t tall, perhaps not even 1.7 meters, but he looked very strong.
At this moment, he didn’t have the stern look of the veteran squad leader that was mentioned online. He smiled and asked everyone to put their luggage in the dormitory before leading everyone out again.
…
“Fellow comrades, this military camp is like a furnace where iron is forged into steel. But it’s also our home, a place filled with love and camaraderie,” proclaimed the recruit company commander, raising his glass of fruit juice in the middle of the bustling canteen. “Before today, we were all individuals, strangers to one another. But from this day forward, we will become warriors and comrades, standing guard at the borders of our motherland with steel guns in our hands!”
The recruits and veterans alike cheered and raised their glasses, toasting to a prosperous future. Even though they were drinking fruit juice instead of wine, the sentiment was the same.
“Cheers!”
“Haha! Alright, I won’t say any more nonsense. Everyone, eat your noodles. Just like I said earlier, it’s already very late. Everyone has been traveling all day. Eat early and go back early to clean up and rest!” Wu Jianfeng finished his drink, put down his cup, and left after saying that.
He did not stay for long.
He was after all the leader. Staying here would make the recruits unable to let go.
“Our company commander is so good!”
“Yeah, he’s not long-winded. He’s to the point and has lighted a fire within me. That’s great!”
As the recruits ate their noodles, the seasoned soldiers warmly welcomed them, encouraging them to eat their fill but also cautioning against waste.
“Eat, eat. If it’s not enough, take some. Of course, be careful not to waste it. Take as much as you eat. It doesn’t matter if you take less at a time!”
The noodles were served in small yellow basins that had been well-worn and well-used, causing Wang Ye some discomfort as he remembered the stories he had read about their dubious pasts.
In the past month, he had searched for a lot of information on the Internet. Among them, there was one thing that was discussed by the retired soldiers.
The little yellow basin. It was said that it was used to carry soil, wrap dumpling fillings, cook noodles, and most importantly, it was also used to dig out feces!
Wang Ye didn’t dare to think about what kind of battle records the little yellow basin in front of him had or how glorious its past was.
However, he quickly pushed those thoughts aside, focusing on the meal in front of him and knowing that he needed his strength for the long journey ahead.