I enlisted four times! My former unit blacklisted me.

"Sending off our comrades, embarking on their journey..."

The loudspeakers in the camp were playing Dao Lang's demobilization anthem "Camel Bells" on a loop.

Meanwhile, in the barracks of the Third Company, Wu Hanfeng yawned sleepily and slowly got up.

Seeing the scene of a group of veterans embracing and weeping outside the barracks, I couldn't help but sigh:

"It's just being discharged from the military, what's there to be sad about!"

"And it's always this song, it has to make people cry buckets of tears."

As he spoke, Wu Hanfeng sighed again and muttered to himself:

"I'll be 24 when I get discharged from the military, so I need to take the college entrance exam and get into university as soon as possible."

"Otherwise, they'll be too old for military service!"

"Damn system! It makes me sign in at a military combat unit for 2195 consecutive days before it's officially activated!"

"I've been stuck here in a daze for six years now!"

"Couldn't it be five days less? Why do I have to enlist for the fourth time to make up that extra five days!"

"That's 2190 days! A full six years!"

Over the course of six years, Wu Hanfeng practically forced himself to become a professional veteran!

If the system hadn't insisted that he stay in the combat unit...

He could easily apply to work in the mess hall or logistics department raising pigs to complete this sign-in task!

But by some strange twist of fate, he was assigned to a combat unit within a combat company!

Because of their poor physical condition and short, flat feet, their limits are limited.

No matter how much I practice, I can only barely reach a passing level.

The military has extremely strict regulations on the conversion of conscripts into non-commissioned officers, requiring that the pass rate for all military skills subjects reach over 80%.

He applied to become a non-commissioned officer time and time again, but was rejected each time.

In the end, he had no choice but to repeatedly leave and rejoin the army.

Within seven years, he enlisted three times and was discharged three times.

It is now May 2023, 3.

He is about to take off his military uniform for the third time.

"After I'm discharged from the military this time, I need to get a bachelor's degree as soon as possible, and then apply for the military again as an undergraduate."

"The maximum age for undergraduate students is 24, and I'm exactly 24 now, so I have enough time."

"If I were to take the postgraduate entrance exam, the age limit could be extended to 26... But I can't wait until then, otherwise I'll be middle-aged by then!"

Just then, a commotion arose outside the door, and a group of people walked in.

The leader was Wu Hai, a private first class who retired with him.

There were several others who were also leaving the army, all wearing big red flowers, and their eyes were red.

Upon seeing Wu Hanfeng, Wu Hai wiped away his tears and asked curiously, "Old Wu, what are you still doing in the dorm? Hurry up and get ready to go out for your discharge ceremony!"

Wu Hanfeng lay back down on the bed, legs crossed, "What's so great about participating? Just listening to a bunch of leaders babbling on and on in official jargon, and then everyone gets a big red flower pinned on their head, and a bunch of grown men hug each other and cry their eyes out."

"I just don't understand, what's there to cry about? It's not like he's dead. If he wants to see me, he can just make a video call, right?"

Everyone: "Uh...we forgot, Lao Wu, you've enlisted three times already. This is your third discharge."

The group of veterans were stunned.

That's when it dawned on me.

Wu Hanfeng has enlisted in the army three times and been discharged three times.

Seven whole years.

This thing actually managed to go in and out three times.

Even Forrest Gump probably didn't have this kind of spirit!

Wu Hai said, "But Lao Wu, this is the last time I'm discharged from the army. Aren't you sad?"

Wu Hanfeng tilted his head slightly and chuckled, "This is your last time, but I might not be so sure about me."

Everyone: "???"

"You're not planning to re-enlist after your military service, are you?"

"But your age doesn't match!"

Just as Wu Hanfeng was about to speak, a group of people suddenly burst in.

Leading the group was Zhou Haibo, the current squad leader of the third squad of the third company.

Upon seeing the several veterans, they were immediately moved to tears and rushed over to embrace them.

"Wu Hai!"

"Class monitor!"

"Chen Hao!"

"Class monitor!"

A group of grown men patted each other on the shoulder and wiped away tears, looking as if they were facing a life-or-death separation.

Zhou Haibo patted Wu Hai on the shoulder, his voice choked with emotion, and said, "Do a good job where you are, don't embarrass our company! Come back and visit when you have time!"

Wu Hai wiped away his tears with his sleeve and said in a hoarse voice, "Don't worry, squad leader! I'll definitely come back to see you!"

"Good brother!"

"Class monitor!"

Just as the two were about to embrace and have a good cry, Zhou Haibo's gaze fell on Wu Hanfeng, who was lying leisurely to the side.

The tears on her face evaporated instantly, and her eyes became wary.

Seeing Zhou Haibo's appearance, Wu Hai couldn't help but ask, "Old Zhou? What's wrong?"

Zhou Haibo didn't respond to him, but slowly walked towards Wu Hanfeng, without a trace of sadness on his face.

Seeing Zhou Haibo approaching, Wu Hanfeng greeted him with a smile, "Oh, Haibo's here? Want to play a couple of rounds of Dou Dizhu?"

Looking at the smile on his face, Zhou Haibo couldn't help but twitch his lips and said:

"Old Wu, my dear father! You won't be coming back after you retire from the army this time, will you?"

Wu Hanfeng was taken aback, then said with a forced smile, "Haibo, the way you're saying this sounds so awkward to me."

Zhou Haibo grabbed Wu Hanfeng's arm and demanded, "I don't care! Answer me! You're leaving this time, are you really not coming back?"

The other veterans who came to see off the retiring soldiers looked at each other in bewilderment upon seeing this scene.

Is this what is going on?

Why is Squad Leader Zhou so angry?

Does this veteran Wu owe Squad Leader Zhou a few hundred yuan? Is he afraid that he won't pay it back when he goes back?

At this moment, Li Hao, the deputy squad leader of the third squad, whispered an explanation:

"Do you know how much our squad leader cried when Lao Wu was discharged from the army for the first time?"

"That was absolutely heart-wrenching!"

"She clung to Old Wu's leg and wouldn't let go, crying like a newborn baby."

"Then, less than six months after Lao Wu was discharged from the army, he enlisted again."

"Our squad leader was overjoyed to be assigned to our company!"

"When he was discharged from the army for the second time, he cried again, but it was obviously not as dramatic as the first time. He only shed two tears."

"And the third time?"

"The third time is now. Did you see him cry?"

Everyone looked at Zhou Haibo, and sure enough, they all looked disgusted.

There was no trace of sadness to be seen.

They seemed afraid that Wu Hanfeng wouldn't leave.

Li Hao said helplessly, "This is what they call 'one effort, then a decline, and finally exhaustion.'"

The ancients were right.