You've already received a first-class merit award, why are you pretending to be a new recruit a

"I request that these honors be shelved."

The major general behind the desk looked up and his gaze fell on the young soldier opposite him.

He was still holding a pen in his hand.

The pen tip hovered above the signature bar of the document, having been paused for three seconds.

"Xiao Longteng, First-Class Merit, Lieutenant Rank." The Major General put down his pen, crossed his hands on the table, and said, "As long as you agree, you will immediately assume the post of Deputy Company Commander in the Special Operations Brigade directly under the Army Group. Your starting point is much higher than that of your peers."

"I know."

"Then why refuse?"

Xiao Longteng stood ramrod straight, his hands pressed tightly against the seams of his trousers.

At the age of twenty-three, his facial features were strong, with the contours of his brow bone and cheekbone looking as if they had been sculpted by wind and sand.

"I enlisted at seventeen, and after completing the physical fitness test on my first day, I was transferred away that very night." He paused for a moment. "I never experienced a full recruit training program. I want to go through that process all over again."

The major general remained silent.

Of course he knew about what happened back then.

Xiao Longteng's grandfather was Xiao Weiguo, a disabled veteran who was awarded a first-class merit in the border self-defense counterattack war.

The veteran cadre in charge of selecting special talents saw Xiao Longteng's place of origin and surname, checked the internal records, and directly issued an encrypted transfer order.

The 17-year-old soldier disappeared from the personnel file without ever folding his blankets during basic training.

"Are you sure?" the major general asked.

"Sure."

"Your education, rank, and merits have all been sealed in the classified system. In the public records, you are just an ordinary soldier who retired as a corporal and then re-enlisted."

"clear."

The major general picked up his pen and signed his name on the document.

The sound of the pen tip gliding across the paper was very soft.

"Report to the recruit assembly point tomorrow morning." He closed the folder. "In recruit training, no one will know your past."

"Yes."

Xiao Longteng gave a standard military salute and turned to walk out.

"Wait a minute," the major general called out to him, "How is your grandfather's health?"

Xiao Longteng did not turn around.

"He now grows vegetables in the field every day. He says that if he can come back, that's a victory."

The office door was closed.

The major general sat back in his chair, looking at the unclaimed medal on the table.

After a long time, he opened the drawer and locked the red velvet box inside.

-

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the windows of the long-distance bus.

The train carriage was filled with young recruits. The oversized camouflage uniforms they wore looked borrowed.

Some people were crying quietly, some were excitedly discussing gun models, and others were looking down to send text messages home.

Xiao Longteng sat in the last row by the window.

The backpack was placed on the lap.

All zippers are pulled to the top, and any excess straps are gathered and secured. The water bottle is hung on the left side, at an angle completely parallel to the edge of the backpack.

"Hey bro, you're a new recruit too?"

A fair-skinned boy next to me came over and handed me a bag of snacks.

"My name is Chen Jingxing, I'm a local. What's your name?"

Xiao Longteng did not accept the snacks.

"Xiao Longteng".

"Xiao Longteng? That's a nice name." Chen Jingxing stuffed the snacks back into his bag, looked him up and down, and said, "Hey, why do your clothes look like they fit us better? And your posture is way too upright."

Xiao Longteng relaxed his body slightly and leaned back in his chair.

"I'm used to it."

"You used to be a soldier?" Chen Jingxing asked in a low voice.

"I served for a few years, then retired as a corporal."

"Holy crap, a veteran!" Chen Jingxing exclaimed.

Several new recruits around them turned their heads.

"Really? Why is a veteran enlisting again?"

"Re-enlisting? Dude, what are you after?"

Xiao Longteng closed his eyes.

"It was arranged by my family."

He didn't say another word.

The surrounding chatter gradually subsided.

The bus sped along the highway.

Three hours later, the bus slowly came to a stop.

The car door opened, and a wave of heat hit us.

"Everyone get off the bus! Quickly! Grab your bags and assemble in the open area!"

A rough roar came from outside the car.

Xiao Longteng opened his eyes and was the first to stand up. He lifted his 30-kilogram backpack with one hand and walked along the passageway towards the car door.

Outside the car was a huge concrete playground.

Several soldiers wearing red armbands indicating they were squad leaders or key personnel stood in the sun, their faces grim.

"Stand still! What kind of behavior is this, leaning and slouching like that!"

A burly, dark-skinned corporal pointed at the chaotic crowd. His voice was so loud it was as if he had a built-in megaphone.

Wang Dashan, squad leader of the recruit company.

The new recruits frantically searched for their positions. Chen Jingxing tripped over his shoelace as he got off the vehicle, causing him to fall forward.

Xiao Longteng reached out his right hand and grabbed Chen Jingxing's backpack strap.

His arm tightened, forcefully pulling the person back from the momentum of the fall.

"Hold on tight."

"Thank you, buddy." Chen Jingxing's face turned pale, and he quickly stood up straight.

Wang Dashan's gaze swept across the crowd, pausing briefly on Xiao Longteng.

Xiao Longteng stood at the back of the line. His feet were together, his body slightly leaning forward, and his middle finger pressed against the seam of his trousers. Unlike the other recruits, his gaze did not wander aimlessly, but was fixed on a single point in front of him.

Wang Dashan glanced at him a couple more times, but didn't say anything.

He took the roster and walked to the front of the line.

"My name is Wang Dashan, and I'm your squad leader. Over the next three months, I'll show you what the military is all about."

He began taking attendance.

"Chen Jingxing!"

"Here!" His voice trembled slightly.

"Li Lei!"

"arrive!"

The roster turned a page. Wang Dashan's gaze lingered on a certain name for a moment.

"Xiao Longteng!"

"arrive!"

The sound wasn't loud, but it could be heard clearly throughout the entire playground.

Wang Dashan closed the roster and walked up to Xiao Longteng.

The two were less than thirty centimeters apart. Wang Dashan was half a head shorter than Xiao Longteng, but he stood there with his chin slightly raised, like a wall.

"Your file says you served in the military?"

"Yes."

"Retired as a corporal?"

"Yes."

Wang Dashan sneered and circled around Xiao Longteng.

"In my unit, there's no distinction between veterans and new recruits. No matter which unit you served in before, once you're here, you're a greenhorn. Understand?"

"I understand."

"Speak louder! Haven't you eaten?"

"I understand!"

The sound traveled around the playground before dissipating.

Wang Dashan stared into Xiao Longteng's eyes for three seconds.

We found nothing.

Those eyes were calm and steady, without resistance, arrogance, or the nervousness one would expect from a new recruit.

Wang Dashan took a step back and waved his hand.

"Class 1, grab your luggage and come back to the dorm with me!"

Xiao Longteng picked up his backpack and followed behind the group.

As he watched Wang Dashan's retreating figure, his grandfather's voice echoed in his mind.

"Look carefully before you go."

Xiao Longteng lowered his head slightly, looking at the cement road beneath his feet.

The recruit training has officially begun.