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

Sun Ming was dumbfounded.

"Class monitor, should I be in his group?"

Chen Fei screwed the kettle lid on and patted him on the shoulder: "What, afraid he'll eat you?"

"No, that's not it," Sun Ming glanced towards Class 1, "That guy... doesn't really talk to people."

Chen Fei laughed: "Aren't you good at talking? Here's your chance, go for it."

Sun Ming's heart skipped a beat when he heard this.

An opportunity? That doesn't sound like a good thing.

On the other side of the playground, a class was tidying up the marker poles and measuring tapes used for drill training.

Wang Dashan squatted on the ground, untied a bundle of signposts, and checked for any that were bent.

Chen Jingxing, carrying three poles, took a few steps and swayed them: "Squad leader, where do we put these?"

Wang Dashan didn't even look up: "If you put it in the wrong place, just sleep with it."

Chen Jingxing immediately stopped and asked, "Then I'll ask again, where exactly do I put it?"

Wang Dashan raised his face, looking like he was about to explode in anger.

"To the left of the equipment shed, inside the red line, pole heads facing outwards! Got it?"

"Got it!"

Chen Jingxing grabbed the pole and ran, but after two steps he turned back: "Squad leader, which side is inside the red line?"

Wang Dashan forced out three words through gritted teeth: "Chen...Jing...Xing!"

"arrive!"

"If you weren't a rookie, I'd show you what a red line really is right now!"

Li Lei, standing next to him, lowered his head and his shoulders twitched.

Liu Hai clutched the powder box, barely daring to breathe.

Xiao Longteng picked up the tape measure that was scattered on the ground, first fixed the metal end, and then put it back into the box in circles. His movements were slow, but the tape measure was obedient and did not bounce back and hit his hand.

Wang Dashan glanced at him: "Xiao Longteng."

"arrive."

"Bring the pole over there with bangs on, don't let Chen Jingxing dismantle the equipment shed."

"Yes."

Chen Jingxing protested, "Squad leader, I just wanted to clarify things, why do we have to tear down the shed?"

Wang Dashan pointed at the pole in his hand: "First, move the pole head off the back of your bangs!"

Chen Jingxing turned around and quickly turned the pole horizontally. Liu Hai shrank back in fright.

"Chen, Chen Jingxing, slow down."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Wang Dashan scoffed, "You have nothing to say."

Just as Class One started moving, Chen Fei strolled over from Class Two.

He first approached Wang Dashan, without rushing to find Xiao Longteng.

"Old Wang, busy?"

Wang Dashan tossed a bent pole aside: "Can't you tell?"

Chen Fei squatted down, picked up the pole, and examined it: "It's not bent too badly, it's still usable. It's basic training, equipment is scarce, so we'll just have to make do."

Wang Dashan snatched the pole back: "I can look at our class's equipment myself."

Chen Fei wasn't annoyed; he stood up and dusted off his hands.

"Your class made great progress in the morning drills. Especially that guy who enlisted again, what's his name again?"

Wang Dashan retied the poles: "They're on the roster."

"Xiao Longteng, right?" Chen Fei said as if he had just remembered. "This kind of soldier is hard to manage, isn't he? He knows a little, but he hides a little. With your temper, can you tolerate that?"

Wang Dashan finally looked at him properly: "You've been quite talkative today."

"It's just exchanging experiences," Chen Fei said with a smile. "Soldiers from the logistics support brigade, how can they lead such disciplined troops? They pay close attention to detail in their training."

Wang Dashan pulled the rope and tied a tight knot: "What they did before has nothing to do with what they do now. When they get to basic training, they'll all have to follow basic training rules!"

"That makes sense." Chen Fei nodded.

Wang Dashan stood up, lowering his voice: "Chen Fei, stop beating around the bush. If you want to see the soldiers, go back to your second squad. Don't try to get your hands on my squad."

"Oh, so protective of her?"

"If I don't protect the soldiers I lead, why should you?"

Chen Fei looked at him for two seconds and smiled. Wang Dashan's reaction was more effective than any answer.

He initially just thought Xiao Longteng was interesting, but now he understands that Old Wang isn't valuing a soldier; he's blocking someone.

Chen Fei turned around and walked back, seeing Sun Ming still standing there, he kicked his heel in an annoyed tone: "What are you standing there for? Go to the equipment shed and borrow a wrench."

"Don't we have some?"

Chen Fei glanced at him.

Sun Ming quickly corrected himself: "Understood, lend me a wrench!"

"Don't be too fake."

"I'll try to be as truthful as possible."

Sun Ming, carrying two poles, circled halfway around and caught up with the group.

The equipment shed was filled with marker buckets, wooden stakes, and old target stands, and a red line was drawn at the entrance.

Chen Jingxing stood outside the red line, looking confused: "Brother Xiao, the squad leader said 'inside the red line,' does that mean inside or outside?"

Xiao Longteng put the pole he was holding back into the shelf: "Place it against the wall."

"Why didn't he just say he was against the wall?" Chen Jingxing muttered.

Li Lei came in carrying a pole: "You asked him three times, and the fact that he didn't make a move is already considered restraint."

"Li Lei, you've changed," Chen Jingxing sighed. "You used to never finish people off."

Liu Hai gently placed the powder box down and even used his hand to measure the margins.

Xiao Longteng glanced at it and said, "Okay."

Liu Hai finally breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, Sun Ming carried the pole into the shed.

"Hey, guys from Class One, lend a hand."

Chen Jingxing turned around: "Why did you put your Class Two's pole here?"

"We're all in the same shed, why make such a big deal out of it?" Sun Ming leaned against the pole. "I've come to borrow a wrench; our squad leader gave it to me."

Chen Jingxing immediately became wary: "You want to borrow a wrench so you can carry the pole?"

Sun Ming said very seriously, "It's on the way."

"Your route is a bit roundabout, isn't it?"

Sun Ming ignored him and turned directly to Xiao Longteng: "Brother Xiao, did you arrange your equipment like this in the army before? You seem quite familiar with it."

Xiao Longteng picked up a wrench from the shelf, glanced at its specifications, and said, "Arrange the equipment as required."

"Does the logistics support brigade deal with warehouses and vehicles every day?"

"It depends on the position."

What is your position?

"Grassroots level".

Sun Ming was taken aback, then changed his approach: "Re-enlisting is quite rare. Are you planning to apply to military academy or stay in the army?"

"Follow the instructions."

"So you didn't look for a job after you were discharged from the military?"

"I've looked for it."

"What do you do?"

Xiao Longteng handed over the wrench: "Temporary worker."

Sun Ming nearly dropped the wrench. The conversation was ruined.

Chen Jingxing, listening nearby, chuckled: "Sun Ming, are you checking someone's household registration?"

"Just chatting," Sun Ming waved his hand. "We're all curious about veterans like Brother Xiao who have enlisted twice."

Xiao Longteng placed a marker pole in place: "Nothing to be curious about."

Sun Ming was still not giving up: "Then teach me, why do you fold your blankets so neatly? Our class monitor said my blankets look like they were chewed by a dog."

Chen Jingxing got excited: "I've seen your quilt before; even a dog would shake its head at it."

Sun Ming glared at him: "You're no better yourself."

Chen Jingxing puffed out his chest: "I have Brother Xiao!"

Xiao Longteng interrupted the two: "Press it down firmly, find the lines, start with the main surface, then work on the corners."

Sun Ming quickly pressed, "Be more specific?"

"Fold it ten more times every day."

"this one?"

"Um."

Sun Ming persisted, "What about the formation? Your class's formation was all crooked this morning, how come it's all aligned now? Is there a trick to it?"

Liu Hai also looked up. He knew best what had happened that morning.

Xiao Longteng placed the last pole: "Listen to the commands, watch the front of the line, and don't mess up the pace."

Sun Ming waited for a long time, but there was no further news: "That's it?"

"That's all."

Chen Jingxing patted Sun Ming on the shoulder: "Brother, Brother Xiao's teaching is so simple, as long as you can understand it, it's enough."

Sun Ming sighed inwardly; this person was as guarded as an iron barrel. He answered every question, but every answer was like a wall.

He walked out with the wrench in his hand, and just as he reached the door, Chen Fei arrived.

Chen Fei didn't look at him, but saw a training flagpole lying horizontally in the corner of the lower equipment rack, with a pin stuck in the base and unable to be pulled out.

He went over and tried, but couldn't get it to work.

"Old Wang!"

Wang Dashan happened to walk to the entrance of the shed: "Are you calling back the soul?"

Chen Fei pointed to the base: "This flagpole is stuck. Your class happens to be here, so lend a hand."

Wang Dashan's face darkened: "Is there no one left in Class Two?"

"Sun Ming tried, but he couldn't open it. Don't you have any veterans in your class? Let him take a look."

"Chen Fei!" Wang Dashan's voice turned somber.

"It's just a latch." Chen Fei spread his hands. "Why are you reacting so strongly? Do you think I can find some secret in the latch?"

These words were a bit harsh, and the room fell silent.

Xiao Longteng looked at Wang Dashan: "Reporting to the squad leader, it can be handled."

Wang Dashan glanced at Chen Fei before nodding: "Follow the procedures, don't try to be a hero."

"Yes."

Chen Fei took a half step back, waiting to see what he would do.

Xiao Longteng didn't rush to make a move. He squatted down and touched the exposed part of the latch with his fingers.

"Chen Jingxing, come here."

Chen Jingxing was taken aback: "Me?"

"Yes, pull it out normally."

Chen Jingxing went up and grabbed the bolt, his face turning red, as if the thing was welded to it.

"Stop." Xiao Longteng raised his hand.

He then had Liu Hai and Li Lei try it again, and the results were the same.

Chen Fei watched from the sidelines, understanding the situation. This kid was letting others try first, making the difficulty of the task clear.

Wang Dashan cursed inwardly: "Damn, they really know how to hide things."

Xiao Longteng took the wrench from Sun Ming: "The base hole is misaligned, the pin is under pressure, and it cannot be pulled out directly."

He told Chen Jingxing to hold the top of the flagpole, "Don't use brute force, keep it steady."

"clear."

Xiao Longteng used a wrench to hold the pin in place and pressed it down a little, while turning the base with his other hand.

"Click."

With a soft click, the latch loosened.

Chen Jingxing's eyes widened: "It's open?"

"not yet."

Xiao Longteng changed direction, pushed the flagpole back a little, and pressed down with the wrench.

"Click."

This time, part of the latch was sticking out.

He put down the wrench, pinched it with his fingers, and pulled out the rusty pin.

Sun Ming stared at the pin: "Is it that simple?"

"If it's stuck, find out why first, don't try to pull it out by force." Xiao Longteng put the pin on the ground.

Chen Jingxing mimicked his tone: "Life is the same. If you get stuck, find the reason first, don't force it."

Wang Dashan slapped him on the back: "Are you stuck now?"

Chen Jingxing puffed out his chest: "No! It was exceptionally smooth!"

Chen Fei picked up the pin and examined it; it did indeed have uneven wear marks. Xiao Longteng had done everything perfectly, but it was precisely because everything was so perfect that it felt off.

"Sure," Chen Fei put the pin back in Xiao Longteng's hand. "He came from the logistics support brigade, so he's quite skilled at equipment maintenance."

Xiao Longteng wiped the latch clean and reinserted it: "I've done this before."

"What have you been in contact with?"

Training equipment.

Chen Fei was cornered again.

Wang Dashan shooed them away: "Get out of here when you're done. Chen Fei, doesn't your Class Two have anything to do?"

Chen Fei, wrench in hand, led his team away. Sun Ming glanced back before leaving the shed; this guy was too hard to get. He answered every question, but every answer was like a door that couldn't be opened.

After tidying up the equipment, Wang Dashan called Xiao Longteng aside.

"What did Sun Ming say to you just now?"

"They asked about my former work unit, the reason for my second enlistment, and my living quarters and drills."

"What was your answer?"

"Within the scope of the archives."

"You seem to know everything," Wang Dashan snorted, lowering his voice. "Sun Ming's squad leader, Chen Fei, is quick-witted and meticulous. He's testing you; don't follow his lead. Also, don't help with everything. You're a new recruit, not an equipment operator!"

"Yes, squad leader."

"I won't ask what you did before," Wang Dashan said, looking at him. "I'll take care of you exactly as you fill out your file. But as long as you're in Class One, follow Class One's rules. Report in advance if you need to!"

"Yes, squad leader."

Wang Dashan waved his hand: "Back to the team."

Evening, Class 2 dormitory.

Sun Ming honestly reported: "Squad leader, we can't get any information out of him. Talking to him is like hitting a wall."

Chen Fei was writing something in his notebook without looking up: "It's not that he doesn't like you, it's that he simply doesn't want you to go through that door."

He lowered his head and wrote a few words below the name "Xiao Longteng":

Logistics personnel?

The queue is good.

He can fix things.

He held the pen, thought for a moment, and then added a question mark at the end.