Father, you've been drafted four times already, please spare us!

"Haha, you can actually chat with them!"

Chen Nian's lips curled slightly, revealing a mischievous smile:

"Hey, as a senior colleague, I should pass on some of my experience to them!"

Old Ge didn't take it seriously, assuming Chen Nian was just in a playful mood, and even joked with him:

"Experience in promotion!"

Chen Nian grinned but didn't reply.

"Line up!"

Old Ge shouted, and the recruits who had been chatting and joking around suddenly snapped to attention and lined up in two rows as if on cue.

"Now, your platoon leaders will choose the recruits!"

"Stop talking nonsense. Last year's recruits were all freaks out. I already learned my lesson. This year, you should let me pick first!"

"You choose first? You're a head bigger than me, why should you choose first!"

"Get lost! Just talk, why are you swearing?"

"You've always been one to take more than your share; scolding you is too lenient!"

The class leaders joked and laughed with each other.

However, Chen Nian noticed that one of the class monitors was standing alone to the side, looking somewhat forlorn, and was not participating in the interactions with the other class monitors.

But Chen Nian only glanced at it, because no matter which class he went to, the final outcome would be the same - he would be taken away by his original unit.

So he didn't really care about it.

"Heh, second enlistment, huh? You definitely look like a soldier!"

While the others were still joking around, one of the class leaders came up to Chen Nian first.

"Hehe, yeah, second enlistment."

Chen Nian chuckled and replied, but that was the end of it.

"My name is Sun Lianzhong. You're quite aloof. Come with me, you know what I mean!"

Sun Lianzhong gave Chen Nian a knowing look, and Chen Nian immediately understood what he meant.

It's simply a matter of being "more lenient," allowing Chen Nian a lot of leeway in adhering to the rules.

"Okay, I'm fine with anything. If you like me, class monitor, I'll go with you!"

"Okay, I'll report to the instructor right now!"

After a brief exchange, Chen Nian readily agreed to join Sun Lianzhong's group.

"Instructor, I want this soldier!"

"No, Sun Lianzhong, why are you stealing chickens!"

"How unjust!"

"..."

Sun Lianzhong grinned at the squad leaders who had just been vying for the man:

"Hehe, all your talk is no substitute for action!"

Seeing that Chen Nian had already agreed to Sun Lianzhong's request, the group could only sigh in regret.

Unexpectedly, Old Ge suddenly spoke up:

"That won't work. Forget about him. You can't handle him. There's something else going on with that kid!"

Old Ge didn't elaborate, but simply rejected Sun Lianzhong's report.

"Wow, this kid's been hiding his true abilities!"

Seeing that Lao Ge refused, Sun Lianzhong didn't dwell on it. Every year there are one or two people who enlist for the second time, and these second-time recruits do have some advantages over other new recruits.

However, they also have some minor flaws that they have developed over time after becoming familiar with military rules.

These minor flaws are hard to correct.

Sun Lianzhong then abandoned Chen Nian and continued to select his own people.

Watching the squad leaders leave one by one, Lao Ge walked over to Chen Nian's side:

"Chen Nian, you're with him!"

"The reason? Come to my office after get off work, and we'll talk about it!"

Chen Nian's face showed a thoughtful expression, but he did not refute it, and nodded in agreement:

"Okay, advisor, I'll follow your instructions!"

"Wang Shifeng, come and get your people!"

Wang Shifeng, who had always stood apart from the other squad leaders, quickly walked over after receiving Lao Ge's order:

"Hehe, this person is yours!"

Wang Shifeng could tell from Chen Nian's posture that the young man in front of him was no ordinary person.

"Advisor, I..."

"Stop talking. Come find me after you've settled the new recruits!"

"yes!"

Several squad leaders who were selecting people saw this scene and turned their eyes to it.

Seeing Chen Nian standing next to Wang Shifeng, everyone wore strange expressions.

Some were unexpected, some were reasonable, and some even had a mocking tone...

These people all seemed like bystanders, as if they were watching a spectacle unfold.

After noticing the expressions on their faces, Chen Nian subconsciously looked at Wang Shifeng, wondering if there was another story behind this man.

Wang Shifeng, however, kept his eyes closed and did not reveal any perceptible emotions.

...

After all the new recruits were assigned, Wang Shifeng took the heavy backpack from Chen Nian and called out to his men:

"Follow me!"

Chen Nian followed behind Wang Shifeng, and the two went up the stairs one after the other.

"What year did you enlist?"

Upon hearing this question, Chen Nian raised an eyebrow.

interesting!

They didn't ask where I was from or about my previous experience in the military; instead, they asked what year I enlisted.

Is this a comparison of seniority with oneself?

Chen Nian paused for a moment, then smiled and replied:

"14."

Wang Shifeng paused upon hearing the year.

I joined the army in 14, and now it's been 22 years, eight years.

If it's only a two-year mandatory military service, then there's a six-year gap in between. But with such a long gap, can he enlist again?

If it wasn't a two-year compulsory military service, meaning Chen Nian failed to advance from the second to the third level, so he changed his path, preparing to retire and re-enter, taking an alternative promotion route, and using this year's quota.

"Class monitor, there aren't enough spots for your second transfer (three slots available), prepare..."

Chen Nian smiled but did not answer.

That's more certain than an answer!

In the military, it's very easy to transfer from one rank to two; many squad leaders and company commanders would even beg you to stay.

But the transition from second to third grade is different. Unlike the first to second grade, there aren't as many slots available. At the second to third grade stage, out of the ten outstanding sergeants, only one or two will be able to stay, and that's considered lucky!

Too many outstanding second-term sergeants have fallen at this last mile.

But reality is cruel. To succeed in the transition from second to third class, you either need a father who is a division commander, or you need to be one of the most outstanding people among the second-term sergeants!

Unless it's like Wang Shifeng imagined, where they first retire and then rejoin, accumulating years of service and building up their resumes, there's no other way.

Moreover, this is a path that only those who have spent a long time working their way up from the bottom and have extreme confidence in their abilities dare to take.

Therefore, it's not wrong for Wang Shifeng to call Chen Nian "squad leader," given his seniority and competence!

Wang Shifeng stopped in his tracks and turned to look at Chen Nian:

"Class monitor, please help me out with class matters from now on. I'm still inexperienced..."

Chen Nian interrupted Wang Shifeng directly:

"Squad leader, don't overthink it. Don't imagine things. I'm probably just a temporary resident. After basic training, I'll go back to my original unit. Just do what you normally do. The military isn't a place for special treatment, otherwise your team wouldn't be easy to manage!"

Having said that, Chen Nian took his luggage from Wang Shifeng, hoisted it onto his shoulder, and called out quite frankly:

"Class monitor."

Wang Shifeng paused for a moment, then quickly walked ahead of Chen Qian and continued leading the new recruits back to their dormitories.

Old Ge stood at a distance watching them, murmuring softly:

"Shifeng, Shifeng, last year's problems were mine, but this year you absolutely must seize the opportunity! This kid is definitely not simple; he might just be able to turn things around for you!"