Chapter 29: Bro Hui, Are You Opening a Nightclub?

"Quartermaster, I've completed the task you assigned me — does that mean I win?" Lin Hui asked with a grin.

Fan Ming was momentarily stunned, then burst out laughing. "What, afraid I'll go back on my word?"

"Of course not!" Lin Hui said with a smile. "The Quartermaster is a man of his word — you'd never do that!"

"Alright, alright — you win!" Fan Ming rolled his eyes and turned to look at the veteran soldiers. "You see that? He's only been here a short while and he's already delivering piglets. How long did it take you lot to learn that? Aren't you embarrassed?"

The veterans' faces immediately fell.

It had taken them a full year to learn that skill.

Who could have known this kid's family raised pigs — and that his father was a professional pig slaughterer?

One of the veterans said, "Quartermaster, we know we were wrong."

Fan Ming said sternly, "Alright, I'm not blaming you — what's done is done. From now on, you are not to bully Lin Hui, and you are absolutely not to dump all the dirty and exhausting work on him and his squad. They work hard and diligently while you lot slack off — it's completely unacceptable!"

"Yes, sir."

The veterans were sulking.

But they genuinely admired Lin Hui's skill.

In all their years, they'd never seen anyone deliver piglets like that. It was like something out of a ghost story!

Wang Yong and Chen Erhu immediately broke into wide grins. "Heh heh, looks like we'll finally have good days ahead! Bro Hui is amazing — I love Bro Hui!"

Just then, Fan Ming suddenly asked out of curiosity, "Lin Hui, let me ask you something — besides pigs, what else does your dad raise?"

"Chickens, ducks, and fish," Lin Hui said with a perfectly straight face. "Why do you ask, Quartermaster?"

Fan Ming's eyes lit up. "So that means you know your way around chickens too?"

Lin Hui smiled pleasantly. "Of course. My dad is even better at slaughtering chickens than pigs — he started out selling chickens at the market. Put it this way: I grew up in a chicken coop. I've seen every kind of chicken there is."

Back home, Lin Guangyao let out another sneeze, his head buzzing: What's going on today? Am I coming down with something?

Fan Ming clapped him excitedly on the shoulder. "Wonderful, wonderful! Looks like our logistics unit has struck gold this time!"

"Here's what we'll do — starting today, you'll take charge of the livestock operations. The other work can go to the veterans."

The veterans' faces instantly turned green. "Quartermaster, that — that can't be right, can it…"

"Why not?"

Fan Ming stared them down. "Do you have the skills? If you do, step up and take over — let them handle the rest!"

Old Ma chuckled. "Exactly. You all just watched Lin Hui deliver that litter — smooth and fast, clean and efficient. Which one of you can do it like that?"

The veterans were speechless.

It wasn't their fault they didn't have a pig-slaughterer for a father.

Seeing Lin Hui still hesitating, Fan Ming simply said, "If you can handle this job — manage the pig pens and the chicken coops — I'll give you all extra days off."

Lin Hui and his squad's eyes lit up instantly!

Days off — now that was something!

They could go out and have a good time! Head into the city, walk around, grab a meal, catch a movie, take a bath — maybe even sneak off to a club for a spin.

"Deal. No problem — I guarantee I'll get the job done!"

Fan Ming smiled faintly. "Good! As long as you deliver results and perform well, however many days off you want, I'll give them to you!"

He turned to the veterans. "And you lot, listen up — from now on, whatever Lin Hui tells you to do, you do it. Stop acting like being a veteran makes you something special!"

The veterans were dumbfounded. What the hell had they done to deserve this?

Now they were going to be bossed around by a new recruit.

Lin Hui let out a quiet laugh, secretly delighted.

Turns out having skills really does make a difference — it pays off wherever you go.

Though he definitely couldn't let his old man find out about this. Otherwise, he'd get a belting for sure.

Shortly after, Fan Ming led Lin Hui over to the chicken coops.

He pushed the door open, and a wave of chicken-dropping stench hit them square in the face.

Lin Hui and his two squadmates didn't even flinch.

Over the past stretch of time, the veterans had put them through the wringer — every dirty and exhausting job imaginable. They'd long since gotten used to it.

Fan Ming turned around and said, "Raising chickens is actually quite simple. As long as you keep them alive, make sure they grow fast, and lay plenty of eggs — hit those three marks and you've done your job. Can you do it?"

Lin Hui puffed out his chest. "Sir, I have confidence in the chickens, and even more confidence in myself!"

"Then get to it!"

Fan Ming gave him a pat on the back and turned to leave.

Old Ma asked with a look of concern, "Will you be alright? Do you need me to help?"

Lin Hui felt a warm glow in his chest.

Old Ma was always looking out for them, every single moment.

He suddenly realized he was growing fonder and fonder of this place.

"Sergeant Ma, put your mind completely at ease. My family runs a big livestock operation — and besides, raising chickens is way simpler than raising pigs."

Old Ma thought it over. Lin Hui had delivered piglets, which proved he had real experience.

And his father did deal with chickens all the time…

Even so, he still couldn't help repeating his advice. "Alright then. If there's anything you don't understand or aren't sure about, come find me anytime — don't worry about being a bother."

"Got it, Sergeant Ma!"

Sergeant Ma led the veterans out.

The moment they stepped outside, Lu Ming couldn't help himself. "Sergeant Ma, do you think Lin Hui and his squad will manage?"

Old Ma glanced back. "Worried about them?"

"Nonsense!" Lu Ming insisted stubbornly. "I'm worried about the hens in there — those are unit property!"

Old Ma laughed heartily. "Relax. I believe those kids can handle it."

* * *

That evening.

Lin Hui arrived at the chicken coop lugging two large speakers.

Wang Yong was completely baffled. "Bro Hui, what are you bringing two big speakers here for? Sure, there are plenty of birds in here, but… you can't turn this place into a nightclub!"

Lin Hui rolled his eyes. "What do you know? I'm doing this for the chickens."

Wang Yong and Chen Erhu exchanged a bewildered look, heads full of question marks.

"Speakers?"

"For raising chickens?"

"Come on… how do those two things go together?"

"Do you two know how to make chickens grow well and lay more eggs?"

Both of them shook their heads like rattles.

Lin Hui smiled slightly. "Scientific research shows that if you want chickens to grow well and lay more eggs, you have to keep them in a good mood!"

Wang Yong nearly spat blood. "Keep the chickens in a good mood? The only thing I know that puts me in a good mood is a big chicken drumstick!"

"A big drumstick? Where?! I want one too, I want one too!"

Chen Erhu had finally understood at least one sentence.

Lin Hui looked at the two clowns and shook his head. "Forget it — even if I explain, you won't get it. Just do what I say when the time comes. Erhu, help me plug in the power!"

Chen Erhu found an extension cord and got the speakers connected.

Lin Hui fished a cassette tape out of his pocket, blew the dust off it, and slid it in.

"You're like a fire, a blazing flame, burning right through me…"

An upbeat song filled the air.

All the hens were startled, flapping their wings in a frenzy.

Lin Hui beat out the rhythm and said, "You two — sing along!"

The pair froze on the spot. Wang Yong stared with wide, disbelieving eyes. "Holy shit — you're actually serious about turning this chicken coop into a nightclub?!"