Chapter 5: We're All Rookies — So Why Is the Gap This Big?

Everyone crowded around curiously.

"What a load of theatrics!"

Wang Yong stayed where he was but still pricked up his ears.

"Lin Hui, what exactly are you trying to say?"

Lin Hui cleared his throat. "You all saw what happened today — the army is nothing like the outside world. We just arrived, and we were already punished with a five-kilometer run. Every single one of us, no exceptions!"

"By the same logic, if anyone screws up from here on out, our whole squad will get punished together."

"So that's still your fault, isn't it?" Wang Yong rolled his eyes.

Lin Hui ignored him.

This guy had definitely worked on a construction site before — all he knew how to do was argue.

"So what are we supposed to do about it?"

"That five kilometers nearly snapped my legs in half. They're still shaking right now."

"I don't wanna get punished, Big Bro. How do we avoid it?"

Seeing everyone talking over each other, Lin Hui smiled slightly. "It's actually simple — two things: follow orders without question, and respect the veterans!"

"What does that mean?"

Ma Xiaoshan leaned in, curious. "Can you be more specific?"

Lin Hui grinned. "You know why the veterans love calling us Rookies? Because we're the new guys — we don't know anything."

"This is the army. A lot of things are different here from the outside. You can't just do whatever you feel like."

"Take walking, for example. Out there, you can swing your arms and stroll however you want and nobody cares. But not here — there are military rules to follow."

He continued, "In the army, you always walk in formation. Two people walk side by side; three people form a single-file column."

"What that means is: if there are two of you, you must walk abreast, keeping your arms and legs in sync. If there are three, you line up in a column."

"When you see a veteran, call out 'Squad Leader, sir!' — doesn't matter what rank they actually are, just say that."

"And say it as loud as you possibly can."

Chen Erhu asked curiously, "Why?"

Lin Hui said with a smile, "The louder your voice, the more respect you show. When the veterans are happy, they naturally won't give us a hard time."

"Also, when you run into an officer, call them 'Commander' — every single one of them — and your attitude needs to be even more respectful than if you were bowing before your ancestors."

Wang Yong scoffed from the side. "More respectful than your ancestors? What, are you visiting a grave?"

"Don't listen to his nonsense, everyone. It's not that dramatic."

Lin Hui glared at him. "If you don't believe me, go out there and try it yourself."

Wang Yong fumed.

He wasn't about to stick his neck out like that!

Someone suddenly spoke up. "I think Lin Hui makes a lot of sense. Let's go with what he says — the Squad Leader just praised him, after all."

The others immediately nodded in agreement.

Wang Yong looked exasperated, but deep down he actually thought Lin Hui had a point.

He just personally couldn't stand the guy.

Chen Erhu asked curiously, "Big Bro, anything else we should watch out for?"

Lin Hui smiled slightly. "For instance, when we head to the canteen to eat in a bit — if the officers haven't arrived yet, you stand there quietly; if the officers haven't sat down, nobody sits; if the officers haven't started eating, nobody picks up their chopsticks!"

"Huh? There are that many rules?"

"This is the army — it's not our home."

Lin Hui said seriously, "If there were no iron discipline, could our country be this strong?"

Everyone nodded, finding that hard to argue with.

Lin Hui said calmly, "Just do what I say, and nothing will go wrong."

Chen Erhu scratched his head. "There's so much to remember — what if I forget later?"

Lin Hui said, "Simple. Just watch what I do and follow along."

"Alright, alright, we'll just follow behind you—"

"First Squad Leader, heading out to get water?"

A voice suddenly came from outside, and everyone instantly scattered.

Xu Da walked in carrying two thermos bottles. "What's going on? Did you all figure it out? Why are you still chatting?"

Lin Hui smiled and said, "Squad Leader, I was just going over the details with everyone. They all want to learn fast and bring honor to our squad!"

Xu Da's face broke into a wide grin. "That's the spirit! That's exactly the attitude — strive to be number one! That's what being a soldier is all about — you've got to have that drive!"

"Keep folding. Ask if you don't understand anything. Come get some water if you're thirsty."

Everyone bent their heads back down and kept folding their blankets.

Before long, a whistle blew outside.

It was time to eat.

"Quick, follow me!"

Lin Hui waved his hand, and everyone immediately ran downstairs after him.

Xu Da had been about to call out to them, but to his surprise, they were already moving on their own.

By the time he reached the bottom of the stairs, First Squad was already standing in formation.

"Move it!"

"Come on, pick up the pace — you're this slow just to eat?!"

"Look at First Squad over there — they're already in formation!"

The other squads' leaders were still loudly urging their sluggish Rookies along.

Xu Da stood proudly at the front of First Squad's formation, shooting a smug look at the other squads.

"Too slow, way too slow. Second Squad Leader, Third Squad Leader — why aren't you assembled yet? I've been waiting forever."

"Not even motivated to eat — honestly, what can I say."

The Second and Third Squad Leaders turned back in frustration and shot fierce glares at the soldiers behind them.

They were all Rookies — so why was the gap this big?

Before long, all the new recruits had fully assembled.

A Platoon Leader immediately shouted, "Everyone, right… face!"

Swish!

First Squad turned right as one.

The movements were a little uneven, but compared to the other squads' lazy, scattered shuffling, it was a world of difference.

"Forward… march!"

The other squads walked in a chaotic mess, with some soldiers chatting and laughing in the ranks.

Among the entire recruit formation, only First Squad managed to keep their arms and legs roughly in sync, and not a single person spoke throughout.

The contrast was immediately stark.

At the entrance to the canteen, Regiment Commander Zhou Zhongyi and several Company Commanders were already waiting.

Zhou Zhongyi spotted one squad in the distance that stood out like a crane among chickens, and his eyes lit up.

"The soldiers in that squad — not bad at all."

Zhang Jiantao was momentarily stunned, because he realized the soldier at the head of the column was Lin Hui.

His mouth twitched, but he quickly said, "Regiment Commander, that's First Squad. The Squad Leader is Xu Da — very experienced!"

The Regiment Commander nodded with satisfaction. "Even the finest steel needs a good whetstone to become a sharp blade! Good — this squad is good!"

Zhang Jiantao laughed awkwardly, his eyes still fixed on Lin Hui.

What was going on with this guy? How were his movements so precise all of a sudden?

Measured and deliberate — a complete transformation from before.

Anyone who didn't know better would have thought the one leading the column was a veteran.

Soon the formation drew close to the canteen, and the Platoon Leader immediately shouted, "Everyone sound off — let's hear some spirit! One, two, three, four!"

While all the other Rookies were still standing there in a daze, not sure what was happening, Lin Hui had already called out loud and clear: "One, two, three, four!"

Hearing him shout, Chen Erhu and the others behind him immediately opened their mouths and bellowed along.

Among the entire recruit formation, First Squad was the first to call out — and their voices were the loudest.

The other squads only joined in sporadically after their Squad Leaders prompted them.

"Excellent, excellent!"

The Regiment Commander nodded approvingly, pointing at Lin Hui at the front. "Already starting to look like a soldier. The lead man in First Squad — he's got it."

Zhang Jiantao's eye twitched.

Didn't this kid get in through the back door?

How did he suddenly get with the program like this?

He quickly added, "It's all thanks to Xu Da's experience — he's already got the new recruits looking sharp right from day one."

Zhou Zhongyi nodded approvingly. "That kid really is something. Let him keep performing well — if he gets results, I'll personally submit that report."

"Yes, Regiment Commander!"

Zhang Jiantao was thrilled. It looked like this was in the bag.

He turned his gaze back to Lin Hui.

He genuinely couldn't figure it out — what was going on with this kid? How had he suddenly changed so completely?

Soon, the entire recruit formation came to a halt in front of the canteen.

The most orderly squad was still First Squad.

Zhou Zhongyi smiled and said, "Comrade recruits, I am the Regiment Commander of this Recruit Training Regiment. Welcome to the 602nd Division!"

"The 602nd is a veteran unit with a proud and glorious history. I hope that in the days ahead, you will train hard and carry on our honorable traditions!"

"Yes, sir!"

Everyone in First Squad shouted along with Lin Hui.

The soldiers from the other squads just stared at them blankly.

"Are they warming up their vocal cords? Why are they yelling so loud?"

"What's wrong with these guys?"

"They must've lost their minds!"

The Squad Leaders from the other squads looked deeply embarrassed.

Their own soldiers were miles behind First Squad.

Xu Da held his chin high, his face full of pride.

He had seen the Regiment Commander's expression clear as day.

These guys — they were really making him look good!

Especially Lin Hui. He was genuinely talented and needed to be nurtured and put to good use.

As long as he used Lin Hui to motivate the whole squad, their scores were sure to shoot up.

And when the honors came in, his Officer Promotion would be a done deal.

Zhou Zhongyi's gaze settled on Lin Hui, and a faint, almost imperceptible smile crossed his lips. He then called out loudly, "In the army, we sing the Military Anthem before every meal."

"Since you've just arrived, we'll skip it for today. Tomorrow, during training breaks, your Squad Leaders will teach you."

"Alright, go on in and eat."

Xu Da took the lead, marching First Squad inside in step.

The others filed in gradually as well.

Arriving at the tables, Lin Hui quickly signaled to the others in a low voice: "Don't sit — whatever you do, don't sit. Stand at attention, all of you!"

Wang Yong looked displeased. "You're acting like this is some big deal—"

Lin Hui smiled. "If you don't believe me, go ahead and sit. I'm not stopping you."

"I'm with Big Bro!" Chen Erhu stood up straight without question, and the others followed suit.

Wang Yong wanted to sit, but he gritted his teeth and kept his backside from going down.

The soldiers from the other squads didn't bother with any of that — they walked in and sat right down.

At that moment, the officers began filing in one after another.

The Regiment Commander swept his gaze across the room, and his eyes finally landed on First Squad. He gave a satisfied smile, then took his seat.

Zhang Jiantao hadn't thought much of it at first, but when he caught the Regiment Commander's expression and looked around the canteen, his brow immediately furrowed.

"Everyone, on your feet!" Zhang Jiantao barked, his face like iron.

The recruits were startled, all of them looking completely bewildered.

What was happening?

Lin Hui's lips curved into a faint smile, and he gave everyone a knowing wink.