Chapter 9: Stop Praising Me — I Just Want to Be a Slacker

Everyone in First Squad continued folding their blankets.

Wang Hai hadn't left. Instead, he went on: "Everyone, put what you're doing on hold for a moment. I didn't just come to deliver the Rotating Honor Flag to your squad — I also want to give special recognition to Comrade Lin Hui of First Squad."

Lin Hui's heart sank. His face darkened with exasperation. Of all the things to worry about, this had to happen!

"In the very first week of recruit training, his scores have ranked among the top in the entire Recruit Company. I hope everyone will follow his example!"

Xu Da was grinning so wide he could barely keep his mouth closed.

Praising Lin Hui was the same as praising First Squad — this was his honor too.

This kid... he's really making me look good.

"Big Bro, you're the man!" Chen Erhu said excitedly. "You're my idol! From now on, I ain't got no other goals — I'm just gonna follow your lead!"

The others broke into applause, their eyes full of admiration. Only Wang Yong's expression soured.

He fumed inwardly: Why does this arrogant jerk get to be praised?

Anything he can do, I can do too!

Lin Hui groaned internally: Political Instructor, please stop praising me — I just want to quietly be a slacker! Aren't you just painting a target on my back?

"No good. I have to change my plan, or I'll never survive this place!"

Lin Hui made up his mind: starting tomorrow, he absolutely had to change his approach across the board.

After dinner.

Xu Da was called to the Company Commander's office.

"Company Commander, you wanted to see me?"

Zhang Jiantao smiled. "Not bad, Xu Da. I've heard — it's only the first week and your squad already brought back a Rotating Honor Flag?"

Xu Da chuckled. "It's mainly because those guys stepped up."

"Don't give me that. They're all Rookies — if you hadn't taught them well, what would they know?"

Zhang Jiantao took a sip of tea. "Looks like transferring you here to train the recruits was a solid call. Even the Regiment Commander praised you, said you're genuinely good material and it'd be a waste to let you leave the service."

Xu Da was overjoyed.

Those words from the Regiment Commander were like a reassurance pill.

It seemed the Officer Promotion was now set in stone.

Zhang Jiantao continued: "The First-Month Recruit Assessment is coming up soon. I'm giving you a heads-up now — make sure your squad performs well when the time comes."

"As long as the performance is outstanding, I can submit that report early for you."

Xu Da was so happy his eyebrows practically flew off his face. "Thank you, Company Commander! First Squad will give it everything we've got — if there's a first place to be won, we won't settle for second!"

He never dreamed that his Officer Promotion plan could get back on track this soon.

He'd originally thought he'd have to wait at least until recruit training ended, but now it seemed that wasn't necessary at all.

That kid Lin Hui is such a lucky star for me!

Zhang Jiantao hesitated a moment, then said: "There's one more thing — that soldier I mentioned to you before..."

"You mean Lin Hui?"

"That's the one."

Zhang Jiantao said seriously: "I thought at first the kid was a hopeless case — a lump of mud that couldn't be plastered onto a wall. Turns out I misjudged him."

"If you want to lead First Squad well and get results, you need to keep a close eye on him. This guy is prime material!"

Through his observations over this period, he had come to see it clearly.

Although Lin Hui had gotten in through the back door, he showed none of the delicate, pampered bad habits you'd expect from a city kid.

Not only did he unite the recruits in the squad, he also played an excellent role as a leader and trailblazer.

It was precisely because of him that First Squad had managed to surpass and pull ahead of the other squads in every area within just a few days.

That was absolutely a good sign!

As long as they could keep up this momentum, First Squad earning Commendations was only a matter of time.

He could use a dozen more back-door recruits like this one!

Xu Da nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, Company Commander. I've had my eye on that kid too — he really is prime soldier material."

"I'll find a way to have him lead the whole squad forward. I guarantee we'll bring back first place in the Recruit Company!"

"Good. I'll be waiting for your good news."

Xu Da left the Company Commander's office.

He was in high spirits on the way back.

As for how to get the most out of Lin Hui and have him pull the entire squad forward, Xu Da already had a plan forming in his mind.

Seven-thirty. The Evening News Broadcast ended.

"Squad meeting."

Xu Da gathered everyone together.

Lin Hui noticed the guy was staring at him with a grinning, scheming look, and his heart immediately lurched.

Something's off!

This guy normally wore a face like he was carrying a grudge against the whole world, as if someone owed him a million yuan.

A smile that bright today could only mean trouble!

"Lin Hui."

"Here."

Lin Hui quickly stepped forward.

Xu Da pointed at the others and said sternly: "Take a good look at him. You all enlisted at the same time — why is there such a gap between you?"

"I won't go into everything, but just take blanket folding. Wang Yong — look at what you call a folded blanket."

"It's all lumpy and puffy, like a big loaf of bread. Now look at Lin Hui next to you. How are you not embarrassed? If I were you, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night!"

Fuck.

Wang Yong cursed inwardly, his expression turning utterly sour.

He knew his blanket folding wasn't great, but it wasn't terrible either.

He didn't care who the Squad Leader compared him to — anyone else in the squad would've been fine. Anyone except Lin Hui.

What's so special about this guy? He just happens to have family who served in the military, so he knows a little more than the rest of us.

If they'd started from the same baseline, he'd definitely be better!

Sensing a bone-chilling glare fixed on him, Lin Hui immediately turned his head.

Good grief, it's Wang Yong again, that two-faced snake!

The Squad Leader said it, not me. Why are you glaring at me? Go glare at him — I didn't do anything to you.

Xu Da caught it all, and the corner of his mouth curled into a barely perceptible smile. "From today on, every one of you will follow Lin Hui's example and take him as your model."

"Whatever he does, you do."

"Yes, sir!"

No one else had any objections. After all, Lin Hui genuinely knew more than the rest of them.

In just one week, he'd not only brought back the Rotating Honor Flag but also helped everyone dodge punishment.

Following his lead made sense.

Chen Erhu grinned his dopey grin. "Big Bro, teach me what you know — I'm slow in the head and it takes me a while to pick things up."

Lin Hui smiled on the surface. "Sure, sure, no problem."

But inside, he was already groaning.

Because he finally understood what Xu Da was up to — the guy wanted to hold him up as a model and use him to push everyone else forward.

He hadn't even had a chance to change his strategy, and Xu Da had already made his move.

This is rough!

Especially with Wang Yong looking like he wanted to eat him alive — that guy had clearly already lost it!

Xu Da said gravely: "The First-Month Recruit Assessment isn't far off. In order to make sure our squad scores well —"

"I've decided that starting tomorrow, all rest periods during training are cancelled. Only the person ranked first gets to rest."

"Everyone else does push-ups or runs."

Every face in the room immediately fell, and a chorus of complaints broke out.

"Come on, Squad Leader, that's inhumane."

"Even livestock get a break."

Xu Da said coldly: "What are you all whining about? If you can't handle hardship, why did you join the military? Once you're in the army, you follow orders and obey commands!"

"How do you expect to defend the country if you don't put in the work?"

"That's final. Dismissed!"

With that, Xu Da turned and walked away.

As he left, he shot a meaningful glance at Lin Hui.

Lin Hui was thoroughly annoyed: Fuck you — using me as a pawn just to earn your own glory?

If I let you get away with this, I'll write my name backwards!

With that thought, his eyes darted around and he immediately called everyone together. "Everyone, come here — I've got something important to tell you."

"What is it?"

The others crowded around curiously.

Wang Yong didn't move from where he stood, but his ears perked up involuntarily: What are you scheming now?

Lin Hui said loudly: "Listen up. Tomorrow during training, we absolutely cannot keep being as flashy as before. We need to keep as low a profile as possible."

Chen Erhu scratched his head. "Why's that?"

Lin Hui rolled his eyes. "Didn't you hear what the Squad Leader just said? Only first place gets to rest — everyone else keeps training. Who can keep that up?"

"So, if we all stay at the same level, nobody stands out, and the Squad Leader won't have a leg to stand on."

"Oh, right! How did I not think of that?"

Chen Erhu slapped his forehead and laughed his simple laugh. "You're something else, Big Bro — your brain really works better than ours."

The others nodded along, finding Lin Hui's logic sound.

There were ten people in the squad, and only one could rest. No matter what, the other nine would get penalized.

If they wanted to avoid punishment, the simplest solution was to move in lockstep.

If there's no first place, then everyone is first place!

"You make sense. I'm with you!" Ma Xiaoshan declared.

The others nodded too. "The Squad Leader already told us to follow your lead — listening to you can't go wrong."

Wang Yong let out a cold laugh and completely dismissed Lin Hui's words.

"Hey, buddy."

Lin Hui quickly pulled Wang Yong aside.

"Who the hell is your buddy? Get lost."

Wang Yong slapped his hand away and said coldly.

"Revolutionary comrades are brothers," Lin Hui said with a smile to this two-faced snake. "Comrade Wang Yong, whatever you do tomorrow during training, remember — keep a low profile. Don't stick your head out."

"Same as always: whatever I do, you do the same. Just stay roughly at my level."

"Why should I? You say something and I'm supposed to just listen? Are you the Squad Leader?"

Wang Yong said, unconvinced.

Lin Hui said with a straight face: "The military is a collective. Besides, the Squad Leader just said to follow my example — are you going to ignore the Squad Leader's orders? Don't you want to bring honor to the squad anymore?"

Wang Yong gave a cold laugh and agreed dismissively. "Fine, we'll do it your way."

"Good. That puts my mind at ease."

Lin Hui nodded, but he couldn't shake the feeling that Wang Yong's eyes had a strange look in them — like he was already plotting something...