Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

"Alright then, Deputy Company Commander, I'll definitely write the report properly. You'll have to take a look at it when you have time." Rank is everything, and Zhang Anbang was two ranks higher than Shi Jin, so Shi Jin dared not refuse.

Seeing Shi Jin's aggrieved look, Zhang Anbang almost laughed in anger. "My dear class monitor Shi, can't you be reasonable? Who am I doing all this for? Don't you know what time it is?"

"When? Uh, right now during basic training?" Shi Jin scratched his head, responding with a puzzled look.

"Shi Jin, Shi Jin, what Liu Yi said is really true. You only care about Xu Sanduo now and don't think about your own affairs at all. There's only a little over a year left before you're promoted from third to fourth grade. Don't you want to stay in the army?"

Zhang Anbang admired Shi Jin's magnanimity; the title of "Mother of the Army" was well-deserved.

"Deputy Company Commander, it's not that I don't want to, I definitely want to stay in the army, but I also know very well that I am still far from qualified in all aspects. You could say I am not qualified at all. A fourth-term sergeant is the pinnacle of intermediate sergeant."

Instead of thinking about something impossible, I'd rather use this time to properly train Xu Sanduo. That way, I can fulfill my own promise and also help the army cultivate a talent.

Shi Jin spoke frankly, but anyone could hear the reluctance in his tone.

"Hmm, you're amazing, you're so aloof." Zhang Anbang gave a thumbs-up in praise.

"But have you ever thought about how you've spent over ten years in the military, how the military has nurtured your skills, and how you're just retiring and going home? Would that be a fair exchange for the military's training?"

More importantly, you are a member of the Steel Seventh Company. Have you forgotten what the Steel Seventh Company is all about? Zhang Anbang's tone grew increasingly harsh.

As Shi Jin listened to Zhang Anbang's words, he was sweating profusely. The people of the Seventh Steel Company couldn't stand it when others doubted their core principles.

"Reporting to the deputy company commander, never abandon, never give up! I am the 4,811th soldier of the Steel Seventh Company, and I firmly remember the oath of the Steel Seventh Company!" Shi Jin stood ramrod straight and shouted.

"Hmm, not bad. Besides this, I have other tasks for you. Anyway, you'd better keep busy for the remaining two months of basic training." Zhang Anbang was very satisfied with Shi Jin's attitude.

He opened the drawer, took out a piece of paper and a few books, and handed them over.

"Oh, and there's more." Shi Jin knew he was going to be extremely busy from now on.

Military correspondence vocational school registration form, "Military Academy Entrance Examination Review Series (Soldier's Edition)", "Mock Exam Exercises", "Exam Questions and Answers", "Military Common Sense", "Compilation of Military Regulations and Rules", "Introduction to Military Thought"...

"This, Deputy Company Commander, isn't this a bit much? With recruit training so busy, how could I possibly have time to read so many books?"

"Shi Jin, do you think I'm here to bargain? Let me tell you, you'd better fill out this military correspondence vocational school registration form right now."

After you get back, prepare the photocopy of your soldier's ID, your educational certificate, and your photo, and send them to me tomorrow.

When the company commander returns, I'll talk to him and get you the company recommendation letter (which needs Gao Cheng's signature and the branch's stamp) and the employment certificate.

We need to send him to the political department for qualification review the day after tomorrow, so we don't have much time left. After that, you need to pay attention to him. You can take care of Xu Sanduo, but you need to pay more attention to his psychological changes.

I've also watched Xu Sanduo's story recently. This soldier's physical problems aren't actually that big; it's more of a psychological issue. He believes he's incapable, so he can't do anything right.

Shi Jin was a little surprised. Could it be that Xu Sanduo really had some talent, but his father had ruined it? "Deputy Company Commander, is this Sanduo really that talented?"

Shi Jin asked somewhat uncertainly. To be honest, he felt that even if he could work hard to bring Xu Sanduo out and make him a suitable People's Liberation Army soldier, he never thought that Xu Sanduo would become an elite soldier.

"Well, judging from Xu Sanduo's cross-country performance, his physical fitness is definitely good. It's just that he's timid and hesitant in everything he does. I think the biggest problem with this soldier is his mentality."

This kind of psychological problem is not uncommon among new recruits, but it is particularly obvious in Xu Sanduo. The document I just gave you was for you to record Xu Sanduo's daily condition.

As long as we can determine that Xu Sanduo's training status, project performance, and mental state are clearly related, then we can have a clear reference for solving similar problems that arise in all new recruits.

"And I had you record all the methods you've used in the document so that you could summarize an effective method for this type of new recruit. Do you understand?" Zhang Anbang did not explicitly state that this was a method for historical record-keeping.

As a veteran, Shi Jin had a keen sense of smell. After Zhang Anbang's brief explanation, he understood the value of it all and the reason why he was asked to do all this: to help him complete the promotion from three to four.

"Deputy Company Commander, this responsibility is probably a bit too heavy. I... I'm afraid..." Shi Jin was a little unsure if his guess was right. If this matter was handled well, it would be a great achievement.

"What are you afraid of? Are you afraid you can't handle the responsibility, or that you won't be able to achieve results?"

"We're all scared. After all, from what you just said, it's clear that this matter is quite important."

It must be said that Shi Jin is a very meticulous person. Even though he realized that this matter was related to his promotion from three to four, his first thought was not about himself, but about whether he could handle such a serious matter well. He is truly admirable.

Thinking of this, Zhang Anbang spoke up, "Shi Jin, what's the use of being afraid? If you're afraid, you won't be able to do anything. Or you could find me a squad leader in the Seventh Steel Company who's more suitable for this job."

"Should we send Liu Yi or Wang Liang? We can't expect the company commander to do this himself, can we? The recruit company has a lot more to do."

Shi Jin chuckled awkwardly at Zhang Anbang's barrage of words, "No, Company Commander, don't worry, I'll definitely do my job well."

"Be confident, do you think this can be done?"

"Yes, Deputy Company Commander, I guarantee to complete the mission." Shi Jin immediately stood at attention, gave a standard military salute, and answered Zhang Anbang's question loudly.

"That's more like it. You need to hurry up. The Political Department of the Regiment will be conducting qualification reviews for the correspondence courses for secondary vocational schools in the next few days. Between the 10th and the end of the month, the August 1st College will begin qualification reviews, followed by entrance tests and student registration."

Your student registration will take effect next January, and your learning account will be activated. After that, you'll need to dedicate time to online learning.

"Yes, platoon leader, I understand."

Seeing Shi Jin's serious expression, Zhang Anbang nodded. This was the kind of thing the strongest squad leader of the Steel Seventh Company should look like.

"You should study these textbooks carefully when you get back. If you don't understand anything, feel free to ask me. Although the entrance exam is just a formality, you should at least do well."

This knowledge will be used in your future studies, so you need to set aside time to study every day from now on. Also, regarding tuition, it's seven hundred yuan. Unlike that heavy smoker from June 1st, you should be able to afford that, right?

"Deputy Company Commander, that's no problem. Aside from the money I send home, my take-home pay hasn't been very expensive. Seven hundred yuan for tuition is no problem."

Zhang Anbang knew that with Shi Jin's salary, paying 700 yuan for tuition wouldn't be a problem, but he was worried that Shi Jin might not have cash on hand, since Shi Jin was a good Samaritan.

Currently, most non-commissioned officers (NCOs) are subject to a salary retention system, where only 30% of their salary is paid to them, while the remainder is deposited in a bank. If they wish to withdraw the money, they need to undergo multiple levels of approval.

In those days, most non-commissioned officers came from rural families, and their families often had heavy burdens. Most non-commissioned officers had to send half or even more of their salary home to help support their families.

Just like when Shi Jin teased Wu Liuyi for not having many coins left in his pocket, it wasn't that Wu Liuyi's salary was low. As a second-term sergeant, he earned seven or eight hundred a month, so how could he really be penniless?

However, Wu Liu's family was poor, and he had to send his salary home regularly to supplement the family income. He also had a heavy smoking habit and often bought cigarettes. In addition, there was a custom in the army of bringing local specialties on leave and helping each other out among fellow villagers.

These small, scattered expenses can easily accumulate and deplete your cash reserves for the month, leaving you with only coins left.

Furthermore, most non-commissioned officers are demobilized after retirement and need to save up their own demobilization pay and resettlement allowance. As a key member of the Seventh Company, it is normal for Wu Liuyi to have a comrade-in-arms lend him money temporarily or for emergency expenses, which will further disperse the money in Wu Liuyi's hands.

When Shi Jin said that Wu Liuyi had no money, it wasn't that he was actually poor. Rather, it was that Wu Liuyi had very little disposable cash, high fixed expenses, and great pressure to save, which led to his daily financial difficulties.