Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

After reading the commendation order, He Hongtao was completely stunned. First-class merit, this was a first-class merit, a first-class merit he had witnessed with his own eyes.

Seeing Gao Cheng's beaming face, He Hongtao felt as if dozens of lemons were exploding inside him at the same time. "Seventh Brother, you've really hit the jackpot! I heard that when Xiao Qi first came, you were a little dismissive of him."

"If only I had listened to the third brother and gone to the regimental commander to snatch him away."

"Nonsense, where did you hear that from? It's not true." Gao Cheng's smile vanished instantly.

"Nonsense, where am I talking nonsense? Oh, Seventh Brother, you don't dare to admit it? Back then, those rumors even reached our Third Company."

The military is a small circle, especially those units that maintain an induction ceremony. Usually, new recruits hold an induction ceremony as soon as they join the unit, but Zhang Anbang's ceremony was held some time after he joined the unit.

This news spread quite far, and in some ways, Zhang Anbang's treatment was even worse than Xu Sanduo's.

No matter how much Gao Cheng looked down on Xu Sanduo, when he returned from the Red Third Company, Shi Jin and Wu Liuyi immediately held an induction ceremony for him.

Actually, there is a difference between the two. As a soldier, Gao Cheng didn't like Xu Sanduo, but he could accept him because of the order forced by the regimental commander.

Xu Sanduo is just an ordinary soldier. Once Gao Cheng can accept him, just leave him alone and ignore him. At most, you can tolerate him for a little over a year.

Once Xu Sanduo's two-year mandatory military service is over, he'll go back to where he came from. Yes, in Gao Cheng's eyes, Xu Sanduo is just a conscript whose term is up, and he'll be packed up and sent home.

Despite the regimental commander's forceful pressure and the dawdling requests of his most valued squad leader, Shi Jin, he reluctantly accepted Xu Sanduo into the Seventh Company as an ordinary, even mediocre, soldier, without making things difficult for him, or even ignoring him.

Zhang Anbang was different; he was an officer who came in with the position of deputy company commander and the rank of captain. Gao Cheng, as the company commander of the Steel Seventh Company, regarded the Steel Seventh Company as his lifeblood.

He has been serving in the Seventh Steel Company for a long time, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, he will be promoted in about a year and will inevitably have to leave the Seventh Steel Company.

Zhang Anbang, a captain and deputy company commander, will likely stay in the Steel Seventh Company for four years. Once Gao Cheng leaves, Zhang Anbang will definitely be promoted directly from deputy company commander to company commander.

As the son of a military family, Gao Cheng believed that he had never relied on his father's power and had hardly ever met his father since entering the military academy.

After graduating from military academy in three years, he joined the Steel Seventh Company. He served as a platoon leader for one year and a company commander for two. He was very arrogant in the regiment. In his opinion, Zhang Anbang, a gilded veteran, would take over the Steel Seventh Company after he left, which would surely bring shame to this unit full of blood and glory.

This is something he cannot accept, which is why he rejects Zhang Anbang.

Gao Cheng's slightly dark face flushed slightly. It was indeed unpleasant to be mocked to his face. Old He really knew how to bring up the most sensitive topics. Fortunately, he knew what kind of person Zhang Anbang was. The two of them were now so close that they were practically inseparable.

Gao Cheng waved his hand and said with a smug look, "Old He, that's not true. It's just a rumor. It's always said by the ton, but even if it's said by the ton, it's still just a rumor. I think you're just envious and jealous."

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He Hongtao was a little reluctant to talk to Gao Cheng anymore. This person was really annoying. He got the benefits but acted innocent. "So what if I'm envious and jealous? If Xiao Qi were in our Red Third Company, you would probably be jumping up and down and going to the regimental commander to demand her back."

I had no idea you were this guy; you've poached all the promising people in 702.

Zhang Anbang couldn't help but laugh as he watched the two bickering. Gao Cheng was indeed quite Versailles at times, living up to his reputation as the proud and arrogant Seventh Princess.

If Lao He were in the Seventh Company with Gao Cheng, it would be great; we could probably watch free crosstalk performances all the time.

"Here you go, Lao Gao. You couldn't have only brought back one commendation order, could you? And the newspapers? Knowing your personality, you must have smuggled a lot of newspapers back from the regimental headquarters. I need to read them carefully to see how they're publicizing it."

He Hongtao didn't want to argue with Lao Gao anymore. Although he could argue with him for a few words at the beginning, Lao Qi's mouth was too sharp, and he could never win the argument in the end.

Because of this, the third brother complained to him a lot, saying that every time they had a meeting together, he, the "housekeeper" of the third company, could never win an argument with the seventh brother.

"Haha, Lao He, it has to be you. In our whole 702, besides Lao Hong, you are the one who understands me the most. Shi Jin, Shi Jin, go to my car and get the stack of newspapers I brought."

"Yes, Company Commander." Shi Jin had just entered the office when Gao Cheng assigned him tasks.

Soon Shi Jin came in with a stack of newspapers.

"Company commander, political instructor, deputy company commander, wow, that takes up half the page, that's amazing."

"What do you think? Your deputy company commander deserves a first-class merit. Take some later and give some to the first and third platoon leaders. We'll talk about it with the new recruits at the squad meeting tonight."

"Let the new recruits learn a thing or two, and see how capable our Steel Seventh Company, the spearhead of the 702nd Division, really is."

"Seventh Brother, this is a bit underhanded. It was one thing to secretly select the best recruits before, but now you're enticing all the new recruits in the company. Even if they don't end up in your Seventh Company, they'll still be longing for it. You're really too cunning."

Old He truly understands Gao Cheng; he saw through Gao Cheng's little scheme in just one sentence.

"Ah, ha, haha, Lao He, you're being a bit petty. Our Steel Seventh Company doesn't need that many new recruits. I'm just letting the new recruits know that our 702 has produced a first-class meritorious soldier."

In the words of my husband, Mr. Hong, we hope everyone will learn from his dedication to working at the grassroots level and his drive to strive for excellence. He's setting a good example and guiding us on our journey.

Gao Cheng refused to admit his ulterior motives of secretly selecting the best recruits and making the new recruits yearn for the Steel Seventh Company, even though that was exactly what he thought.

He Hongtao was speechless. Gao Cheng was like a peacock showing off the Seventh Company and its soldiers all day long, but since the other party had the strength, they could only put up with it.

"Okay, that's settled then. It's very important, Shi Jin, don't forget." Gao Cheng ignored He Hongtao's expression and instructed Shi Jin to treat this as a major event.

After watching the commotion for a while, Zhang Anbang finally spoke up, "Thank you for the order brought by the company commander. Goodness, I thought I would be lucky to get a second-class merit, but I didn't expect to actually get a first-class merit."

Looks like I might have a chance to catch up to your speed of 2.1 cents, Company Commander.

Seeing Zhang Anbang's smug expression, Gao Cheng said admiringly, "There's no way around it, talented people are the best. Your advantage in promotion is greater than mine, which has been recognized as an outstanding junior officer for two consecutive years."

He Hongtao really didn't want to listen to the inhuman conversation between the two of them anymore; it was too agitating for this old comrade. But the truth was just that cruel. "By the way, Lao Qi, your Seventh Company didn't work for nothing this time, did it? You should at least get an award or something."

Gao Cheng took out a cigarette and offered it to everyone. "You've narrowed your perspective, Lao He. It's not an award, but a collective third-class merit. The political commissar said that our Seventh Company has achieved remarkable results in building spiritual civilization. The program at the farewell party was a great success."

But it's not a big deal. Our Seventh Company has accumulated too many honors and merits over the past fifty years.

He Hongtao really wanted to say, "Can you stop being so arrogant? If you don't want it, give it to me. Out of sixteen company commanders, I bet only Gao Cheng has the nerve to say that a collective third-class merit is no big deal." "Seventh Brother, if you don't want it, you can give it to our Third Company. Our Third Company will definitely not mind."

"Sure, go talk to the commander. If he agrees, I have no objections. I must say, you and Lao San are truly partners, always eyeing the little bit of rice in my bowl."

He Hongtao felt his fists harden. If he could beat this guy, he would definitely give him a good beating. He's eyeing what's in your bowl. Doesn't he know how he got what's in your bowl? Every soldier in the regiment with a bit of ambition is trying to find ways to get more into their own bowl.

Fortunately, the organizational structure was there, so no matter how hard he tried, there were only so many people. Otherwise, the other fifteen company commanders would definitely have put sacks on him and shot him in the back.

He Hongtao clenched his fist tightly. "Alright, you guys chat. I have something to do and I need to go out for a bit."

Watching He Hongtao's departing figure, the three people in the office chuckled smugly.