Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

Zhang Anbang, carrying a weapon belt, also arrived at the training ground. He looked at Gao Cheng, who was drinking water, and the new recruits kneeling with their guns, and said with a smile, "Company Commander, I told you they would like the bricks you gave them."

They all look so energetic and full of life.

"That's right. Look at who's leading these soldiers. Look at how excited they are. I think they might be able to get new bricks this week, not even next week." Gao Cheng put down his water glass and replied while looking at the new recruits.

The miserable new recruits listened to the conversation between the two company leaders, and only one thing was on their minds: the thickness of this brick was not as good as the leader's face.

How can you tell they're energetic? They're excited, but they themselves don't even know why.

Past experience has taught them that no matter what the leader says, they cannot speak at this moment, they can only persevere. They do not want to experience the consequences of speaking rashly in the queue again.

"Hey, soldier, what are you trembling about?" Zhang Anbang stared intently at a new recruit.

This shout drew the attention of several squad leaders. The fourth squad leader realized, "Oh no, it's someone from my own squad."

"Wang Dali, hold on! You're called Dali, how come you couldn't hold on even though you're the first one?" The squad leader walked quickly to the recruit Wang Dali, looking at him with a disappointed expression.

What's going on? I usually just laugh at Wu Liuyi, but now look what's happened. Xu Sanduo from Wu Liuyi's class hasn't even made a mistake yet, and now it's my turn.

"Wang Dali, do you not like the gifts the company commander gave you?" Zhang Anbang asked with a smile.

Wang Dali was internally cursing, unsure whether to utter it or not. It seemed the recruit company's assessment was spot on; the company commander was a hot-tempered, unruly tiger.

The deputy platoon leader was always smiling, so I thought he was a good person. But after spending a few days with him, I realized that he was definitely not a good person. He was a smiling tiger, and he was the most vicious and ruthless.

"Reporting to the deputy platoon leader, no, I really like the gift the platoon leader gave me."

As Wang Dali answered loudly, he blinked, the feeling of sweat getting into his eyes was extremely unpleasant.

Gao Cheng glanced at the time. "Hmm, that's a bit bad. Only seven minutes have passed. This soldier's upper body strength is really weak."

As he spoke, he glanced in Xu Sanduo's direction. This time, this guy wasn't the first to run into trouble, which surprised Gao Cheng.

Zhang Anbang also glanced at Xu Sanduo. From the angle of Gaocheng Station, it was not clear what bricks Xu Sanduo was hoisting, but from his position, it was very clear.

Xu Sanduo's backpack strap on the muzzle of his gun was a little longer than everyone else's, and the brick was closer to the ground, so that the force on his arm would be less.

It seems that Wu Liuyi really puts a lot of effort into Shi Jin. This is a small thing, but it's a bit of extra care. Even so, the brick hanging from Xu Sanduo's gun barrel has started to sway slightly, obviously reaching its limit.

"Keep going, just three more minutes, it'll be over soon. You don't want to have to do extra training because you couldn't hold on for the last three minutes, do you?"

The new recruits could tell from the tone of his voice, without even looking up, that it was the deputy company commander who was speaking; only his 37-degree angled mouth could utter such cold and ruthless words.

If it were the company commander, he would yell at the top of his lungs, "Stand up straight! The last three minutes! Anyone who dares to slack off at this crucial moment will never be considered a soldier trained by Gao Cheng again!"

Another minute passed, and the slight swaying of the bricks on the muzzles of Wang Dali and Xu Sanduo's guns had turned into a high-frequency vibration, which meant they were nearing their limit.

Most of the new recruits in the company felt a slight spasm in their forearms, and their necks were sore and stiff from aiming with their cheeks pressed against the bricks. Their entire bodies had unconsciously tightened their waists and abdomens to resist the pull of the bricks, and even their toes were digging into the ground for leverage.

"Report, report, it's not working!"

"Report: We can't hold on any longer."

Two reports came through. Xu Sanduo and Wang Dali could no longer hold on. The bricks at the muzzles of their guns were starting to swing, and their heads were being lifted up.

"Lower your head and aim!" Wu Liuyi roared. Before Xu Sanduo could react, Wang Dali had already resumed his kneeling position with his gun, but his trembling appearance made people suspect that he would throw the gun on the ground at any moment.

Xu Sanduo's gun shook even more violently. Wu Liuyi stepped forward and grabbed the gun. "Xu Sanduo, if you dare to throw the gun on the ground, you can expect extra training."

"Yes, yes, squad leader," Xu Sanduo replied softly.

Nine minutes passed quickly, and most of the new recruits were sweating profusely and had dry throats. However, since the company commander did not give any orders, they could only endure it one by one.

"Okay, take a ten-minute break."

At that moment, Gao Cheng's rough voice sounded like heavenly music to the new recruits.

……

The days in the recruit company passed quickly. In view of the half brick Gao Cheng had given him, Zhang Anban decided to give him his gift next week, so that the recruits wouldn't be overwhelmed by too many gifts at once.

After lunch that day, in the recruit company office.

"Xiao Qi, the commendation order issued by the Political Department of the Division has been issued. You should head to the Division Headquarters in a bit. The award ceremony for you will be held in the auditorium of the Division Headquarters tomorrow. Go there today to rehearse."

Don't come back tonight, just stay at the division headquarters guesthouse. After receiving the award tomorrow morning, we'll hurry back. In the afternoon, take Shi Jin and Liu Yi out for a bit. They've passed the qualification review for their correspondence vocational school and are going to take the entrance exam for the August 1st Academy.

Gao Cheng's tone was full of excitement but also envy. Every soldier wants to make merits and receive awards. He only has a few third-class merits, the title of outstanding company commander, and the honor of being an outstanding student when he was in school.

Zhang Anbang quickly surpassed him, and even the proud man couldn't help but feel envious.

"Okay, I'll head to the division headquarters in a bit and come back as soon as it's over tomorrow."

"Yes, the August 1st Academy is at No. 16, North Third Ring Road West, which is quite far from here. I'll keep an eye on the recruit training camp, and you can try to bring them back in the afternoon."

"Okay, I'm leaving."

Zhang Anbang picked up his military cap and left the office.

Military jeeps sped along the dirt roads in the open fields, kicking up a cloud of dust that shot into the sky.

More than two hours later, Zhang Anbang finally arrived at the division headquarters. Led by a lieutenant officer from the division headquarters, he first went to the division headquarters guesthouse to settle in and rest for a while.

At 1:48, Zhang Anbang changed into his civilian clothes, left the guesthouse, and went to the division headquarters auditorium with the lieutenant officer.

Zhang Anbang didn't wear this uniform very often. It was a Type 87 woolen winter uniform with a stand-up collar, a single-breasted five-button closure, four pockets, a red five-pointed star collar insignia, and stiff epaulettes with a 13-cent coin on the shoulders.

Looking at himself in the military mirror, Zhang Anbang couldn't help but think to himself, "This kid is really handsome."

This uniform is stylish, but it's too difficult to maintain. It's only worn on ceremonial and formal occasions such as award ceremonies, farewell ceremonies for retired personnel, division or regimental level administrative meetings, and military appearance and discipline inspections.

Normally, it's mainly used as training uniform. It's easy to care for, easy to wash, and durable. If it doesn't fit properly, you can go to the drying yard to coordinate something.

……

In the evening, Zhang Anbang had dinner at the division's guesthouse. He needed to hand over the food, but it would be included in his travel expenses and reimbursed when he returned.

After dinner, he went to bed early to rest and sleep. He felt that the afternoon's rehearsal was more tiring than physical training, but thankfully it was finally over.

At six o'clock in the morning, Zhang Anbang got up on time, changed into his training uniform, trained outside the guesthouse for half an hour, returned to the guesthouse, had breakfast, and finished tidying up.

At 7:15, the division officer appeared on time at Zhang Anbang's room door.

At 7:30, Zhang Anbang arrived at the venue with the division staff as one of the first to arrive. He needed to work with the ceremonial soldiers to rehearse the award ceremony again, including the route to the stage, the salute posture, the position for shaking hands with the leaders, and the actions for receiving the medals and certificates, to ensure that there were no mistakes throughout the ceremony.

Meanwhile, the logistics staff also arrived at the auditorium to begin decorating it, hanging banners, arranging flowers, and testing the sound system.

At 8:25, Zhang Anbang, accompanied by the division staff, went to the officers' lounge attached to the auditorium. This was a small, private room designed to prevent the award recipients from being disturbed by the outside world.

Meanwhile, the division staff would continue to give Zhang Anbang some instructions in the lounge.

At this moment, the national flag, the Party flag, and the military flag are arranged in order in the auditorium of the division headquarters. A banner hangs above the auditorium with the words "Warmly congratulate Comrade Zhang Anbang on being awarded the First-Class Merit."

The banner hanging on the left reads, "Paying tribute to Comrade Zhang Anbang, a recipient of the First-Class Merit Citation."

The banner hanging on the right reads, "Learn from Comrade Zhang Anbang and add glory to the military flag."

The auditorium of the division headquarters had more than thirty seats on the stage, filled with nameplates of division leaders and heads of departments, as well as flowers and teacups.