Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

As Wang Haiyang spoke, he walked directly into the office, pulled up a chair, and sat down. "So, the only time our training department has any free time is from late December to early January."

At this point, our year-end assessment has ended, the year-end training summary and evaluation have been completed, and the preparation for the new year's training plan has not yet begun.

All field training and competitions were suspended, and the troops switched to indoor remedial training in winter. There were no large-scale training exercises.

Around this time, our department's workload decreased significantly. We no longer needed to frequently go to the grassroots level, nor did we need to stay up all night drafting exercise plans.

With the pressure of combat readiness easing, there's not much pressure on us splitting up our shifts. It also happens to be the New Year's Day holiday, so it's easiest for you to ask the chief of staff for leave approval at this time.

Another one is August. The training camp was at the end of July, the live-fire exercises were coming to an end, and the competition in September had not yet started. There was a whole month of buffer period in between.

However, based on past experience, under normal circumstances, you can only take a maximum of twenty days of vacation, or split it into short vacations of five to ten days.

"If you take a 30-day break right away, you'll have to prepare for the September competition by the end of the month, and you might be recalled halfway through. Which part are you going to choose?"

Zhang Anbang scratched his head. "Oh dear, I was so focused on taking all my vacation at once that I forgot about this. Section Chief, you're right, our Training Section is indeed too busy."

Let's see. By the end of June, I'll submit my applications for extended marriage leave and annual leave. If the reports are approved, I'll take them.

If it doesn't get approved, I'll just split my vacation days into two parts. That way, I'll have enough time to prepare for both scenarios.

"Haha, you little rascal," Wang Haiyang laughed and pointed at Zhang Anbang, "Alright, as long as you know what you're doing, you won't panic. By the way, now that you've got your certificate, don't forget to go to the family planning office to pick up your things."

Although the Gaobang condoms I got for free from the family planning office weren't particularly good—not as good as Durex or Jissbon condoms that cost three or four yuan each—they were still quite good among domestic brands.

Zhang Anbang, who was drinking water, almost spat it out when he heard Wang Haiyang's words. What had he heard? What was the usually meticulous and serious Section Chief Wang talking about?

If I heard correctly, he was seriously talking about the issue of raincoats.

Seeing Zhang Anbang's expression, Wang Haiyang couldn't help but laugh. "Hey kid, you're already married, why are you making that face at me?"

We're all grown men, what's there to be embarrassed about? Let me tell you, we were all young once too. If you were to buy this yourself, it would cost a lot of money each month.

Especially since I remember your wife is also from our military region, right? You can go home for at least two days a month. This thing is quite expensive, and if you buy it yourself, it will cost at least forty or fifty yuan a month.

I'm telling you from my own experience, the self-service boxes in the compound basically only have Double Butterfly and Tiandi brands, which are basically useless.

This stuff has to be issued by our organization. Gao Bang's is considered pretty good. If you're too shy to go to the family planning office to get it, go to the clinic; it's the same thing."

Zhang Anbang listened to Section Chief Wang's explanation and nodded mechanically, "Okay, Section Chief, I understand."

Wang Haiyang waved his hand, "It's all a small matter. Okay, enough small talk. Let's talk about the next task. April is the peak season for field training and exercises. You will revise and rewrite the plan."

"For the supervisory duties, besides the division's reconnaissance battalion, I'm thinking of entrusting the 702nd Regiment to you as well. That's your old unit, practically family. What do you think? No problem?"

When it came to work, Zhang Anbang's expression immediately turned serious. "Okay, Section Chief, no problem. I'll come up with a framework plan this week based on the training syllabus."

Next week I'll go to the Division Reconnaissance Battalion and 702 to discuss coordination issues.

"Okay," Wang Haiyang nodded. "You have a general plan, Anbang. You go ahead with your work. I'll head back now. No need to see me off."

After saying that, Wang Haiyang took his thermos and turned to leave Zhang Anbang's office.

As the office door closed, Zhang Anbang opened a drawer, took out the latest training syllabus, and began to review it.

……

Time passed by, and by 11 a.m., Zhang Anbang had finally outlined the general structure of the latest training plan.

Jingle Bell!

"Hello, this is Zhang Anbang."

A very familiar voice came through the microphone, "Anbang, it's me, Gao Cheng. Are you busy right now?"

Zhang Anbang glanced at the drawing tools he had just taken out of the drawer. "Company Commander, don't rush. What's wrong? I don't believe you're missing me."

"Hehe, you really know me well, don't you? You just got your marriage certificate, right? I was just asking how the process went and how fast it was."

Hearing this, Zhang Anbang laughed. "Company Commander, why are you asking me about this? When your marriage application was approved, the clerk should have told you what you needed to prepare, right?"

Gao Cheng's tone immediately became somewhat unnatural, "You, you don't need to give me that. I was too busy at the time, so I just let the clerk leave first, and then I..."

Gao Cheng's tone immediately gave Zhang Anbang the clue: "Haha, you were too embarrassed to ask later, right?"

"No, no," Gao Cheng waved his hands repeatedly even though he couldn't see through the phone. "Well, I've just been busy and kept forgetting to ask. I just suddenly remembered today, so I asked you to ask."

"Okay, okay, okay."

Zhang Anbang was already used to the old company commander's shameless attitude. "Company commander, the things you need to bring are very simple, just two things: the original officer's certificate and proof of marital status."

Also, you need three 2-inch couple photos with a red background and no hats. These photos can also be taken on-site at the Civil Affairs Bureau.

However, I suggest that the company commander take the photos in advance to save money, as it will be much more expensive at the Civil Affairs Bureau.

Moreover, if you go to the photo studio in advance to take photos, not only will the results be better, but you can also retake them. You'll also have more flexibility in terms of time, and you won't have to queue for photos on the day you go to get your marriage certificate, making the process faster.

You can buy a USB flash drive beforehand so you can save the negatives after the photo studio shoot. When you need them later, you can just use the negatives to get them developed without having to retake the photos.

I remember my sister-in-law works at 301, right? There's a photo studio called "Today's Xicui" right at the entrance of the compound. It's run by a retired soldier who's a great photographer. You can just go there to have your picture taken.

If you still have time then, you can discuss it with your sister-in-law. Our old squad leader knows a Roman-style photography studio that specializes in wedding photos. If your sister-in-law agrees, you can book your wedding photos through them.

"So, that's all there is to the whole process. Even the wedding photos can be arranged. Is that alright?"