Binjiang Police Affairs-Chapter 965 - 640: The Old Platoon Leader Is Rich (Part 2)

"You're not made of iron. How can you carry out tasks without proper rest?"

"We may be tired and sleepy, but there are more brothers who are even more exhausted and sleep-deprived than us. On our way back, we encountered several units, some of which hadn't eaten for a whole day and night."

They didn't want to be transferred, so they had to keep working.

Han Yu realized this and gave a wry smile: "Alright, have your meal first, then you can start filling and stacking sandbags to build the sandbag wall."

"Yes!"

The main force of the 2nd Battalion of the 132nd Regiment returned.

Taking advantage of the break while the two companies' soldiers were eating, "Brother Hao" was sent to recruit urgently needed talents.

It turned out that this battalion was indeed full of talents, recruiting thirteen more.

Dongdong no longer needed to personally sew up openings and was given a significant responsibility, becoming the head of the filling and packing sandbag "workshop."

"Be careful when packing; don't stand there, stand on this side. Otherwise, if the metal strap snaps, the end could whip you, disfiguring you at best, or worse, it could be fatal!"

"Okay, I'll be careful."

"The packing machine needs cleaning every hour; use this—just a squeeze to blow air, and scrub away any dirt that doesn't come off with a small brush."

"Got it, understood."

"Why aren't you wearing gloves? Weren't they issued to you?"

"They were."

"Then why don't you wear them?"

"It's troublesome."

"You'll get blisters on your hands if you keep this up; put them on right away."

"Yes!"

More than thirty warriors, including several squad leaders and deputy squad leaders, all had to listen to Dongdong, giving him a great sense of accomplishment.

After spending half a day together, everyone knew that Camp Commander Han was his uncle, even the regiment commander respected Director Ge who was his grandfather, and Dr. Liang was also his uncle, even the Reserve Lieutenant operating the large excavator was his uncle...

Last night, the military commander declared the superior's orders, and before leaving, patted him on the shoulder and said he was doing a great job.

In short, Dongdong could walk sideways in the 132nd Regiment just as he could in the Linghai Reserve Camp.

A soldier who stacked sewn sandbags neatly asked with a fawning smile: "Dongdong, see how fast I am at stacking sandbags, can you put in a word with your uncle to let me stay here to run errands?"

"Aren't you already running errands?"

"I mean after five days."

"Wishful thinking, just do your work well!" The deputy squad leader kicked him far away and smiled back: "Dongdong, don't pay him any mind."

The deputy squad leader was from East Sea!

To Linghai people, Binjiang people were not fellow natives, East Sea people were.

Dongdong loved interacting with fellow natives and curiously asked: "Standing guard doesn't make you a 'twenty-five guard,' becoming an officer doesn't make you a deputy squad leader. Brother Wang, why did you think of becoming a deputy squad leader?"

Wang Peng was taken aback and asked in surprise: "You even know that!"

Dongdong proudly said: "Deputy squad leader, managing vegetable patches and dorm chores! I've never served in the army, but my dad did for many years, of course, I know."

In basic units, being a deputy squad leader was awkward, quite awkward, extremely awkward!

For example, some tasks were unsuitable for the squad leader to do, and likewise, unsuitable for new soldiers, so the deputy squad leader had to do them himself. Only those who have been deputy squad leaders know the bitterness involved, and being a deputy squad leader didn't even come with squad leader pay.

Seeing his mischievous subordinates all snickering, Wang Peng felt awkward and quickly changed the topic: "Dongdong, are you starting high school in the second half of the year?"

"Mm."

"Which high school?"

"Yangjing Middle School."

"Yangjing Middle School is in Pudong, why are you going to Pudong for high school?" Wang Peng didn't want those mischievous soldiers interrupting his chat with a fellow native, so he switched to East Sea dialect.

The East Sea dialect is similar to the Linghai dialect, just with a slightly different accent.

Even if Dongdong hadn't gone to East Sea for eighth grade, he could still understand it without any communication barriers, replying in his hometown dialect: "Our house is bought in Pudong, Brother Wang, isn't Yangjing Middle School good?"

"It's quite good. When I retire, I'll come to Pudong to visit you."

"Great, Brother Wang, when are you retiring?"

"Soon, this year, after flood fighting and returning to the army, I can begin packing."

...

They started speaking again in what seemed like nonsense, not understanding a word.

The soldiers packing sandbags together showed disdain for the deputy squad leader, yet envied him greatly.

The deputy squad leader was from East Sea and East Sea people were inherently wealthy; coming to serve in the army, the local government even paid them. His one-year service here, and the local government paid him over ten thousand, more than the pay of a company commander or a camp commander!

Born lucky, a fortunate life...

Amidst everyone's intense envy of the deputy squad leader and Dongdong, Li Shousong led a full battalion that had eaten their fill.

How to get the work done, find Battalion Commander Wu who was familiar with the situation to arrange.

He found Master Dai and Staff He, who had just arrived today, teasing: "Old He, why are you here too. With your arrival, the blind advisor and useless staff member are all gathered!"

"If you can come, why can't we?"

Staff He put down the shovel, walked up while groping Li's pocket, and said with a laugh, "I can come, and I'm not leaving until the flood fighting is over, waiting until the emergency rescue assault team disbands to return to the unit."

"Don't bother searching, no ammunition!"

"I asked Wu Xiaosong, he said you left with a whole pack."

"Smoked them all early on."

"Why didn't you buy a few more packs on your way back?"

Li Shousong looked back, squeezed his fingers, and smiled bitterly: "On the way back, I did see a few stores, but had no grain, what could I use to buy them!"

Staff He whispered: "Already spent last month's pay?"

"Spent long ago, couldn't have lasted until today."

"Without any mental sustenance, how do we fight."

"I can say that, but you, as a useless staff, cannot."

Master Dai knew both were heavy smokers and couldn't help but laugh: "I still have some money on me, I'll think of a way, see if I can borrow a couple of packs from someone."

"Thanks."

"Wait here."

Master Dai put down the shovel, walked over, climbed the levee, and headed straight for the logistics tent.

Li Shousong and Staff He waited eagerly, and soon after, Master Dai returned, pulling them to the side and retrieving an entire pack of Zhonghua from his camouflage uniform.

Li Shousong couldn't believe his eyes, he grimaced: "Old Dai, these cigarettes are too good, we can't afford them!"

"Relax and smoke them, it's free."

"Free?"

Li Shousong looked incredulous.

Staff He was equally skeptical.

Master Dai pointed to the logistics tent and explained: "The 'Hong Kong Garrison' has several senior officers who are millionaires. Cigarettes we can't afford are just their rations! They only have Zhonghua and nothing else. I originally wanted to buy a pack from them, but they refused payment. No matter what I said, they wouldn't accept any money. They just handed me a whole pack to let us have it first."

"It feels a bit inappropriate."

"It's worth several hundred bucks, I also felt a bit awkward, but they insisted on shoving it into my uniform, said they'd be upset if I didn't accept it."

"Even then, it shouldn't be accepted."

"I thought the same at first, but then Director Ge went in and instructed me to receive it on your behalf."

"If Director Ge said so, then we can smoke it."

Li Shousong was overjoyed, immediately called over several smoking company commanders, gave each a pack, and the three of them split the rest.

The smoking company commanders, like them, called their subordinates, platoon commanders, and squad leaders together for a smoke.

Old Ge watched clearly from the levee, and turned around, saying: "President Qian, quickly call President Zhang and ask him to bring back more cigarettes. There's no need to buy the best; those costing three or four a pack will suffice. I'll have Xiao Dai count how many officers and soldiers in the 132nd Regiment smoke, and from today, each smoker will be given one pack a day."

President Qian from the Binjiang Development Zone asked with a smile: "What about our side?"

"The same."

"Alright, I'll call President Zhang right away."

"Also, call and ask Director Huang when the medicines Dr. Liang needs will arrive. The warriors' hands almost all have wounds, and some soldiers have crotch rot; without medication and treatment, they could easily get infected in this hot weather."

...

PS: Perhaps I didn't rest well last night, my head's a bit aching. There are only two chapters today, but we'll resume with three tomorrow!