Chapter 3 (7)

  The second company's song hadn't finished yet, when Liu Yibao from the first company suddenly lifted up the door curtain and rushed out of the dining hall, staring with his eyes wide open, pointing at his own company and cursing loudly: "Are you all going to die or something? Start over!"

  Li Wei, the duty officer, turned red in the face and stretched his neck to shout at the company: "Let's do it again! A tough company has tough soldiers..."

  Those who have seen the troops sing know that it's not singing, but yelling. The only standard is to sing loudly, the louder the better, and who cares about the tune?

  He let out a loud, ear-piercing howl that sent shivers down one's spine.

  Due to the high pitch at the beginning, it was a bit disjointed when singing to the end. Just as Erlian sang to the crucial moment and changed his breath, Xiao Hei cleared his throat and said to Erlian's brother: "The previous one was not bad, come on again, a steel gun... Prepare to sing!"

  Erlian finished singing first, after a brief rest, had cleared his throat and adjusted his breathing. This time, he would suppress Erlian's voice again. Erlian heard Erlain's voice rise again, and it was fierce. Originally, the air flow was uneven, and when anxious, the heart panicked, using all his might, his throat screamed out blood, but still couldn't surpass Erlain.

  Liu Yibao's face turned iron-green, his pair of ox eyes glaring at his own company. After the company's song was sung, many soldiers bowed their heads and pinched their throats, coughing non-stop, clearing their dry throats.

  Liu Yibao steeled himself to fight with the second company, pushed aside the duty platoon leader Li Wei in front of him, and stood at the command position. With his hands on his hips, he said to the troops: "You all take a look for yourselves, are you still soldiers from the first company? Today we must sing loudly, whoever doesn't will not be allowed to eat dinner, clear your throats!"

  Everyone stretched their necks like a big silly goose, straining their voices to cough. That look, if the common people saw it, would definitely think that the stupid soldiers were not only stupid but also a bunch of lunatics.

  Xiao Hei saw that the second company was coming strong, of course, he wouldn't show weakness. Calmly standing in front, he said to the brothers of the second company: "Do you know a secret to longevity? That is laughter! Laughter not only makes people live longer but also cures all diseases. Now, everyone follow me and laugh ten times, ready, laugh!"

  Two companies burst out laughing, their laughter thundering like a landslide. The first company, who were clearing their throats, heard the second company's laughter and initially felt puzzled, but after realizing the mocking tone, they all stopped coughing and shot hateful glances at the second company.

  The First Company was thoroughly enraged by the Second Company, each of them clenched their fists, waiting for Liu Yibao's order to pounce on them at any moment.

  Liu Yibao gave the order, not to rush forward, but in the midst of the second company's thunderous laughter, he shouted at the top of his lungs: "First Company, all present and accounted for! Those who have made it through the tough times, prepare to sing!"

  That sound is quite tragic. What comes out of the throat isn't a song, but blood, anger, artillery shells, something more important than life itself.

  There are many people who don't understand why troops gather together to sing and shout like they're going to sacrifice their lives. People can't comprehend that as a man's instinct and collective honor, it has been deeply ingrained in every person's heart since the day they enlisted.

  The quarrel in front of the first and second battalion canteens was just getting intense, when Battalion Commander Zhao Tielong rushed out from the third battalion canteen, his face black with rage, and shouted at the two battalions: "Are you done yet? Are you stupid or blind? Has your brain been kicked by a donkey or pinched by a donkey's anus?"

  Zhao Tielong hadn't sworn in many years, and his blood pressure probably soared to 150 at this moment. As soon as he finished cursing, he saw Deputy Commander Xin and several staff officers coming out of the Third Company's cafeteria, glancing at the two companies without saying a word, and walking towards the reception building.

  Deputy Commander Xin has a habit of going to the grassroots troops. Every time he arrives at mealtime, he goes to the nearest company to eat. Whatever the company eats, he eats too. If they specially add dishes for him, he turns around and leaves.

  However, as soon as the troops heard that Deputy Commander Xin was coming, each company's cooking team would temporarily add two dishes. Deputy Commander Xin could eat well wherever he went, and this situation was naturally unknown to him. So the soldiers in the company said, "If only Deputy Commander Xin came every day."