Chapter 19: The end of the first week as the deputy monitor!
The company commander, instructor, three platoon leaders, and nine squad leaders were all observing Chen Ming. After witnessing his command style, several individuals were even more astonished. Chen Ming’s presence in front of the recruits was as impressive as any squad leader!
“This young man’s command and motivation abilities are really good, promising material for an officer,” praised Instructor Wang Fei, watching the company read in unison.
The company commander beside him nodded, “Indeed, how he disciplined the recruits, especially those commanding shouts, already carries the essence of a seasoned squad leader. The crucial part is that he’s only been in the army for two days. Given time, he’ll undoubtedly become an excellent leader.”
An hour quickly passed, and after an intense hour of shouting, the recruits’ voices seemed hoarse. However, they felt significantly relaxed and even more energized than before.
“His method is effective,” acknowledged the squad leader. “Those shouts relieved the tension and improved our memorization skills. Surprisingly, we’ve memorized a lot in just one hour!”
The recruits, initially desperate about memorizing regulations, found newfound hope through Chen Ming’s approach. The method proved to be effective, and their spirits were lifted.
As the recitation concluded, the squads disbanded and returned to the dormitories. The squad leaders, typically serious, were unusually cheerful that night.
As Chen Ming’s squad leader, Li Long felt a sense of pride. “Our soldiers received praise from the company commander, and leading the entire company in memorizing regulations is a rare honor.”
In the military, efforts to uplift the squad leader’s status often led to reciprocal benefits. After returning to the dormitory, the now-friendly squad leader patted Chen Ming on the shoulder, saying, “Well done.”
Chen Ming modestly responded, “Thanks to the squad leader’s excellent guidance,” the two exchanged smiles.
Later, during shower time, everyone relaxed on their beds, massaging muscles and engaging in casual conversations. As the lights-out signal rang at ten o’clock, they closed their eyes and peacefully drifted asleep.
The following week followed a similar routine: morning exercises, chores, breakfast, queue organization, training sessions, noon break, afternoon training, evening news, and recitation of regulations.
Daily life is like clockwork in the military, repeating with little variation. Under this training, everyone is progressing – even tofu blocks can be stacked, and physical fitness is improving. Seldom do they experience the soreness that follows a day of training.
In the evenings, Chen Ming led everyone in reciting regulations, and they improved steadily. Chen Ming randomly quizzed them to boost their motivation and push them to memorize more, making the chosen person recite in front of everyone.
Recruits, eager to avoid embarrassment, diligently memorize, fearing the shame of not recalling in front of others. With this, their progress in reciting instructions accelerated.
Later on, besides basic military posture, they added queue training. Notably, there were always a few “masters” prone to turning awkwardly during queue training. This year, the title of master fell to He Dong and Yu Jun. Their stumbling walks became a source of amusement and frustration for the squad leader and instructors.
Unable to watch any longer, Chen Ming took action. With two sticks, he guided them, correcting their turns. Grateful, they looked at Chen Ming, almost on the verge of tears.
Saturday afternoon arrived, signaling the end of the week’s training. The prospect of a rest day on Sunday lifts everyone’s spirits. After queue training, the dorm was filled with relieved laughter. No wake-up calls, training, or need to recite instructions on the rest day!
Returning to the dorm, thoughts turn to how they’ll enjoy their day off. Suddenly, the squad leader cleared his throat, announcing Chen Ming as the deputy squad leader. There were no objections, given Chen Ming’s evident progress and willingness to help others.
Chen Ming’s appointment was met with nods and smiles. The squad leader outlined the responsibilities and praised Chen Ming’s improvement. The announcement of a rest day tomorrow added to the joy.
In the dorm, plans for the upcoming day off were eagerly discussed. The squad leader advised a quick shower and rest. As he departed, He Dong playfully embraced Chen Ming, joking about his new role and requesting care from their “official” comrade.