After Being Reborn, I became a firefighter again?

Training ground.

"Little Hao, Fang Huai, come here!"

Zhang Zhongting walked to the parallel bars area and waved to the two men.

"I’ll pass, Chief of Staff. You can accompany Captain Zhang later."

The Colonel said, waving to Zhang Zhongting, who was not far away.

Zhang Zhongting waved back.

But Fang Huai was anxious: "No, Colonel, wait until you’ve listened to the song before you leave! I’ve already written it, and I’m just waiting to make my mark! I’ve even brought the stuff!"

With his uncle present, Fang Huai felt bold enough to take liberties.

"Oh?" Colonel Huang’s eyes widened, surprised by this turn of events.

Zhang Zhongting, noticing what was happening, also started walking back this way.

"What’s going on?"

Fang Huai chuckled and held up two fingers: "The Chief of Staff promised me two opportunities to distinguish myself.

One is by writing a song, and the other by doing 20 pull-ups on the parallel bars.

I’m a little short of breath for the pull-ups.

But the song, I have already written it, and I want the leadership to take a look."

"Hey, you can really write a song? But Colonel Huang’s time is precious; we’ll let him listen some other day!" Zhang Zhongting strolled over with his hands behind his back as if he was about to send someone away.

He knew Fang Huai’s capability; He was the one who taught him the basics of guitar, so how good could he really be?

I’ll listen first. If it’s good, then you can show off to everyone else.

But the Chief of Staff was invigorated.

"Leaders, Little Fang really has a knack for songwriting. I was just waiting for him to finish that song we talked about last time so you could hear it! Didn’t expect... Well! Today is just right! Let both leaders have a listen! The last time I heard it, it was really catchy!"

Colonel Huang nodded slowly: "Hmm, Little Fang, this matter of your song was mentioned in the meeting, and it’s part of the work. So, we shall listen carefully and enjoy!"

Zhang Zhongting laughed heartily: "Haha, Little Yang, you’re vouching for this! If it makes us want to clean our ears afterward, you’re paying the doctor’s bill!"

"That’s impossible! Unless I was hallucinating that day!" the Chief of Staff proclaimed, thumping his chest.

When Hao Chengbin heard the conversation, he quickly helped Fang Huai get the guitar out, silently reflecting on his fortune.

It’s good to have connections in high places!

Fang Huai had an advantage over him in this respect. When it mattered, he had no shame, while if it were him, he would probably be too embarrassed to say a word.

This kid, he really knows how to get things done.

"Thank you, squad leader!" Fang Huai said after Hao Chengbin took out the guitar for him, standing at attention and shouting.

Today, with a deputy regimental commander and two regimental commanders present, Fang Huai retained his regimental manners only towards a non-commissioned officer.

Zhang Zhongting chuckled to himself.

This kid, who had messed around a lot in high school, seemed to have figured out how the world works too.

Fang Huai set down the box he was holding, took the guitar, tuned it, and thought for a moment. Then he took the lyrics from Hao Chengbin’s hands, pretending to look at them for a while, so as not to make Hao Chengbin’s trip seem meaningless.

After looking over them, Fang Huai put on his guitar strap and played two small tunes before entering the main melody.

Both Colonels recognized the technique and started listening more attentively, folding their hands and leaning in.

This time, instead of just strumming, he played a complete melody, softly beginning to sing.

"Everyone is strong

Your passion, your courage, fearless

Everyone is ordinary

Your selfless dedication, your contributions, remembered by someone

They say, to charge ahead, to stitch the wounds of disaster

They say, take your weapons, we’re going into battle

When the alarm bell rings, move out, right away

No matter how dangerous the situation, forget it

Who says the young can’t be heroes...

I love your green uniform, charging into the fire scene

I love your fearlessness, enduring any hardship

I love that you’re so much like me, yet daring to face fate’s bullet

I love the youthful look, your darkened face

Charge? Charge! Every time crisis strikes

Fight? Fight! Sweat drenching your forehead

Here’s to the scrambling and stumbling in thick smoke...

...

Everyone is brave, your scars

Your uniqueness, your mistakes

...

I love that you walk alone in dark alleys, your refusal to kneel

I love your stand against despair, never crying out

...

Here’s to the whimpers and roars in the dark night

Who says only those who stand in the light are heroes!"

Fang Huai put the firefighting version in the first paragraph and the original composition in the second paragraph.

The first paragraph set the theme, and the second showcased talent.

The song ended.

Zhang Zhongting’s mouth was half open, his upper face tense.

From the start of the second paragraph, a question kept repeating in his mind.

Fang Huai... how many points did he score in Chinese on the college entrance exam?

Is this really the level of song he could write?

Zhang Zhongting too had passed the college entrance exam with more than 40 points over the line and had gone to graduate school. Did he think Zhang didn’t receive an education?

He’s also a master of the guitar! Back then, he made quite a name for himself in the whole corps—talented and handsome. There were quite a few female officers who liked him, and even now, two who’ve transferred to other corps still can’t forget him!

He’s old news in this area!

He knows well that melody can rely on talent, but lyrics require accumulation!

"You... did you really write this song? The lyrics, can I see them?" Zhang Zhongting tried not to show too much doubt and asked calmly.

But as soon as Fang Huai heard this, he immediately dashed like lightning to Hao Chengbin’s side and guarded over the lyric book, saying warily,

"Uncle, this is a song I’ve worked on for a long time, and I haven’t applied for copyright yet! You can’t just swoop in and reap the benefits without doing any work!"

"You... I... Do you want stars or do you want the frame?!" Zhang Zhongting said, starting to unbuckle his everyday belt.

A sudden burst of ruffian air surged forth.

The military belt has a star on one side and a frame on the other that fastens it.

Getting hit by it is damn painful—it’s known as the ’army’s seven wolves.’

So when an old squad leader is intimidating a new recruit with a military belt, he would ask this question: Do you want to eat the star end, or do you want to eat the frame end?

Of course, the 07 belt for securing trousers only has stars, and below the stars is the "CAPF" emblem.

If an old soldier of the People’s Armed Police doesn’t have a military belt on hand, he can only undo his waist belt and ask, "Do you want to eat ’CAPF’?"

Seeing that the belt was already half unbuckled, Fang Huai quickly ducked behind Hao Chengbin and yelled, "Uncle! It’ll be the Lunar New Year soon; go easy on me! I’m scared I won’t last until the ’Dragon Raises its Head’ festival before having to shave my head!"

Zhang Zhongting stopped in his tracks.

"Hahahaha..."

The laughter MVP of the whole place—Chief of Staff.

Hao Chengbin also wanted to laugh but feared the belt would involve him as well, so he sidestepped away a couple of steps!

The Colonel too laughed heartily before saying, "You know, Zhang Zhongting, Fang Huai’s song does have the merit to represent our corps. If we promote it well next year, it might just bring glory to our corps!"

After hearing this, Zhang Zhongting straightened his expression as he folded the belt back together, returning to his dignified leadership demeanor.

"Little Hao, bring that lyric book over so we can take a look."

This time Fang Huai relaxed his grip and didn’t act tough any longer.

Hao Chengbin trotted over with the material containing the lyrics.

The two Colonels looked over it together for quite some time.

They hadn’t understood earlier, but now, reading the lyrics, they were both moved by the power of the words.

"Hmm... I think the first verse is very good, but there are a few lines in the second verse that need to be slightly revised. Dolls, masks, clowns... those words are too frivolous and not fitting for a soldier’s image," Zhang Zhongting opined while nodding.

Fang Huai stepped forward to respond, "Hmm, those need to be changed, but I want to add some elements of youth to increase its singability. After all, promotional songs are different from military songs; if it’s too somber, no one will listen to it.

I think we should include the young people’s mindset in the second verse to represent that our soldiers also have the hearts of ordinary youth in pursuit of the world."

The Chief of Staff too looked over the lyrics with hands clasped behind his back and his head tilted.

After watching for a while, he laughed, "The lyrics are indeed well written, and the tune is good, just that the handwriting’s a bit ugly!"

Fang Huai naturally ignored the Chief of Staff’s last remark and seized the time to keep increasing the leadership’s interest.

"This song isn’t a guitar tune; in my imagination, it should be a piano composition with vocal harmonies, and my singing isn’t exactly professional.

If we produce it in a recording studio, after it’s edited, I think, the listening experience would improve by several levels.

Who says military promotional songs can’t be popular?

Firefighting is a local troop, closer to the people; we should keep up with the times! As long as the lyrics are positive and uplifting, I think it’s a good song!"

All three pondered.

The direction of the Firefighting forces is indeed different from other troops.

Whether it’s fire alarms or emergency rescues, the public needs to have a higher recognition and understanding of this force.

So when it comes to promotion, the Firefighting forces never relax their efforts.

Seeing them in thought, Fang Huai chuckled and added a temptation, "I’ve already thought of how to shoot the music video for this song: light in the night, water at a fire scene, and the silhouette of firefighters in their battle gear.

The Internet environment is becoming more and more developed, while oddities and idols dominate much of the conversation.

There’s too little content that’s positive and has the potential for spread—mostly just stiff news reports.

From a young person’s perspective, the beautiful shots of firefighting that we often see are actually shocking for others.

If the song is shot well and released, it could not only promote but also beautify the online environment and spread positive energy.

Next year being the Olympics, people from all over the world will come to China, and the Internet is popular worldwide. Promoting through this channel would be very significant."

Just how significant, Fang Huai didn’t need to elaborate; the two experienced leaders could imagine it for themselves.

"Positive energy..." Both Colonels mused over the phrase, chewing on it.

The idea has legs.

There’s really something to it.

It’s just a question of whether the final effect can live up to the lofty words from Fang Huai’s mouth.

At least for the moment, the song is truly not bad.

Zhang Zhongting became noticeably more serious and said to Colonel Huang, "I think you all can start shooting it, and then our regiment can call for guidance from the Municipal Propaganda Department.

They’ve got a lot of experts, and they tend to consider things more comprehensively than us."

But Colonel Huang started laughing, "You mean, it’s going to be a joint operation between our two units?"

Zhang Zhongting leaned back slightly, taking it for granted, "Of course! Why else would I be here watching with you for half a day?

This is my nephew! He’s definitely going to Guiyang Regiment in the future! If you don’t want to be involved, I can just have him transferred out and do it elsewhere!"

Fang Huai’s eyes widened in surprise.

Why is it "definitely Guiyang Regiment"? In my last life, I was transferred to Anshun!

And you asked me to grind it out in the tougher spots in the county, it took nearly half a year before I managed to get myself moved to a government agency!

No more grinding now??

Colonel Huang was also taken aback, then burst into loud laughter.

"Alright, alright, we’ll contribute both manpower and effort, while your regiment will sit back and benefit!"

Fang Huai was somewhat displeased with their attitude of divvying up ’three for you, seven for me.’

The creator hasn’t even spoken yet, for heaven’s sake!

So he stood with his hands on his back, smacking his lips, and butted in somewhat dissatisfied.

"Dear leaders, I think you’re underestimating my song a bit. I believe, at the very least, we should slap a ’Guizhou Fire Brigade’ seal on it to make it more appropriate."

Both leaders were taken aback.

You sure don’t think small, kid!