After Being Reborn, I became a firefighter again?

"Yang Libing, how many did you pull up?"

While everyone remained silent amidst this strange atmosphere, Instructor Liu finished his conversation with the old soldiers and came over from the backyard, shouting loudly.

Cao Yi followed closely behind, accompanied by several young non-commissioned officers and first-class soldiers from the Second Squadron responsible for collecting the equipment.

There was also Hao Chengbin, who had come to see Fang Huai’s performance.

Wen Jingsong just felt frustrated and didn’t want to speak.

Yan Kuan turned his head and shouted, "24!"

Instructor Liu’s face lit up with joy, "24, not bad at all, Instructor Cao, your squadron’s Fang Huai, last time 28, right? Any improvement? Our squadron’s Yang Libing is catching up!"

Yang Libing was a promising candidate, not only starting from a high point, but also progressing rapidly! Everyone felt that he might surpass Wen Jingsong overall in the following year!

He might even become He Zhijun’s sparring partner when Zhijun prepares for the competition!

However, Cao Yi laughed and shouted loudly to the side, "Fang Huai, just 31 the other day! Any progress today?"

Everyone’s expressions grew odd.

Seeing that no one was talking and Fang Huai kept moving his hands and feet, Cao Yi felt puzzled.

What, didn’t even reach his best state today?

That kid usually performs quite steadily! He always gets better each day, never backtracked!

Hao Chengbin also walked over quickly, concerned, "What’s wrong, Fang Huai, not in good shape today?"

Fang Huai chuckled, "It’s alright."

"Then how many did you do?"

Zhang Yang, on the side of the bar, turned back, his face knotted with complexity, "First practice, he did 39, second practice...24."

"What the heck?!" Hao Chengbin’s face crumpled.

The two instructors’ steps came to a halt as well.

Cao Yi felt his mind in disarray.

20...28...29...31...39?! People’s progress is usually small and steady, and he not only strides fast but also leaps occasionally?

"Are you sure he did thirty-nine? Didn’t count wrong?" Cao Yi asked again.

Such progress was too exaggerated.

He had set Wen Jingsong as the target for Fang Huai, but just as the target was erected, before he could even let go, the target broke to its response!

Everyone stared at Zhang Yang, who was staring at the training record book.

He slowly shook his head:

"No, Instructor Cao, you misunderstood me. He did 39 for the first practice without coming down from the bar, then did 24 for the second practice. He’s just deliberately playing dumb. I think Fang Huai should get back on the bar and retest his limit for the first practice.

We must have him do his best, I suspect he can surpass fifty!"

As Zhang Yang spoke, he felt conflicted within.

When he was angry earlier, he hoped Fang Huai would slap Wen Jingsong in the face.

But now that it actually happened, and with such ease, he felt somewhat annoyed.

Fang Huai was definitely playing dumb! He had been toying with him all along!

As for whether he could do 50, Zhang Yang wasn’t sure. After all, Wen Jingsong got 48, so claiming higher than Wen Jingsong seemed right.

In that moment, Zhang Yang said something that no one could make out clearly, but everyone felt they heard two sounds.

"Two fours! Want them? Last two cards!"

"Oh my god, double kings!"

Why do old non-commissioned officers like doing the second exercise, but new ones don’t?

They used to train their waists vigorously.

Squad Leader Fang, Hao Chengbin, and others, still have better results than the new non-commissioned officers.

pull-ups for the first exercise, 24 for the second, either of these numbers on their own would earn praise, and this kid, he can combine them!

This score was enough to show Fang Huai’s waist strength, arm strength, and endurance!

Cao Yi instantly thought of something: this was no longer a new recruit’s score, this was the Second Squadron’s military secret!

In the upcoming provincial competition, the First Squadron was the main competitor of the Second Squadron. With Fang Huai’s current physical condition having crossed that threshold, he was no longer just a candidate but should be a main player!

"Ahem, Instructor Liu, our squadron has to hold a meeting, would you mind leaving first?"

Instructor Liu: ???

I was waiting to enjoy the show, and you’re kicking me out?

Am I that ugly?

"Instructor Cao, our squadron has been on watch for you all day, and you won’t even provide a meal?"

"Another day, another day!"

Cao Yi was unapologetic, moved forward, and started herding people out as if he had walked into his house to find a group of messy, poor relatives sitting on his top-grade fabric sofa.

Hao Chengbin also realized something, and with a wave to Fang Huai, led his disciple away rapidly.

Song Lin, who hadn’t started his set yet: ಥ_ಥ

I can do twenty-four too!!

Tied for second place but not worthy to be remembered?!

In his imagination, Fang Huai, the top scholar, would dominate the competition, only for Song Lin to emerge and secure second place!

That would be the ultimate glory of the Second Squadron!

Cao Yi pulled Instructor Liu out, suddenly remembered something, and turned back to land the final blow:

"New recruits of the Second Squadron, dismissed, have a good rest this weekend!"

The stage was dismantled just like that.

Actually, by that point, Cao Yi had already considered Song Lin as the top candidate.

His score was also to be kept confidential, and before the new recruit evaluation, the Second Squadron would play a silent winning hand, secret training!

...

Hao Chengbin led Fang Huai directly into the deserted equipment store.

As soon as the door closed and the light switched on,

Fang Huai’s head received a smack in the back.

"Tell me the truth, how much are you still hiding? Show me everything, don’t hold back!

"I heard that Wen Jingsong started training at home when he was just 12 years old. Did you start from a young age too?"

Hao Chengbin looked a bit menacing. Today, he was determined to press Fang Huai for the truth.

Feeling helpless, Fang Huai spread his hands, "Squad Leader, you’ve just met my dad. Does he look like he’s ever trained me?

It was only after I enlisted that I discovered I’m particularly good at training! Every time I train to the limit, I make huge progress! And if I stick with it for a while and then rest, the improvement in my performance is especially significant!"

Hao Chengbin narrowed his eyes, feeling the statement didn’t seem like a lie.

After all, in these past three months of training, Fang Huai had been right by his side, sweating profusely during pull-ups and runs, unable to fake such effort.

"Your training... is particularly effective?" Hao Chengbin hesitated.

"Yes! And I’m especially interested in firefighting stuff! I learn it very quickly too!" Fang Huai then went on to explain about his academic subjects.

"Hmm... Ah... It seems that I was holding you back, always focusing on the parallel bars, thinking of being outstanding in one area only. That won’t do. I need to push your running performance as well."

Hao Chengbin let out a long sigh and then asked another question:

"Your training is particularly effective? Are you sure?"

Fang Huai felt a bad omen and quickly explained:

"Actually, it’s not particularly..."

"Click."

Cao Yi from the First Squadron came in through the door.

"What’s up? What are you whispering about? Come on, let’s go up to the Squadron Department!"

Hao Chengbin stopped him, "Instructor Cao, I have something to discuss with you privately."

Cao Yi thought for a moment with his hands behind his back, "Let’s go."

Fang Huai stood dumbfounded, watching the two walk away.

...

After dinner, while the new recruits were washing dishes and cleaning, everyone saw an extremely old white pickup truck being pushed out from an empty space beside the training tower by Hao Chengbin and a few squadron drivers.

They pushed it into the center of the back courtyard basketball court.

They had seen this truck before; it had always been parked beside the training tower.

Because of its hidden location, those sitting in the front could watch for the squad leader’s approach and, with seats available, sometimes the new recruits would nestle in it for a rest after finishing their noon tasks.

The gear stick of the truck was broken, removed, and placed on the passenger seat.

After pushing it out, they began fussing around the truck, running to the equipment store for a wrench at one point and at another bringing over an oil barrel, all extremely busy.

From the glass door and windows of the dining hall, the new recruits had a clear view of what was happening.

While they were almost done cleaning the entire kitchen, the sound of the car engine trying to start came from the basketball court.

"Click... Click-click."

"Click... Tuttuttut..."

"Tuttut, gong, gonggonggong..."

"Roar, roar... roar! Gonggonggong..."

After a few revs of the throttle, the engine’s sound became consistent.

That sound was nothing like a pickup truck, more like a sports car.

"What are they busy with..."

Han Yong, hugging a mop head, planted it on the ground and watched silently.

"Fixing the car," Song Lin said matter-of-factly.

However, Fang Huai stood by the window, slightly out of breath, watching Squad Leader Hao place a bundle of lifeline ropes into the back of the truck, murmuring to himself,

"I thought of an ancient form of torture..."

...

minutes later.

Four new recruits, four first-class soldiers, assembled in the front yard.

Eight air respirators were neatly lined up in front of them.

The pickup truck was conspicuously parked at the entrance of the squadron, with Huang Yong, Zhao Jinchen, and Liu Jianfeng, the three non-commissioned officers with the worst tempers of the squadron, sitting in the back.

Fang Huai already knew what was about to happen.

He couldn’t help but take a deep breath.

Damn it, all because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut!

Instructor Cao stood to the side with his hands behind his back, looking somewhat worried, and asked Squad Leader Hao, "Going out like this... Is everything okay?"

Hao Chengbin waved his hand, "No problem, he said himself that he’s robust!"

Fang Huai immediately frowned.

Oh my god, Squad Leader, you’re getting colder towards me! Even Instructor Cao shows concern for me!

However, Cao Yi immediately shook his head, "That’s not what I’m asking! I mean, are you sure you fixed the truck? It won’t stall halfway and fail to make it back, right? This is an old friend who’s been with our squadron for 8 years!"

Hao Chengbin: ...

Fang Huai: ...

Hao Chengbin couldn’t be bothered to talk anymore, walking straight to the front of the line and loudly saying:

"You eight! Starting today, assemble here at 7:30 am, and I’ll take you out to see the scenery!

Zhao Jinchen, Huang Yong, keep an eye on them and make sure you handle any safety issues along the way!

Liu Jianfeng! You only need to look after Fang Huai in the back of the truck!

Everybody, gear up with the breathing apparatus! Move out!"

Everyone felt like crying.

But seeing Chang Ming pulled out for training as well, there wasn’t much to say; they shouldered their respirators one after the other.

At that moment, Hao Chengbin took a lifeline rope from the pickup truck, tied a few large loops with a touch of gentleness, and slipped them around Fang Huai’s waist like tethering an animal, with the other end of the rope handed over to Liu Jianfeng on the truck.

"Run at a steady pace, you hear? I’ll drive at idle speed! I’ll give it some gas on uphill stretches! Keep up!"

Fang Huai grimly said, "Squad Leader, if I say I’m not robust now, would you let me go?"

Hao Chengbin’s face darkened immediately, "Do you want the pickup truck to pull you, or should I pick someone to kick you to run?"

Fang Huai glanced back at the three stern faces, and shivered.

"Mission accomplished!"