After Being Reborn, I became a firefighter again?

"I’m telling you guys, this time we only brought out eight people, specifically chosen for their good image! Selecting you means we recognize you! Control your swearing and such during the event!"

On the way to Guiyang No.1 Middle School, Cao Yi kept chattering on the two-way radio.

Unexpectedly, the radio hadn’t yet gone beyond the squadron’s communication range.

A crackling noise, then Ye Jiahong’s voice came through:

"Damn it, Old Cao, aren’t you going a bit too far? If you want someone with a good image, I and another are both leaders. You’re already thirty, and I’m just twenty-eight, better looking than you too. Why in hell are you the one to go?"

"Hahaha..."

Cao Yi’s face darkened, and after a long pause, he picked up the radio:

"I have a daughter! She’s in the first grade! Getting to know the teachers and leadership at No.1 School early on is good for pulling strings later, isn’t it?! What can a bachelor like you compare with?"

Ye Jiahong’s swearing was loud, but as the car moved farther away, it started to blur, turning into a long series of beeps.

...

It’s nine o’clock.

The recitation of textbooks sounded like ethereal chanting.

"She said, ’I don’t want to set down a series of facts in a diary as most...’"

"Traveling a thousand miles to greet guests, the seats filled with distinguished visitors. Conjuring dragons and phoenixes, Scholar Meng’s word temple; purple lightning and green frost, General Wang’s armory..."

The eight men from Second Squadron got off at the school cafeteria, facing students reciting their lessons, some holding books and others looking down, lost in thought.

"The high school with the highest overall key point rate in the province sure is something," Cao Yi said, as he observed his surroundings with admiration.

Fang Huai chuckled and said, "Instructor Cao, have you been out of school for too long? Those who are really good at studying are cramming away in the classrooms! It’s those who perform poorly like me that spend all day reciting from books!

But this atmosphere, really intense. Just now when I got out of the car, those two guys were leaving the cafeteria after grabbing breakfast, and they were still speaking English. I don’t even know if the cafeteria auntie passed CET-4.

With this vibe, even a dog would end up reciting a couple of words."

"What does ’intense’ mean?" Xiao Haishan turned around, puzzled.

Fang Huai explained casually: "It means they create competition to raise the difficulty of survival for everyone."

"Then you’re really ’intense’ yourself." Xiao Haishan immediately applied his new knowledge: "You’ve even upped the selection criteria for our squadron!"

"Hahaha..." Everyone burst into laughter.

After hearing this, Cao Yi couldn’t help but smile wryly: "Well, I actually think being a bit competitive is good!"

Fang Huai nodded in agreement:

"Eh, right! That’s exactly what leaders like to think!"

"Thump."

Fang Huai took another crisp knock on the head.

Cao Yi said irritably:

"All you do is spout weird nonsense all day! If you really became a captain, the instructor would have to beat you up eight times a day! Line up, line up! Pay attention to your appearance and discipline along the way!"

...

"Hello, Captain Cao."

A middle-aged woman wearing glasses reached out first to shake hands with Cao Yi.

Cao Yi didn’t bother to correct his title and showed a gentle smile that was never seen in the squadron.

"Hello, hello, Director Jiang."

Seeing that smile, Fang Huai was sure that when his daughter reached high school age, he was indeed planning to pull some strings at No.1 Middle School.

Sigh.

Unless he became a big team leader in his own jurisdiction before his daughter entered high school, even the most radiant smile wouldn’t get him noticed.

A super high school in a province, can you imagine how intense the competition is? Just look at those parents fighting tooth and nail over "school district housing" in later generations, and you know. All they want is to get their child into a "better" school.

And this is the number one school in the province.

It’s not that there aren’t any back doors, they just don’t swing open for cadre-level leaders like Cao Yi.

"Captain Cao, our exercise today starts at 9:50 and ends at 10:20, is that alright?"

Director Jiang spoke while glancing at the schedule in her hand.

Fang Huai, with his keen eyes, saw the morning’s school arrangement: City XX Bureau X Deputy Bureau leads the team, accompanying the provincial XX Department inspection group to review the school’s various tasks. (9:50, observing the fire drill)

Tsk tsk tsk.

So we’re just a performance for the leaders invited by the school.

Using the big break from 9:50 to 10:20 for a fire drill, and isn’t it straight back to class after it’s over?

If it were him as a student, he’d probably be cursing.

Actually, even now, he really felt like cursing.

"Half an hour... isn’t that a bit rushed?" Cao Yi furrowed his brow.

He originally planned for about an hour, with a twenty-plus minute drill and forty minutes for equipment familiarization. Today, to show importance, even safety air cushions were prepared for the students to try.

If there was extra time, they could discuss the issues during the drill on the playground and talk about safety awareness.

Half an hour, isn’t that just going through the motions?

"Just simplify the process, Captain Cao. Students should still primarily focus on studying, right?"

Director Jiang’s every sentence was inquiring, but it carried an undeniable tone.

Old Cao, on ordinary days leading his soldiers out in the field, whether facing merchants and traders, brash hooligans, or shameless ruffians, they would all have to behave respectfully and politely upon meeting him. Yet here, in this cradle of culture, he was made to eat humble pie.

In ancient times, when scholars encountered soldiers, they could not reason with them. Society has become more civilized, but now the situation seems to be reversed.

"I... I’ll have to think about it. This approach might not be effective. We can only hastily conduct a fire drill, but we won’t know how to respond properly to a fire."

Director Jiang laughed, "Isn’t it just about covering your mouth and nose with a wet cloth and escaping in an orderly fashion by bending over? It’s very simple, and the kids are smart. I teach chemistry. I might know a thing or two about the characteristics of combustion that you might not."

Cao Yi was somewhat choked up, as he was not good at arguing with educated people.

Fang Huai scoffed.

They all think they know it all. Do you even know how to use a water gun to put out a fire?

Fang Huai chuckled and added:

"Instructor Cao, they’re just fooling themselves; we should just go through the motions, right? These kids, once they enter society, will learn some of this knowledge on their own. After all, there’s only so much a middle school can teach. All they need is to teach the kids how to do the problems."

Upon hearing this, Director Jiang’s previously hurried demeanor vanished. With a laid-back attitude, she clasped her hands and said:

"My little comrade, are you denying the hard work of hundreds of academic staff members at our school? Are you aware of how many outstanding talents for society our school has cultivated?

Not to mention anything else, there are two leaders in the City Bureau to which you belong who are alumni of our school."

Fang Huai grinned, "Your school’s education ensures one becomes a leader? Isn’t that something people achieve on their own?"

"You...!" The director was still inexperienced in quarreling and was speechless from Fang Huai’s rapid retort.

Actually, having her find those alumni leaders to suppress the Fire Brigade was beyond her role as a deputy director; she didn’t have such clout.

Even if she had some social connections, they were precious and couldn’t be used like this.

Cao Yi in his heart had come to understand: they were treating them like fools. When the school had called them over last weekend, he was full of confidence to do well in the drill and had prepared several different emergency plans based on the various safety education courses.

But now, it seemed they hadn’t planned on taking it seriously at all.

However, adhering to the principle of unity, he scolded Fang Huai:

"Don’t talk, discipline!"

He then maintained a smile and said to Director Jiang:

"Director Jiang, since you think the evacuation drill is simple, let’s shorten that part. We won’t conduct the exit checks, just organize the students on the playground, and we’ll focus on discussing the ’Three Knowings and Three Abilities.’

Director Jiang pursed her lips and shot Fang Huai a glance before turning back to Cao Yi and saying:

"I suppose that’s fine, especially with a leader present—it’s not good to keep them waiting. But we could skip that explanation part, right? Let’s focus on the... fire extinguisher, and the pan of oil will suffice. I can explain the characteristics of oil fires to the students on the side."

This completely stumped Cao Yi.

After a long moment, he sighed, "Fine, you explain it yourself."

Only then did Director Jiang nod in satisfaction, "Alright, you can start at 9:50."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Everyone felt the disrespect from the director and fell into a moment of silence.

Only Fang Huai laughed mockingly:

"They say teachers are like candles, burning themselves to light the way for others.

While most burn with spirit, this one’s burning physically.

I’ve figured it out; she really isn’t afraid of fire. If I ever get the chance to respond to an emergency at her house, I’d just hand her the water gun."

The soldiers all laughed with ill intent, feeling that Fang Huai’s sarcasm had relieved much of their frustration.

Only Xiong Jie seriously said, "Little Fang, teachers work hard, don’t make fun like that."

"Yes, squad leader," Fang Huai nodded, "But teachers are also human, and I’m mocking her attitude.

It was written on her notepad just now, half past nine, the leadership reviews, we exercise, which means to cooperate with their work.

To let us simulate an oil pool fire and she still wants to explain herself, it’s nothing more than showing off in front of the leadership.

And this attitude towards fire safety, that’s not right, Instructor Cao. Why do you think our fire safety publicity isn’t taking off?

This is why!

A single school, thousands of students, one effective fire safety promotional event could bring fire safety knowledge to thousands of households.

Moreover, emphasizing fire safety during school years lays a good foundation of fire safety consciousness for the students, who might one day be influenced by this awareness when they become leaders in their workplaces, emphasizing the importance of fire protection."

"That’s right, well said!" Xiao Haishan, always easily roused, supported Fang Huai’s words loudly after hearing them.

Cao Yi, however, sighed, "Easier said than done. Everyone knows the theory, but it’s a tough job to do."

Fang Huai chuckled again, "Instructor Cao, the state gives us rock-solid law enforcement authority. You’re not even afraid of some powerful institutions, so why would a school scare you?"

Cao Yi grumbled, "I am showing respect! Respect for the educated, respect for knowledge!"

"I think if a teacher doesn’t understand fire safety, there’s no need for respect. At the very least, in our field, you need to show a stern face when necessary."

It wasn’t Fang Huai who spoke this time, but rather Zhang Yaohuan, who usually kept to himself and was always running off to the Big Team.

He didn’t go anywhere today just so he could stay at the base and work on the day’s fire protection publicity.

Hearing Zhang Yaohuan’s words, Cao Yi couldn’t help but ponder.

After a while, he said, "Alright, we won’t follow her plans today; we’ll complete the publicity as usual!"

At these words, everyone’s mood suddenly lifted.

Fang Huai couldn’t stop laughing, "Instructor Cao, just for that, I’ll arrange the best schools for your daughter when she’s in junior high and high school in the future!"

Cao Yi turned around, mockingly responding, 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"You little rascal, you’re full of hot air!"