After Being Reborn, I became a firefighter again?

That night, the entire squadron revealed their financial undergarments.

An extraordinary squadron meeting that reclassified everyone’s social status took place.

The next morning, Fang Huai looked at the chart on the wall and couldn’t help but laugh.

Everyone was indeed being straightforward.

The chart had only a few columns: Name, Target (Price), and How Much Money Saved.

The Non-commissioned officers generally had some money, ranging from a few thousand to several hundred thousand, with goals mostly focused on buying a car or a house. Some of the stated figures might even have been understated.

But the gap between the second-generation heirs and conscripts was just too great.

Kong Xiangzhong, returning to his hometown to buy a villa and a car, 1.5 million, currently 3200 yuan in debt. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Liu Jianfeng, buying local property, 400 thousand, currently 930 yuan in debt.

Chen Zhenghai, buying local property and a car, 800 thousand, property goal achieved, could buy a car but the squadron doesn’t allow parking.

God damn, another second-generation heir surfaces in the Second Squadron.

Zhang Yang, saving one hundred thousand, currently 500 yuan in debt.

Qi Xiaohui, not owing money before being discharged, currently saved 2600 yuan.

Meng Qiang, buying a digital camera, a computer, and a set of disassembly tools, currently saved 330 yuan.

Alright, this guy ultimately got hooked on dismantling electronics, a total washout.

Chang Ming, aiming to save two hundred thousand, currently saved eighty thousand.

This figure startled Cao Yi last night, a conscript who’s also a cook, boldly claiming to have saved eighty thousand, damn startling.

After inquiring, it turned out his parents were afraid he wouldn’t have enough to spend in the troops, so they gave him more than twenty thousand when he enlisted and several thousand more every month. Also, after joining the squad leader in the kitchen, he could eat and drink whatever he wanted from the kitchen. Aside from smoking, he hardly ever spent money.

Of course, when it came to the squadron’s wealthy, Chang Ming wasn’t the one leading the pack.

Han Yong, wanting to take leave to buy two sets of underwear, currently saved three hundred thousand.

Fang Huai, a happy life is good, doesn’t lack money.

These two names being together utterly confused people, so much so that this morning when the list was posted, Non-commissioned officer after Non-commissioned officer stood pondering with hands behind their backs and smacking their lips at the wall for quite some time.

To be strict about it, taking leave and buying two sets of underwear only create a causal relationship, but saving, damn it, three hundred thousand for this goal, isn’t that a bit much?!

In fact, General Han reasoned things out very rigorously. Those three hundred thousand were just for pocket money, wasn’t it all for buying these things?

What sparked the most discussion among everyone was still the instigator of the property disclosure incident, Fang Huai.

You educated us poor bastards, fine, but if you’re not short of money and don’t need to save, why not donate more?

"Fang Huai, what are you looking at? Is the equipment check done?" Cao Yi walked by Fang Huai and gave him a pat.

"Oh! It’s done."

"Then let’s go! The rehearsal for the grand exercise has been canceled, I’ll take you deputy squad leaders to get familiar with the site first! Don’t make any mistakes when the time comes!"

"Yes, Instructor!"

Fang Huai immediately followed Cao Yi’s pace.

It was then that Cao Yi lowered his voice and said, "Didn’t I tell you to donate 10% of your salary yesterday, and take the opportunity to mention the standard for courtesy gifts? Why didn’t you do as I said?"

Fang Huai rolled his eyes, "Instructor, people give 10% to a hero’s family, at least they have two or three hundred, what about me? Shall I give twenty bucks? Wouldn’t that be a bit too much?"

Cao Yi sounded somewhat resentful, "Is this targeted at this incident? Now the interactions between comrades are getting out of hand! Anyone getting married throws around five or eight hundred like nothing! If I don’t take the chance to set a limit for them, they all think they’re millionaires!"

"Alright, alright, I surrender," Fang Huai raised his hands in surrender, "Instructor, you want to legislate, but you’re asking me, a new recruit, to offend others, your plan is too calculated! My fifty-yuan gift is now criticized throughout the squadron for being stingy!"

"Fifty is too little? I, the Instructor, only gave five hundred, and you, a damn new recruit, plan to give more?"

Fang Huai finally stopped, half-serious, and said:

"Instructor, you gave five hundred... I was ready to give two hundred Instructors."

...

In the vast funeral parlor hall, the sounds of sorrowful music muffled many conversations.

A man in a leather jacket sat at a table next to the ice coffin, beside Wang Yunkun’s parents and a few Squadron comrades, Ye Jiahong.

"Sister-in-law, our company merely provides decorating loans, there was the contract, a three percent interest rate!

This money has been borrowed for a year and a half, and the interest alone adds up to several tens of thousands. We lent it to him because he had a steady job, and his girlfriend indeed owned a flat, that’s why we lent it to him!

A thirteen-thousand-loan, and now you’re asking me to leave with just sixty thousand, that doesn’t sound right, does it?"

As soon as these words dropped.

"Thud, thud, thud."

Ye Jiahong banged on the metal table, "I don’t care what company you’re from, making a scene here at a martyr’s memorial hall is unacceptable!"

The leather-jacketed man gave Ye Jiahong, dressed in military uniform, a sideways glance and coldly said:

"What, does owing money mean not having to pay back? I’m legally collecting a debt, why do you call it making a scene? Have I been loud or disruptive? If you don’t give me the money within these two days, once the memorial hall is taken down and the people leave, where am I supposed to find anyone?"

The volume of the leather jacket’s voice increased with each word, and as several soldiers saw the hall crowded with people, they were about to stand up and curse him.

Wang Yunkun’s father quickly stood up, gesturing with his hands, scared that they might clash:

"You... Boss Wu."

Leather jacket smiled, "Please, I’m just a worker, just call me Little Wu."

"Ah..." Wang Yunkun’s father let out a long sigh:

"Little Wu, you see the situation. Yesterday, Yunkun’s comrades brought thirty thousand, and his girlfriend returned another thirty thousand, all of which I gave to you.

I asked the leadership about Yunkun’s bereavement pay yesterday, it’ll still be two months before we can get it, that money comes from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, we can’t control that?

The two of us, we really don’t have any money left, even if you skinned me, I wouldn’t have any!"

Wang Yunkun’s mother also spoke with a distressed face, "Little Wu, that interest rate, three thousand nine hundred yuan a month, after a year and a half, Yunkun paid almost sixty thousand just in interest to you.

His girlfriend also took out thirty thousand, with that amount, how much do you think he spent while he was alive?

I heard from relatives, that decorating loans should be processed by the homeowner, why did you lend it to our Yunkun in the first place?

And, even for these loans, the interest rate is just a few percent, couldn’t your interest be lower?"

As soon as the man in the leather jacket heard this, he panicked and pulled out an oil-paper package containing sixty thousand yuan from his chest, slamming it on the table:

"That won’t do! There’s a contract! Thirty-six percent a year, I’m not afraid of going to court! You have to pay this sum back all at once! If you drag this on, you’ll have to pay the interest for the extra time as well!"

With that, the old couple was driven to wipe away their tears in desperation.

It would take two months for Wang Yunkun’s pension to hit the account, and by then there would be another eight thousand yuan in interest.

Seeing the couple soften, the man in the leather jacket stopped making a fuss and, smiling, turned toward the few soldiers who had almost come to blows earlier, saying:

"Seeing as you guys are so close to him, why don’t you figure something out? Dragging this out will accumulate interest. If it’s not settled here, I might have to follow them home."

The few soldiers and Ye Jiahong also wiped their foreheads, at a loss for what to do.

Other than university, Ye Jiahong earned four years of salary and had already made a down payment on an apartment, so he really didn’t have any savings.

The other soldiers each had their own difficulties.

"Let’s try to pool the money together. Everyone make phone calls and ask around for a loan," Ye Jiahong suggested helplessly.

He understood all too well that, even in military uniform, one must repay borrowed money according to the contract.

This foolish Wang Yunkun, why borrow money thoughtlessly? Showing off generosity while being broke? Sigh!

A few of them took out their phones and began calculating how they could gather such a large sum.

At that moment, a few middle-aged men in military uniform, exuding an air of confidence, entered the doorway.

Ye Jiahong, recognizing them, immediately stood up and shouted: "Regimental commander! Chief of Staff! Instructor!"

The other soldiers, seeing the high-ranking officers, also stood at attention.

Zhang Zhongting glanced at him but didn’t say anything; instead, he walked to the center front of the memorial hall and solemnly paid his respects.

The others followed in turn, each saluting.

The last one was in a camouflage uniform, but had no rank insignias.

He too stepped forward, looked at the hero’s photograph for a moment, then raised his hand in a somewhat unstandard military salute.

This man, Ye Jiahong had seen before.

It was Fang Huai’s father.

The appearance of these men immediately attracted widespread attention in the hall.

After saluting, Zhang Zhongting approached the table where Wang Yunkun’s parents were sitting.

The imposing presence of these few men differed from that of the soldiers at the table; the previously loud man in the leather jacket dared not make a sound anymore and even sat up a bit straighter.

"Ye, I hear you’ve thrown in the towel and don’t want to work anymore with the brigade grand drill looming?" Zhang Zhongting asked casually and indifferently, with a slight smile.

Before Ye Jiahong could even respond, an outburst came from behind:

"His mother’s..." Old Teacher He couldn’t contain himself and charged forward to lay into him.

Ye Jiahong immediately covered his face, while a few non-commissioned officers nearby were scared stiff.

But Old Teacher He was stopped by a raised hand from Zhang Zhongting.

Ye Jiahong, trembling, exhaled in relief. Fortunately, the leadership was here, or Old Teacher He really would have taken action.

Zhang Zhongting, however, whispered: "It’s a hero’s memorial hall, take him back and beat him up later."

The soldiers around were stunned.

Ye Jiahong felt his scalp tingle, uncertain how to explain later.

As for Cao Yi, the squadron leader who was scratching his head over his issues, Old Teacher He cured half of them with just a lift of his hand.

"You must be the family of Hero Wang Yunkun?" inquired Zhang Zhongting.

"Ah, yes, yes, sir! Did Ye do something wrong? Please don’t beat him!" Wang Yunkun’s parents immediately stood up, pleading.

For the whole night yesterday, Ye Jiahong had been bustling about and had also contributed so much money; the old couple was deeply touched.

"No beating, no beating, Ye, you go back first," Zhang Zhongting said with a smile.

But to his surprise, seeing the old couple so protective of him, Ye Jiahong’s eyes reddened again, "Regimental commander, today I must help Uncle and Auntie solve their problem before I leave! Instructor, I know I didn’t ask for leave when I went out, you can punish me!"

"I, your old..." Old Teacher He was so frustrated he clenched his back teeth tightly: "What problem can you solve? Go away!"

Zhang Zhongting, however, said with a smile: "We came here today to solve a problem. We’re sorry that Hero Wang Yunkun was not awarded the title of martyr, but our brigade managed to invite Director Fang from Huali Electric. Director Fang was very touched when he heard about this and has decided to sponsor one hundred thousand yuan as a tribute to the family of the hero."

Everyone was momentarily stunned.

Ye Jiahong searched his mind for a while and reassured himself that this man was indeed Fang Huai’s father.

The surname Fang matched up too.

Wasn’t Fang Huai’s family in poor conditions? How did he suddenly become Director Fang, invited by the brigade for sponsorship?

"Sir... which one is the hero’s family?" Wang Yunkun’s mother asked excitedly, looking at Zhang Zhongting.

"Elder brother, elder sister, it’s you," Fang Kaiyang finally spoke.

With that, he took a bundle of cash from his bag and placed it on the table.

"You... thank you for your concern, leaders..."

The old couple, who never dreamed they would see such timely aid in their lifetime, bowed and were about to kneel down.

Fang Kaiyang hurriedly reached out to support them: "No, no, no! I am a discharged soldier, and my son is an active duty firefighter. It’s only right!"

After steadying the elderly couple, he then turned to Captain Ye and said, "Captain Ye, come here a moment."

At this point, Ye Jiahong felt a huge relief, immediately running up to Fang Kaiyang and saluting.

"Uncle, thank you so much! You really saved us!"

Fang Kaiyang then pulled Ye Jiahong aside and said:

"I’m an old soldier too; may I call you Little Ye?"

"No problem, no problem at all!" Ye Jiahong nodded repeatedly.

It was then that Fang Kaiyang’s expression turned somber:

"Captain Ye, my son Fang Huai specifically asked me to come here to express his gratitude for your guidance during his time as deputy squad leader, and he asked me to pass on a message to you: ’Take responsibility to heart, carry it on your shoulders, and fulfill it in action.’"