After Being Reborn, I became a firefighter again?

A meal at the all-you-can-eat buffet that shattered the faith of the starving masses under the command of the party squad leader of People’s Armed Police Seventeen Squadron.

Yet Fang Huai only ate to half fullness.

Couldn’t help it, Zhang Ning and Wang Yu spotted him, came over with their trays to join his table, and excitedly praised him for looking really cool that morning.

The damn small plate had only so much space, Fang Huai didn’t dare to fill it too much on his first trip to avoid the base cadres’ disdain, and planned to go back for more later.

But before he even finished the first round, two beauties came over and complimented him on his good looks.

A good-looking guy can’t exactly wolf down his food or keep piling on more, right?

So, his face was fed, but his stomach was not.

Advisor Jiang next to him even started chatting with the two female cadres, abandoning his meal, and as the conversation grew livelier, he felt pity for the spare ribs and crabs left untouched on their plates.

Half-full, Fang Huai could only look for an excuse to leave, planning to head down to the Volkswagen canteen to buy a couple of freshly roasted hot dogs and make a bowl of instant noodles to fill up his stomach.

Better to observe the experts practicing on the playground and see if he could stealthily learn a thing or two with the system, rather than listening to them shoot the breeze here.

"Sisters Zhang, Wang, Advisor Jiang, you guys continue, I’m heading down first."

Advisor Jiang put down his chopsticks, "The martial arts competition is not until two o’clock, what are you doing going now?"

"The hundred-meter barrier race, I haven’t learned it yet. I’m going to watch others do it a couple of times so I don’t mess up the procedure during the competition."

Fang Huai laughed and played it cool, then got up and took his plate to the large bin for collecting used utensils.

The three of them: (ﾟдﾟ)?

Hasn’t learned it, watch it twice, and compete?

Why do these Chinese words sound so hard to understand?

Could the real geniuses... be training with just their eyes?!

...

Leaving the room, preparing to go downstairs.

[Task Completion Degree: 90.]

[Generating rewards...]

The moment the system prompt appeared, Fang Huai was taken aback.

At this time?

Fang Huai couldn’t help but take out his mobile phone to check the time.

Noon, 12:18.

What is the squadron doing? How can Task Completion Degree increase during lunchtime?

The conscripts only increase their Task Completion Degree when they study knowledge or train.

It couldn’t be training, as the Special Duty Team is quite punctual with meals.

Police Dispatch this morning...

The post-battle summary in the canteen!

Damn it, there must have been a big emergency.

But this trip came at a good time, what a profit.

[Please select your reward.]

[1,Waist Strength Increase]

[2,Leg Strength Increase]

[3,Liver Strengthening]

No skills.

Fang Huai didn’t hesitate and chose the legs.

Even if there had been skills, he would have chosen the legs today.

This morning, the Corps Captain promised him a third-class merit for ranking in the top three individually.

As long as he got this new third-class merit, he could stop being tangled about how to use the ones stockpiled in the Military merit shop, just reinforce his core strength and boost his immunity, and that would do.

Furthermore, according to the "unwritten rule" of "one literary and one martial" for promotion, having two third-class merits would truly qualify as "martial."

The songwriting one could barely count as "literary," though it would be best to have a third-class merit for professional skills. However, there are very few professional skill competitions in firefighting nowadays. Only Communication Officers and Equipment Technicians are available, and the level of competitions is not high, so they are indeed quite difficult to obtain.

As the captions disappeared and a slight warmth surfaced in his legs, Fang Huai felt his strength steadily increasing and finally felt a bit happier.

Heading downstairs, he immediately entered the bustling noise of "firefighting."

The canteen below was crowded, serving food slowly in line. Many were just starting to eat, and the place was currently in a roaring din.

The firefighters, unlike the more subdued nature of those in "fire prevention," chatted boisterously, occasionally standing up to argue a point or two.

The faces from the dormitory that day were now scattered across different brigade’s tables, each being a central figure surrounded by others in conversation.

Damn, envy. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

In his brigade’s training team, they only acted behind his back as Lao 6.

Turning around, he entered the military supermarket inside the canteen.

Just lifting the curtain.

"Nonsense! I bet you, Lian Xu is the biggest dark horse!"

A non-commissioned officer was choosing socks and underwear by the shelves, loudly talking to several others:

"That guy, I’ve checked him out thoroughly, he’s no good at running, just like Wen Jingsong from their squadron, both have bad legs! It’s just their hands that are good! I heard... he even has flat feet!

In the hook ladder, he just happened to perform well once. Didn’t you see Lian Xu put him in his place when he showed what he’s made of?"

The curses were filthy, and the coverage was wide.

Fang Huai really wanted to ask him if he had checked his relationship with the two people he was cursing.

Although Fang Huai had his wits about him, Wen Jingsong surely did not.

To be honest, Fang Huai didn’t want to be any kind of horse; he just wanted to be a soldier king who struck fear in the hearts of the old soldiers.

No need to shock anyone, just let everyone know he was strong.

What he wanted was respect.

Who didn’t don a bedsheet or mosquito net as a cape in their childhood?

Heroes, understand?

A hero doesn’t need to show off for others to recognize his strength, right?

Once you put on the red underwear, that’s the mark of awesome.

Now that he had entered the highest level of competition in the province, he felt that after revealing his strength, it was time to shed half of the meek exterior he had maintained as a new recruit over the past four months.

Otherwise, everyone would call him "that guy," "the new recruit."

Fang Huai coughed and said loudly, "Boss, do you have any medicine?"

The bespectacled owner eyed him, "We have some common medicines here, but they’re all for treating bruises and injuries. Which kind do you want?"

Fang Huai scratched his ear, "The kind for ears! Today, I keep feeling like someone’s talking about me, my ears are buzzing!"

The whole supermarket went quiet for a moment.

People in front of several shelves looked his way and realized his soldier’s rank insignia, immediately feeling quite embarrassed.

The owner, however, chuckled, "Young man, for this ’illness’ of yours, I’m afraid you might need to visit the Chinese Medicine Brain Health Hospital (psychiatric hospital) for treatment."

Fang Huai laughed, "Seems like the voice is gone again. Boss, give me a couple of hot dogs and a bucket of braised beef instant noodles."

The owner noticed that the few people he was chatting with suddenly quieted down, seemingly beginning to understand what was going on, and handed over a small bottle of mineral water to Fang Huai.

"Here, have a bottle of water! Do you want some of the newly arrived old-altar pickled beef noodles?"

Fang Huai waved his hand, "Thanks, boss, but I’ll pass on the pickled greens. I heard that the workers stomp on them with their feet, and I can’t stomach footwash. My feet are already flat; if I get athlete’s foot too, I’ll really only have my hands left."

With that, the bait was taken.

People in the supermarket understood Fang Huai’s teasing tone and laughed while looking at those few people.

The non-commissioned officer who had spoken earlier couldn’t contain himself, coming over somewhat annoyed, "You’re Fang Huai, right? These are the words of your own Liupanshui Regiment! If you disagree, go and ask your squad leaders!"

This non-commissioned officer, as usual, tried to press him with his rank.

Fang Huai calmly turned around, "Who said it? Zhang Guangxu, or Long Xinfeng? Have them come here and say it to my face."

The accompanying soldiers of the non-commissioned officer were left speechless.

This new recruit was simply not the same breed as the new recruits in their squadron, inside and out.

Fang Huai didn’t want to argue with them either.

So he looked at the firefighting combat suit in his hand.

Liupanshui Regiment.

He then laughed, "Squad leader, which group are you in? I’ll come to find you later."

He wasn’t going to quibble now; he would settle the score after he had finished eating.

The man paused, then stiffened his neck, "What? My name is Niu Lin! The 6th Group! Lian Xu is in my group, do you want to compare yourself?"

The people beside him laughed upon mentioning Lian Xu, "Fang Huai, our 6th Group is a deadly one. Lian Xu, your regiment’s Liu Shoulin, Southeastern Guizhou’s Tao Dongdong are all here. If you really have the skills, come and give it a try."

After hearing this, Fang Huai naturally nodded.

For so long, he had been showing off passively; now was the time for him to actively challenge the experts.

Military honor should be seized openly, not in a sneaky manner.

"Sure, after I take back the hook ladder record from Lian Xu this afternoon, I’ll come to find you."

A few people were dumbfounded.

"How can you just ’erase’ a score?!"

Fang Huai flashed a grin, "My foot hurt this morning, so I only climbed once. I still have one more climb left."

...

Pm, 2:10.

Fortune favors, at the edge of the clouds, a hint of warm sunshine appeared.

"Deng deng deng deng..."

A nimble figure pressed against the windowsill, pulled his legs up together, and floated in through the window.

This was a leg-tuck leap through the window he saw a non-commissioned officer perform at noon, which he had exchanged for by using two points of military merit value, making it even more standard.

Probably, he could only save about 0.12 seconds compared to his previous climbing action.

But for the hook ladder in firefighting, every detail was critical, and it was worth every point of military merit value to perfect it.

"Corps Base, Fang Huai, 13 seconds 87!!"

A buzz of excitement.

"He broke fourteen seconds!"

"Damn... he’s gotten faster."

"Fuck, that jump was just like a Dongguan native! As if the window was his own home!"

"No, that move was even cooler."

"This is fucking insane, I bet he could go for a doping test and there wouldn’t be a drop of illegal substance in his pee!"

Training Department Director Xu had just arrived at the base training ground for inspection when he witnessed this scene.

He couldn’t help but stare.

His leg... it was really twisted this morning?

Several old soldiers who had followed Director Xu to the place couldn’t help but look at the training tower and asked:

"Director Xu, is this the guy who is representing our squadron in the competition?"

These old soldiers were not ordinary soldiers; the insignia on their shoulders were noticeably abundant, attracting attention.

"Yes, that’s him, his name is Fang Huai."

The leader with three stripes nodded, "Let’s go take a look, it’s been a long time since I was here, I actually miss it a bit."

The old non-commissioned officers behind him didn’t say a word, looking around they headed towards the training tower.

Their presence drew a lot of attention along the way.

"Good day, squadron leader!"

"Good day, squadron leader!!"

This group was even more dazzling than the leadership from the morning!

The leader with the three bold stripes was from the sixth period of non-commissioned officers!

Those following were three from the fifth period, and one from the third period!

The moment Fang Huai got down from the tower, he was startled by this formation and immediately stood at attention:

"Good day, squadron leaders!"

But to Fang Huai’s surprise, the group of leaders came straight towards him with smiles, the sixth-period non-commissioned officer patted his shoulder, saying,

"You’re doing well, are you Fang Huai?"

Fang Huai puffed out his chest, "Yes!"

The sixth-period non-commissioned officer beamed, "We, the Corps Police Duty Squadron, are participating in the Martial Arts Competition for the first time, and Captain Tang of our squadron asked us to come and cheer for you!"

Upon hearing this, Fang Huai’s mind raced, and he responded with a smile,

"Thank you for the concern, squadron leaders! Feel free to look around, there are many more skilled than me!"

The Police Duty Squadron belonged to the direct jurisdiction of the government agency and was also where the staff officers were organizationally assigned.

The Corps Police Duty Squadron’s old soldiers had terrifyingly high ranks.

No way could a mere squadron captain command them.

These veteran leaders almost all held official posts and were usually too busy with their duties to be directed; today was probably just an excuse to visit the competition ground and relax a bit.

The leader from the sixth period chuckled,

"Young man, I heard from Director Xu that you’re this year’s Corps’s dark horse recruit. We’ve come today to be your cheerleading team. Go for it and show us the strength of this year’s recruit king!"

Fang Huai, likewise smiling, "Squadron leader, since you’ve said that, today at the very least I’ve got to earn the title of ’recruit king’ beyond doubt!"