After Being Reborn, I became a firefighter again?

June, 27th, Friday.

Last night, there was a minor alarm, an oil and gas fire.

Fang Huai insisted on boarding the vehicle, even tossing his crutch on the spot to prove he could walk, so Cao Yi reluctantly let him on.

But he didn’t let him wear his combat uniform, which meant he was just going along to observe.

Actually, the fire was quite serious, but before the vehicle stopped to deploy the water gun position, Fang Huai stuck his head out to survey the terrain and deduced there was a back door. He didn’t let the vehicle stop at the front entrance but had Song Lin and Wang Peng get off to check behind the restaurant that had caught fire.

The two of them really did find a small path leading into the kitchen from behind the restaurant. They parked the vehicle right beside the back door of the kitchen, and soon after, Fang Huai instructed Car 1 to use foam. In less than five minutes, the fire was extinguished.

The kitchen was somewhat smelly from the foam spray, and the restaurant owner was actually not very happy. Cao Yi was also not very pleased because the foam was expensive, and the hoses that dispensed the foam would have to be washed several more times. If the vehicle got smeared with foam, the corrosive nature of the foam could damage the paint, necessitating a car wash.

But the System Judgement concluded that Fang Huai’s timely command reduced the fire’s spread by 70%, awarding him a perfect score. However, since the fire was small, a full score was only 5 points.

He was quite chuffed, as pleased as the ladies with their hairstyles.

Moreover, commanding could earn high scores, and it was even easier than being a combatant, which excited Fang Huai.

In the past, he had always been hands-on, with evaluations of his actions, but he had almost never encountered a full score. It was just that his own responses to dangerous situations were more likely to break the scoring limit.

Turns out, using one’s mouth is easier!

This morning after breakfast, Fang Huai stopped using his crutches, and as for the cast on his foot, it had softened and deformed from being sprayed with water during the exercise and had long been crushed by his constant walking.

Cao Yi had him walk a few steps and discovered he could actually walk normally.

Everyone tightened up inside at this news.

Damn it, just as we were finally enjoying a few peaceful days, the Demon King Fang is coming back!

But after thinking for a bit, Cao Yi left the canteen and made a call, then came back and told Fang Huai to visit the Squadron Department after breakfast.

As soon as he entered, Cao Yi said:

"Are you sure you want to go?"

Without any hesitation, Fang Huai replied:

"Yeah."

"Do you have to go?"

"Yeah."

"Must you go?"

"My ass... Instructor Cao, what’s the deal? Are you afraid I’ll disgrace the Second Squadron by going there? I’ve already thrown away my crutches! I can hop and jump around!"

While saying this, Fang Huai suddenly j*mped up, then his face started to twitch again.

"Yikes..."

Cao Yi rolled his eyes, then cursed: "...Damn it, you’re going to leave and not deal with Huang Zhongjiu’s mess?"

Fang Huai was taken aback for a moment.

Then, realizing he was referring to the upcoming Deputy Instructor, he said somewhat speechlessly:

"How could it be my doing? Old Zhang at the government agency only had two candidates, Li Min from Southeastern Guizhou, who the Detachment is planning to place as the chief of the Special Duty Team; they’re unwilling to let him go! There’s only Huang Zhongjiu left idle at the Headquarters. He didn’t have a choice! Do you really think Old Zhang would change his mind just because of one word from me? You, a secretary, can’t even handle a Deputy Instructor?"

"Heh."

Cao Yi twisted his mouth: "He’s a cripple! And he has merits, plus he’s an Old Soldier, can I quarrel with him?"

Tsk," Fang Huai smacked his lips: "It’s just a missing middle finger! Little Black even became a martyr under you! Do you get scared when you pass by Little Black’s bed? He sacrificed himself to save people, how is our Squadron any less deserving? If he really gives you a hard time, set things straight! I support you, in spirit!"

As soon as Little Black was mentioned, Cao Yi became impatient and slapped a document on the table.

"Fill this out, pack your bags and get lost!"

Seeing the content on the document on the table, which was a sick leave form, Fang Huai asked in confusion: "What does this mean?"

Cao Yi waved it off: "Just take advantage of your leg injury and go home for an early rest. Report to the concentration training point. The Instructor has agreed already. Get going and catch a bus early, report before five o’clock on the 1st of July. All things considered, you can rest at home for three days."

Going home?

Fang Huai was stunned at first, but then a sense of being from a different era washed over him.

The scene in his mind flew from airplanes to trains to the mountain city and finally to that door.

Opening the door, there’s a slightly smelly shoe rack at the porch, with the living room to the side featuring an old-fashioned electric stove covered with fabric, an old sofa that mom had wanted to replace but never had the heart to throw away.

Across the short corridor at the end was the toilet combined with a bathing and laundry area, to the left was his parents’ bedroom, and to the right was his own.

The laundry had to be hung inside, in a small space by the living room window, right beside mom’s collapsible ironing rack which was usually left open, with a large bedsheets hung on it.

Though poor, it was warm; though small, it had everything.

For half a year, all of this seemed like it had been cut off by the walls of the Troops, making it feel both strange and familiar.

He could still remember the taste of those dumplings, with green onions as the opening note, soy sauce as the middle note, and the flavor of the dough as the lasting impression.

Going home, it was just too wonderful.

"Hey, are you leaving or not? Don’t wait for me to change my mind! I’m swamped these next couple of days, don’t make me assign you to Squadron Department to handle paperwork!"

Old Cao looked annoyed, as Fang was showing no excitement.

Granting a Soldier leave to the city was the prerogative of the Detachment; issuing Fang Huai’s sick leave was a risk he took.

Fang Huai snapped back to reality, grinned, and said: "How about you give me some overtime pay? I’ll stay and work overtime for you since I fear once I go back, I might not want to return."

Old Cao’s face contorted: "Nonsense, just get lost!"

...

The Demon King Fang is leaving!

When Fang Huai went from squad to squad instructing his comrades to train well, everyone was first surprised, then overjoyed.

Damn, damn? Does this mean there’s hope for this weekend?

No, wait, it means there’s hope for many weekends to come!

Seeing how everyone seemed to be looking forward to his departure made Fang Huai genuinely unhappy.

"Squad Leader, what Chongqing specialty do you want, oh, and from Sichuan too? Didn’t you say you liked Chongqing Hand-Torn Rabbit last time? I’ll bring some back for you!"

Fang Huai shouted down the hall toward the Special Duty Squad, trying to get everyone to sign up and say what they wanted so that they would all look forward to his return.

But Squad Leader Hao was utterly clueless about romance.

"No need! Just bring me back two beauties from Liberation Monument, and that’ll be it!"

Fang Huai: ...

"Okay, what kind do you like? Have Sister Bai send me the model!"

"Oh my god..." Hao Chengbin came out cursing and carrying a Nine Palace Grid: "I’m packing your bag for you! Do you believe I’ll take it apart?"

Only then did Fang Huai chuckle awkwardly, "No, no, no, squad leader! I’ll bring you back some Japanese local products! A 10G hard drive! Absolutely virus-free!"

"Fang Huai! Spreading pornography is illegal! Get the hell out of here and don’t disrupt the 8 o’clock drill!" Old Cao’s voice came from the Squadron Department.

Fang Huai sneered.

Oh my god, such a quick response, if you’ve never watched it, I’ll eat shit.

Every day you don’t bring your wife or kids to the unit, but come the weekend you’re at the Squadron Department watching movies, who knows what you’re watching.

"Director Fang! I’m seeing you off!"

A few same year soldiers ran out, bringing with them two pairs of standard black socks and two new pairs of underwear.

"Here, take these, we all chipped in. If you don’t feel like washing clothes over there, just stuff them in your bag and change to new ones!"

Fang Huai was truly moved.

"Hey, Song Lin, are you sure you haven’t worn these underwear? Why do they feel a bit wrinkled?" Han Yong whispered.

Song Lin rolled his eyes: "Trying them on doesn’t count as wearing them, does it?"

"Oh my god... I appreciate the thought!"

Fang Huai couldn’t tell which pair was Song Lin’s contribution and, moving forward, stuffed both the socks and the underwear back into Song Lin’s pockets before heading off to wash his hands in the washroom.

When he came out, Squad Leader Hao had already emerged with two camouflage bags, fussing like a nagging mother.

"Your bag! I’ve sorted out all your training clothes! Combat Uniform, Protective gear, go downstairs to get it yourself, put them in the other bag! Once you’re ready, let’s go, I’ll see you to the train station!"

Beside him, Squad Leader Fang also came out, holding a small box.

"Here, Yunnan Baiyao! You must have it for concentration training. The cotton ball inside is the safety capsule; if the bruise is serious, don’t eat it, use alcohol or water to dissolve it, and apply directly to the bruise. It can invigorate the blood and reduce the swelling, and also relieve pain. It’s very potent, so normally do not use it. As for your foot, don’t run recently. If it gets twisted, apply the medicine immediately."

"Alright! Thank you, squad leader!" Fang Huai happily placed the medicine into his protective gear bag.

Zhao Jinchen’s voice came from Squad One: "Fang Huai! I can’t find that extra set of camouflage uniform, I only have one, so I can’t give it to you! If you’re there and you have to wake up for an emergency assembly, keep the clothes at the corner of the bed!"

Hao Chengbin laughed: "You’re just making a fuss over nothing. Ever since this kid became the Deputy Squad Leader in my new recruit squad, he has been excellent at responding to emergency assemblies! Crafty as hell! Come on, I’ll take you to the train station!"

Fang Huai felt everyone’s care and was filled with satisfaction. He chuckled and waved his hand: "Don’t bother, I’m heading to the airport! Longdongbao Airport is far, I’ll just take a taxi!"

...

Downstairs, more than twenty soldiers in camouflage enthusiastically saw Fang Huai off to the car, making the taxi driver give Fang Huai a curious look.

"...Brother, where are you going?"

Fang Huai said with a big smile, "To Longdongbao Airport!"

"Going home on vacation, huh? I see you’re well-liked, so many comrades coming to see you off."

"That’s right, they all don’t want to let me go!" Fang Huai boasted.

The taxi driver heard this and took another look in the rear-view mirror.

"...Your troops, they have a good atmosphere, huh."

"What?"

The driver took another look in the rear-view mirror.

"I see they’re all smiling so happily."

Fang Huai immediately stuck his head out of the car and saw Liu Jianfong holding Kong Xiangzhong in the air at the Squadron gate, beaming with joy. When he saw his head come out, they went back to looking serious and even waved to him as if they were reluctant to see him go.

Fang Huai’s mouth twitched.

He withdrew his head and switched to the rear-view mirror.

Oh my god, there was even more cheering, and he could vaguely see a few same year soldiers jumping around.

The driver witnessed all this.

"Little brother... are you their leader? Are you usually very strict in your unit?"

Fang Huai’s face fell, feeling embarrassed.

"Just drive, sir. Don’t talk anymore. You’ve barely moved in half a day. My holiday is getting eaten up by you!"

Having said that, he no longer bothered to be annoyed with those morons and started thinking about where he should go.

Seeing his parents was definitely out of the question; those two were always traveling around, busy with work, and presently they might be who knows where. He had finally gotten them accustomed to being busy; there was no need to disturb them.

So that left two places.

Chongqing, Chengdu.

In Chongqing, there were a bunch of friends he could hang out with, drink beer, brag like awesome dudes, and he could even go home at night to experience the long-missed taste of home.

Chengdu, needless to say, had Yang Shaoqing.

Fang Huai hesitated for a moment, then tore two different colored pieces of paper from the notebook in his bag and crumpled them into small balls.

Blue to go to Chongqing, Red to go to Chengdu.

He rolled and shuffled them, and with eyes closed, he drew one.

Upon opening his eyes, he saw blue.

Um...

Fang Huai hesitated for two seconds, then casually threw it out the window.

Then he looked at the red paper and smiled.

To hell with it; why go back home? A man’s home is the whole world!

I’m going to check the post!