Chapter 4: Disciplinary Action

Chapter 4: Disciplinary Action

Fortunately, the moment of daze lasted only briefly before she quickly regained composure and paid no further mind. She loudly announced to those below, “Communications Company, Third Squad, Xu Qiao has left without permission, causing a severely negative impact.”

“The regiment has decided to issue a major demerit and record it in her file.”

Upon hearing this, everyone involuntarily gasped. Such a penalty might seem trivial to ordinary folk, but for soldiers, it carried a weighty significance.

In an instant, all eyes instinctively turned toward Xu Qiao.

Xu Qiao fully understood the implications of this punishment, but since it was ‘her own’ doing, she had to bear the consequences.

She showed no reaction, simply standing at attention, waiting for the regimental commander’s next instruction.

Sure enough, the punishment didn’t end there. The commander merely glanced at her and continued, “Additionally, given the severity of this violation and your current state, you are no longer suited to remain in the Communications Squad. The regiment has decided to temporarily transfer Xu Qiao to the Mess Hall Squad for further training.”

“What? Cooking?” She wasn’t surprised by the disciplinary action earlier, but this—what was this about?

“Don’t like it?” Xu Qiao’s voice rang clearly across the quiet training ground, drawing the commander’s gaze.

Realizing what she’d said, Xu Qiao awkwardly cleared her throat, “Report: No, I obey orders!”

With that, she was sent to the Mess Hall Squad. Thus, her first day back in military life after rebirth unexpectedly began as a cook.

Yet, quietly listening, she sensed something different.

Unlike other companies, the Communications Company was a mixed unit of male and female soldiers, and its leadership was somewhat unique: male company commander Xiao Shizhong paired with female political instructor Miao Qian.

However, when Xu Qiao, an anomaly, arrived, she turned this originally peaceful company upside down, leaving everyone unsettled.

After the introductions, the commander glanced at Xu Qiao and said, “This needs no further explanation; everyone here should be familiar — she’s our regiment’s notorious figure.”

Knowing she was despised and disliked, Xu Qiao had no choice but to force herself to stand at attention. “Squad Leader, I am recruit Xu Qiao, reporting to the Mess Hall Squad.”

“This is your last chance from the regiment. We hope you will cherish it.”

Xu Qiao’s eyes widened in disbelief, doubting her hearing.

The squad leader, having received the reply, didn’t even glance at Xu Qiao again. “Yin Li, take her to the backyard to cut grass!”

Then, casting a glance at Xu Qiao, he added, “Since this is the regiment commander's order, we will carry it out. But once she’s here, she’s my soldier. How I manage her is no one else’s business.”

“What exactly are you all doing? No work to be done?” A loud, confident voice suddenly interrupted the strangely tense atmosphere.

The Mess Hall Squad was adjacent to the canteen, and their dormitories were also nearby. Because of this location, both their living and working spaces were the largest in the company.

Facing the two men, Xu Qiao stood at attention and said, “Company Commander, Political Instructor, I know the regiment has already given me a chance, and I’m grateful you haven’t completely given up on me.”

The three present were stunned—this was no ordinary recruit reporting in.

Seeing that Xu Qiao showed no sign of misspeaking, the commander sighed helplessly, “Squad Leader Wu, she’ll be under your charge from now on. You... need to look after her properly.”

The topic shifted as the commander continued, “Though our Mess Hall Squad supplies meals for over a hundred in the company, most tasks are automated now. The cooking vehicles handle much of the work, so the load is considerably lighter.”

But no one envied this situation.

“Yes!” Everyone stood at attention, answering loudly.

Neither the commander nor the political instructor explained Wu’s attitude to her; they didn’t linger, handing her over to Wu and walking away.

“No need to thank me. I just don’t want any more trouble for myself,” Squad Leader Wu bluntly interrupted.

Those who looked down on her weren’t just the commander but also Wu herself.

At this moment, Xu Qiao had no say. She hadn’t been assigned here from the recruit squad but was punished and sent here, leaving no room for choice or refusal.

But she wasn’t truly the old Xu Qiao. Though surprised by this outcome, she could accept it.

Seeing Xu Qiao’s words, the two men exchanged a surprised glance, their prepared speeches fading away.

Watching them play the good cop, bad cop, Xu Qiao inwardly admired their dedication.

The squad consisted of only seven members including the squad leader, quite small compared to the combat squads, yet these few bore the task of feeding over a hundred soldiers.

“So don’t worry. The old Xu Qiao died in that car accident. From today on, I’m a whole new Xu Qiao. I won’t let you down again.”

Xu Qiao was no naive girl; she had some experience in dealing with people.

Wu, seemingly deliberately, watched her reaction after speaking, then continued introducing the others without giving her time to respond. Turning back toward the Mess Hall Squad, she pointed at the busy workers, “The tall one chopping vegetables is Xu Rufei. You can call him Dafei; he’s the squad’s second cook.”

Xu Qiao had noticed earlier that despite the spacious rooms, there was only one dorm. She truly didn’t know where she was supposed to stay.

“Like Yin Li, new recruits should behave like recruits and start from the bottom doing odd jobs. Got it?”

“From today on, in the Mess Hall Squad, there’s no distinction between male and female soldiers. We’re all soldiers. Whatever you do, she does too.”

Watching them scatter like they wanted to escape, for the first time Xu Qiao felt the sting of being despised.

The privates quickly dispersed, burying their heads in their work, afraid to look up.

Yet now, instead of throwing her out, they patiently calmed her.

Xu Qiao quickly realized that Squad Leader Wu was quite skilled at leading troops.

“After this...” Xu Qiao pondered before adding, “It’s like experiencing life and death; some things need to be clear.”

Wu ignored her and said bluntly, “The Mess Hall Squad is all male soldiers except you. It’s inconvenient for you to live here, so you’ll stay in the Communications Camp and just report here daily.”

With that, they arrived at the Mess Hall Squad.

After calling out to them, Wu, with her dark skin and ageless appearance, strode over. Noticing the three hadn’t saluted, she boldly sized up Xu Qiao before finally speaking, “You’re that Xu Qiao?”

Seeing the two clearly doubted her words, Xu Qiao sighed silently.

The division of responsibilities was clear: male soldiers managed by Xiao Shizhong, female soldiers by Miao Qian. They only intervened in each other’s domains when problems arose.

“Besides, the Mess Hall Squad isn’t short of manpower. It won’t be too tough for you there.”

Wu’s dislike was evident, but Xu Qiao still stood at attention and loudly replied, “Yes, Squad Leader, I am recruit Xu Qiao, reporting to you!”

Hearing the political instructor, before Xu Qiao could react, the commander interrupted, “Xu Qiao, the regiment’s punishment seems heavy, but you should know, given your mistakes, this is a lenient penalty.”

“The one sorting the black spots on the bread bags is Bei Chuanchuan, you can call him Xiao Chuan. The darker-skinned private is Yin Li, a fellow recruit like you, and quite a handful.”

Xu Qiao had just arrived; naturally, she wouldn’t be the one cooking. Even if she wanted to, no one would trust her, nor did she have the interest.

This remark was loaded with meaning.

Yet, realizing that such words might encourage motivated soldiers, the commander’s consolation held little sway over Xu Qiao. She wasn’t concerned about how the squad leaders led.

Being scolded in front of monks felt like a futile effort, and Xu Qiao could only keep her frustration inside.

The commander wasn’t surprised and nodded slightly, “Of course. We sent her here, now she’s yours.”

In this, Xu Qiao truly admired them. She knew her past reputation; if she were the commander, she’d have been driven to rage or despair over such a soldier.

“Thank you for your care, Squad Leader,” Xu Qiao promptly replied.

“Don’t worry too much. Wu is a veteran squad leader in our regiment. Though she’s with the Mess Hall Squad, she’s one of the few senior non-commissioned officers with her own way of leading,” Wu Qian reassured her as they walked.

As Xu Qiao took in her new work environment and comrades, all the Mess Hall Squad’s eyes turned toward her, making her feel like a panda in a zoo.

“Care for her? Impossible. In my eyes, male or female soldiers are all just soldiers, no difference,” Wu bluntly cut off the conversation, showing no respect to the commander.

She understood well that the spoiled image left by Xu Qiao’s past self was too deeply ingrained; changing that overnight was impossible.

Perhaps seeing Xu Qiao’s attitude was decent enough, though the commander and instructor’s expressions were grim, they still personally escorted her here.

The instructor was quicker to respond, “It’s best if you think that way. We hope to see a completely new Xu Qiao.”

Until now, the two had cooperated well, keeping the Communications Company orderly.

But arriving at the Mess Hall Squad, Xu Qiao, even as a female soldier, was no idle bystander.

Wu had no intention of treating her like a precious treasure. After introducing the squad members, everyone returned to their tasks without even giving them a chance to get acquainted.

When Xu Qiao carried an empty basket to the backyard, she couldn’t believe that in a military camp so close to the city, they actually kept sheep—more than one, in fact.

So that was the grass-cutting task.

(End of Chapter)