My Military Career in a Parallel World

"Zhang Meng!"

Jiang Chen turned his head and saw the figure at the door clearly, and couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

This time of survival in the wild was unusual. After Li Gang came back, he was very busy. He went to meet with the platoon leader and company commander to discuss things with several squad leaders.

Sensing the inquiring gaze of deputy squad leader Wang Jie, Jiang Chen turned around and replied, "Deputy squad leader, this is my comrade from the recruit company, a guy who shared a bunk bed with me. He has also been assigned to our reconnaissance battalion."

Wang Jie nodded suddenly, smiled and waved his hand, saying: "Oh, comrades from the new recruit company, we are brothers from the same battalion, come on, come in and sit down, come in and sit down."

Although the three companies of the reconnaissance battalion are in competition with each other, most of the time the fiercest competition is between the third company and the second company.

The first company is more like a big brother. Although there is competition between them, they know when to stop and will help the two younger brothers when necessary.

Therefore, no matter whether the people from the first company go to the second or third company, no one will be too harsh on them.

Of course, the harsh criticism mentioned here is not the harsh criticism that everyone understands.

For example, if someone from the second company comes to the third company, it goes without saying that they will be subject to a lot of verbal targeting/provocation. Conversely, it would be difficult for someone from the third company to go to the second company.

Just like two brothers at home, always trying to see who is better, but once they meet outsiders, then...

The three companies of the reconnaissance battalion have a similar relationship.

He is the eldest brother in the company and is like a father. They may quarrel occasionally, but they will never forget their brothers when there is a benefit.

The two younger brothers, Erlian and Sanlian, usually never give in to each other and like to compete for the first or second place in everything they do.

It is in this kind of fighting and playing that the relationship between the two brothers is slowly sublimating. If something really happens, the people of the second company may still be unyielding verbally, but they will definitely support their brothers with their physical actions.

It seems like I am being hypocritical...

"No need, squad leader. Everyone is resting. We won't disturb you."

"That's fine. Today is a good day off. You two can catch up on the past. Just don't leave the camp."

"Well, class deputy, then I'll go?"

"Go!"

……

Under the shade of a tree in the third company's small playground, the two sat on the ground and talked about what had happened during this period.

Most of the time, Zhang Meng was talking and Jiang Chen was listening.

In fact, Zhang Meng had wanted to come find him for a long time.

However, for some unknown reason, the amount of training suddenly increased dramatically some time ago. Not to mention rest, even the lunch break and meal time were compressed as much as possible. Several recruits were almost exhausted.

At night, I lie down on the bed and think about nothing but sleep.

Even the weekend training volume has not decreased at all

If the entire camp had not been given a unified holiday today to prepare for tomorrow's wilderness survival confrontation, the two would probably not have had the chance to meet.

Listening to Zhang Meng complaining, Jiang Chen couldn't help but feel guilty.

The reason why the first and second companies trained and tortured the recruits in such a way was ultimately because of him. It would be strange if Jiang Chen didn't feel guilty.

"As a scout, it's normal to have a large amount of training. By the way, what do you think about this wilderness survival training?" In order to avoid embarrassment, Jiang Chen quickly turned the topic to tomorrow's wilderness survival.

"What ideas can a new recruit like me have? I'll just do whatever the squad leader tells me to do." Zhang Meng lay on the grass with his head resting on his arms, looking nonchalant.

It’s not that he really doesn’t care, he’s just a rookie, so what’s the point of caring?

Jiang Chen was about to say something, but when he heard Zhang Meng's words, he suddenly asked, "You mean your entire class is going to act together?"

"Well, it's not just one squad, but we're acting as a platoon together."

"In platoons?" Jiang Chen nodded thoughtfully.

Indeed, given the personnel configuration of the reconnaissance company, it would be safer to act as a platoon.

Even if they encounter enemies that are several times larger than themselves, they can rely on the scouts' advantage in the jungle to escape.

Even if they are unlucky and run into the police detective company leading a large force to encircle and suppress them, a platoon of soldiers can barely deal with them.

Of course, it is not so easy to hide the whereabouts of more than 30 people in the same platoon acting together.

There are pros and cons.

The two chatted for a while, and the topic involuntarily turned to Sun Weichen.

At the beginning, everyone in the fifth class of the recruit company had a good relationship with each other. Even Zhao Feihang and Lin Wenbo, who usually had a low presence and spoke less, had a much better relationship with other people in the class than expected.

Jiang Chen also told Zhang Meng a lot about Sun Weicheng's work in the kitchen team, especially when he heard that the third company had eaten a spicy hot pot a few days ago. Zhang Meng was so greedy that she almost cried.

As a Hunan native who loves spicy food, since coming to the southern part of the motherland, he has almost forgotten what chili tastes like.

When Zhang Meng heard that the kitchen staff could cook for themselves, she could no longer sit still and pulled Jiang Chen to find Sun Weichen.

Jiang Chen couldn't persuade him, so he could only let it go.

It was not long after lunch and it was still a long time before dinner, so I thought the fat boy should be fine.

The three of them haven't seen each other for a long time, so this is a good opportunity for them to get together.

Speaking of this, Jiang Chen couldn't help but think of the other people in Class 5, and wondered how they were doing.

It was so difficult for the three of us to get together in the same camp, let alone others.

And Chu Fei, that guy, I don’t know if he can stay in the office every day...

Compared with the combat squad, the atmosphere in the cooking squad is undoubtedly much more harmonious.

When Jiang Chen brought Zhang Meng here, several people from the kitchen team were playing cards, while Sun Weichen was squatting in the corner holding his cell phone, his big face almost bursting with laughter.

"Hey, what are you looking at? You look so happy!"

"No...no, no, nothing. Why are you here, Brother Chen?" The little fat man was startled. He put away his phone in a hurry and changed the subject.

Jiang Chen looked at him meaningfully but didn't ask any further questions.

Based on his experience, there was probably something wrong with the way this little fat boy behaved just now.

However, he didn't care. Being a soldier is not easy, and finding a partner while serving in the army is even more difficult. It would be a good thing if he could solve his personal problems as soon as possible.

"Look who's coming." As he said that, Jiang Chen took a step forward and made way, revealing Zhang Meng behind him.

"Zhang Meng?!" Sun Weichen said in surprise.

"You didn't expect that, did you? By the way, you're having a really good time in the kitchen!" Zhang Meng stepped forward and gave Sun Weichen a big hug.

"Wait a moment, I'll go ask the squad leader for leave!" Sun Weicheng lowered his voice so that only the two of them could hear him and said, "It just so happens that I got something good. I'll show you my skills later."

"Squad leader!" After saying that, Sun Weichen rushed to find their squad leader.

It must be said that not only is the atmosphere in the kitchen class relaxed and pleasant, but it is also much more convenient to take leave than in other classes.

Sun Weicheng just went over to say hello, and the two heard the kitchen squad leader waved his hand impatiently and said, "Okay, I get it, just don't delay the afternoon's work."

Jiang Chen and Zhang Meng were so envious of this casual attitude.

A group of three people walked out of the kitchen dormitory, and without waiting for the two to speak, Sun Weichen pulled them towards the canteen's kitchen.

"Look what this is!" Arriving at the canteen kitchen, Sun Weichen mysteriously took out something tightly wrapped in a black plastic bag from the freezer.

"What is this? It's so mysterious..." The two of them were also aroused by their curiosity. They couldn't wait to open the plastic bag, and then...

"Meat?!"

Sun Weicheng added with a proud look on his face: "To be precise, it's beef!"

The two looked at each other. Even though they had just finished lunch, they couldn't help drooling when they heard the word beef.

The reconnaissance camp had no shortage of meat.

It’s not that we have meat for every meal, but it’s pretty close.

However, beef is an exception.

In the entire 228th Regiment, it is estimated that only the Army Aviation Team with the third-class kitchen can see beef on the table on a regular basis. The other troops with the first- and second-class kitchens can only see beef during festivals.

There is no way. The price of beef, no matter in ancient times or modern times, is always on the high side among daily meats.

I have previously mentioned the general food standards within the army.

Let me add some more details here. The daily food expenses per person in a first-class kitchen are about ten yuan. The specific amount varies depending on the unit they belong to, but the maximum will not exceed fifteen yuan, and the minimum will not be less than five yuan.

Taking lunch as an example, it is probably four dishes and one soup, two meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, plus some fruit.

There is not much difference between Class II stoves and Class I stoves, just a few dollars more.

The lunch configuration also consists of four dishes, one soup and fruit.

However, the dishes will be enriched and improved.

The three types of stoves are a watershed.

Compared with the first and second category stoves, the meal fee of the third category stove is more than ten yuan higher. The lunch configuration also starts with six dishes and one soup, and the minimum requirement is two kinds of fruits.

Mid- to high-end dishes such as stewed beef with potatoes and braised prawns often appear on the table.

There is no need to talk about the fourth type of kitchen, which is the ceiling of the army and a treatment that only military dogs, pilots, and submarine soldiers can enjoy.

The daily food expenses for each person are more than 40 yuan.

Seafood, steak, and even luxurious dishes such as hairy crabs and mandarin fish are regular guests on the dinner table.

The meal expenses for scouts are supposed to be slightly higher than those for ordinary Class II kitchens, but even so, Jiang Chen has never seen beef on the table in such a long time in the reconnaissance company.

So, one can imagine the expressions of the two men when they saw Sun Weichen suddenly take out several kilograms of beef.

"Fuck, Fatty, where the hell did you get so much beef?!" Looking at the beef on the table, Zhang Meng's drool was almost dripping onto the floor.

Jiang Chen couldn't help but smack his lips: "Fatty, we haven't eaten beef recently, where did you get it from?"

"Hehe..." Hearing the two people's questions, Sun Weicheng smiled proudly, patted his fat chest and said, "Didn't I make a spicy hot pot for our company a few days ago? This piece of beef is a reward given to me by the squad leader!"

Sun Weicheng pointed to the largest piece of beef in the bag, then stole a glance to the left and right, lowered his voice and whispered: "The remaining small pieces of beef were secretly taken from the dog squad leader Rick's food."

"Dog squad leader?" Zhang Meng was a little confused. He didn't understand who this dog squad leader was and why he could eat beef.

On the contrary, Jiang Chen understood the whole story in a flash.

Although I have never seen military dogs in the reconnaissance company, think about it, although scouts are mostly camouflaged and lurking, they are occasionally responsible for search missions.

Especially when the opponent is also a scout.

It's no surprise that they have a few military dogs.

All the wages of military dogs are spent on food, and they cannot eat high-value foods such as seafood and crabs, so naturally they have to eat all kinds of meat.

Not to mention that beef is added in as if it’s free, but it’s not far off.

Sun Weichen secretly deducted a little bit each time, but the amount accumulated over time was quite large.

"Dog squad leader is a military dog." Jiang Chen explained to Zhang Meng in a low voice.

Then, the two of them looked at Sun Weichen with contempt at the same time.

You little fat boy, you are such a person. You even want to steal the dog’s food!

I am ashamed to be associated with you!!!

"Hehe, my cooking skills are okay, but most of the dishes are spicy Sichuan cuisine, and I, a country boy, can't make anything non-spicy. So, the squad leader let me be responsible for the dog squad leader's meals, and I can hone my cooking skills at the same time..." Facing the two people's slightly contemptuous gazes, Sun Weichen touched his head awkwardly.

However, he reacted halfway through his words.

"No, what do you two mean by that look? You don't want to eat it, right? That's fine, I don't want to give it to you yet, so keep it and eat it slowly. This much beef is enough for me to eat for several days."

As he spoke, Sun Weichen pretended to take the plastic bag containing beef on the table.

The meat was already right in front of them, so how could the two of them let the cooked duck fly away? They protected the beef on the table while putting on smiling faces and saying nice things.

"Hey, hey, hey... Old Sun, don't worry, we are wrong, isn't that okay?"

The three of them had a fight in the cafeteria kitchen.

I thought it was just a gathering among "old" comrades, but I didn't expect to get an extra meal.

After playing for a while, Jiang Chen and Zhang Meng were driven out of the kitchen by Sun Weichen.

While the two of them were taking a break outside, Sun Weicheng took the time to prepare the beef on the chopping board.

It must be said that Sun Weichen was worthy of being a chef who used to host grand banquets in the countryside. The dishes he cooked were nothing special but down-to-earth.

He made that big piece of beef into the classic Sichuan dish, boiled beef.

The scraps of meat that were taken from the dog squad leader were not wasted and were used to make a plate of double pepper minced beef.

Paired with the steamed buns left over from the morning and the rice from lunch, the three of them enjoyed the meal very much.

Boiled beef is, needless to say, one of the classic Sichuan dishes.

What really whetted Jiang Chen and Zhang Meng's appetite was the plate of minced beef with double peppers.

Cut the beef into little finger-sized pieces, add seasonings to marinate, and stir-fry with Sichuan peppercorns, ginger, garlic, pickled chili peppers, etc.

Because there were no pickled chili peppers, Sun Weichen could only add some chili segments.

However, it does not affect the taste of the dish at all.

Spicy, salty and fragrant, the beef is tender and juicy. It is a rare dish that goes well with rice whether it is served with steamed buns or rice.

As a native of Hunan Province, eating spicy food can cause hemorrhoids, but Zhang Meng doesn't care about this level of spiciness.

Although Jiang Chen felt it was a bit spicy, he found it perfect when he put it in his steamed bun.

Zhang Meng and Sun Weicheng ate rice, while Jiang Chen ate one steamed bun after another.

It would be nice to have a few bottles of cold beer at this time.

Unfortunately, this is the reconnaissance company, and as a 24-hour combat readiness force, there is no alcohol in the company at all.

Even the company commander Ge Hongtao had to wait until he was on leave and returned to his home in the regiment's military compound before he could take the opportunity to sneak a few sips.

……