Military merit!
The words alone made Gao Fei's eyes gleam, and even Squad Leader Li Dong beside him was moved.
These were peaceful times, and opportunities to earn military merit were few and far between.
One could earn it by achieving a ranking in military sports competitions, displaying exceptional performance in military exercises, or making significant contributions to the forces.
Among the millions of soldiers in the Dragon Country, very few managed to achieve military merit.
Even the easiest, a third-class merit, was awarded to fewer than twenty individuals across all military regions annually.
It was evident how difficult it was to earn military merit.
The olive branch thrown by Yao Qiang earlier was incredibly tempting.
As long as the chosen military song was recognized by higher authorities and approved by veteran composers, military merit would be awarded.
Even though Gao Fei was not a soldier, he understood the profound significance of military merit.
Achieving a third-class merit brought honor to one's entire family and village.
A second-class merit meant being recorded in the county annals, and even during meals, the village chief and county leaders would offer the recipient a seat of honor.
A first-class merit made one a guest of honor among top leaders, leading to a revision of the entire family's genealogy with a dedicated page for the recipient.
A special merit, in times of peace, was rarely awarded, with most recipients having become fallen heroes.
Military merit was not just the supreme honor for a soldier but a lifelong distinction.
Therefore, Gao Fei was deeply tempted.
Seeing the excitement in his eyes, Yao Qiang deliberately piqued his interest, saying, "Student Gao, I'll give you three days to consider. Just have Squad Leader Li contact me!"
"No need to consider, I accept!"
Gao Fei's eyes shone as he looked at reporter Yao, stating earnestly, "If you're in a hurry, I can compose and write the lyrics tonight."
"You can compose and write tonight?"
Yao Qiang looked astonished.
"Is one night too slow? Then I'll write and compose for you right now, just get me some paper and a pen!"
Gao Fei had clearly misunderstood. He stretched and prepared to showcase his talent.
Seeing him about to start composing, Reporter Yao quickly waved his hands, "No rush. It's almost rest time. Even if you create, it shouldn't disrupt your training schedule.
Tomorrow, have Squad Leader Li bring you to the administrative department. I'll introduce you to some people to collaborate with.
There are still more than half a month before the military song is selected, so we need to refine it carefully."
"Alright!"
...
Due to the visit from leaders and Reporter Yao's interview, the freshmen of Class Five were sent back to their dormitories early.
By the time Squad Leader Li and Deputy Squad Leader Gao returned, it was nearly time for lights out.
"Squad Leader, who is this Reporter Yao?"
With the feedback from the simulator regarding military ranks, Gao Fei had a complete understanding of them.
Typically, military reporters in a military region held ranks like second lieutenant or first lieutenant.
However, Yao Qiang, who appeared to be only around twenty-eight, held the rank of major, which surprised him.
"Yao Qiang was a renowned figure in the military region.
Within two years of enlisting, he became an ace scout in the reconnaissance battalion, and in his third year, he was selected for a special forces unit. In his fifth year, he earned second and third-class merits in border operations.
Later, due to an old injury, he was unable to continue serving in special forces and chose to attend military academy.
After graduating from the academy, he was promoted to major. The higher command wanted him to lead a company as a commander, but he chose to become a military reporter for our region."
Yao Qiang's military career was no secret in the Beijing Military Region.
Thus, Li Dong did not conceal anything, omitting only the mention of the special forces unit and briefly describing the man's resume.
Upon hearing this, Gao Fei's eyes widened, and he felt a sense of admiration for Yao Qiang.
Based on Yao Qiang's record, he was clearly on the path to becoming a top soldier.
If not for his injury, and if he had continued serving in special forces, he would likely have become a captain.
Further up, promotion to a general would also have been within his reach.
"Like me, he's talented, what a pity!"
Gao Fei shamelessly commented to himself.
If Li Dong had heard him, he would likely have punched him on the spot.
The lights-out signal sounded, and the freshmen dormitory fell silent. Soon after, snores filled the air.
The next day.
After morning drills and breakfast, the morning training commenced.
When the students of Class Five learned that Gao Fei had been invited to participate in the creation of the military song and would be exempt from training for the next half month, they were all immensely envious.
Seeing the longing and envious looks on the freshmen's faces, Li Dong loudly declared, "Gao Fei was invited based on his merit and is excused from training based on his merit.
If you wish to be like him, then prove yourselves.
As long as you can complete the drill training to standard, I will immediately apply to the political instructor to exempt you from training this month."
His words hit them like a bucket of cold water.
They had grand aspirations, but their abilities did not match, unless they had a cheat to complete the training instantly.
"Zhang Cheng, step forward. Until I return, you will lead everyone in drill training."
The named Zhang Cheng happily stepped out of the ranks. Everyone exchanged knowing glances, the unspoken meaning clear.
As a five-year veteran, Li Dong shouted across to the squad leader of Class Three, "Da Qing, help me keep an eye on Class Five. Anyone slacking off, I'll deal with them when I get back!"
"Got it!"
In an instant, everyone in Class Five put on a serious face.
Gao Fei waved goodbye to the crowd, shouting with a hint of swagger, "Brothers, see you at lunch!"
Hearing his call, their faces grew even more grim, almost as if they wanted to kill him with their stares.
On the way to the administrative building.
Li Dong glanced at Gao Fei, who was wearing his training uniform, and reminded him, "Button up your collar!"
"Squad Leader, it's hot in this weather, buttoning it up is uncomfortable!"
Gao Fei frowned. Squad Leader continued, "The training ground is not under the jurisdiction of the disciplinary patrol. Once you leave the training ground, you can encounter disciplinary patrols at any time. If you're caught, both you and I will be scolded to death by the political instructor!"
As he spoke, two disciplinary patrol officers, wearing white helmets and white gloves, approached from a distance.
Seeing them, Gao Fei hurriedly buttoned his shirt and adjusted his uniform. He and his squad leader walked forward cautiously.
As the saying goes, a soldier who hasn't been chased by disciplinary patrols in the army is not a good soldier.
If you are caught by the disciplinary patrol and manage to outrun them, the political instructor will even give you a thumbs-up.
But if you can't, your fate will be miserable, as any former soldier knows!
As the two of them walked past the disciplinary patrol officers with stern expressions, one officer suddenly stopped, looking at Gao Fei's belt.
"New recruit, your..."
Before the officer could finish, Li Dong shouted "Run" and instantly darted away.
Gao Fei also accelerated sharply, following closely behind.
Moments later, at the administrative building.
The two of them reached the bottom of the stairs just as Yao Qiang was about to enter the building.
Seeing their appearance, Yao Qiang chuckled, "Well, it looks like you two ran into disciplinary patrols. Did you outrun them?"
"Could we not outrun them? If we didn't, I'd have to endure another lecture tonight!"
Li Dong took a deep breath and pointed at Gao Fei, "This kid's speed is astonishing. I started running first, but in the next second, he shot past me like a black rat.
That speed even startled the disciplinary patrol officers chasing us!"
He had indeed been shocked earlier. Gao Fei's speed was not just astonishing, it was terrifying.
Hearing this, Yao Qiang glanced at the panting Li Dong, then at Gao Fei, who was only slightly out of breath. This new recruit was not simple!
"You drive back. You can pick up Gao Fei this afternoon. He'll stay here today."
"Got it!"
After Li Dong left, Yao Qiang couldn't help but ask, "Did you practice long-distance and sprint running before?"
"No, it's just that when I used to climb over walls to skip classes, I was often chased by teachers. I trained like that for three years!"
Gao Fei replied very naturally.
When he noticed their suspicious glances earlier, he had already prepared an excuse.
"Good heavens, climbing over walls to skip classes and still becoming the top liberal arts scholar in the Dragon Country! What a talent!"
Yao Qiang usually didn't pay much attention to online news.
If he had known that Gao Fei not only skipped classes for three years but also frequently got into trouble, he would surely have been shocked.
"Just average. As a top student, one always has some peculiar hobbies!
But compared to you, Brother Qiang, you are the real prominent figure!"
"You're quite good with words!"
Yao Qiang and Gao Fei chatted as they walked upstairs.
However, along the way, listening to Gao Fei simultaneously praising himself and flattering him,
Yao Qiang felt that this young man didn't seem like a recent graduate at all; he was like an old hand who had been navigating society for a long time.
His way of speaking was so smooth and practiced.
Third-floor conference room.
Since the military song for the Beijing Military Region was still in the lyric-writing stage, each lyric had to be reviewed by the military region's leadership.
Therefore, they would first write the lyrics in the administrative building, and only after finalizing the lyrics would they go to the cultural troupe to record the song.
Entering the conference room, there were a total of four people, two men and two women, all holding ranks of second lieutenant and first lieutenant.
Upon entering, Yao Qiang loudly announced, "Everyone, let me introduce you to our invited external aid, Gao Fei!
You four should be familiar with him, shouldn't you!"
The four people who were previously working with their heads down suddenly looked up, their faces filled with surprise as they saw Gao Fei in his training uniform.
Yesterday, they had only heard Yao Qiang mention external aid, and they hadn't expected it to be Gao Fei, who was currently in the spotlight and whose original song had made it to the main news channel.
"Xiao Gao, let me introduce you. These four are members of the military region's cultural troupe."
Yao Qiang pointed to a man and a woman on the left side of the table, saying, "Wang Wenhua and Cao Yuanyuan are responsible for composition.
The two on the right, Xu Qiu and Ma Ming, are responsible for lyric writing!"
"Greetings, seniors!"
Gao Fei enthusiastically stepped forward to greet the four.
The two composers were relatively young, the man in his thirties and the woman twenty-four.
The two lyricists were older, the man thirty-five and the woman thirty.
After the introductions, Yao Qiang presented two files containing lyrics and musical scores that had been created over the past week, saying, "Xiao Gao, these were created in the last week. Take a look at the song content first."
Gao Fei took the folder and found a stool to sit down.
The other four people put down their work and waited for him to finish reading, expecting his thoughts and suggestions.
After a while, Gao Fei put down the folder, his brows slightly furrowed as he looked at the songs.
Yao Qiang, standing beside him, asked, "How are the songs? Give us your evaluation!"
Noticing that everyone was looking at him, Gao Fei put on a smile, "They're alright, not bad. At least they can hold their own in a competition."
After all, others had put in effort to create them, so he couldn't directly criticize them.
However, Yao Qiang tapped the table, "Comrade Xiao Gao, I want to hear the truth!"