198: Chapter 198: Returning to the Third Platoon, the Veteran's Shock

The clamor of the welcome feast gradually faded. The afternoon sun shone through the canteen windows, casting mottled shadows on the floor.

Su Han put down his chopsticks and looked at Zhou Haitao beside him. "Let's go, back to the 7th Company."

Zhou Haitao immediately stood at attention and grinned. "Yes! Major Su! Let's go home!"

"Go home?"

These two words couldn't help but make Su Han feel a wave of emotion.

It was true that he had transmigrated here.

But regardless, the 7th Company was the first unit he had stayed in after transmigrating.

Anyone who has been a soldier knows that no matter what achievements you have in the future, which elite unit you serve in, or even for retired veterans, they have the deepest feelings for the company they first joined!

One could say that the company is a second home!

Wang Tiejun also stood up and patted Su Han on the shoulder. "Yes, go home."

"The 356th Regiment is your home."

"The 7th Company is even more so your home!"

"Regardless of whether your official posting is in the regiment in the future, you will always be a soldier of our 356th Regiment!"

Su Han nodded heavily and saluted the group of regimental leaders.

Zhou Haitao nimbly picked up Su Han's backpack from the corner. "Let's go, I'll drive you back."

The off-road vehicle drove out of the Regimental Headquarters compound, heading toward the 7th Company's barracks along the familiar concrete road.

Outside the window, some recruits from the New Recruit Company were still doing extra training on the drill ground, their slogans echoing one after another.

While driving, Zhou Haitao couldn't help but chatter, "Third Grandpa, you have no idea. Ever since you went to the Falcons, our 7th Company's reputation has spread throughout the entire Group Army. Now, out of every ten new recruits, eight say they want to be like you and go from the 7th Company to the Special Forces."

Su Han smiled. "Then you, as the company commander, better lead them well. Don't waste good talent."

"Of course!" Zhou Haitao straightened his back. "Don't worry, my current requirements for the recruits are based on your standards back then—the five-kilometer cross-country run must be under twenty minutes, and anyone who scores below ninety in shooting practice has to do extra training."

Su Han chuckled. "I wasn't that impressive back then. When I was in the New Recruit Company, I was at the bottom of the class."

"That's different!" Zhou Haitao quickly countered. "You were just hiding your light under a bushel! Who doesn't know that you later broke your squad leader's record for the Sea-crossing and Island-landing Obstacle Course? When Commander Zhao came to inspect, your 'Intuitive Shooting' technique was even used as a case study in the regiment's training manual!"

As they spoke, the 7th Company's barracks were already in sight.

The camp was exceptionally quiet in the afternoon. Most of the officers and soldiers were taking a nap, with only the sentries standing tall at the barracks entrance.

Seeing Zhou Haitao's car, the sentry immediately stood at attention and saluted. When his gaze fell on Su Han in the passenger seat, his eyes instantly widened.

"Is... is that Major Su Han?!" the sentry exclaimed in surprise.

Su Han returned the salute and nodded with a smile. "Hello, veteran. I'm back to visit the 3rd Squad."

Just as the off-road vehicle came to a stop, the window of the 3rd Squad's dormitory was pushed open with a clatter, and a head poked out—it was Wang Hao.

"The company commander is back—" Before he could finish, his eyes met Su Han's. He seemed to hit a pause button, his mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg. "Han... Brother Han?!"

That shout instantly broke the silence of the camp.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh—

The door of the 3rd Squad's dormitory was thrown open. Liu Yong, Zhao Xiaohu, and several familiar veterans all rushed out, staring at Su Han with wide eyes, their faces filled with disbelief.

"It... it really is Brother Han!" Zhao Xiaohu rubbed his eyes hard. "Am I seeing things?"

Liu Yong took a step forward, his voice thick with excitement. "Major Su! Why are you back?"

Su Han pushed open the car door and stepped out. Looking at the familiar faces before him, a warm current surged in his heart.

When he first transmigrated to this world, it was these people who helped him, a bottom-of-the-class recruit, grow bit by bit.

"I'm back to see everyone." Su Han smiled and waved the backpack in his hand, then looked at Liu Yong with a wry smile. "Also, Squad Leader, there's no need to call me Major Su, right? I'm still officially part of the 3rd Squad; I'm still your soldier."

Liu Yong laughed heartily. "Good! Then in Private, I'll call you Su Han. But in training settings, I still have to call you Comrade Major. We can't let the rules get messy, hahaha..."

Su Han nodded helplessly. "Is my bunk still there?"

"Yes! Of course it is!" Liu Yong nodded quickly. "We've kept your bunk empty and send someone to clean it every day."

Meanwhile, soldiers from other squads in the dormitory were also alerted. They flocked to the corridor, poking their heads out to look.

"It really is Su Han! He's back at the 7th Company!"

"My god! I thought he would never come back to the 7th Company. I didn't expect... I'm actually living in the same dormitory area as the champion of the All-Army Grand Competition!"

"You guys better watch your words! He's not a Private like us anymore. He's a Major now! He's an officer, so you can't be as informal as before!" the squad leaders of each squad said sternly.

Zhou Haitao frowned and cleared his throat. "What are you all crowding around here for? Don't you need your afternoon nap? Don't want to train this afternoon, is that it?"

The noise immediately died down, but the soldiers' eyes remained glued to Su Han, filled with reverence and curiosity.

"Alright, everyone disperse," Su Han said. "I'm just back to stay for a few days. Carry on with what you were doing."

With those words, the soldiers reluctantly dispersed, but they couldn't help stealing a few more glances before they left.

The 3rd Squad's dormitory was at the far east end of the second floor.

Pushing open the door, the afternoon sunlight streamed through the window and fell on the bunk by the window—the bedding was folded neatly, looking like a block of tofu.

"We tidy it up according to your standards every day," Wang Hao scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. "We were just afraid you wouldn't be used to it if you came back to stay one day."

Su Han walked to the bunk and sat down. His fingers brushed across the familiar bedding, and it felt as if he had returned to the days when he had first transmigrated.

"Brother Han, how long are you staying this time?" Zhao Xiaohu leaned in, his eyes bright. "I heard you were nominated for the 'Touching China' selection?"