First Battlefield Commander! - Chapter 152
Chapter 152: Cleanup
The six of them trailed sheepishly behind Doctor Lin, heading toward the infirmary.
Even from a distance, they could feel the murderous aura radiating from him.
Doctor Lin pushed open the door, took off his coat, and hung it on the side. Then he dragged out a chair and sat down with an imposing air.
Chin lowered slightly, he looked at them with a half-smile, one leg crossed and gently shaking.
The group felt that if he were to say "kneel" at this moment, their legs might actually go weak and drop them to the floor.
Doctor Lin snorted coldly. "Speak. You're all quite impressive, aren't you? What did the school instructors warn you about before coming here? Barely a few days of peace and you couldn't hold back anymore?"
Lian Sheng opened her mouth to speak but was immediately blocked by the other five.
Cheng Ze said, "No need to trouble yourself, really. Let Senior Lu handle it."
Lu Mingyuan nodded in agreement. "Respect my status as a senior and give me a chance to survive."
Lian Sheng shrugged. "I wasn't about to volunteer. Also, I must clarify one point—I can speak properly when needed."
Doctor Lin said, "I don't accept any embellishments. Tell me exactly what happened, down to how many times you went to the bathroom. Don't even think about lying to me."
Lu Mingyuan recounted the events in full detail. Doctor Lin maintained his posture, his expression unchanging throughout.
Doctor Lin: "And what about before that? Zhao Zhuoluo, you speak."
Zhao Zhuoluo then explained the ridiculous situation with their rented house.
Doctor Lin slapped the table. "So what you're saying is: you brought prohibited snacks, rented a house to store them so the base wouldn't confiscate them?"
The group nodded.
Doctor Lin: "Then today, you went to eat them, only to find the place had been robbed clean."
The group continued nodding.
Doctor Lin: "To help the two people who stole from you, you voluntarily sold yourselves out. And after selling yourselves, you discovered those same two had kicked you while you were down."
The group hesitated, but Fang Jianchen kept nodding.
Doctor Lin paused. "Is it you who are sick, or is it me?"
The group lowered their noble heads.
Lian Sheng said, "I think this is indeed a matter worth discussing."
Doctor Lin looked at them with indescribable disdain and shook his head.
Lian Sheng shook her head as well to express her stance.
Doctor Lin turned to her. "They lacked experience, didn't know the truth, and fell into a pit. Stupid as they are, at least their brains are normal. You knowingly stepped into a cesspit without hesitation—what right do you have to shake your head?"
Lian Sheng: "..."
She lowered her expensive head as well.
"I was perfectly fine at Alliance University—busy, but at least I ate well. Then I had the misfortune of running into you, got dragged to this godforsaken place as a supervisor, and now have to deal with your messes. Do you really think I have nothing better to do?" Doctor Lin rapped his knuckles on the table. "Do you not understand the words 'don't cause trouble'? Copy them a thousand times when you get back. No cursive or connected strokes. Understood?"
Fang Jianchen asked weakly, "Then do we still have to do physical training tonight? Or should we focus on copying first?"
"You have seven hours of sleep time," Doctor Lin said. "Don't ask me what to do. You didn't ask me before causing trouble. Suffer in silence and get a taste of how I feel."
The group: "..."
After enduring Doctor Lin's relentless sarcasm, they finally retreated from the infirmary. With forced smiles and utmost respect, they closed the door behind them, leaving him in peace.
Though Lin Shu's scolding was harsh, it undoubtedly stemmed from concern. Otherwise, he wouldn't have intervened to take charge when they were summoned back to the base with the situation still unclear. He had quietly investigated the cause, swiftly contacted the school, and forcefully marched over to retrieve them, smoothing things over.
The incident wasn't minor, but since they hadn't informed him beforehand, handling it had been urgent. He had probably been scared into a cold sweat.
If they had been even slightly delayed, and the students—lacking assertiveness—had been intimidated into accepting the local punishment first, leaving an official record online, there would have been no room for reversal.
If anyone were to scrutinize the blacklist document issued by the police station, their futures would undoubtedly be ruined.
The contents were vicious. Regardless of the specifics, if they ever wanted promotions or to join the Expeditionary Force, they absolutely could not afford a criminal record at this stage—let alone one for assaulting civilians, minors, and public servants. Even ordinary jobs would impose strict restrictions.
This kind of collusion between officials and civilians to falsely accuse and distort the truth, though despicable, was highly effective. It was also why residents of the 36th District lived in such fear.
If the government became the executioner oppressing them, how could they survive? How was this any different from the exploitative bureaucracies of ancient times? If anything, it was worse—they needed even more excuses to whitewash their actions.
Though the base instructors would never actually handle things according to the official document and would negotiate to secure the best outcome for them, starting from a position of weakness and compromise, how much leverage could they really gain? At best, it was the difference between death by a thousand cuts and a swift beheading.
By the time Lian Sheng and the others emerged, it was nearly dinner. The sight of the cafeteria doors healed their spirits a little.
The fact that such pitiful food could heal them only made them feel even more pathetic.
With over ten minutes until mealtime, they sat in the hallway, sighing.
"How could conditions here be so bad? Even if it's a border region, it's still under Alliance jurisdiction," Fang Jianchen lamented. "Hasn't there been any reporting on this?"
Zhao Zhuoluo: "Realistically speaking, it's about money."
The scarcity of daily necessities clashed with the enormous profits from the ore, creating this dysfunctional society.
When power was concentrated in one party, leading to social disorder, a model that defied mainstream norms, and extreme inequity, problems were inevitable.
Lian Sheng asked, "Who benefits from the ore here?"
"The mining teams. Several companies pooled resources to bid for multi-point simultaneous extraction, then sold the ore at high prices and split the profits," Zhao Zhuoluo explained. "Regardless of who exactly, the ore belongs to the Alliance, the mining teams have a share of the profits, and some funds inevitably leak along the way. The 36th District's mining industry has enriched countless people, but none of them are the district's residents."
Lu Mingyuan added, "Actually, I heard the Alliance allocates substantial subsidies to the 36th District every year to improve living conditions."
"Given the current situation, that's clearly hopeless," Zhao Zhuoluo said. "Whether the subsidies go to the residents or into someone else's pockets can't be determined from superficial inspections and vague reports. Without clear feedback, I doubt anyone higher up cares."
No one was willing to give up this slice of profit, so pretending not to see the 36th District's plight was the best option. Maintaining a facade of peace was the ideal state.
To cover things up, they resorted to intimidation, bribery, and twisting the truth, presenting a false image of harmony to the Alliance. With no communication between higher and lower levels, the civilians were left with the impression that the government had abandoned them for profit—which, to a large extent, was the truth.
Only substantial profits could bind the 36th District's administration so tightly together.
"Before coming here, I looked up some research on the 36th District's population and development. The article was obscure, and I didn't pay much attention at the time, but now it doesn't seem entirely alarmist. The author claimed that mining teams rely on Expeditionary Force trainees for labor. This behavior suggests the military is aligned with the profit-seekers. Meanwhile, the local administration turns a blind eye, indulging those at the top of the profit chain. Everyone involved in mining ends up thriving." Zhao Zhuoluo crossed his arms over his knees. "When even the most powerful safeguards betray them, this is the 36th District's reality."
Lu Mingyuan adjusted his glasses. "It can't be that bleak, can it? This is still a peaceful zone. Though living costs are high, ordinary residents at least have food and shelter. This time, we were just unlucky—normally, things shouldn't be this bad. If people were pushed too far, the Alliance would have investigated long ago."
Even so, the outlook wasn't optimistic. Since when did basic survival depend on luck?
Lian Sheng: "So this time, the government accused the military... is that like dogs biting each other?"
The group looked at her.
It was undeniable. Put crudely, that was exactly what it was.
Shaking the foundations of an entire planet's mining industry was beyond any individual's power.
Certainly not theirs.
Their protests as outsiders carried no weight—easily dismissed with a single sentence. The only ones with the authority to influence the Alliance's direction were the Alliance's own people.
Ji Fangxiao and his friends came over for dinner and, seeing them, sat down nearby. Noticing their gloomy silence, he asked, "Are you guys okay?"
Lian Sheng and the others shook their heads.
"Really? I just saw Doctor Lin head over earlier." Ji Fangxiao wiped a smudge off his face. "Don't treat this place like the 2nd District. I've heard it's chaotic outside. Keep your belongings secure—theft is common. Even if others start something, it's best not to fight back. Run if you can. They definitely can't outrun us."
Lian Sheng said, "It's only because Doctor Lin came that we're fine."
Ji Fangxiao: "That's good. What exactly did you do?"
This was already the third time they'd had to explain. They were practically experts by now.
Lian Sheng turned to him and summarized in a few sentences.
Ji Fangxiao was startled. "It can't be that extreme, can it? There are rumors about the 36th District, but they're mostly about the residents' behavior. Even if the administration is negligent, it shouldn't be this terrifying, right?"
Lian Sheng: "Firsthand experience. No exaggeration."
Ji Fangxiao fell silent as well.
The cafeteria doors behind them suddenly opened. The sound of the sliding frame made the contemplative group shudder. They stood up and filed inside.
For the first day of Doctor Lin's "labor reform," their task was street sweeping.
In the 2nd District, where cleaning robots were ubiquitous, this job had vanished years ago, becoming the stuff of legend.
When the five of them received their steel-pipe equipment and checked the notice, they were dumbfounded. They had never expected things to take this turn.
The 36th District suffered from severe infrastructure shortages. Cleaning robots were insufficient in number, and their models and functions were outdated. As a result, while the district had no major sanitation issues, minor problems were everywhere.
Focused on ore extraction, the district had neglected most other projects, lacking even a proper research institute. External needs were met through imports, and with costs so high, it was unrealistic to expect them to fill the gaps in machinery.
Consequently, areas with frequent sewage discharge couldn't be treated promptly, leading to serious pollution. To prevent bacterial growth, manual cleaning was necessary.
Normally, this task fell to newly hired junior civil servants. Now, Lian Sheng had liberated them.
The other five had forcibly taken responsibility for Lu Mingyuan's mistake, so he was spared. During the day, he still had to go to the mining area with his partner for ore extraction, then return at night for endless physical training.
The five stood in the alleyway they were assigned to clean.
Lian Sheng gripped the equipment, frowning slightly.
First, absorb the water, sprinkle disinfectant powder, rinse, then scrub the pavement.
"Technology changes lives." Cheng Ze held up the water-sucking iron pipe and sighed. "I think societal development's top priority should be advancing technology."
Zhao Zhuoluo straightened, leaning on the long brush to massage his back. He frowned but said nothing, exhaling softly.
The most demoralizing part of this job wasn't the mixed stench but the fact that these tall individuals were given equipment designed for shorter people. Having to bend over and exert force while moving down the street was brutal on the lower back.
This was one advantage of being short.
Lian Sheng took the brush from him. "I'll handle it. A man can't afford to ruin his back. Take a break."
Zhao Zhuoluo: "..."
For some reason, every time Lian Sheng helped him, it felt vaguely insulting.
Fang Jianchen, working furiously ahead, gritted his teeth. "Damn Er Gou. May he suffer hemorrhoids, constipation, and a Sichuan hotpot feast!"
Lian Sheng looked up. "Who's Er Gou?"
Fang Jianchen: "Who cares? It's the bastard who issued that document!"
Comrade Zhao Zhuoluo sighed. "Er Gouzi, same curse."
Even Zhao Zhuoluo had reached his limit. The others weren't far behind.
Thus, cursing the mythical Er Gouzi, they found renewed motivation.
The five brothers-in-misery roamed the district's streets, finally completing the task by 7 p.m. Their clothes, inevitably, reeked of strange odors—rotten food, pungent chemicals, and who knew what else.
Returning to the dorm at night, the stench made people recoil.
Lian Sheng suspected that after a few more days, even their skin and flesh would be permanently infused with the smell.
Yet, on the very next day of their street-cleaning purgatory, the base welcomed a new arrival.
Not just any arrival—someone who brought a massive piece of equipment.
The crowd was stunned when they saw Ji Ban.
They had imagined the legendary manual mech pilot countless times. Someone wealthy, stubborn to the point of obsession, ruthlessly skilled, and taciturn—basically the archetypal domineering CEO.
But Ji Ban bore no resemblance to a CEO whatsoever—not in looks, personality, or voice. Most shocking of all was how young he was.
Spectators who had come to gawk at the legend nearly poked their own eyes out. Was it their vision or their brains failing them?
Most astonishingly, Ji Ban was... paralyzed from the waist down?
He had even brought his mech along. Who else could pull off such an entrance? It was terrifying.
There was so much they wanted to ask, but Ji Ban was too enigmatic, and they didn't know where to start.
Ji Ban himself scowled, turning slightly away from them.
Since arriving that morning, he had been surrounded by the crowd. The occasional gasps and stares at his legs had put him in a foul mood.
Lian Sheng, still in her work uniform, pushed through the crowd when she heard the commotion and pulled Ji Ban free.
"Oh, you're joining the team?" Lian Sheng said, delighted. "What's your assignment? Why bring a mech? Here to mine? That's... overkill, isn't it?"
Ji Ban took in her appearance. "What are you dressed like that for?"
Lian Sheng: "..." That was a complicated question.
Just as she was about to sidestep the issue and catch up, Doctor Lin strode out from the inner corridor, hands in his pockets.
"Lian Sheng." Doctor Lin raised a hand. "Today's assignment is different. You're cleaning the mining area. Go to the back and get new equipment. Gather your little friends and prepare. We leave at six."
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