"Lu Ban" Sets Up the Challenge Stage — Who Dares Step Forward and "Wield an Axe Before Lu Ban"?
"Lu Ban" Sets Up the Stage — Who Will "Wield the Axe"?
■ Yang Qiran
Lu Lihu (center) explains equipment operating techniques to fellow soldiers. Photo by Ren Zhen.
In a certain transport company of a certain brigade of the 73rd Group Army, Senior Sergeant Second Class Lu Lihu has a resounding nickname — "Lu Ban." For one thing, his surname is Lu and he serves as a squad leader (班长); for another, his mastery of transport support is genuinely something to behold. His comrades started calling him that, and the name spread.
This "Lu Ban" has one defining trait: the bigger the crowd, the more boldly he steps to the front.
One day during field driving drills, the company commander suddenly raised the difficulty: "Today we're running a 'full gauntlet' — driving through a combined obstacle course. Who goes first?"
Before the words had settled, "Lu Ban" stepped forward: "I will!"
"Lu Ban" turned and called back to the group: "Watch my details closely — don't come crying to me if you miss something!" His comrades smiled knowingly. Then the vehicle started moving, and their expressions quickly turned to admiration. The S-curve, the figure-eight, the circular disc section — the transport vehicle threaded through each obstacle section like a butterfly weaving through flowers. "A transport truck driven like a sports car."
"Lu Ban's" role as a model and motivator extends beyond the exercise and training ground.
When the new recruits arrived at the company, many of them found folding their quilts into a perfect block a daunting task. One day, "Lu Ban" spotted a few new soldiers huddled around their quilts, puzzling it out. Without a word, he walked over: "Call everyone together — I'll show you how it's done."
Within minutes, a sharp-edged, perfectly square "block of tofu" had taken shape. More and more new soldiers gathered to watch. "Lu Ban" grew even more energized and went on to share two small tricks for squaring the corners. Everyone crowded around him with questions, and his eyes shone.
Some wondered whether this squad leader was just too fond of showing off. But more people felt that "Lu Ban" charging ahead in everything was a good thing — and that he was genuinely wholehearted toward his comrades.
Not long ago, the brigade organized preparations for a transport specialty skills competition, and the company designated "Lu Ban" as the concentrated-training instructor. On his very first day in the role, he set up a "challenge stage": "You're welcome to challenge me at any time. Whoever beats me can have the instructor's seat!"
The words landed like a thunderclap — soldiers were taken aback: "Isn't he just inviting everyone to 'wield a great axe before Lu Ban' (鲁班门前弄大斧)?" But Private First Class Huang Rong was tempted. Young Huang's training scores were solid, and with the boldness of youth, he figured: we're all carrying one head on two shoulders — who's afraid of whom? He immediately stepped up to challenge "tire change without a jack" (无千斤顶更换轮胎), and onlooking soldiers surged into a circle around them.
The contest began. "Lu Ban's" hands moved fast and steady, clean and decisive, drawing a round of cheers. Young Huang pushed with everything he had to match the speed, but the more he rushed, the more he fumbled, and several critical details were missed.
Young Huang couldn't keep his composure; his ears burned red. "Lu Ban," however, dusted off his hands, pulled Huang over to his side, and waved the crowd in: "Everyone, come here."
Using the just-completed exercise as his text, "Lu Ban" walked through his own operational details: "See that? This way of doing it is better — both efficiency and precision are high." He then went through Young Huang's mistakes one by one: "Look — in the rush for speed, you skipped over these few details, and that's where problems will come from." With that, he ran through the standard movements again from the beginning, breaking down every step and key point until it was thoroughly digested.
Afterward, when Huang Rong spoke of Lu Lihu again, he was completely convinced: Squad Leader Lu may look like he loves the spotlight, but he's genuinely warm-hearted — he can stir up in us the drive to compare, learn, catch up, help each other, and surpass (比学赶帮超).
Over the years, encouraged by Lu Lihu and several other squad leader cadre, more and more soldiers have dared to "wield the axe before Lu Ban," and a cohort of "little Lu Bans" in transport support has been cultivated. Recently, this "Lu Ban" has picked up a new lesson plan, thinking through how to hone his own professional skills to an even sharper edge.