Free Web NovelChapter 672: Chapter 469: The Motherland Will Not Forget!_2
The hall remained silent.
Because in front, the cameras were constantly zooming in and out, focusing on Division Commander Jin and Fang Huai’s position, giving each person a full three seconds of attention, while the flashes from the cameras kept twinkling.
There was no discussion, no sideways glances, everyone in uniform was looking straight ahead.
It was just that, each had their own different sense of amazement.
Fang Huai stared blankly at the military attire next to the podium, feeling as if this were a dream.
Looking at that platform and trying hard to remember, he also felt that in the past thirty-some years, he had never been connected to such glory, not even by a hair’s breadth.
He’d only ever heard of it once.
When he was a kid, his dad talked to him about the award ceremony they were watching on the news, how the glittering People’s Great Hall was where leaders held meetings to make big decisions, and how their old regimental commander had been awarded there, with First Class Merit!
At the time, he didn’t understand what honor meant and even asked his father, "Did you go with him?"
He was just curious then and little, which infuriated his father so much that he scolded, "Do you think you can go there just because you want to? If you could go there just once, I would wake up laughing even in my sleep!" fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm
Today, he understood, and he had arrived.
The honor he received far surpassed that of his father’s idol, that old regimental commander.
His mind was a jumble, as many thoughts flickered through it.
He, who always kept his distance from relatives, suddenly felt an urge to phone and ask his father where the Fang family’s ancestral graves and family temple were located.
When he graduated, when was it that everyone said they would have a class reunion?
Where had that Huang-surnamed buddy of his who picked up a particularly straight, particularly handy stick as a child and bragged flamboyantly to all the kids that he was the eighteenth-generation descendant of the Beggar’s Sect gone?
Brother Yang, and her girlfriends, were they watching TV?
This was the highest honor of his military career! There would be no higher! He wanted everyone he knew, and everyone who knew him, to see!
If a reporter were to interview him at this moment and ask him how he felt, he would definitely ask back, "Have you ever won the top prize?"
And then he would add, "The top prize is nothing compared to the supreme merit!"
The August First Medal is the true supreme merit!
Fang Huai’s wild imaginings lasted until the military leader left the podium and the leader at the podium continued to speak loudly and brought their speech to an end.
"I hope that the collectives and individuals who are honored will cherish their honor, forge ahead, and strive for greater achievements!
The Central...
...will tirelessly strive to seize new victories for building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and create a new situation for socialism with Chinese characteristics!"
The applause was thunderous and long-lasting, wave after wave, not conforming to the three standards of applause the army usually trains for, and it only started to fade when some urgent and passionate military music began to play.
Cao Yi finally saw all the cameras turn and focus on the stage and a staff member coming toward them, then he turned to look at Fang Huai, who was still somewhat in a daze, and barely able to contain his grin, whispered in a suppressed voice:
"What are you spacing out for? Get up there, take your award! The August First Medal, man! You, my boy, are going to be in the firefighting history books!"
"Oh... Oh!"
Fang Huai snapped back to reality, noticing that Division Commander Jin in the People’s Liberation Army seats in front of him had already risen at the invitation of a staff member, and that staff were heading this way, so he quickly stood up, stepped out of his seat, and went to meet them.
"Hello, Comrade Fang Huai, please wait below the stage, you and Jin Yiming will go up last," the staff member instructed in a low voice, seemingly afraid he might panic.
Fang Huai opened his mouth, but no words came out; he just nodded and hurried into the stream of people gathering below the stage, preparing to go up to receive their awards, found Division Commander Jin, lined up behind him, and couldn’t wait to lean in and ask during the cover of the military music:
"How come you didn’t tell me about such a big event?"
Division Commander Jin shook his head slightly to indicate he didn’t know either.
In fact, they might never know.
In recent months, the August First Building had held five meetings regarding this decision, which was not only about an award ceremony but also about the establishment of a supreme honor.
During this earthquake, faced with the massive test of life and death, heroes emerged like a tide, and outstanding contributors such as the Tangjia Mountain Assault Team made their mark; after multiple discussions, the August First Building decided to establish a higher level of award that is more honorable for military personnel who have made significant contributions in peaceful times.
The first three meetings were to finalize the details; the fourth was the night before last, when after all the leaders had signed, they worked overtime into the wee hours to draft the award decision and confirmed that it would be announced at the assembly.
The fifth meeting was yesterday, to establish the list of other recipients of the "August First Medal" after the assembly, and discuss with the Office of the General Staff to modify the related speeches and meeting procedures.
The rush was due to the fact that over the past few months, the nation’s power had been gradually eliminating the safety hazards brought by over thirty barrier lakes, primarily the Tangjia Mountain Barrier Lake, and was also progressively exploring and planning whether to utilize these barrier lakes.
For the needs of water security, during the survey period, all related matters were kept secret and not reported until shortly before the start of the assembly, when the secrecy requirement was lifted, and discussions began on the recognition of accomplishments.
The First Class Merit initially awarded to Fang Huai by the department was a decision based on his status as a soldier.
The August First Medal, however, was not a military award system; it was a selection system that evaluated military experiences rather than specific performances, and thus there was no conflict.
It was the first time it was for an internal selection. At that time, the Chief of Staff in the August First Building had not yet pulled Fang Huai’s file. They found ample information about Fang Huai just from this year’s news reports—a mere half a year, and Fang Huai had already been interviewed several times, including at the fire scene, Hanwang earthquake area, and a CCTV special interview at the flood site, as well as coverage of individual victories at the Tianjin Grand Martial Arts Competition and with the Firefighting Bureau.
Once all personal information was compiled, the leaders were all smacking their lips.
Looking at the materials, they could feel how busy he had been that year.
And he was the main character in all those events.
Quite something, indeed.
Some leaders even frowned and suggested, perhaps such a talent being in firefighting...
They didn’t finish the sentence, after all, such a statement would be politically incorrect.
But everyone, having not met Fang Huai, also understood that talent might not fit in everywhere, especially since firefighting and regular troops have completely different environments; a hasty transfer might waste extraordinary talent.
However, such a figure passed the selection without much controversy and was unanimously approved, whereas Division Commander Jin was discussed for quite a while.
Fang Huai would not know that his name once dazzled some leaders whom he knew very well.
He was just following the team in puzzled thought, getting closer and closer to the podium.
Teachers, police, grassroots cadres, soldiers—all with different statuses—leaders on the podium continuously handed out large honorary certificates with their both hands, accompanied by smiling faces and words of blessing, and then they helped them put on round honorary medals tied with thick ribbons.
Local staff were mostly from Sichuan, and the leaders were very gentle, often asking kindly two more questions.
How’s everything at home?
After the disaster, have you moved into a new house?
Is the grassroots work going well now?
For soldiers, however, it was much simpler.
No talk of whether it’s good or not.
Just one sentence: Keep up the good work, push on!
The more forward-thinking leaders were, the stricter the requirements they had for the army, with earthquake resistance and disaster relief being obligatory, and honors were merely incentives to keep striving.
Fang Huai saw that Brigade Captain Chen from the Hydropower Troops, also a vice-captain of the assault team, was awarded an honorary title.
The Hydropower Troops and Firefighting are both part of the public security active-duty troops; since he was the first in the August First Medal, it was unlikely to include him as well.
But looking at his smiling face, one could tell he was excited.
The awarding process of over half an hour was gradually coming to an end.
There were fewer people on the podium, and the gaze of the audience was increasingly focused on him and Division Commander Jin.
Standing by the stairs, Division Commander Jin saw that the people in front had finished, took a deep breath, looked back slightly, and said,
"Let’s go!"
Fang Huai looked at the somewhat empty podium, hurriedly strode forward with his heart beating fast, and his face feeling scorched by the gaze of those on the side below the stage.
They marched together.
Marching, this was the most focused Fang Huai had ever been.
"Company halt!"
Division Commander Jin stopped dead center on the stage, then gave the next command.
Fang Huai came to a halt, lining up with the leader holding the award on the side.
Facing that person head-on, he saw the face clearly and felt somewhat dizzy.
The leader looked at him and warmly began to speak.
"Strive with all your might and march forward bravely! Work hard, and ’The Motherland Will Not Forget’ you!"
