Fang Huai received the certificate from the leader’s hand, but the ceremony was not yet complete.
The leader took an exquisite wooden box from the table and lifted out a dal from inside.
The August First Military rit dal was slightly different from the one he had seen in his previous life.
It lacked the red design of later tis, featuring instead a shiny gold "Eight-One" in the center of an orange pentagram, surrounded by a circle of silver. The main part of the dal was a whole circle larger than the First Class rit, dazzling to behold.
The leader personally pinned the dal on him.
After pinning it, he patted Fang Huai’s chest.
"During the earthquake, I was in Sha’anxi, and I heard about your story, very brave. Keep up the good work. The firefighting forces are the troops that are most closely connected to the people. You are very honorable, and the responsibility is huge."
The deep voice was accompanied by a gentle smile.
At this mont, Fang Huai had so much he wanted to say.
If he could speak his mind, he could talk for two hours right here.
However, he only had the opportunity to reply with one sentence.
Fang Huai stood at attention and saluted, saying, "Yes, leader! We are actively promoting team reform and moving forward in the direction of professional rescue, comprehensive ergency managent, and rapid response!"
The voice was not loud, but it was firm and resolute.
The leader clearly leaned back a little, sowhat surprised as he glanced at Fang Huai’s epaulets.
Then, thoughtful, he looked at the surrounding leadership with a smile.
"Professional rescue, comprehensive ergency managent, rapid response, good, the new era firefighting forces should have such self-expectations!"
The leader said, giving Fang Huai a deep look.
The reporters to his side kept snapping photos, and Fang Huai also caught a glimpse of the cara moving in on him, seizing the opportunity to reply again:
"Please rest assured, leader!"
The leader’s gaze was filled with satisfaction, but since he held no military position, there were no further directions, only a low gaze at the na tag that the Military Academy had issued to Fang Huai in advance for the eting. He raised his hand, patted on the "Fang Huai" naplate, and smiled:
"Good!"
The very brief dialogue thus ended.
Fang Huai felt a surge of emotion inside.
If his feelings at that mont could be likened to a song, it would be that one "Returning from Target Practice," starting from the line after "Joyful songs filling the sky."
...
The speech that followed was a lengthy one lasting fifty minutes, delivered entirely by the senior leader.
He said "comrades, friends" seven tis, ntioning the patriotism, collectivism, and socialism of the entire party and society, as well as the still arduous task of post-disaster reconstruction.
Fang Huai was sowhat zoned out, but from words such as "international institutions," "foreign-funded enterprises," "international friends," "Federation of Industry and Comrce," "Democratic Parties," "all walks of society," he could sense the broad and enduring reaction caused by a massive disaster.
The world was paying attention, and various organizations and governnt agencies within the country had many responsibilities to shoulder in the aftermath.
No wonder the award ceremony was so grand and of such high standards, even causing the return of the highest military honor.
Having received the honor he’d longed for and those two sentences of conversation, he was already content.
The only disappointnt was that shining August First dal hanging within the system prompt of military rit value, tantalizingly unexchangeable.
This damned system, as always so "lovable," listed the August First dal for 600 military rit points! But the exchange date was not until June 2017!
Isn’t that the ti when the "August First dal" was reinstated in his previous life?
Damn it, those 600 military rit points he coveted! Enough to exchange for three to four fields of expert knowledge! And yet he had to wait another eight and a half years!
Fang Huai, who always cherished ti, suddenly felt the desire to speed up the progress bar of ti.
But soon, he cald down again.
Well, it’s sothing to look forward to in the future.
At 29, he’s still young.
In this way, he didn’t have to think about saving military rit points for his future life. Those 600 points would be enough to support so of his sudden inspirations in the future.
Besides, this was only his first year as a soldier. In the future, he might have so many rit points that he wouldn’t be able to use them all up, enabling him to achieve brilliance in other fields after growing tired of firefighting work.
The idea of becoming a legend in multiple fields was quite exhilarating; he might even aim for the "Republic dal" in the future!
...
After the 50-minute speech ended, the eting’s proceedings were concluded very succinctly.
As they exited, the surrounding firefighters couldn’t stop staring at Fang Huai, but firefighting really didn’t hold a high status in today’s gathering, so everyone was extrely cautious, not even daring to whisper among themselves.
Not one approached him for a conversation.
It wasn’t until they had completely left the People’s Great Hall that his comrade Cao Yi dared to turn and look at the August First dal on Fang Huai’s chest, his throat moving with emotion as he exclaid:
"You’ve made it big, Fang Huai. Do you know that among the Top Ten Loyal Defenders of the Ard Police, there’s not a single spot for our firefighters? Everyone’s saying we can only have our own Top Ten Firefighter Defenders now! And now... you’ve got one of the very first August First dals in the entire country! None in the Ard Police forces! Our entire firefighting forces will be proud of you from now on!"
Fang Huai couldn’t help but take a deep breath and, touching the dal on his chest, nodded.
"Mm... our firefighters being able to gain recognition in the military system today is thanks to the fortune of the Sichuan civilians. We mustn’t let them down; every rescue is an opportunity for us to prove ourselves!"
Cao Yi couldn’t help clicking his tongue, saying, "You kid, the more you serve as a soldier, the more mature you beco."
Fang Huai frowned: "In Beijing, when you say mature, it ans to be righteous and forthright. Who are you learning these old terms from? You’re using them all wrong! Am I not just being upright here?"
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