"Dear Professor Lü Yongchang, in recognition of your repeated major breakthroughs in cutting-edge science and technology and your outstanding contributions to Xia Country, you have been nominated for the Xia Country State Science and Technology Award. The results will be announced at next week's National Science and Technology Awards Ceremony. Please be sure to attend!"
Reading the lines on the letter in his hand, Lü Yongchang took a deep breath.
"Is... is the Head Councillor serious?"
A flicker of astonishment crossed Lü Yongchang's eyes.
He had never received this award, not even in his previous life.
The reason was simple enough.
In his previous life, by the time he qualified for the award, Xia Country had already become part of the Human Federation. Naturally, the Xia Country State Science and Technology Award no longer existed.
"Of course he's serious."
Fang Xu's voice interrupted Lü Yongchang's thoughts. "Do you think the Head Councillor would joke about something like this?"
"This is the highest of the five Xia Country National Science and Technology Awards. Man..."
Fang Xu's voice was full of envy.
No researcher could resist the allure of this award.
Lü Yongchang reached out and gently brushed his fingers over the large, gold-stamped lettering on the paper, his heart trembling slightly.
The paper was as thin as a cicada's wing, yet at that moment, it seemed to carry an inexplicable weight, pressing heavily on his heart.
Since Xia Country's founding, very few people had received an award of this caliber.
In a sense, it was much like a lifetime achievement award.
As such, it was generally presented to older researchers.
For the Head Councillor to make an exception and present it to a young man of only twenty-one was undoubtedly a tremendous expression of trust and encouragement!
Beside him, Fang Xu