Second-class merit

News that nuclear fusion at the Northern Base had remained stable for 118 seconds!

It instantly sent Dragon Country's senior leadership into an uproar. They convened an emergency meeting and made several major decisions!

1. Keep the news of nuclear fusion under wraps for the time being.

2. Increase research funding and scientific personnel at the Northern Base.

3. Immediately apply controlled nuclear fusion to Dragon Country's fighter jets in preparation for the global military competition.

4. Award Zhou Huaide first-class merit and the title of academician, and raise his military rank to major general.

Zhou Huaide received word of his rewards from the higher-ups immediately.

However, he rejected them outright. He requested that the first-class merit be awarded to Jiang Fan and explained the situation to his superiors!

After hearing Zhou Huaide's report, Dragon Country's leaders convened another emergency meeting over Jiang Fan, focusing on his personal rewards!

Taking Jiang Fan's personal safety into account, they discussed the matter and decided on the following.

1. Award Jiang Fan the title of professor.

2. Award him second-class merit (in the name of developing solar photovoltaic panels).

3. Award him a personal cash prize of five million.

4. Enroll him in the national military system and grant him the rank of lieutenant colonel.

5. Add him to the national list of personnel under Level One confidentiality protection.

Zhou Huaide was reasonably satisfied with these rewards for Jiang Fan, though he felt that second-class merit did him something of an injustice.

But this was the decision of the higher-ups, and there was nothing he could do to change it!

Happiness Residential Complex, Lingzhou City!

A middle-aged woman carried a basket brimming with groceries, including chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Her face was wreathed in smiles!

She greeted everyone she saw.

As she passed a pavilion, many people were sitting beneath it enjoying the cool air, since they had the day off work.

He walked up and addressed everyone with a grin.

"You're all here enjoying the cool air! Hehe..."

"Oh, it's Guiqin! I haven't seen you for two days. How come you look so much younger?"

Li Guiqin felt delighted at the compliment.

"Guiqin, come sit and chat for a while!"

"Not today. My son's home, and I have to hurry back to cook. We'll chat another day. You all carry on!"

With that, Li Guiqin left with a grin!

Once Li Guiqin had left, the people beneath the pavilion began talking!

"Guiqin's boy, Jiang Fan, really has done her proud. I heard he invented some kind of solar thing!"

"That boy was clever, well-behaved, and good at his studies from childhood. You could tell at a glance he'd amount to something when he grew up. Sure enough, I was right!"

"I heard Huaqing University and Dragon Country Peking University were both fighting over Jiang Fan. Those are Dragon Country's top universities!"

"Guiqin and Old Jiang really are blessed to have raised such a wonderful child!"

Everyone spoke lavishly in Jiang Fan's praise. It stood in stark contrast to when he had scored 300 points and they had said behind his back that he had been bright as a child but amounted to little as an adult!

Just as everyone was praising how impressive Li Guiqin's son was, a discordant voice rang out.

It was Old Wang's wife, who usually did not get along with Li Guiqin's family!

"What's so great about getting into a good university? My son earned third-class merit in the military just a couple of days ago!"

After speaking, Old Wang's wife made sure to take out a photo on her phone and show everyone!

"I heard it's especially hard to earn merit nowadays. Only people who make major contributions to the country can earn third-class merit! That's an honor with real weight behind it!"

"Old Wang's wife, your son really has made something of himself. I heard there's quite a cash reward for earning merit too?"

"Of course! From now on, Old Wang's family will be a family of honor."

"Old Wang's wife, isn't your son still single? My elder brother's daughter is single too, and she's very pretty. How about mentioning her to your son?"

"Doesn't your elder brother's family live in the countryside?" Old Wang's wife said with some disdain!

The mayor's office!

Mayor Deng received a phone call!

"Rest assured, sir."

"Understood, understood!"

"I'll make sure it's done properly."

Mayor Deng hung up and hurriedly summoned his assistant!

"Little Li, make the arrangements. You're coming with me to Happiness Residential Complex..."

Once Mayor Deng finished giving his instructions, his assistant quickly got to work!

An hour later, a group of people stood at the entrance to Happiness Residential Complex, beating drums and gongs in a lively commotion.

Then they followed Mayor Deng into the complex.

The sound of drums and gongs drew plenty of onlookers!

Seeing this, the residents of the complex came downstairs one after another to see whose family was holding a celebration.

The crowd downstairs began discussing the waist-drum troupe.

"I haven't heard of anyone holding a celebration."

"Huh! Why does the man at the front look like the mayor?"

"Are you kidding? Why would the mayor come to our complex?"

"Huh, it really is Mayor Deng!"

"No way!"

Quite a few people in the crowd took out their phones and searched for photos of the mayor. Comparing them, they found that it really was Mayor Deng!

The people enjoying the cool air beneath the pavilion were praising Old Wang's wife's son when they too heard the drums and gongs from the entrance!

They immediately looked over curiously, just as someone came from the direction of the entrance.

"Old Li, what's going on at the entrance?"

"Something wonderful has happened in our complex! It seems someone's family member earned second-class merit, and the mayor has come to congratulate them in person!"

"Second-class merit?"

Everyone froze. They had just been discussing Old Wang's son earning third-class merit.

How had a second-class merit suddenly popped up now?

It seemed Old Wang's family was the only one in their complex with someone in the military!

Could his son have earned second-class merit as well?

Everyone turned to look at Old Wang's wife. She too began to feel excited.

She remembered her son calling a few days ago and saying he would give her a surprise in a few days.

Could he have meant the second-class merit?

The more Old Wang's wife thought about it, the more excited she became. By now, she firmly believed the mayor had come to congratulate her son on earning second-class merit!

"Old Wang's wife, could it really be your son who earned second-class merit too?"

Old Wang's wife grinned from ear to ear. "That should be it. My son called a few days ago and said he had a surprise for me! That little rascal, hehe..."

"Oh my! I heard earning second-class merit is incredible. You can be promoted straight to an officer in the military. Maybe your son's already a regimental commander or a division commander!"

"Regimental commanders and division commanders are high-ranking officers!"

"..."

The more Old Wang's wife heard, the more excited she became. She suddenly felt that even her own status had changed!

Just then, Mayor Deng and the waist-drum troupe were about to pass the pavilion!

"Old Wang's wife, what are you standing there for? Hurry over!"

Old Wang's wife quickly stood, patted down her clothes, and tidied her hair!

Under everyone's envious gazes, she stepped out!

As an ordinary citizen, she had never met an official as important as the mayor. Suddenly nervous, she walked awkwardly up in front of him!

Seeing someone suddenly appear in front of their procession, Mayor Deng stopped and asked!

"Can I help you?"

Old Wang's wife said excitedly.

"I... I'm Wang Gang's mother!"