The One Who Deserves the Honors Is Him!

Li Guozhong waved a hand, his face dark.

He thought he had to give Old Kong some benefits to shut his mouth.

Otherwise, if he went blabbing everywhere, Li Guozhong would be pestered to death.

If all their brother units came asking, how was he supposed to divide things up?

Too many wolves, too little meat!

The two lowered their heads and conspired for a while.

At last, they reached an agreement.

Once mass production began, Division Commander Kong would get two mechs first, then another two every year.

But Division Commander Kong would definitely have to allocate some of his military budget to cover the materials.

Under Li Guozhong's smooth talk, a mech that originally cost five million to build suddenly cost ten million.

After that little shuffle, Division Commander Kong had actually covered all of Li Guozhong's material costs!

It was simply an unexpected windfall.

Once their deal was settled, both men were thoroughly satisfied.

With their arms around each other's shoulders, they headed toward the commendation ceremony.

The officers and guards on both sides watched in bewilderment.

The two division commanders had been baring their teeth just moments ago, looking ready to bite someone.

Now they were wearing the same pair of pants again?

How bizarre!

As noon approached, the commendation ceremony was about to begin.

The thousand-seat auditorium was packed.

The Southeast Theater Command chiefs, Luo Bing and Zhu Guodong, were already seated as well.

They were giving the 8th Marine Armored Combined Arms Division plenty of face.

However, a large part of the reason was that Li Guozhong had a secret weapon here.

They had barely been able to restrain themselves the night before, wanting to come over early for a look.

Now, seated in the middle of the front row at the commendation ceremony, they felt as though each day dragged on like a year.

What was so interesting about a commendation ceremony? Watching mechs maneuver was far more exciting!

After a smoothly flowing opening speech, the host began introducing the guests in attendance.

Next came commendations for the soldiers who had performed outstandingly in this military exercise.

Many people received commendations.

There were the soldiers who had held off the frontal forces to the death, and the special operations teams that had fought the opposing paratroopers.

There was also the reconnaissance team that had ventured alone into the enemy's lair and located their headquarters.

Especially when the actual reconnaissance team took the stage.

Enthusiastic applause rang out throughout the auditorium.

Finally.

The host took the stage.

"Everyone, the next people we will commend are two mech pilots!"

"It was these two women who piloted their mechs, turned the raging tide, destroyed the enemy headquarters in one stroke, and captured the enemy commander alive!"

"Please welcome Comrade Wang Yixue and Comrade Tong Yao!"

Thunderous applause erupted.

It resounded endlessly like towering waves.

Many of them had seen the mechs that day, then received orders to keep their mouths shut.

Now they could see the mech pilots with their own eyes.

Their blood instantly boiled.

Mechs were a man's dream!

The most romantic thing I can imagine is piloting a mech out to show off!

Some soldiers even disregarded those behind them and shot straight to their feet, wanting a clearer look.

They were just too excited!

Only after a superior shot them an intimidating glare did they settle down.

Everyone felt as though a volcano had erupted inside them, their breathing like bellows pumping. "Huff, huff-"

Yet there was one person in the entire auditorium whose face was so dark he looked as though he had just returned from Africa.

At the mention of capturing the enemy commander alive, Division Commander Kong ground his teeth with an audible clack.

Because he himself was the division commander who had been captured alive.

During the exercise, he had been too worked up to get a clear look.

Now he finally saw them clearly.

These were the two young women who had piloted mechs and shoved their cannon muzzles in his face.

Luo Bing and Zhu Guodong had already been losing interest.

When they heard that the mech pilots would take the stage to receive commendations, their eyes immediately lit up.

They had seen these two over a phone back then, but it had been too brief.

They had only given their names before leaving.

Being able to see them again now was quite exciting.

Even though they had seen plenty of tank drivers and aircraft pilots.

This was their first time seeing mech pilots at such close range.

Amid everyone's frenzied applause.

Wang Yixue and Tong Yao, dressed in army special operations camouflage uniforms, briskly took the stage, one on either side.

They stood straight at attention, heads high and chests out, to receive their commendations.

Seeing their delicate, youthful faces.

Luo Bing could not help remarking, "Truly, these women yield nothing to men!"

Once the host saw that they were in position.

He immediately read out the award decision.

"To commend Comrade Wang Yixue and Comrade Tong Yao for their outstanding contributions during the red-versus-blue military exercise, the division headquarters has deliberated and approved the following awards!"

"Comrade Wang Yixue and Comrade Tong Yao are hereby awarded the Special-Class Combat Hero Medal!"

"Present Comrade Wang Yixue and Comrade Tong Yao with the Special-Class Combat Hero Medal."

"Present Comrade Wang Yixue and Comrade Tong Yao with the Second-Class Merit Medal."

"Present Comrade Wang Yixue and Comrade Tong Yao with the Red-versus-Blue Exercise Model Soldier Commemorative Medal."

"..."

With each award announcement from the host, thunderous applause rang out throughout the auditorium.

Meanwhile, Division Commander Li Guozhong personally took the stage to pin the corresponding medals onto Wang Yixue's and Tong Yao's chests.

By the end, the two of them had received five medals each.

This was an honor no one in the entire division headquarters had ever received.

Yet.

Wang Yixue's face showed none of the excitement and pride one would expect.

Instead, her expression seemed somewhat weighed down.

It was as though something was on her mind that she had to get off her chest.

The award presentation ended.

The host signaled for Wang Yixue and Tong Yao to leave the stage, after which he could invite Southeast Theater Command chiefs Luo Bing and Zhu Guodong to speak.

But the host discovered that Wang Yixue was still standing onstage.

She had not left.

Tong Yao, who had just stepped offstage, hurriedly called to Wang Yixue, thinking she had spaced out from excitement.

But Wang Yixue's expression was unusually calm.

She stood perfectly straight onstage.

Her gaze swept across the entire auditorium, and she slowly let out a stale breath.

Under the astonished gazes of Li Guozhong, Luo Bing, and the other chiefs, Wang Yixue slowly spoke.

Her voice was even somewhat low and hoarse.

"Chiefs, Division Commander, fellow soldiers!"

"Please allow me to be willful just this once."

"These honors are truly tempting, but I feel unworthy of them. I really cannot accept them!"

Li Guozhong's heart lurched, and he immediately stood up.

"Yixue, don't be petulant," he said quietly. "Come down, and we can talk."

Wang Yixue cast Li Guozhong an apologetic glance.

She continued,

"There is someone..."

"While I was enjoying a sheltered life in a greenhouse, he developed mechs and handed them over to the nation free of charge."

"While honors are being heaped upon me here, he has already worked day and night for more than fifty hours, and he is still on the mech production line."

"He donated inventions worthy of Nobel Prizes, including carbyne alloy and superconducting alloy, to our motherland free of charge."

"All alone, he poured his heart into his work, shed his heart's blood, and hacked his way through thorns and brambles."

"He devoted everything to the nation without complaint or regret!"

Tears filled Wang Yixue's eyes, and she grew more impassioned as she spoke,

"He is the backbone of the sons and daughters of our Xia Nation!"

"There are no peaceful years-only people carrying the burden forward in our place!"

"Compared to him, I am far too insignificant."

"The one who deserves these honors is him. It is Xu Fan!"

Wang Yixue finished speaking.

The entire auditorium fell deathly silent.