Zhao Xiaoyan and Wang Lili sat down next to each other and whispered, "I didn't expect to get such good seats. We'll be able to see Comrade Xu soon!"

"Yes, this is my first time attending a commendation meeting at the military headquarters. If it weren't for Comrade Xu, I probably would never have had the chance to see one in my entire life."

As time went on, more and more soldiers entered the auditorium, and the educated youth who had been able to chat quietly before fell completely silent, sitting nervously in their seats with their eyes fixed on the entrance on the stage.

The atmosphere in the auditorium gradually became solemn.

Finally, no one spoke again, and there was complete silence.

The silence in the auditorium lasted for about five minutes.

Suddenly, a clear bugle call broke the silence from outside the auditorium.

The educated youth immediately sat up straight, even their breathing became soft.

This is the signal to begin the ceremony!

Immediately afterwards, the side door at the front of the auditorium opened, and several soldiers in military uniforms marched in in neat formation.

They carried rifles on their shoulders, the butts striking the ground with a rhythmic thud that instantly elevated the solemn atmosphere in the auditorium to its peak.

Subsequently, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, several military leaders walked slowly along the red carpet to their seats on the stage, each step steady and powerful.

After the leaders were seated, a soldier wearing a red armband and standing tall walked to the microphone in the center of the stage, cleared his throat, and his voice was amplified and carried throughout the auditorium.

"Comrades! Now, we are holding a commendation meeting for two comrades from the Heilongjiang Provincial Military Headquarters who performed outstandingly in the special mission in the Eastern Inner Mongolia region! The purpose of this meeting is to commend comrades who have made outstanding contributions in the secret mission in the forest farm, to promote the revolutionary spirit, and to inspire all officers and soldiers to remain true to their original aspirations and forge ahead bravely!"

As soon as he finished speaking, enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience.

The educated youth paused for a second, then joined in, clapping vigorously until their hands turned red.

Wang Lili looked at the scene on the stage, her eyes slightly warm.

She had never seen such a solemn scene before. At this moment, she felt as if she had been cleansed of all filth and was bathed in holy light.

After the applause subsided, the host on stage continued, "First of all, please welcome Comrade Liu, the political commissar of the military headquarters, to speak!"

Political Commissar Liu stood up, walked to the microphone, and glanced at the officers and soldiers below the stage. His tone was solemn: "Comrades, this forestry mission is a covert struggle against the enemy. Zhang Qiang colluded with foreign forces to steal national resources and persecute revolutionary masses; his actions are heinous! Comrades Xu Xinghe and Jiang Linchuan, however, were entrusted with this critical mission, infiltrating the enemy camp. With their unwavering revolutionary will and outstanding adaptability, they successfully obtained evidence, assisting our army in bringing the criminals to justice. They have made outstanding contributions to protecting national property and the safety of the people! They are role models for all our officers and soldiers to learn from!"

Applause erupted again from the audience, this time louder than before, so loud that even the windows of the auditorium seemed to vibrate slightly.

Zhao Xiaoyan excitedly grabbed Wang Lili's hand and whispered, "Comrade Xu is amazing! They are true heroes!"

Wang Lili nodded, never expecting that Zhang Qiang was actually a spy!

After Political Commissar Wang finished speaking, the host stepped forward, holding a document with a red cover. "Now, we will read out the military's commendation decision! After deliberation by the military party committee, it has been decided to award Comrade Xu Xinghe the title of Outstanding Reconnaissance Soldier and a Second-Class Merit Citation. Comrade Jiang Linchuan is awarded the title of Outstanding Commander and a Second-Class Merit Citation! Now, please invite these two comrades to the stage to receive their awards!"

The educated youth held their breath instantly, their eyes fixed on the entrance on the platform.

Xu Xinghe and Jiang Linchuan, dressed in brand-new military uniforms with bright red collar insignia, walked in through the side door with neat steps.

Xu Xinghe's hair was tied up, her eyes were firm, and she had a faint smile on her face.

Jiang Linchuan had a tall and straight posture and a calm demeanor.

The two walked side by side onto the stage, each step exuding the unique temperament of soldiers.

"Look! It's Comrade Xu and Comrade Jiang!" Zhang Guoming couldn't help but whisper, then quickly covered his mouth, afraid of disturbing the ceremony.

On the stage, Political Commissar Liu personally presented the two with medals and certificates.

The medal was gold, gleaming under the lights, and the certificate bore the five striking red characters for "Serve the People."

Xu Xinghe and Jiang Linchuan accepted the medals and certificates with both hands, gave Political Commissar Liu a standard military salute, their movements were perfectly synchronized, and their eyes were full of a sense of honor.

After the awards ceremony, the host invited Jiang Linchuan to speak.

Jiang Linchuan stepped to the microphone, his tone humble, "Thank you for the recognition from the military leaders, and thank you to all the comrades who supported us. The success of this mission is not solely due to Xinghe and me, but the result of the joint efforts of all our comrades. In our future work, we will continue to hold ourselves to the high standards of revolutionary soldiers and dedicate all our strength to the country and the people!"

After a brief speech, Xu Xinghe stepped forward, her voice clear yet firm, "I was originally just a military dependent, but now I am honored to be a member of the military. It is my duty to protect the country and the people. This forestry operation involved not only the two of us, but also many other comrades who participated in this operation. They made silent contributions without names. This honor belongs to everyone who fights for justice!"

As soon as she finished speaking, thunderous applause erupted from the audience.

Looking at Xu Xinghe on the stage, Wang Lili couldn't help but shed tears.

She recalled Xu Xinghe when they were at the forest farm, where he disguised himself while silently protecting everyone. Such a comrade deserves all the honors!

At the end of the commendation ceremony, all officers and soldiers stood up and sang military songs.

The stirring singing echoed in the auditorium.

The educated youth also stood up, and although they couldn't remember all the lyrics, they hummed along, their hearts suddenly filled with hope for the future.

After the singing ended, the host announced the successful conclusion of the awards ceremony.

The officers and soldiers left in an orderly manner. After a brief exchange with the leaders on the stage, Xu Xinghe and Jiang Linchuan looked in the direction of the educated youth and waved to them.

The educated youth immediately waved back excitedly, their faces full of joy.

Xu Xinghe turned to Jiang Linchuan and said, "I want to talk to the educated youth. After all, we spent so much time together in the forest farm, and it's time to say goodbye to them properly."

Jiang Linchuan smiled and nodded, reaching out to straighten the insignia on her collar. "Go ahead."

He didn't spend much time with the male educated youth and didn't have much to say to them, so he didn't join in the fun.

Xu Xinghe responded and turned to walk towards the last few rows of seats.

The educated youth were sitting in their original seats, quietly discussing the commendation ceremony they had just witnessed. When they saw Xu Xinghe walking over, they immediately quieted down, their eyes filled with excitement.

"Comrade Xu!" Zhao Xiaoyan was the first to stand up, her eyes fixed on Xu Xinghe's military uniform. She couldn't help but exclaim, "You look so good in this uniform! So crisp and smart. When will I ever be able to wear a uniform like this?"

Xu Xinghe smiled and took her hand, "As long as you have faith, you will definitely have opportunities in the future."