Today, the newly completed conference center was solemn and dignified, covered with white flowers. Even the heavens seemed to know that this was a day of national mourning, and the dark clouds in the sky looked like they were about to drip ink.
Du Wanying followed the crowd, walked up the stairs step by step, and entered the center of the venue.
Although today is a commendation meeting, there is no festive atmosphere in the entire venue.
Everyone quietly found their seats, sat upright, and waited for the meeting to begin.
At 9 o'clock in the morning, rows of leaders wearing black Zhongshan suits with white flowers on their chests entered and took their seats one by one.
The host announced in a deep voice: "Before the meeting begins, please stand up and observe three minutes of silence for our loved ones and compatriots who passed away in the earthquake."
Then, the conference officially began.
"Next, we would like to invite a special woman. She is only sixteen years old. Yet, she saved countless lives during this disaster.
She invented the earthquake-proof bed and spared no effort to promote it before the earthquake. According to incomplete statistics, about 50,000 of our compatriots were able to survive because of the earthquake-proof bed.
She was at the epicenter, providing psychological counseling to the affected people for more than ten hours every day, and was so tired that she fell asleep as soon as she lay down.
During the period after the earthquake, we provided psychological counseling to more than 1,000 disaster-stricken people, saving countless families who suffered from psychological collapse after the earthquake.
Now, let us welcome our hero, Du Wanying, to the stage to speak!"
Du Wanying was also very surprised. Although she knew that she would be honored today, she didn't know that she would be the first to appear.
Director Xu didn't say yesterday that he would be giving a speech today, so she had no preparation at all.
Under the gaze of millions of people in the entire venue, Du Wanying stood up and slowly walked onto the stage.
"So she's the one who invented the shock-proof bed!"
"Yeah, she's so young, only sixteen! I wish my girl could be half as successful as her!"
"She saved our whole family!"
"Everyone's family is like that! I'm going to go home and offer her a longevity tablet!"
…
Du Wanying was thinking about what to say while walking, so her pace was very slow, which made her look calm in the eyes of others.
"This kid is really good. He looks like someone who will accomplish great things."
"Look, she's not only smart, but also pretty!"
"Yes, to me, she looks like a fairy walking out of a painting."
"If my son could marry a daughter-in-law like this, I would die with my eyes closed."
"You're just dreaming! Don't you see what your son looks like? He still wants to marry such a beautiful girl."
"You can say I'm ugly, but you can't say my son is ugly!"
"We're in a meeting, stop making noise!"
Du Wanying stood on the podium, looking at the thousands of eyes staring at her. She slowly said, "Everyone here is my elder. Logically, I should call you uncle, aunt, or grandpa and grandma today.
But today, please allow me to use another word instead, that is compatriots.
Our country has experienced countless such disasters in its 5,000-year history. Why have we been able to survive them safely?
That is because we are compatriots, and blood is thicker than water. We all over the country are brothers and sisters who grew up drinking from the same river!
During this earthquake, I saw many things that I would never see normally.
There are mothers who unfortunately died while trying to save their children, and there are children who left the world while trying to protect their elderly mothers. I heard about something else yesterday.
A villager's pig was buried in the rubble and was not rescued until yesterday, but it still survived.
How long has it been since yesterday? A full 35 days!
We now call it Pig Strong! Even ants try to survive, and I believe that the compatriots here are even more so.
The dead are gone, and the living are like this.
After we have gone through this great disaster, I believe we will work harder and be stronger in the future!
With the help of our brothers and compatriots across the country, our homeland will soon be completely renewed! All of us here will have a brighter future! "
Although Du Wanying spoke impromptu and her words were disorganized, every word was sincere and touching.
This can be felt from the long and continuous applause after she finished speaking, which shows everyone's approval of her.
Afterwards, the conference organizing committee announced the award for Du Wanying.
"Comrade Du Wanying was awarded the title of Earthquake Hero Model, the National March 8th Red Banner Bearer, the National Youth Model Medal, and the first prize of the National Outstanding Young Inventor. She will receive a special national allowance every month."
This series of rewards made Du Wanying a little confused. Did happiness come so suddenly?
Special state allowance? Does that mean she can get a salary for free without working? Plus the machinery factory salary, that's double the salary.
It's all over, it's over, these words kept lingering in Du Wanying's mind.
Then she forcefully threw the thought away, "No, no, I'm still young. Even if I have to lie down, I'll take my whole family with me!"
The commendation meeting lasted for two hours.
After it was over, it was not so easy for Du Wanying to get out smoothly, not to mention the media reporters surrounding her for interviews.
Even among the thousands of people attending the meeting, almost everyone wanted to get close to her and thank her in person before leaving the venue.
This resulted in the meeting being even more lively after it ended than when it began. Helpless, Du Wanying walked up to the podium again and used the microphone to apologize to everyone one by one. It was not realistic for her to speak to each person individually, and she hoped everyone would understand.
It was three hours after the meeting that Du Wanying escaped from the conference center. Yes, she escaped.
Even though Du Wanying kept saying there was no need to thank her, she was unable to stop the enthusiastic crowd from expressing their gratitude to their lifesaver.
In the end, Du Wanying had to use the urine escape method to escape.
She thought she would have peace after escaping, but she didn't expect to meet so many people thanking her on the way home.
Some people even took advantage of this time to go home and bring eggs, vegetables and other things to give to her, but without exception, Du Wanying refused them all.
"I appreciate your kindness, but I won't take the food. Everyone's been having a hard time these days, so you should keep the food for yourselves."
Not to mention that Du Wanying doesn't lack these things, even if she did, she wouldn't ask for them, and the country has already rewarded her.
People nowadays are simple and honest. Even if she refused, these aunties and uncles still insisted on giving her the things in their hands.
"My daughter, these eggs are just a small token of our appreciation. Please accept them."
"Yes, Comrade Du, because of your earthquake-proof bed, our family was able to survive the earthquake. It's not a good thing, just some eggs and vegetables. You must accept it."
Du Wanying really couldn't resist the enthusiasm of these uncles and aunts, so she could only take a vegetable or an egg from each of them to get away smoothly.
"My daughter, I'm here." Du Shuisheng started calling his daughter from a distance.
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