The award ceremony was finally held as scheduled. The auditorium was packed with people, all eagerly anticipating the appearance of the high-ranking leader who would present the medals.
This medal-awarding ceremony was particularly grand because it was awarded not only to soldiers and officers, but also to a group of unsung heroes.
The auditorium bells finally rang, and everyone stood up and saluted in the direction of the entrance.
Several generals entered the auditorium one by one, saluted the officers and soldiers, and then walked up to the high platform with their heads held high and sat down in turn.
Xue Honggen stood up and read the opening remarks:
"In order to recognize the great contributions our soldiers have made to the country and the people, the country has also established a relevant merit award system."
Today, we will award first-class, second-class, and third-class military merits. Soldiers who have not received military merits should not be discouraged, as they will be evaluated every year.
The awarding ceremony now officially begins. Please welcome so-and-so... and others to the stage to receive their Third-Class Merit Medals.
Applause rang out as more than thirty soldiers lined up in neat rows and went up one by one to receive their third-class military medals.
Seeing their excited expressions, the officers and soldiers below the stage were also filled with enthusiasm.
Then a general read out the recipients of the Second Class Military Medal. The scientists came up on stage one by one, including Ye Chenming and Ye Huili.
Looking at the pure silver second-class military medals in their hands, the two felt that all their efforts had been worthwhile.
For Ye Chenming, this medal was a promise he made to Yan Xiaonan, and he had finally fulfilled it.
After the medal awarding ceremony, he will take his medals, a ring, and flowers to the courtyard house to propose.
Commander Nie stood up, his eyes red, and read out the list of recipients of the First-Class Merit Award.
On the bright red paper was only a golden name: Ye Ren.
"Comrade Ye Ren has made outstanding achievements and dedicated his life to the strength of the country. He has made significant contributions to the country's scientific inventions and science and technology. He is hereby awarded the First-Class Merit Medal."
Ye Ren held the pure gold military medal high, but his trembling hand betrayed his forced composure.
"Old Ye, say a few words," Commander Nie said excitedly.
Ye Ren lowered his hands, tightly clutching the certificate of merit and medals. He opened his mouth several times, but tears streamed down his face before he could utter a sound.
Thunderous applause erupted. It was this elderly scientist with graying temples who led a team to strengthen the nation's coastal defense.
This weathered-looking red capitalist donated most of his family's wealth, thus strengthening the national treasury.
This great scientist not only dedicated himself to his country and people, but also brought his son and grandson into the team, thus enhancing the overall strength of the entire team.
The applause continued enthusiastically, giving the elderly man time to compose himself and expressing their heartfelt respect.
Ye Ren kept taking deep breaths, telling himself to hold on, because Chen Ming and Nan Nan were waiting for him to officiate their wedding.
He coughed into the microphone, and the applause gradually subsided as everyone waited quietly for Ye Ren to speak.
Ye Ren coughed again, cleared his throat, and said, "What is the purpose of a man's life, and what is the joy of his death? Everyone must die, but some deaths are as light as a feather, while others are as heavy as Mount Tai."
The officers and soldiers below the stage, with tears in their eyes, answered in unison: "Weighted as Mount Tai."
The voice was loud and deafening, igniting the soldiers' passion and giving everyone a goal to strive for.
The award ceremony ended in this passionate and exhilarating atmosphere, and Ye Ren and the others were eager to go home.
The eight-courtyard house was set up early by Yan Xiaonan and his team, who had started fumigating the house with mugwort and sandalwood three days prior.
This was a tedious and arduous task. Yan Aidang carried mugwort and sandalwood to every place, and his feet are still swollen to this day.
Yan Aidang and Yan Xiaoqiang pasted couplets on every door, and the couplets were all auspicious.
They even carefully hung up red lanterns, which will be lit all night, symbolizing that the family will prosper in the future.
The children in the family also had tasks; they had to take off their shoes and lie down on each bed while Grandma Yan oversaw things in the middle courtyard.
This is what brings prosperity. A family is a place with both the elderly and the young; a thriving family is what makes a home.
The kitchen was bustling with activity. The eight-courtyard house had three kitchens, and all of them were open for cooking today, serving a wide variety of dishes, including Shanghainese and Shandong cuisine.
Firecrackers and cannons were set up at the entrance, with the four corner towers (east, south, west, and north) standing by, waiting for Ye Ren and the others to return.
Seeing a car approaching from afar, the southeast gave the order, and the cannons roared in salute.
The car door opened, and Ye Ren and the others got out. Looking at the newly renovated eight-courtyard house, they nodded in satisfaction.
Upon hearing the firecrackers, Yan Xiaonan and the others waited at the gate to welcome the heroes home. Ye Ren and the others stepped into the eight-courtyard house amidst the firecrackers.
Seeing Fu Qingping standing in the middle of the courtyard, Ye Ren quickly walked over to his wife and grabbed her hand.
"Qingping, I can finally accompany you to see the world properly. I want to take you to see the sunrise and sunset, to see the ebb and flow of the tide, and to see everything you want to see."
Fu Qingping nodded repeatedly. As long as this man was by her side, she was happy to see anything, even cabbage and salted fish.
Together with his wife, Ye Ren placed his medal in the glass cabinet. He closed his eyes and realized he had truly received a first-class merit award—it felt like a dream.
Xuemei, Cuihua, Sheng Lijuan, and Ye Huixian brought up the snacks and tea they had prepared, waiting for the ceremony to end so they could start eating.
Ye Ren pulled Fu Qingping along, step by step, towards the north room. The two closed the door to the north room, sat quietly on the bed, and observed the room.
A strong ginseng aroma wafted out, and Ye Ren and Fu Qingping followed the scent to find a ginseng plant.
Fu Qingping pointed at the ginseng, his mouth agape in astonishment. Ye Ren examined it carefully for a while and said, "A ten-thousand-year-old ginseng, it must have been given to us by Nan Nan."
Fu Qingping nodded repeatedly. She had seen it at the bedside of Grandma Yan's house; it was exactly the same.
"This child is very thoughtful," Ye Ren said, holding Fu Qingping's hand.
"Yes, it's a blessing from heaven that the Ye family was able to marry Nan Nan."
"Chenming is going to propose this afternoon, so we need to get ready."
The door reopened, the housewarming ceremony finally ended, and from then on, the front courtyard of the eight-courtyard house became Ye Ren's home.
The dining room was already filled with all kinds of dishes, all of which were specially prepared by the club's chefs at Yan Ai Dang's request, and they tasted really good.
Ye Chenming smiled at Yan Xiaonan and blinked. Yan Xiaonan blushed. Perhaps she should go back and wait now.
Grandma Yan's eyes darted around, and she put down her rice bowl: "Nannan, I'm full. Help me out for a walk to digest."
Ye Huixian also hugged Tie Jun and coaxed him to sleep, saying that he would be able to watch the proposal later.
Ye Chenming was extremely grateful. Seeing Yan Xiaonan helping Grandma Yan out the door, he quickly put down his rice bowl and went to the backyard.
Everyone tacitly agreed to this; they ate and drank as usual, and all the formalities would unfold gradually.
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