Chapter 42: Commissioning! First-Class Individual Merit!

"Captain!"

Su Dingping stared intently at the officer's ID, his heart surging with emotion: *From now on, I am someone of status.*

As for living incognito as an unsung hero, he didn't care at all.

"Comrade Su Dingping, please rest assured," Zhang Zhaoxin said solemnly.

"Once we overcome the current difficulties, once we become strong, you and those countless unsung heroes will be world-renowned, becoming role models for countless people. Your achievements and your sacrifices will never be forgotten!"

"It's no big deal," Su Dingping said with a smile. "I didn't get into scientific research for the sake of honor."

Picking up the military uniform, he looked it over from different angles, liking it more with every glance.

Zhang Gongnong said, "Give it a try!"

"Alright!"

With that, Su Dingping quickly changed into the uniform.

Carefully putting on his epaulettes and adjusting the brim of his cap, he stood before the washbasin looking at himself in the mirror, finding that he actually looked quite the part.

His entire demeanor had been transformed, possessing an unexplainable air of heroism.

"Professor Zhang, I have to say, this uniform fits quite well."

After tidying himself up, almost instinctively, he held his head high and performed a few goose-steps, following what he had learned from Zhou Qinglei.

In that instant, a strange sensation washed over him—an inexplicable sense of honor enveloped his heart.

Watching Su Dingping continuously admiring himself, Sun Yongguo and the others all broke into smiles.

The more they looked at this young man, the more they liked him.

"It's a pity my family doesn't have a daughter, otherwise..." Zhang Zhaoxin lamented.

Beside him, Zhang Gongnong chuckled twice but said nothing.

He knew the inside story; that girl surnamed Guo was beautiful, a good student, had a clean background, and a decent family. In his eyes, she and Su Dingping would make a perfect match.

Setting aside his sentimentality, Zhang Zhaoxin said seriously, "Comrade Su Dingping, now we move to the formal proceedings."

Su Dingping immediately straightened his chest, looking at Zhang Zhaoxin with bright, piercing eyes.

Zhang Zhaoxin took a sealed document from inside the box.

After confirming everything was correct, he tore open the seal, took out the certificate of honor and the commission order, and picked up the officer's ID from the box.

Zhou Qinglei shouted from the side, "Attention!"

Immediately, everyone straightened their posture and became solemn.

Though it was Sun Yongguo's room, at this moment, it had become a grand and solemn auditorium.

Facing Su Dingping, Zhang Zhaoxin, holding the certificates, spoke.

"Respected Comrade Su Dingping, in view of Comrade Su Dingping's major scientific breakthrough, after deliberation, it has been decided to confer upon Comrade Su Dingping the rank of Captain, with the待遇 (status/benefits) of a Deputy Battalion Commander."

"On behalf of Chief Xu, I hereby present your commission order!"

*Deputy Battalion Commander?*

Su Dingping was secretly startled.

Deputy Battalion Commander was already the limit for a Captain; many Majors also held the rank of Deputy Battalion Commander.

To put it without exaggeration, he was only one step away from becoming a Major.

After finishing the reading, Zhang Zhaoxin handed the commission order, the certificate of honor, and the officer's ID to Su Dingping.

Su Dingping accepted them with gravity and rendered a military salute to Zhang Zhaoxin.

Zhang Zhaoxin straightened Su Dingping's epaulettes and then returned the salute.

"Comrade Su Dingping, from this moment on, you are a member of my Navy!"

Having finished, Zhang Zhaoxin stepped back a few paces.

Su Dingping put away the officer's ID, his eyes lingering on the commission order.

Besides Xu Dongguo's signature, there was also the signature of Liu Huaming.

Seeing this name, Su Dingping felt a sense of familiarity. While he was pondering, Zhang Gongnong suddenly marched forward.

He took a medal of merit and another certificate of honor from the box and walked up to Su Dingping.

At this moment, his heart was filled with profound emotion.

When he had broken protocol to take Su Dingping as his student years ago, he had indeed valued Su Dingping's talent and wanted to nurture him well.

Who would have thought that in less than two years, that student had already become a target of learning for him?

When he had shown Su Dingping the photos of the 956E before, he never dreamed that in just six short months, he would be personally awarding Su Dingping a medal of merit.

A 20-year-old Captain with a First-Class Merit—this was something unheard of in times of peace.

As times changed, Zhang Gongnong was filled with joy.

He was very glad that he had recruited Su Dingping back then; otherwise, such a fine talent might have been poached by foreign countries.

Su Dingping glanced at the items in Zhang Gongnong's hands and was instantly shocked.

*There's more?*

Gathering his composure, Zhang Gongnong said solemnly.

"In view of the outstanding skills and professional knowledge demonstrated by Su Dingping during the 956E breakthrough operation, which provided invaluable guidance and support to the 335 Research Institute and made a significant contribution to the development of the Navy, it has been decided after deliberation to award Comrade Su Dingping a First-Class Personal Merit!"

"First-Class Merit? Professor Zhang, I..."

Before Su Dingping could finish, Zhang Gongnong said, "Comrade Su Dingping, this is what you deserve! The Chief said from the beginning that not a single deserved reward would be missed."

As he spoke, Zhang Gongnong personally pinned the First-Class Merit medal onto Su Dingping.

Looking at the medal hanging on his chest, Su Dingping's emotions fluctuated wildly.

He hadn't expected that by simply following his heart to conquer the core technology of the 956E, he would receive such a significant commendation.

Patting Su Dingping on the shoulder, Zhang Gongnong's eyes turned slightly red.

"Comrade Su Dingping, well done. I truly did not misjudge you back then. Your conquest of the 956E core technology is too important to us."

"Dean Sun, myself, Professor Li, and all the researchers involved in the breakthrough—we were so excited we couldn't sleep at night."

As he spoke, he glanced at Sun Yongguo and Li Mingrui, then turned back to continue.

"Back then, many people thought we couldn't do it. But now? You have proven to those who doubted us through your actions that if others can do it, we can too!"

Zhang Gongnong's emotions gradually rose.

"You have inspired many researchers!"

"Now, everyone is giving it their all, wanting to achieve something to prove that we Chinese people are capable!"

"Dean Lyu and the others are the best examples!"

He had the most say regarding Dean Lyu.

He remembered clearly that on the day he learned from Sun Yongguo's office that the 956E breakthrough plan had been suspended, he had been completely stunned, suddenly losing all direction.

If Sun Yongguo hadn't strictly forbidden it, he would have gone to settle scores with Lyu Guangjun and Cheng Yiqiang right then and there.

*On what grounds do they say we can't conquer it? On what grounds do they say we aren't capable? Is what we bought with money a warship? No, it was hope being cut in half!*

1.8 billion USD had been thrown in, and for at least the next three years, they wouldn't be able to scrape together enough money to restart the breakthrough.

But at that time, he was helpless, able only to wait silently for an unknown amount of time for the 956E breakthrough plan to be restarted.

Just when he was at his most desperate, Su Dingping appeared with hope.

As thousands of thoughts flooded his mind, Zhang Gongnong's body trembled slightly, and he spoke in a somewhat raspy voice.

"Dingping, thank you! On behalf of all the researchers at the 335 Research Institute, I express my solemn gratitude to you!"