Chapter 41: Captain!

Su Dingping had originally intended to greet Zhang Zhaoxin, as they hadn't seen each other for a month.

To his surprise, as soon as the other man approached, he addressed him directly as "Comrade Su Dingping" and stated he was representing the Navy. Su Dingping immediately sensed that something was amiss.

He looked at Sun Yongguo, his face full of confusion.

"Director, what's going on?"

Sun Yongguo replied with a serious expression, "Colonel Zhou."

Immediately, Zhou Qinglei, dressed in full military uniform, marched in with a formal step.

"Comrade Su Dingping, I stand here on behalf of all the officers and soldiers of the Northern Sea Area Military Base."

As he spoke, Zhou Qinglei took his place beside Zhang Zhaoxin.

"Comrade Zhang Gongnong." Sun Yongguo looked toward Zhang Gongnong once more.

Zhang Gongnong hurriedly straightened his clothes, walked to the other side of Zhang Zhaoxin, and looked at Su Dingping.

"Comrade Su Dingping, I stand here on behalf of all the scientific researchers involved in the 956E breakthrough project."

Originally, these words should have been spoken by Sun Yongguo himself, but considering that Su Dingping was Zhang Gongnong's student, he had yielded the opportunity.

Subsequently, Li Mingrui walked over, followed by Sun Yongguo.

Four Senior Colonels and one Colonel—while they couldn't match the presence of a high-ranking commander, the prestige was certainly significant.

Watching the five men acting so solemn, Su Dingping felt an inexplicable wave of panic.

This was the first time he had ever experienced such a scene.

*Could it be that Sister Xueyun violated regulations by sending me Qingdao specialties? Is it too late to send them back?*

He tested the waters: "Gentlemen, why so serious? If there's any violation, just tell me. I haven't memorized the confidentiality regulations yet, so I'm not familiar with many of the rules."

Sun Yongguo said, "Comrade Su Dingping, open the box beside you and you will see."

Su Dingping turned his head toward the box.

The desk, which should have been piled high with research blueprints, was now cleared clean, with only a single black box sitting in the center.

He could tell that this box must be very important.

"Should I open it?"

Sun Yongguo nodded.

Su Dingping carefully unlocked it and slowly lifted the lid.

As soon as a crack appeared, Su Dingping caught a glimpse of the contents through the light.

*Snap—*

Su Dingping hurriedly withdrew his hand and closed the lid again.

He looked at Sun Yongguo, his voice filled with suspicion and shock, "Director, inside there..."

"Comrade Su Dingping, everything inside that box belongs to you."

"Mine?" Su Dingping looked at the box in astonishment and shook his head quickly. "Impossible! I'm still a student; I haven't even graduated yet!"

Zhang Zhaoxin spoke up, "Comrade Su Dingping, we have come specifically for the contents of this box."

Beside him, Zhang Gongnong and the others also nodded.

Su Dingping slowly opened the box again, his heart still racing violently.

Inside the box lay a set of Navy uniform.

In addition, placed on top of the uniform, was a single shoulder insignia.

It had a black base with black borders representing the Navy, adorned with a single thin black stripe and three star emblems.

One stripe, three stars—an Lieutenant!

With a single glance, Su Dingping recognized it as the "Type 88" rank insignia for a Lieutenant.

Su Dingping's Adam's apple bobbed sharply as his gaze fell upon the officer's ID card beside the insignia.

He picked it up and flipped it open, unable to stop himself from gasping.

His own photo was attached to it, and his name was written clearly.

"A Lieutenant?"

"Me?"

"Director, Colonel Zhang, this joke isn't funny."

Su Dingping carefully placed the officer's ID back into the box.

He knew very well that he was still a student who hadn't even attended a military academy; how could he be commissioned as a Lieutenant right out of the gate?

One had to be an outstanding graduate of a military academy to be commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, and only after four years of service in the field would one be promoted to Lieutenant. Under smooth circumstances, a Lieutenant would be at least 26 years old.

It was just the beginning of the year 2000, and his nominal age was only 20.

Where could one find a 20-year-old Lieutenant in peacetime?

He instinctively felt it was impossible.

Zhang Zhaoxin said, "Comrade Su Dingping, this is real!"

"Impossible! I'm only 20. Today is my birthday, but yesterday I was still 19. There's no such thing as a 20-year-old Lieutenant."

Su Dingping shook his head repeatedly.

"Don't bully me just because I haven't seen it before. A proper commissioning ceremony isn't like this. There are national flags, military flags, high-ranking commanders, and other comrades waiting to be commissioned... I've seen it in the newspapers."

He felt that even if he had conquered the core technology of the 956E, it shouldn't result in him being directly commissioned as a Lieutenant.

There were many ranks in between.

Besides, he wasn't from a military academy; it wouldn't be that easy to "skip grades."

The men looked at each other, and finally, Sun Yongguo spoke.

"Comrade Su Dingping, this was personally handed to me by Commander Xu this morning."

"Commander Xu?" Su Dingping froze.

He remembered that after Xu Dongguo visited yesterday, he had personally instructed Sun Yongguo on several matters before leaving.

Could it be that?

"Is this really for me? You're not lying to me, are you?"

Though he said this, his body was being quite honest, as his eyes kept wandering back to the insignia and the officer's ID.

"Comrade Su Dingping, if it weren't for this matter, I wouldn't have called Colonel Zhang all the way from the North to act as a witness," Sun Yongguo explained. "The weight of just the four of us commissioning you wouldn't be enough."

"There is also something you might not know."

"What?" Su Dingping looked at Sun Yongguo in surprise.

"I have been in contact with Director Lyu. Their progress on the 051B modification is going very smoothly. It won't be long before the improved 051B can undergo sea trials! And all of this is thanks to you!"

Sun Yongguo continued, "They studied under you for a while, and combined with the research reports you provided, they are carving out a path that belongs to our own Navy! That alone makes your contribution immense! Not to mention your merit in conquering the core technology of the 956E."

Su Dingping suddenly understood.

From the beginning, he had believed that these top-tier military industrial experts were the real deal. What they lacked was merely a gap in technical knowledge! This was unavoidable; under Western technological blockades, reaching the stage of the 051B was already an incredible feat.

Now, using the 956E as an example, he had filled that technical gap for them, and their subsequent progress would only accelerate.

"Director, that is also because Director Lyu and the others had already accumulated enough knowledge; they were just waiting for a catalyst."

As soon as Su Dingping finished speaking, Sun Yongguo replied

"I know my own people. Comrade Su Dingping, you have, through your own strength, driven all of us to take great strides forward. To our Navy, your contribution is monumental!"

"You are a true hero!"

Changing his tone, Sun Yongguo continued, "Originally, Commander Xu intended to come personally, but things have been unsettled in the outside world lately. It is not appropriate for Commander Xu to come, lest those with ulterior motives turn their attention here."

"Do not harbor any resentment. The reason there is no formal commissioning ceremony is also to protect you."

"As you know, we have many unsung heroes whose identities must remain absolutely confidential and cannot be disclosed for a long time."

Sun Yongguo's gaze fell on Su Dingping, his tone heavy: "And you, Comrade Su Dingping, will become one of them."

"I understand!" Su Dingping said.

He knew well from his past life that there were many instances of top military industrial experts in certain countries being assassinated.

He picked up the officer's ID again, clutching it tightly in his hand, unable to hide the excitement in his heart.