When we got to the third floor, we stopped in front of a door with a small conference room nameplate on it.
The officer leading the way knocked on the door, and a voice came from inside that surprised both Li Zheng and Hou Jun——
"Come in."
It’s Old Baimao’s voice!
he?
Li Zheng couldn't help but look at Hou Jun, and found that Hou Jun was also staring at him with eyes as bright as copper bells.
It's not that Li Zheng didn't expect it, but even Hou Jun, a veteran, didn't expect it.
When the door opened, Lao Baimao and Instructor No. 5 were in the small conference room. When they saw Zhuang Yan, Li Zheng and Hou Jun coming in from the door, they smiled and said hello: "Are you here?"
Zhuang Yan said: "Old chief, you have an order, but I can't rush over here in a hurry, for fear of some urgent mission!"
After speaking, he led two soldiers forward and saluted.
Of course Lao Baimao knew that Zhuang Yan was joking and returned the gift with a smile.
Li Zheng and Hou Jun saluted again to instructor No. 5, who returned the salute, looked at the two of them and said, "How is it? Is the competition very easy?"
Li Zheng smiled and said: "It's okay."
Hou Jun said: "His cold-bore shot missed 0 yesterday."
Instructor No. 5 said "hmm" and then said to Lao Baimao: "Commander, look, you regret it. I just said we shouldn't care about Zhuang Brigade's opinions and ask them if they want to stay with us. Okay.
Seedlings."
Zhuang Yan quickly stopped: "Come on, don't poach my people in front of me. It's okay to poach me quietly, hahahaha."
After several people laughed, Lao Maobai asked Li Zheng and Hou Jun: "I came to you today not for any mission, but to award you an award."
"Award?"
Li Zheng and Hou Jun were stunned.
Instructor No. 5 said: "Let's put it this way, the last mission was very successful. Although the VIP is gone, the bodyguard you caught has a good background. He is a member of GRS, a squad leader, and he once served in the T1 unit. He has experience.
A very rich veteran, you can catch him. You two are very capable and have made great contributions. After consideration, the army decided to report your merits and now it has been approved. This time, the commander and I came here just for this matter.
In order to show my recognition to you, I have decided to personally award you with awards in recognition of your composure and bravery in the mission."
As he spoke, an officer came over, holding a brocade plate with two boxes and two documents on it.
Old Baimao solemnly picked up the document and began to read it out——
"...In view of Li Zheng's heroic performance in the mission, he will be given first-class merit..."
Then he picked up another copy and continued reading.
That was Hou Jun's meritorious service order, and the content was roughly the same.
After reading, Lao Baimao picked up the box, opened it, took out the first-class merit medal inside, and hung it on Li Zheng's chest.
Li Zheng was still in a daze at this time. Looking at the golden first-class merit medal, he always felt a little unreal, as if he was dreaming.
He solemnly reminded him: "What's wrong? Have you forgotten the military regulations? You two silly boys!"
Old Baimao smiled and said, "Didn't you feel the same way back then?"
Zhuang Yan laughed out loud.
Li Zheng then remembered and stood at attention to salute.
Lao Baimao returned the gift, picked up another one, and pinned it on Hou Jun's chest.
Hou Jun quickly saluted.
"The two meritorious service orders just now are limited to being read out here and archived by this unit." Old Baimao said solemnly: "Your families will receive good news, and there will also be records in the personal soldier files of your unit, but there is something
I must remind you that because of the nature of the mission, this matter will rot in your stomach and be taken to your grave."
Then he took out two other orders from his pocket and began to read them out.
The content is roughly that Li Zheng and Hou Jun put forward constructive improvement suggestions to the military industry unit during the process of being seconded to a certain military industry unit to assist in the verification of firearms. They played a key role in the smooth finalization of a certain type of new equipment and contributed to the cause of national defense science and industry.
For his strength, he deserves special mention for first-class merit.
Li Zheng and Hou Jun were stunned again.
What's going on?
Just can't say it?
Old Baimao said: "I know it's hard to keep secrets, but it will be fine if you get used to it in the future. Remember the confidentiality rules you learned when you joined the army."
Li Zheng and Hou Jun saluted again: "Yes!"
Lao Baimao said: "To be honest, I like both of you very much, but you have your military career to go. If we are destined to meet in the future, we will meet again."
After finishing speaking, he said to Zhuang Yan: "Let's leave things as they are here. We have to rush back. There are still many things to deal with."
Solemn salute: "I wish you all the best. If you have the opportunity to come to our brigade to guide the work, you can also send someone to form a training team, such as Lao Wu..."
】
Instructor No. 5 said: "Okay, I'm willing to do it. Whether the leader approves it or not is one thing."
Lao Baimao glanced at No. 5 and said: "I know you are depressed in the base. This mission is over. When the work is completed, I will give you a big holiday. You have to go to Zhuangyan's place. You can use your own holiday to go there."
.”
No. 5 suddenly became unhappy: "Chief, the production team's donkeys can't be used like this! When I go to Zhuang Brigade, it's considered an official business."
Lao Baimao ignored No. 5 and turned to Zhuang Lu and said: "Okay, you can go back. I know you are competing. I wish you good luck and win the championship soon. I am waiting for your good news."
After speaking, he stretched out his hand to shake hands with Li Zheng and Hou Jun: "Although others don't know what you have gone through, our army has a rule. Anyone who has worked here or been on a mission is one of our own. We
I will always pay attention to you, try to go abroad, study hard, and bring glory to our army, don't be embarrassed, otherwise you won't say you know me when you meet me in the future."
Li Zheng and Hou Jun felt the blood rising and stood at attention again: "I promise not to disgrace the commander and instructors!"
Come out of the building, get in the car, and return the way you came.
When they arrived at their residence, the two of them foolishly kept touching the first-class merit medal.
Although Hou Jun has already achieved a first-class meritorious service, the meaning of this one is different, and it is more mysterious. Because of its mystery, it is extremely precious.
After getting out of the car, he solemnly stopped the two of them.
"Wait, say a few words and then go back."
Li Zheng and Hou Jun stood up, waiting for the solemn lecture.
Zhuang Yan said: "There are very few people like you. A soldier who has been a soldier for more than two years has received second-class merit once and first-class merit. A soldier who has been a soldier for ten years has received first-class merit twice. I was not that fast back then. However, honor is a thing.
A good thing is not a good thing. The good thing is that it can encourage people to make progress and give people greater motivation and enthusiasm; the bad thing is that it can also make people decadent and make them not want to make progress. Some people have made contributions.
, work harder; some people have made meritorious deeds and feel that the bus has arrived at the station and the ship has arrived at the shore. From then on, they rest on their merits and rest on their laurels. They will no longer make any achievements and become a waste. Which kind of soldier you want to be is up to you."
He slowly said again: "This competition has no meaning to you in terms of honor. Even if you go abroad and get first place, it will only be a first-class merit at most, and it will not exceed the honor you have obtained now. I
I hope you won’t be immersed in the halo of honor and forget the original meaning of participating in the competition. I know that Li Zheng, you stayed here to help your old squad leader with meritorious service, but Hou Jun no longer needs you for that first-class meritorious service.
Help, continue to cooperate, what is the purpose, what is the goal, what is the meaning, you must figure it out, whether you are a person or a soldier, you must have goals and beliefs, otherwise you will lose your direction, no matter how strong your ability is
And nothing will be done. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
Li Zheng and Hou Jun replied subconsciously: "Understood."
Zhuang Yan said: "That's nonsense! I said so much at once, and you understand it after listening to it once? Li Zheng, being a soldier is not a puppet or a repeater. Although the army is a disciplined force, it must also have its own
Personality, at least you can’t tell lies or be a yes-man.”
Li Zheng and Hou Jun's faces suddenly turned red.
Zhuang Yan said: "Then let's digest my words, and compete with Zhong Rui and the others tomorrow at your best level. Sometimes, winning is just a by-product. The real meaning of the competition is to be able to compete with masters who are on par with you."
Competing together, hiding in your own small unit and being invincible is boring and lonely."
After saying that, he turned around and got into the car and drove away, leaving behind the two soldiers who were still standing there stupidly.
Ten minutes later, by the ditch behind the row house, Li Zheng and Hou Jun were sitting there in a daze, while Hou Jun was smoking.
Li Zheng said: "Squad leader, do you still smoke?"
Hou Jun took the cigarette, looked at it and said, "Stop smoking. I just can't help but take a few puffs when I'm thinking about something."
Li Zheng said: "What's wrong? It's like what the brigade commander said, two first-class merits, one on each side, covering both eyes?"
Hou Jun rolled his eyes at him and said, "You are a new recruit. You have only been a soldier for more than two years and you dare to teach me a lesson? I still have ten years of skills. What about you? It's only been more than two years. I think you are lost. Look."
You are so proud, don't forget that I am your monitor!"
Li Zheng couldn't help but laugh out loud and said: "Old squad leader, you are a person. The more anxious you are, the more you like to curse. You have something on your mind."
Hou Jun was silent for a moment and then said: "Yes, is it okay? I feel like I'm dreaming."
After thinking about it for a while, he added: "What do you think of this life... I used to dream about this first-class merit medal every night. To put it bluntly, every time I see people receiving first-class merit in the newspaper, I feel like
There is always a fire, and there is a voice in my head that always asks myself - why not me? I train so hard, and my level is not bad, why am I not the one who makes meritorious deeds? In the past, I couldn't even get to the bottom of it.
This is great, both of them are still first-class. Who will believe this if you tell me about it? I don’t believe it! But you said, what will it feel like to get this first-class merit? I’m still thinking about it...
...I was very excited when I got it, but when I think about it, it seems that it is all in the past. What about the future? Can I still get it? Can I still make a breakthrough? Honor... belongs to the past..."
Li Zheng was fascinated as he listened.
Hou Jun's words made him also fall into deep thought.
"Yeah... what is an honor? Now in my situation, it's appropriate to go back and do postgraduate studies... When I was admitted to university, I thought about graduating and doing postgraduate studies every day. Now I have it in my hands, but it's gone.
That imaginary excitement.”
Hou Jun took a puff of cigarette, turned to look at Li Zheng thoughtfully, and suddenly said: "Li Zheng, have you tried the No. 1 International Sniper?"
Li Zheng smiled: "Squad leader, what are you talking about? The game hasn't started yet, what should I get?"
Hou Jun said: "That's right, people, don't you just have to work hard to break through yourself and get something you don't have? We haven't won the first place in the International Sniper Competition, so let's go get it!"
Li Zheng was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Yes, it should feel good to win that first place."
Hou Jun threw away the butt of his cigarette and stretched out his hand: "Boy, come on!"
Li Zheng also stretched out his hand and shook it with him: "Veteran, come on!"