Chapter 42: Commissioning and Ranking! Individual First-Class Merit!

Captain!

Su Dingping gazed intently at the military ID card, his heart surging: From now on, I am a man of official standing.

As for remaining incognito as an unsung hero, he did not mind it in the least.

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

"Once we weather the current difficulties and grow strong, you and the countless nameless heroes will become renowned across the land, shining as models for millions to emulate. Your achievements and the sacrifices you have made will never be forgotten!"

"It is nothing at all," Su Dingping said with a smile. "I never engaged in scientific research for the sake of glory."

Picking up the military uniform, he looked it over from left to right, finding it more pleasing the longer he gazed at it.

Zhang Gongnong said, "Try it on!"

"You got it."

With that, Su Dingping quickly changed into the uniform.

Carefully putting on the shoulder boards and adjusting the brim of his cap, he stood before the washstand and looked at himself in the mirror, finding that he looked quite dashing and proper.

His entire demeanor took on a fresh, brand-new look, spontaneously radiating a striking, martial air.

"Professor Zhang, you have to admit, this uniform fits quite well."

After tidying himself up, almost instinctively, and drawing upon what he had learned from Zhou Qinglei, he held his head high and marched a few paces of the goose step right there.

In an instant, a wondrous sensation washed over his heart, enveloping him in an inexplicable wave of honor.

Watching Su Dingping continuously inspect his reflection, Sun Yongguo and the others all wore smiles on their faces.

The more they looked at this young man, the more they grew to fancy him.

"It is a pity I do not have a daughter, otherwise..." Zhang Zhaoxin sighed with emotion.

Standing nearby, Zhang Gongnong chuckled twice and remained silent.

He knew the inside story; that young woman surnamed Guo was attractive, studious, possessed a clean background, and came from a good family. In his view, she and Su Dingping were a match made in heaven—a talented man and a beautiful woman.

Reigning in his thoughts, Zhang Zhaoxin said solemnly, "Comrade Su Dingping, now comes the official ceremony."

Su Dingping hastily straightened his chest, gazing brightly at Zhang Zhaoxin.

Zhang Zhaoxin retrieved a sealed document from inside the case.

After verifying that everything was correct, he tore open the seal, took out the certificate of honor and the commission of military rank from within, and picked up the officer's ID card from the case.

Zhou Qinglei called out from the side, "Attention!"

Instantly, everyone straightened their postures and turned solemn.

Even though it was Sun Yongguo's room, at this moment it transformed into a solemn and dignified auditorium.

Facing Su Dingping, Zhang Zhaoxin, holding the documents, began to speak.

"Respected Comrade Su Dingping, in light of your major scientific and technological breakthrough, and following thorough deliberation, it has been decided to confer upon Comrade Su Dingping the military rank of Captain, along with the treatment of a Deputy Battalion Commander."

"On behalf of Chief Xu, I hereby present to you your commission of military rank!"

Deputy Battalion Commander?

Su Dingping felt a secret shock in his heart.

The rank of Deputy Battalion Commander was already the limit for a Captain, and many Majors also held the position of Deputy Battalion Commander.

To put it without exaggeration, at this very moment, he was just a single step away from becoming a Major.

Having finished reading, Zhang Zhaoxin handed the commission of military rank, the certificate of honor, and the officer's ID card to Su Dingping.

Su Dingping received them solemnly and executed a military salute to Zhang Zhaoxin.

Zhang Zhaoxin adjusted Su Dingping's shoulder boards and returned the salute.

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

Having completed these actions, Zhang Zhaoxin stepped back a few paces.

Su Dingping put away his officer's ID card, his gaze lingering affectionately on the commission of military rank.

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

Seeing this name, Su Dingping found it somewhat familiar. Just as he was pondering, Zhang Gongnong suddenly marched forward with a goose step.

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

At this moment, a multitude of emotions flooded his heart.

When he exception-recruited Su Dingping as his protégé back then, he had indeed recognized Su Dingping's talent and wanted to nurture him properly.

Little did he expect that, in less than two years' time all told, that very student had already become a benchmark for him to learn from.

When he had previously shown Su Dingping the photographs of the 956E, he never in his wildest dreams imagined that a mere six months later, he would be personally pinning a medal of honor on Su Dingping.

A twenty-year-old Captain, coupled with a Class-One Merit Citation for an individual—such a thing was entirely unprecedented in times of peace.

Times change and the world shifts, and Zhang Gongnong's heart was overflowing with joy.

He was immensely grateful that he had recruited Su Dingping back then; otherwise, such a brilliant sapling might well have been poached away by foreign nations.

Su Dingping glanced at the items in Zhang Gongnong's hands, a wave of shock washing over him.

There is more?

Collecting his thoughts, Zhang Gongnong spoke solemnly.

"In recognition of the outstanding skills and professional knowledge demonstrated by Comrade Su Dingping during the 956E research and development campaign, for providing invaluable guidance and support to the 335 Research Institute, and for making a major contribution to the development of the Navy, after deliberation, it has been decided to award Comrade Su Dingping an Individual Class-One Merit Citation!"

"A Class-One Merit? Professor Zhang, I..."

Before Su Dingping could finish, Zhang Gongnong interrupted, "Comrade Su Dingping, this is what you deserve! The Chief said back then that not a single reward due would be omitted."

With those words, Zhang Gongnong personally pinned the Class-One Merit medal onto Su Dingping's chest.

Looking at the medal hanging on his chest, Su Dingping's emotions rose and fell in turbulent waves.

He had not expected that simply following his inner conviction to conquer the core technology of the 956E would yield such a monumental accolade.

Patting Su Dingping on the shoulder, Zhang Gongnong's eyes grew somewhat moist.

"Comrade Su Dingping, well done! I truly did not misjudge you back then. You have conquered the core technology of the 956E, and that is of paramount importance to us."

"Director Sun, myself, Professor李, and all the researchers who participated in the R&D campaign—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.

"Many people thought we couldn't do it back then, but look at us now! With your practical actions, you have proven to those who doubted us that if others can do it, so can we!"

Zhang Gongnong's emotions steadily mounted.

"You have inspired countless researchers!"

"Now, everyone is driven and eager to achieve results, to prove that we, the people of Huaxia, are capable!"

"Director Lü and the others are the best example!"

He was certainly the most qualified to speak when it came to Director Lü.

He vividly remembered how, upon learning from Sun Yongguo's office that day that the 956E research project had been suspended, the man had been utterly dumbfounded, losing his direction entirely.

If not for Sun Yongguo's strict prohibition, he would have wanted to go find Lü Guangguo and Cheng Yiqiang to settle accounts right then and there.

On what grounds did they say we couldn't conquer it? On what grounds did they say we couldn't do it? Was the warship bought with money just a warship? No, that was hope cut off at the waist!

Eighteen hundred million US dollars poured down the drain, and for at least the next three years, they wouldn't be able to scrape together enough funds to restart the research.

Yet at that time, he was utterly helpless and could only silently wait for the 956E research project to be revived—a day he knew not when.

Just when he was plunged into deepest despair, Su Dingping appeared, bearing hope.

A myriad of thoughts rushed to the fore, Zhang Gongnong's body trembled slightly, and his voice turned somewhat hoarse as he said,

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