Chapter 390 - 318 Joyful News Again and Again (Thanks to Mr. Old E for his alliance leadership)

A series of warm visits concluded, and the mayor took his leave politely. The reporter also added a few extra shots for Fang Huai, intending to cut out the sentence he had reminded them of earlier when they were back.

It was Detachment Captain Li, though, who was very enthusiastic. Knowing that they had just returned from Sichuan, he wanted them to attend the flood prevention lecture at the Detachment that afternoon, to share their disaster relief experience with the officers and soldiers of the Southwest Guizhou Detachment.

Cao Yi naturally declined gently, and after politely asking whether there was any police dispatch that needed their help and learning there was none, he said he needed to rush back to the Squadron to be on standby.

After all, they weren’t the Jurisdiction Brigade, and helping out with some temporary emergencies was considered reinforcement. The follow-up work was no longer their responsibility.

Not to mention giving lectures, if they didn’t hurry back to rest, by the look of everyone sneezing and blowing their noses, the Second Squadron probably wouldn’t recover by next week.

"Let’s go! The police dispatch is over, back to the Squadron! Return in the original vehicle!"

Cao Yi waved to everyone, symbolizing the end of this reinforcement effort.

Though it was disaster relief, it was just a distant police dispatch. They came in a hurry and left in a hurry.

As they got into the vehicle and closed the doors, there were sighs all around.

They furiously rubbed their weather-beaten old waists and legs.

"Squad leader... is it over just like that?" Han Yong asked Hao Chengbin with some surprise.

He had eaten a lot of buns that morning and had been ready for a big day’s work, thinking that since the earthquake had lasted over ten days last time, this dispatch would at least keep them out for three to five days before returning.

Hao Chengbin turned around with a smile, "Heh, you still think it’s not enough? Want me to leave you here?"

Han Yong immediately held his breath and tactically leaned back.

Only then did Hao Chengbin yawn deeply, stretched his back, and said:

"Just now I heard that since the start of the 526 flood, up until now, the losses have been several billion already. Just these two days, the GDP for the year is gone, and over a dozen common folk... sigh, such human tragedy! I hope the waters don’t come again!"

Fang Huai also felt extremely tired, pinched his nose, and performed some eye exercises.

"Yeah... living here really isn’t easy."

Huang Yong suddenly said, "What day is it today?"

"Wednesday!"

"Oh... not bad, we can still rest for four days after we get back."

The tough guy Huang Yong couldn’t hold it together anymore.

Everyone seemed deflated, shifting positions to find a comfortable angle to lie back in a slumped position, ready to sleep all the way back.

After a while, Zhang Yang looked out the window and broke the silence, saying slowly:

"Four days... this time we can truly rest. To be honest, when we were coming back, they gave us a week off, and it was too long—I felt uneasy.

I always felt like it was rest time bought with the lives of the people in the disaster area.

Even having fun didn’t feel right. But with the weekend, four days, now that’s rest I can take with a clear conscience."

Upon hearing these words, everyone opened their eyes and smiled, then adjusted their positions again and went back to sleep peacefully.

Zhang Yang’s words had struck a chord with them.

Post-disaster, these words successfully brought everyone’s thoughts back to the human world.

...

May 30.

The two carefree days after their return.

Eating, sleeping, fooling around.

For the first time, the Second Squadron’s fire trucks stayed dirty in the garage for two days, with nobody arranging to wash them. The new recruits couldn’t get them out, so they just changed the equipment and washed everyone’s Emergency Rescue Suits and hung them up to dry.

The Detachment had ordered everyone to rest, but only that dirty fire truck was the Second Squadron’s real trump card, allowing everyone to enter a state of "deep rest" with ease.

Fang Huai also had a good rest these past two days, feeling very happy.

From the moment he returned to the Squadron door the day before yesterday, it had been one piece of good news after another.

For once, the system had done the right thing; instead of counting each dispatch separately for this disaster relief support, they had given him three dispatch rewards for Bianwang Village, Nabao Village, and the Reservoir—25 military merit points in total, and with his existing 41.8, his military merit value jumped to 66.8.

He was suddenly rich.

He now fully realized that military merit points might become his biggest capital in realizing his ambitions as an officer. Each point could potentially save lives during a disaster, and dozens of points was enough to master a specialty. He set a red line for himself that no matter how urgent the future needs might be, he had to keep 20 points aside for emergencies.

Brother Yang also received commendation from the Hanwang Disaster Relief Headquarters, becoming a minor celebrity at school, joining the Student Council, and now spent some of his spare time every day on the streets with classmates doing earthquake prevention advocacy and raising funds for the disaster area’s reconstruction.

Furthermore, with special approval from the school’s Party committee, he filled out an application to join the Party, becoming a probationary Party member the same year as Fang Huai.

The old man was back from the disaster area and had thrown himself into work. Because the wireless megaphones he donated in the name of his company helped save many lives and his proactive behavior in the disaster area, the Sichuan Provincial Government decided to award him the title of "Outstanding Volunteer in Earthquake Rescue and Relief."

Aside from him, the whole family was delighted for him, but he himself was unhappy.

He said that a ranger who rescued a giant panda had been given third-class merit, and he was envious, wanting to have one for himself.

A government one would do.

The biggest regret of his life had been not earning any honors while in the military.

Fang Huai could only explain to him with disbelief that the ranger was also a national public servant eligible for honors, but as an ordinary civilian now, he could hardly dream of it.

Beyond that, Cao Yi received news that the Second Squadron would be awarded a collective second-class meritorious service and the title of "Earthquake Relief Hero Collective" after the earthquake relief efforts were finalized.

One person would receive First Class Merit, Fang Huai.

Two people were awarded Second Class Merit: Cao Yi and Ye Jiahong.

Eight people were awarded Third Class Merit: Zhang Yaohuan, Hao Chengbin, Zhao Jinchen, Huang Yong, Qin Hongjun, Liu Jianfeng, Hu Hongzhi, Zhang Yang.

All had certain disaster relief deeds and had taken the lead in rescuing displaced people.

Probably only Team Zhang this time got lucky for being the deputy commander of the Second Squadron, leading the team efficiently, and basking in their success.

The announcement of the orders will probably be next month. Additionally, there will be a collective commendation ceremony and awards conference, which is expected to take place in October. Cao Yi and Fang Huai will represent the team and individuals to go to BJ to receive the awards.

These were the messages Cao Yi got from a comrade at the whole corps a couple of days ago. Of course, since there is no official order yet, this news was only communicated among the cadres of the squadron and a few soldiers, so as not to raise everyone’s hopes only to potentially disappoint them.

These past few days, everyone was still watching the news in the morning and evening.

In addition to following the news of the people in the earthquake area, several key members of the squadron, including Fang Huai, were watching "Morning News World" in the mornings, waiting for the interview from that day.

Every morning at seven, the televisions in each squad would be turned on for half an hour.

But, the news during this time mostly focused on various reports after the earthquake.

This morning, after three days of waiting, news finally arrived.

"Come quick! It’s on the news!"

"Hey, damn, Fang Huai, you’re really on TV!"

Liu Jianfeng shouted in the study room early in the morning.

Fang Huai, who had just gotten up and was brushing his teeth, rushed to Squad One.

In the building, there was also a lot of activity.

On the TV, there was a shot of Fang Huai quickly crossing a river in the dark with a bright light shining around him.

However, the shot didn’t last long before it switched to other flooded areas in Wangmo.

Even the interview footage wasn’t shown. The report on this matter probably lasted just over a minute before it moved on to a report about a new socialist countryside.

Everyone was somewhat disappointed.

"How come... The interview wasn’t included?"

Liu Jianfeng was also a bit stunned and said, "I saw the host announce this news just now, so I called you guys, but indeed, there was no interview!"

But Fang Huai, with sharp eyes, noticed something and pointed at the scrolling text at the bottom of the TV screen, saying:

"Look below!"

Song Lin, who was cleaning up in Squad One and holding a broom, immediately leaned closer to the TV screen and read aloud:

"May 31st, four in the afternoon... we will bring to you... a special... program... ’Contemporary Firefighting’! Please stay tuned! Damn! A special show just for us?"

The expressions on everyone’s faces changed instantly.

Four o’clock in the afternoon!

That’s Saturday! Such a prime time slot! This is a big deal!

How long will "Contemporary Firefighting" be? How much screen time will their squadron’s interview get?

"May 31st, four in the afternoon... Tomorrow, that’s Saturday, right? Central Channel 1 usually airs cartoons... I think it’s ’The Magical Chef Xiao Fugui’, which is pretty good. If it’s replaced with ’Contemporary Firefighting’... we’ll be cursed by the kids, right?"

Song Lin, who couldn’t go upstairs to play video games since he couldn’t access the third floor and could only watch TV in the squad’s study room during rest, especially on weekends, knew all about the TV stations’ schedules by heart.

Everyone fell silent.

But indeed, kids looking forward to watching their favorite cartoon show would turn on the TV only to find a bunch of soldiers in white helmets and orange uniforms...

Kids might swear at that.

"Smack!"

A dull thud.

Instructor Cao playfully smacked Song Lin on the back of his head.

"You don’t have kids, why do you care so much? You want to watch ’The Magical Chef Xiao Fugui’?!"

...

May 31.

Many Fire Brigade Headquarters across provinces issued orders.

At four o’clock in the afternoon, each Big Team was to organize a viewing of Central Channel 1 on time.

Old Teacher He also gave notice, allowing the two squadrons on rest to organize the viewing themselves.

This time, it was the fire service’s first appearance in a special program on CCTV Channel 1, and most Fire Brigade Headquarters took it seriously.

But, not to mention the Detachment and the whole corps, even Old Teacher He didn’t know that the Second Squadron would appear on camera.

The commanders of the two squadrons were cautious because they also didn’t know how much screen time the Second Squadron would have, so it was better to play it cool.

Moreover, yesterday was May 30th, which was the day the Instructor went to the Base "by chance" to meet Boss Wu and propose the reform plan for the squadron. Old Teacher He hadn’t given a clear result to the squadron commanders, so Cao Yi, unable to contain himself, called at night to ask, only to be brushed off by Old Teacher He with a "wait for the news," before hanging up the phone.

It made everyone feel as if their hearts were being scratched by cats.

In Cao Yi’s heart, he was especially resentful.

Ha, it’s not that we didn’t want to talk; you’re the one who hung up the phone!