Chapter 128: The Special Merit Hero Plaque

The meeting hall instantly erupted, applause like a tide.

"Thank you everyone, but this is the credit of the team," he stood up and said, "Without the support of the master workers in the factory, without the heroic fighting of the frontline commanders and fighters, any technology is just empty talk on paper."

Minister Zhao patted his shoulder, "Mingyuan, we all know your humility, but you deserve this honor. The award ceremony is set for three days from now, to be held at the Rolling Mill, so that all the factory staff can witness this glorious moment!"

After the meeting ended, Li Mingyuan walked out of the building and discovered that it was already late.

A military jeep had been waiting for a long time to take him back to the Rolling Mill.

On the road, he looked at the scenery flashing past the window, his thoughts swirling.

"Special Merit? Five-Star Medal?" he calculated silently in his heart, "This is much more impressive than any 'Advanced Individual' award I got at the company in my past life..."

One day later, colorful flags fluttered and banners hung high inside the Rolling Mill.

The bright red banner reading "Celebrating our factory's Chief Engineer Li Mingyuan for winning the Special Merit and being awarded the Five-Star Medal" was particularly conspicuous at the factory gate, causing passing pedestrians to stop and watch.

A simple rostrum was set up on the factory square, and the area below was filled with workers in work clothes; excited discussions could be heard from the crowd from time to time.

"I heard even the military district leaders have come!"

"That's for sure, our Chief Engineer Li has made a great contribution this time!"

"My brother is in the Security Section; he said there are over twenty sedans, all big leaders!"

At exactly ten o'clock in the morning, following a burst of military music, the award ceremony officially began.

Minister Zhao and several military leaders walked onto the rostrum, with Li Mingyuan following behind, dressed in a brand-new Zhongshan suit, looking spirited.

Minister Zhao walked to the center of the rostrum, facing the thousands of workers below, his voice resonant:

"Comrades! Today we hold a grand ceremony here to commend an outstanding contributor to our national defense industry—Comrade Li Mingyuan!"

As soon as the words fell, thunderous applause erupted from below.

"Comrade Li Mingyuan not only developed the Numerical Control Machine Tool and the Advanced Rocket Launcher, but also successfully developed the Radar and the Triangulation System, making immortal contributions to our military's downing of twenty-three enemy aircraft! This is a model of serving the country through science, and also the crystallization of the wisdom of our country's working class!"

The applause sounded again, even more enthusiastic.

"Now, I announce, awarding Comrade Li Mingyuan the Special Merit and presenting the Five-Star Medal!"

Amidst the military music, Minister Zhao personally pinned the gleaming Five-Star Medal onto Li Mingyuan, and the whole audience stood up and applauded.

Li Mingyuan faced the crowd, his expression calm but with a trace of imperceptible awkwardness.

He was not used to this kind of scene, but as a transmigrator, he knew the importance of this ceremony in this era.

"Thank you to the organization and the country for the trust, thank you to the comrades in the factory for the support..." Li Mingyuan spoke briefly, his tone sincere.

"This medal does not just belong to me personally, but to every master worker who has put sweat into the national defense cause. Our journey has only just begun; there are more technologies waiting for us to conquer in the future, and our country needs more powerful equipment to safeguard peace..."

Enthusiastic applause and cheers erupted from the crowd again.

After the award ceremony ended, a military truck drove into the factory area, carrying a huge plaque with red lacquer and gold lettering—"Special Merit Hero".

This plaque was made according to Minister Zhao's special instructions and would be hung at the entrance of the Siheyuan where Li Mingyuan lived, so that all the residents of the courtyard could see this honor.

At three in the afternoon, Li Mingyuan returned to the Siheyuan, only to find that quite a few people had already gathered in the courtyard, all craning their necks in anticipation.

When the military truck stopped at the entrance of the Siheyuan and several workers carefully lifted down the massive plaque, there was an uproar in the courtyard.

"It's real! Special Merit!"

"This is a big shot now!"

"Look at that plaque, it's bigger than my door!"

Liu Haizhong was drying clothes in the courtyard; hearing the noise outside, he ran out to see what was going on.

When he saw the "Special Merit Hero" plaque and Li Mingyuan standing beside it, the clothes hanger in his hand dropped to the ground with a clatter.

"Chief... Chief Engineer Li is back!" Liu Haizhong stammered, his face full of fawning smiles, "Congratulations, congratulations! I knew you weren't an ordinary person!"

Li Mingyuan nodded slightly without saying much.

At this time, Jia Dongxu also walked out from his room; seeing the scene before him, his face turned pale.

Last time he heard in the factory that Li Mingyuan had made a great contribution, he was still half-doubting, but now seeing the plaque that was enough to awe the Siheyuan with his own eyes, his heart sank to the bottom.

"It's over, it's completely over now..." Jia Dongxu complained secretly in his heart, "This guy is a real big shot now, and my little tricks from before..."

Thinking of this, Jia Dongxu couldn't help but shiver.

"Comrades, hang the plaque on Chief Engineer Li's courtyard gate, make sure it's secure." Minister Zhao personally directed the workers, "This is a symbol of national honor, it cannot tolerate the slightest negligence!"

Several sturdy workers climbed up the ladder and firmly fixed the heavy plaque onto the gate tower of the small courtyard where Li Mingyuan lived.

The bright red background and the golden characters shone brilliantly in the sunlight, and the entire Siheyuan seemed to be illuminated by this radiance.

Liu Haizhong stood to the side, his eyes fixed on the plaque, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

Thinking of his past contempt and secret rivalry with Li Mingyuan, it seemed so ridiculous now.

"Lao Liu, what are you dazing for?" Yan Bugui walked over, looking at the plaque along Liu Haizhong's gaze, a complex light flashing in his eyes, "A big shot has emerged from our courtyard."

"Isn't that so," Liu Haizhong hurriedly echoed, "I saw long ago that Chief Engineer Li was extraordinary, and now he has really become a big shot!"

Yan Bugui gave a light snort, seemingly quite disdainful of Liu Haizhong's speed of changing faces, but he could not hide a trace of fawning in his own eyes either.

Li Mingyuan had expected these reactions long ago; he stood quietly to the side, watching the workers busy themselves, while his heart was calculating the next plan.

"The next phase is the real period of technological explosion. The Numerical Control Machine Tool has already started production, and the Radar and Guidance System have also proven their value; the next step is the Computer..."

Just as he was thinking, Minister Zhao walked to his side and said in a low voice, "Mingyuan, according to the instructions from superiors, starting from today, there will be two security personnel guarding your courtyard gate 24 hours a day to ensure your safety."

Li Mingyuan was a bit surprised, "Isn't this too much of a fuss?"

Minister Zhao shook his head, his expression serious, "This is no small matter. You now hold the most core secret technologies, and enemy agents may have already set their sights on you. We cannot take any risks."

He pointed to the two burly security personnel standing guard on both sides of Li Mingyuan's courtyard gate, "They have all undergone special training and will ensure your safety. In addition, we will also send workers to reinforce your courtyard gate and windows and install anti-theft facilities."

Li Mingyuan looked at the two serious-looking security personnel and couldn't help but feel a trace of pressure.

With the rise of his status and the increase in the technologies he mastered, the attention from all sides would also increase accordingly.