Chapter 354: To Every Ordinary, Hardworking Person

The dinner was arranged lavishly, and the portions were as large as always.

Almost every plate of food was piled into a little mountain.

Especially the braised pork ribs, Lu Yang always felt that even one more piece would create a gentle slope on the mountain.

The main theme is a plain, unadorned style that matches the straightforward, fierce, solid yet unpretentious temperament of the armed police troops.

Company Commander Feng Yishan first gave a speech, thanked the friendly sponsorship from Army brothers, and then praised Lu Yang and his comrades for their hard work and seriousness over the past half month.

The Special Duty Company Instructor playfully invited everyone onto the stage, then handed each a "Three Good Soldier" certificate.

The certificates are the kind you can buy at a primary school gate for fifty cents each; the text is handwritten, with no seal.

It was purely to set the atmosphere and create a sense of ceremony, but it was genuinely thoughtful.

At least when Lu Yang stood on the stage receiving the certificate, he inexplicably felt he was making up for the regret of not studying hard or ever receiving a certificate during school.

Not only Lu Yang, but also Ding Tengfei, Kong Long, and Wan Baoshan belong to the type who never really got certificates in school.

Standing on the stage holding the certificate, bathed in the applause of these armed police brothers, everyone smiled like a flower.

"Hey, don't rush to leave yet."

After receiving the award, Lu Yang thought he could go down to start the meal, but Feng Yishan raised his hand to stop him.

"Today, we have a special program: lights out."

All fluorescent lights were turned off, and the cafeteria instantly fell into darkness.

Just as Lu Yang and the others were puzzled, a warm yellow beam suddenly lit up the food window behind them.

Then Zhang Long and Zhao Hu pushed a small cart, slowly walking toward them.

On the cart was a large cake, topped with several candles.

The candlelight reflected in Lu Yang's eyes, making his heart beat a few beats faster.

As the cake drew nearer, a look of surprise appeared on Lu Yang's face.

He never even dreamed that, although his birthday was next month, they had prepared a surprise early.

Lu Yang's heart, like a candle that has burned and is now slowly dripping down, was almost melting; the unit truly is a place with warmth and affection.

"Comrade Ding Tengfei, as today's birthday person, say a few words, please?"

"????"

Still moved, Lu Yang suddenly hit the emergency brake.

He turned his head to the side, seeing Ding Tengfei already crying profusely, and Lu Yang's face was full of embarrassment.

"Isn't it me?"

"Too early to be happy?"

Ding Tengfei sniffed, wiped his face with his hand: "I, I was too excited, I didn't expect, I didn't even remember myself, that someone still remembered."

"Thank you, thank you Company Commander Feng, thank you everyone; I don't even know what to say, is there paper? Let me wipe my nose."

Seeing Ding Tengfei's clumsy, frantic demeanor, the people below laughed.

Everyone likes genuine people, even though Ding Tengfei and the others haven't been here long.

But their effort, sweat, and progress are all visible.

Although among this group Lu Yang is the most dazzling, his progress comparable to riding a rocket.

But that doesn't mean those ordinary yet hardworking people aren't worthy of recognition or praise.

"First blow out the candles, then speak?" Lu Yang saw the candles were almost burnt out, letting him make a wish first.

"Right, right, almost forgot!" Ding Tengfei quickly closed his eyes, clasped his hands and made a wish in his heart, then blew out the candles amid applause.

Light returned, and Ding Tengfei, eyes filled with hot tears, narrated his past "unworthiness" and mistakes in front of everyone.

He is very grateful for the changes the unit gave him, for so many people who didn't give up on him and were willing to lend a hand, which made him the Ding Tengfei he is now.

His speech resonated with everyone, because among those present there were many who once shared the same conduct as him.

They were the bad students who sat in the back row of the classroom, smoking, drinking, fighting, and causing trouble.

Some were even the kind that completely disappointed their parents, who thought they were beyond rescue.

But now, they sit here, shouldering responsibility.

When disaster strikes time after time, they selflessly stand in front of the civilians.

In each anti‑organized crime operation, they risk their lives to fight to the death against those who endanger public safety.

This kind of transformation is something they never even dared to imagine; this kind of enlightenment is something that those who never enlisted will never experience in this lifetime.

"Finally, I want to thank my good brother, Lu Yang!"

"Although I'm a bit older than him, in my heart he's my great big brother!"

"He pulled me, dragged me, lifted me out of the mud; he lit a lamp for me when I was most lost!"

"So here, I dedicate a song to him, the song is called: 'Stars Light Up'......"

"One by one, sparkling, the whole sky is full, little singsing......"

Puff puff puff!

A group of people below sprayed soda from their mouths.

Ding Tengfei's voice perfectly embodied what is called unbearably terrible to the point of making you want to pull your hair out.

Lu Yang, worried that everyone might lose their appetite later, reached out and clamped his mouth, manually silencing the sound.

Feng Yishan at that moment quickly clapped loudly, dismissed everyone, then cut the cake into several pieces, placing one on each table.

He cleared his throat and formally announced: "Start eating!"

The meal was lavish, and everyone ate happily.

But Lu Yang thought, the cake is for eating, not for playing with; could we not waste food?

He took a piece of butter from his face, put it in his mouth; the texture was a bit hard, being an old‑style plant butter.

This kind of cake truly tastes like the one in his memory, and the paper‑cup cake with a little umbrella uses the same craft and the same cream.

In the past the bakery at the school gate sold them, and many people bought them, but later they gradually disappeared, becoming a special childhood memory for everyone.

"Come, come, come, everyone raise your glasses, and let's wish Ding Tengfei a happy birthday!"

"May your career soar like a rainbow!"

"May your military path be smooth!"

"May you find a partner soon!"

"May you have eight sons!"

"Hahaha, that's so wicked, it's all in the drink, all in the drink!"

Lu Yang raised his glass with everyone, his smile as thick as rich cream that wouldn't melt.

He sincerely hopes that days like this gathering can be more numerous.

But he also knows clearly that such days are probably not many.

"Are you asleep?"

"Not yet."

"I haven't fallen asleep either."

"We partied too hard last night, and we're still a bit hyper now."

"Brother Lu, what about you, are you asleep?"

In the upper bunk, Ding Tengfei turned over and looked at Lu Yang, who was in the lower bunk with his head resting on his hands, staring off into space.

"Not yet."

"Can't you sleep either?"

"Mm."

Ding Tengfei propped his cheek with one hand, still puzzled: "I really didn't expect they would know my birthday; I don't recall telling anyone."

Lu Yang smiled: "You didn't say it, but someone remembered."

"Who?"

"Who cares about you the most?"

"You?"

"Besides me?"

"Then who else could it be?"

"Think for yourself......"

Night, in the Special Third Regiment Seventh Company office.

Gao Feng had just finished a call with Feng Yishan, stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the bright moonlight outside.

He opened the window, letting the spring breeze brush his cheek, and a smile gradually formed on his face.

At the same time, the various units under the Armed Police Third Detachment.

The officers were cosplaying Santa Claus in the middle of the night, quietly bringing warmth to the soldiers.

Thus, when everyone wakes up and sees the new shoes by the bedside, they'll surely jump up with joy.

In the restroom of the Third Detachment Headquarters, detachment commander Zou Bin was squatting on the toilet.

He had a cigarette in his mouth and held a small communicator in his hand, making a call.

"Hey, Lao Zheng, are you asleep?"

"Not asleep, are you angry at me?"

"Ah, how did you know I brought in a batch of new shoes? Your news is even more 'spirit‑connected' than my little communicator!"

"You ask how I did it; I've already told you I have extensive connections—extensive connections—do you still doubt? Fine, I won't keep talking, I'm taking a dump, can't sleep, going out for a couple of laps?"

Ignoring the angry roar from the other side, Zou Bin hung up the phone, kept the cigarette in his mouth, and began searching for the next person's number.

"Hey, Lao Zhu, are you asleep?"

"I'm asleep, how did you manage to fall asleep?"

"Is the shoe issue solved, is the camouflage uniform taken care of, why are you so indifferent, can you learn something good from me?"

"You ask about me, I've handled it—over a thousand sets all sorted, just delivered today, hahaha, that'll drive you crazy!"