Chapter 52: Could There Be Another Master!?

Just as Xie Jianlin said, the upgrading of firefighting equipment is also listed as a key project in the Five-Year Plan.

For no other reason.

Currently, nearly half of domestic specialized firefighting equipment is still imported.

Large firefighting vehicles, in particular, are predominantly manufactured in Germany.

The higher-ups, with profound foresight, are currently promoting the tackling of bottleneck projects across all sectors.

They are determined to achieve full localization of all machinery and equipment related to the national economy and people's livelihood within a short period.

Although fire engines may not be as eye-catching as tanks or aircrafts, their utilization rate and level of urgency are by no means inferior to the major military projects.

Xie Jianlin is the Director of the Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

He does not wear a military uniform.

He has to consider not only military scientific research projects, but also coordinate civil technology projects from an overall perspective.

Therefore, thinking further ahead, he recommended the firefighting equipment project.

Hearing this, Lin Xiao pouted.

"Old Xie, your abacus is being clicked so loudly that they can almost hear it across the Pacific."

"I just discovered a talent, and you're trying to poach him from me?"

Xie Jianlin smiled honestly: "It's all for the development and construction of the country. Wei Xiu, what do you say?"

"I submit to Director Xie's arrangement."

Wei Xiu immediately agreed.

Firefighting equipment is great; at least it is something within his current capability.

Moreover, since Director Xie mentioned that it is the upgrading and replacement of domestic firefighting equipment, it implies a systematic approach.

Within a system, there are inexpensive items as well as expensive ones.

That makes things much easier.

Right now, he only has a little over two million maintenance points, which will accumulate to a few million if he saves up.

Fighter jets and airplanes are definitely out of the question.

Firefighting equipment, however, is quite feasible.

Thinking of this, Wei Xiu consciously leaned closer to Xie Jianlin.

"I believe projects have no distinction of high or low, and positions have no difference in nobility or humbleness."

"As long as it can safeguard people's livelihood and build the country."

"I have no problem with it."

Wei Xiu elevated his stance with a straight face.

Xie Jianlin, however, looked at this young man with a new level of respect.

"Well said! Then I will make the arrangements accordingly."

Seeing the coveted talent being taken away by Xie Jianlin, Lin Xiao felt deeply reluctant, yet he was completely helpless.

At the end of the day.

Neither Xie Jianlin nor Wei Xiu was wrong; the developmental needs of the country always come first.

"I can give you the person, but it's only on a seconded basis. Once this project ends, Old Xie, you must send him back to me intact."

"Don't you worry, Commander."

With that said, Xie Jianlin cordially took Wei Xiu's hand, preparing to brief him on some details.

Inside the room.

Qin Xi watched Wei Xiu's receding figure, feeling somewhat lost.

Wei Xiu taking over the localization substitution of firefighting equipment means that they will see much less of each other.

Damn it!

Clearly, they had finally made some progress, but heaven does not always grant one's wishes.

Yet there was no alternative.

Who could blame her for not being as capable and versatile as Wei Xiu?

When he goes to other project teams, he can still shine brightly and make major contributions.

Whereas she, once removed from the stealth materials project, would be completely in the dark.

"Professor Qin, since Wei Xiu has made his own choice, the stealth materials sector will be left under your charge."

Qin Xi stood at attention and saluted: "Yes...!"

...

As Wei Xiu was about to leave the capital, the Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense and the military jointly held an award and commendation ceremony.

From the Qilin Theater Command shooting down an F-35 a few days ago, to the major breakthroughs achieved in fighter jet research and development, the list of personnel who contributed to these achievements had long been submitted to the Publicity Department and received approval.

However, a formal commendation ceremony had been delayed until now.

This time, taking advantage of the fact that several working groups had come to Beijing to report and everyone was still basking in an atmosphere of joy, the higher-ups decided to strike while the iron was hot and bestow rewards based on merit.

Because of the F-35 shoot-down, the entire Qilin Theater Command was awarded a collective First-Class Merit.

The specific execution unit, the mechanic company, also received a First-Class Merit, with Yang Hu going on stage to accept the award on their behalf.

Thunderous applause echoed endlessly through the audience.

Yet Yang Hu, standing on the stage, kept looking left and right.

To speak from the heart, he was certainly happy to receive merits and awards.

But he felt a sense of undeserved guilt.

Everyone in the mechanic company knew very well that that F-35 could never have been shot down without Brother Wei.

He claimed 95% of the credit for himself.

Yet when it came to the award ceremony, the leadership did not mention Brother Wei's name at all.

Even worse!

At the award ceremony, Yang Hu didn't even catch a glimpse of Wei Xiu.

Therefore, he felt deeply unsettled inside.

"Why are you still pulling a long face even after receiving a merit?"

Back in the audience, Huang Han noticed his abnormality and asked considerately.

Yang Hu sighed softly: "Chief of Staff, you know as well as I do that this credit has very little to do with me."

"How can you say that? You were the one who shot it down with your own hands." Huang Han remained unconcerned.

"But if it weren't for my Brother Wei, you could choke me to death and I still wouldn't have been able to hit it."

"The citation just now didn't mention Brother Wei at all."

"To be reasonable, even if Brother Wei is just a reservist, he deserves to receive merits and awards."

Hearing Yang Hu's grievance, Huang Han did not offer any opinion, only gently patting his shoulder.

"Alright, this is the first First-Class Merit our theater command has received this year, which is already no small feat. You should still be happy."

Following the conclusion of the major First-Class Merit awards, the clerk stepped down from the stage.

According to normal procedures, the next item should be a speech by the leadership, followed by the dismissal of the meeting.

The leadership did indeed take the stage.

However, Lin Xiao did not give a speech; instead, he took out another document bound in red velvet.

"Now, I will read the final commendation announcement!"

Yang Hu was slightly startled, turning his head to look at the Chief of Staff beside him.

Finding it somewhat incredible, he thought, what does this mean?

Did someone else shoot down another F-35?

"A certain comrade in our military has performed exceptionally well in two successive projects, not only earning the recognition of the superiors but also making outstanding contributions to the country, the military, and the people!"

Lin Xiao stated.

The previous citation for Yang Hu had already been full of high praise.

And now.

This citation pushed the praise to the absolute maximum, using terms like "exceptional" and "outstanding" throughout.

These were all the highest superlatives!

What made it even more thought-provoking and awe-inspiring was that, despite it being a commendation, the leadership did not read out the name of the commended person throughout the entire announcement, nor did they even reveal their unit.

This meant that the awardee's file had been sealed and classified.

It would only be declassified and made public a certain number of years after their passing.

"Through organizational deliberation and decision, this comrade is hereby awarded the title of [Guardian of Land and Sky]."

"Furthermore, the Publicity Department is tasked with calling upon the people of the entire nation to learn from this comrade through means such as news broadcasts and text messages."

"In addition, this comrade will be provided with a set of housing, a cash reward of 10 million RMB, and will enjoy lifelong..."

Following Commander Lin's announcement, an uproar instantly erupted in the grand auditorium.

Everyone gasped, the word "shock" written plainly across their faces.

As everyone knew, after the military abolished the Special-Class Merit, personal awards were divided into five levels.

First is the honorary title, followed by First, Second, and Third-Class Merits, and finally the Commendation.

In recent years, the military had clearly stipulated the requirements for receiving merits, making them extremely stringent.

In times of peace, winning a First-Class Merit was already one in ten thousand.

Let alone an honorary title.

According to general understanding, receiving an honorary title while still alive was nearly impossible.

Yang Hu was utterly dumbfounded: "Good grief! Chief of Staff, who is this comrade?"

Although Huang Han could guess who it was, bound by confidentiality regulations, he could not speak plainly.

"Not quite sure..."

Yang Hu clicked his tongue repeatedly.

He had originally thought that shooting down an F-35 was enough to brag about for a while.

Never had he expected that there were even higher masters among them.