Chapter 56: The Commendation Ceremony

“Why are they suddenly holding a commendation ceremony? Isn’t it too early for that?”
“I heard from someone in the General Affairs Department that this ceremony is being held because someone has achieved a great merit.”
“A great merit? Could it be that person who was stopped at the gate yesterday morning?”
“It must be. I heard from the gate guard that as soon as the boss heard their names, he rushed over immediately.
And that Li Wensheng went out together with the boss in his car.”
“Rode in the boss’s car! All these years, I’ve never heard of the boss giving anyone a ride. What on earth did he accomplish to be so favored?”
“Who knows? But we’ll find out soon enough.”
Inside the auditorium, because the commendation ceremony had been announced at such short notice, the Bureau of Military Statistics staff chattered among themselves.
In the front row, Xu Baichuan, hearing the conversations behind him, couldn’t help turning his head and saying, “Old Six, wasn’t it just blowing up a Japanese warehouse? Why is the boss making such a big deal out of it?”
Zheng Yaoxian’s eyes flickered and he replied with a quiet chuckle, “These past two years, the new recruits in the Bureau haven’t been much good.
I reckon that now, since they’ve finally found someone promising, the boss wants to set an example for everyone so the newcomers will work harder.”
That sounded plausible to Xu Baichuan. The new recruits in recent years had been disappointing, after all.
Central Bureau even made jokes behind closed doors, saying the Military Bureau had no one coming up through the ranks, which made Director Dai furious and he ordered every station to let the young people make some achievements.
“This kid really has good luck, catching such a moment. Back in our day, we never got this kind of treatment.”
“Heh, Fourth Brother, in our line of work, luck is a part of ability too.”
Xu Baichuan paused, then smiled, “Right, luck is a part of ability.”
While the crowd continued to murmur, the commendation ceremony began.
“Comrade Li Wensheng has shown loyalty to the Party and distinction in destroying the Japanese army’s logistics warehouse. For his outstanding service, he is awarded the Fourth Class Yunhui Medal, a reward of three thousand Legal Tender notes, and a promotion to Major.”
“A Fourth Class Yunhui Medal and three thousand Legal Tender notes—was blowing up a Japanese warehouse really that big of a deal?”
“No, this reward is too much.”
“Is he a relative of the boss or something?”
…
On stage, Dai Yunong pinned the medal on Li Wensheng and fixed the insignia of Major to his uniform, while below, the shocked audience whispered among themselves.
Even though war had broken out, causing a rapid rise in prices, it had only been half a year, and the Legal Tender was still quite strong—a hundred notes could fetch twenty-five US dollars.

At present, a Major’s monthly salary was seventy notes.
A reward of three thousand was equivalent to three years’ pay.
Even so, that could be overlooked, since everyone in the Bureau had other ways of making money.
But the Yunhui Medal—that truly astonished everyone.
The Yunhui Medal was nothing like the Loyalty or Diligence medals, which could be earned through seniority or connections.
A Fourth Class Yunhui Medal was even rarer. In the entire Nationalist Army, there were very few recipients.
The last person to receive one was a regimental colonel who literally risked his life for it—suffering thirteen wounds and lying unconscious for three days, he’d danced at death’s door.
Such generous recognition was bound to surprise everyone.
“Old Six, isn’t this example being set a bit too conspicuously? Neither of us has a Fourth Class Yunhui Medal,” Xu Baichuan murmured, slightly turning his head.
Zheng Yaoxian was just as startled. He never expected a Fourth Class Yunhui Medal would appear.
“Fourth Brother, I don’t think this was the boss’s decision. Even he doesn’t have the authority to award a medal like this.”
Xu Baichuan paused. “Old Six, you mean this came from the Old Man himself?”
“I don’t know, but I do know the boss can’t just hand out a Fourth Class Yunhui Medal at will.”
Now Zheng Yaoxian was very curious about Li Wensheng’s background. Just what powerful figure was he connected to, to receive such an honor?
On stage, Dai Yunong leaned in as he pinned the medal on Li Wensheng, whispering, “I went through hell and high water to get you this medal.”
“Thank you, Director,” Li Wensheng replied politely, though inwardly he sneered.
“Does he really take me for a fool? Even if Dai Yunong wept and begged, he couldn’t get a Fourth Class Yunhui Medal.
It’s obvious this was arranged by my ‘uncle’—at best, Dai Yunong just put in a word.”
Medal pinned and three thousand notes in hand, Li Wensheng stepped aside.
“Comrade Shi Xiaozhen, loyal to the Party and nation, destroyed the Japanese army’s logistics warehouse, outstanding merit, rewarded with one thousand notes and a promotion to Captain.”
“Comrade Bai Yan, loyal to the Party and nation, destroyed the Japanese army’s logistics warehouse, outstanding merit, rewarded with one thousand notes and a promotion to Captain.”
…
With rewards presented to Shi Xiaozhen and the others, the ceremony ended.
Li Wensheng and his companions didn’t linger at the Bureau headquarters; after a brief word with Dai Yunong and collecting their appointment papers, they returned to the hostel.

After changing into civilian clothes at the hostel, they headed to Sheng Mansion.
Located in Yuzhong, Sheng Mansion wasn’t far from Bureau headquarters.
Li Wensheng went over in high spirits, but before he even reached Sheng Mansion, he was stopped.
“Halt! What business do you have here?” A soldier at a checkpoint blocked his way.
Glancing inside, Li Wensheng immediately understood.
There were still dozens of meters to Sheng Mansion, and though there were residents nearby, the street was empty—proof that after the disappearance of the documents, the area had been sealed off.
Seeing Li Wensheng craning his neck to look inside, the soldier raised his gun and shouted, “What are you looking at? State your business!”
Li Wensheng fished out his identification and held it open. “I’m with the Bureau—I need to go in and investigate.”
The soldier glanced at the papers, lowered his gun, and saluted. “Sir, I’m sorry, but without orders from the Adjutant’s Office, nobody is allowed inside.”
Li Wensheng frowned slightly, cursing inwardly. “Damn it, this mission really is a trap.”
“Then come with me. I’ll call the Adjutant’s Office,” he said, resignation in his voice.
The soldier and Shi Xiaozhen’s group were startled. Call the Adjutant’s Office? Did he really have that kind of pull?
Regaining his composure, the soldier respectfully replied, “Sir, we’re just following orders. We only accept written orders from the Adjutant’s Office.”
Li Wensheng sighed internally. “Fine, I’ll come back once I have the proper orders.”
Turning away, he didn’t head to the Adjutant’s mansion to fetch the orders but returned straight to the hostel.
He was due to report to the Second Section the next day and still had preparations to make. If he went to the Adjutant’s mansion and then back, there wouldn’t be enough time.
Back at the hostel, Li Wensheng told Bai Yan and the others that if they wanted to visit home, they should do so now, and those without family in Chongqing should find housing near the Second Section instead of staying in the dormitory.
Though the Bureau provided dormitory accommodations, almost no one used them.
In this line of work, after all, everyone had private matters they’d rather keep to themselves.
Of the five in Shi Xiaozhen’s group, only Bai Yan and Shi Xiaozhen were locals; the others were from out of town and had no family nearby.
Bai Yan and Shi Xiaozhen packed up and headed home, while Li Wensheng took Lao Niu and two others to look for rooms near the Second Section.
They rented three rooms in a Western-style apartment building, and each went out to buy daily necessities.
After a busy afternoon, it was already past four. Li Wensheng wandered around to get familiar with the streets, grabbed a bowl of noodles at a roadside stall, and went home.