B5SB -Chapter 369 Third-Class Merit Honor

At the entrance of the compound, the lively sound of gongs and drums drew many family members out to watch.

They saw a young man pasting a commendation notice for meritorious service on the door of Division Commander Lu’s house.

A literate military wife carefully read it and widened her eyes.

She shouted loudly, “It says that Commander Lu’s wife saved an important expert and was awarded a Third-Class Merit!”

The onlookers burst into an uproar. Just how important must that person have been?

“I told you long ago—Commander Lu’s wife is young and beautiful. You can tell at a glance she’s capable.”

“Comrade Gu has brought honor to us military wives. This Third-Class Merit isn’t just Gu Yihan’s honor.”

“It’s the honor of our entire family compound.”

In their hearts, Gu Yihan receiving a Third-Class Merit made her their role model.

Even though it wasn’t them who earned it, once it was talked about outside, it became the pride of the whole compound.

When they went back to their parents’ homes to show off, the neighbors would know that military wives weren’t just nannies who washed clothes and cooked.

Some of the women noticed a middle-aged man in a Zhongshan suit getting out of a car in the crowd.

They started chatting excitedly:

“Look, this is what a real role model among military wives looks like.”

“Exactly. Applying for a Third-Class Merit requires layers of approval. Such a big deal, yet Comrade Gu kept going to work like nothing happened.”

They all lived in the same compound, and Gu Yihan worked at the service station.

Even if they weren’t close, they often saw her.

Gu Yihan and Lu Huailin opened the door and saw an elderly man with a kindly smile standing outside.

The moment Old Tang saw Gu Yihan, his eyes lit up. He quickly walked over and tightly grasped her hand.

“Comrade Gu, I’m Tang Shun from the Capital Research Institute. Thank you for your contribution to our nation’s medical research.”

Gu Yihan was stunned by his sudden praise.

Anyone hearing this would think she was some selfless hero.

Seeing Old Tang holding onto his wife’s hand, Lu Huailin frowned slightly.

Without drawing attention, he freed her hand and smiled.

“Master Tang, let’s go inside and talk.”

Old Tang nodded quickly and shouted to the young man behind him,

“Xiao Yang, hand out the candy! Beat the drums and let everyone know!”

Before coming, he had put in great effort to show sincerity.

Gongs, drums, celebratory candy—everything was prepared.

“Got it, Master!” Xiao Yang replied loudly.

He turned around, went to the car, and distributed the prepared sweets to the onlooking military wives.

If someone had children with them, he gave a few extra pieces.

When he reached Bai Yun, he noticed the gauze scarf wrapped around her neck in the heat of summer and froze for a moment.

Then he grabbed a handful of candy and said cheerfully,

“Here, share in Comrade Gu’s good fortune.”

Bai Yun’s pale hand tightened, veins bulging.

She had just lost face in the compound that morning.

And in the afternoon, her neighbor Gu Yihan had gained glory.

Seeing that Bai Yun didn’t move, a trace of impatience flashed in Xiao Yang’s eyes. He turned and went to the next person.

A sharp-eyed military wife noticed and curled her lips.

“Look at her—her jealousy is practically overflowing.”

Another woman, hearing this, glanced at Bai Yun and saw her awful expression.

She hurriedly shushed her.

“Don’t talk nonsense. She’s Chief of Staff Gao’s wife. We can’t afford to offend her.”

“Tch. I hate that fake calm look of hers, like everyone owes her something.”

After speaking, she cupped her cheeks and stared admiringly at the merit notice on Gu Yihan’s door.

“I prefer someone like Comrade Gu—working diligently every day, staying low-key, then suddenly dropping a bombshell.”

Bai Yun glanced coldly at the women gossiping behind her, a trace of mockery flashing in her eyes.

Did they really think she had lost her voice just because Gao Guoqiang’s wife was temporarily above her?

Twenty years ago, she defeated his first wife.

Twenty years later, she would still be unbeatable.

Inside the house, Gu Yihan sat on the sofa, listening to Old Tang talk endlessly.

Between the lines, he was asking whether she still had any medicine left that could help researchers working on nuclear weapons in remote areas.

Lu Huailin placed a cup of water in front of Old Tang and smiled.

“Old Tang, have some water and moisten your throat.”

Old Tang took a sip, easing the dryness, then looked at Gu Yihan with burning eyes.

“Comrade Gu, our institute is different from the Kun City Institute.”

“They research for fame and profit. We research for the country.”

Gu Yihan’s lips twitched slightly.

Which research institute in the country wasn’t working for the nation?

Seeing her silent, Old Tang sighed and switched to the patriotic card.

“Comrade Gu, our country is being ‘choked’ by Western powers led by the Soviets—politically, militarily, diplomatically, and technologically. We’re facing unprecedented pressure to survive.”

As he spoke, tears streamed down his face.

Gu Yihan, who had a soft heart, couldn’t stand such scenes.

She quickly lowered her head to hide her reddened eyes.

Lu Huailin had been watching her all along. Seeing this, he tightly held her hand in encouragement.

Old Tang took out a clean handkerchief and wiped his tears.

“Comrade Gu, one bottle of the medicine you gave saved an important researcher.”

“The other saved over twenty researchers suffering from color blindness.”

Gu Yihan looked at him in surprise.

“People with color blindness can be researchers?”

Old Tang smiled bitterly.

“They weren’t born that way. They worked long hours analyzing data and doing experiments. Their nutrition couldn’t keep up, so they became ill.”

Gu Yihan fell silent.

As a Chinese person, patriotism was etched into her bones.

No matter how selfish she might be or how dark she imagined human nature, she had to admit that those who lived in anonymity for years were truly selfless.

They were people who devoted everything.

Her heart settled on a decision.

She looked at Old Tang and said, “Old Tang, I only have one bottle left.”

Scarcity made things valuable.

If she gave too much, people wouldn’t cherish it—and it might even be stolen.

To ensure the medicine went to those who truly needed it, it was better to control it at the source.

Old Tang jumped up instantly.

Excited, he said, “Comrade Gu, we’re not greedy! As long as there’s some—even a single drop—we’ll be grateful!”

He meant it.

He hadn’t expected anything in the first place. Something so precious was reasonable to be unavailable.

Her saying there was still some was a pleasant surprise.

When he got back, he would call Old Chu and brag.

Let him regret it and eat dirt!

Old Tang thought smugly.