PNB Chapter 344 Commending the Advanced and Awarding Honors
Chapter 344 Commending the Advanced and Awarding Honors
Li Ju'an never expected to see Chen Xiangqian again in this way.
Upon hearing the news, multiple departments immediately mobilized and rushed to the site of the mysterious underground cave to launch an intensive search operation. At the same time, a local team was also organized to dig out the long-hidden landmines and clear the land from potential dangers.
The division headquarters felt that the situation was strange and was determined to uncover the mystery of the "iron lumps" that were scattered throughout the Yezhugou cave and the surrounding villages.
They quickly reinforced their manpower, mobilizing dozens of elite border police officers and firefighters, who marched in a grand procession to Wild Boar Gully. These brave men, each carrying the most professional exploration equipment, were ready to make a big splash.
"This operation must uncover the truth about this cave!" The division leader's words were firm and resolute.
"That's right! We can't have come all this way for nothing. We have to see for ourselves what's hidden in this cave!" The soldiers who came to provide support were also in high spirits and full of fighting spirit.
Li Ju'an was also summoned by the division headquarters. Chen Xiangqian, the division commander's son, was also among those sent to organize reinforcements. Upon seeing Li Ju'an from afar, he excitedly shouted, "Li Pao! It's me, Li Pao! Your apprentice!"
Li Ju'an was startled. He was being questioned by his superior and had recounted everything that had happened in Wild Boar Gully, including how the group discovered the mine crater and the cave beneath it.
Lu Zhiqiang, standing to the side, added fuel to the fire, speaking at length and embellishing his words.
Commander Chen frowned as he listened. When he heard Lu Zhiqiang say that seventeen or eighteen thugs had been killed, he finally couldn't help but frown and say, "We still need to base our decisions on facts and be guided by facts. We must be honest and not just make things up."
He was dissatisfied with Lu Zhiqiang, and not very satisfied with Li Ju'an either. He felt that these two young men, who looked to be only 20 years old, had indeed made a contribution by discovering a landmine crater, but he shouldn't exaggerate it like this; their desire to gain merit was written all over their faces.
Just then, Chen Xiangqian came running over, shouting "Li Pao!" and carrying a strip of salted meat. His eyes lit up when he saw Li Ju'an. He shouted, "Li Pao! Take me into the mountains to hunt tigers! It's been so long since we've gone tiger hunting!"
Commander Chen frowned and scolded his son for making trouble: "Young comrade, get out."
Chen Xiangqian was very cautious and discreet in front of others, afraid of being associated with his own father. But in front of Li Ju'an, he acted like an affectionate child, eager to show off, afraid that Li Ju'an would look down on him. He excitedly said, "Li Pao! This is my dad, the one I mentioned last time, my own dad! Dad, this is the tiger-hunting Li Pao I told you about last time."
Just as Commander Chen was about to lose his temper, his eyes lit up when he heard the words "Tiger-Slaying Li Cannon," and he looked at Li Ju'an with seriousness, scrutinizing him from head to toe.
The story of the ranch brigade's tiger hunt last time spread far and wide within the division headquarters. Everyone knew there was such a figure in the Xing'an Mountains, someone who was said to be very young, but possessed exceptional tiger-hunting skills and courage. He led a team of fewer than nine men and killed five tigers in three days. In the past twenty years, no one in the entire mountainous region could match his achievements.
Commander Chen initially thought Lu Zhiqiang was talking nonsense—how could such a young hunter take down seventeen or eighteen wolves in half a day? But when he saw that the person standing in front of him was none other than Li Pao, the Tiger Slayer, he was completely convinced.
He stood up, his expression filled with admiration and respect, and extended his hand, saying, "So it's Li Pao Tou. I've heard from Captain Wang that you're really good at hunting tigers. You've really done a great job this time, hunting wolves and finding so many iron lumps. This achievement deserves to be recorded."
Li Ju'an quickly extended his hands and shook hands with Commander Chen, saying modestly, "Not at all, it was just a coincidence. I was lucky and blessed, otherwise that iron lump would have blown me up."
Commander Chen gazed at Li Ju'an, his eyes revealing undisguised approval. This young man spoke gently and appropriately, showing none of the timidity often seen in mountain people. Li Ju'an stood calmly before his commander, his demeanor displaying the humility expected of a junior, yet his eyes showed no fear of his superior's authority; his every move was perfectly measured.
Commander Chen thought to himself that for a young man growing up in this remote mountainous area to have such a calm and composed mindset, he must have gone through countless trials and tribulations to be able to be so calm and composed.
What he didn't know was that Li Ju'an had lived two lives. In his previous life, he had handled many large-scale business deals in the south, met many important figures, and witnessed many grand occasions. It was common for him to drink and discuss business with leaders from the Ministry of Railways and the Planning Department, and to negotiate projects. Therefore, he was naturally quite at ease when he encountered a division commander.
Commander Chen patted the table lightly and exclaimed approvingly, "Good! You must be nominated for this time when we're evaluating outstanding individuals."
Li Ju'an never expected that his trip into the mountains would earn him the honorary title of "Hero of Mountain Mine Clearance." The certificate of honor and the red flag with tassels were delivered to the door of his self-built house by Chen Xiangqian and a young soldier. When the villagers heard the commotion, they all came over to set off firecrackers in celebration.
Mother Song Lanhua's face beamed with indescribable joy. She busied herself preparing a sumptuous feast, not only to entertain Chen Xiangqian and the young soldier who had come from afar, but also to express her gratitude to the enthusiastic neighbors and relatives.
Lin Mei nestled against Li Ju'an's shoulder, her smile as gentle as the warm spring sun, her eyes sparkling with pride and happiness as she gazed at him quietly. Li Ju'an slowly hung the red flag, a symbol of glory, above the gate of his self-built house.
The door, square and simple, now appears even more solemn and magnificent thanks to the red flag of honor.
Every villager passing by the courtyard would give a thumbs up and praise it as "good!"
The incident at Wild Boar Gully later attracted great attention from villagers in more than a dozen surrounding villages.
The area that the soldiers have worked so hard to cultivate has been transformed into a solid cement road, like a newly sprouted vein extending into the distance. Meanwhile, in the corners yet to be reached, prominent safety warning signs stand, reminding the villagers not to stray into minefields.
Even the most meticulous investigation cannot erase all the metal lumps. Some overlooked landmines are equally dangerous. After careful consideration, the experts made a bold but necessary decision: to destroy these lurking killers on the spot.
"Look at those rusted and corroded bombs and landmines, they're too dangerous. The best way is to completely wipe them off this land and detonate them directly." The expert's words were filled with unwavering determination.
With a command given, the rusty iron lumps were detonated en masse. Instantly, a deafening explosion echoed throughout the valley, demonstrating its immense power.
The Wild Boar Gully in the Xingan Mountains has returned to tranquility, and the mountain hunters and runners no longer live in a perilous environment.
But everyone knows that the person who discovered this rocky hill was Little Li Pao.
Every time the mountain people mention this incident, they are filled with pride: "Little Li was really amazing that time. He led his hunting dogs to kill seventeen or eighteen shrews and also led the team to clear the mines. The division commander personally gave him a certificate of honor!"
……
Li Ju'an's house has been full of guests these past few days. He's been training his eagles and dogs, and he's been thinking about making a trip to the small village in the barley field. That Gobi Desert could be used as a quarry, and he needs to act quickly, otherwise, if someone in his future life takes notice, he'll miss out.