"Please invite our Mayor Hu to present the honorary medals to the recipients…"
As Pang Yuan spoke, Hu Yaqing and the others stood up. Several tall, uniformed female police officers, holding platters with the honorary medals, marched onto the main stage…
Hu Yaqing, as the presenter, first awarded the Special Honorary Medal to Wan Yunting.
At the same time, Pang Yuan announced, "As Wan Yunting is not a member of our police force, but his contributions are immense, we have made an exception to present him with this Special Honorary Medal…"
Hu Yaqing took a red-based, exquisitely crafted medal from the platter, adorned with a national emblem and the character 'People' in the center. Smiling, she pinned it onto Wan Yunting and said gently, "Congratulations…"
"Thank you, Mayor Hu."
Wan Yunting, unable to contain his excitement, felt a sense of solemn responsibility surge within him as he received the honorary medal. He clasped Hu Yaqing's hand in gratitude.
Besides the medal, there was also a commendation certificate. Wan Yunting held it with both hands, facing the news cameras and the police officers present, and bowed with a smile. This earned him continuous applause from everyone present…
Next, Hu Yaqing presented the First-Class Merit Honorary Medals to Niu Qiuling, Wu Bochaos, Zhou Dong, and Zhang Qi, who were also extremely excited, as it was their first time receiving such an award.
This scene brought great joy to the viewers watching the live broadcast on television and mobile screens. In the Douyin live room, many were typing messages of encouragement for Wan Yunting and Niu Qiuling…
"Little Wan, say a few words to everyone."
Just as everyone was about to leave, Pang Yuan called out to Wan Yunting, handing him a microphone. This made many anticipate what he would say.
Holding the microphone, Wan Yunting hadn't expected this. He looked nervously at everyone present and then said calmly, "I am very happy today. Although I am not a police officer, receiving this Special Honorary Medal is something I will cherish for a lifetime. This would not have been possible without Director Pang's care and support."
"As everyone knows, I spent seven years in prison. Upon my release, I found myself disconnected from society. I also deeply felt the eyes of people filled with rejection and disgust, believing that all of us who have been in prison are bad people."
"However, I am fortunate to have met many people who did not reject me and cared for me. Especially Director Pang and his colleagues, who entrusted me with such a crucial task. Therefore, I am willing to do whatever I can for the public, even if it means sacrificing my life. It would be my honor. Thank you."
Clap, clap, clap…
As soon as he finished speaking, the venue erupted in enthusiastic applause, and all the police officers cheered.
The citizens and netizens watching the news broadcast saw that despite the societal prejudice and rejection Wan Yunting faced upon his release from prison, he did not succumb to despair, nor did he harbor resentment or seek revenge against society.
Instead, he assisted the police in eradicating many societal tumors and criminals. Such high-mindedness and mental fortitude made everyone feel ashamed of themselves.
Pang Yuan, Hu Yaqing, and other leaders stood up to applaud him, smiling as they watched Wan Yunting and the others return to their seats in the front row.
Following this, the presentation of honorary medals to officers who received Second-Class Merit continued until eleven-thirty in the morning. The commendation ceremony concluded after Director Pang Yuan and other police leaders delivered their important speeches.
Of course, in addition to the Special Honorary Medal, Wan Yunting also received a reward of over a million yuan from the police, but Wan Yunting donated it all.
"Mr. Wan, will you continue to assist the police in solving cases in the future?"
As Wan Yunting, wearing the Special Honorary Medal, walked out of the hall with Director Pang Yuan, Mayor Hu Yaqing, and other leaders, he was surrounded by reporters asking questions.
"Of course."
Wan Yunting nodded and smiled, "Wherever the police need me, I will go all out."
"Mr. Wan, why don't you join the police force? That way, you could serve the citizens of Hua City." a reporter asked.
This question prompted Wan Yunting to look back at Pang Yuan and the police leaders beside him. He then smiled at the reporters and said, "Director Pang has invited me to join the police force before, but I declined. Because I am now a Chinese medicine doctor, and as a doctor, I am also serving the general public."
"Mr. Wan, could you tell us…"
"Alright, everyone, reporters. We'll interview him again next time…"
Pang Yuan smiled, cutting off the incessant reporters, and quickly urged everyone to leave the City Hall. They then proceeded directly to a banquet hall, as Pang Yuan had already arranged a celebration banquet to reward heroes like Wan Yunting and Zhou Dong, and Wu Bochaos.
Wan Yunting, naturally, was the center of attention. He sat with Hu Yaqing, Pang Yuan, and many other high-ranking officials, eating and drinking in a lively atmosphere. Some leaders, knowing he had treated Mayor Hu's back ailment, even asked Wan Yunting to check their pulse and see if they had any health issues…
However, Wan Yunting felt somewhat unaccustomed to sitting and dining with these high-ranking officials. While Pang Yuan and Hu Yaqing were discussing work matters, he quietly slipped away to a nearby table where Zhou Dong, Wu Bochaos, Niu Qiuling, and Zhang Qi, who had received First and Second-Class Merit, were sitting.
"Yunting, why did you come over?"
Zhou Dong and Wu Bochaos saw him approach with a wine glass, causing the nearby Niu Qiuling to disdainfully turn her head away and continue gnawing on a salt-and-pepper pork rib…
"Haha, of course, I came to toast Captain Zhou, Captain Wu, and everyone else."
Wan Yunting had drunk quite a bit at the leaders' table. Although he was sober now, he still felt a little lightheaded, which naturally made him more relaxed.
"Come, come, let's all have a drink…"
Zhou Dong, Wu Bochaos, Zhang Qi, and the others also raised their wine glasses and stood up, preparing to drink with Wan Yunting. However, they noticed that Niu Qiuling was still sitting, continuing to eat the pork rib.
"Qiuling, let's have a drink with Yunting too." Wu Bochaos called out.
"Who wants to drink with him? If you want to drink, drink yourselves. Don't mind me."
Niu Qiuling looked up and glanced coldly at Wan Yunting standing beside her, then continued to pick up the second piece of pork rib to eat.
"Qiuling, you…"
"Alright, Captain Wu, let's drink."
Wan Yunting knew this girl was upset with him. He first had a drink with Wu Bochaos and the others, then pulled over a chair and squeezed in between Wu Bochaos and Niu Qiuling.
"What are you doing?"
Niu Qiuling immediately turned her head, her almond eyes glaring at him. Wan Yunting, with an arrogant demeanor, smiled and said, "Of course, I'm eating with you all. The pressure at the leaders' table is too great."
"Haha, then sit here and drink with us."
Wu Bochaos and Zhou Dong laughed. Wan Yunting nodded, looking at Niu Qiuling gnawing on the salt-and-pepper pork rib. He immediately picked up his chopsticks, placed a piece of green vegetable in her bowl, and said, "These ribs are fried too much; eating too many will cause internal heat. Here, eat more vegetables…"
Seeing the man putting food in her bowl, Niu Qiuling eyed him sideways, then quickly picked up her chopsticks and transferred the greens from her bowl to Wan Yunting's bowl, saying, "I don't need you to do that for me. Also, I don't like green vegetables!"
…Wan Yunting was stunned on the spot, then felt speechless yet amused. He leaned closer and whispered in Niu Qiuling's ear with a smile, "You say that as if I've made you 'green' (cheated on you)."
"Let go."
Being spoken to so close to her ear made Niu Qiuling's heart tremble inexplicably. She quickly raised her hand and pushed Wan Yunting's face away, then stood up, glared at him fiercely, and turned to walk towards the restroom.
Seeing Wu Bochaos, Zhou Dong, Zhang Qi, and the others staring at him, Wan Yunting smiled awkwardly, stood up, and said, "You guys continue, I'm going to the restroom too…"