Great Power Technology.

Chapter 314 Different countries, different rewards

On July 7, two weeks after the naval standoff ended.

Medellin is back in Texas, where he received the warmest reception he has seen in years.

People sang about his deeds, invited him to participate in TV programs, and the newspapers were full of news about him flying a fighter plane to fight wits and bravely with the enemy. Even the way his fiancée looked at him changed.

Before he left, his fiancée's eyes were probably filled with admiration, but now, it's more of... reverence?
It seems that I have really become a hero.

A crashed hero.

Medellin sat in the yard of his home, the sun was blazing, and he was playing with an Air Force Cross in his hand.

It was a rare medal, but it was not the end, the highest honor awarded to him, the Medal of Honor by the Supreme Commander, was already on the way.

He stroked the shining medal, feeling an inexplicable feeling in his heart.

He would have been very excited for himself.

If not excited, there should be pride, contentment, and a sense of fulfillment.

But, neither.

There was just emptiness, worry, and even fear.

Since when did this army change?

Since when did a pilot like myself, who was manipulated by the enemy, even forced to abandon the plane and jump out of the plane without the help of any modern weapons, become a combat hero?
Medellin couldn't think of an answer.

He sighed deeply, the door behind him opened, and his fiancée Catherine came out, squatted down slightly, stroked his face and said:
"Look at your expression, little pity, what's the matter?"

Medellin shook his head and replied:

"No big deal, I just don't feel well."

"Not feeling well? Are you sunburned? You shouldn't be lying here, the sun is too strong now."

"Not for that reason."

Medellin shook his head and did not continue to answer.

It was impossible for Catherine to understand her concerns, and it was impossible for her to tell him in violation of the confidentiality agreement.
-
In other words, even if there is no confidentiality agreement, it is impossible for him to tell her.

To be a false fighting hero, or to be a real coward?

This is an obvious choice.

After a pause, he said:
"Today's interview is scheduled for an hour later, and I hope you will join me, is that okay?"

With an excited expression on Catherine's face, she nodded heavily and replied:

"As long as you want!"

"Of course I want to, because my credit is also half of yours..."

Medellin took Catherine into his arms and kissed her forehead deeply, but when he hugged her, the indifferent and dazed expression appeared on his face again.

……

At 11 o'clock in the morning, Medellin and Catherine appeared at the interview site on time. They sat snuggled up on the sofa in the studio, like a pair of lovers.

The host first introduced Medellin's deeds, and then asked:
"Captain, I heard that in the battle with the opponent, you once forced back three fighters of the opponent by yourself. Can you tell us how you did it?"

"I mean, wow, one-on-three! This isn't decades ago, everyone's aircraft are advanced, right? It's almost impossible to do this?"

Hearing the host's question, Medellin coughed and replied:
"Actually, she's still pretty good and does a really good job -- I mean my F-35C."

"You know, I've been through life and death with her many times, and we have experienced many hardships together, so we have a tacit understanding."

"So, when facing the enemy, we cooperated very well."

"This time there are only three planes. Next time I go up to the sky with her, even if there are 10 enemy planes, I will not be afraid."

Medellin's words were full of puns, and the host nodded in satisfaction.

He didn't care how the other party forced the enemy back, he only cared about whether the other party's answer could arouse the emotions of the audience.

Obviously, at this point, Medellin has done a good job.

After a burst of classic white laughter, the host went on to ask:

"You have already won a Cross Medal, right? There may be other rewards in the future, and the Texas government will also give you a bonus. What are your plans for how to use the bonus in the future?"

Medellin pretended to think for a moment, then replied:

"I'll auction off the medal."

"auction?"

This time, the surprise on the host's face was not fake.

"Yeah, I'll auction it off and donate the proceeds to Veterans Care. You know, we have a lot of comrades who suffer from PTSD, and I don't think I've got a lot of energy—because I'm still To continue serving, but I can help them in this way."

"A true patriot!"

The host took the lead in applauding, with a moved expression on his face, and then he continued to ask:

"And yourself? What is your own plan?"

"Well, me, I'm going to have a big wedding with Catherine, we're going to renovate our house, dig a swimming pool, and get a new car. You know, the Chevrolet I parked outside the studio is a bit old and out of shape gone."

"Hahahahaha, I think Chevrolet should just send you a new car! Also, maybe you guys can take a trip around the world?"

"That's for the future. For now, I'll probably continue to serve in the Air Force—until we conquer the skies."

There was warm applause in the studio, Medellin and Catherine looked at each other and smiled, everything was said in silence.

.......
When the Ugly Country hypes Medellin into a hero, gives him various preferential treatment, and helps him on the road of winning in life, on the other hand, Gao Fei does not seem to have received any preferential treatment—except for a full three-month vacation.

He retrieved his own letter from the political commissar, tore it up on the train home, and sprinkled it in the small river in his hometown. I bought snacks, and went to the flower and bird market to buy fertilizer specially for growing flowers.

After doing all this, he returned home.

His wife, Liu Yiran, had prepared meals and was waiting for him at home, and the parents of both parties had already gathered together. When Gao Fei arrived home, they were happily chatting on the sofa.

Seeing Gao Fei coming back, everyone’s faces were full of surprises. They greeted them with greetings, saying for a while that the food on the aircraft carrier was so fattening, and for a while they said that the sea breeze was too salty and their faces were rough. But in the end, everyone Still came to a common conclusion:

Just come back.

At the dinner table, Gao Fei's father-in-law poured him a full glass of wine, and then asked:
"I heard that you drove the J-[-] at sea this time?"

Gao Fei smiled and replied:
"What! Dad, don't talk nonsense, we are all peaceful confrontations."

"Really? Then how did I hear about them? Didn't you do it?"

"no no."

Goofy shook his head and replied.

There was a look of disappointment on the father-in-law's face, but in the blink of an eye, he suddenly became excited again.

"Oh, I see, you can't say it! Hey, look at my mouth, I just can't control it, I have to ask everything. Come, come, drink and drink!"

Gao Fei picked up the wine glass and drank it down in one gulp, giving his father-in-law an expression of "God knows, you know, I know".

After drinking a glass, his father also poured wine for him, but his question was much more down-to-earth.

"You have three months of vacation this time? Did you take this opportunity to take the child? You two are not young anymore. After two years, you will be old and dangerous."

"Don't take it seriously, your mother and I suffered from this back then, you still have to hurry up!"

Gao Fei nodded solemnly and replied:
"This is what we plan to do. When we are on vacation next year, we will give birth to a little pilot."

"That's great!"

Father clapped his hands abruptly, and everyone at the table toasted together.

"Then this is the last meal. After that, you will close the mountains to cultivate forests, and you will succeed as soon as possible——no, there will be another meal tomorrow. The town said that it is going to send something to our hometown tomorrow, so you need to go back."

"Send something? Send what?"

Gao Fei asked suspiciously.

"I don't know, you don't even know how I know, your leader didn't inform you?"

Gao Fei thought for a moment, then replied with some hesitation:
"I mentioned it a bit, but I didn't listen carefully...Forget it, I'll call and ask later."

Hearing his words, the people at the table didn't pursue the matter anymore. After finishing the meal, Gao Fei picked up the phone and called his immediate superior.

After learning about his problem, the superior scolded him fiercely, and finally only said one sentence:

"Since you didn't listen to it at the time, then don't listen to it, and watch it for yourself tomorrow!"

Ever since, he had no choice but to sleep with doubts.

The next morning, the group returned to the small village in their hometown. After burning incense in the ancestral hall, they sat at the entrance of the village and waited quietly.

The people from the town arrived in the village strictly according to the agreed time, but the leader was not the town leader, but the city leader.

The secretary recognized Gao Fei at a glance. He took Gao Fei's hand and pulled him aside, explained the situation in detail, and finally concluded:
"Anyway, this is the situation now. It's really not suitable for you to make a big fanfare about your matter. But your superiors have also told me through it, and there will be everything that should be there in the future. Now we will temporarily replace them."

Gao Fei nodded in understanding, and looked curiously at the three things held by a special person behind the other party.

The secretary smiled, but did not reveal the answer immediately.

After they walked back to the ancestral hall, he spoke to a limited number of people. After a simple ceremony, he directed everyone to uncover the red cloth.

Gao Fei looked intently, and what caught his eyes were two plaques and a piece of calligraphy.

"The Pillar of the Country".

"Sea and Air Warriors".

"make persistent efforts".

And the name signed above is familiar to everyone.

Several people jingled and hung the plaque on the door, and Gao Fei noticed that they seemed to have left a blank space on purpose.

Seeing this scene, everyone onlookers understood.

One day in the future, what will be hung at that location will be a bronzing plaque.

First class hero.

(End of this chapter)