Chapter 169 No Conferment of Ranks Unless Necessary

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole room fell silent.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on Liu Jianguo.

...

A few days later, Baishui City, Li Family Toy Factory.

Li Jiajun was unaware of the intense discussions and the final decision following that meeting in the imperial capital.

He only knew that ever since Liu Jianguo had shockingly proposed awarding him a military rank at that top-level meeting, he had been waiting for the final result in a state of extreme excitement mixed with slight anxiety.

Although he always claimed to be an ordinary person who didn't want to get involved with the military, when it actually came time for official recognition, that little bit of vanity in his heart couldn't help but bubble up.

A military rank!

That was a military rank!

Although he didn't know what level it would be, as long as he had that thing, wouldn't he become a member of the establishment?

For people in Lu Province, having a government position was... that was simply incredible.

Besides, he had repeatedly made insignificant contributions to the country, so giving him a rank was reasonable, right?

With this expectation, the next day, when he saw Liu Jianguo's name on his phone, Li Jiajun's heart skipped a beat.

He cleared his throat and answered the phone in what he considered his most steady tone.

"Hello, Uncle Liu, is there good news?"

There was an awkward silence on the other end of the line.

After a full ten seconds of silence, Liu Jianguo's voice, sounding somewhat tired and hesitant, finally rang out.

"Ahem... well... little Li."

"Regarding... regarding the application to award you a military rank..."

Liu Jianguo seemed to be organizing his words; his voice sounded unusually dry, "After... after careful, comprehensive, and multi-dimensional study and consideration by the high-level leaders..."

"It has been... been rejected."

The smile on Li Jiajun's face froze instantly.

He held the phone blankly, his mind going blank.

Rejected?

'I've already taken off my pants, and this is what you show me?' A thought like that popped into his mind.

"Wait... Uncle Liu, why?" Li Jiajun's voice was full of confusion, "I thought my contribution wasn't small, was it? Why was it rejected?"

"This..." Liu Jianguo stammered again on the other end, "The situation... is more complicated. It's mainly... mainly because of the impact."

"Alright, that is all. I have a meeting here, I'm hanging up."

Before Li Jiajun could ask further, a busy signal came from the other end.

Li Jiajun held the phone, listening to the busy signal, and was completely stunned.

A huge surge of anger at being played rushed to his head.

He didn't have any extravagant hopes for a military rank, but this was something Liu Jianguo had proposed himself!

It was you who solemnly promised to apply for it for me!

And now you tell me it was rejected because the situation is complicated?

Isn't this bullying an honest man?

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Li Jiajun felt that if he didn't vent this evil fire, he would suffocate on the spot.

He slammed the table, set up his phone, and started a livestream.

He had even thought of the title: family, is there still any justice? Someone played with my feelings!》

As soon as the stream started, the Netizens, who were already happy to see Factory Director Li being requisitioned again, poured in.

Looking at Li Jiajun's face full of grief and indignation, the bullet comments exploded.

"It's here! The recurring segment! Is the Streamer being requisitioned again?"

"Looking at the Main Streamer's expression, this time it must be something good being requisitioned again!"

"Streamer, don't just look so miserable, tell us, what was taken away this time?"

Li Jiajun looked at these bullet comments, his anger flaring up.

He turned to the camera and started his signature voice-over rant mode, his voice filled with the grievance of being betrayed by the whole world:

"family, you don't know, this time... this time I've been played! Uncle Liu, the Uncle Liu you all know, told me a few days ago that seeing my great contributions, he wanted to apply for a military rank for me! I thought at the time, how embarrassing, I'm just an ordinary toy factory director..."

"But I thought, since it's an honor given by the country, I shouldn't refuse, right? So I waited full of joy! And the result? The result is today he called and said the application was rejected! When I asked him the reason, he stammered and said something about the situation being complicated!"

"You tell me, if this isn't bullying, what is? Isn't this playing me like a monkey? I, Li Jiajun, have never suffered such grievances since I was born!"

His tearful accusation, instead of attracting the sympathy of the Netizens, filled the livestream room with a cheerful atmosphere.

"Hahahaha!"

"Damn! I laughed until I cried! Played with your feelings, are you serious?"

"Streamer, wake up! Think about what you've done! Does the country dare to give you a military rank?"

Just then, a bold, paid effect bullet comment that was quickly pushed to the top drifted by, full of the wisdom of someone who saw through everything:

"Streamer, don't you have any self-awareness? You are too 'criminal'! So 'criminal' that the country doesn't even dare to give you official recognition! Think about it carefully. Without a military rank, if you cause trouble outside, blow up Middle East's tanks, or beat up the warlords in the Golden Triangle, those are all individual civilian actions. The country can say it has nothing to do with them. If they really gave you a military rank, and you take a gas canister out to fish again, that would be a proper state action! Who would take the blame then? Wouldn't it be Uncle Liu?"

This bullet comment, like lightning piercing the night, instantly awakened everyone.

The livestream room was quiet for a moment, and then a wave of bullet comments ten times more intense than before erupted.

"Holy crap! The truth! This is the real official explanation!"

"Damn, the state-level buck-passing scene! Learned something new!"

"Streamer danger level: S+. Even the country thinks you're troublesome and needs to keep a safe distance!"

"This wave, this is called 'No Need, No Commissioning'!"

"So, the Streamer isn't unqualified, he's too qualified, so qualified that the country doesn't dare to have him!"

"Right! We don't want the official military rank! We Netizens will seal it for you! In view of the Streamer's great military exploits, I propose to seal the Streamer as — Militia General!"

"Your perspective is too small! What general? Just the feat of wiping out an armored brigade with a Swarm Drone is enough to seal you as a general! I propose to seal the Streamer as — Militia General!"

"Damn, 'Militia General', are you serious? You're killing me!"

"Agreed! Li Jiajun, Eastern Country Militia Reserve Special General! Shortened, Militia General!"

Looking at the screen full of "Militia General", Li Jiajun's face turned black. He felt his heart was pierced with holes, and he couldn't defend himself.

Just then, a strange call came in.

Li Jiajun took a look and found that the location was Shenzhen, so he subconsciously answered.

On the other end of the phone came a voice he was somewhat familiar with, but also full of politeness and distance.

It was President Wang from the Express Delivery Company.

"Hello, is this the militia... oh no, is this Factory Director Li?" President Wang's voice sounded more respectful than ever before. It was clear he was watching the livestream.

"President Wang, what's up?" Li Jiajun asked weakly.

"Well... Brother Li, regarding the R&D costs for that drone last time, I'll have someone transfer the full amount to you right now. Although our cooperation didn't work out, this matter has nothing to do with you, and you are also a victim..."

President Wang's words were so polite that Li Jiajun felt a bit uncomfortable.

Although logically, the R&D costs shouldn't be paid, after all, he didn't get the goods, but President Wang felt that Li Jiajun was too weird. He just wanted to settle the money quickly, clear his relationship, and never have any entanglements with this plague god again.

After a few polite words, President Wang prepared to hang up the phone. He politely said: "Brother Li, if you need anything from your brother in the future, just speak up, I'll be there on call!"

Hearing this, Li Jiajun's eyes lit up instantly.

'A soulmate! President Wang still understands me!'

He immediately got spirited and said to the phone: "President Wang, since you said so, I won't be polite! How about we cooperate again?"

"Click."

On the other end of the phone came a crisp hang-up sound, followed by a busy signal.

Li Jiajun held the phone, listening to the busy signal, and was completely messed up in the wind.

'What's the situation? Didn't you say you'd be on call? Why did he hang up as soon as I mentioned cooperation?'

The Netizens in the live broadcast room saw his stunned look and went crazy laughing again.

"He was just being polite, Militia General."

"Hahahaha! You're killing me, President Wang was so scared he went to embroider the red flag overnight, Militia General."

"Your Excellency, the General, can't you see that President Wang wants to draw a line with you? Militia General."

"Classic social etiquette, next time for sure, let's meet another day, Militia General."

Looking at the screen full of "Militia General", Li Jiajun felt that he urgently needed a whole bottle of quick-acting heart-saving pills from Uncle Liu.