130: Chapter 130 Are you hinting at something? I've already picked out a name for the child!

Gong Chengze's tone left Zhao Yang feeling confused: "I've only been wandering around outside for a few days, and it was with your approval, why so serious!"

At 2:20 PM, Zhao Yang arrived at the auditorium of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection ten minutes early.

The auditorium was already packed, a sea of heads, at least two or three hundred people.

Zhao Yang hadn't been working at the Commission for Discipline Inspection for long and didn't know many people, so he found a seat in the back.

He kept wondering what Gong Chengze's words "must not be absent" actually implied.

At 2:30 PM, the Member of the Provincial Standing Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, Gong Chengze, was the first to walk onto the stage.

Behind him were the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and the various members of the Standing Committee.

The Secretary-General of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, Xu Weizhou, was the last to take the stage.

Gong Chengze took his seat in the center of the podium, while the others sat on either side.

Gong Chengze turned on the microphone and presided over the meeting:

"Comrades, let us begin. Today we are holding a plenary meeting for all staff of the Jianghan Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection. There is only one main agenda item."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room:

"To commend the comrades who have made outstanding contributions in recent major cases."

The audience quieted down.

Next, Xu Weizhou began to read the commendation decision.

First, the Fourth and Seventh Divisions received collective commendations.

Then, Wu Licheng, Zheng Beichen, and Gao Yan received individual third-class merit, and Lu Zheng received individual second-class merit.

Hearing that his comrades-in-arms from the same trench were being commended, Zhao Yang was genuinely happy for them.

But at the same time, he felt a slight sense of loss.

"Is it because I'm about to be transferred?"

What he didn't expect was that the list of commendations wasn't finished; there was more to come.

"Next," Xu Weizhou's voice rose a notch, "I will read the highest honor of this commendation."

The whole hall fell silent.

"Comrade Zhao Yang, during the supervision of work style in Tongan City, uncovered a corrupt clique within the public security system and captured the true culprit of a major criminal case.

"During the discipline inspection and supervision of the irregular restructuring of the Tongan Die-Casting Machine Factory, he went deep into the front lines, unafraid of danger, and made decisive contributions in breaking through the case and securing evidence.

"The amount of money involved in this case was huge, and the social impact was severe; it is one of the major corrupt cliques our province has investigated in recent years.

"Comrade Zhao Yang's outstanding work provided critical support for the successful conclusion of the case..."

The commendation decision was quite long, and it made Zhao Yang feel a bit floaty.

Although it was all true, there was no need to be so high-profile!

People in the audience began to whisper, casting glances at Zhao Yang in the corner from time to time.

"Particularly noteworthy," Xu Weizhou's voice continued, "is that Comrade Zhao Yang, in the practice of handling cases, summarized and refined suggestions for detention. After being reported by the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, it received high attention from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and will serve as an important reference for amending the 'Administrative Supervision Law'."

The whole hall was in an uproar.

Zhao Yang was also stunned. He had only mentioned it to Gong Chengze last time, pointing out the drawbacks of the "two-finger" method and proposing the detention measure.

It hadn't even been written down, so how could it be used as a basis for merit?

"After study by the Standing Committee of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection and approval by the Provincial Committee," Xu Weizhou's voice was resonant and powerful, "it has been decided to grant Comrade Zhao Yang a personal first-class merit!"

Applause erupted, like a tide, wave after wave.

Zhao Yang sat there, unable to react for a moment.

Someone next to him nudged him: "Zhao Yang, they're calling you! Go up to the stage!"

Only then did he stand up, straighten his collar, and walk forward along the aisle.

As he walked, countless eyes fell upon him.

Some were surprised, some envious, and some examining him.

Zhao Yang looked straight ahead, walking all the way to the front of the podium.

Member of the Provincial Standing Committee and Secretary of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection, Gong Chengze, personally handed him the certificate and shook his hand.

"Comrade Zhao Yang, well done, keep up the good work!"

Zhao Yang accepted the certificate and saluted the audience.

The applause started again.

The award ceremony ended, and the meeting continued.

Zhao Yang returned to his seat, the certificate in his hand feeling heavy.

He opened it to take a look: the gold-embossed national emblem, the bright red seal, and a line of text:

Awarded personal first-class merit.

In addition, there was a cash reward of ten thousand yuan.

How long had he been at the Commission for Discipline Inspection? Only a few months.

To receive a first-class merit in such a short time, this was likely a first in the history of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection.

And he knew how much weight this first-class merit carried.

It meant that once he had served a full year as a section-level official, he could be promoted to deputy division-level ahead of schedule.

After the meeting, Zhao Yang waited at the door of the auditorium for a while.

Seeing Gong Chengze come out, he walked up quickly.

"Secretary Gong."

Gong Chengze glanced at him: "Come with me."

The two walked one after another into Gong Chengze's office.

The door closed, and Gong Chengze pointed to the sofa:

"Sit."

Zhao Yang sat down and placed the certificate on the coffee table.

Gong Chengze didn't rush to speak but looked at Zhao Yang, seemingly waiting for him to speak first.

"Secretary Gong," Zhao Yang deliberated his words, "this first-class merit, I..."

"You deserve it," Gong Chengze interrupted him.

"In two months, you not only caught the murderer and the mastermind behind the June 11 Case, but also got to the bottom of the restructuring issues at the Die-Casting Machine Factory.

"What do you call this? This is solid achievement.

"As for that suggestion, I thought it had value, so I had someone compile it and submitted it under your name."

He paused, revealing a hint of a smile:

"Xiao Zhao, you are going to the Provincial Government soon. Remember, you are a first-class merit recipient of the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection; don't embarrass the Provincial Commission for Discipline Inspection after you go!"

Zhao Yang felt a shock in his heart, and all his doubts became clear.

Gong Chengze was Sun Zhendong's man, and Sun Zhendong had a high appreciation for him.

Gong Chengze was giving him a generous gift before he left.

Letting him leave with this honor would make his future promotions smoother.

This was not just showing favor to him, but also declaring a stance to Sun Zhendong.

"Secretary Gong," Zhao Yang stood up, his voice choked with emotion, "thank you."

Gong Chengze waved his hand and smiled:

"If you want to thank someone, thank yourself. This merit is something you earned; it is well-deserved."

Walking out of the office building, the sun outside was already setting.

Zhao Yang stood on the steps, looking at the heavy certificate in his hand, took out his phone, and called Jiang Nan.

"Hello?" Jiang Nan's voice came through, "Is the meeting over?"

"It's over." Zhao Yang paused, "Wife, I've been awarded a first-class merit."

Ever since he met Jiang Nan's parents, whenever the mood struck him, Zhao Yang would privately call her his wife.

Whenever he called her that, Jiang Nan would always sweetly refer to him as our Yangyang.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, and then Jiang Nan's happy laughter came through:

"Mm, our Yangyang is truly amazing."

Zhao Yang laughed: "Of course, otherwise how could I be worthy of the bright and beautiful Officer Jiang?"

"Stop with the flattery." Jiang Nan laughed, "But seriously, I'm happy for you."

"Mm." Zhao Yang looked at the sunset in the distance, "Nannan, I'm going to Tongan to see you this weekend, is that okay?"

"No." Jiang Nan's voice softened, "You're about to go to a new unit, you must have a lot to do. I'll go back to Jiangzhou this weekend, don't tell my mom."

"Got it!"

Zhao Yang let out a cheeky laugh:

"Officer Jiang, are you hinting at me? I've even named the kid!"