41: Chapter 41 breaks the record for the youngest recipient of the award!

Friday morning, at the headquarters of the Qinglan City Management Bureau.

The dark gray main building stood solemnly, while the wings of the building were bustling with crowds.

Men, women, and children wearing various uniforms and uniform spectator badges arrived in an endless stream, and the air was filled with a low murmur that mixed excitement, solemnity, and anticipation.

"So many people,"

Liu Hui looked at the bustling crowd at the entrance and couldn't help but exclaim.

Lin Jianjun walked at the very front of the family of three.

He had changed into a crisp summer uniform, his shoulder straps and collar insignia were meticulous, and even his leather shoes were polished to a shine.

His face was expressionless, his lips pressed tightly together, but he kept adjusting his already perfectly neat cuffs and tugging gently at the hem of his already smooth jacket, before finally letting out a shallow breath.

After doing all this, he straightened his back and took the lead, his steps steady, but both Liu Hui and Lin Chen, who knew him well, could tell that his gait was slightly stiffer than usual.

After verifying their invitation and credentials at the entrance, the family of three stepped into the auditorium.

The view suddenly opened up.

With a high dome, bright lights, and deep red seats arranged in a fan shape that sloped downward from back to front, every position ensured a clear view of the stage ahead.

Nearly half the seats were already occupied, and more people were still arriving.

Most were staff members of the Beast Management Bureau at various levels in uniform, along with a large number of family members.

On both sides of the auditorium, staff members carrying professional video cameras and cameras were adjusting their equipment, responsible for recording the grandeur of this internal award ceremony.

As soon as Lin Jianjun entered, it was like a drop of water merging into a familiar river.

He had been in this line of work for decades and had extensive connections; coupled with his steady and hardworking nature, he had many friends in various branches and positions with whom he had interacted or even carried out missions.

"Old Lin! Over here!"

"Jianjun, congratulations!"

"Brother Lin, looking sharp today!"

"Old Lin, you've finally waited for this day!"

The forced seriousness on Lin Jianjun's face quickly melted away; he nodded in response while shaking hands and patting the shoulders of the acquaintances who came to greet him, exchanging "Congratulations to you too" with them.

His smiles today seemed more numerous than all of them combined over the past month.

Liu Hui followed by his side, smiling and nodding to the family members she recognized.

Lin Chen followed silently half a step behind his parents, his gaze sweeping calmly across the venue.

As a temporary assistant, and stationed at the relatively remote Beast Control Bureau in Qingyang Town, he barely knew anyone here.

Being able to stand here this time was entirely due to the unexpected merit gained from that bizarre Gale Weasel incident, and even he felt a bit dazed.

Suddenly, a greeting came from the side: "Lin Chen?"

Lin Chen turned his head at the sound and saw a slightly chubby young man looking at him with some surprise.

Yang Xingyu walked over quickly: "It really is you! I thought it looked like you from behind."

Lin Chen was also somewhat surprised: "Xingyu?"

Yang Xingyu was his classmate; if he remembered correctly, his father was also an old staff member of the Beast Management Bureau, and he had likely received an award this time as well.

"I didn't expect to run into you here," Yang Xingyu said with a face full of emotion.

After exchanging pleasantries, Yang Xingyu suddenly asked: "By the way, I heard you got into Qiming Beast-Taming Academy?"

When graduates meet, the most discussed topics are grades and the colleges they were admitted to.

Lin Chen nodded.

Yang Xingyu gave a thumbs up: "That's awesome, bro."

He scratched his head again: "I wasn't as lucky. My scores just barely made the cut, and I was admitted to the Qiming City Public Security Academy."

This was a direct-affiliated institution founded by the Beast Management Bureau, specifically to cultivate and supply talent for the internal system. Lin Jianjun and Director Li Haotian had both graduated from there back in the day.

The advantage was that it guaranteed job placement and stability—it was considered an iron rice bowl. The disadvantage was that future career paths were basically limited to the public security system, with a clear ceiling.

With his father being a staff member of the Beast Management Bureau and him getting into the Public Security Academy, it could be considered following in his father's footsteps.

"It's hard to find a job these days, so the Public Security Academy is quite good," Lin Chen said with a smile, offering his congratulations.

"Eh, just trying to make a living."

Yang Xingyu waved his hand, then leaned in closer and lowered his voice: "I heard from Li Heng that you're working as a temporary assistant at the Beast Control Bureau in Qingyang Town? I'm working at the East City Bureau near my home."

"Is that so? How does it feel?" Lin Chen asked.

"Don't get me started."

Yang Xingyu's face immediately soured, and he began to complain in a low voice: "It's so boring, completely different from what I imagined."

"Every day is just patrolling along a set route, occasionally handling some trivial matters; it's not interesting at all. Just thinking about spending the next few decades like this makes me feel like life is dull."

Lin Chen smiled without saying anything.

The daily routine at the Beast Control Bureau was just like that, entangled in trivialities.

As the two talked, Yang Xingyu's gaze drifted involuntarily toward the backdrop behind the stage, which bore the words "Qinglan City Beast Management Bureau Commendation and Award Ceremony," his eyes revealing undisguised envy:

"Sigh, if only we temporary workers could snag an award too. Otherwise, I guess I'll have to grind until I'm like my dad, with white hair, before it happens."

Just as he was speaking, the loudspeaker played a soft prompt: "Please everyone take your seats in an orderly fashion; the award ceremony is about to begin."

The two stopped talking and found their respective seats.

Fortunately, their seats were not far apart; Yang Xingyu and his parents were in the row in front of and diagonally opposite Lin Chen's family, and their parents exchanged a brief greeting.

The lights dimmed slightly, focusing on the stage, and the entire venue quickly quieted down.

A middle-aged man with a square face and shoulder straps indicating a very high rank walked onto the stage with steady steps and began to speak.

Lin Chen recognized him at a glance—it was Zhou Zhengping, the Bureau Chief of the Qinglan City Beast Management Bureau.

Zhou Zhengping's speech was concise and powerful; he affirmed the hard work and achievements of all the bureau's cadres and staff over the first half of the year, and expressed his congratulations and expectations for the award recipients and all personnel.

There was no long-winded jargon; it ended in five minutes, crisp and clean, winning warm applause from the entire audience.

The award segment officially began.

The atmosphere in the venue became increasingly solemn as the host walked onto the stage holding a list.

"Now, I will read the list of award recipients. Please, comrades whose names are called, come up to the stage in order to receive your awards from Bureau Chief Zhou."

"The first is Comrade Cui Tonghua from the West City Branch Beast Control Bureau. This comrade, in the recent cracking of a series of theft cases..."

Accompanied by stirring award music and enthusiastic applause from the audience, a lean, middle-aged staff member strode onto the stage, took the glittering medal and bright red certificate from Zhou Zhengping, stood at attention, saluted, and then, following the guidance, stood in the area reserved behind the stage for the award recipients.

The spotlight shone on him, his face filled with irrepressible excitement and pride.

One after another.

Their deeds were all different; some had charged to the front in special operations, some were deeply loved for their community service, and others had overcome difficulties in technical positions...

Applause rang out time and again, the atmosphere solemn and enthusiastic.

Yang Xingyu's father also went up on stage.

When he heard his father's name and the summary of his deeds, Yang Xingyu was so excited he nearly jumped from his seat, clapping vigorously, his face flushed red.

"The next is Comrade Lin Jianjun from the Heyang District Beast Control Bureau."

The clear voice echoed throughout the auditorium via the loudspeakers.

Lin Jianjun took a deep breath, adjusted his collar, which didn't have a single wrinkle, and then stepped forward, walking toward the steps on the side of the stage.

Decades of diligence, day after day of patrolling, endless trivial matters to handle, occasional dangers, the calm acceptance of having no hope for promotion, the sense of responsibility for this profession that had never faded...

Everything seemed to be concentrated in these short few dozen steps walking toward the stage.

He walked onto the stage, stood at attention in front of Zhou Zhengping, and saluted.

Zhou Zhengping returned the salute with a look of approval on his face, picked up the medal, pinned it solemnly above the left breast pocket of Lin Jianjun's uniform, and then handed the certificate to him.

"We also prepared a surprise for you," Zhou Zhengping said in a low voice, patting his shoulder.

A surprise?

Lin Jianjun was stunned for a moment, but before he could think too much, he followed the guidance and stood in the line of award recipients, waiting for the final group photo.

He gripped the certificate tightly in his hands, feeling the cold touch and heavy weight of the medal on his chest, his gaze involuntarily turning toward the family section below.

When he saw Liu Hui clapping vigorously and Lin Chen smiling at him, the smile on his face could no longer be contained.

The applause below gradually subsided, and the host picked up the list again.

Only a few award recipients remained, and the proceedings continued.

"The next is Comrade Zhao Gang from the North Suburb Branch Special Incident Rapid Response Squadron..."

"The next is Comrade Sun Lihua from the Command Center Intelligence Analysis Section..."

After the host finished reading the previous name, she paused slightly, her gaze sweeping across the venue, her tone seeming even more solemn than before, her voice coming through the microphone clearly:

"The next award recipient is quite special; he has broken the record for the youngest award recipient in the history of our Qinglan City Beast Management Bureau."

A wave of suppressed discussion immediately broke out below.

"The youngest record?"

"Who is it? Which unit is this young talent from?"

"Are there any particularly outstanding new staff members this year?"

Lin Jianjun scanned the venue, a trace of curiosity flashing through his mind.

The youngest record?

Who could it be?

It's so hard to guess.

Most people were looking around, but only Director Li Haotian sat quietly in his place, a smile gradually appearing on his face.

The host seemed very satisfied with the effect created by this little suspense; she smiled slightly and raised her volume:

"He is only eighteen years old."

The entire venue was in an uproar.

Yang Xingyu turned his head to look at Lin Chen, pouted, and lowered his voice to a whisper: "Damn, he's the same age as us; he wouldn't happen to be some young master..."

Before he could finish speaking, the host's voice continued:

"He is none other than—Comrade Lin Chen, a D-rank assistant from the Qingyang Town Beast Control Bureau!"

Yang Xingyu's voice stopped abruptly; he stared with wide eyes, his finger pointing at Lin Chen trembling uncontrollably.

Time seemed to be infinitely stretched at this moment.

On stage, Lin Jianjun was bewildered.

Who?

Lin Chen?