After a brief pause, the leader opened the list of award recipients.
Like the previous awards presented, the "National Model of Patriotism and Support for the Military" honor was not given to just one individual.
Aside from military family members, there were also several philanthropic members of society recognized.
To be honest, Jiang Si hadn’t held much expectation of winning.
As the old saying goes, "Small gains are better than big ambitions."
In her eyes, simply being nominated was already something to be proud of.
Yet, in the blink of an eye, she thought she heard her name called.
"Comrade Jiang Si, while supporting her husband’s dedication to national defense, has also achieved remarkable accomplishments in her professional field!"
"She embodies the dignity, resilience, confidence, and independence of military spouses in the new era…"
As the words faded, the audience erupted into enthusiastic applause.
Twelve individuals received the "National Model of Patriotism and Support for the Military" honor this year, but Jiang Si was the only active-duty military spouse among them.
This undoubtedly brought immense pride to Huo Tingzhou’s Fourth Division—and even the entire Yangcheng Military District.
Under the congratulatory gazes and applause of the crowd, Jiang Si took a deep breath and slowly made her way to the center of the stage.
This time, the awards were presented by a high-ranking official.
Father Huo, as one of the presenters, stood by his side.
Compared to his usual stern demeanor, Father Huo seemed noticeably more spirited today.
His joy was unmistakable.
Soon, the award ceremony officially began.
After receiving the medal and certificate from the leader, Jiang Si felt an indescribable surge of pride.
Just as she thought it was over, the leader warmly extended his hand.
"Congratulations, Comrade Jiang Si. Thank you for your contributions to our national defense."
Though her palms were slightly damp with nervous excitement, Jiang Si remained composed.
She shook his hand firmly and replied, "Thank you, sir. I will continue to devote myself to my work, staying true to my original intention and forging ahead!"
The leader smiled, then glanced at Father Huo beside him.
His admiration was evident.
Father Huo stood even taller, his smile unwavering.
After the ceremony came the exemplary deeds report.
An officer from a border defense unit shared, in simple yet moving words, the story of his company—
how they guarded the nation’s gates at an altitude of over 4,000 meters, defending the country’s territory.
A military spouse representative then spoke about her decades-long daily life—raising children and caring for elders alone while supporting her husband stationed far away.
When she said, "Though holding up a household alone is hard, every time I remember my husband is protecting countless families, I know it’s all worth it,"
her words deeply moved everyone present.
Jiang Si was no exception.
The final segment of the event was a cultural performance.
There were choruses praising soldiers and dances celebrating the bond between civilians and the military.
The ceremony concluded beautifully with a grand chorus.
Though the interviews were over, the awardees couldn’t leave just yet—they still had to cooperate with press interviews.
By the time the interviews wrapped up, it was already past five in the afternoon.
The square outside was crowded, but the moment Jiang Si stepped out of the hall, she spotted Huo Tingzhou waiting at the exit.
He stood tall and straight, clearly having been there for a while.
Jiang Si hurried over, her joy impossible to hide.
Huo Tingzhou naturally took the certificate and medal from her hands.
After examining them carefully, he wrapped an arm around her and guided her toward the car.
"Where are Grandpa and Grandma?" Jiang Si glanced around.
It was the weekend, and the whole family had come that morning.
"They’ve already gone ahead to the restaurant," Huo Tingzhou replied, a faint smile in his eyes.
"Mom and Dad reserved a table to celebrate your achievement. They’re just waiting for us now."
"Were you all so sure I’d win?" Jiang Si teased, tilting her head. "What if I hadn’t? Wouldn’t this celebration have been for nothing?"
"It doesn’t matter," Huo Tingzhou said, his gaze steady on her. "Award or not, you deserve it."
Jiang Si paused, then smiled warmly. "Let’s go. We shouldn’t keep them waiting."
The drive to the restaurant was short—just a few minutes.
But time seemed to fly by today.
Midway through the celebration, it was already time to leave.
Huo Tingzhou had originally planned to go alone, but Jiang Si insisted on seeing him off, and he finally relented.
However, Suisui and Zhaozhao were still so young. After a full day of play and no nap, the two little ones were already drowsy.
Before leaving, Huo Tingzhou bent down and kissed their cheeks repeatedly.
At their age, they didn’t understand what this meant.
When their father’s kisses squished their little faces, Suisui and Zhaozhao instinctively scrunched their brows.
By the time Huo Tingzhou leaned in again, they buried their heads in Mother Huo and Father Huo’s arms.
Watching this, Jiang Si felt her heart ache and melt at once. "Let’s go, or we’ll miss the train."
Huo Tingzhou nodded.
After lingering on the children a moment longer, he bid farewell to everyone.
Mother Huo couldn’t resist adding a few more reminders. "Take care of yourself over there, and call home often."
"I will," he assured her.
Father Huo simply patted his shoulder. "Go on. Travel safely."
The ride to the station was quiet.
By the time they arrived, boarding had begun. At Jiang Si’s insistence, Huo Tingzhou bought a platform ticket.
Though she was technically seeing him off, she stayed by his side the entire time.
The luggage was heavy, but even while making multiple trips, Huo Tingzhou never let go of her hand.
Truthfully, they’d said most of what needed to be said the night before.
But at the moment of parting, Jiang Si couldn’t help repeating her worries.
"Even when training gets busy, remember to eat on time. Call me if anything happens."
Huo Tingzhou turned to her. "I will."
Jiang Si added, "If you need money, let me know. I’ll transfer it to you."
Again, Huo Tingzhou replied, "Alright. Whatever you say."
She continued murmuring a few more things, and Huo Tingzhou simply listened, occasionally responding.
Only when she finished did he speak. "You too—don’t overwork yourself. And… thank you for taking care of everything at home."
Jiang Si nodded. "I know."
The sky had darkened by then.
Huo Tingzhou took a deep breath. "It’s getting late. You should head back."
She knew he was worried. She also knew the days ahead would be hard for him.
To say that each day felt like a year might be a slight exaggeration, but it wasn’t far from the truth.
Jiang Si shook her head. "I’ll leave once you’re in the car."
She wanted to stay with him a little longer.
"Be good and head back now," he said, his tone coaxing, as if speaking to a child.
