Chapter 1268 Inspection 2

The car doors blocked out the noise from the outside world, but they couldn't block out the sound waves that grew clearer and clearer, like the tides of the sea, as they approached from afar.

As the massive convoy slowly turned and officially entered the imposing metal archway of the main entrance to the 003 Joint Military Factory, the sudden open view made Lei Jun's heart skip a beat as he looked out through the dark car window, and then he was swept away by a surge of scalding heat!

Inside the gate, the newly paved, wide, and smooth eight-lane main road in the joint production area was densely packed with people!

Those were people, a living, breathing crowd with all sorts of expressions! At a glance, there were at least several thousand!

They were not uniformly dressed soldiers; their attire varied.

There were frontline workers in blue overalls stained with oil and dust, technicians and engineers in clean white or gray uniforms, canteen staff and cleaners in support uniforms, and even some women and teenagers who were probably family representatives and dressed relatively cleanly...

Everyone was holding something: mostly homemade red flags of varying sizes, some made of rough cloth but bright red in color; several long banners with handwritten words such as "Welcome the Leaders to Inspect", "Building a Strong War Zone" and "Factory 003 Creates Glory" were held high and fluttered slightly in the wind.

Many others clutched bunches of wildflowers they had gathered from the wild—small flowers that grew tenaciously in the crevices of karst rocks, whose names they did not know, and whose colors ranged from pale purple to bright yellow to pure white. These flowers were carefully bundled together and were now trembling slightly in countless hands that were covered in mud and dust, calloused, or slightly slender.

The silence was just a fleeting illusion.

The moment that tan minibus, the heart of the convoy, clearly came into view—

"boom!!!!!"

Long-suppressed emotions and expectations, like a powder keg ignited, exploded with a roar! No, they were even more intense and surging!

The entire main road erupted in a frenzy! It transformed into a whirlwind of sound and color!

"Greetings, Commander!"

"Welcome, Commander!!!"

"Long live the Central Plains Theater!!!"

"Go Factory 003!!!"

"Thank you, sir! We will definitely do our best!!!"

...

All sorts of cheers, greetings, slogans, and even choked shouts burst forth from thousands of excitedly opening and closing mouths, converging into a torrent of scorching sound that soared straight into the sky!

The voice was so sincere, so passionate, so undisguised, as if it wanted to pour out all the hardships, expectations, pride and gratitude of everyone present over the past year!

Arms holding banners waved vigorously, wildflowers clasped tightly swayed excitedly, and countless upturned faces were filled with excitement, reverence, joy, and tears.

The once heavy and sturdy steel convoy now travels on this "road" paved with countless sincere emotions, as if lifted up by an invisible, warm, and powerful force.

The drivers of the Type 09 infantry fighting vehicle and the Mengshi assault vehicle looked through the observation windows at the surging crowds on both sides, and felt the slight tremors from the solid road beneath their vehicles, seemingly resonating with the cheers. For a moment, they had a strange feeling:

These steel behemoths, weighing tens of tons, felt surprisingly light when driven, as if they were floating on clouds, propelled forward by the enthusiasm of the people.

Inside the car, Gu Chengyuan had already slightly risen from his seat and looked out the window at the touching scene.

A genuine and warm smile involuntarily appeared on his originally calm face.

That smile shed the majesty of a superior and the shrewdness of a strategist, revealing the most genuine satisfaction and joy of seeing the land he had worked so hard to cultivate finally come back to life and the people he had protected full of hope.

He turned his head to look at Lei Jun beside him, who seemed both excited and somewhat uneasy because the scene had far exceeded his expectations.

Noticing the leader's gaze, Lei Jun suddenly realized what the leader was thinking.

So, almost enduring the slightly threatening glances from the guards in the car, he reported quickly but clearly:

"Reporting to the commander! Please rest assured! All the welcoming personnel present have undergone rigorous screening and background checks by the 003 Project Command and the Security Brigade!"

"Mainly representatives of outstanding construction engineers, workshop workers, and technical departments, as well as model workers and some key workers and their families! Absolutely safe and reliable!"

After speaking, he looked at Gu Chengyuan with slight nervousness, and then glanced nervously at the guards whose faces had darkened.

With Lei Jun's swift and affirmative assurance, Gu Chengyuan's smile deepened. He turned his gaze back to the surging ocean outside the car window, then looked at the head of the security team responsible for his personal protection—an officer with the rank of lieutenant colonel and a resolute face.

The lieutenant colonel captain frowned, clearly extremely worried about the large crowd that exceeded the original security plan. He moved his lips, as if he wanted to say something.

Gu Chengyuan, who had found evidence, spoke first, his tone calm but firm: "The will of the people is there, and we cannot refuse their kind invitation. Xiao Yuan, open the window."

Upon hearing this, Lieutenant Colonel Yuen Long took a deep breath, knowing that he could not change his superior's decision and could only respond with the strictest protection.

He said in a helpless and solemn voice, "Sir, please be vigilant and do not lean out too much."

He then gestured to a guard beside him.

As soon as he finished speaking, the guard stepped forward and skillfully and quickly checked the locking mechanism of the car window. Then, he slowly pushed down a crack in the specially made, thickened car window next to Gu Chengyuan, which could only accommodate half a body sticking out.

The next second, a fresh breeze, carrying the unique dust of the industrial area and the faint fragrance of wildflowers in the distance, instantly rushed into the car.

At the same time, Gu Chengyuan's figure emerged from behind the open car window.

He was dressed in a crisp, dark green general's uniform, his posture upright as a pine tree, a peaceful, warm, yet powerful smile on his face, as he vigorously waved his arms toward the endless, excited crowds on both sides of the road.

"Hello everyone!"

At that moment, time seemed to freeze for a split second.

immediately--

"Ah!!! Commander!! It's the commander!!!"

"The commander waved! The commander saw us!!"

"Commander!! We thank you!!!"

"Long live the Commander!!! Long live the Central Plains Theater Command!!!"

.....

The crowds on both sides of the road were instantly ignited to a new, almost boiling, climax!

Many representatives who had only seen Gu Chengyuan's image in photos, propaganda posters, or blurry videos were now seeing in person this legendary young commander who had led them out of despair, rebuilt their homes, and given them jobs and hope, waving to them so realistically and so approachably...

Tears welled up instantly!

They waved everything in their hands frantically, and wildflower petals fluttered down in the excitement.

They shouted with all their might, their voices hoarse but full of emotion:

"Thank you, sir! You gave me a new job! You gave my child a place to go to school!"

"Sir! Factory 003 will definitely become the strongest in the country! We guarantee it!"

"Please take care of your health, sir!!"

"Welcome to visit us anytime! We'll always be there for you!"

"Wishing the commander good health! May the war zone grow ever stronger!"

……

The shouts, rising and falling, mixed with sobs and the simplest blessings, were like the most fervent waves, crashing against the moving steel convoy and striking the hearts of everyone on board.

Gu Chengyuan's hand continued to wave, his gaze slowly sweeping over the excited, tearful faces, over the rough but hopeful hands, and over the steel forest that had risen from the ruins.

Sunlight shone on the star on his shoulder, reflecting golden light and falling on his smiling, slightly moist eyes.

At this moment, Gu Chengyuan shed tears...

This is not just a welcome, but also recognition, support, and affirmation of his work by the people who rebuild their homes with sweat and faith on the post-apocalyptic wasteland.

I don't need your praise, I just hope you can all live better lives...