"That's right, Old Liang, come, come, let me fill your glass. Today we're celebrating two joyous events, we won't stop drinking until we're drunk!"

As Master Han poured the wine, the family dinner officially began.

Little Han Han was reluctantly "captured" to the table, sitting next to Han Xiangning, looking at one dish and then another, pouting as she felt these dishes weren't as tasty as the snacks her dad bought.

Liang Xiaojun has a surgery scheduled for tomorrow morning, so he couldn't drink with the two elders tonight and could only drink beverages like Han Yu.

As a pre-reserve officer of the Linghai Reserve Camp, he was keen to know how his comrades Ma Jintao, Xiao Yu, and others were doing.

Han Yu briefly introduced them, curiously asking, "Xiaojun, you've graduated with your master's, what's your work arrangement?"

"What's there to arrange? I'll stay at the affiliated hospital."

"Which department?"

"General Surgery."

Han Yu asked puzzled, "Weren't you in Thoracic Surgery before? How did you end up in General Surgery?"

Before Liang Xiaojun could speak, Han Xiangmeng chuckled and said, "His teacher is the Thoracic Surgery Director, and he used to help out there. Now that he's graduated, it's normal to be placed in General Surgery."

Han Xiangning also curiously asked, "What's the difference between General Surgery and Thoracic Surgery?"

"Of course, there's a big difference."

Han Xiangmeng vividly explained, "General Surgery mainly diagnoses and treats diseases of the liver, pancreas, gastrointestinal tract, and anorectal areas, like hemorrhoids, appendicitis, and anal fistulas."

Director Xiang reminded, "We're eating, why talk about this."

"Mom, I'm educating them," Han Xiangmeng giggled and continued, "Thoracic Surgery mainly deals with surgeries required for chest-related diseases, like pneumothorax and pulmonary bullae. It can also include diagnoses of esophageal cancer and lung cancer but doesn't involve heart and cardiovascular diseases."

Han Xiangning roughly understood and joked, "So, Thoracic Surgery is more impressive than General Surgery?"

Han Xiangmeng didn't expect her sister to come to that conclusion and didn't know how to explain, so she simply changed the topic, "Although Xiaojun graduated, it doesn't mean there's no chance for further study. He just got assigned to General Surgery this year, and once he's worked for a while, he can take leave to further train at a large hospital."

"Which hospital for training?"

"Military District General Hospital."

"Xiaojun is a doctor at a local hospital, how could he train at the Military District General Hospital?" Master Han couldn't help but ask.

Liang Xiaojun looked back at Han Yu, feeling embarrassed, and explained, "I'm not just a doctor at the affiliated hospital; I'm also the director of the health clinic at Linghai Reserve Camp. A few days ago, during a personnel reorganization, Deputy Division Commander Tao came and said that if I wanted to train at the Military District General Hospital, the division would help arrange it."

Binjiang is too far from Jiangcheng, so the Binjiang people aren't very familiar with the medical standards of Jiangcheng's big hospitals.

Having served in Jiangcheng for so many years, Master Han, Old Liang, and Director Xiang knew very well that the Military District General Hospital had a very high level of medical care, even surpassing the Military District Air Force Hospital.

Master Han didn't expect that his eldest son-in-law's reserve service would bring such benefits, and he couldn't help but laugh, "It seems no matter what you do, the winner takes all! Linghai Reserve Camp has achieved results; whenever there's something good, whether from the Jiangnan Army Reserve Division or Jiangnan Province Military District, they'll always think of Linghai Reserve Camp."

"Dad, now that you mention it, it really seems so."

Han Xiangning, also a pre-reserve officer of the Linghai Reserve Camp, said with emotion, "Whenever there's a selection for advanced or excellent, Linghai Reserve Camp is always notified. Recently, Yang Jianbo went to participate in exercises, and I helped fill out all those selection forms!"

Han Yu curiously asked, "Selection for what?"

"Excellent Reserve Officers."

"How many spots for Linghai Reserve Camp?"

"Political Commissioner Jiao said other camps only have one spot, but our camp has three."

One has to admit, Master Han's words made some sense.

Higher-ups are practical. To them, building grassroots units is akin to participating in the Olympics—they only recognize the champion and ignore the runner-up and third-place, let alone the 'running mates.'

Linghai Reserve Camp stood out in last year's anti-flood rescue efforts. From the Provincial Military District to the Jiangnan Army Reserve Division, then to the Binjiang Military District and Linghai Armed Forces Department, whenever there's something good associated with the civilian militia reserve forces, Linghai Reserve Camp is the first to be thought of.

As the first Camp Commander of Linghai Reserve Camp, Han Yu felt deeply. For instance, during this joint military exercise, whenever introduced to commanders from other units, the higher-ups would mention Linghai Reserve Camp and last year's flood rescue efforts.

Moreover, only a few combat units that participated across the entire military were awarded honorary titles by the Central Military Commission, with only about ten in total, so the commanders had a lasting impression of Linghai Reserve Camp and looked favorably upon him as the former Camp Commander.

Isn't this "winner takes all" in its truest form?

As Han Yu was silently musing, Master Han laughed again and asked, "Who did you recommend?"

Without hesitation, Han Xiangning said, "We initially wanted to recommend President Sun, Uncle Liu, and Old Wu, but President Sun said since he was just awarded the Anti-flood Model last year, he shouldn't take another spot. Uncle Liu felt his age made it pointless to get the award and insisted the opportunity be given to the young. Old Wu also upheld the spirit and firmly disagreed with being recommended."

Han Yu softly asked, "Ningning, do you mean Director Wu Hai Li?"

"Yes."

Han Xiangning smiled and continued, "After considering, we couldn't decide who to recommend. The regiment was waiting for the report, and Political Commissioner Jiao couldn't wait. So, he called Minister Yang and went to the camp together. They assessed the situation and decisively recommended Wu Heng, Xiao Jun, and our Maritime Bureau's Hu Genhua."

Liang Xiaojun asked in surprise, "Recommend me?"

"You're the director of the health clinic; recommending you is quite normal." Han Xiangning giggled, seriously adding, "You need to throw a party once you're awarded!"

Upon hearing about throwing a party, Han Xiangmeng couldn't resist asking, "Ningning, does being awarded an Excellent Reserve Officer come with a bonus?"

"Seems like it doesn't; it's an honor, a spiritual reward."

"Can we have a 'spiritual' party instead?"

"Not willing to host a party? Stingy!"

"Ningning, I'll host the party." Old Liang, delighted at his son's success in the reserve forces, laughed heartily, "Winning the Excellent Reserve Officer Award in the reserve forces is similar to winning in active forces—those who aren't truly outstanding don't get selected. Particularly in units with lots of officers, getting chosen is very difficult."

Master Han agreed heartily, raising his glass with a smile, "In many units, no matter how often selections are held, it's always the commanding officers who get chosen. Regular officers don't stand a chance."

A leader who doesn't consider their subordinates isn't a good leader.

This incident enlightened Han Yu: since the higher-ups let Linghai Reserve Camp recommend pre-reserve officers for the Excellent Reserve Officer selection, then the Rescue Boat Team should be equally eligible.

He silently decided to make time tomorrow to report to Commander Wang and Political Commissioner Chen at the Military District. He would also inquire why the Rescue Boat Team wasn't notified to recommend pre-reserve officers for the selection.

In essence, fairness is paramount.

The Rescue Boat Team, being a newly established unit, shouldn't be excluded from the selection. It shouldn't be marginalized just because it's a Navy Reserve unit either.