July 15, two weeks after the maritime standoff ended.

Medellin returned to Texas, where he received the warmest welcome in years.

People sang about his deeds and invited him to participate in TV programs. Newspapers were full of news about him flying fighter planes to battle wits and courage with the enemy. Even his fiancée's eyes changed when he looked at him.

Before he left, his fiancée's eyes probably showed admiration, but now, it was more... reverence?

He seems to have really become a hero.

A crashed hero.

Medellin was sitting in the yard of his home, the sun was shining brightly, and he was playing with an Air Force Cross in his hand.

This is a rare medal, but this is not the end. The highest honor awarded to him, the Medal of Honor awarded by the Supreme Commander, is already on the way.

He stroked the shining medal and felt an indescribable feeling in his heart.

He would have been very excited for himself.

Even if you are not excited, you should feel proud, satisfied, and fulfilled.

But, there are none.

There is only emptiness, worry, and even fear.

When did this army begin to change?

Since when did pilots like me, who were manipulated by the enemy and even forced to abandon the plane and parachute without the help of any modern weapons, become combat heroes?

Medellin couldn't think of an answer.

He sighed deeply, the door behind him opened, and his fiancée Catherine came out, squatted down gently, touched his face and said:

"Look at your expression, poor little boy, what's going on?"

Medellin shook his head and replied:

"It's not a big deal, I just feel uncomfortable."

"Not feeling well? Are you sunburned? You shouldn't lie here, the sun is too strong now."

"That's not the reason."

Medellin shook his head and did not continue to answer.

It was impossible for Catherine to understand her concerns, and it was impossible for her to break the confidentiality agreement and tell him.

----In other words, even without a confidentiality agreement, it would be impossible for me to tell her.

Be a false fighting hero or a real coward?

This is an obvious choice.

After a pause, he said:

"Today's interview is scheduled for an hour later. I'd like you to attend with me then, is that okay?"

Catherine's face showed an excited expression, she nodded heavily and replied:

"As long as you want!"

"Of course I do, because my contribution is half as much as yours..."

Medellin took Catherine into his arms and kissed her forehead deeply, but when he hugged her, the cold and blank expression reappeared on his face.

…

At 11 a.m., Medellin and Catherine appeared at the interview site on time. They sat cuddled on the sofa in the studio, like a couple.

The host first introduced the deeds of Medellin, and then asked:

"Captain, I heard that you once single-handedly forced back three of the opponent's fighter jets in a battle with the opponent. Can you tell us how you did this?"

"I mean, wow, one-on-three! This isn't just a few decades ago, and everyone's aircraft are so advanced, right? It's almost impossible to do that, right?"

Upon hearing the host's question, Medellin coughed and replied:

"Actually, she is still great and does a very good job - I mean my F-35C fighter jet."

"You know, I have been with her through life and death many times. We have experienced many hardships together, so we have a tacit understanding."

"So, when facing the enemy, we cooperate very well."

"This time there are only three. Next time I soar into the sky with her, I will not be afraid even if there are 10 enemy planes."

Medellin's words were full of puns, and the host nodded with satisfaction.

He doesn't care how the other party forces the enemy back, he only cares about whether the other party's answer can arouse the emotions of the audience.

And obviously, at this point, Medellin is doing very well.

After a burst of classic white laughter, the host continued to ask:

"You have already received a cross, right? There may be other rewards in the future, and Texas officials will also give you bonuses. What are your plans for how to use the bonuses in the future?"

Medellin pretended to think for a moment and then replied:

"I will auction off the medal."

"auction?"

This time, the surprise on the host's face was not fake.

"Yes, I will auction it off and donate the funds to the Veterans Care Association. You know, many of our comrades are suffering from PTSD. I think, although I don't have much energy--because I

I have to continue serving, but I can help them in this way."

"A true patriot!"

The host took the lead in applauding, with a moved look on his face. Then he continued to ask:

"What about yourself? What are your own plans?"

"Well, me, I will have a grand wedding with Catherine, we will renovate our house, dig a swimming pool, and buy a new car. You know, the Chevy I parked outside the studio is already a little old and looks bad.

Already."

"Hahahahaha, I think Chevrolet should just give you a new car! Also, maybe you can go on a trip around the world?"

"That is for the future. For now, I will probably continue to serve in the Air Force - until we completely conquer the sky."

There was warm applause in the studio, and Medellin and Catherine looked at each other and smiled, saying nothing.

….

While Ugly Country was hyping Medellin up as a hero, giving him all kinds of preferential treatment, and helping him embark on the path of a winner in life, on the other side, Gao Fei didn't seem to receive any preferential treatment - except for a full three months.

holiday.

He took back his autographed letter from the political commissar, tore it up on the train home, and then scattered it in the river in his hometown. Then he went to Huayu Flower Shop to pick up flowers in person and went to Fulai Supermarket.

I bought snacks and went to the flower and bird market to buy fertilizer specifically for growing flowers.

After doing all this, he returned home.

His wife Liu Yiran had already prepared a meal and was waiting for him at home, and his parents had also gathered together. When Gao Fei got home, they were chatting happily on the sofa.

When they saw Gao Fei coming back, everyone's faces showed surprise. They greeted him with greetings. One moment they said that the food on the aircraft carrier was so fattening, the other moment they said that the sea breeze was so salty that their faces were rough. But in the end, everyone

Still came to a common conclusion:

Just come back.

At the dinner table, Gao Fei's father-in-law poured him a full glass of wine and then asked:

"I heard that the J-20 you flew at sea this time? How about killing a few Ugly Japanese?"

Gao Fei smiled and replied:

"What! Dad, this is not nonsense. We are all fighting peacefully. There is nothing we can't kill."

"Really? Then why did I hear that they had a plane crash into the sea? It wasn't you who did it?"

"No, no."

Gao Fei shook his head and replied.

There was a look of disappointment on the father-in-law's face, but in the blink of an eye, he suddenly became excited again.

"Oh, I understand, you can't say that! Hey, look at my mouth, I just can't control it, I want to ask everything. Come on, come on, drink and drink!"

Gao Fei picked up the wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, giving his father-in-law an expression of "God knows and earth knows, you know and I know."

After finishing the glass, his father poured him some wine, but his questions were much more down-to-earth.

"You have three months of vacation this time? Are you taking this opportunity to have the child? You two are not young anymore. In two years, you will be old and dangerous."

"Don't take it seriously. Your mother and I suffered this loss back then, so you should hurry up!"

Gao Fei nodded solemnly and replied:

"This is our plan. When we take vacation next year, we will give birth to a little pilot."

"That's great!"
To be continued...