Chapter 1 The Dragon City Rises

The next day, eight o'clock in the morning.

In the Hua District, inside the headquarters of the Southwest Theater Command, Xiang Jingyang, known as Little Western King, sat at the dining table, eating breakfast while watching news from the Old Tri-Border Region.

On the television screen, a beautiful anchorwoman with delicate features choked with emotion as she read the obituary: "...Yesterday at 22:05, our esteemed Governor Pu Yuan passed away after failing to respond to treatment at the Xingshan Sanatorium, at the age of 94. Today is a dark day for our nation, for all compatriots in the Myanmar-Vietnam region... This morning at 7:45, the Supreme Administrative Department announced the start of a state funeral period for the Old Tri-Border Region, with a three-day national holiday and the suspension of all entertainment businesses...!"

Xiang Jingyang watched the news, his expression unchanged. In fact, he had received the news less than five minutes after Governor Pu's death last night.

"Uncle," Xiang Jingyang wiped his mouth with a napkin, turned to his staff officer, Xiao Qinglong, and instructed, "The obituary has been issued. Let's show our respect as well. Order the front-line troops to lower their flags and fire a gun salute."

"Okay." Xiao Qinglong got up and walked over: "But we haven't received an invitation to the mourning ceremony yet. They don't seem to have contacted us diplomatically."

"The death of a governor of a quasi-major district will always cause some turbulence," Xiang Jingyang said, getting up. "We'll just observe."

Xiao Qinglong nodded slowly: "Oh, right, there's one more thing. People from The Dragon City Rises are here. They arrived in Hanoi last night to discuss the wedding with Gui Mengjun."

Xiang Jingyang thought for a moment, then asked with his hands behind his back, "Is it Su Tianyu's sister who is going to marry Gui Mengjun?"

"That's right," Xiao Qinglong nodded.

Xiang Jingyang frowned: "Their arrival is poorly timed."

"Yes, but Gui Mengjun probably didn't know that Governor Pu's condition would suddenly worsen," Xiao Qinglong asked in a low voice, "Do you think we should remind Gui Mengjun?"

Xiang Jingyang nodded: "Yes, remind Gui Mengjun to keep a low profile these days, and make it clear to him that we have not received an invitation to the mourning ceremony."

"Okay," Xiao Qinglong nodded.

...

Hanoi city.

Gui Mengjun called Miao Miao at 7:30 in the morning and told her that he might be late today because he had many things to deal with on the first day of the state funeral.

The Su family understood this. Life is like that; you never know which will come first, a surprise or an accident. They couldn't have predicted that they would arrive just as the governor passed away.

Inside the villa, after the matchmaking group finished breakfast, Su Miao Miao saw that everyone was a little bored, so she took the initiative to ask: "Does anyone want to go out for a walk? I've been here a few times and can be a tour guide."

Su Ershu (Second Uncle) sat on the sofa, took off his reading glasses and said: "The district is holding a funeral, the entertainment industry is closed, and everyone is on holiday. Where can you go for a walk?!"

"We can just walk to the scenic spots by ourselves, without bothering anyone," Su Miao Miao replied softly: "It's three days. It's so boring to just stay here."

"Let's go, go to the beach to sunbathe and stroll around," Ershen (Second Aunt) also persuaded: "We're already here, so let's just treat it as a vacation."

Under everyone's persuasion, Ershu (Second Uncle) finally agreed to go out with everyone.

Around ten o'clock in the morning.

Except for Su Tianbei and others who were sleeping in the villa, Su Tianyu, Da Xiong, Miao Miao, Hou Guoyu, and other diligent young people took the elderly group out of the Sea View Hotel by car.

Originally, everyone thought that although they had encountered Governor Pu Yuan's death and the entire Old Tri-Border Region was holding a funeral, it wouldn't affect their travel. At most, they just couldn't go to some scenic spots, but self-driving shouldn't be a problem.

But Su Tianyu, Su Miao Miao, and others underestimated the influence of the governor's death.

After the convoy drove out of the Sea View Hotel, less than three kilometers later, Su Tianyu and others found that the city's appearance was completely different from yesterday. It was like two different worlds.

Almost all the main roads of the harbor were filled with soldiers maintaining order and police officers.

The streets were full of people. You couldn't see any shops open. The people took to the streets, all dressed in plain clothes, holding black and white photos of Governor Pu Yuan when he was young, crying and paying tribute along the way.

Tribute areas were also set up at the street intersections of the main roads, where flowers and other offerings could be placed, but nothing could be burned.

Su Miao Miao sat in the car, her small mouth forming an O-shape, and said in disbelief as she looked at the crowded streets: "This...this is too spectacular!"

"Let's go back. We can't go any further," Su Ershu (Second Uncle) said, wearing a baseball cap: "This is a state funeral! A moment of national mourning. If you go to the scenic spots to take pictures and show off, be careful the locals beat you up."

"That makes sense!" Su Miao Miao was also frightened by this scene, because she was born in The Dragon City Rises and had never experienced such a thing. They talk about "freedom" and "democracy" there, and people are very self-centered. It is difficult for them to have special inner emotions towards a certain politician or leader.

Even when the highest commander of the Hua Ren (Chinese) Corps passed away a few years ago, The Dragon City Rises didn't cause much of a stir. Only the relevant departments organized a memorial service, but its impact was not comparable to this incident in the Old Tri-Border Region.

Everyone wanted to go out for a walk, but the city was filled with a scene of grief, which completely prevented them from having a happy trip.

After discussing it in the car, they asked the driver to return the same way.

Back at the Sea View Villa, it was still early. The older generation was bored, so they could only ask Su Tianyu, Miao Miao, and others to lead the way and go to the beach to sunbathe.

...

In the blink of an eye, it was evening.

Gui Mengjun spent the whole day in meetings at the company and walked into the office wearily.

"Knock knock!"

A knock on the door echoed.

Gui Mengjun looked down at the time: "Come in!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Mingming walked in with a smile. She had her hair up in a bun and was wearing a white suit. Her beautiful eyes were bright as she asked Gui Mengjun, "Are you tired?"

"Yeah, there are a lot of things to do," Gui Mengjun looked up at her: "I have to go to the port later."

"To see the Su family?" Mingming asked.

"Yes," Gui Mengjun stood up: "These days..."

"Can you not go?" Mingming asked with a serious look on her pretty face.

Gui Mengjun was stunned for a moment: "What's wrong?"

"Are you really going to marry that country bumpkin who bought a college diploma?" Mingming pressed.

"Sigh." Gui Mengjun sighed: "Mingming, let me tell you again very seriously, it's best to be polite in your evaluation of Miao Miao in front of me, otherwise I will feel uncomfortable."

"Are you really going to marry her?"

"Yes!"

"What if I say no?" Mingming looked directly at Gui Mengjun.

...

District One time, a little after five in the morning.

Su Tiannan was taken out of the cell early and brought to a recreation square, where more than twenty other felons were lined up.

After Su Tiannan joined the line, he stood in the center of the crowd with his hands behind his back, listening to the instructions.

A white prison guard in his forties lectured in English: "You filthy idiots! I must remind you that during this community service period, during the interview period, you must obey the arrangements of the police officers...!"