Start By Parsing The Sun

Chapter 229: Memorial Day [228]

Early morning.

Xing Peng, the newly appointed patrol leader of the Third Patrol Post, stood in front of a full-length mirror, meticulously dressed in his patrol leader uniform.

Just then.

There came the sound of light footsteps from behind.

A beautiful face appeared in the mirror.

It was his fiancée, Fan Xiaoqian.

The engaged couple exchanged a glance through the mirror and smiled at each other.

Xing Peng sighed, "I feel like I'm dreaming."

Just over half a month ago, he was an unknown person, but he was brought to a banquet and passed the assessment of the Chief Magistrate, becoming a lucky patrol officer.

Now, he had achieved great success and became the fastest-promoted patrol leader in the history of the local patrol office. He was also about to marry a gentle and beautiful wife.

For all of this, Xing Peng could only sincerely thank the Chief Magistrate.

Fan Xiaoqian smiled and said, "Yes, it feels like a dream."

Being able to marry the youngest patrol leader in the city, who was also a male classmate she had a slight crush on years ago, made this wealthy young lady extremely happy.

Fan Xiaoqian then smiled and shared some news, "My dad said that on the day we officially get married, he will give us an additional two hundred gold coins as a dowry."

Xing Peng just smiled and didn't say much.

Originally, his wealthy father-in-law, Fan Ancheng, promised a dowry of eight hundred gold coins, but now it had increased to one thousand gold coins. Xing Peng knew very well that this was all thanks to his position as a "patrol leader."

By the way.

Originally, his wealthy father-in-law had arranged for them to get married two days ago, but unfortunately, due to the outbreak of the Divine Language incident, the wedding had to be postponed for ten days.

Fan Ancheng was worried about the long nights and dreams, so he impatiently gave them a set of wedding houses and asked them to move in early to get to know each other.

Although this had a hint of impropriety, Xing Peng reluctantly accepted it.

After all, which man wouldn't want to enjoy the life of being with a beautiful wife every night?

At this moment.

Fan Xiaoqian glanced at the back of her fiancé's head and suddenly exclaimed, "Why do you have several white hairs here?"

She took a step closer and reached out to touch his hair, saying, "Let me pluck them for you."

Xing Peng responded with a sound of agreement.

Fan Xiaoqian used two fingers to hold the white hair and muttered, "You're so young, but you already have so many white hairs. The work at the patrol office must be too hard."

Xing Peng's tone carried a sense of emotion, "Some things just have to be done by someone."

"Snap!"

A slight sound.

Fan Xiaoqian plucked out a white hair and said, "Why do you sound so old-fashioned when you speak?"

Xing Peng shook his head and smiled, "If you had experienced as many tragic events as I have, you would have the same feeling."

Fan Xiaoqian didn't say anything, she just focused on finding more white hairs.

Xing Peng timely changed the topic, "Yesterday, the Chief Magistrate held an important meeting in the Winter Garden and decided to hold a 'public memorial' for the victims of the Divine Language incident."

Fan Xiaoqian asked, "To mourn the deceased patrol officers?"

Xing Peng shook his head again, "No, to mourn all the deceased in the city."

The emphasis on "all" was deliberate.

Fan Xiaoqian was surprised, "Including the deceased civilians?"

Xing Peng nodded, "Of course."

Fan Xiaoqian stopped her actions and asked with some confusion, "Shouldn't the Council of Ministers be the one to handle this, considering it involves so many civilians?"

Xing Peng asked in return, "Has the Council of Ministers ever held a public memorial for civilians in all these years?"

Fan Xiaoqian thought for a moment and shook her head, "Not that I can recall."

Xing Peng's tone carried a hint of pride, "The Chief Magistrate said that what the Council of Ministers doesn't do, we, the patrol office, will do. The more adversity we face, the more we cannot give up."

He paused for a moment and continued, "The Chief Magistrate said that Anhua City needs to gather indomitable strength in sorrow, and that is the significance of the public memorial."

Fan Xiaoqian pondered these words and couldn't help but say, "Your Chief Magistrate will definitely become a great figure in the future."

Xing Peng agreed with pride, "I never doubted that."

In the current patrol office, this newly appointed patrol leader was seen as a key member of the Chief Magistrate's faction and the most outstanding rising star.

Interestingly, although Xing Peng had never spoken to the Chief Magistrate, only exchanging a few glances, he still believed this.

Fan Xiaoqian suddenly realized, "You suddenly mentioned the public memorial, does your work today have something to do with it?"

Xing Peng let out a long sigh, "I have been assigned to the public memorial organizing committee. My job is to personally invite the families of the deceased to attend the memorial."

Fan Xiaoqian understood what this meant and said, "Oh, that's a very heavy task."

Xing Peng adjusted his hat and repeated his previous words, "Some things have to be done by someone. The Chief has already set the best example for us."

Fan Xiaoqian looked at her fiancé with concern and hugged him tightly.

Feeling the warmth of her body, Xing Peng whispered, "When I first put on the patrol officer uniform, I thought it was an honor. Now I realize it's a responsibility."

Fan Xiaoqian thought her fiancé was amazing and hugged him even tighter.

After a while.

Fan Xiaoqian suddenly heard a heavy breath.

She instinctively reached out and grabbed it, feeling both embarrassed and amused, "You were so serious just now, and now you've turned into a beast, you..."

Before she could finish her sentence.

Fan Xiaoqian exclaimed in surprise.

Because she was lifted up by a pair of strong arms, and she heard a teasing voice in her ear, "Xiaoqian, you're holding on too tight!"

*

Half an hour later.

Xing Peng went through a not-so-intense "morning exercise," put on his uniform again, and left the house.

He rode the feathered beast given to him by his father-in-law, first arrived at the outpost, and then met another patrol officer named "Ma Shouyi," officially starting today's work.

The two of them walked into a nearby community with a spirit hound, and according to the list of victims compiled by the outpost, they found a household.

The two patrol officers stood in front of the door, both with solemn expressions.

Ma Shouyi took a deep breath and whispered, "Chief, let me knock on the door."

Xing Peng nodded gently, "Okay."

Ma Shouyi adjusted his hat, took a few steps forward, and knocked on the wooden door with just the right amount of force.

"Bang! Bang!"

Ma Shouyi used his voice transmission technique to send his voice into the house, "Excuse me, is Mrs. Liu home? We are patrol officers from the Third Outpost."

A few seconds later.

There were scattered footsteps inside the door.

"Creak!"

The front door was pulled open.

A middle-aged woman with a haggard face and swollen eyes appeared before them.

Xing Peng took off his hat first and nodded politely, "Mrs. Liu, sorry to bother you."

The middle-aged woman asked cautiously, "Do you two have any business?"

Xing Peng said seriously, "Madam, the Patrol Bureau deeply apologizes for the loss of your husband."

When the middle-aged woman heard the term "husband," tears immediately welled up in her eyes.

On the night of the Divine Language Incident, her husband was on duty at the company and unfortunately encountered a snake monster, and was brutally dismembered.

Xing Peng couldn't look directly into her eyes, "The Patrol Bureau has scheduled a public memorial ceremony in Dongshan Park two days from now at 10 o'clock in the morning, to mourn your husband and other victims."

Tears streamed down the middle-aged woman's face.

Xing Peng thought of his colleague who had turned into a snake monster, feeling that every word was extremely heavy, "Although nothing can compensate for your loss, the Council has promised to provide compensation to help your family through this difficult time."

Both patrol officers knew that although the Council promised compensation to the deceased civilians, the fundraising efforts were extremely slow.

The Chief was very dissatisfied with this and was doing this to force the Council to distribute the compensation as soon as possible.

If the funds were still not in place before the day of the memorial, the Patrol Bureau would not hesitate to publicly humiliate the Chief Magistrate.

Xing Peng lowered his eyelids, "Madam, we sincerely invite you to attend."

Ma Shouyi quickly handed her an exquisite invitation.

Normally, patrol officers would have a condescending attitude towards civilians.

But at this moment, the two of them were humble.

The middle-aged woman's voice choked, "Thank you both, I will attend on time."

Xing Peng breathed a sigh of relief, "Madam, please accept our condolences."

He put on his hat again and nodded, "Please allow us to take our leave."

The middle-aged woman choked up and couldn't speak.

Xing Peng sighed inwardly and quickly turned and left.

After taking a few steps, he heard the sound of loud crying behind him.

"Wu~"

Xing Peng's footsteps paused, feeling that this task was the most difficult one he had ever undertaken in his life.

Ma Shouyi muttered in a low voice, "I'd rather fight the snake monster."

(End of this chapter)