Start By Parsing The Sun

Chapter 231: The Manifestation of Director Cheng's Will

8:30 in the morning.

With over an hour left until the memorial ceremony, there was already a large crowd of people in Anhua City, heading towards Dongshan Park.

Regardless of gender or age, regardless of social status, everyone had a white flower tied to their right arm.

Without exception.

Ever since the date of the memorial was set, rumors had spread from the Inspection Bureau that anyone could come to mourn the victims of the Divine Language Incident.

Hence, so many people came spontaneously.

By the way.

Originally, according to tradition, the white flowers worn during the memorial should be made of white fabric.

Due to the memorial this time, all the white fabric in the city's fabric stores had been completely sold out, and many commoners could only fold a white flower out of white paper.

Xing Peng's father-in-law, Fan Ancheng, and his family were among the crowd.

It wasn't just this family.

Every person with a bit of status and position had come without exception.

Don't want to come?

Huh!

Back when Director Cheng established the Charity Association, he had privately said, "I will remember clearly anyone who doesn't come."

Those words were still fresh in everyone's minds. Who would dare not consider it?

People who were a bit more well-informed knew that the person who truly held power in Anhua City was not the Grand Minister, but the Director of the Inspection Bureau.

Director Cheng would personally attend the memorial. Not going would be equivalent to disrespecting Director Cheng, and would you still want to stay in Anhua City in the future?

Soon.

The luxury crystal energy car that Fan Ancheng's family was riding in came to a stop on an open space not far from Dongshan Park.

The driver, wearing white gloves, respectfully said, "The road ahead has been blocked by the Inspection Bureau. We can only walk to the memorial site."

Fan Ancheng nodded.

His wife, however, complained, "It's so cold, and we have to walk a kilometer in the snow. It's deliberately making things difficult for people!"

Fan Ancheng furrowed his brows and sternly reprimanded, "This is a decision made by Director Cheng himself. Watch your mouth!"

Director Cheng was an extraordinary figure. How could he be easily criticized? If these words were spread, wouldn't it bring trouble to their own family for no reason?

Fan Xiaoqian also persuaded, "Mom, Xing Peng is now the Chief Inspector. As family members, we should support the work of the Inspection Bureau."

The wife didn't dare to argue with her husband, so she turned her criticism towards her daughter, "You, always siding with Xing Peng even before getting married."

Fan Xiaoqian's pretty face blushed for a moment, but she didn't argue with her mother.

The family got out of the car and stepped on the thick snow, merging into the crowd on the road.

After walking for a dozen meters or so, Fan Ancheng's gaze swept over the flowers in his daughter's hands, then turned to his wife, and asked in a low voice, "You didn't forget to bring money, did you?"

His wife nodded, "You reminded me several times yesterday, of course I brought it."

She complained again out of habit, "To offer a bouquet of flowers in front of the monument, you have to donate fifty gold coins first. I think the Inspection Bureau is really money-minded."

The words of this woman were exactly the rumors that had spread from the Fang family in Dongyuan.

And as everyone knew, Director Cheng often resided in Dongyuan, so this was probably a message that Director Cheng had privately hinted at the Fang family to release to the public.

Fan Xiaoqian explained in a soft voice, "The public memorial is a major event that the whole city pays attention to. Offering flowers allows us to show our faces in front of the whole city and gain a good reputation as a 'virtuous family.' Naturally, there is a cost involved."

"The Inspection Office did not pocket the money, but used it to cover the expenses of the ceremony. The remaining money is used for the welfare of the common people. This is a clever practice that benefits all parties."

His wife still had a look of concern for money and said, "Fifty gold coins are too much. I think twenty coins would be more reasonable!"

Fan Ancheng glared at his wife and his tone became more impatient, "You don't understand anything!"

His wife muttered under her breath and didn't say anything else.

They continued on for a while.

The people around them became more and more numerous.

No one spoke.

Everyone had a solemn expression.

The family was influenced by the atmosphere and silently moved forward.

*

Before long.

The family approached the entrance of Dongshan Park.

Fan Xiaoqian suddenly pointed forward with her right hand and exclaimed with joy, "Mom, Dad, Xing Peng is on duty over there!"

Fan Ancheng followed the sound and immediately saw Xing Peng's figure.

The newly appointed Inspection Chief stood straight at the entrance of the park, constantly bowing to the common people entering the park, repeating the words, "The Inspection Office thanks everyone for attending the memorial."

His wife became more satisfied the more she looked, "Xiao Peng is a good kid!"

Their beloved daughter was about to marry the youngest Inspection Chief in the city. Every time she talked about it with her friends, she could see envy on their faces. She was naturally very satisfied.

Fan Xiaoqian felt a bit sorry, "There are so many people in the park today, I'm afraid Xing Peng's arms will get sore from bowing."

Fan Ancheng sighed, "An Inspection Office that respects the common people will definitely receive the widest support. The Inspection Office led by Chief Cheng indeed has a different atmosphere."

The three of them had their own opinions.

*

After entering the park.

The family donated fifty gold coins and were guided to a waiting area near Dongshan.

Many tents had been set up here in advance, and each tent had a brazier for warmth, which could be considered a small benefit for the money.

As expected, the people entering this place were all from the city's wealthy class, or at least the upper middle class.

Fan Ancheng walked around inside the tent and then went out for a stroll.

The mother and daughter were too lazy to socialize, so they sat by the brazier and warmed themselves.

Before long.

Fan Ancheng came back.

The wealthy merchant said with a strange expression, "I just heard a piece of news. The Grand Chancellor doesn't plan to attend the public memorial ceremony."

His wife rubbed her palms and casually said, "The public memorial is led by the Inspection Office. It's not surprising that the Grand Chancellor doesn't want to be overshadowed and doesn't want to come."

Fan Xiaoqian had heard her fiancé talk about some things and commented, "The public memorial is a public matter that concerns the whole city. It's too small-minded to abandon it for personal reasons."

To this day.

Many people knew that the position of the Grand Chancellor was on the verge of collapse, so when the family talked about the Grand Chancellor, there was no trace of awe.

Fan Ancheng looked at his daughter with admiration, "Xiaoqian is right."

He couldn't help but sigh again, "If that person came, perhaps the position of the Grand Chancellor could be more secure, just for the sake of face..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

But the mother and daughter understood the meaning.

The wife gossiped, "Director Cheng's abilities are definitely the strongest among all the previous directors in this city. Xuan Ge might even let Director Cheng concurrently serve as the Grand Chancellor."

Fan Ancheng instinctively denied, "That's impossible!"

Fan Xiaoqian, on the other hand, supported her mother, "It's actually possible! With the current situation being so chaotic, Xuan Shi can't personally handle things, and there's no one more capable than Director Cheng in Tai'an Xiaolingjing."

Fan Ancheng also came to his senses, "That's true."

The wife suddenly became excited, "If Director Cheng really becomes the Grand Chancellor, won't Xing Peng's future be even brighter?"

Fan Ancheng nodded heavily, "Of course!"

The wife smiled, "Old Fan, you've picked a good son-in-law!"

Fan Ancheng looked proud, "My judgment has always been accurate."

Fan Xiaoqian couldn't help but laugh and cry, "This is just speculation. The Grand Chancellor hasn't resigned yet. Aren't you all getting too excited too early?"

Just then...

A loud bell rang through Dongshan Park.

"Dong! Dong!"

This bell was specially brought for the public memorial.

Fan Ancheng immediately stood up and urged in a low voice, "The ceremony is starting, let's go quickly."

The family hurriedly walked out of the tent and joined the large crowd, entering the designated viewing area around Dongshan.

The wife looked around and exclaimed, "My goodness! There must be at least tens of thousands of people here."

Fan Ancheng nodded, "About that."

"Dong! Dong!"

"Dong! Dong!"

The sound of bells came from all directions in the city.

At exactly ten o'clock.

Under the gaze of tens of thousands of people.

Cheng Han, wearing the director's formal attire, walked solemnly to the top of the mountain and raised his hand to make a light gesture.

"Whoosh!"

A piece of black cloth flew up out of thin air.

A three-meter-high memorial stone revealed its true appearance.

Cheng Han looked at the simply designed stone and the densely engraved names on it. His clear voice instantly spread throughout Dongshan, "May your souls return to the top of the Divine Banyan Tree!"

A loud voice followed, "Salute!"

Starting from Cheng Han, over three hundred inspectors saluted in unison.

The families of the deceased, numbering over two thousand, gathered in a designated area, tears streaming down their faces, and the sound of mourning filled the air.

The cold wind swept through, carrying the sound of crying into the distance.

Although tens of thousands of people gathered at the foot of the mountain, the crowd was extremely quiet, everyone listening to the cries in the wind.

Fan Xiaoqian and her mother couldn't help but wipe away their tears.

Fan Ancheng's eyes also turned red, silently cursing in his heart, "Damn foreign god!"

In the past, this wealthy businessman didn't have much sympathy for the common people, and the number of deaths among the common people was just a number to him.

But at this moment, he genuinely hated the foreign god from the bottom of his heart.

At this moment.

A feeling of "united against the enemy" permeated the crowd.

Inside the city.

At a certain intersection.

"Dong!"

The sound of bells echoed.

A team of inspectors on duty immediately turned to face Dongshan.

The chief inspector shouted, "Salute the deceased!"

The team saluted in unison, staring at Dongshan for a long time.

The surrounding pedestrians stopped in their tracks, many of them took off their hats, letting the falling snow land on their heads.

Even several people riding feathered beasts jumped off their mounts and looked towards Dongshan.

At Anhua City Third Middle School.

Under the arrangement of the school teachers, all the students lined up neatly on the parade ground ten minutes early.

"Dong!"

The deep bell resonated through the school.

The school's principal had been standing on the stage for half an hour, with snow accumulating on his hair and shoulders.

The moment he heard the bell, he shouted decisively, "Everyone, pay tribute to the deceased!"

Thousands of students turned their gaze towards Dongshan.

Just a moment ago, some of the students had smiles on their faces.

But at this moment, as they felt the solemn atmosphere, the smiles disappeared completely, leaving only solemn expressions.

It wasn't just this middle school.

All the other primary and secondary schools in the city had the same scene.

This was naturally the manifestation of Director Cheng's will.

The principals of the primary and secondary schools were all retired soldiers from the Black Armor Army, and he was the current deputy lieutenant of the Black Armor Army. As long as he gave an order, which school would dare not comply?

(End of this chapter)