Special forces soldier demobilization: Starting from the county government compound, a meteoric rise

City Hotel, Building 18.

Enveloped in a festive atmosphere, the ground was covered with fallen ginkgo leaves, like a layer of shattered gold.

The security level on the perimeter was alarmingly high, with guards every three steps and sentries every five. The guards, dressed in black suits and wearing radios, scrutinized every Hongqi car that entered with sharp eyes.

This was not a state visit, yet it drew even more attention from all sides than a state visit.

Today is the wedding day of Liu Ming, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission.

There was no tacky rainbow archway or deafening electronic cannons in the courtyard. There were only a few potted evergreen plants that were just right, and a few handmade red lanterns hanging under the corridor.

Low-key and reserved.

But just one glance at that prepared guest list is enough to make any political figure's heart pound.

At this point, there was still half an hour before the wedding was scheduled to begin.

In one corner of the banquet hall, an area specially prepared for the former subordinates from Qingyun County and Ningzhou, ten tables were filled.

"Old Fan, your tie is crooked, straighten it right now!" Lei Tie was wearing a crisp police uniform. Although he was the director of the city's public security bureau, his palms were sweaty in this situation. "Don't embarrass Director Liu. Anyone you pick out from this room could be on the news."

Old Fan was awkwardly fiddling with the bow tie around his neck, his face flushed red: "I've never seen anything like this in my life! Look at that old man in the Tang suit over there, isn't that the economist who always appears in textbooks? And over there... my goodness, isn't that China's top scientist?"

"Good job!" Old County Magistrate Wen Boyan sat in the main seat. Although his hair was completely white, he was in excellent spirits. He gently tapped his cane. "Little Liu came from our Qingyun County. We are his family. You'd better sit tight."

Even so, Wen Boyan's hand holding the cane was trembling slightly.

He looked at a table not far away, where several elderly people with white hair, dressed in dark gray Zhongshan suits, were chatting and laughing in hushed tones.

Those were some of the real leaders of China, who usually made decisions within the compound, but today they gathered here like ordinary old men next door, asking for a drink at the celebration.

On the other hand, the atmosphere was much more lively in the seats reserved for business elites.

Today, Nangong Yao wore a minimalist dark blue dress, which made her look like a quiet blue enchantress.

She was calmly moving through the crowd, talking with several tech giants who had flown in specifically from Wall Street and Silicon Valley.

"Nangong, I heard your Nangong Group has secured the exclusive global distribution rights for the 'Loongson' third-generation chip?" A blond, blue-eyed tycoon lowered his voice, his tone full of envy. "Could you, as an old friend, allocate some of your quota to us?"

Nangong Yao swirled the champagne in her glass, a professional smile playing on her lips. "Allen, today is Director Liu's wedding. Let's talk about romance, not business. If you want a quota, come to my office at nine o'clock tomorrow morning and line up."

She glanced at the lounge not far away, a complex emotion flashing in her eyes, which then transformed into deep pride.

At this moment, in the waiting room on the second floor.

"Boss, you look absolutely stunning today."

Tank was facing the mirror, desperately trying to squeeze his thick, tree-trunk-like neck into his tight white shirt. Behind him stood Lone Wolf, Ghost Hand, and Poison Doctor, each dressed in a well-tailored black suit.

If you ignored the murderous intent that occasionally flashed in their eyes, these men would look like high-ranking bodyguards from some wealthy family.

"Tank, don't touch that tie, it'll tear if you pull it any harder." Liu Ming sat on the sofa, letting the makeup artist do the final touches.

He looked at himself in the mirror.

Thirty years old.

A faint, barely noticeable strand of gray hair had already appeared at his temples.

Those eyes, which once searched for enemy traces in the border jungles and schemed against opponents at the negotiating table, now appeared unusually gentle, like a deep pool filled with moonlight.

"Boss, I just went to the front hall and saw that big shots from half the world are here." Ghost Hand held his tablet and habitually swiped the screen. "The presidents of several chip companies in the US that we've been holding back have all come in person, and they've brought incredibly generous gifts. They're all lining up outside to see you."

"Let them wait." Liu Ming stood up, straightened her clothes, and said calmly, "Today I'm not the deputy minister, I'm just Liu Ming."

"Hehe, got it." Tank patted his chest. "If anyone dares to cause trouble today, we brothers will throw him right off this fishing platform into the moat."

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door.

Old Lin pushed open the door and walked in. Today, the old man specially wore a neat military uniform that he had kept at the bottom of his trunk, with many badges representing high honors hanging on his chest.

"Xiao Liu, are you ready?" The old man's voice was a little hoarse, and his eyes were full of relief.

"Ready, Mr. Lin." Liu Ming walked over and solemnly took the old man's arm.

"Good, good." Old Lin patted Liu Ming's hand. "If your grandfather and your father could see today... how happy they would be."

Liu Ming's eyes welled up slightly, and she nodded heavily.

Downstairs, the prelude to the wedding march could already be faintly heard.

That wasn't an ordinary symphony; it was a live performance by a national-level orchestra. The melody was solemn yet conveyed a sense of vastness that transcended mountains and rivers, as if recounting the hardships and triumphs of the newlyweds over the past ten years.

As the large wooden doors of the hall slowly opened, all the noise vanished without a trace in an instant.

Thousands of guests, the most powerful, wealthy, and intelligent people in the world, all stood up solemnly, their eyes fixed on the entrance.

Liu Ming's tall and straight figure, like an evergreen pine, appeared outside the door.

He turned slightly to the side and extended his hand.

A pure white figure slowly placed her hand in his palm.

Xi Wanqing wore a pure white custom-made wedding dress, with 9,999 tiny diamonds embellishing the skirt. Under the light, it looked as if she was wearing a dazzling galaxy.

A faint blush appeared on her usually cool face; the iceberg melted, and spring returned to all things.

Their eyes met in the air, without any extra words, only the tacit understanding that had long been ingrained in their bones.

"Let's go, Mrs. Liu," Liu Ming said with a soft, gentle smile.

"Okay, Mr. Liu." Xi Wanqing gently took his arm.

In a sacred and solemn silence, Liu Ming, hand in hand with Xi Wanqing, walked slowly into the hall, facing the long red carpet leading to the pinnacle of happiness, amidst pairs of eyes filled with awe, envy, and blessings.

Lei Tie, sitting in the audience, suddenly wiped his eyes and said, "Damn it, why is the wind so strong? It's hurting my eyes."

Old Fan curled his lip: "Old Lei, you're just pretending. Look, Little Liu is coming!"

Under the watchful eyes of the bigwigs on half the globe.

Against the backdrop of the rise of a great power.

Liu Ming, hand in hand with his bride, walked with firm steps, each step in step with the pulse of the times, as they walked out of this earth-shattering—wedding of the century.

……

"Look over there," an elderly scientist whispered to the student beside him.

"They are the backbone of our country and the heroes of this era."

At the end of the red carpet, the emcee had already raised the microphone, and Mr. Lin, as the officiant, slowly walked onto the platform.

The entire audience held their breath in anticipation.