"DF-41!"

"Hongqi-9B!"

"Drone formation!"

"Military fans are ecstatic, what dynasty is this today?"

The 70th anniversary grand military parade is an event destined to be recorded in history.

Unlike the last parade, this time, about 15,000 troops and 580 pieces of equipment formed 15 walking formations, and more than 160 fighter jets were deployed, forming 12 air echelons.

There were also several national strategic weapons, such as the Dongfeng series and Hongqi series, appearing in public for the first time.

Despite the chilling atmosphere filling the air, making people hold their breath, no one felt afraid, because they knew these fine weapons and brave soldiers would only face the enemy, protecting them from behind.

The era when a few cannons on the coastline could dominate a country is now completely gone.

Their nation has finally become strong.

"A time of troubles."

Lu Liang was lost in thought when he suddenly heard Old Ma’s mutter. He remained silent, and the excitement in his eyes gradually faded.

The people of China believe in moderation, and in earlier years, due to a lack of power, they could only appear harmless.

The 70th anniversary, with such a grand display and renewal of so much frontline military equipment, clearly has the intent to showcase military might.

This also shows that the competition between the two countries has officially entered the next stage; East Country’s move is to inform those swing states.

They have the strength to protect their trade with all countries, so they need not fear the threat from the United States.

However, most swing states are either actively or passively threatened by the United States, keeping a hesitant relationship with East Country.

Swing states are unlikely to please both sides, but there’s a precondition only when one side thoroughly crushes the other might there be a reckoning.

Clearly, neither major power has the capability to crush the other, so given the current international situation, being a swing state is the best choice.

Old Ma said it was a time of troubles because the swing states’ wish to remain nonaligned is just their wishful thinking.

The two major nations will not agree, and will always stir up matters, forcing them to take sides, make a choice, or pay a price.

Simultaneously, related videos went viral on global social media platforms, with all countries’ citizens amazed, calling it a miracle.

For the ordinary people of various countries, the last time they recognized the real East Country was 11 years ago at the Olympics.

Although that Olympics was called the most successful, the impression of East Country among ordinary people worldwide wasn’t too good.

Because of the early year’s snow disaster causing rail paralysis, with tens of thousands stranded at stations, and then mid-year natural disasters with bodies everywhere...

Those scenes of disaster seemed like the end of the world descending.

That year, the impression tags for East Country in all countries did not include strong or wealthy, only tenacious and indomitable. They respected this unyielding nation but did not fear it.

However, eleven years have passed.

The mechanical aesthetic soldier formations in front, those terrifying national strategic weapons, and those excited, proud spectators with glowing faces, all convey the country’s strength and prosperity.

"Is it still that impoverished but tenacious country from back then?"

"I must admit, the discipline in their military is impressive."

"The way these soldiers turn their heads simultaneously is enough to beat computer graphics."

"As a Pakistani, we are very proud to have such a strong and friendly ally."

"Finally understand why America fears their rise, because this is an invincible army."

"No doubt, they are the third strongest military in the world, just after us. China, you have begrudgingly earned our recognition."

The YouTube video’s view count was increasing by tens of thousands per second.

People from all around the world left comments in the comment section, witnessing the rise of a strong nation with their own eyes.

The celebration’s influence quickly fermented, affecting the Offshore Renminbi Market and the Golden Dragon Index representing Chinese concept stocks.

A strong nation leads to prosperous citizens; if you only have economic capabilities, at most you’re a larger version of Japan or Korea, but you also need the ability to defend the economy.

Clearly, the market is very satisfied with the newly revealed military equipment, especially the DF-41, known as the aircraft carrier killer, which is not an empty claim but a real existence.

The long-praised China threat theory by the United States is not a subjective conjecture; East Country today truly has the capability to threaten the U.S. homeland’s national defense security.

Capital market performance mirrors the internationally circulated saying: when the U.S. suspects you might have weapons of mass destruction, you’d better really have them!

If you have them, nothing happens, and even if there are condemnations, they will be superficial. If you don’t, Yalak is a bloody example.

As time passed, the celebration lasting 2 hours and 40 minutes successfully concluded at 12:40.

"This way, please, everyone."

The State Council leaders, smiling, led Lu Liang, Ma Yun, Old Liu, Xu Jiayin, and other business guests to the cafeteria for lunch.

In the afternoon, there will be an award ceremony. Although it has little to do with them—mainly to reward contributors to national technological progress—since they’re already here, no one would leave early.

"Sometimes it’s fascinating to think about it; unknowingly, he’s surrounded by people."

During the meal, Ma Yun talked with Old Liu, frequently glancing in the direction of Lu Liang.

He seemed like sweet honey, and the people around him were like bees coming and going.

For example, Vanke’s Wang Shi, Hengtai’s Xu Jiayin and other real estate forces, Jingdong Daqiangzi, Byte’s Zhang Yiming from internet forces, and the new energy forces led by Ningde’s Zeng Minqun.

It used to be hard to imagine that these completely unrelated companies would belong to the same interest group.

"What do you want to say?" Old Liu asked coldly.

Old Ma softly said, "It’s better to reconcile than make enemies. Liu Qing doesn’t blame Lu Liang anymore, so you shouldn’t have too deep an obsession."

He had known Old Liu for a long time and knew that Old Liu had a very small heart. Although he always seemed cheerful, he held grudges more than anyone.

Unless Lu Liang dies, the incident where he caused the Liu family to lose their reputation will be remembered by him for a lifetime, always lurking and waiting for the opportunity for revenge.

Ma Yun didn’t want to see the benefactor who once helped him fall into an unrecoverable abyss.

If Old Liu has any thoughts, he is willing to be a peacemaker this time to end this good relationship.

"No flower blooms for a hundred days, you can just leave with peace of mind, this matter doesn’t require you to worry."

Old Liu snorted coldly and walked towards the camp of traditional large state-owned enterprises and comprehensive state-owned enterprises led by the two oil companies.

Watching his departing figure, Old Ma wanted to speak but stopped, ultimately turning into a self-mocking sigh: "It’s time to go."

Being insignificant, with little power, East Country was no longer suitable for him to stay for long.

On the night of the celebration, Lu Liang left Beijing and took a trip back to his hometown.

Lu Tiechui insisted on going back to his hometown, even claiming it was his greatest wish before dying, so Lu Liang could only comply.

On October 2nd, Lu Liang, Su Wanyu, their two daughters, and his sister Lu Ya’s family of four, along with their parents, came to the cemetery in the back hills to pay respects.

Old Lu, eyes filled with tears, knelt down in front of the grave, mumbling: "Did you see? Liang has ascended the city tower to watch the ceremony..."

Lu Liang stood at the back, nudging Lu Ya’s shoulder, curiously asking, "Do you have any impression of Grandpa?"

Lu Ya shook her head: "It seems just as you were born, Grandpa left, I was only two, how could I have any impression?"

She glanced at the increasing number of vehicles down the mountain, with some people even opening their windows to peek: "If you have something to do, you can leave later, mom and dad will probably stay in the hometown for a few more days, I’ll ask your brother-in-law to send them to the airport then."

Lu Liang followed her gaze, frowning slightly: "Can you handle it?"

Lu Ya smiled and said, "I’m long used to it, a batch comes every now and then, but it’s fine, they’re all quite polite."

She and her husband run a grain and oil shop in the town, and as her brother’s fame grew, more and more people came to visit, so the couple gradually figured out a way to receive them.

After all, they always came under the guise of company procurement to inquire about Lu Liang’s information, so she charged them as usual and sent the goods as usual, but when it came to Lu Liang’s matters, she feigned ignorance.

Over a few years, the grain and oil shop, which initially only had an asset scale of several hundred thousand, transformed into a small grain and oil distributor with a 1500 sqm storage warehouse and 12 employees.

By relying on periodic procurement, buying more when prices were low and selling some stock when prices were high, they made a profit of several million a year.

Lu Liang laughed silently, said goodbye to his parents, and left the hometown county with Su Wanyu and their two daughters.

On the way to the airport, Lu Liang played with his two daughters, the elder daughter Lu Siqing was two years and two months old, and the younger daughter Lu Siyu was six months.

Not paying attention for a moment, he saw the elder daughter give the younger a bite, leaving a red mark on her chubby cheek.

Suddenly, the baby’s cries, resounding like surround sound, filled the confined space of the car.

"You’re getting more and more out of hand."

Lu Liang handed the younger daughter to Su Wanyu and placed the elder daughter on his lap, putting on a stern face.

"Sister, cute~" The little one was at a loss, rubbing her feet like a fly.

She liked her sister, so she kissed her, not expecting such a big reaction from her sister.

"Sister is still little, when you kiss her, don’t do it so hard."

Su Wanyu couldn’t help but laugh while comforting the younger daughter, also extending a finger to tap the elder daughter on the forehead.

The little one responded, sneaking a peek at Lu Liang, then suddenly threw herself into his arms: "Wrong."

Seeing that Lu Liang still seemed angry, she looked at her sister still crying in her mom’s arms, and reached out with a small hand to touch her cheek: "Sister, pain pain~ fly fly~~"

Whether the comfort worked or she was tired of crying, the younger daughter was soon sucking her lips, asleep in her mother’s arms.

"Sister stopped crying."

The little one, happy, looked up at Lu Liang.

Lu Liang almost couldn’t hold it, raising the little one’s palm and gently patting it: "No bullying sister next time, understand?"

"Understood." She responded, wrapping her arms around Lu Liang’s chest, looking at him pitifully.

Lu Liang smiled helplessly, holding her in his arms, but the next moment, the little one began to cry.

Once the older sister cried, the younger one woke up, and the sisters cried together.

The crying lasted half an hour, so by the time they got off at the airport, Lu Liang’s head was spinning.

He looked at Su Wanyu, who seemed unaffected, and couldn’t help but ask: "You okay?"

Su Wanyu smiled gently: "Siqing and Siyu are not hard to deal with, you just need more patience."

"Feels like you’re hinting at me." Lu Liang chuckled bitterly.

"You’re overthinking it." Su Wanyu giggled.

On the flight to Xiangjiang, Su Wanyu said: "Tomorrow I want to return home once."

Lu Liang recalled that Su Wanyu had mentioned earlier that her brother was planning to get married during the National Day: "I still have things to do, so I won’t go with you, please apologize to your parents and Yuchen for me."

He wasn’t suitable for such occasions, plus he was indeed busy. The offshore Renminbi had risen slightly the day before but quickly got suppressed again, and the visible increase in trading volume indicated that new funds were entering the market.

The celebration ended, that matter was about to happen, he had to be fully prepared to get through this last hurdle.

Su Wanyu gave a slight smile: "Don’t worry, they all know you’re busy and won’t mind."

To lessen Lu Liang’s feeling of guilt, she intentionally changed the subject, picking up a delicate gift box from the drawer.

Su Wanyu smiled sweetly: "Moreover, I had already prepared the gift we were going to give to the newlyweds."

A set of three gold pieces worth tens of thousands, her brother and sister-in-law were both civil servants, the gift couldn’t be too extravagant.

Lu Liang chuckled: "You’re always so thoughtful; without you, I wouldn’t know what to do."

"That’s a must~" Su Wanyu proudly chin up, showing a unique girlish arrogance on her face.