Chapter 370: Chapter 361: Elder Nie Passes Away_1
A dragon among men, this appellation usually denotes an outstanding talent. Because, in ancient legends and myths, dragons and phoenixes are figures who stand out among the crowd. Using this term to describe a person acknowledges their excellence in all aspects.

However, when Elder Li spoke these words, it was worth pondering whether it was genuine praise or if he had ulterior motives. Or perhaps it was a subtle warning to Nie Zhenbang to tread cautiously in Liangxi City.

At that moment, all the members of the Nie family fell silent. After a while, Nie Zhenbang was the first to regain his composure. He subtly nudged his uncle Nie Guodong, who was standing next to him. Although the second generation of the Nie family might seem slightly lacking in capability due to innate reasons, their responsiveness was commendable. Understanding the hint, Nie Guodong quickly responded with a smile, “You flatter us greatly, Elder Li. Isn’t such praise too high for a child? Such praise will just make him overconfident. His meagre achievements are due to the care and guidance of his superiors. It’s nothing worth mentioning.”

Upon hearing Nie Guodong’s words, Elder Li cast a meaningful glance at Nie Zhenbang before departing with a laugh.

Throughout the following day, both incumbent and retired party and national leaders, old comrades, and officers from every military district across the nation, all poured into Jingcheng to visit Elder Nie.

Only at this moment did Nie Zhenbang truly grasp the enormity of the Nie family’s power. In his previous lifetime, the Nie family had crumbled overnight, its members scattering in all directions. Some fought on their own, while others sought refuge elsewhere. Those who were suppressed were suppressed. Nie Zhenbang didn’t have much firsthand knowledge of the different factions within the Nie family. However, at present, the Nie family was in its heyday.

The Old Master was held in great esteem. Whilst the second generation of the Nie family wasn’t highly regarded, they had representatives in the Politburo’s Standing Committee. The Eldest Son of the Nie family was deeply trusted by the General Secretary, and was entrusted with the important task of commanding the Jingcheng City Military District. Thus, the Nie family was united in purpose.

That day, Nie Zhenbang met no fewer than ten officers with the rank of Major General or above. All the in-service Major Generals across the nation? Nie Zhenbang hadn’t counted exactly. Nevertheless, the fact that there were so many in the Nie family visibly demonstrated their power.

Meanwhile, Nie Zhenbang felt a surge of bold confidence in his heart. With so many members of the Nie family, Zhuang Aiguo supporting from above, General Secretary Yuan and Prime Minister Yun overseeing, and with many tops ranks of the military supporting from below, even if the Old Master passed away, the Nie family could not be bullied by any Tom, Dick, or Harry.

…

Early in the next morning,

Jingcheng was hit by a sudden downpour. It was as if the heavens themselves were mourning the death of a great general. The gods above were crying out in sorrow.

At 5 in the morning in the ICU of the military hospital, Elder Nie ultimately passed away due to respiratory and cardiac failure. Despite the desperate attempts at resuscitation, his life could not be saved.

In the intensive care ward, the countenance of the Master was forever frozen in a state of tranquillity. A loyal servant of the Party and the people, a great proletarian revolutionary, military strategist, and statesman, and a leader of the Party and the State, Comrade Nie Huating, passed away in the military hospital due to unsuccessful medical treatment, at the age of 90. This was the news that played out on Huaxia TV station’s morning bulletin.

By then, the Old Master’s remains had been properly prepared. In the hospital ward, members of the Nie family were all sitting by his side, mourning. The helmsman of the Nie family was gone. Unlike the nation’s grief, what the Nie family was enduring was the pain of losing a loved one, as well as uncertainty regarding their future.

The Old Lady passed out multiple times due to excessive grief. Nie Guoping, the elder aunt, and Nie Guorong, the younger aunt, suppressed their sorrow, sticking close to the Old Lady’s side.

The Old Master’s last journey was a lonely one. From the moment he fell unconscious, he never awoke again, not even to leave behind any final wishes. Perhaps the Old Master still had some regrets. After all, he hadn’t lived long enough to see Nie Ziyu’s wedding day, or to witness four generations of his family living under the same roof. Yet life is always so cruel, and in the end, the Old Master passed away.

At 9 o’clock in the morning, General Secretary Yuan also cancelled an international conference to rush over hastily. After expressing his condolences to and shaking hands with Nie family members, General Secretary Yuan immediately ordered his staff to form a funeral committee for Comrade Nie Huating and arrange his memorial service.

According to the Old Master’s will, the memorial service was not open to the public. His body was taken to Mount Babao Revolutionary Cemetery. In the massive mourning hall, the Old Master, after being prepared by the undertakers, lay serene in a crystal coffin covered with a bright red party banner. This was an acknowledgment of his lifelong contributions.

The Central Committee of the Communist Party of Huaxia, the Central Government of the Republic of Huaxia, the Huaxia Republic State Council, the National People’s Congress, and the CPPCC all sent wreaths. The incumbent party and national leaders, along with the nine members of the Politburo Standing Committee, also sent wreaths and personally attended the visitation.

At the top of the mourning hall, a banner with white characters on a black background reading ‘Deeply mourn Comrade Nie Huating’ hung. On both sides of the banner, the elegiac couplets written by Elder Nan were displayed, “He spilled his noble blood and rests under the green hill, ever the loyal son and daughter. With a heart as red as his blood, he defended the motherland, where green cypresses house souls of the brave. The heroes of the era are truly heroic.”

Just Elder Nan’s couplet alone is expressive of many meanings, which makes the various families in Jingcheng dare not to act rashly. Indeed, the old master of the Nie family has passed away. However, Elder Nan is still around. With his disposition, anyone who wants to mess with the Nie family should think twice.

Externally, even though the general public may not be aware of the situation, to the members of various families in Jingcheng, Elder Nie’s memorial service is definitely an elaborate one.

After two days of the memorial service, Elder Nie’s body will be cremated. Eight majestically dressed soldiers of the armed forces, carrying the coffin, proceed forward.

At this moment, a black car with a big red flag drove into the plaza of Mount Babao Cemetery. The car plate number was JA-09821. This startled the representatives of the various families present at the funeral, including CPPCC Chairman Guo, who was there to represent the state.

The plate number might seem insignificant. However, those who were familiar knew that this car was Elder Nan’s official vehicle.

Could it be, Elder Nan had personally come today? The car stopped and Zhou Dawei, who was in the passenger seat, got out of the car, opened the back door and helped an old man, who was supporting himself with a cane, to alight. The short stature and alert eyes of the elderly man drew attention as he walked over.

At this moment, the elderly lady also walked up and said: “Commander, why have you come? Disturbing you, it’s Old Nie’s fault.”

Elder Nan was indeed Elder Nan. Only his appearance could elicit such shock. Since his inspection tour five years ago, Elder Nan had disappeared from the public’s eye. This was the first time he had surfaced in public since then, not even during last year’s economic crisis or Donggang’s reversion had he made an appearance. There were even rumors circulating that Elder Nan had passed away, and that the country had simply not announced it.

However, for Nie’s funeral today, Elder Nan arrived in person. For the Nie family, it was a great honor.

Elder Nan seemed in good spirits. He extended a hand and said in a deep voice: “Sister-in-law, may you find comfort in reason. No matter what, I had to attend Elder Nie’s funeral. For decades of comradeship in the revolution, both emotionally and rationally, I must see him off on his final journey.”

Elder Nan then engaged in a surprising act. He walked totteringly over to the side of the coffin, placing one hand on it. Elder Nan personally held the casket, a tremendously honorable act for the Nie family. Even just this single act promised a worry-free future for the Nie family.

This scene stunned Nie Guodong and the others. Nie Zhenbang was the first to react. Pulling his hand, Nie Zhenbang, along with Nie Ziyu and the two other brothers, knelt down. Nie Zhenbang spoke out, “Elder Nan, we believe that Grandpa would be able to rest in peace with your kindness. Your health isn’t good and the wind here is strong. Maybe you shouldn’t go there either.”

Zhou Dawei and Elder Nan’s health care doctor also came up, trying to convince him. Viewing this scene, Elder Nan’s eyes filled with a boundless sense of reminiscence.

Elder Nan’s sturdy hand gently stroked the coffin, as if talking to an old comrade. His eyes glistened with tears. After a while, he murmured in a low voice, “Old buddy, I’ll accompany you on this last journey. Rest assured, I’ll take care of your descendants.”

After Nie’s body was cremated, some of his ashes, according to his will, were left at Mount Babao Revolutionary Cemetery. The rest were taken by his eldest grandson Nie Jialei, his second grandson Nie Jiamin, and the third generation successor of the Nie family, Nie Zhenbang, on a plane to Tianfu Province. In the old man’s hometown, at the foot of the green hills, the old man’s soul returned home.

During this mission, the Nie family did not alarm the provincial government of Tianfu Province, nor did they inform the local county government. Only a few elders in the Nie family knew. In the Nie family’s ancestral hall, Nie Jialei personally placed the old man’s ancestral tablet, complete a returning to the root ritual.

Afterwards, the three brothers did not stay long, flying back to Jingcheng from Chengzhou Riversides Airport in Tianfu province.

As they got off the plane, Liu Kun, Zhao Xinglong and Li Hua were already waiting outside the airport exit. Seeing the three Nie brothers coming.

Zhao Xinglong and several others stepped forward to welcome them. Zhao Xinglong greeted them with a smile, “Eldest brother, second brother, third brother, welcome back.”

Nie Jialei and Nie Zhenbang were acquainted with these people in their circle, but Nie Jialei wasn’t really part of it. Seeing Nie Jiamin and Nie Zhenbang, Nie Jialei also smiled and said, “These few days have been quite depressing. You guys should go out and have some fun, consider it as a way of relieving stress. After this, we have to work even harder.”

The brothers understood the meaning behind these words. Now, the heavy burden of reviving the Nie family had fallen onto the shoulders of the third generation of the Nie family. Whether the Nie family could still have a place amongst the families in Jingcheng in the next few decades depends on Nie Zhenbang and Nie Jiamin.(To be continued. If you like this work, please vote and support at qidian.com. Your support is my biggest motivation.)