Chapter Twenty-One: Arrangements

What are your plans?

The two brothers sat to the side. The elder, Chengzu, shook his head and said, “Father, at first we just wanted to come home, eat a few decent meals, then think about what’s next. On the road, we fought a band of thieves at Qingjian and got a lot of grain and goods, but now we really don’t know what to do.”

Their mother’s surname was Cai, her name Miaoshan, from a modest, upright family in Sanyuan County. Her father was a devout Buddhist, hence the name he gave her.

When she saw her husband and sons about to discuss matters in the main hall, Mrs. Cai went to tidy up the boys’ rooms, but upon hearing their words, she exclaimed, “You fought bandits!”

She hurried back, looking them over anxiously, only relaxing when she confirmed both sons were unharmed. Placing a hand over her heart, she said, “From now on, don’t cross paths with those desperate men. Listen to your mother—don’t be border soldiers anymore. Now that you’re home, just live peacefully. Our family doesn’t lack those few bowls of rice.”

“Tomorrow morning, I’ll have your elder brother take you both to pay respects at the Temple of Lord Guan. You’ve braved blades and bullets, so be sure to thank Lord Guan for his protection!”

“It’s nothing, Mother, not dangerous,” Liu Chengzong replied with a smile, comforting her genuinely. He meant what he said. After years of training, he’d only drawn weapons in real battle a handful of times. But their mother, who knew little, assumed border soldiers fought every d