When Madam Ma became pregnant with Chen Biao, Chang Yuchun had only just joined Zhu Yuanzhang. He was still under observation, serving as one of Zhu Yuanzhang’s personal guards and as a vanguard commander.
While they were campaigning, Zhu Yuanzhang received the news that his wife was finally expecting. He was so overjoyed he nearly lost his senses.
As it happened, Chang Yuchun mentioned that his own wife was also pregnant with their first child. Caught up in the excitement, Zhu Yuanzhang blurted out that his own first child would definitely be a son, while Chang Yuchun’s would certainly be a daughter. When the children grew up, Chang Yuchun’s daughter would marry his son.
He had truly said it on a whim.
He had simply been teasing Chang Yuchun.
Both of them had waited so long before their wives finally conceived, eagerly hoping for sons to carry on the family line. Saying Chang Yuchun’s first child would definitely be a daughter—if that wasn’t teasing, what was?
Who could have known his careless joke would hit the mark?
He really did have a son in one try.
Chang Yuchun really did have only a daughter.
Even more awkwardly, Chang Yuchun worked incredibly hard afterward, gradually becoming one of Zhu Yuanzhang’s trusted generals. His status rose step by step, and this very year he had finally been promoted from vanguard commander to marshal, capable of leading an army independently.
That joking engagement made before the children were born…
Well…
It suddenly felt rather embarrassing to pretend it had never happened.
Given Chang Yuchun’s current status and position, the marriage was actually quite suitable. Once the children married, that old joke would become a charming story.
The problem was…
His son wasn’t an ordinary child.
Zhu Yuanzhang could already imagine exactly what expression his son would make after hearing about the prenatal engagement, and exactly what he would say.
“Dad, if you’re sick, take medicine. The Chen family can certainly afford the treatment to fix your brain.”
Wah… my son would definitely say something like that!
The tiny Zhu Yuanzhang inside his heart hugged his head and rolled around on the floor in agony.
Chang Yuchun was tactful enough never to bring the matter up in front of outsiders.
Unfortunately, Zhu Yuanzhang had been so excited back then that he had shouted it at the top of his lungs.
Quite a few people had heard.
Cough.
He did feel a little sorry toward the Chang family’s daughter.
But the children were still young, weren’t they?
No hurry.
Let’s wait a little longer.
Zhu Yuanzhang chose to avoid the issue for now.
This isn’t avoidance.
The children are still little! It’s too early to discuss marriage!
After summoning his trusted general to his side, Zhu Yuanzhang continued presiding over the memorial ceremony.
This sacrifice was not only meant to avenge the people of Yangzhou.
It was also a warning bell for every soldier under his command.
Chang Yuchun had only just begun commanding armies independently this year. Zhu Yuanzhang had high hopes for him and wanted him to restrain the lingering habits of a bandit, becoming a disciplined general like Xu Da or Tang He.
Glancing at the expressions on Chang Yuchun’s and Lan Yu’s faces, Zhu Yuanzhang nodded inwardly.
They knew fear.
That meant they could still be taught.
The captured Qing soldiers continued filling the grave, their faces drained of all color.
After witnessing Zhu Yuanzhang use human flesh as an offering for the people of Yangzhou, the demonic arrogance they had developed after so long committing atrocities seemed to disappear in an instant.
Fear once again crept into their hearts.
Fear was also part of human nature.
Watching their terrified expressions as they muttered disjointed ghost-banishing incantations picked up from who-knew-where, Zhu Yuanzhang’s gaze grew dim.
His expression darkened because he realized something.
These Qing soldiers who had eaten human flesh…
They had once been human too.
They had once been oppressed commoners.
Ordinary people…
No different from those whose bones now lay inside this mass grave.
Had people truly become demons because of the chaos of the age?
Was there any way to solve this problem completely?
Could the “moral education” advocated by Confucian scholars really work?
If it did…
How could those very scholars calmly watch their own mothers, wives, and daughters deform their feet into such monstrous shapes?
In the past, Zhu Yuanzhang had been just as muddleheaded as Chang Yuchun was now.
His only goal had been to rise above his station so that he, his wife, and his children could live good lives.
Whenever he looked at Chang Yuchun, he saw his former self.
That was why he had always taken extra care of him.
Now he had read many books.
His mind seemed both clearer…
And even more confused.
He had discovered countless problems.
Yet after searching through all the histories, he still couldn’t find solutions.
Would he have to discover those solutions himself?
But if he didn’t even know where to begin…
How was he supposed to think them through?
Zhu Yuanzhang squatted beside the grave in silence.
Song Lian and Ye Zheng looked at him.
Moments ago, he had radiated the aura of a tyrant.
Now he suddenly looked like nothing more than a simple middle-aged farmer squatting on a doorstep, basking in the sun.
The frightening dominance had vanished from his face.
He even looked…
A little honest and simple.
The two scholars found themselves overwhelmed by conflicting emotions.
After sighing several times, they tucked the hems of their robes into their waists, tied back their sleeves, and joined in filling the grave.
Whether or not they would eventually serve this future tyrant could be considered later.
First…
The people of Yangzhou deserved a proper burial.
Once the grave had been filled, Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da, and Chang Yuchun personally carried a thick cypress tree together and planted it atop the mound.
The other generals followed one after another, planting more cypress trees around the grave.
Song Lian and Ye Zheng also planted trees with their own hands.
The verdant cypresses stood straight behind the monument like solemn guardians.
At last, the horrifying atmosphere of the ceremony returned to one of dignity.
Unfortunately…
After the sacrificial human flesh and broth had cooled, Zhu Yuanzhang poured all of it over the cypress grove.
The solemnity immediately became horrifying once again.
The corners of Song Lian’s and Ye Zheng’s mouths twitched.
This Zhu Yuanzhang…
He acted entirely according to his own whims.
Without any regard for convention.
Without caring about his reputation.
Without considering the consequences.
No wonder Li Shanchang, a man already over forty years old, cried until he was covered in tears and snot whenever Zhu Yuanzhang was mentioned.
After the cypress grove had been planted, Zhu Yuanzhang personally wrote a regulation.
The trees were not to be cut down.
However, commoners were allowed to enter the grove to gather fallen firewood.
Song Lian looked puzzled.
“If the purpose is to preserve the solemnity of the cemetery, shouldn’t entry be completely forbidden?”
Zhu Yuanzhang replied,
“This grove occupies a huge piece of land.”
“If ordinary people are forbidden to enter altogether, then a good deed becomes a burden.”
“I believe the people buried beneath these trees wouldn’t mind sharing a little firewood or wild mountain produce with the poor.”
Song Lian’s face turned somewhat pale.
“Firewood is one thing…”
“But mountain produce?”
“You mean people might actually hunt here?”
Seeing Song Lian’s expression, Zhu Yuanzhang chuckled.
“When people are starving badly enough, they’ll even steal offerings placed before Buddha.”
“So what’s strange about catching foxes, weasels, or even rats in a graveyard?”
“At least it’s meat.”
As someone who had once been both a monk and a beggar, Zhu Yuanzhang spoke from experience.
Song Lian sighed.
Although his complexion still wasn’t great, he nodded.
“That’s… true.”
Zhu Yuanzhang looked rather surprised.
He had expected Song Lian to reject the idea entirely.
Instead, this Mr. Song turned out to be unexpectedly open-minded.
Having buried the dead and planted the trees together, the atmosphere between Zhu Yuanzhang, Song Lian, and Ye Zheng improved considerably.
Since Chen Biao would be arriving soon, Xu Da arranged for Chang Yuchun to stay far away, lest he accidentally expose Zhu Yuanzhang’s identity.
Chen Guorui’s residence had been arranged behind the temporarily requisitioned Marshal’s Mansion in Yangzhou.
A hidden door connected it first to the courtyard where Xu Da was staying before leading into the Marshal’s Mansion itself.
Finding accommodations for the two scholars proved a bit trickier.
After consulting Zhu Yuanzhang, Xu Da placed them near Chang Yuchun, claiming that Chang Yuchun’s murderous aura was strong enough to suppress the lingering ghostly atmosphere still hanging over Yangzhou.
Chang Yuchun looked as though he wanted to say something but stopped himself.
Truthfully…
He was still scared himself.
General Xu thought far too highly of him.
Song Lian and Ye Zheng had no objections.
They had only recently joined Zhu Yuanzhang.
Naturally, he wouldn’t assign them quarters near his most confidential affairs.
Having Chang Yuchun serve as their “bodyguard” already demonstrated considerable respect.
That evening, Zhu Yuanzhang held a banquet in the Marshal’s Mansion to welcome the two great scholars who had voluntarily come to join him.
Since the memorial ceremony had only just concluded, serving lavish meat dishes would have been inappropriate.
Fortunately, all of Zhu Yuanzhang’s cooks had been trained in the Chen household by Chen Biao.
Even with only vegetables and staple foods, they prepared an excellent feast.
The only problem…
Was the sight of Zhu Yuanzhang holding an enormous basin and slurping noodles.
It was rather inelegant.
“Sorry.”
“I originally intended to act a little more refined.”
“But we’ll all be working together from now on.”
“I can fake it for a day, not for a lifetime.”
He smiled sheepishly.
“I haven’t eaten anything for most of the day.”
“I’m starving.”
Seeing Zhu Yuanzhang’s honest, simple expression, Song Lian and Ye Zheng truly didn’t know what to say.
Looking only at him now…
Who would imagine this man was destined to become a tyrant?
Those with foresight could see the whole from the smallest details.
Someone capable of killing didn’t necessarily become a tyrant.
Even someone who massacred cities didn’t necessarily become one.
Zhu Yuanzhang’s actions today weren’t even especially cruel.
Yet Song Lian and Ye Zheng were convinced he would inevitably become a tyrant.
A tyrant who slaughtered indiscriminately would eventually be overthrown.
Such rulers were not truly frightening.
The tyrants scholars feared most were rulers like Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han.
Their “tyranny” was merely one of the methods by which they became great emperors.
Although Song Lian and Ye Zheng disapproved of using human flesh as a sacrificial offering, it wasn’t because they believed the act offended Heaven.
A man like Zhang Mingjian…
Calling him an animal would insult animals.
Even dismembering him into ten thousand pieces wouldn’t be excessive.
They had tried to stop Zhu Yuanzhang only because such an act would damage his reputation.
Originally, they thought Zhu Yuanzhang simply hadn’t realized that.
But after listening to him…
They discovered he understood the consequences perfectly.
He had said he wished to become the greatest villain feared by all villains.
The sharpest blade representing the people’s will.
Those words alone showed that if Zhu Yuanzhang ever became Emperor, he would never choose a gentle method of governing.
Corrupt officials?
Powerful clans?
One swift stroke.
Even if half the court were emptied, so what?
Song Lian and Ye Zheng had judged him correctly.
In history, Zhu Yuanzhang never understood why officials inevitably became corrupt.
So he flayed corrupt officials alive and stuffed their skins with straw, using even greater “evil” to suppress the evil growing within men’s hearts.
Military colonies, commercial colonies, the hereditary military household system, the grain chief system…
Policies later criticized as cruel during the middle and late Ming Dynasty had all functioned as beneficial policies during the reigns of Zhu Yuanzhang and Zhu Di.
Why?
Because the blades in their hands moved faster than corruption spread through men’s hearts.
A ruler like Zhu Yuanzhang…
Someone who clearly understood the reason behind every act of “evil”…
Who committed every ruthless deed calmly and rationally…
Was a qualified tyrant.
And a qualified tyrant…
Was also a qualified ruler.
Yet history showed that qualified tyrants eventually became unqualified ones.
They lost their reason.
Their eyes became blinded by killing.
Calculated slaughter gradually turned into nothing more than indulging the desire to kill.
And that inevitably brought catastrophe upon both the nation and its people.
Right now, Zhu Yuanzhang was indeed a qualified tyrant.
But what about the future?
Could he control himself?
Could he avoid becoming nothing more than a murderous demon?
Neither Song Lian nor Ye Zheng knew the answer.
Truthfully…
Zhu Yuanzhang was also nervous.
Although he believed he hadn’t done anything wrong…
If he frightened away these great scholars too…
Would Li Shanchang become so angry that he’d quit?
That absolutely couldn’t happen.
If Li Shanchang stopped working, Zhu Yuanzhang himself would have to take over all the administration.
Then he’d have no time left to wage war.
He still wanted to conquer the empire as quickly as possible for his son.
“Well…”
“Mr. Song.”
“Mr. Ye.”
Whenever Zhu Yuanzhang became nervous, he unconsciously rubbed his hands together—a bad habit he’d picked up during his years as a farmer, monk, and beggar.
“If you have something to say, just say it.”
Song Lian and Ye Zheng came back to themselves.
Looking at Zhu Yuanzhang’s uneasy expression only left them feeling even more helpless.
This Zhu Yuanzhang…
His personality really was split into extremes.
Ye Zheng sighed and spoke first.
“Marshal Zhu.”
“You said you wanted to become the sharpest blade for the people.”
“Does that mean…”
“In the future…”
“You plan to execute every corrupt official?”
Zhu Yuanzhang nodded.
“Ah, that’s right!”
Song Lian and Ye Zheng: “…”
“That’s right,” your head!
Both scholars felt utterly exhausted.
This Marshal Zhu…
How should they put it?
A tyrant was certainly a tyrant…
But also rather simple-minded.
Which somehow made him even more troublesome.
The two scholars patiently explained that although they studied the teachings of the sages and believed everyone could become virtuous through education, they also understood the principle that “waters too clear harbor no fish.”
Even if one wished to reform officialdom, it wasn’t as simple as immediately raising the executioner’s blade.
Zhu Yuanzhang scratched his head.
“Sounds awfully complicated.”
Song Lian and Ye Zheng: “…”
If he had been one of their students…
The ruler would already have come out.
Zhu Yuanzhang realized he was being rather exasperating.
Putting on the same honest smile he often used to placate his son, he said,
“If only there were a solution that settled everything once and for all.”
He sighed.
“I know it isn’t that simple.”
“But whenever I read about the golden ages recorded in history…”
“There were still people without enough food or clothing.”
“There were still corrupt officials abusing the people.”
“There were still desperate men forced to rise in rebellion…”
He paused before continuing.
“So I keep thinking…”
“If even a flourishing age looked like that…”
“I want to do better.”
If, like Emperor Gaozu of Han, he truly represented the Mandate of Heaven that had supported the struggles of common people for a thousand years…
If he could achieve only what previous golden ages had achieved…
He wouldn’t be satisfied.
Besides…
He had an immortal-like son.
He had to do better.
And he should be able to do better.
“Of course,” Zhu Yuanzhang continued, scratching his head with a grin, “I also know you can’t create a prosperous age through killing alone.”
“But I have an amazing son.”
“I’ll conquer the empire for him first.”
“I’ll drive the Tatars out.”
“I’ll scare every corrupt official into obedience.”
“Then my son can govern the country afterward.”
“It’ll definitely be much easier for him.”
Song Lian and Ye Zheng asked in unison,
“Marshal… how old is your son?”
Zhu Yuanzhang proudly raised a thumbs-up, flashing eight slightly yellow teeth.
“Five years old!”
Song Lian and Ye Zheng: “…”
You’re already placing all your hopes on a five-year-old son?
You really are…
The two great scholars forcibly swallowed the curses that had risen to their throats.
It felt as though they had swallowed a mouthful of blood.
They suffered internal injuries from holding it in.
Meanwhile, Zhu Yuanzhang continued grinning foolishly.
“Mr. Song.”
“Mr. Ye.”
“So… you’re not leaving, right?”
The two scholars sighed together.
“No.”
“We’re not leaving.”
“We never intended to.”
“But Marshal…”
“You really should work on your temperament.”
“At the very least, learn to pretend.”
“Indeed, Marshal.”
“I know your heart is with the people.”
“But scholars are still needed to govern a nation.”
“If your reputation among them becomes too terrible, then even if you conquer countless cities…”
“Who will help you administer them?”
“At least pretend a little.”
“There are many examples in the history books.”
“Marshal, I can explain them to you.”
“Although some scholars are hopelessly pedantic, every person has some use.”
“You understand the principle of making the best use of every talent, don’t you?”…
Song Lian and Ye Zheng took turns persuading him with painstaking sincerity.
Zhu Yuanzhang responded with a string of absent-minded “Mm,” “Ah,” and “Oh.”
On the surface, he looked humble and eager to learn.
But both scholars knew perfectly well…
Every word they said was going in one ear and out the other.
Marshal Zhu wasn’t even Emperor yet.
And already he possessed the unmistakable beginnings of a tyrant who ruled through absolute personal authority.
The two great scholars exchanged another helpless sigh.
“So…”
“Are you leaving?”
“No.”
“What about you?”
“I’m a Confucian who also cultivates Buddhism.”
“If I don’t descend into hell, who will?”
“Heh.”
…
Zhu Yuanzhang coughed lightly.
“They’re fighting?”
One of his guards replied,
“Not exactly fighting.”
“They just kicked each other a few times.”
Zhu Yuanzhang laughed.
“I never expected those two scholars to have such… interesting personalities in private.”
The guard thought to himself,
No matter how interesting they are, they probably won’t reach Mr. Li’s level… chasing military generals around while swinging his fists.
Probably.
Zhu Yuanzhang waved the guard away.
Passing through Xu Da’s courtyard, he snatched the roast chicken Xu Da had been eating for a late-night snack.
Gnawing happily on a drumstick, he walked back toward “Chen Guorui’s” residence.
A memorial ceremony just ended. Don’t you know you’re not supposed to eat meat afterward?
Confiscated!
Watching Zhu Yuanzhang’s back disappear into the distance, Xu Da secretly raised both middle fingers toward him.
Returning to “Chen Guorui’s” residence, Zhu Yuanzhang finished the chicken, bathed, changed into the loose robes of a scholar, lit an oil lamp, sat cross-legged on the kang bed, and pulled The Philosophy of the Ma Clan from beneath his pillow.
The table of contents was an absolute mess.
Zhu Yuanzhang strongly suspected Chen Biao had simply written down whatever came to mind.
After pages of bizarre, incomprehensible rambling…
Chen Biao finally began writing what he called the “General Principles.”
The first section was…
Dialectical Materialism.
Zhu Yuanzhang had tried very hard to understand it.
Material.
Consciousness.
Materialism.
Idealism.
He recognized every individual character.
Put together…
He had absolutely no idea what they meant.
His face filled with misery.
As expected of a heavenly scripture.
Reading it was almost as sleep-inducing as chanting Buddhist sutras.
Judging by the time, no matter how much Li Zhen delayed the journey, Chen Biao should arrive tomorrow.
Zhu Yuanzhang skipped over the sections he couldn’t understand instead of stubbornly forcing himself to continue.
He turned to the next chapter.
Historical Materialism.
…
“Achoo!”
Chen Biao rubbed his nose.
“What’s that smell?”
Li Zhen sniffed the air.
“It smells like incense and burned joss paper.”
Chen Biao covered his nose.
“It’s way too strong.”
Li Zhen explained,
“I heard the Marshal erected a monument yesterday in Yangzhou and held a memorial ceremony for the people who died there.”
“That’s why the smell is so strong.”
Chen Biao muttered,
“Isn’t he just putting himself over an open fire?”
“If he ever massacres a city in the future, how’s he supposed to explain himself then?”
Li Zhen looked puzzled.
“Why would the Marshal massacre cities?”
“He never has.”
Although the Red Turban Army hadn’t maintained strict discipline from the very beginning and had looted cities after capturing them…
As for deliberately massacring entire cities…
None of Zhu Yuanzhang’s forces had ever done such a thing.
Chen Biao replied,
“Doesn’t Chang Yuchun—the one Uncle Li beat up—love massacring cities?”
Li Zhen laughed helplessly.
“Biao’er, where did you hear such a rumor?”
“Chang Yuchun only started leading armies independently this year.”
“He hasn’t fought that many battles yet.”
“Perhaps some of his men have the bad habit of killing civilians to claim military merit…”
“But massacring cities?”
“Absolutely not.”
In this era, no army avoided looting after taking a city.
Nor could they avoid falsely claiming civilian deaths as battlefield achievements.
People of the time didn’t even consider those things stains on one’s reputation.
Chen Biao scratched his head.
“Not yet?”
“Then maybe it’s something that happens later.”
“Ah…”
“Maybe I’m remembering wrong.”
“Ow…”
“My nose feels awful.”
“Achoo!”
“Achoo!”
“Achoo!”
He sneezed repeatedly until his eyes turned red and filled with tears.
Li Zhen quickly cut off a piece of thin mosquito netting and wrapped it over Chen Biao’s nose and mouth to block the overwhelming smell of incense ash.
Chen Wenzheng tried to laugh at Chen Biao for being so delicate.
But the moment Chen Biao raised his little fist…
He decisively shut his mouth.
Whenever Chen Biao raised that tiny fist…
It meant he was genuinely angry.
Although those soft, chubby little fists couldn’t actually hurt anyone…
If Chen Biao got angry…
No one would get to eat anything delicious until he’d calmed down.
Truthfully, Chen Wenzheng wasn’t especially greedy.
The problem was…
When the entire family was eating tasty food while he alone was left out…
That feeling was unbearable.
Once Li Zhen’s caravan entered Yangzhou territory, Zhu Yuanzhang’s personal guards came personally to escort them straight to “Chen Guorui’s” residence to avoid exposing the deception.
Whenever Zhu Yuanzhang captured a city, people from the Chen Trading Company immediately arrived to help restore its economic order.
Thus, Li Zhen’s arrival attracted no attention from the other Red Turban generals.
Their caravan entered Chen Guorui’s temporary residence without incident.
After dismounting, Li Zhen picked up Chen Biao, who was lying limply in his hammock pretending to be dead.
Xu Da was already waiting at the entrance.
Seeing Chen Biao looking completely wilted, he immediately grew worried.
“Biao’er, what’s wrong?”
Li Zhen replied,
“He got overwhelmed by the smell of incense ash.”
Xu Da laughed and took Chen Biao into his arms, gently patting his plump little bottom.
“How can you be this delicate?”
Chen Biao pulled the gauze from his face and immediately wiped his runny nose all over Xu Da’s freshly changed silk robe while clutching his collar.
As he wiped, he said,
“I am this delicate.”
“Where’s my dad?”
“Is he okay?”
“He didn’t lose his mind again, did he?”
Li Zhen took Chen Wenzheng and Li Bao’er to unpack the supplies they had brought from Yingtian.
Xu Da carried Chen Biao inside while allowing him to enthusiastically smear snot all over his brand-new silk clothes.
“What could Boss possibly do?”
“You’re talking nonsense.”
“He’s inside.”
“I’ll take you—”
“So that’s it! So that’s it!!”
Xu Da froze.
“I understand now!!”
“I finally understand!!”
Cold sweat instantly broke out across Xu Da’s forehead.
Hearing the ghostlike wailing from inside the house, Chen Biao stood stunned for a brief moment before violently yanking Xu Da’s freshly washed hair hanging over his chest.
“Quick!”
“Hurry inside!!”
Xu Da charged into the house carrying Chen Biao.
The moment they entered…
Zhu Yuanzhang was kneeling on the floor.
One hand held the “Heavenly Book.”
The other was clenched into a fist.
Both arms were raised toward the heavens.
Tears and snot streamed down his face.
Xu Da hurriedly set Chen Biao down and rushed over.
“Boss! Boss!”
“What’s wrong with you?!”
Chen Biao shouted,
“Take the book away from him!”
The instant Chen Biao yelled, Xu Da acted without hesitation.
In one swift motion, he snatched the book from the emotionally overwhelmed Zhu Yuanzhang.
Zhu Yuanzhang froze.
Then he roared,
“Give it back!”
“What’s happening?”
“Who’s yelling?”
“Did assassins get in?”
Hearing the commotion, Chen Wenzheng and Li Bao’er hurried inside.
Xu Da immediately threw the book toward Chen Biao—
Only to be knocked flat by a punch from Zhu Yuanzhang.
“My book!”
Lying on the ground, Xu Da lunged forward and hugged Zhu Yuanzhang’s legs.
“Run!”
Chen Biao grabbed the book and stuffed it into his robe.
Pointing with one chubby finger, he shouted,
“Hold my dad down!”
The two sworn brothers, who had been frozen in shock by Zhu Yuanzhang’s bizarre behavior, finally came back to their senses.
They rushed forward and grabbed him from both sides.
Even with three grown men hanging from his arms and legs…
Zhu Yuanzhang still managed to inch forward step by step toward Chen Biao.
His voice was pleading.
His eyes were bloodshot and filled with tears.
Actual teardrops rolled down his face.
“Biao’er…”
“Give me the Heavenly Book…”
“Just let me look at it once more…”
“Just one more look…”
The three men clinging to Zhu Yuanzhang: “!!!”
Our Marshal…
Our godfather…
He’s become possessed by the Heavenly Book!
“Biao’er!”
Chen Biao backed away one step at a time.
“D-Dad…”
“Calm down…”
“Don’t scare me…”
“Ow!”
His short little legs caught on the door’s threshold.
He toppled backward.
Rolling head over heels…
He tumbled all the way down the steps.
“Biao’er?!!!”