Chapter Eighteen: The Merry Chicken

Lu Hu immediately recognized that this was a high-tech artifact and picked it up to study it closely.

Watching his son fiddle with the object, Lu Song explained its origins: “In the thirteenth year of the Qianyuan era, I was in the Anxi Protectorate, following General Qin on a campaign against the Western Turks. During a night raid on the enemy camp, I pursued too fiercely and, come dawn, found myself alone, lost in the desert. I wandered the whole day and still couldn’t find my way out.”

Immersed in his memories, Lu Song failed to notice that his son had already uncovered the secret of the device. He continued, “When night fell, I took a bite of my rations and drank the last of my water. My warhorse was so exhausted it lay down and refused to move. I gave it the rest of my food and water and lay down to sleep beside it.”

Lu Song paused, recalling the bone-deep fatigue and utter loneliness of that time, and let out a long sigh, his heart still trembling at the memory. “I was jolted awake by the horse’s neigh. When I opened my eyes, the sky was as bright as day, so dazzling I had to shut them again. In the distance, there was a deafening explosion. When I opened my eyes once more, it was pitch black, with only countless stars twinkling down at me.”

Lost in reminiscence, Lu Song didn’t notice that Lu Hu had already disassembled the black cylinder, tinkered with it, and deduced that it was an electric baton—though, unfortunately, out of power. How could an electric baton appear in the deserts of this alternate world? Perhaps aliens had visited this planet and left it behind, or maybe it was a remnant of some hidden prehistoric civilization.

None of this was for him to guess—what mattered was finding a way to use it. The thought flashed through Lu Hu’s mind as he continued to examine the object.

Lu Song, seeing his son playing with the black stick and flicking a small button up and down with his thumb, found nothing else remarkable about it and resumed his story: “Suddenly, my warhorse sprang to its feet. Only then did I notice a glow in the direction of the explosion. I rode over but found only this object…”

He suddenly stopped, surprise written all over his face. “Ah, so that’s the trick behind it.”

By now, Lu Hu had discovered the mechanism: he unfolded a panel, revealing a polycrystalline silicon solar battery.

Lu Song stared, wide-eyed, as his son, like a magician, made the device expand fourfold. It now resembled a miniature city wall, and the black cylinder was somehow connected to the panel.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but he couldn’t decipher its purpose.

Lu Hu burst into song and dance, swinging his arms, twisting his waist, shaking his hips, and tapping his feet to a wild, jubilant tune: “Up, up, up, I’m going to fly to the sky…”

His exuberance was infectious, and Lu Song couldn’t help but smile as well. Watching his son’s joyful, twisting dance, he felt an itch to join in.

If I tell him it’s an electric baton, he won’t understand a thing—better just to make something up. Still dancing, Lu Hu replied, “It’s a joy machine.”

“A joy chicken? What kind of chicken is that? Can’t move or eat, all shiny and stiff—so it’s a dead chicken?” Lu Song was thoroughly baffled.

Well, at the moment, it is a dead machine. Maybe once it’s under the sun, it’ll come alive. Lu Hu didn’t bother explaining further, scooped up the device, opened the door, and ran out into the courtyard.

The sun was shining bright, illuminating the snowy, windswept land. Despite the sunlight, there was no warmth to be felt in the freezing air.

He couldn’t leave the device in plain sight. So, Lu Hu led the horse out of the stable, jumped onto its back, and with a burst of energy, vaulted up onto the roof.

The snow on the roof was sticky from the sun’s warmth. Lu Hu set the solar panel on the snow, then leaped down into the courtyard.

Lu Song, who had followed him outside, was startled by the stunt. “You little rascal! What are you doing on the roof in this freezing weather? Be careful or you’ll break your neck! How many times have I told you—always be cautious! You never listen, you little scoundrel!”

Lu Hu skipped over, threw his arms around his father, and gave him a big kiss. “My dear father, I love you to death!”

It was rare for his son to be so affectionate, and Lu Song’s heart almost melted. “Where did you put that thing? If you can use it, keep it and make good use of it.”

“Thank you, Dad.” In the Great Sheng, “father” was the formal term. At home, children called their fathers “dad” or “pa,” and only when acting spoiled would they use “pa.”

Lu Hu hugged his father as they returned indoors, then sat back down at the table and asked, “Dad, how did you get out of the desert? And how did you bring the joy machine back?”

“When I found that pack, the whole area was steaming hot, and the ground was warm. Both the horse and I dozed off again. Next thing I knew, I was awakened by the sound of approaching hooves—Lord Gao and the others had come searching with torches. I followed them back to camp…”

“Lord Gao?” Lu Hu’s heart skipped a beat, and he interrupted, “Was it that rascal Gao Kuang?”

“Watch your tongue! How dare you call Lord Gao by name. You must remember the proper respect between ranks—do you hear me?” Lu Song scolded.

“Yes, yes, His Excellency Lord Gao the wolf’s cub, governor and protector. At the time, he was your subordinate, wasn’t he? Did he see this thing?” Lu Hu was beginning to guess why his father had been demoted to this place.

Sure enough, Lu Song said, “Lord Gao is shrewd—while others only noticed the five chieftain heads hanging from my saddle, he spotted the pack hidden among them.”

The heads were for reporting military achievements. Any spoils taken on the battlefield were the victor’s to keep; the Great Sheng didn’t enforce strict rules about handing everything over to the government. If you can’t let officers and soldiers claim treasure and women after a victory, who would risk their lives for a cause?

To make a fortune by force was the way of the army in Great Sheng!

“He wanted to know what was in the pack, but you intended it as a family heirloom and ignored him, right?” Lu Hu ventured.

Lu Song looked at him with admiration. “Son, you’re growing more clever by the day. Yes, he was very interested and tried to coax it from me, but I pretended ignorance… cough, cough.”

He paused to clear his throat before continuing, “We won a great victory, and I was transferred to the Right Feathered Forest Army under General Su. Lord Gao was favored by General Qin and went to the Divine Martial Army.”

The Divine Martial Army served closer to the emperor. General Qin’s ancestors had been close officers of Emperor Taizong, and their family had always enjoyed intimate ties with the royal house.

General Su, though highly meritorious, relied solely on his achievements—he could not compare to Qin’s connections. Already elderly, General Su soon retired after returning from war, and with his departure, Lu Song lost his patron.

General Qin, owing to his ties with the royal family, became the emperor’s chief bodyguard, wielding great influence. Gao Kuang, serving loyally at his side, naturally rose in rank. In such matters, picking the right patron was an art—back the right one and you soar, back the wrong one and you’re doomed.

Father had never been skilled in such politics. Lord Gao must have coveted whatever treasure was in the pack but couldn’t openly demand it, only hoping Father would hand it over voluntarily.

A man with a treasure is guilty for possessing it. Trying to keep it for oneself—who else would they demote, if not you?

Yannali came over carrying a plate of chicken pieces. Lu Hu put all those troubles out of his mind, slipped an arm around her supple waist, and leaned his head against her shapely hips with a wicked grin. “Sweetheart, the food’s not ready yet? Are you trying to starve us?”

Lu Li traced circles on her own cheek with a finger. “Shameless, shameless, no decency! Having a child who’s so brazen!”

She’d been taught since childhood that a girl’s waist was not for outsiders to touch.

Damn, which little rascal taught her that rhyme? How is it shameless for me to hug my own wife’s waist?

Though Yannali didn’t understand what Lu Li was saying, she sensed she was being teased for her lack of propriety and blushed a deep red as she brushed Lu Hu’s hand away.

Their mother entered, smiling, with a tray of flatbreads. “Little Li, come sit down. You’ve been working all morning—must be exhausted. My good child, so beautiful and sensible.”