Chapter 3: The Father's Return Home

Suddenly, a voice came, "Madam, I am back." Upon hearing this voice, Gongsun Xu noticed that his mother was momentarily stunned, then suddenly stood up and ran towards the door, colliding with a man at the entrance. The man simply embraced her, and Gongsun Xu realized that this must be his father. Upon closer inspection, he found that the man bore a striking resemblance to himself from his previous life, about seventy percent alike. It was truly strange; could this be a consequence of the time travel? Gongsun Xu noticed his mother crying on his father's shoulder, while his father merely comforted her. After a while, his mother finally stopped crying and said, "Look how happy I am; I actually forgot about Xu'er. Xu'er, come over and call your father." Upon hearing this, Gongsun Xu's father brightened up, excitedly ran over, and picked up Gongsun Xu, saying, "Madam, is this my son? He looks so much like me."

The old servant nearby heard the young master's voice and rushed over, just in time to see him holding the child. He quickly said: "Indeed, young master, the young master looks exactly like you did when you were little. From now on, we can no longer call you young master; you should be called master now."

It seems that the old man still has companions. Before long, another man appeared at the door. However, this man had a rather peculiar appearance; to put it simply, his ears drooped to his shoulders and his hands reached below his knees. If this were in the market, he would certainly be considered a rare sight. After the man walked in, he said to Gongsun Zan: "Congratulations, Brother Boge, your child has grown so big, looking exceptionally heroic. He will surely be a dragon among men in the future. I, Liu Xuande, do not have such good fortune. Congratulations, congratulations."

It is impossible; life can no longer be peaceful. One cannot end up like that historical figure, ultimately dying in disgrace. No matter what, this fate must be changed. As for what happens later, Gongsun Xu did not pay attention, nor did he have the time to care. The adults treated the children's momentary joy with indifference. Little did they know that Gongsun Xu's expression at that moment was extremely complex, perhaps one could say it was conflicted. Unintentionally, he had also become a notable figure. Although the chaotic world is a man's domain, a good man should carve out a career. However, Gongsun Xu's ambitions had faded with the departure of the woman he loved most in his previous life. His life experiences were far richer than those of the few present, thus this state of mind was not something ordinary people could attain. There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart. At the moment she left forever, his heart also died. Even though he had arrived in this chaotic Eastern Han era, he no longer wished to strive for anything. If possible, he would find a place to live out his life in peace. Of course, he must ensure the safety of his family, which is his only psychological solace. It is impossible to allow anyone to harm his family.

Heavens, what a joke! I had planned to live out my life in peace, but how could that be possible? During the late Eastern Han Dynasty, who doesn't know about the chaos among the warlords? Where could one find peaceful days? Although my state of mind has remained calm for the past three years, now Gongsun Xu can no longer remain at peace. He has come to realize his identity; historically, with the rise of Gongsun Zan, Gongsun Xu's name also appeared in the annals, only to ultimately perish alongside Gongsun Zan.

A few days later, when I was still sitting in front of the door, lost in thought as before, my mother was still beside me, mending the clothes.

Gongsun Zan, holding his son, shouted to the door: "Xuan De, my virtuous brother, come in and take a look at my son. Don't busy yourself outside; a few horses won't get away."

"Hahaha, I, Gongsun Zan, have a son now. He will surely be extraordinary in the future." Listening to his father say this, Gongsun Xu felt quite warm inside, as he sensed his father's affection for him through these words. However, he found his father's name quite familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before, perhaps mentioned by his mother in the past.

Since Gongsun Zan returned home, the family has become quite lively, with some relatives and friends visiting one after another. However, Gongsun Xu has not changed much. Gongsun Zan observed this and felt a slight surprise in his heart. His son is indeed different from ordinary people. In the future, his prospects are bound to be limitless.

As for this other individual, it can only be said that he is even more famous. Liu Bei, also known as Liu Xuande, is a historical figure who, despite a life filled with hardships and repeated defeats, is even referred to by later generations as the emperor who cried the most, having wept his way to the establishment of a nation. Ultimately, he became the founding emperor of the Shu Kingdom, known by historians as Emperor Zhaolie, the First Ruler. One cannot deny his own capabilities; to be able to emerge victorious in the end during the chaotic times of the Three Kingdoms, and to escape time and again from the hands of the warlord Cao Cao, is sufficient to establish him as a hero of the tumultuous era. In the chaotic times of the Three Kingdoms, how many heroes have vanished like smoke, such as Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, and Lü Bu? One cannot deny his own capabilities; to be able to emerge victorious in the end during the chaotic times of the Three Kingdoms, and to escape time and again from the hands of the warlord Cao Cao, is sufficient to establish him as a hero of the tumultuous era. In the chaotic times of the Three Kingdoms, how many heroes have vanished like smoke, such as Dong Zhuo, Yuan Shao, and Lü Bu? Only two have laughed until the end, and Liu Bei built his empire from scratch. Two historical figures stand before me. To say I am not excited would be absolutely false.

After experiencing the last incident, these days have been relatively stable. Gongsun Xu still gazes at the sky every day when there is nothing else to do, unable to go anywhere. Even if he could go somewhere, his mother would follow him. His mother is always afraid that he might come to harm. This is the essence of maternal love, meticulous and caring, which has gradually led Gongsun Xu to accept his mother's presence. This is a feeling Gongsun Xu has never had before, the feeling of having a home. Once his father returns home, the family will finally be complete

Liu Bei stayed at Gongsun Zan's home for one night before leaving, as he was eager to return home. Having spent many years studying away from home, he was concerned about how his elderly mother was faring, knowing that his family was quite poor. Gongsun Zan returned home with two horses, which were said to be a gift from his teacher. Gongsun Xu certainly knew who his father's teacher was—Lu Zhi, a notable figure from the Three Kingdoms period. Although his fame may not be great in novels, in history, Lu Zhi's reputation is indeed very significant. The fact that he could teach students like Gongsun Zan and Liu Bei speaks volumes about his character. Moreover, even when combined, Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan have not learned even seventy percent of Lu Zhi's skills. Furthermore, he was also a great scholar of his time, well-known and respected. It is worth noting that this teacher was quite generous, gifting two horses, which in later times could be considered equivalent to two luxury cars.