When Liu Bang returned home, his father, Liu Taigong, was first taken aback, then grabbed a broom from the side and chased after him.
"You little brat, you finally know how to come back? Why didn't you just die out there!"
Despite his advanced age, Liu Taigong was still vigorous and strong. He wielded a broom to beat his son with the force of ten thousand men, making Liu Bang howl in pain.
"Father, Father, please stop hitting me! It's only my first day back... Ah!"
When Liu Bang finally sat down at the table, there were only a few pieces of bread, a bowl of carrot soup, and a few vegetable leaves left. Liu Bang didn't mind at all and slurped them all down like a gust of wind.
He wiped his mouth, grinned, and said to his sister-in-law, "Is there any food left at home? This little bit won't be enough to fill you up."
Sister-in-law Liu, with her small nose and eyes, snorted but still brought over a few coarse flatbreads and pushed them over. Then she tidied the table, occasionally nudging Liu Bang with her elbow.
"Second son, you can't just freeload this time you're back; you have to work too," Old Master Liu said in a deep voice, slapping the table.
"What future is there in farm work?" Liu Bang mumbled through his chewing bread, "One day I, Liu Bang, will rise to prominence. What does this little bit of food and drink matter?"
“Eating and drinking are nothing, then you shouldn’t eat,” said Sister Liu, grabbing a piece of bread and shoving it into her son’s hands on her hips.
"How many years have you been spouting this nonsense? If you're so capable, show me what you've got now!"
Liu Bang couldn't save face, but luckily he was thick-skinned. He finished chewing his words and was about to say a few conciliatory words when there was a knock on the door of the Liu family.
The Liu family was stunned when they opened the door.
There were many people standing outside the gate, all dressed in rich clothes, carrying red lacquered boxes. As soon as they appeared, there was a great commotion of gongs and drums, and flags were waving.
The one at the front is young, but he's wearing official robes! Liu Bang and Xiao He were close friends, so he recognized him immediately; it was the attire of a county magistrate.
He was greatly alarmed, and before he could speak, the magistrate, smiling broadly, bowed and presented his visiting card, saying loudly:
"The magistrate of Pei County, by order of the King, has come to summon Liu Bang, the second son of the Liu family, to court to meet the King!"
Clang! The ceramic plate in Sister Liu's hand fell to the ground...
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