Mulan - Shan Yu Returns

Chapter 4: Socialization

Shan Yu couldn't sleep. He rolled around the blanket on the floor. He let out a deep sigh almost every five minutes. He decided to get up, and step outside to get some fresh air. He was too frustrated of himself for making so many mistakes while farming, and sorrowed by how Mulan's friends reacted when they saw him. As he took a deep sigh, he walked around the backyard. The garden of the house of the Fa family was very peaceful. There was a pond, river, bridge, family temple, and a bench with a tree next to it.

Out of curiosity, he stepped inside the family temple. He decided to pray to the ancestors. He knelt down and lowered his head. "Honorable ancestors of the Fa family. Please help me become helpful to the Fa family... and please let the day come when villagers are used to my appearance..." Shan Yu sounded very desperate. The ancestors watched him pray. Despite his intimidating looks, they saw some goodness in his action. "I want to help their lives be easier. Please... please help me..." Shan Yu continued to pray as his head was lowered. He slowly stood up again and bowed once more.

The Great Ancestor of Fa said, but Shan Yu couldn't hear, "He does seem determined to help this family."

"I wonder what has gotten to him..." The spirit of General Li said, and of course, Shan Yu could not hear.

"I want to help people by covering up my dark past that I do not remember," Shan Yu continued to pray. "Please help me reach that goal." He knelt down and lowered his head once more to pay the last respect to the ancestors of the Fa family before stepping out of the temple. He still did not feel sleepy at all, so he decided to sit on the bench with a Mudan tree next to it. He looked at the night sky, covered with stars, and then the blossoms resting on the tree. He let out a deep sigh as he gazed upon the stars and the blossoms.

He heard someone clearing his throat. It was Fa Zhou.

"Oh, honorable Fa Zhou," Shan Yu stood up and bowed at him.

"No need to stand, please have a seat," Fa Zhou said. Shan Yu sat right back down, and Fa Zhou sat next to him.

"Were you not able to sleep?" Shan Yu asked, worried. 

"It happens when you're old," Fa Zhou said. "It seems like you also couldn't sleep either."

"I've been stressed," Shan Yu said, his head lowered. 

"Oh? May I listen to your problems?" Fa Zhou asked.

Before Shan Yu started, he took another deep breath. "I tried to be helpful to this family, but I keep making dumb mistakes, slowing them down, and the neighbors are all scared of me. I don't think starting my new life as a farmer here is not the right path for me. Even if Fa Mulan says that everything is okay, I'm not sure if she's really right. I'm not sure if everything is really okay, or she is just saying that to make me feel better."

"My daughter may be young," Fa Zhou said. "But she is much wiser than her years. She must've let you in because this is the right path for you. That's probably the reason why she let you in and start your new life here."

"Even if this is a right path, this is still not easy," Shan Yu said, still down.

"Sometimes, the right path may not be the easiest path. But never give up walking along the path. Eventually you will be able to receive what you want and what you deserve." Fa Zhou let his words of wisdom flow into Shan Yu's brain. 

Hearing that made Shan Yu feel better, causing him to smile by reflex. "Your family is very wise," Shan Yu complimented as a means of gratitude. 

"Also, do not beat yourself down so much with your mistakes," Fa Zhou said. "Despite your intimidating looks, you have a kind heart to help us, no matter how much mistakes you made, you still attempted to make up for your mistakes. I like to see that."