Chapter 3: Business and kinship
After sharing an interesting few minutes with the Hao family, Erdan continued down the stone road towards his job. And after fifteen minutes his destination was now in sight, Mr. Ping's noodle shop, one of the few restaurants in the Valley of Peace. The small eatery was built between a square space in the middle of two multi storied houses, though that never was much of a concern, since this was a small village instead of a large city like Gongmen, or the imperial capital. Erdan walked through the front entrance and made his way through the many tables and chairs set out for the hungry customers. He looked ahead and noticed his boss talking with a familiar family of goats. A man in his thirties and his two teenage sons, who were all friends to the young wolf. The boy approached them, ready to report for his morning duties. The father goat and noodle shop owner discussed semi-important matters while overlooking a map of nearby regions and towns.
"Hmm…" The father goat said. "If we set up some around here, it's possible we'd get some more customers, though I'm not sure if it's a wise endeavor?"
"Of course it's a good idea." The goose replied, continuing to converse with his fellow business owner.
"Yeah, but-" The goat said before he was cut off.
"Jimbo, I've been running a restaurant much longer then you, so if I know a market plan works, it works." The goose said in full confidence.
"Well… I guess so…" Jimbo commented.
Erdan walked up to the group with a warm grin. "Morning" He greeted.
The three goats and one goose looked behind to see the young wolf boy coming to meet them.
"Ah, good morning Erdan, how are you?" Jimbo asked.
"I'm fine, just hot from this sun." Erdan replied while sweat driped down the boy's brow, trying his best not to pant in front of his friends.
Jimbo's two teenage boys walked greeted their lupine friend while their father finished his talk.
"How are you doing Erdan?" Kenny, one of Jimbo's sons asked.
"You gonna be alright?" James, Kenny's brother asked with concern, thinking how dreadful Erdan must feel in this summer's hot air.
"Oh I'll be fine, but I'd feel better if I was in a lake or pond though." The young wild dog answered, beads of sweat running down his face.
After thinking a minute, Kenny asked, "You know, our Dad was thinking of taking us swimming at the river on Sunday. Maybe you and your parents could join us."
"Are you sure?" Erdan asked, never wanting to intrude on a family outing.
James then replied "We'll talk with him about it tonight."
Erdan nodded and continued to converse with his two goat buddies. Meanwhile Jimbo finished up his talks with Mr. Ping, and prepared himself for another day of work.
As he walked down the dining area he said to his boys, "Kenny, James, time to get to work!"
"Ok dad." Both the boys replied, before running away while waving Erdan goodbye.
Jimbo walked by the young lupine and said "Have a nice day Erdan."
"Thnaks, you too Jimbo." Erdan replied, and the goat father walked over across the street to his own business, the Dumpling Hut.
Erdan joined with Mr. Ping at the table and asked "How are you today, Mr. Ping?"
"I'm fine, but you're five minutes late." The goose said with a half stern tone.
"I know, I'm sorry, I just got caught up in a litt-" The teen was interrupted.
"It doesn't matter, as long as you're ok, and we've got work to do. Noodles aren't going to make themselves, now are they?" Mr. Ping said as he walked into the kitchen.
"No, no they're not." Erdan said with smile tugging at his edge of his lips. Although the goose seemed to have a one tracked mind on making profits, deep down the boy knew he cares a great deal about the boy.
(Fire Emblem echoes ost – "Serenity")
Erdan walked into the kitchen, though nowadays he's had to hunch himself a bit when in the cooking room. With the boy growing a good amount in the past few months, he's had to adjust to the number of little changes in his daily life. As Mr. Ping begins cooking and preparing the soup and meals, Erdan begun his shift by sweeping and cleaning the dining area, making sure all the tables and chairs were dust and dirt free. Once the restaurant was clean and tidy, the wolf teen brought up some cooking essentials from Mr. Ping's storage basement. Then begun to help cook.
Erdan placed vegetables on a wooden cutting board and started slicing up produce to add to the soups. He put the skills of control and discipline of one's body to good use in his part-time job. He continued to chop and add the several pieces of grown food into iron pots, when Mr. Ping came over to check on his employee.
"How are you doing Erdan?"
Erdan stopped slicing before replying. "I'm ok. But, mind if I ask you something?"
"I got all this produce fair and square!" Mr. Ping answered loudly and suddenly.
Erdan just sported a paused expression, surprised and a bit puzzled at the goose's response.
"Um, that's not what I was gonna ask." Erdan informed with a half chill and half questioning tone.
Mr. Ping took a moment to process what happened in the last few minutes. "Oh, well… what did you want to ask?"
Erdan placed the knife into its proper box for safety reasons and asked, "Are you doing well… business wise?"
The middle age goose looked at his teenage employee and answered in a tone that was attempting to pass of as relaxed. Although anyone who knew the noodle store owner well could easily see through his verbal façade.
"Oh… I'm… doing fine." Mr. Ping answered with a sheepish grin.
"And, what about Jimbo and his Dumpling Hut?" Erdan asked, not changing his slightly concerned tone.
"He's ok too…"
Erdan raised an eyebrow, and gave a look of concern that made the goose realize his young friend would find out his secret, so it'd be better to let him know sooner, rather than later.
"Oh ok… Jimbo and I are preparing for if our businesses take a down turn." The goose said with a worrying face.
"Wait, are sales going down for you two?" Erdan asked.
"Well, kinda. Some people are moving to the imperial city." Erdan leaned against the counter as he listened to his boss. "If people leave, then there's less workers in the fields and less produce for the village, and less sales for me or Jimbo."
Erdan raised his eyebrow again and sported a puzzled face. "I know a few families left a couple weeks ago. But can just a handful of villagers leaving cause that much of an impact?"
"Erdan this isn't a large city like Gongmen. It's a small village, and… well…"
Mr. Ping thought of how best to explain, or choose his wording to be the most understandable. Then he saw a pot of stew and brought it over, along with some spices.
"It's like how we make soup. " The goose took a ladle and dipped it in the flavored broth, then asked Erdan to taste it, which was smooth and rich. "This stew tastes nice, doesn't it?"
Erdan nodded, and then Mr. Ping picked up some spice.
"Now watch." The goose added just a little of the foreign spice, sprinkling just a bit.
"Now taste it." The noodle man said, repeating the ladle process again.
Erdan tasted the soup, but this time it was rough, and felt its flavor's hot texture in his mouth.
"One little unplanned step and change an entire meal for the worst… understand?" Mr. Ping said as he placed the pot back on the counter.
Erdan drank some water to get the taste out of his mouth and simply nodded in response. He understood the goose's method of explaining well, and was now made aware of the Valley's subtle change, that could snowball into a concerning issue.
Mr. Ping noticed the position of the sun, which was now almost in the sky's high center. The goose looked to his store's entrance and noticed the first hungry customers of the day come in.
"Alright Erdan, go see what those men want." Mr. Ping ordered.
"Yes sir." Erdan responded.
As the young wolf put on his apron, getting his uniform on, he thought of the reasons people might want to leave the Valley of Peace. He could understand the motives for leaving. With crocodile bandits, bison gangs, and all sorts of scum terrorizing and robbing the honest villagers, and evil doers seeking to steal the Jade Palace's sacred artifacts, it's clear that the Valley of Peace didn't really live up to its name. Even though the Dragon Warrior and the Jade Palace masters swore to protect the innocent and end conflicts, they too were only mortal. The famed kung fu heroes can't be everywhere or whenever they are needed, especially when people need them most. It's understandable why people would want to move their families away from a place that's seemingly in constant danger. But Erdan brushed off such thoughts and cognitive questions. He had a job to do. So he begun to wait on people, and bring them their lunch orders all noon.
("Serenity" ends)
((()-()))
While the young wolf was serving food at his culinary job, high above him, on top of the near mountain, the wise and honored master of the Jade Palace played his wooden flute under an ironwood tree. Sounds of soft notes floated in the air, brought forth by his breath and organized in specific orders to make a simple tune. Shifu sat with his legs crossed, like when one would be mediating. But he currently wasn't preparing to delve into his spiritual essence or search his soul. Rather the old red panda was waiting, waiting for his soon to be attackers to make their move. Seconds passed, than minutes, as the musical sounds continued, he patiently played his instrument as the peaceful atmosphere lingered for a few more precious moments.
Meanwhile, the master's pupils were looking at the old sensei, peeping their eyes out to look and plan for their assault. Tigress and Po were behind some crates of equipment, Crane and Monkey were hiding on the training hall's roof, and Mantis and Viper were both hidden within the bushes of the sparing ground's greenery. Tigress looked up toward her comrades up top, noticing they're ready. Po looked towards the bushes, seeing their reptile and bug allies were prepared as well. The tiger and panda then looked at each other and the feline warrior held up four of her paw's digits. Po nodded and did the same toward Mantis and Viper who instantly understood their instructions. Tigress signaled Crane and Monkey, and within a single moment, they all silently shared their battle plan.
Shifu continued to play his flute as the minutes went by. Though he looked like he was simply enjoying his music, the old master was actually gearing himself as well, though unlike his students, he didn't need the use of his eyes to know what they were planning. Via his other senses, Shifu could visualize where his opponents were lurking. The rustling of the fabric of clothing in the wind, the low sounds of plants moving, the light steps on roof tiling. These were all products of a grand master's many years in the martial arts. Shifu could also sense their intentions. Through many years of spiritual mediation, he gained an extra sense, an ability to detect a person's inner self. By these means, he was well ready for what was to come. Then, as the red panda played the final note in his song, the attack begun.
(Fire Emblem Fates ost – "Past light (Storm)")
All six warriors dashed out as fast as they could, Tigress and Po ran from behind the crates, Mantis and Viper charged from their bushes, and Monkey and Crane leaped from the roof. From nearly all directions Shifu had opponents quickly approach him. The red panda opened his eyes and in a flash engaged in battle. The red panda quickly leaped into action, jumping high in the air as his students charged and almost collided with each other. Luckily each student avoided crashing with the others and Shifu landed onto the ground and entered a fighting stance.
Surrounded, Shifu looked around at his pupils and only a mere second passed before Mantis and viper attacked. The two green warriors charged, but Shifu twirled in the air while his staff knocked Mantis away, and his foot kicked the she-snake out of the fight. Then Monkey and Crane attack next in just milliseconds, and the simian fighter formed his hands in a chop form and swung down towards the red panda. Shifu quickly blocked both of Monkey's flat palm strikes, only for Crane to swoop from above and attempt to grab the master while he was distracted. Crane dove down with his talons ready to grab, but in half-a-second Shifu grabbed a hold of Monkey and threw him upwards, colliding with his avian ally. The bird and ape fell back and onto the stone ground, their minds' still processing what just happened after the red panda's lightning fast attack. Shifu turned to see Tigress and Po engage their assault, the two final warriors left. The panda charged on ground while the feline jumped into the air and over the master. Shifu engaged in hand to hand combat with his panda pupil, blacking and dodging all the bear's fists and kicks at just the last second. Tigress charged from behind while Po was the distraction. Shifu sensed this tactic and continued to fight Po as tigress made a charged dash and formed her paws for her strike. She approached her opponent, and in mere last seconds Shifu leaped upwards and quickly spun his staff around, hitting Po multiple times on the head. While the panda was rubbing his forehead, Tigress had only a moment's notice before she slammed her paws onto Po, thrusting the bear through the air and slamming his large body onto the stone wall. Tigress looked around to find her opponent had vanished, when suddenly she felt a rustle in the air and quickly dodged out of the way. Shifu landed into another fighting stance and quickly after the rest of the Five returned and surrounded their master.
The red panda then took a breath, eased himself, and stood up in a normal posture, signaling his students that the spar was over.
("Past light (Storm)" ends)
"Well done my students." Shifu said in a proud tone.
Each of the Five made a fist next to a flat palm (well, though who had paws) and bowed in respect. Po approached, running back and did the same before saying in an out of breath voice, "We… we did… good?"
Shifu looked at the panda and answered "Yes… if-"
"Wait-" Po interrupted. "You're gonna say 'if we were trying to disappoint me' right?"
"Oh no, not that's not what I was going to say."
"So, we did a good job?" Po asked in a surprised tone.
"Yes." Shifu answered. "If you were trying to go easy on me!"
Suddenly the red panda took his cane and pointed it at each of his students while criticizing their tactics.
"Tigress, you need more awareness!"
"Monkey, you need to counter more!"
"Mantis, think before you leap!"
"Viper, avoid direct strikes!"
"Crane, don't be so predictable."
"And Po…"
"Y-yes master?" The panda asked with a worried face.
"Don't snack in secret before sparring." Shifu commented in a tone that had calmed down.
Po thought for a moment and asked, "Because you could sense my growing strength from my power snack?"
Shifu remained silent for a second before replying, "No, because I could still smell the scent of food from your mouth."
"Even from that far?" Po asked.
"Yes, I could." Shifu replied.
Po breathed onto this paw and quickly smelled it, his nose sensing the aroma of honey that still lingered within his mouth.
Tigress looked at her friend and said, "It's true."
Po suddenly felt a little embarrassed, thinking that his habit cost his allies their victory.
"Master, should we continue?" Viper asked.
Shifu looked upwards and noticed the sun had reached the center of the wide blue sky, and based on this observation, he made his decision.
"No, we'll break for lunch now." Shifu answered before walking towards the barracks followed by his students.
"Oh Good, I'm starving." Po said.
"When are you not!?" Mantis asked, followed by laughter from the whole group.
The six warriors and their master arrived at their destination, the building in the palace grounds where the heroes of the Valley slept, ate, and relaxed. But much to their surprise, when they entered the kitchen, they saw that Zhong, their wolven friend had already prepared lunch for the whole group. A large table was featured with bowls of soup hot and ready.
"Hey." Zhong said in a tired tone.
"Wow, Zhong you made all this?" Crane asked, looking the appetizing meal before him.
As everyone took a seat Zhong replied, "Yeah, I felt bad about worrying you all, so I thought I'd make it up to you all."
"Well how thoughtful of you." Shifu commended.
Everyone smelled the aroma of the stew, took a wooden spoon to dip in the broth, brought it to their mouth and after just one second of contact with the soup's flavor everyone quickly spit the stew out of their mouths.
"AAAHHHGG, this is horribile!" Manits yelled.
"This tastes like filth!" Monkey said in disgust.
"It's putrid!" Crane yelled while scrapping his tongue with his wings.
Zhong bared a worried face and Tigress asked "Zhong what did you put in this stew?"
The one eyed wolf held his head down in shame as he pointed his finger over to the ingredients he just. Tigress walked over and had a look, only to make a face of shock.
"What's in it?" Monkey asked.
Tigress quickly put the wooden jars in the cupboards before replying, "Trust me, you don't want to know."
After a foreboding answer like such, everybody at the table suddenly pushed their meals forward, wanting to stay away from the un-editable soup, if it could even be called soup.
"Well what do we do now?" Po asked while hearing a slight rumble in his stomach.
Shifu thought a moment and looked at Crane before speaking of a solution. "Crane, I want you to go and buy some supplies from the village. Don't bother with a whole stock worth, just grab enough for today and hurry back.
Crane respectfully bowed in acknowledgment before walking off to fetch some money before leaving. Shifu noticed the regretful face on Zhong, as he continued to hold his head down towards the floor. The old master sensed that the man was distraught inside still, even a bit more now. He knew he needed to speak with the ex-general in private, away from potential eacesdropping.
"Zhong-" Shifu asked. "I want to have a talk with you again, in my room."
The wolf looked up and nodded before getting up and walking out of the kitchen. Shifu joined him after dismissing his students for the day.
But after they left, Po's stomach grumbled again. "Aw man, hope I'll last until Crane returns."
Mantis jumped onto the panda's shoulder and asked "Dude, how much did you eat for your snack earlier?"
"Um, a whole bowl of bean buns I think." Po answered, thinking of a few hours ago.
Mantis sighed and replied "No wonder we always run out so soon.
(Fire Emblem fates ost – "Homesick light")
While the Dragon Warrior and the Five were passing the time together, chatting and relishing in each other's fellowship, Shifu invited Zhong into his personal quarters, which the red panda almost never does for just anybody, or for any occasion.
"Have a seat." Shifu simple said to his oldest (in age) pupil.
Zhong sat on a chair next to small table. Shifu sat across from him, and took a moment to prepare himself for a talk that may be emotionally heavy for the wolf.
Shifu asked, "Zhong, there's something I want to ask you."
"What?" Zhong simply and quietly asked.
The red panda paused a moment before answering. "Do you think that… well… maybe you should leave this way of life?"
Zhong looked at his teacher and asked "What do you mean, 'this way of life'?"
"Zhong, I understand that… putting yourself in the line of battle for peace is a noble act. But I also understand that… those actions, those… moments can leave a heavy impact on a person."
Zhong silently listened as his master continued.
"I've been a warrior for nearly all my life. And I can say I've committed acts that were… regretful, to say the least. And I understand that you've seen a many number of horrors from war in your past, and I fully understand that they carry a heavy weight on your emotions and mind."
Shifu then sighed before continuing, while Zhong stayed quiet.
"Have you ever thought that, maybe it's time to put away your hammer and settle down?" Shifu asked, earning a paused yet attentive face on Zhong. "You think that maybe it's time to reap what you've worked for these past couple years, and live a simple life again?"
Zhong thought a moment and replied in a tired tone, "I don't know."
"About which?" Shifu asked.
Zhong answered "I don't know if… if… if I could be a good husband to Shu, or a good father to young pups. After with… H…Helen."
Shifu paused a moment, carefully thinking of what to say. "I understand, and I can see how you might be hesitant. But, if I may give you some advice, I'd say; your life has taken much from you in ways that would drive other men to forsake themselves. But right here, right now, life has given you a precious gift… a second chance."
Zhong placed his paw to his chin, thinking as he continued to listen.
"Now, I've never been wed, so I won't try to explain something I don't entirely understand. But you've had marriage before. You know well all the joys, pleasures, and passions of being with one you give your heart and soul too. You can have that again with Shu, as well as the joys of raising children. You've earned a chance to gain all what you lost back again, something many only dream of."
Zhong gave a deep breath and asked "Is this a request master?"
"No, it's just an opinion." Shifu replied. "I'm not ordering you any of these. In the end your choices are your own. I just want to make sure you understand the opportunity you have now." Shifu finished.
"I don't know what to do?" Zhong asked in a tired tone.
Shifu thought a moment and said "Well, maybe you should at least take some time off."
"You think?" Zhong asked.
"Spend a week with Shu and Erdan, let Po and the others protect the Valley. It might be good for you to sort out and search for your truth." Shifu explained.
Realizing the currents state he's in, Zhong nodded and agreed. Then the two returned to the kitchen to be with their comrades until their food arrives within the hour.
("Homesick light" ends)
((()-()))
The noon hour was finishing up shortly, workers in Ping's noodle place or the Jimbo's Dumpling Hut were leaving the village and heading back to the fields to continue their work. Their wives finished their hour of rest and returned to their house duties, children resumed playing with each other in the village, and Master Crane returned to the Jade Palace, where the rest of the heroes enjoyed a much satisfying meal. Shu however wasn't taking the day's middle hour for rest, instead she always ate and early lunch, since people come to buy from her pottery shop during their lunch break, she needed to be ready to make any would be sales.
The young she wolf finished up molding a small bowl and after finishing her task, she placed it in her workshop's oven so it could harden. Shu looked at all the number of pots she was able to make. There wasn't much, since she had to give her mother a tour of her home and place of work, but it was enough so it wouldn't be a waste of time. But the woman noticed she hadn't heard from her mother in awhile after she left her alone to focus on her art work.
"Mother, are you alright?" Shu shouted.
"Yes sweety, I'm fine. And I got a surprise for you."
Shu walked into her shop and asked her mother "What's the surprise?"
"Look." Her mother answered while reaching her arms in a post of display.
Shu looked and was shocked to find that while she was working, her mother rearranged her entire stock. Everything was mixed and matched up, sorted out by color, size and shape. If not for seeing the room earlier, one would mistake for a minute that this was a different store.
"Mother, what did you do!?" Shu asked, with a tone mixed with shock and anger.
"I made your store better." Her mother answered, though much to her daughter's dismay.
"You just went and-"Shu said loudly before being interrupted.
"I know, I know, it's not what you're used to." The middle aged she-wolf explained. "But trust me, once you notice the perks of this set up, you'll see the benefits, and your business with burst up, as will your sales sense."
"Oh I'm bursting alright!" Shu said back in anger and frustration, trying her best to keep her self control.
But just when it seemed the mother and daughter were about to engage in a verbal fight, the store's door opened and a customer walked inside. Shu went over to the entrance and saw an elderly goat woman enter.
(Fire Emblem echoes ost – "An ordinary day")
"Oh, hello Mrs. Yung." Shu said while doing her best to get rid of her annoyed tone.
"Hello Shu, how are you today." The goat woman asked.
But before the she wolf could answer, Mrs. Yung was surprised to see another female lupine was with her friend. She was older, and clearly in her middle age.
"Oh, and who is this?" Mrs. Yung asked.
Shu cleared her throat before answering. "Mrs. Yung, this is my mother, Jiao. Mother, this is one of my friends in the village, Mrs. Yung."
Jiao placed her paw out and the old shook with her fellow woman. "It's nice to meet you, Jiao."
"And it's nice to meet you too, Mrs. Yung. It's nice to finally get to know one of my daughter's friends." Jiao greeted politely.
After the introduction ended, Shu asked "So, are you in for anything special? Something specific I can get you?"
"Oh I'm just browsing, running a couple errands and I'd thought I'd stop by." The elderly goat answered in a calm and kind tone.
"Ok, well, just let me know if you find something that catches your eye." Shu said in a friendly tone.
"I will, thank you." Mrs. Yung said with a smile.
As the old goat was browsing, Jiao looked to her daughter and asked "You have younger friends, right?"
Shu just looked at her parent with an almost insulted face. Shu sighed heavily before answering, "Yes mother, I have friends who are young adults. And why do you care if-"
"Ah! oh my." Mrs. Yung suddenly said, gaining the two she-wolves attention. "Shu, are you changing your store a bit?"
Shu walked over and noticed her elderly neighbor was talking about the organizing her mother completed a moment ago. The old woman was sporting a face of impressments and surprise.
"Well, you see-" Shu replied, thinking of what to say while being interrupted.
"Shu this is wonderful." Mrs. Yung complimented.
"What?" Shu asked with a raised eyebrow.
The nice old goat looked to the shop's owner and explained, "Everything is so nice and neat, and I can look and browse faster and clearer than before."
"Um…well…" Shu muttered.
Suddenly something did catch the goat woman's attention. A garden pot, that was decorated with dark blue lines mixed with bright tan and deep brown swirls. She had never seen an item like such in Shu's shop. In fact, it was possible this was here the whole time, and she only found it now thanks to the reorganizing of the shop's wares. The goat picked up the pot with both her hooves, marveling at her new treasure.
Shu noticed her customer's new found interest, and asked, "D-do you like that, Mrs. Yung?"
"Oh yes, it's just gorgeous. I'll take it." Mrs. Yung happily said.
"Ok, just right over here." Shu replied.
The old goat paid for her new pot and Shu wrapped it in a bag so it wouldn't get dirty on the way home. But before she left, Mrs. Yung was curious about the sudden change of the store's wares.
"Tell me Shu, did you decided to change your shop just now?"
Shu looked at the goat, then her mother and sighed before answering. "No, this was my mother's idea, and her doing as well."
"Really?" The old goat asked.
Jiao then said "Well, I don't want to take any credit, it is my daughter's shop after all… But thank you, I did work hours on it."
Shu looked to her mother with a face of annoyance, while Jiao was sporting a face of pride and achievement.
"Well, I should be getting home now." Mrs. Yung said as she walked towards the exit.
"Ok, have a lovely day." Shu said and waved goodbye.
"You too, Shu." The old goat replied before waving back and closing the shop door.
Shu looked at her mother and before she could even say a single word, Jiao stepped into a conversation quickly.
("An ordinary day" ends)
"Now, I know what you're thinking, but did you just see what happened?" Jiao said with a cocky smile. "Thanks to my organization, you made a sale when that lady wasn't planning on buying."
"Mother, why ca-" Shu said before a knock on the door was heard.
The knock repeated and Shu said in annoyance, "I'm coming I'm coming!"
She opened her shop entrance and was met with a young wolf man, good looking, with a medium build, wearing a tan vest and brown pants, with a pack on his back.
"Excuse me, I'm looking for a young woman named Shu, she's my sister and she runs a pottery shop in this village." The young man said with a cocky, teasing tone. He knew full well he found his sister, but after a few years of separation meant he needed to catch up with his sibling teasing.
"Gin, it's me, Shu." The she wolf said to her brother.
"What? No, you can't be my sister. She's much prettier and distinguished" Gin replied, continuing in his joking tone.
"Oh, ok. Well, good day." Shu simply said with a face of offence, right before closing and locking the shop door.
The male wolf was surprised, as out of all the ways this reunion would start, this was not how he envisioned it. He tried opening the door, and to find his efforts useless.
"Shu, come on I was just kidding." Gin said loudly. "… Shu?" He asked, only to be met with silence. "Shu… come on, I was joking. Open the door!"
Meanwhile, the young she-wolf was laid against the wall with a smirk on her face, a look she hasn't bared since she left her home in pursuit of her own life. Jiao witnessed the whole transpiring, and then knew what her daughter's intentions were.
"Are you gonna let him in?" Jiao asked, seeing her children still behave like their young selves after all these years.
"Oh I will, just waiting for the right timing." Shu answered with a cocky smile.
As the she wolves were taking their sweet time inside, Gin was getting frustrated with her repeated attempts ending in failure. Three more wolves arrived, two around the same age as Gin, who were wearing a similar outfit but with different colors, and an older wolf who was their father and wearing a dark tan rope.
"Hey Gin," One of the brothers said. "You find the place?"
"Yeah, but she closed the door on me." Gin said in annoyance.
The two brothers instantly knew what was going on. This routine wasn't unfamiliar to them, since they've seen it with their own eyes a number of times growing up.
Another wolf, a little taller with a little more build asked "Did you get cocky with her again?"
"No I didn't." Gin answered, only to be met with a stern look from their father. He said "Ok I did…"
The tallest brother sighed and asked to himself, "Why am I the only mature one in the litter?"
The third brother, a little shorter than Gin, who had less of a build said "I don't know?" And the taller wolf just looked at him with a questioning glare.
Gin continued to knock on the door and yell. "Shu open up now!"
"Gin calm down, we'll get in… eventually." The youngest brother said.
"And I'm guessing you'll do nothing to help, Ru?" the 'mature' wolf asked.
"I would Gen, but, I'm just all tired out from the journey." Ru answered in his usual lazy tone, earning an eye roll from Gen.
The father walked up to the door and yelled, "Shu, this door better be open by the count of ten."
Silence lingered from inside.
"One…two…three…four…" The father shouted.
"Dad, she's not a five year old anymore?" Ru commented.
Gin was getting frustrated, and soon his aggravation reached its boiling peak. He walked a few feet from the front entrance and readied himself.
Ru noticed what the middle brother was doing and asked, "What are you doing?"
Gin yelled, "I'm ramming the door!"
"What!?" The father said in shock.
But it was too late. Gin charged with all his might as his brothers and father cleared out of the way in time. The young man was ready to collide with the hard surface, only for Shu to open the door right before he made impact. Gin continued to yell as he dashed into the shop, lost his footing, and crashed into a pile of old, beaten pots. The other men looked in to see the result of this little childish display.
Jiao giggled and Shu said "See what I mean?"
The young she-wolf looked to her right and saw her family arrive at last, her brothers and father all together in her own home.
The father walked in and said, "Well… after all these years, you still got it huh?"
"Daddy!" Shu said with glee, hugging her father in a warm embrace.
"How's my daughter?" Her father asked.
"Well, it's quite an interesting life I have." Shu answered.
The younger brother, Ru, greeted, "Hope you didn't get too lonely without us?"
Shu went to give a hug to her little sibling. "Don't worry Ru, I'm just fine."
"Now that we're here." Ru said with a laid back tone.
Gen, Shu's twin brother said with happiness, "It's good to see you again, sister."
Shu giggled and replied, "Same here, brother." And they hugged.
Jiao walked to join her husband and they kissed before she asked, "Renshu, how was the market?"
"Unbearable." Renshu answered, in an annoyed an offended tone. "Everywhere people kept staring at us, probably thinking we'd rob them or something."
"Did you get all the food?" Jiao asked.
"Yeah we did." Her husband answered as the two brothers brought in bags of food.
(Fire Emblem Fates ost – "Are you listening")
But then Gin came, and in a muffled voice said, "Um, guys, HELP!"
They all looked at the young man's condition and instantly the women laughed while Renshu giggled a bit. Gin walked around with his entire head stuck inside one of Shu's old products.
"Oh my gosh, his head is stuck in a vase." Jiao laughed.
The two brothers came to look and instantly started laughing. Hearing the laughter begun to drive the wolf angry.
"Are any of you gonna help me!?" He yelled with a muffled tone.
Shu walked over and said "Ok ok, I'll get you out of there."
Shu pulled on the vase stuck on her brother's head… but then, nothing changed.
"Uh oh." Shu said.
"What do you mean 'uh oh'?" Gin said muffled.
"I think it's stuck on him for good." Shu said puzzled.
"WHAAT!?" Gin yelled. He then tried to pull the vase out of his head before ending in failuere and yelling, "This is your fault, Shu!"
"Why's it my fault?" Shu yelled back.
"If you had let us in, this wouldn't have happened!" Gin yelled muffledly.
Shu became angry and yelled back, "Well if you wer-"
"ENOUGH!" Renshu yelled, he had enough of his grown children acting like spoiled pups.
"Fighting won't solve this. We need to find a way to free Gin's head."
Gen thought for a moment and asked, "Shu, are you sure we can't get it off?"
"I'm sure, in situations like these, you need someone very strong to get that vase off his head."
Jiao asked, "What about your man, Zhong?"
"Yeah he could do it, but he won't be home until the evening." Shu explained.
Gin walked around and bumped into a wall a couple times, than his brothers brought him a chair to sit on.
"Well, it looks like he's just gonna have to stay like this until Zhong comes. So his head will be stuck in that thing for a bit." Renshu said.
Ru made a sly grin and said, "It's not much of a loss, considering he doesn't really use his head."
"What did you say?" Gin said in an offended tone.
("Are you listening" ends)
As the brothers were calming down the pot headed one, Shu looked at all the food they brought, dozens of bags worth.
"Is this all for the journey?" Shu asked her parents.
Jiao answered, "Oh not all of it. Half is for the feast tonight."
"Feast?" Shu pondered out loud.
Renshu joined in and explained, "Yes, tonight we're having a clan gathering."
Shu quickly brought her mind to speed as to what her family was planning. Since she's visited these kinds of get togethers in the past.
"Oh right, to welcome Zhong and Erdan." Shu said.
"Yes, tonight we'll join them into our pack. We'll eat and talk, and have a night like our village has had before." Renshu said.
"Oh, that's sounds great." Shu said with excitement.
"And I can't wait to meet your man, Zhong, and my new grandson, Erdan."Jiao commented.
"As do I." Renshu replied.
Shu did her best to hide her nervous drives as she replied, "O-oh, that's g-great."
And so the Shu closed her shop early, and the reunited family started preparing for tonight's grand feast. All while Gin sat with that vase on his head, paying the price for his cocky attitude.