When the chapter opens, the narrator tells us that he was born with no father. He's not sure if his father is alive or dead. His mother always tells him that he's a "gift" from the god of war, aluoshan. He becomes a father himself on the day of his child's birth. He wants to return to China with a fortune. The narrator's first son, Chingzong, was the first to speak, ride a horse, and learn how to use bows and arrows. But he wasn't around to hold him, for he was too similar to the narrator. His other sons are "far too similar" to him, even though they're also flawed. But his eldest son is special. He can read, write, and even marry a lady. The emperor took him in under his wing, even when he was away from his mother. He would have inherited everything from her one day, but now, his oldest son is dead in the war. The chapter ends with the narrator begging the emperor to kill all of the traitorous ministers who are trying to overthrow the Ming dynasty in China.