Chapter 15: Batu and Old man, Oku.

Early in the morning, Batu woke up to herd the horses, but this was because his son complained that their neighbor, a retired subordinate of his father named Oku, loved to sneak onto their grasslands early to herd his horses.

Now Batu was early there, waiting seriously. Suddenly he saw Old man Oku coming with his horses.

The Great Khan looked sharply to scare Oku. But Oku saw worse—he wouldn't be scared of Subutai's son, although now he was a ferocious beast. Oku, stone-headed, led his horses into the Evergreen Mountain to graze.

Batu shouted, "Hey! Didn't you see me, Oku?"

Oku, an old man full of himself, replied, "Of course. What are you implying? Am I blind?"

This sentence hit the Great Khan differently, and he started laughing in anger.

Oku saw him laughing and mockingly asked, "And why are you laughing this early morning? Or did your mother cook something nice yesterday?"

Before the Great Khan could burst his anger, Oku said, "I knew it—there isn't any woman who roasts a goat better than her."

He even came near. "Do you know what, Batu? Recently, I just told her I love you—and she chased me out of her little restaurant."

The Great Khan, who wanted to eat Oku alive, was surprised. "What? Come again? I didn't get you the first time."

Oku said, "Batu, my child, I don't know how these women nowadays react to a confession. I just told her, I love you—and she…"

Batu jumped off his horse, eyes blazing, ready to smash Oku.

"Oku! You shameless—shameless man!" he shouted as he stormed toward him.

But as he got closer, his rage flickered into curiosity.

"Wait… didn't your wife die just last month?"

Oku replied with a straight face, "Yes."

Batu's fury deflated. "Weren't you supposed to mourn for a year?"

Oku stared at him, completely unbothered.

"Come on, Batu. Look at me. I'm too old for mourning. I just go with the flow—no time for remorse."

Batu let out a laugh, shaking his head. "You're worse."

"What did you say?" Oku squinted.

"I said you're worse… even than Elder Dorvod."

Oku gasped dramatically. "Didn't you know?"

"Know what?" Batu raised a brow.

Oku leaned in like a gossiping old woman. "Dorvod's mouth could build a mansion!"

Batu cracked a smile. He liked where this was going. "And whose mouth could destroy one?"

Oku grinned like a fool. "Odval's."

The two burst into foolish laughter.

"I know, right?" Oku added, nudging Batu.

Batu slapped him a high five. "Everyone knows that!"

And they laughed again like two boys in a marketplace.

After a while, Batu turned to Oku and said, "Old man, that mouth of yours doesn't suit your age."

Oku gave him a funny look.

Batu went on, "It could chase off rebels."

Oku added proudly, "It chased off all my children—even the in-laws."

Batu went quiet for a moment, then said, "Why don't you come over for breakfast?"

"Definitely, my boy," Oku replied.

"I'm not your boy!" Batu snapped. "And secondly, I only respect you because of your age—otherwise…"

Oku, unfazed, said seriously, "Batu, you always say that—then you still invite me for breakfast."

Pretending to be kind, Oku added, "Don't worry, I won't take it to heart."

Batu, already used to Oku's antics, said flatly, "Stop playing innocent with me."

"Innocent?" Oku snorted. "That word died the day I became a man."

Batu sighed, "That mouth, old man…"

Oku grinned. "It's because of this mouth that every woman knows my name."

"That's because you flirt with nearly all of them," Batu shot back.

Then, as if remembering something, Batu said, "Speaking of which… I heard a rumor from Dorvod. He said your wife died because of your flirting."

Oku, full of himself, replied, "Batu, don't tell me you believe old man Dorvod. That man's been jealous of me since the day I courted my wife. And if she was going to die because of my flirting, why didn't she do it twenty years ago when I got the neighbor pregnant?"

Batu just shook his head, silent.

"Because, my boy," Oku said with a smug grin, "I'm an expert when it comes to women."

"Old man Oku," Batu said, "tell me—how did Orlok end up with his wife?"

Oku laughed in disbelief. "Let me give you some advice: avoid beautiful single girls. Don't assume other men are blind—you may end up chasing a beautiful problem. That's how Orlok ended up with Odval."

Batu nodded, attentive like a student. "Is that so?"

"Believe me," Oku said with full confidence.

After a long graze, Batu and Oku returned together, joking like old friends. When Chulun saw them, he called out, "Maa!"

Amala came out of the yurt and paused at the sight of Batu returning with the shameless old man.

As they reached the yurt, Batu grabbed Oku's hand. "I'm warning you—don't hit on my mother."

Oku smiled innocently. "Of course not. One doesn't bite the hand that feeds him."

Batu gave him a deadpan look, then they entered.

The first thing Oku did was bow slightly and say, "Amala, I apologize for my past actions."

Amala said nothing, silent and unimpressed.

Oku grew impatient. "Well? Where's the breakfast?"

Batu nearly slapped him, but held back—out of respect for his age. "Serve the breakfast, Aunt," he said.

Amala stood up slowly and said, "Batu, this isn't a charity. If Oku wants free meals, he should go to Khishigjargal's donation tent."

Oku scowled. "What?!"

Amala snapped, "You're asking for breakfast—are you the man of this house now?"

Chulun chimed in, "Tell him, Maa!"

Oku turned to Chulun and said, "Watch your mouth, boy. I might be your father—" he giggled, "I mean… your grandfa—"

"OUT!" Amala shouted before he could finish.

Batu smiled and said gently, "Mother, you're such a kind lady. Let's at least feed our guest before we send him out—just like you taught me."

Hearing that, Amala sighed, went back to her seat, and breakfast was finally served.

Oku scratched his scruffy beard and smirked.

Amala folded her arms, lips tight.

Chulun hid behind the curtain, trying not to laugh.

As soon as Pema walked by, Oku caught her hand and said, "You look beautiful, did you know that?"

That was it.

Amala's rage boiled over—and the next thing heard was Batu's voice:

"OKU—OUT!"

As Oku stomped off, mumbling about charity and old flames, Batu sighed. "It's always like this," he whispered to himself—but smiled anyway.