Luong has grown into a strong, attractive young man at Utaba, where his mother has taken good care of him despite her challenges as a widow. Chief has been an incredible father figure to his mother and him. Luong has been promoted to the headman of the chief's livestock because of his excellent leadership abilities having managed a large herd of cattle he was assigned to and many other things he had done well at the chief's place including managing the farm for a few years. But it was the relentless teasing he received from his peers about him having no father and a son raised by a woman that made Luong suspicious and curious. Luong sat with his mother after dinner one evening. This time, he's determined to find out where his father is and why they are in this place. He was first stumped as to where to begin, but he was brave enough to say it.
Luong: Mother, I have wanted to talk to you about something.
Achila: What is that, son?
Luong: Who is my father, and where is he now?
Achila: Son, she took long to reply, and the expression on her face explained everything to Luong.
Luong: Mother, I am a man now, and I deserve to know where my father is and why we are in this place.
Achila: Allow me to be accessible to you, Son, although it is a long story. Your father and I come from two opposing communities that weren't the world's greatest foes. These two cultures were at peace when I met your father. Our relatives, on the other hand, were opposed to our marriage when we married. Despite the resistance, we pressured this marriage, which resulted in several fights and animosity between the two families. This forced your father and me to flee to Utaba, where we now reside; however, on our way here, we were attacked by members of my community, who killed your father. So I had to find a place where I could raise you and live a happy life on my own.
Luong's final question was about his hometown and who lives there. His mother warned him about the location and his father's uncle. He continued asking his mother more questions about the whereabouts of their original and where his relatives but his mother knew the son might leave and decided despite how Luong insisted.