Song Wei’s shout stunned everyone in the courtyard.
Father Wen, who was stepping on a bamboo ladder to pin white flowers on the door’s lintel, nearly lost his balance and fell.
The father and son of the Xie Family, just back from chopping coffin wood in the mountains, stared wide-eyed.
The Song Family mbers who were talking earlier fell silent.
All eyes turned toward the outside.
They saw Old Song dressed in coarse cloth, pants rolled up high, dew-soaked, with yellow mud on his cloth shoes, holding two wild rabbits that seed freshly caught.
A coffin prepared for him was placed in the central room, yet here he was, standing alive outside, asking what just happened.
"Damn, have we seen a ghost?"
Uncle Xie tossed aside his chopping knife and walked quickly to the door, looking at Old Song excitedly, "Second Brother, is it really you?"
Old Song was sowhat confused and anxious, "Old Xie, who got into trouble?"
Uncle Xie placed a hand on Old Song’s shoulder, pressing to feel the solid presence of a live person, then glanced at the white flowers, white silk, and mourning clothes in the courtyard, suddenly feeling awkward and too embarrassed to speak.
Song Wei ca over, "Dad, weren’t you at the mine?"
"Yeah!" Old Song nodded, "I was at the mine, but then realized I was tricked, so I discussed with my in-law how to escape. When the mine collapsed, we got separated. During the chaos, I t the eldest son from your Aunt Jiang’s family. He was also working at the mine; luckily he pulled , and I escaped from that hellhole. Later, your big cousin took to stay at his house for two days, saying our road ho was washed away, so I should wait until it was fixed to return. I couldn’t rest easy, so I took the mountain path and ca back early."
As he spoke, he handed the rabbits to Song Wei and added, "I happened to encounter the traps I had set before, and they caught two rabbits, so I brought them back on the way."
Song Wei looked at the rabbits in his hand, feeling a bit speechless.
Granny Song heard Old Song’s voice, wiped her tears, and rushed out in a few steps.
Seeing him, she hesitated for a mont, then, half-angry and half-amused, said, "You old fool, why didn’t you co back to tell us you were alright earlier, making the whole family cry like this? Look at yourself, did you roll in a mud pit or what? Get inside and clean up."
Old Song looked at his wife, after not seeing her for two months, she had slimd down a lot, probably because she was anxious and worried about the mine issue, with blisters on the corners of her mouth.
Fortunately, she was still the sa person with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.
Old Song now understood everything.
The family thought he was dead and was preparing for his funeral!
"Isn’t it coming ho now?" In front of everyone, Old Song didn’t have the face to say comforting sweet words, he chuckled awkwardly and addressed the relatives, "It’s all my fault for not coming back earlier and putting everyone through a lot of unnecessary work."
"Hey, what nonsense are you talking about! For sothing like this, it’s better to have worked in vain," Father Wen ca out, looking at the unhard Old Song, feeling a rush of relief.
"Yes, yes, it’s good to have worked in vain," Uncle Xie echoed, clapped his hands, and reminded everyone, "Now that Second Brother is back, let’s clear everything up! Later we’ll have rabbit stew."
With that, he took the two fat rabbits from Song Wei’s hand and, with a cheerful look, glanced at Old Song, "Second Brother, why don’t we have a good drink later?"
"Of course, of course." Old Song, who was never good with words, nodded repeatedly.
With Old Song back, everyone’s faces turned from gloomy to bright, and they worked with more energy, soon dismantling the morial hall, moving the coffin out, the white silk and flowers were considered ominous and were set on fire outside, then Song Wei set off two strings of firecrackers, and Granny Song found a set of new clothes, hardly worn by Old Song, and helped him put them on, only then did they welco him in, she also sent Song Fang to buy a few pounds of at from Liu Sanhuozi’s house with copper coins.
The originally somber and heavy funeral feast quickly turned into a reunion banquet to celebrate Old Song’s return.
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