Chapter 75: Chapter 74: Visiting to Apologize
The day Song Wei returned, from afar he saw Granny Song sitting on the wooden stump at the village entrance.
He walked over, "Mom, what are you doing here?"
Granny Song heard the voice and was almost in disbelief. She thought she was imagining things from hoping her son would return and stared blankly at Song Wei for a long time before she realized it was real.
"Third Son, is it really you? You... you’re back?"
Song Wei nodded, "Yes, your son is back."
Granny Song looked him up and down, seeing no injuries, and nervously asked, "Did you encounter any trouble on the way?"
Song Wei still shook his head.
No trouble?
Granny Song thought this wasn’t right. Given Third Son’s notoriously unlucky life, even if nothing major happened, he should have faced some pesky minor issues, right?
"Third Son, are you lying to your mom?"
Song Wei chuckled, "If something really happened, would I be standing here fully intact in front of you?"
Granny Song didn’t believe that Wen Wan could help Song Wei avoid trouble, so Song Wei didn’t bother to explain further.
"As long as you’re fine, let’s hurry home. Your father will slaughter a sheep to stew, a good way to nourish you. You’ve been gone just over ten days, and you’re already slimmer."
Song Wei showed confusion, "Where did we get a sheep?"
Granny Song said, "Zhang Er’s family brought it."
"Did you buy it?"
"Not bought, they compensated us."
The more Song Wei listened, the more confused he became.
Granny Song took the book basket from Song Wei’s back and carried it herself, and also took the bundle from Wen Wan, instructing her daughter-in-law, "You two go back first, I’ll go to the fields to pick some seasonings."
Song Wei said, "If you’re going to the fields, let us carry the book basket back first!"
Granny Song wouldn’t allow it, saying her son had carried it all the way, so what’s the harm if she, with her good arms and legs, helped carry it for a while?
Song Wei couldn’t win against his mother, so he returned home empty-handed with Wen Wan.
Song Fang was standing by the fence feeding the sheep. Hearing footsteps, she turned and saw it was Song Wei, instantly her face lit up with joy, and she shouted towards the main room, "Dad, Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law are back."
Old Song heard this and walked out briskly, also like Granny Song, inspecting Song Wei before speaking. Making sure he was whole and uninjured, he broke into a smile, "Finally, we have waited to see you two come back. If you hadn’t, your mom would’ve been worried sick."
Song Fang giggled and murmured, "Clearly dad is the one missing Third Brother, why blame it all on mom?"
Being exposed by his daughter in public, Old Song awkwardly cleared his throat twice, "Fangniang, no need to feed that sheep anymore, go to the kitchen and boil some water, and I’ll start preparing the sheep."
Song Fang put down the grass in her hand, wiped her hands, and went into the kitchen.
Wen Wan followed to help.
Song Fang wouldn’t let her work, pushing her outside, "Third Sister-in-law, you had a long journey, better go inside to drink some tea and rest. If you won’t look after yourself, Third Brother surely will!"
Wen Wan blushed at her words.
Song Fang rarely saw her little sister-in-law blush shyly in front of her, and couldn’t help but laugh.
Feeling embarrassed, Wen Wan couldn’t stay any longer, and without saying a word, she stomped her foot and turned to leave.
In the yard, Old Song and Song Wei were chatting.
"Third Son, didn’t you run into your mom on the way?"
Song Wei said, "We did. Mom said she’s going to the fields to pick some seasonings and told us to come back first."
Old Song nodded.
As the saying goes, when a child travels a thousand miles, a mother worries. During the time the youngest son went to the prefecture, his wife was so anxious she couldn’t sleep night after night. He knew this well. Despite his wife’s usual boisterous and straightforward nature, when it came to their children, there was nothing to criticize.
Old Song asked about his provincial exam.
At this moment, voices came from outside, and Old Song poked his head out to see that Zhang Er and his wife, along with some other families, had heard Song Wei returned and came personally to apologize.