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 members 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 seemed 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 somewhat confused and anxious, "Old Xie, who got into trouble?"
