Old Man Song had finally managed to coax them back home. Returning to the old house himself, he put down the firewood and immediately began to feel restless.
She went up the mountain in the middle of the night, and now it's almost evening. Could she really have gone to North Mountain?
Oldest Song spoke softly, "Father, should we go ask the village head to gather people and search the mountain for Jinzhao?"
Old Man Song shook his head with a stern face. "Let's wait a little longer."
Going to the back mountain takes two hours. Adding time for hunting and coming back down, if she went to Xining City, she should be about back by now.
Thinking her older sister might have gone to the city, Song Shixue, who had just been coaxed home by Old Man Song, couldn't sit still.
"I'll go check at the village entrance."
Song Qiming, who was feeding Song Anhao, wanted to chase after her but couldn't let go, and could only watch helplessly as she ran out of the yard.
Second Aunt Song, returning from digging for wild vegetables along the ridge, bumped into her. Upon asking, she learned that Song Jinzhao hadn't returned yet.
She hurriedly ran home and kicked Second Song in the calf.
"Jinzhao went up the mountain to hunt last night and still isn't back. Shixue is worried sick."
Second Song, who had been napping, snapped his eyes open and sat bolt upright on the kang. "She wouldn't have run into a wolf pack, would she? They must have wandered over from North Mountain."
Second Aunt Song suggested, "Go ask at the eldest branch's house if we should go up the mountain to look for her."
Second Song thought for a moment, then got off the kang, put on his shoes, and headed out. No matter how dangerous it was, they couldn't just leave her body unrecovered.
Second Aunt Song glanced around at the crumbling, earthen walls. A shabby house was still better than a fine one you had money to build but no life to live in.
Song Shixue waited at the crossroads for a long time without seeing a soul. Saddened, she squatted on the ground, hugging her knees and crying.
As Song Jinzhao rounded the bend, she spotted a child squatting in the distance. The clothes looked familiar, like the fabric she had bought.
Getting closer, she saw it was indeed Song Shixue.
The little girl was squatting on the ground, crying quietly, her tears dampening the dust.
"What's wrong? Who bullied you?"
Song Shixue was stunned for a moment; the voice in her ear seemed to have descended from heaven.
She lifted her tear-stained little face and stared blankly at Song Jinzhao, as if trying to see every single pore clearly.
Song Jinzhao saw her crying had flushed her face red and swollen her eyes.
Had something big happened at home, or was Song Anhao sick?
She was just about to wipe the tears from Song Shixue's face when the little one threw herself at her.
The speed was too fast, and being unprepared, Song Jinzhao fell back and landed sitting on the ground, the impact sending a jolt of pain through her backside.
"Elder Sister, why are you only coming back now~"
Song Shixue buried her head in her neck, crying and venting her emotions.
The loud sobs drew villagers living nearby out to see what the commotion was.
Seeing the scene before them, everyone exchanged looks.
So it's Third Song's two daughters. What happened?
Did the older daughter bully the younger one?
Seeing more and more people gathering, Song Jinzhao simply picked up Song Shixue and walked while patting her back. "Elder Sister went to the city, so I came back a bit late."
Song Shixue clung tightly to her neck, as if trying to strangle her.
"You used to come back by noon when you went to the city before. Now it's almost evening."
Old Man Song, who had run out of the yard upon hearing voices, finally felt the weight lift from his heart.
He planted his hands on his hips, both angry and worried. "Why are you only coming back now? Qiming and Shixue have been waiting for you at the crossroads all afternoon, watching eagerly."
Hearing this, Song Jinzhao looked down at Song Shixue, who was leaning on her shoulder, softly sobbing.
The little girl's body shook with each sob, so young and insecure.
Thinking of them waiting for her under the hot sun on the road, their hearts full of hope only to be disappointed, her own heart felt like an unripe green apricot—sour and astringent.
So this is what it feels like to have family waiting for you.
She had been an orphan since childhood. No one ever asked where she was going when she went out, and no matter how late she returned, the rental room was always dark and empty.
This had led her to unintentionally overlook the feelings of Song Qiming and Song Shixue.
They would worry and fear something had happened to her, just like the original host's parents, who had passed away just two months ago, leaving abruptly and never coming back.
Old Man Song watched the two sisters, looking so alone, and felt a pang in his heart.
His eyes grew slightly sore.
Third Son, why did you have to leave so soon, leaving these children alone with no one to care for them.
He turned to Old Lady Song, his voice hoarse. "Old woman, maybe you should go live at Third Son's place."
In the yard, Oldest Song and his wife exchanged a glance. Was Father serious, or just saying it offhand?
...
Song Qiming, who had been waiting at home, saw Song Jinzhao carrying Song Shixue appear at the gate. Holding Song Anhao, he rushed out from the main room. "Elder Sister!"
Song Jinzhao patted his head and walked inside before setting Song Shixue down.
She sat on a low stool, looking into the children's eyes, speaking slowly, her tone serious and carrying a hint of apology.
"Elder Sister went hunting on North Mountain today and caught a sika deer. Then I took a shortcut to the city. My clothes got stained with blood, so I took a bath at the tavern, which made me come back late."
"I promise, next time I'll definitely come back home at noon before going out again."
Song Qiming and Song Shixue, still feeling wronged, snuggled up close to Song Jinzhao, leaning their heads against her arms and holding on tight.
"Take us with you next time you go hunting on the mountain, Elder Sister."
Song Jinzhao's heart softened. She smiled and wrapped her arms around their shoulders.
Second Aunt Song saw Second Song return so quickly, his expression quite relaxed.
"Jinzhao is back?"
Second Song nodded. "I hadn't even reached Eldest Brother's house when I saw Jinzhao carrying Shixue back. She went to the city."
Second Aunt Song breathed a sigh of relief.
It's good nothing happened. If something happened to Jinzhao, the remaining three would truly be left alone and helpless.
Song Jinzhao didn't cook dinner that night; they ate the steamed buns she had brought back from the tavern.
While the three were eating, Old Man Song arrived with Old Lady Song.
"I want your grandmother to move in here, to make it easier to look after you all."
Song Qiming and Song Shixue immediately looked at Song Jinzhao. They had never lived with Old Lady Song before and felt a bit at a loss.
Song Jinzhao looked at Old Man Song and Old Lady Song. "I don't plan to go hunting on the mountain anymore this year. I'll stay home with Qiming and the others."
With these fifty taels of silver, money wasn't an immediate concern.
It was already October. By early November, winter would begin in Xining City.
Winters were long on the frontier, with several months where you couldn't go out. For the next month, she needed to start stockpiling winter supplies, aiming to have a good winter.
Hearing this, Old Man Song felt relieved. "In that case, your grandmother doesn't need to come over."
Old Lady Song chided, "You silly child, knowing there are wolf packs on North Mountain and still insisting on going there. Look how worried you made Qiming and Shixue, their eyes are swollen from crying."
Old Man Song, sitting beside her, felt a twinge of guilt. If Oldest Song hadn't mentioned the wolf pack, the two children wouldn't have been so worried.
If they had just waited another half-hour, Jinzhao would have been back from the city.
They wouldn't have been so heartbroken, crying until they were gasping for breath.
