Song Yuantao flung open the door of the hospital room and left without lingering in the county. His liberation shoes kicked up puffs of dust as he rushed back to the Song Family Village, braving the howling cold wind and making the journey in a minimal amount of time.
"Yuantao, why have you come back? How's Niuniu? Is everything okay? What did the doctor say?" Mrs. Song was in the middle of simmering chicken soup in the kitchen when she heard the sudden sound of the door opening in the courtyard. Poking her head out, she saw her eldest son, who was supposed to be at the county hospital, "Didn't you say you were getting the examination report today? Is it something bad?"
"Mom, where's dad?" Song Yuantao, with a darkened face, did not respond to Mrs. Song's concerns about the child. Instead, he asked about Father Song's whereabouts, his eyebrows furrowed so tightly they looked as if they could crush flies – it was quite frightening.
