Chapter 55: On the Practical Uses of the Big Dumpling
The next day, at breakfast.
The white dumpling, the little hamster, and Lin Xia were all drinking milk. The big dumpling, however, was the only one with a cup of black herbal tea.
“Ao?” This is?
The big dumpling looked at the black liquid in front of him, then at the white milk everyone else had, wondering why his was special.
“This is herbal tea. You got a nosebleed from shanghuo (internal heat) yesterday, so for the next few days, you can only eat cooling foods,” Lin Xia said, casually placing a straw into the big dumpling’s cup to make it easier for him to drink.
“Ao…” The big dumpling felt as though he could foresee a future where all his meals were green.
“Stop howling, hurry up and eat.” They had woken up late today, so breakfast was delayed.
Hearing this, the big dumpling lowered his head pitifully and sucked down the herbal tea in one breath.
“Good boy.” Lin Xia patted the big dumpling’s back, praising him.
Praised by his beloved partner, the big dumpling instantly straightened his back and happily began eating his breakfast.
After breakfast, the family of three drove to the pet shop just like the day before. The big and small dumplings lay obediently in the back seat, resting their eyes. Once they arrived at the shop, they charged in with boundless energy, sweeping through like a gust of wind.
“What was that?!” Wang Ziyu felt a breeze under his feet and nearly lost his balance.
“It’s Da Bai and the baby.” Lin Xia followed leisurely behind, a stark contrast to the two white furballs that moved so fast they were a blur.
“I wondered what it was; scared me to death!” Wang Ziyu patted his chest.
Lin Xia smiled but didn’t speak, his gaze involuntarily landing on the two identical white furballs.
The white dumpling led the big dumpling to the cabinet to get his toys, wanting the big dumpling to play with him.
“Aowu!” Uncle Tang, this is a Rubik’s Cube! The white dumpling pushed a Rubik’s Cube toward the big dumpling with his paw, looking at him with sparkling, large eyes.
“Ao?” The big dumpling tentatively grabbed the cube and flicked it with his paw.
Seeing that the big dumpling understood, the white dumpling nodded happily.
Seeing the white dumpling nod, the big dumpling knew he guessed right—the tiger cub wanted him to play with the Rubik’s Cube. But how was one supposed to play with this, and what was up with all these different colors?
“Aowu…” Uncle Tang, can you solve the Rubik’s Cube? It means getting all the same colors onto one side… Luckily, the white dumpling provided instructions.
“Ao!” I’ll try! The big dumpling stared solemnly at the jumbled cube for a while, pondering deeply, before slowly starting to manipulate it.
“Go for it, Da Bai,” Lin Xia leaned in and said. “Baby and I tried for a long time but couldn’t solve it. It’s up to you now.”
“Ao!” Don’t worry, my dear! The big dumpling instantly perked up, feeling exceptionally motivated.
With the encouragement of Lin Xia and the tiger cub, the big dumpling fully utilized his innate talent and superior IQ, successfully solving the puzzle that had baffled Lin Xia and the others for so long.
“Aowu!” Ao ao ao! Uncle Tang is so amazing!
Seeing the fully restored Rubik’s Cube, the white dumpling felt like he was dreaming. He affectionately snuggled up to the big dumpling, rubbing against him vigorously.
This was the white dumpling’s way of showing extreme excitement; when overwhelmed with emotion, he would rub against things non-stop.
“Ao…” The big dumpling stood as still as a mountain, letting the white dumpling mess up his sleek, shiny fur. He appeared quite composed regarding the praise. However, Lin Xia knew the big dumpling was very smug because his tail was swishing in semicircle after semicircle.
After praising the big dumpling thoroughly, Lin Xia went to work. Not long after opening, Li Hao, whom they hadn’t seen in a while, arrived with Weifeng.
“Huo huo huo…” Weifeng was the same as ever, his enthusiasm overwhelming. Wang Ziyu was pinned down by him, nearly breathless.
“Weifeng!” Li Hao pulled the dog away. Weifeng unhappily left Wang Ziyu and returned to Li Hao’s side.
For a moment, both Li Hao and Wang Ziyu fell silent. Only Weifeng foolishly chased his own tail in circles.
The sudden silence was the most awkward part…
“You and Weifeng haven’t been here in a long time…” Wang Ziyu broke the silence first.
“Mm, had some things to do,” Li Hao squeezed out a dry sentence.
“Oh.” After Wang Ziyu spoke, the two had nothing else to say.
Li Hao was a man of few words to begin with. Seeing that Wang Ziyu didn’t seem inclined to continue the conversation, he could only sit silently to the side.
After sitting awkwardly for quite a while, Li Hao suddenly stood up and went directly to find Lin Xia.
“Lin Xia, I have to go on a business trip. I’m entrusting Weifeng to you for this period.” Li Hao’s brows were tightly furrowed, implying the situation wasn’t simple.
“Is everything okay? It feels like you’ve run into trouble.” Lin Xia was much more observant than Wang Ziyu. He didn’t believe Li Hao had stayed away from the shop because he was discouraged. As someone who checked in 365 days a year, how could he give up so easily? It had become a habit by now, one not easily broken. So Lin Xia guessed Li Hao must have had business to attend to. Seeing his furrowed brows now, he figured he had guessed right.
“It’s okay, mostly resolved.” Li Hao nodded. “I’m also entrusting Ziyu to you. While I’m away, please take care of him for me.”
Li Hao looked at Wang Ziyu, who was playing with Weifeng, feeling a bit downhearted. Sigh, when will the little guy accept my feelings…
After discussing care instructions with Lin Xia and paying Weifeng’s boarding fee, Li Hao returned to Wang Ziyu to tell him about the business trip.
“What? You’re going on a business trip?” Wang Ziyu felt a pang of sadness. He couldn’t help but wonder if Li Hao was leaving to avoid him.
“Mm, I’m leaving Weifeng in your care for these days.” And, take care of yourself… Li Hao didn’t notice the change in Wang Ziyu’s mood; the little guy was usually so carefree that Li Hao assumed he wouldn’t have any particular feelings about him leaving.
“Got it.” Wang Ziyu squatted down and lowered his head to pet Weifeng, hiding his sadness.
“I’m going to Kyoto. What gift do you want?” Li Hao squatted down too, wanting to be on the same level.
“Anything works!” What? He’s bringing me a gift? What does this mean?
Instantly, a glimmer of hope rose in Wang Ziyu’s heart. He really wanted to grab Li Hao by the shoulders and ask him, What do you mean by this? Is it what I think it is?
“Okay.” Li Hao nodded, though in his heart, he planned to buy whatever caught his eye.
“How long will you be gone?” Wang Ziyu looked up suddenly, bumping into Li Hao’s chin. It hurt so much he gasped.
“Are you okay?” Li Hao’s chin hurt too, but he ignored his own pain to care for Wang Ziyu first.
“I’m fine… but when are you coming back?” After a moment, the bumped spot didn’t hurt as much. More than the pain in his head, he wanted to know when Li Hao would return.
“It’s not that I want to ask; I’m afraid Weifeng will miss you too much.” Wang Ziyu felt his question was too eager, so he quickly found an excuse to gloss over it.
“I don’t know when I’ll be back yet, but I promise you, I’ll come find you as soon as I return.” Wang Ziyu’s clumsy attempt to cover up his feelings made the corners of Li Hao’s mouth lift uncontrollably. It seems Wang Ziyu isn’t completely indifferent to me.
“It’s a promise then.” Li Hao’s seriousness made the little person in Wang Ziyu’s heart flash a victory sign.
“Mm.” Li Hao nodded solemnly, then patted Weifeng’s dog head.
“Weifeng, I’m going on a business trip. Starting today, you’ll live here. Remember not to bully Ziyu.” Li Hao seemed to be giving instructions, but it was actually a warning to Weifeng.
“Woof?” Master is going on a business trip? … Woof (ha) woof (ha) woof (ha), Wang Ziyu is mine now!
Weifeng’s eyes immediately lit up, unable to hide his secret joy. Even more excessively, he used his head to nudge Li Hao toward the door, his meaning clear: Hurry up and go on your trip!
“…” Raised this dog for nothing… Li Hao felt disheveled in the wind, but time was running short; he had to leave.
After Li Hao left, Weifeng thought he would welcome a blissful time, but his wish to stick to Wang Ziyu like glue didn’t come true. Li Hao had requested Lin Xia to keep Weifeng enclosed so Wang Ziyu wouldn’t be covered in dog smell.
“Woof…” As virtue rises one foot, vice rises ten. Master is still Master, but Weifeng is no longer Weifeng. Woof…
A husky arrived at the shop. The big dumpling found it novel, so he ran over to watch.
Ao, looks silly. After some observation, the big dumpling concluded. Flicking his tail, the big dumpling lost interest in Weifeng and decided to go find his beloved Lin Xia.
“Woof…” An An, where are you going? Come play with Brother Weifeng… Weifeng mistook the tiger, oblivious to his error, waving his paw and winking at the big dumpling.
“Ao…” A chill ran down the big dumpling’s spine. He quickly left to find Lin Xia to cleanse his eyes.
“Aowu!” “There’s a mouse!”
Suddenly, cries of human and tiger panic erupted in the pet shop. Lin Xia turned to look and saw Wang Ziyu and the white dumpling, who had been watching videos, jumping onto the sofa together, hugging each other tightly with looks of terror.
A black mouse darted from the sofa under the nearest shelf, fast as lightning.
“Aowu…” There’s a mouse, Papa, save An An… The white dumpling’s voice trembled; he was clearly badly frightened.
“Don’t be scared, Papa will catch the mouse right now.” Lin Xia was also startled, not by the mouse, but by the screams of Wang Ziyu and the white dumpling. It was like watching a horror movie and being scared not by the scary scenes, but by the person screaming next to you.
Lin Xia wasn’t afraid of mice, but the white dumpling was terrified. This was because after watching Tom and Jerry, the white dumpling identified with Tom the cat. Since Tom was always bullied by Jerry the mouse, the white dumpling concluded that mice were very formidable and that he, a little tiger who looked like a cat, couldn’t beat a mouse. Ironically, the more scared he was, the more he loved watching it. Whenever Tom and Jerry was on TV, the white dumpling insisted on watching, immovable.
“Ao!” An An, don’t be afraid, Papa is here! The big dumpling narrowed his eyes, staring intently at the shelf where the mouse was hiding, arching his body, ready to strike.
“Come on, let’s surround it.” Lin Xia picked up a butterfly net and slowly approached the shelf. The net was homemade from parts dismantled from a rack, neither too long nor too short, fitting his hand perfectly.
“Shoo!” Once Lin Xia was in position, the big dumpling lunged a paw at the shelf. He missed. The mouse slipped away again, scuttling right under Lin Xia’s feet, incredibly arrogant.
“Ao!” Infuriating! The big dumpling took large strides to chase the mouse, but the rodent was even more agile than he was. Tiger and mouse ran circles around Lin Xia. Standing in the eye of the storm, Lin Xia felt his head spin just watching them.
“Squeak squeak…” The little mouse had a bright idea and climbed up onto Lin Xia. Before Lin Xia could grab it, a naked little boy was suddenly lying on him, shivering.
Author’s Note:
A tiger catching a mouse…
Mini Theater
After the big dumpling got a nosebleed…
White Dumpling: “Aowu?” Papa, why has Uncle Tang turned green?
Lin Xia (patting the white dumpling’s head with a benevolent expression): “Because Uncle Tang ate a lot of green food.”
The big dumpling stared at a plate of green vegetables, looking as if life had lost all meaning…
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