Chapter 104: The Subordinate Dog

Since Manager Ding had been notified in advance, he was out to welcome them first thing in the morning.

As soon as he stepped out of the car, Zhang Congwen asked about the status of the Tibetan Mastiff.

Manager Ding replied, "The Tibetan Mastiff's condition has improved somewhat, though the effects aren't drastic. Still, progress is visible."

Zhang Congwen nodded, feeling relieved. The issues with that Tibetan Mastiff were not something that could be reversed overnight; they required time to accumulate. Even if the results didn't seem significant now, with time, changes would occur bit by bit.

Manager Ding naturally understood this as well, so he was not in a hurry.

As they spoke, Manager Ding led the group into the kennel.

Manager Ding’s kennel was quite large, but it did not house many breeds—only seven or eight, most of which were native varieties.

When they reached the innermost section, Manager Ding stopped and said, "I’ve cordoned off this area specifically for whelping; all the puppies are inside."

"What breed are they?" Zhang Congwen asked. Only then did he realize that, caught up in various matters, he had forgotten to ask about the breed of this litter.

"They are a litter of purebred Xiaxi dogs," Manager Ding said with a hint of pride.

"Purebred Xiaxi dogs?" Zhang Congwen was taken aback.

Manager Ding, assuming Zhang was looking down on the breed, immediately explained, "Don't let the fact that they are a native breed fool you; they are anything but ordinary. As working dogs, Xiaxi dogs are in no way inferior to those foreign breeds. The previous litter had one pup selected as a candidate for police dog training, though whether it will become a full-fledged police dog remains to be seen."

Realizing the misunderstanding, Zhang Congwen quickly clarified, "I didn't mean to look down on them at all. I was just surprised, as purebred Xiaxi dogs are rarely seen in this country; I didn't expect you to have them here."

At this mention, Manager Ding could not help but sigh.

Zhang Congwen understood exactly how Manager Ding felt.

The Xiaxi dog, also known as the White Dragon Dog, is snow-white and exceptionally beautiful as a puppy.

In ancient times, this breed was an outstanding hunting dog, and even today, it is ranked as the third-best hunting dog in the world. In urban settings, they often serve as guard dogs. While they may not be as famous as the "Three Musketeers" of guard dogs, their capabilities are by no means inferior to the Cane Corso, Doberman, or Rottweiler.

Though the Xiaxi is only a medium-sized dog—appearing soft, white, and harmless—they become fiercely protective when the situation demands it. In plain terms, these dogs don't look for trouble, but they never back down when faced with it.

Xiaxi dogs have a steady temperament and are never cowards; they wouldn't abandon their owners at the first sign of danger like a Border Collie might.

Moreover, they are incredibly loyal and obedient, which is why they are the only native breed potentially eligible for police service.

If Zhang Congwen were to evaluate the breed, he would classify them as the most "authentic" type of dog.

Easy to keep, low-maintenance, unpretentious, sturdy, sharp-nosed, and protective—these were exactly the qualities Zhang Congwen wanted, making them perfect for training as assistance dogs for Xiaoxiao.

After all, given Xiaoxiao’s family situation, traits like being easy to care for, having a strong constitution, being protective, and showing extreme loyalty were essential requirements.

If the breed had any flaws, it might be that while they are white, fluffy, and adorable as puppies, they look rather "unrefined" once they grow up. They are the type of dogs that spend their growth period consuming nutrition rather than maintaining their good looks.

What made Manager Ding sigh was that, while the breed is world-renowned, it remains obscure domestically, with very few people knowing about it. It was a great pity that such an excellent breed had not found its way into more homes, and had even teetered on the brink of extinction at one point.

Precisely because of their scarcity, purebred Xiaxi dogs have fetched prices as high as ten thousand yuan; they are by no means an inexpensive breed.

"Psst, psst, psst!"

Manager Ding opened the gate and let out the litter of Xiaxi puppies, each identified by a colored collar.

"Take your pick and see if any of them catch your eye."

Seeing strangers, the puppies were overjoyed, scrambling out of the enclosure in a rush.

There were ten Xiaxi puppies in total, all plump and round. They bobbed and wobbled as they ran, looking incredibly cute.

"Oh... these little puppies are so cute!"

Zhu Qingyan’s eyes lit up as she saw the ten puppies; she immediately squatted down to pet and play with them one by one.

The puppies were not shy at all and swarmed around her.

Song Jiawei’s eyes also sparkled as he whispered, "How about we take two? One for Xiaoxiao, and one as a backup. If we don't end up using it, I'll keep it as a pet."

He had always wanted a dog, and seeing Manager Ding’s pride in front of someone as knowledgeable as Zhang Congwen, he knew this was a high-quality breed. He was suddenly tempted.

Zhu Qingyan, while doting on the puppies, said, "Sure, but the company won't reimburse you for yours; you'll have to pay for it yourself."

"Pfft!" Song Jiawei dismissed the idea with a scoff, then asked Manager Ding, "Boss, how much for one?"

In his mind, since the Xiaxi was a native dog, it shouldn't be too expensive. He had looked into dog prices before and knew that a common local dog cost only a few dozen yuan, while even a good one rarely exceeded a few hundred.

He never expected Manager Ding to hold up two fingers: "Eight thousand."

"Eight thousand?" Song Jiawei was stunned. "Manager Ding, we’re friends, don’t try to swindle me. Can this dog really go for eight thousand?"

Manager Ding laughed. "I’ve actually given you a discount. Otherwise, I’d be asking for nine."

"Purebred Xiaxi dogs are indeed expensive. Nine thousand is a reasonable price," Zhang Congwen added from the side. "If you can't afford that, you could ask if he has any non-purebred ones; those should be cheaper."

Manager Ding immediately chimed in, "I have those too, for just two hundred yuan."

"Never mind," Song Jiawei shook his head instantly.

The price gap between nine thousand and two hundred was simply too vast.

He figured a two-hundred-yuan "Xiaxi" was probably some mongrel mix of Pekingese, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu, or Shiba Inu. For all he knew, its grandmother might even have been a pigeon.

Thinking this, Song Jiawei abandoned the idea of getting a Xiaxi.

"Have you found a dog that meets your standards?" Zhu Qingyan asked while running around.

The puppies were very lively and seemed to like her, following her wherever she went.

Zhang Congwen shook his head. "Let's look a bit more."

"Psst, psst, psst!"

Legend has it that no puppy can resist the sound of a "psst." As soon as Zhang Congwen made the sound, one of the Xiaxi puppies immediately ran toward him, and the others, after a moment of hesitation, followed suit.