Chapter Twenty-One: The Arrival of Danger

Zhu Qingyan was somewhat curious herself; it was rare to see someone like Zhang Congwen so adept at dampening enthusiasm. Of course, Zhang Congwen was not, as Song Jiawei claimed, trying to dissuade him from keeping a dog. In fact, Zhang Congwen had long considered getting a dog himself. What he truly wanted was to impart a lesson to Song Jiawei—a lesson that all aspiring pet owners ought to understand before bringing an animal home.

Zhang Congwen spoke, “There’s no such thing as a perfect pet in this world. Every pet, be it a dog, cat, hamster, turtle, lizard, or even a snake—those less common companions—all have their flaws. The first thing to consider before keeping a pet is not what life will be like after, but whether you can accept those flaws. If you can truly embrace the imperfections of a pet, then by all means, keep one.”

Both were taken aback; neither expected Zhang Congwen to say something so profound. Zhu Qingyan, in particular, felt a deep resonance with his words.

Ever since her family had adopted Tuantuan, their frequency of travel had noticeably dwindled. Even when they did take a trip, it was never more than three or five days before returning home—simply because Tuantuan was now part of their lives.

Every time they went out, she would worry: Was Tuantuan eating well? Sleeping well? Was there enough food and water? Her family had considered taking Tuantuan along, or perhaps leaving him in someone else’s care for a while.

For Zhu Qingyan’s family, the cost of boarding a pet was no real concern, but there was always a lingering unease. No matter how good the boarding service, it could never compare to the peace of mind of having him at home. They had once tried traveling with Tuantuan, but the experience left her parents utterly exhausted.

There was so much to prepare, and the journey was fraught with difficulties—finding hotels, for instance, as many wouldn’t allow pets, drastically limiting their options.

Sometimes, Zhu Qingyan regretted having brought Tuantuan into their lives. But now he had become an irreplaceable member of their family; sending him away was out of the question. Not only would her mother never agree, even Zhu Qingyan herself—despite having been bitten by Tuantuan—could never bear it.

Keeping a pet brings joy and companionship, but there is no denying the burden and responsibility it entails.

Considering her own situation, she realized Song Jiawei’s predicament would be even more challenging. As an outsider working in the city, even setting travel aside, he could not avoid the long holidays—such as National Day or the Spring Festival—when he would need to return to his hometown.

At this thought, Zhu Qingyan found herself agreeing with Zhang Congwen, “Actually, Congwen is quite right.”

Had it been only Zhang Congwen speaking, Song Jiawei might have protested, but with Zhu Qingyan chiming in, he lost all desire to argue. It wasn’t because Zhu Qingyan was a girl, but because, for all Zhang Congwen’s eloquence, he had never kept a dog and his words lacked weight. Zhu Qingyan’s family, on the other hand, were genuine dog owners.

“Fine,” Song Jiawei conceded, crestfallen. “I’ll give up on the idea of keeping a dog for now. Maybe I’ll follow your lead and keep two turtles—much less hassle.”

Though he had temporarily abandoned the notion yesterday thanks to Zhang Congwen’s persuasion, Song Jiawei’s resolve had not been firm. Only now did he truly make up his mind.

Zhang Congwen pursed his lips.

Less hassle, keeping turtles? Certainly easier than dogs or cats, but it’s not as simple as tossing them in a bowl, adding water, and expecting them to thrive.

Even keeping turtles comes with its share of troubles. A bare tank requires frequent water changes. Mud tanks are filthy. Volcanic rock setups are prone to collapse. Physical filtration is tricky for maintaining stable water quality. Swamp filtration is convenient most days, but when it comes time to clean the filter media, it’s enough to make one wish for oblivion.

Let alone the myriad ways of keeping them, even treating a sick turtle is a headache. There are plenty of pet hospitals for cats and dogs, but for exotic pets, options are scarce. Often, one must take matters into their own hands, and those without experience may do more harm than good—a minor ailment can end with a turtle’s demise.

Zhang Congwen had not yet voiced these thoughts when a distant shout rang out, “The dog’s escaped!”

Looking over, he saw a male Wolf Qing dog barreling toward Zhu Qingyan.

This Wolf Qing dog had originally been brought to the dog market for breeding, but somehow it had broken free from its iron chain and was making straight for Zhu Qingyan.

Zhang Congwen was intimately familiar with this breed. When he was young, his family had kept a Wolf Qing dog—one his father had traded a cow for.

Wolf Qing dogs are a native breed, once common in the north. Fierce and formidable, their strength is legendary. When Zhang Congwen was a child living in the countryside, their dog was kept in the yard, chained to a hundred-pound iron plough that required a tractor to move.

Once, the yard gate was left open, and a scrap collector slipped in silently. Whatever his intentions, the Wolf Qing dog spotted him and immediately gave chase, dragging the iron plough behind it for over ten meters down the alley before stopping.

Such was the ferocity and strength of the Wolf Qing dog.

The one charging toward Zhu Qingyan was even larger than the one Zhang Congwen’s family had kept. As it approached, its imposing presence terrified Zhu Qingyan, prompting her to scream.

Zhang Congwen wasted no time; he pulled Zhu Qingyan behind him, blocking the dog’s line of sight. Standing resolutely in front of her, he extended his hand, palm facing the dog, attempting to calm it.

In truth, when confronted by an oncoming dog—especially when its intentions are unclear—the best course is to stand still and wait for the dog’s next move before reacting. Attempting to run, making extraneous movements, or showing panic only excites the dog and may incite aggression.

Stretching out his hand, palm forward, was an unnecessary gesture, but with Zhu Qingyan so frightened, the risk of arousing the dog’s excitement increased. Left with no choice, Zhang Congwen tried to calm it as best he could.

His legs were taut, ready to spring into action. Should the Wolf Qing dog show any signs of aggression, he was prepared to deliver a fierce kick to its chest—a move intended to warn the dog that the person before it was not to be trifled with. If the dog decided to attack, it would have to think twice.

Yet Zhang Congwen hoped it wouldn’t come to this. After all, whether the dog would retreat after such a kick was beyond his control. If it worked, the dog would back off; if not, he would face a relentless counterattack.

Sweat beaded in Zhang Congwen’s palm. Facing a Wolf Qing dog head-on, he knew full well he couldn’t guarantee a safe escape.