Chapter Sixty-Eight: Training the Cat

Zhang Congwen quickly withdrew his hand and asked, "What’s the matter?"

Yu Qin explained, "This cat only lets Xiaoru touch it; it absolutely refuses to let anyone else near it. If anyone else tries, it’ll scratch them without fail."

"Is it really that strange?" Zhang Congwen remarked.

Lin Xiaoru chimed in from the side, "I found this cat on the street when it was still very small. It was so cute and pitiful that I brought it home."

Yu Qin shot Lin Xiaoru a glare before saying, "You’re one to talk. When you brought it home, you didn’t even discuss it with us. I’ve been afraid of cats since I was young, and your father doesn’t like keeping cats either. Now this cat is attached to you—and not just attached, but downright fierce to the rest of us."

She then complained to Zhang Congwen, "Our whole family has been scratched by this cat. And for some reason, it loves to lie on top of the microwave. Sometimes I’m just trying to cook, and without paying attention, I get scratched."

After listening to Yu Qin’s story, Zhang Congwen looked again at the cat perched atop the microwave. Seeing how calm the cat was even in his presence, he could tell that it attacked people not out of fear.

Zhang Congwen extended a finger, slowly and cautiously moving it toward the cat.

Yu Qin watched his actions nervously. She had already warned him, so if he ignored her advice and got scratched, she couldn’t be blamed. Still, she couldn’t bear to see Zhang Congwen hurt by their family cat.

The tabby cat was a little tense at first when Zhang Congwen approached, but upon seeing just a single finger extended, it did something unprecedented: instead of scratching him, it carefully sniffed his finger.

"What’s going on?" Yu Qin was astonished.

Even when Yu Qin fed it, the tabby had never shown such restraint, but now, meeting Zhang Congwen for the first time, it didn’t attack him.

Zhang Congwen’s next move left Yu Qin even more bewildered. After the cat sniffed his finger, he boldly extended his hand, aiming to pet the tabby.

Yu Qin’s anxiety grew. Her family's cat refraining from attacking Zhang Congwen was already a miracle, yet he wasn’t content with that.

The cat, named Birdie, flattened its ears against its head and narrowed its pupils, adopting a defensive posture.

But Zhang Congwen’s hand didn’t stop. Under the cat’s watchful gaze, he lowered his palm beneath its head and gently touched its body.

At first, the tabby made slight evasive movements. Yet as Zhang Congwen continued, though the cat remained wary and defensive, its body was honest—it allowed him to stroke it. It neither fled nor lashed out.

After a few gentle strokes, Zhang Congwen quietly withdrew his hand.

Yu Qin, a little surprised, joked, "Usually it doesn’t let us touch it at all. First time meeting you, and not only is it unafraid, it actually lets you pet it. Maybe you have that legendary ‘cat-magnet’ aura."

Lin Xiaoru borrowed a popular phrase from the internet, "I think that’s called the ‘innate cat-attractor physique.’"

Zhang Congwen laughed and explained, "It’s not as exaggerated as that. Just now, I let it sniff my finger—you could say this is a very polite gesture in the cat world. Seeing me so respectful, it wouldn’t attack me without cause."

Xie Caizhe’s eyes lit up with delight. "Brother Zhang, you know how to train cats?"

Zhang Congwen shook his head. "Calling it training is too much; I just know a little about them."

Yu Qin assumed Zhang Congwen was being modest. She said, "Trainer Zhang, could you help us train this cat? It doesn’t need to be as obedient as Big Ears, just so it won’t attack us anymore."

In truth, Zhang Congwen wasn’t being modest—he really didn’t know how to train cats. He simply understood them a little better than most. Yu Qin’s request put him in a difficult spot.

Sharp-eyed Xie Caizhe noticed Zhang Congwen’s reluctance and also encouraged him, "Just give it a try, Brother Zhang. If it doesn’t work, that’s fine."

He shot Zhang Congwen a meaningful glance. The implication was clear: if you succeed, it reflects well on me as your friend; if you fail, nobody will hold it against you—you’re a dog trainer, not a cat trainer.

Seeing Xie Caizhe’s encouragement, Zhang Congwen sighed and agreed. After all, Xie Caizhe had introduced him to jobs that earned him some money, and he couldn’t let his friend down. "I can try, but I can’t promise it’ll work."

With Zhang Congwen’s consent, Lin Xiaoru eagerly asked, "Brother Zhang, what should we do?"

Zhang Congwen thought for a moment. "Xiaoru, carry Birdie over to the sofa, just as you normally do."

Lin Xiaoru nodded obediently, walked over to the tabby, and without any unnecessary moves, gently placed her hands under its armpits, lifting it into her arms and easily setting it on the sofa.

The cat showed no sign of anxiety, and once on the sofa, began sniffing around.

Everyone watched Zhang Congwen curiously, eager to see what method he would use to train the cat.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Congwen turned to Yu Qin. "Now, try to carry the cat onto the coffee table. If it resists, don’t force it."

Yu Qin was taken aback; she hadn’t expected to be involved.

She didn’t dwell on it, though. Rising, she approached the tabby, nervously extending one finger for her own cat to sniff, copying Zhang Congwen’s gesture.

The cat was a little tense at first, but upon seeing Yu Qin’s finger, it cautiously sniffed it. This pleased Yu Qin, and she immediately tried to pick it up.

Fearing the cat might suddenly attack her, Yu Qin made sure to keep her hands out of its line of sight, reaching from above to lift it.

But for some unknown reason, the tabby suddenly grew anxious and swiped at the back of Yu Qin’s hand, drawing blood.

"Ah!"

Yu Qin jerked her hand back in fright, but wanting to fulfill Zhang Congwen’s instructions, she tried again to pick up the cat. Yet now she was extremely nervous, terrified the cat would attack her again.

On the second attempt, as soon as Yu Qin reached out, the cat went wild, launching a frenzied attack.

Yu Qin scrambled back a few steps, while the cat seized the opportunity to dart into a corner and hide.

"Trainer Zhang, what do you make of this?" Yu Qin’s voice was tinged with grievance.

She had never harbored ill will toward the cat, never scolded or hit it for scratching, and simply couldn’t understand why it was so fierce to her.