Chapter Eighty-Eight: The Dog Trainer

The crackle of firecrackers marked the official establishment of their company. Whether they could make a name for themselves in the industry and carve out a space of their own would depend on their own efforts.

"Uncle Zhu, you’re here."

Just as the three were envisioning their future, a large group arrived unexpectedly, led by Zhu Qingyan’s father, Zhu Chang, and her mother, Liu Mei. Since his daughter was starting a company, Zhu Chang naturally had to be present. He knew that Zhang Congwen and the others didn’t have many connections, so this time he purposefully brought several employees from his own company to lend support to his daughter.

"Xiao Song—no, I should call you President Song now," Zhu Chang said with a smile.

"Please, there’s no need for such formality. If it weren’t for your help, our dog training center wouldn’t have opened so smoothly. Regardless, I’m your junior. Just call me Xiao Song," Song Jiawei replied, waving his hands.

After exchanging a few more polite words with Song Jiawei, Zhu Chang headed straight to Zhu Qingyan, and the two began a private conversation.

The leader in charge of the plaque unveiling ceremony had initially thought that few people would come for Zhang Congwen’s opening, since they had chosen the simplest and cheapest ceremony package. At the time, he’d felt a bit sorry for them, assuming they must not have much money—otherwise, why such a modest ceremony?

But when he saw Zhu Chang, his thoughts wavered. It wasn’t just Zhu Chang’s air of authority; the dozen or so employees accompanying him all looked like successful professionals.

"President Zhang, President Song, congratulations!"

Just as the leader was lost in thought, Boss Xie arrived with Xie Julie and Xie Caizhe. Today, Xie Julie was dressed up beautifully. Though not as dazzling as Zhu Qingyan, she radiated a pure, girlish charm. Once, people might have called her a delicate little flower, but now that seemed less fitting; she was more like a snowflake drifting gently from the sky.

The moment she appeared, Xie Julie drew many admiring glances. Embarrassed by the attention, she blushed and lowered her head, looking even more innocent and adorable. Many wanted to approach her for her contact information, but seeing Boss Xie by her side—who seemed to be her father—they ultimately gave up.

Who would dare flirt with the little snowflake right in front of her father?

Song Jiawei hurried over to greet Boss Xie and struck up a conversation, not forgetting to cast a triumphant look at Zhang Congwen, as if to say: “Well? Isn’t my girlfriend beautiful?”

Zhang Congwen could only feel a twinge of frustration.

Boss Xie hadn’t brought his employees along like Zhu Chang, but that didn’t mean his entourage was small. Since it was the weekend, Xie Caizhe had brought along a whole group of his classmates.

They immediately surrounded Zhang Congwen, staring at him as if he were some rare specimen.

The leader of the ceremony felt utterly puzzled. Wasn’t this supposed to be a dog training center? Why did it attract so many children?

"Aunt Liu, Zhuang Bowen, you’re here!"

As Zhang Congwen was trying to handle the swarm of children, Zhuang Bowen and Aunt Liu appeared in his line of sight like saviors.

He dashed over to greet them.

The moment Zhuang Bowen saw him, he happily pulled out his phone and showed a video. In the recording, Zhuang Bowen had followed Zhang Congwen’s advice and modified his home. The clever husky, after several attempts to push open the newly installed barred door, failed and had to retreat to the living room, where it busied itself with the toys provided.

"Your method really worked! Now those four little rascals spend all day wrestling with those toys and haven’t destroyed anything else in my house," Zhuang Bowen said cheerfully as he played the video.

To battle with his dogs was now a source of endless joy. Ever since Zhang Congwen’s guidance, Zhuang Bowen had been devising all kinds of ways to entertain his sled dog pack, draining their energy and having a great time himself.

"Congwen, who are these two?" asked Zhu Qingyan, noticing unfamiliar faces as she approached.

"Let me introduce you..." Zhang Congwen began.

Aunt Liu’s eyes brightened as she grabbed Zhu Qingyan’s hand. "Qingyan, you’re so beautiful—do you have a boyfriend?"

When Zhu Qingyan shook her head, Aunt Liu said, "Would you like me to introduce you to someone? Don’t worry, he’ll be reliable—handsome and well-off..."

Faced with Aunt Liu’s enthusiastic matchmaking, Zhu Qingyan quickly took refuge behind Zhang Congwen. "Aunt Liu, I’m not in a hurry. I haven’t really considered such things yet."

Though Zhu Qingyan was well-traveled and experienced, she still found Aunt Liu’s straightforward friendliness overwhelming.

"Oh, I see. Aunt Liu understands," Aunt Liu said, though it wasn’t clear what she understood. She stopped pushing and turned to Zhang Congwen, adding, "Xiao Zhang, you’d better work hard."

Zhang Congwen was left completely bewildered.

"Zhang Congwen, we’re not late, are we?"

At that moment, as Zhang Congwen, Zhu Qingyan, Zhuang Bowen, and Aunt Liu were chatting, a voice called out nearby. They turned to see it was Zhang Congwen’s landlord, accompanied by his daughter and their large white dog.

"You’ve come!"

Zhang Congwen and Zhu Qingyan immediately went to greet them.

"Here, this is for you," the landlord said, smiling as he handed them something.

Only then did Zhang Congwen and Zhu Qingyan notice that he was holding a roll of red silk.

With a flick of his wrist, the landlord unfurled it. Embroidered in gold were eight characters: “He who knows the words of dogs, understands the language of canines.” On the side, in smaller letters: “A gift to Dog Trainer Master Zhang Congwen.”

Zhu Qingyan quickly took the banner and put it away carefully.

Zhang Congwen was instantly embarrassed. "Calling me a master is really too much. I’m not that skilled—I don’t deserve the title."

The landlord smiled. "Don’t be so modest, Xiao Zhang. We tried several trainers for Big White and none succeeded. Only you took one look, gave a few instructions, and solved the problem that same day. If it weren’t for you, we’d still have no idea why Big White was biting herself. You deserve the title of Dog Trainer Master."

Zhu Qingyan smiled gently at Zhang Congwen. "He’s not just our landlord, he’s also our client. Since a client gave it to you, it means they acknowledge your ability."

"In that case, I’ll accept it with gratitude," Zhang Congwen said, a little bashfully.

"Where do you think we should hang the banner?" Zhu Qingyan whispered after the landlord and his daughter had left.

"You really intend to hang it?" Zhang Congwen asked, helpless.

If the banner hadn’t included the words “Dog Trainer Master,” he would have accepted it more easily. With those four words, he felt he didn’t quite deserve the honor.

"Why not? It’s recognition from our clients. We should be proud," Zhu Qingyan replied with a smile.

As they spoke in low voices, the landlord’s daughter glanced back at them. Seeing how close Zhang Congwen and Zhu Qingyan seemed, a faint look of disappointment flashed in her eyes.

"Aunt Yu, you’re here too," Zhang Congwen suddenly called out, noticing Yu Yixiang and her daughter Xiao Xiao standing quietly in a corner, watching him. "Fatty, Aunt Yu’s here as well!"