402 The Secret History of Lop-Eared Cats (1/2)
Chapter 402: The Secret History of Lop-Eared Cats
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Zhang Zian was surprised and flattered by Old Time Tea’s solemnity. He had no idea what Old Time Tea was going to ask of him. Was it something to do with science?
He laughed, ”Grandpa Tea, no need to be so polite. Just ask me anything, and I’ll see if I know the answers.”
Old Time Tea pondered and said, ”From what you said, I gathered that Scottish fold cats originated in foreign countries, then were introduced into China, right?”
Zhang Zian nodded. ”Yeah, it is said that this kind of cat was accidentally cultivated by breeders from a small European country.”
”Do you know in what month and what year exactly?” asked Old Time Tea.
”Well...” Zhang Zian was not a cat history expert. He picked up his phone to do a quick web search before replying, ”In 1961, more than half a century ago.”
”That is not right.” Old Time Tea shook its head in doubt, ”I clearly saw a lop-eared cat before that time...”
”What?” Zhang Zian was stunned. ”Grandpa Tea, when you say 'before', are you referring to the end of the 19th century?”
He had met Old Time Tea in the Hidden Fog Mountain, where there were many dense woods. He initially thought that Old Time Tea had encountered the lop-eared cat in the forests of Hidden Fog Mountain. Now it seemed that this was not the case.
”That’s right.” Old Time Tea was even more confused. ”I was at my prime age when I met the cat, and I’m confident that I was right. But you say that this cat breed has only been around since 1961… This is so strange...”
”What did the cat look like? Was it the same as the Scottish fold?” Zhang Zian asked for more details.
Old Time Tea shook its head. ”No, not the same. This cat had longer white fur, kind of like Snowy Lionet. Its body was more slender, and its tail was more robust than that of a Scottish fold.”
Snowy Lionet was taking a nap. Upon hearing its name, it opened its sleepy eyes, and shouted, ”What are you doing? Why did you call me?”
Zhang Zian and Old Time Tea ignored it. He sat back in the recliner, contemplating this issue.
He was sure that Scottish fold cats had only been around since 1961.
However, Old Time Tea could not be wrong either. It wouldn’t have said anything if it was not certain.
The problem was this: how could Old Time Tea have seen a lop-eared cat before 1961?
As time passed, Old Time Tea stopped watching TV, and Fina stopped her napping. Both were curiously staring at Zhang Zian's face.
Snow-white fur... lop-eared cats... Scottish fold cats... 1961… the end of the 19th century...
He arranged and combined the few key words together, searching hard for clues. After a long time, he shouted, ”Ah! I know now!” Zhang Zian slapped his thigh and stood up. ”Grandpa Tea, I know what the cat you saw was!”
”Oh? Do tell me, Zian!” said Old Time Tea with surprise.
Zhang Zian swallowed some saliva excitedly, and organized his words, ”I used to read rumors about this, but I didn’t take it seriously at that time, and now I recall since you mentioned it... ”
Fina interrupted him impatiently, ”Cut the nonsense!”