1063 A New Path (1/2)
Aunt Liu took another few steps. Zhang Zian watched as she stepped away. He suddenly raised his voice. ”Oh, Aunt Liu, I think I saw an American Shorthair pretty similar to yours a few days ago near here. Don't give up. You might just find it.”
She turned back, asking in surprise and glee, ”Where?”
”Just nearby. It was on the roof, and I couldn't see it too clearly, but I thought it looked similar to yours.” Zhang Zian pointed in a random direction. ”I was still trying to decide whether I should tell you about it, but it ran off.”
”The next time you see it, make sure to tell me. I wrote my phone number on that piece of paper,” Aunt Liu anxiously reminded him.
”No problem.” Zhang Zian waved. ”Take care.”
Aunt Liu was still worried and only left after nagging him a few more times.
”Who is she?” Vladimir asked.
”A neighbor.”
Zhang Zian pushed the trolley as he started moving forward, explaining his experiences with Aunt Liu. It wasn't a long time ago that these things had happened, but it sure felt that way.
Vladimir gave it a thought. ”You're saying that the adult American Shorthair in the shop was that woman's?”
”Yes, that's right.”
”Then you told her that you saw her American Shorthair nearby because…” Vladimir could guess what he was planning to do.
”I feel she had received her punishment and seemed to want to atone for her mistakes, and I think we can pass her cat back to her so she can take care of it,” Zhang Zian said. ”But…I'm not sure if she would go back to her old ways…”
”So you mean…?” it asked.
”So I wanted to ask for your help, to get the strays to keep an eye on her. She lives in a two-story shop house, and that should be easy to spy on for strays, right?” He chuckled. ”Cats have the brightest eyes after all. We cannot let a bad person off easily, but we can't accuse a good person, either.”
Vladimir's mouth moved, but no words came out.
This would certainly be an easy feat for strays. Strays were the best informants, after all. Information that humans felt would be as difficult to obtain as the passcode to the President's home would be easily obtained by strays.
Returning to the pet shop, Zhang Zian eyed the corner of the wall on the opposite street and reminded Vladimir, ”Your partners are here for you.”
Vladimir looked over to see a few strays, led by Big Orange, waiting there.
”Yes. I'll be gone for a bit.”
It looked left and right before crossing the street and jumping onto the wall.
Big Orange pointed its front paw towards the north in its excitement, after waiting for a long time.
”Oh? The representative of the Meow Meow Branch in the capital is here? That was fast!” Vladimir perked up. ”Bring me there, quick!”
It followed Big Orange, weaving through the alleyways, past the plot of land behind the pet shop, and to an old house waiting to be torn down. This had become the rendezvous spot for strays.
A few strays were lying on the ground, their faces caked with dust. A few empty cans lay before them, filled with clean water. There were a few pieces of small dried fish too. The strays were starving and parched, their energy almost completely drained. They didn't bother eating the dried fish and lapped at the water like their lives depended on it.
Seeing Vladimir walk in, they had wanted to stand up to greet it.