Chapter 396

Lan Lao Tou had told the Jiao family where they were exhibiting the precious flower; the Jiao family brought Zheng Tan and first walked around that area. At that time the Botanical Garden wasn't too crowded, but the exhibition hall for the precious flower was packed, with every display table surrounded by a circle of people commenting and appreciating. Zheng Tan couldn't go too far inside—it was too crowded—so he stayed in the backpack, held by Jiao Ba, standing at the side where there were fewer people.

Jiao Ma took Xiao Youzi to view the flowers; women are generally more interested in these.

After Jiao Yuan pushed his way through the crowd and came back, he was drenched in sweat.

"Did you see the 'Jade Cat'?" Jiao Ba asked.

"I couldn't squeeze in; I only glanced quickly and couldn't see clearly. There were too many people," Jiao Yuan said. He hadn't even managed to take a few more looks before being pushed out; the ones pushing him were several men in their forties and fifties, plus some elders, and Jiao Yuan naturally couldn't shove with them, so after a quick look around he returned.

Although each display table had a circle of people, the orchid display's table was surrounded by several circles; those inside didn't leave, and outside the crowd kept growing. The flower‑loving old gentlemen are usually decent, refined and particular, but now they've come by reputation—if they don't squeeze in they can't see it, and hearing the comments inside makes them anxious, so when excited they push forward. In their view, Jiao Yuan, this "little brat," has no business joining the fun; he should just make way.

Thus, Jiao Yuan was not only shoved out, but also glared at with reproachful looks several times.

"It's fine; when we go back I'll visit Professor Lan," Jiao Yuan consoled himself. "Near the water gets the first moon," after all. Besides, that flower was originally found by their family's cat. Professor Lan would surely understand letting his own people view it privately, so when we return Jiao Yuan can just shamelessly ask for a look.

Seeing the bustling scene, Jiao Ba now believed Professor Lan's words.

Why does Professor Lan have such great confidence in that pot of orchid?

Many flowers are expensive mostly due to hype, with people pushing the trend; perhaps in a few years they'll fall from tall, rich, handsome to short, poor, and ugly.

Why isn't Old Master Lan afraid of a price drop?

First, no one else can cultivate this flower. Normally, with natural mutations, the same mutant variety would appear concentrated in one area. How the seedlings were obtained—aside from Zheng Tan, nobody knows. Not to mention that the Jiao family refuses to divulge this secret; even if they were willing, who could make a cat speak? Therefore, in recent years and even longer, as long as they don't sell off seedlings, this pot of flower is one‑of‑a‑kind. Rarity makes it valuable.

Second, it's backed by genuine merit. A flower that can draw so many laypeople to stop and stare, and enchant orchid lovers, need not fear a price drop.

After Jiao Ma and Xiao Youzi came out, the Jiao family went with Zheng Tan to other areas, since the exhibition hall's space is limited and pushing through is difficult; they're not exactly refined folks, so they just wandered elsewhere in the vast Botanical Garden.

To the public, this is merely a pleasant spot to find fun, view flowers and scenery, and relax—like an entertainment venue. But in fact, it's not entirely that.

Among the Botanical Garden's over three hundred staff, more than a hundred engage in scientific research, with master's and doctoral training points and a postdoctoral mobility station; besides, there are several key laboratories and testing centers. It can be said that, in Chu Hua City, most universities and research institutes studying plants or traditional Chinese medicine have links to the Botanical Garden.

People like Old Master Lan are regulars at the Botanical Garden, with frequent exchanges. After news spread that Old Master Lan had cultivated a precious natural‑mutation orchid, several people from the Garden visited him then, and it was at that time that Old Master Lan seized the chance to obtain Zheng Tan's special permit.

The Botanical Garden is divided into many scenic zones; visitors who like to look closely can't see it all in a day, but everyone goes to the places they like. For example, Jiao Ba is interested in the medicinal garden and bamboo garden; Jiao Ma likes some exotic flowers and grasses with regional characteristics; as for Jiao Yuan and Xiao Youzi, they prefer to stroll through the kiwi orchard and other fruit gardens. While walking along, Zheng Tan also saw some visitors picking loquats from the scattered loquat trees on the outskirts.

These places were crowded; after walking for half a day, Jiao Ba and the others rested in one spot, where they ran into some people from the compound—Xiong Xiong and Su An and his group were there, with Xiong Xiong eating a kiwi.

Adults talked adult topics, kids talked kid stuff, and Zheng Tan was bored. He basically stayed in the backpack all morning, seeing that Jiao Ba and company planned to rest another hour or two before leaving; after finishing his own dry rations, Su An's father took out a deck of cards intending to play a few rounds.

Zheng Tan wanted to wander around; Jiao Ba agreed and reminded him not to forget the time, not to get lost, and to howl if anything happened.

Zheng Tan didn't think he'd get lost; there were signposts at intervals, and by the time he'd walked that way he already had a rough mental map.

Xiao Youzi had intended to follow, but Zheng Tan thought that if she did, Jiao Ma would surely worry and come along, probably with other women too, which would hinder his wandering, so he set off on his own.

If Zheng Tan were to wander here alone, he'd certainly seek out quieter, less‑crowded spots.

So Zheng Tan decided to head uphill, recalling a path leading to higher ground; it seemed hardly anyone was there.

Zheng Tan walked that way and saw a sign reading "Rock Plant Area," with a "Prohibited" plate inserted beside it; a notice was also posted saying the area was under renovation and visitors were forbidden to enter today.

The renovation didn't matter to Zheng Tan; since the place was empty, he decided to go inside and have a look.

The Rock Plant Area lacked the color of other zones; at least Zheng Tan found it dull, uninteresting, with nothing to see.

Walking along the narrow path beside the stream, Zheng Tan twitched his ears. He heard faint human voices, but they were still some distance away, so he wasn't worried.

Zheng Tan had come via a side path; when he reached its end and saw a much wider road, he spotted a black car—the very one with a special pass that he and his family had seen when they arrived.

Zheng Tan hadn't planned to go over. When he came, Jiao Ma had told him not to cause trouble; he hadn't wanted trouble, and often he didn't know why problems kept finding him—he was innocent.

Turning a corner, Zheng Tan intended to leave via another rocky path; as he walked, his steps halted, he lifted his head to sniff the wind, then turned to look around.

The surroundings were quiet; without careful listening you wouldn't hear human voices. A few birds flew over, pecking at small, grape‑sized blue fruits on a low tree Zheng Tan didn't know the name of. Because birds were pecking from above, many fruits fell and hit the ground with a pop; the fruits were fairly hard, and after dropping they would roll a bit farther.

Zheng Tan looked at the fruits under the tree. The birds had pecked quite a few, but nobody ate them; there was no need for them to take root and sprout, and no one would care, so it's no wonder the birds dared to peck away.

Looking around, various grasses and unknown plants surrounded him; he saw nothing else.

However, Zheng Tan knew he wasn't the only one here; besides the birds in the tree, there was also a prowler.

Zheng Tan didn't disturb the birds, merely crouching silently nearby. He knew the prowler had noticed him, but its target was the birds, so he watched and waited.

A breeze blew, and the leaves made a soft rustling sound.

Suddenly, a figure leapt up from behind a pile of stones, using the stones to spring again; a series of motions was completed in the blink of an eye.

The bird that had been pecking the fruit was startled, stopped pecking, and flew off instantly.

But there was an interceptor in the air.

A bird that had been perched on a branch pecking fruit had just taken off when the already‑lunging interceptor seized it; the interceptor's aim was that bird, the move was swift and silent, and the bite was fierce.

Zheng Tan didn't know what kind of bird it was; it had gray plumage, about the size of the school's gray magpies, and to the creature that caught it, the bird's size was hardly noteworthy.

Zheng Tan watched the large cat that had leapt out from behind the stone pile; he hadn't expected to encounter Jueye here.

Indeed, the large cat holding a bird in its mouth was Jueye. Zheng Tan had caught its scent earlier and realized it was him, so he didn't flee; Jueye wouldn't attack him.

So it seems that the black sedan seen earlier belonged to Lord Tang the Seventh? And the one watching Zheng Tan and company from inside the car was Jueye?

Then again, considering this zone was open yesterday but closed today, could Lord Tang the Seventh be behind that as well?

Not stopping to think further, after seizing its prey Jueye glanced at Zheng Tan and then left.

The unfortunate bird only twitched twice in Jueye's mouth before losing life.

Zheng Tan wondered how Jueye came to be catching birds here, so he followed.

Jueye's pace was neither fast nor slow; he looked relaxed and at ease, as if he knew the place well, like he'd lived there a long time—something Zheng Tan had never seen of him outside.

Recalling, Zheng Tan first saw Jueye during the summer of 2004; by then the "cfh" incident had been ten years past, and even if Jueye were a second‑generation "cfh," he'd be no older than ten, probably nine. Five more years have passed, yet Jueye remains just as he was, showing no signs of an old cat; from the swift sequence of his bird‑catching move one can tell his fighting power still easily outmatches ordinary adult cats.

Five years ago, when Jueye killed a person, it left Ye Hao astonished for a long time; now this fellow probably still could dispatch someone with ease.

Zheng Tan followed Jueye all the way to a spot where he climbed a slope.

There stood a large pine tree, its branches spread wide, casting a broad shadow beneath.

As Zheng Tan climbed the slope, Jueye was digging a hole under the tree.

With Jueye's claws, digging a hole is simple; Zheng Tan just didn't know why Jueye was digging there, since dogs usually dig to bury bones or food, and in some earth‑floored houses dogs in summer will dig a pit to squat in to cool off, whereas for cats digging generally means they're urinating or defecating.

Zheng Tan didn't go over, feeling that Jueye probably wouldn't want anyone near.

Soon a small pit appeared under the pine; Zheng Tan saw Jueye place the bird he'd just caught into the hole, then cover it up. After finishing, Jueye walked around the tree, sniffing as he went, then lay down in one spot, forelegs stacked, gazing into the distance. (To be continued…)