Chapter 41

Without corresponding animal protection laws, relying solely on moral criticism certainly cannot quell public anger; this era is not like ten years later when a single incident could directly ** or video be posted online.

However, even if it could draw more people's attention and criticism, it would not be enough to give the abuser sufficient punishment.

What use is criticism? What use are moral constraints?

Could it revive these three kittens, or give this mother cat fairness?

Neither can; that tattooed man doesn't even need to pay a fine, and moral criticism is just a fart let loose for him—blow away in the wind.

"Throwing my own cat is none of your business! Meddling busybodies, you're all getting impatient, huh?!" The tattooed man pointed at the murmuring crowd and roared.

The act of beating someone just now obviously made the onlookers wary; their voices weren't as loud, and those who came out to criticize were also beaten down.

With that muscular build and tattoos, plus that swagger, he's clearly no pushover; he might even cause a death.

"Get lost already, what are you doing blocking my door? Looking for a beating?"

The tattooed man shoved the surrounding crowd aside, and the circle of people gradually dispersed.

As they left, a few old ladies sighed softly, saying things like "What a sin" and "That poor cat."

Actually, such incidents are many; in this city, similar things possibly happen every day.

For a cat, there is not even relative fairness, nor an absolute protective system or regulation; what it can rely on is perhaps a good owner, or becoming as tough as Li Yuanba.

However, living in this steel-and-concrete metropolis, even Li Yuanba chose a "den," choosing a "swallow" that would care for and help it.

What kind of life does a solitary cat actually lead? Zheng Tan only heard some things from others; some say such stray cats can live well, but after seeing today's scene, Zheng Tan has doubts. There are certainly those who live well, but there are also those who live terribly.

Those three kittens on the ground were finally picked up by an old man, wrapped in a towel and taken away; the big cat followed behind him, meowing as he walked. The tattooed man stood aside smoking, sneering as he watched the old man tidy up, even flicking his cigarette butt toward him.

"Just a few mangy cats, what's the fuss? Pah!" The tattooed man spat on the blood-stained ground, hummed a little tune, and swaggered off.

Zheng Tan followed behind the old man, watching him enter a side gate of Chu Hua Da Xue, where in a small grove he buried the towel-wrapped kittens.

After burying them, the old man sat on the ground nearby, catching his breath, looked at the big cat pacing in circles, and stroked the white cat's head: "Although this place is farther away, that old residential area will likely be demolished in two years, and anything buried underground will be dug up. But here won't be; this is a fine university, with a good environment and decent people… You should live well from now on. Or, come with me—I don't live in that old district, just around here; conditions aren't great, but they won't let you starve."

Zheng Tan didn't know whether the big white cat understood the old man's words; it simply clung tightly to the ground where the kittens were buried, lying there motionless. When the old man tried to pick it up, it struggled not to go.

The old man waited a moment, then tried again to hold it; this time the big cat didn't struggle.

Zheng Tan crouched not far away, watching them; after they left, Zheng Tan remained crouched there, not knowing what he was thinking, his mind a jumble, yet as if thinking of nothing. When he came to, it was already dark.

He moved a bit; perhaps crouching too long had made his whole body stiff and a little cold.

Zheng Tan took a few deep breaths, slowly moved a bit, then loosened up and jogged back toward the East Staff Residential Compound.

When Zheng Tan returned home, Jiao Ba was sweeping the floor, Jiao Yuan and Xiao Youzi were helping clean, Jiao Ma was washing dishes in the kitchen, the house smelled of alcohol and a lingering stranger's scent. However, seeing familiar people and smelling familiar scents still made Zheng Tan feel at ease.

After Zheng Tan crawled into Xiao Youzi's blanket at night, he remained wide awake. Beside him, Xiao Youzi had already fallen asleep, but Zheng Tan kept his eyes open, staring at the ceiling inside the room, only dozing off after past three a. m. Yet his sleep was restless; he kept dreaming of today's scene, dreaming of the three kittens lying on the ground.

Zheng Tan dreamed that he stood on a blood‑stained ground, watching a tattooed man smoking a cigarette while leaning against the wall. Beside him lay the three kittens. Around them a circle of faceless people stood.

Because he was dreaming of those images, the dreaming Zheng Tan scratched with his claws, tearing a big hole in Xiao Youzi's bedding.

The next day, Jiao Ma looked at the torn cover and said, "I guess Hei Tan was dreaming of catching mice."

"But Hei Tan looks listless today," Xiao Youzi said, pointing at the lethargic Zheng Tan on the sofa.

Jiao Yuan stared at Zheng Tan for a moment, then lifted him with his hand: "Black Cat Warrior, transform!"

Zheng Tan remained listless, not swatting away Jiao Yuan's hand as before, nor struggling, just letting Jiao Yuan play around with him.

"Black Cat Warrior, transform!"

Jiao Yuan tried again, but the black cat in his hand was still the same; he hurriedly told Jiao Ma, "Mom, Hei Tan really seems off!"

Jiao Ma also put aside mending the cover she was holding, quickly lifted Zheng Tan to check, and said, "Hei Tan, what's wrong with you?"

Zheng Tan weakly hummed twice.

"Quickly call Xiao Guo and take Hei Tan to see a doctor; don't let him catch a chill," Jiao Ma said to Jiao Ba beside her.

After hanging up, Jiao Ba rode his small electric scooter with Zheng Tan toward Xiao Guo's place. The three left at home couldn't sit still; they went out the east gate, hailed a taxi, and headed to the pet center.

Upon hearing that Zheng Tan was ill, Xiao Guo promptly set aside his work, personally went to his brother's clinic, and urged his brother to examine him carefully.

After Xiao Guo's brother carefully examined Zheng Tan's various physiological indicators, he said, "It doesn't look like illness; he's just a bit down in spirits."

Low spirits?

Zheng Tan's spirits were indeed poor; he couldn't describe the feeling, just a sense of oppression mixed with some anxiety—overall, various irritability.

"He was fine when he went out yesterday, but came back a little off; I thought he was just tired from playing outside," Jiao Ba said.

"What did he encounter when he went out yesterday?" Xiao Guo wondered.

Xiao Guo's brother thought for a moment and said, "I heard yesterday that someone had dropped three unweaned kittens to their death in the alley of the old residential area; could that be the cause?"

"Huh? What exactly happened?" Xiao Guo asked. Yesterday he had been in the studio editing photos, unaware of outside events.

Xiao Guo's brother related what he knew; hearing it made Zheng Tan want to cover his ears, and the dream scene seemed to reappear before his eyes. That image made him feel very uncomfortable, his depression deepening.

Zheng Tan silently lamented, never expecting his psyche to be this fragile. Weren't they always fearless before? Could it be from staying up late and poor sleep? Yeah, definitely lack of sleep.

Thinking and thinking, while the three others were talking, Zheng Tan closed his eyes and fell asleep.

After the three finished talking, looking at the black cat asleep with eyes closed, they were all momentarily speechless.

"This must be due to poor sleep; nobody's mood is good when they haven't slept well," Xiao Guo said helplessly.

Having confirmed that their cat had no other injury or illness, the Jiao family felt much more relieved.

When Zheng Tan woke up, he was already at the Jiao residence, and the sky had grown dark.

"He's awake! He's awake!" Jiao Yuan shouted excitedly.

Beside them sat Xiao Youzi; hearing the call, Jiao Ma and Jiao Ba hurried over.

After a sleep, Zheng Tan's spirits improved greatly, and he ate the large bowl of rice Jiao Ma had prepared for him.

After eating his fill, Zheng Tan stretched a big yawn; the listless black cat from this morning sprang back to life!

"All right, all right, hurry up and tidy up, change clothes—it'll be cooler tonight," Jiao Ma called to the two children.

Huh? Are we going out?

Zheng Tan glanced at the four people changing clothes.

Mom, let's bring Hei Tan along. Jiao Yuan said.

Jiao Ma didn't answer immediately, looking toward Jiao Ba.

Jiao Ba thought for a moment, "Bring it along, use your backpack. But there will be too many people watching the fireworks later, so be careful."

Okay!

Watch the fireworks?

Zheng Tan glanced at the calendar; it turned out today was already the sixth. On the evening of the sixth, merchants at the Central Department Store would set off fireworks, and many people went to watch.

After packing up, the Jiao Family of four, along with a cat, went out.

While walking that way, they also ran into some other people from the big courtyard, as well as some staff with families from the West Family Residential Area; everyone greeted each other with smiles.

Jiao Ba carried Jiao Yuan's backpack in his hand; Zheng Tan stayed inside, peering out through the opened zipper. Many people were walking toward the Central Department Store, and almost everyone walking around had that as their destination.

When they arrived, there were already many people standing in the square in front of the Central Department Store. Jiao Yuan tried to squeeze in further, but Jiao Ba held him back and they found a spot to stand.

Don't get too close; there's a lot of falling debris there and it's easy to get hurt. It's not far from here either. Jiao Ba said.

It was only seven o'clock, half an hour before the fireworks. They had come early on purpose to claim a spot. The spot Jiao Ba chose was relatively central; later, when the crowd grew, the outside would probably get blocked.

There were several platforms around the square, and the areas around them were cordoned off, keeping a certain distance from the spectators. Those were the fireworks launch points.

As the fireworks time approached, Jiao Ma took out glasses and masks and handed them to the two children. The glasses were plain lenses to keep airborne dust from getting into their eyes while watching, and the masks were to prevent inhaling too much dust later, which could irritate the throat and make breathing uncomfortable.

Jiao Ba slung the backpack across his chest, and Jiao Ma held the two children protectively in the middle.

Zheng Tan curiously peered out from the backpack's zipper and looked around; it was all people, much denser than when they had first arrived.

Suddenly, all the streetlights in the square went out.

The crowd's noise in the square suddenly hushed as the lights went out, then murmured again—this was the prelude to the start.

After the lights went out, Zheng Tan simply poked his whole head out.

At that moment, with no light, nobody would have thought someone would be watching the fireworks while also bringing a cat!

Bang!

A large firework burst in the sky, kicking off the show.

Bang bang bang!

The roar of the fireworks launch was incessant.

Zheng Tan looked up at the sky; since they were relatively close, the fireworks looked like they were on head. reading.