Chapter 43: Missing a Bottle of Wine

() When Zheng Tan returned to the Jiao Family's house, the outer layer of his fur was all wet. He had stayed out in the snow too long, and moreover, when he went out the snowfall had been quite heavy; not getting wet would be strange.

Fortunately his fur was fairly thick, so it could still keep him warm. But when the cold wind blew outside, Zheng Tan couldn't help shivering.

Seeing Zheng Tan return with his fur wet, Xiao Youzi quickly took out the hair dryer to blow-dry Zheng Tan's fur.

"With such thick snow outside, we didn't see any other cats in the courtyard; only our Hei Tan went out for a walk." Jiao Yuan said.

"And Sahala."

Just as they were speaking, a bout of barking came from downstairs; Zheng Tan heard it clearly—it was Sahala's voice. However, the barking now obviously lacked vigor, far from the spirited enthusiasm when he had previously gone out to frolic.

Jiao Yuan gave a hehe laugh, immediately opened the living-room window, and looked toward the diagonally opposite building. Xiao Youzi also moved a small stool over, took off her slippers, stepped on the stool, and looked out the window at the scene outside.

Zheng Tan was also a bit curious; he jumped onto the windowsill and looked in the direction from which the dog's barking came.

The dog barking downstairs in the diagonally opposite building was indeed Sahala. Meanwhile, on the second-floor balcony of that building, Academician Ruan's grandson Ruan Ying stood there, leaning on the balcony railing, holding a bowl of kelp spareribs soup and drinking it, smacking his lips as he drank, and said to the dog licking its mouth and hopping downstairs: "You run away—go on, try running again; tonight's bone soup has no share for you!"

"Woof woof… woof woof woof…" The barking carried a bit of whimpering; this clearly showed his weakness—he wanted to go upstairs to gnaw on the bone, but he couldn't get inside.

Sahala slapped the big iron gate of the access control with his big paw, slapped it once and then retracted his paw; he remembered that this big iron gate must not be slapped randomly—if you slap it once, you'll get a whipping when you go home later.

At the end of the "woof," Sahala squatted in front of the iron gate, emitting from his nasal cavity a whimper with a tonal pattern; he whimpered twice, opened his mouth to yawn, and flicked his lips twice.

Only after more than ten minutes did its owner open the door to let it in, then let it wait outside a bit longer, fearing it might get sick.

As soon as he went inside, the originally listless Sahala instantly regained vigor, vigorously wagging his big tail, rubbing upstairs, and even jumping about.

In the courtyard, besides Jiao Yuan and them watching the spectacle, there were also many others; due to different apartment orientations, some watched from their own balconies, some from the side rooms or living-room windows looking out. Sometimes people would stir up trouble. Just now someone had called Sahala over to their house to gnaw on bones, but Sahala still had a bit of backbone—he merely shifted his rear end a little and remained firmly unmoved.

Jiao Yuan was just talking about the differences between raising dogs and raising cats based on that scene, when suddenly he heard a sneeze from nearby.

Zheng Tan sniffed, and after a few seconds he couldn't help but sneeze again.

Jiao Yuan and Xiao Youzi stared at Zheng Tan; after Zheng Tan sneezed twice in a row, Jiao Yuan shouted toward the bedroom where Jiao Ma was: "Mom, Hei Tan seems to have caught a cold!!"

"What?! A cold?!" Jiao Ma immediately put down what she was doing, slipped on her slippers, and came over.

Zheng Tan also had a bad premonition—could he really have caught a cold?

"Should we take his temperature?" Xiao Youzi asked.

Take temperature?

Zheng Tan thought back to seeing some pets having thermometers inserted at the pet center, and his whole body shuddered. "Never, ever insert it in the rear to take temperature!!"

Jiao Ma, also unfamiliar with this situation, thought for a moment and called Xiao Guo.

"A cold? Does it have conjunctival congestion? Are its eyes tearing or full of eye discharge?" Xiao Guo on the other end of the line asked.

"Those aren't present."

"How is his appetite?"

"It's not yet dinner time, so I don't know."

"You can first take a temperature, but if you're measuring it at home yourselves, you can use the method of measuring at the base of the hind leg; that's more convenient……"

Zheng Tan jumped onto the desk, pricked up his ears to listen to the conversation between Jiao Ma and Xiao Guo on the phone; hearing that they didn't need to take a rectal temperature, Zheng Tan let out a sigh of relief.

After Jiao Ma finished the call, she took out the thermometer, gave it a shake, and when she turned around she saw Zheng Tan already lying on his side, his tail clamped tight, and one hind leg lifted.

Jiao Ma couldn't help but smile; when other people's cats have their temperature taken, they still need some "foreplay"—they need to be soothed—but now it's our own cat's turn, and without further ado he has already assumed the position himself.

Zheng Tan's thought was: as long as we don't use the rectal temperature method, anything else is fine!

However, doing it this way seems to expose a bit…… Oh well, it's not like I haven't been exposed before. Who made me a cat now? No need to be overly prim—there are plenty of cats flashing about on the streets.

Jiao Ma placed the prepared thermometer at the junction of Zheng Tan's hind leg and abdominal wall, waited for Zheng Tan to maintain the temperature-taking posture for about five minutes, then took the thermometer out.

"Thirty-nine degrees." Jiao Ma frowned. According to Xiao Guo's opinion, that seemed a bit high.

This method of measuring temperature tends to give a slightly low reading, so Xiao Guo provided various range standards for this method. After all, a cat's normal body temperature is naturally higher than a human's, so the standards differ as well.

Jiao Ma called Xiao Guo again and reported the temperature-measuring situation.

"That should be no big problem; give it some children's powdered medicine and check again tomorrow." Xiao Guo on the phone also breathed a sigh of relief; he still had some new spring advertisements waiting for this cat to hold down the fort. Otherwise, relying only on those few cats in the shop would probably waste a lot of food.

After hearing Xiao Guo's opinion, everyone felt much more relieved. Jiao Ma prepared some children's powdered medicine—no need to find a syringe needle to feed it; Zheng Tan went and drank it himself.

Cats aren't like people; Zheng Tan didn't want to make his current self half-dead.

At dinnertime, the Jiao Family members all paid attention to Zheng Tan's eating; seeing that his appetite was still as large as ever, the few people at the table felt more reassured.

With such a big appetite, his illness probably isn't serious.

At night Jiao Ma suggested letting Zheng Tan sleep on the sofa; although she hadn't heard of cats transmitting colds to people, it's still better to be safe. The ** of 2003 made many people alert.

It's not that she dislikes Zheng Tan; Jiao Ma also feels sorry for him, and she has prepared the sleeping spot on the sofa, laying out everything except Xiao Youzi's fur cloak, plus her own wool sweater, so Zheng Tan definitely won't catch a chill.

Zheng Tan himself also didn't want to pass the illness to others, so he'd better just make do on the sofa; if the cold really became severe and could be contagious, passing it to the other few people would also be bad.

Not long after the lights were turned off, Xiao Youzi opened the bedroom door and softly called Zheng Tan to come in and sleep.

Zheng Tan didn't move; he just rolled around a bit to make some noise as a response. One always fears the worst-case scenario; if he really transmitted the cold to Xiao Youzi, Zheng Tan would surely feel deeply guilty.

Xiao Youzi called a few times; seeing Zheng Tan merely turn over but not prepare to get off the sofa, Xiao Youzi gently walked over, placed her hand on Zheng Tan's body, confirmed that the cat beneath her hand had strong and steady breathing, and then returned to her room to sleep.

Not long after Xiao Youzi went in, Jiao Yuan did the same thing.

In the bedroom, Jiao Ma pressed her ear to the door to listen to the commotion in the living room.

"Have the two kids gone back to their rooms?" Jiao Ba asked softly.

"Mm. They've both gone back…… I'll go out and have a look." Saying that, Jiao Ma left the room, tiptoed over to the sofa.

This time Zheng Tan couldn't even be bothered to open his eyelids; he was just sleeping, and in half an hour three people had come.

Early the next morning, Zheng Tan was still asleep when Jiao Ma came over to take his temperature. When Zheng Tan slept he curled up into a ball, a posture not suitable for taking temperature.

Seeing Zheng Tan open his eyes, Jiao Ma set down the thermostat, patted his head, and said, "Be good, keep sleeping, let's take your temperature."

Zheng Tan: "..." Damn it, I'm not a kid!

After a few minutes, Jiao Ma looked at the number displayed on the thermometer, and her face finally broke into a smile.

"Looks like it should be fine."

Actually, whether the cold has improved or not, Zheng Tan knows clearly; after taking some medicine and sleeping, he feels much more relaxed, and his nose isn't as uncomfortable as yesterday.

He stretched, then Zheng Tan jumped off the sofa and went to the bathroom to take a morning piss.

Translation: Zheng Tan stretched, jumped off the sofa and went to the toilet to take a morning piss.

took a morning piss

Seeing Zheng Tan go into the bathroom, Jia Mom asked Jia Dad, "Why does Hei Tan's tail never stand up?"

Translation: Watching Zheng Tan's figure enter the bathroom, Jiao Ma said to Jiao Ba, "Why does Hei Tan's tail never stick up?"

Other cats raise their tails when they're in a good mood, but Zheng Tan never does.

Translation: Other cats raise their tails when they're in a good mood, but Zheng Tan never does.

Zheng Tan usually holds his tail sloping downward, and only when it's about to touch the ground does the tip curl up a bit.

Translation: Zheng Tan usually holds his tail sloping downward, and only when it's about to touch the ground does the tip curl up a bit.

Although there are many black cats in the world, the Jia family feels theirs is quite different; even together it's easy to tell apart because of the cat's distinctive little movements, which familiar people can recognize at a glance.

Translation: Although there are many black cats in the world, the Jiao family feels their black cat differs greatly from others, easy to tell apart when placed together, because their black cat has certain little habits that familiar people can recognize at a glance.

"Who cares, no rule says a cat's tail must stand up. Besides, our Hei Tan is well‑behaved… he just occasionally has a bad temper," Jia Dad said.

Translation: "Who cares, no rule says a cat's tail must stick up. Besides, our Hei Tan is well‑behaved… he just occasionally has a bad temper," Jiao Ba said.

After finishing his piss, Zheng Tan wasn't sleepy yet, so he jumped onto the living‑room windowsill and looked outside.

Translation: After finishing his urine, Zheng Tan, not feeling sleepy yet, jumped onto the living‑room windowsill and looked outside.

The sun came out; last night while watching TV, the weather forecast said it wouldn't snow for the next few days, the year is almost over, so we probably won't see such heavy snow again, and maybe there'll be no snow at all afterward.

Translation: The sun came out; last night while watching TV, the weather forecast said it wouldn't snow for the next few days, the year is almost over, so I doubt there will be such heavy snow again, and maybe there will be no snow at all afterward.

The residential compound was still a sheet of white yesterday, but today when Zheng Tan looked, he saw cleared pathways; it might not have been the security guard or the cleaners, as many residents also can't stay idle and come out to shovel snow.

Translation: The residential compound was still a sheet of white yesterday, but today when Zheng Tan looked, he saw cleared pathways; it might not have been the security guard or the cleaners, as many residents also can't stay idle and come out to shovel snow.

Over the past two days the Jia family hadn't had many visitors, so Zheng Tan stayed home just in case, not going out. Only on the third day, when guests arrived again, did he go out for a stroll.

Translation: Over the past two days the Jiao family had fewer visitors, so Zheng Tan stayed home just in case, not going out. Only on the third day, when the Jiao family had guests again, did he go out for a stroll.

After two days indoors, he indeed felt uneasy; once outside, Zheng Tan felt his whole body stretch out.

Translation: After two days indoors, he indeed felt ill at ease; once outside, Zheng Tan felt his whole body relax.

After climbing down from a tree in the woods and loosening up his body, Zheng Tan came out, didn't see Ah Huang and Jingzhang, so he headed straight for the school gate.

Translation: After climbing down from a tree in the woods and loosening up his body, Zheng Tan walked out, but didn't see A Huang or the police chief and them, so he headed straight for the school gate.

Zheng Tan still walked toward the spot where the kitten was buried; when he looked before, there were human and cat footprints there, likely belonging to that old man and that white female cat.

Translation: Zheng Tan still went toward the spot where the kitten was buried; when he looked before, there were human and cat footprints there, probably belonging to that old man and that white female cat.

That female cat is still alive, following that old man; even though his circumstances aren't as good as the family that moved away, at least someone cares for her, which is enough.

Translation: That female cat is still alive, following that old man; even if his circumstances aren't as good as the family that moved away, at least someone cares for her, and that's enough.

After the weather cleared, pedestrians and traffic on the roads increased, making things quite lively.

Translation: After the sky cleared, pedestrians and vehicles on the road increased, making things quite lively.

Zheng Tan followed a familiar route to the old building area's alley, where he happened to see the tattooed man in a thick down jacket swaying as he walked out of the alley, shouting at anyone he bumped into, regardless of whether it was his own S‑shaped gait that caused it.

Translation: Zheng Tan, following a familiar stretch, arrived at the alley of the old residential area and just saw the tattooed man in a thick down jacket swaying as he walked out of the alley, cursing at anyone he bumped into, regardless of whether it was his own S‑shaped gait that caused it.

Zheng Tan hid around the corner and watched him leave.

Translation: Zheng Tan hid around the corner and watched him leave.

The tattooed man also has a job—he helps watch venues, acts as a lackey, and has a few shift changes each week; today is his only one this week. Afterwards he'll likely just find a corner to lie down and keep sleeping; from his appearance you can tell he stayed up too late watching romantic action videos, draining his energy.

Translation: The tattooed man also has a job—helping people watch a venue, acting as a lackey, with a few shift changes each week; today is his only one this week. Afterwards he'll likely find a corner to flop down and keep sleeping; from his appearance you can tell he stayed up too late watching erotic action videos last night, draining his energy.

After the tattooed man walked away, Zheng Tan took advantage of the empty moment and climbed over the wall from the back courtyard of the old residential area to get inside.

Translation: After the tattooed man walked far away, Zheng Tan took the opportunity when no one was around and climbed over the wall from the back courtyard of the old residential area to get in.

The tattooed man lives on the first floor, which is spacious; he also used a fence to enclose a patch of ground that was originally a common area for drying bedding, and he has taken it over. Neighbors have complained, but it did no good and instead earned him threats.

Translation: The tattooed man lives on the first floor, which is spacious; he also used a fence to enclose a piece of ground that was originally a common area for drying quilts, and he seized it. Neighbors have complained about him, but to no avail—instead they were threatened.

The doors and windows of the apartment are shut tight, but the kitchen is not; there's a broken window there that looks old, yet it has never been repaired.

Translation: The front door's windows were shut tight, but the kitchen was not so; there was a broken window there that looked like it had been that way for a while, yet it had never been repaired.

Zheng Tan entered through the broken window, careful not to cut himself on the shards of glass.

Translation: Zheng Tan entered through the broken window, careful not to scrape himself on the shards of glass.

Once inside, Zheng Tan looked at the small kitchen—it was already cramped, and now it was filled with garbage, making it even narrower. There were many disposable utensils and uneaten instant‑noodle cups lying around.

Translation: After entering, Zheng Tan looked at the small kitchen, which was already cramped, and now piled with garbage everywhere, making it even narrower. There were many disposable utensils around, as well as uneaten instant‑noodle cups.

The stove was covered in a layer of grime, and the floor had a black, hardened film that wouldn't come clean without hard scrubbing.

Translation: The stove was covered in a layer of grime, and the floor had a blackened layer that had solidified; without hard scrubbing it probably couldn't be cleaned completely.

There was no gas cylinder, the iron pot was rusty, and Zheng Tan saw that the only appliance used much in the whole kitchen was the microwave.

Translation: There was no gas cylinder, the iron pot was rusty; Zheng Tan glanced around and saw that the only appliance used much in the whole kitchen was the microwave.

No wonder the kitchen window has gone unfixed for so long—the kitchen isn't used much, so repairing it doesn't matter.

Translation: No wonder the kitchen window has gone unrepaired for so long—the kitchen isn't used much, so fixing it or not doesn't matter.

The kitchen door was closed; Zheng Tan leaned against it, listened for any outside noise, confirmed again that no one was inside, then jumped up and turned the handle.

Translation: The kitchen door was closed; Zheng Tan leaned against it to listen for any outside noise, then, after confirming again that no one was inside, he jumped up and turned the door handle.

In this part of the old residential area, each unit is about sixty to seventy square meters. The living room is cluttered with miscellaneous items and also has a motorcycle. The motorcycle is probably the brightest thing in the place, showing that the owner often cleans it. Apart from that, everything else is assorted junk and garbage.

Translation: In this part of the old residential area, each unit isn't large either—about sixty to seventy square meters. The living room is cluttered with miscellaneous items and also has a motorbike. The brightest thing in the place is probably that motorbike, which you can tell the owner often polishes; aside from that, everywhere else is assorted junk and trash.

On the table lay unfinished takeout that hadn't been cleared away, and the rice grains on the floor had dried and stuck to the boards.

Translation: On the table lay unfinished takeout that hadn't been cleared away, and the rice grains on the floor had dried and stuck to the boards.

As for the bedroom, the floor was littered with magazines whose covers all featured scantily clad big‑breasted women, and the wall‑mounted calendar above the bed was of the same style.

Translation: As for the bedroom, the floor was littered with magazines whose covers all showed scantily clad big‑breasted women, and the wall‑mounted calendar above the bedhead was of the same style.

On the bedside table there were many things—ashtrays full, cigarette butts scattered on the floor. In stark contrast to this setting, the table also held a boxed tea set and a purple‑clay teapot.

Translation: On the bedside table there were many things; the ashtray was full, and the floor was littered with cigarette butts. In stark contrast to this setting, the table also held a box of tea and a Yixing clay teapot.

The deluxe gift box bore a card with a blessing, but it wasn't the tattooed man's name; it looked like it was meant for an elderly person, and why it ended up with him is unclear—probably not something respectable.

Translation: On the deluxe gift box was a card with a blessing, but it wasn't the tattooed man's name; it looked like it was meant for an elderly person, and why it was with him is unclear—probably not something respectable.

After looking around, Zheng Tan didn't touch anything, retraced his steps, closed the kitchen door, exited through the broken window, and waited for the coast to be clear before climbing over the wall to leave.

Translation: After looking around, Zheng Tan didn't touch anything here, returned the same way, shut the kitchen door, went out through the broken window, and waited until no one was about before climbing over the wall to leave.

Not far from the old residential alley there's a small restaurant. The owner apparently knows the area is slated for demolition and plans to relocate, so he's stocked less. Still, business during the holiday season is good—many people call in orders after having guests at home, or book a private room. On New Year's Eve the owner made a tidy profit.

Translation: Not far from the old residential area's lane is a small restaurant. Apparently the owner knows the area is slated for demolition and plans to relocate, so there's less stock. Still, business during this holiday period is decent; now many families, after having guests at home, call the restaurant for delivery or book a private room. On New Year's Eve the owner made a tidy sum.

The restaurant's kitchen is beside the main building, and many people work there washing and cooking vegetables.

Translation: The kitchen is beside the restaurant's main building, and many people are washing and cooking vegetables there.

A case of beer in private room sixteen!

Translation: "A case of beer for Room 16!"

All right, sending it over right away!

Translation: "Sure, sending it right over!"

A server in the restaurant uniform walked into the liquor storeroom, but while moving the beer he noticed a case was short one bottle—originally twelve, now only eleven.

Translation: A waiter in the restaurant uniform walked into the alcohol storage, but while moving the beer he discovered that a case was short one bottle—originally twelve, now only eleven.

"Could someone have been drinking it? Oh well, I don't care; even if someone did, it's not my problem to get involved in."

Translation: "Could someone have been sneaking drinks? Never mind; even if someone was sneaking drinks, it's none of his business."

So the server picked another full case of twelve bottles and carried it out.

Translation: So the waiter picked another full case of twelve bottles and carried it out.

After learning they would move the premises, management here isn't as strict as before; plus, the year isn't over yet and business is still decent, so when things get chaotic, some people skim a little extra and everyone pretends not to notice.

Translation: After learning the shop would relocate, management here wasn't as strict as before; plus the year isn't over yet, business is still good, and when things get chaotic, some people skim a little profit, and everyone pretends not to notice.

So, later anyone who entered the storeroom and saw the case missing a bottle thought the same as before—no one wanted to speak up about it.

Translation: So, those who later entered the warehouse and saw the case missing a bottle thought the same as before, and no one spoke up about it openly.

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Thanks to Lezixiao, Sha Ke·Zhan, Oufimosi, Jingzhuang Duo Meizi, Yanshan Bai Shui, Chan Mo van, Gu She Wu Ren, Qin Shi, OUJIQ, Yun Bo, a nickname changer, Ka Ka Luo Bo, sj56454564, Piaomiao's melancholy, star_wind, lazyorange, Liu Yan, Gai Yi Mao, Ran Ling's tip! Thanks Zurück (5), Piaomiao's melancholy, Naihe Bridge, Bing Hua Han Xue, Super Za Ma Li, Dao Wen Xin, Gai Yi Mao and the book friends who couldn't see the records for their rating votes! Thanks to the friends recommended for the new week's top!

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