Chapter 9

When Zheng Tan went out and was walking down the stairs, he noticed a note posted at the corner of the stairs between the fifth and fourth floors, exactly at his eye level.

There's an empty parentheses at start? It shows "()" maybe just a stray. We'll translate ignoring empty parentheses. So: When Zheng Tan went out and down the stairs, he noticed a note stuck on the stairwell corner between the fifth and fourth floors, exactly at his eye level.

Make sure to keep meaning.

"If you're going out far, turn off unnecessary power to avoid safety hazards, close the doors and windows to keep wind from blowing dust in, remember to bring food… For detailed steps, please see the instructions on the desk."

Translation: "If you're going out far, turn off unnecessary power to avoid safety hazards, close doors and windows to keep wind-blown sand out, and remember to bring food… For detailed steps, see the instructions on the desk."

Jiao Dad's handwriting.

Translation: Jiao Ba's handwriting.

Zheng Tan tugged at his ears, helplessly turned back and, with some difficulty, opened the door using the key hanging around his neck, entered the bedroom of the Jiao couple, jumped onto the desk, where indeed lay an open notebook listing in detail the tasks to be done. Zheng Tan glanced through it, then went back and walked around the house, following the notes to turn off some power sources and close the doors and windows.

Make sure to keep all details.

After tidying everything up, Zheng Tan then carried a bag of thumb‑sized cookies out the door, swiped his access card, and came to a Chinese parasol tree beside the cement road in the eastern staff residential area, climbing up the tree. At the third forked branch there was a fist‑sized hole; Zheng Tan placed his key and access card inside, then plucked two leaves to cover it.

Translation: After tidying everything up, Zheng Tan grabbed a bag of thumb-sized cookies in his mouth, went out, swiped his access card, and came to a Chinese parasol tree beside the cement road of the East District residential compound, then climbed the tree. At the third forked branch there was a fist‑sized hole; Zheng Tan placed his key and access card inside, then plucked two leaves to cover it.

Usually, few birds linger on the trees near the road in the staff residential area, including that pesky parrot; as for other cats, they rarely climb trees here, and if they do, they climb the trees in the small grove rather than those beside the cement road. So Zheng Tan felt at ease leaving his things here, after all he couldn't possibly go out far carrying an access card marked with pet identity and his house keys—that would be too inconvenient, and besides, if he got caught doing something bad it would be even more troublesome.

Translation: Usually, few birds linger on the trees near the road of the residential compound, including that pesky parrot; as for other cats, they rarely climb trees here, and if they do, they climb the trees in the small grove rather than those beside the cement road. So Zheng Tan felt at ease leaving his things here, since he couldn't possibly go far with an access card and house key marked as a pet's ID—it would be too inconvenient, and if he got caught doing something bad, it would be even more troublesome.

After placing them there, Zheng Tan then went to the grass patch beside Dongyuan Supermarket to wait for a chance to hop aboard a vehicle.

Translation: After placing them there, Zheng Tan went to the bushes beside the Dongyuan Supermarket and waited for a chance to hop on a vehicle.

The delivery driver was helping unload the goods; after moving the last box from the small truck, the driver leaned against the vehicle door smoking, glanced sideways, and saw Zheng Tan crouched in the grass patch, with a bag of thumb‑sized cookies that kids often eat placed beside him.

Translation: The delivery driver was helping unload the goods; after moving the last box from the small truck, he leaned against the truck door smoking, glanced sideways, and saw Zheng Tan crouched in the bushes, with a bag of thumb‑sized cookies that kids often eat placed beside him.

"Yo, Hei Tan, going out to play again today?"

Translation: "Yo, Hei Tan, heading out to play again today?"

The delivery driver knows Zheng Tan; he's already familiar with this scene, except today the cat is also carrying a bag of biscuits—is he preparing to go far away?

Translation: The delivery driver knew Zheng Tan; he was already used to this sight, except today the cat was also carrying a bag of biscuits, as if preparing for a long trip?

Previously Zheng Tan had also hitched rides on these two delivery trucks twice to go out for a stroll; at that time the driver had some complaints, but after Jiao Dad gave him two packs of cigarettes and a bottle of liquor, the small‑truck driver would break into a chrysanthemum‑like smile whenever he saw Zheng Tan, because giving him a ride meant he would likely receive gifts later—those cigarettes and liquor were good stuff, selling for over a hundred each at the supermarket in Central Department Store.

Translation: Zheng Tan had hitched rides on these two delivery trucks twice before; at that time the drivers had complained a bit, but after Jiao Ba gave them two packs of cigarettes and a bottle of liquor, the small‑truck drivers would break into a chrysanthemum‑shaped smile whenever they saw Zheng Tan, because giving him a ride meant they would receive gifts later—those cigarettes and liquor were top‑grade goods that would sell for over a hundred each at the supermarket in Central Department Store.

Zheng Tan stretched, picked up a thumb‑sized cookie in his mouth, jumped onto the rear cargo area of the small truck, and waited for the driver to finish settling the bill with the supermarket boss and leave.

Translation: Zheng Tan stretched, grabbed a thumb‑sized cookie in his mouth, leapt onto the rear cargo area of the small truck, and waited for the driver to finish settling the bill with the supermarket boss and leave.

Today the truck's cargo area held nothing else; it had been emptied completely clean.

Translation: Today the truck's cargo hold was empty, unloaded cleanly.

"Hei Tan, the goods have all been delivered today—I'm not going to Central Department Store; I'll head straight home, not via the East Campus Gate but through the rear of the North Second Gate."

Translation: "Hei Tan, the goods have all been delivered; I'm not going to Central Department Store today—I'll head straight home, not via the East Campus Gate but through the rear of the North Second Gate."

The previous two times Zheng Tan went wandering around the vicinity of Central Department Store, which is two stops from the East Campus Gate of the staff residential area—about a twenty‑minute walk—but from there you can actually see the tall buildings of Chu Hua University clearly. The university is large; getting from one end to the other takes several stops.

Translation: The previous two times Zheng Tan went wandering around the Central Department Store area; from the residential compound's East Campus Gate it was two stops away, about a twenty‑minute walk, but from there one could clearly see the tall buildings of Chu Hua Da Xue. The university is large—getting from one end to the other takes several stops.

The truck driver's earlier remark was just casual; he didn't really expect a cat to understand his words—he could only let this black cat hitch a ride, and he didn't care where the cat went.

Translation: The driver's earlier remark was just casual; he didn't expect a cat to understand his words, all he could do was let this black cat ride along, and he didn't care where the cat went.

By about six o'clock, everything at Dongyuan Supermarket had been tallied and the accounts settled. The truck driver greeted Zheng Tan, then drove the small truck toward the North Second Gate.

By about six o'clock, everything at the Dongyuan Supermarket had been tallied and the accounts settled. The truck driver called out to Zheng Tan, then drove the small truck toward the North Second Gate.

The sunset had turned orange‑red, ready to dip below the horizon; at the North Campus cafeteria entrance, students streamed in and out, having just finished the last class not long ago, chatting and laughing about the day's events.

The sunset had turned orange‑red, ready to dip below the horizon; at the North Campus cafeteria entrance, students streamed in and out, having just finished the last class, chatting and laughing about the day's events.

The small truck passed by the North Campus cafeteria; Zheng Tan, crouched in its shadow, watched them, recalling his former self, and suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia. Before inexplicably ending up here, he too had been a third‑year university student.

The small truck passed by the North Campus cafeteria; Zheng Tan, crouched in its shadow, watched them, recalling his former self, and suddenly felt a pang of nostalgia. Before inexplicably ending up here, he too had been a third‑year university student.

As the small truck drove past the junction near the North Campus cafeteria, Zheng Tan saw a young man in a white work uniform riding a rickety 28‑style bicycle that rattled everywhere except the bell, heading toward the cafeteria. If you ignored the inscription "Chu Hua University North Campus Cafeteria" printed on the left chest of his work uniform, one might think he had just come from some laboratory.

All around were the country's future elites, yet this young man riding the 28‑bike in cafeteria uniform showed little envy or inferiority; a breeze made his workwear look like a high‑end coat, he hummed a song, faced the glowing red sunset, and still smiled brightly.

All around were the country's future elites, yet this young man riding the 28‑bike in cafeteria uniform showed little envy or inferiority; a breeze made his workwear look like a high‑end coat, he hummed a song, faced the glowing red sunset, and still smiled brightly.

Leaving the north gate of Chu Hua University, one does not get close to Central Department Store; one can only see its lights far away—those are familiar sights to Zheng Tan. The neon lights around Central Department Store have all switched on, the huge screen flickers, revealing the prosperity of the metropolis.

Translation: "Leaving Chu Hua Da Xue's North Gate, he didn't get near the Central Department Store; he could only see its lights far away—familiar sights to Zheng Tan. The neon signs around the store were already lit, the huge screen flickered, revealing the prosperity of the metropolis."

Zheng Tan watched the scenery outside recede, like an out‑of‑place observer; although he saw much, his mind held no thoughts, remaining in a dazed state.

Translation: "Watching the world recede outside the vehicle, Zheng Tan felt like an out‑of‑place observer—he saw plenty, yet his mind was blank, lingering in a dazed state."

The small truck went from the city center to the Third Ring Road, then to the suburbs; night grew darker and the wind colder.

Translation: "The small truck went from the city center to the Third Ring Road, then to the suburbs; night grew darker, the wind colder."

The sudden halt of the small truck made the dazed Zheng Tan bump his head against the cargo‑panel with a "thud".

The sudden halt of the small truck made the dazed Zheng Tan bump his head against the cargo‑panel with a 'thud'.

Zheng Tan lifted his furry paw and scratched at the fur on his head.

Translation: "Zheng Tan lifted his furry paw and scratched at the fur on his head."

Listening to the conversation outside, Zheng Tan knew the truck driver had already reached home. He got up, shook off the dust on his body, grabbed the bag of thumb‑sized cookies in his mouth, jumped out of the cargo area, looked around, and decided to first find a place to sleep, waiting until daytime to go out for a stroll; although he is now a cat, he still prefers to wander about in daylight.

Translation: "Listening to the outside conversation, Zheng Tan realized the truck driver had arrived home. He got up, shook off the dust, grabbed the bag of thumb‑sized cookies in his mouth, leapt out of the cargo area, looked around, and decided to find a place to sleep for now, planning to go out again in the daytime; although he was now a cat, he still preferred strolling in daylight."

While Zheng Tan was looking for a place to spend the night, a phone rang in a dormitory room of a certain graduate‑student residence building at Chu Hua University.

Translation: "While Zheng Tan was looking for a place to spend the night, a phone rang in a dormitory of a certain graduate‑student housing building at Chu Hua Da Xue."

The person nearest the phone picked it up respectfully, said a couple of things, then said, "Sorry to bother you, please wait a moment—he should have finished his shower, I'll go get him," placed the phone on the desk, and went to the bunk diagonally opposite.

Translation: "The person nearest the phone picked it up respectfully, said a couple of things, then said, 'Sorry to keep you waiting; he should have finished his shower, I'll go get him,' set the phone on the desk, and went to the diagonally opposite bunk."

The person on the bunk was sleeping soundly, grinding his teeth while smiling; the other three roommates, aside from their initial fright, have now become numb.

Translation: "The person on the bunk was sleeping soundly, grinding his teeth while smiling; the other three roommates, aside from their initial fright, had now become numb."

The person who had just answered the phone nudged the one sleeping and grinding his teeth on the bunk, whispering, "Yi Xin, it's your boss calling! I told you you were just washing up in the toilet—don't go off‑topic later."

Translation: "The one who had just answered the phone nudged the teeth‑grinding sleeper and whispered, 'Yi Xin, it's your boss calling! I told you you were washing up in the toilet earlier—don't change the subject later.'"

Upon hearing the three words "your boss," the half‑asleep person instantly snapped awake, scrambled out of bed, ran to the toilet to clear his throat; someone who had just been woken from sleep speaks with a hoarse voice, and Yi Xin didn't want his advisor to know he was wasting the golden nighttime memory period by sleeping—wouldn't that ruin his image in the boss's eyes?

"Professor Jiao, sorry I was just in the shower—what do you need?" Yi Xin answered the phone, feeling he had covered himself well.

Translation: "'Professor Jiao, sorry I was just in the shower—what do you need?' Yi Xin answered the phone, feeling he'd covered himself well."

His gaming roommates, in order to cooperate, not only refrained from touching the keyboard but also pretended to discuss nearby why eating meat must be paired with garlic to be nutritious—an academic question.

Translation: "His gaming roommates, to go along with him, didn't even hit the keyboards, and pretended to discuss the academic question of why meat must be paired with garlic to be nutritious."

On the other end of the line, Jiao Dad paused briefly and said, "Sorry to disturb your sleep."

Translation: "On the other end of the line, Jiao Ba paused, then said, 'Sorry to disturb your sleep.'"

Yi Xin: "…" Damn, what kind of ears does Boss Jiao have! The resolution is damn high!

Yi Xin: "…" Damn, what kind of ears does Boss Jiao have! The resolution is damn high!

Fortunately for Yi Xin, Associate Professor Jiao didn't dwell on the topic, but instead asked, "Do you have time now?"

Translation: "However, Yi Xin was relieved that Associate Professor Jiao didn't dwell on the topic, but instead asked, 'Do you have time now?'"

"Yes!" Yi Xin promptly replied, even if he didn't have time he would make some.

Translation: "'Yes!' Yi Xin replied eagerly, even if he didn't, he'd make time."

Twenty minutes later, Yi Xin held the key he had found in Associate Professor Jiao's office drawer, standing in the Jiao household living room.

Translation: "Twenty minutes later, Yi Xin held the key he had found in Associate Professor Jiao's office drawer, standing in the Jiao family's living room."

Yi Xin was making his second visit to the Jiao household; the first time was when the results of the graduate‑student re‑examination for the first half of the year were announced—he was Associate Professor Jiao's first student, and given his own ability, Jiao valued him highly and had invited him to dinner at his home.

Translation: "Yi Xin was making his second visit to the Jiao household; the first time was when the results of this year's first‑half graduate‑student re‑examination were announced—he was Associate Professor Jiao's first student, and given his own ability, the professor valued him highly and had invited him to dinner at the Jiao home."

Yi Xin had never seen Zheng Tan; when Zheng Tan went to the Life Sciences Building, only the Jiao family knew about it, so Yi Xin was unaware that his advisor's family kept a somewhat unusual cat.

Translation: "Yi Xin had never seen Zheng Tan; when Zheng Tan went to the Life Science Building, only the Jiao family knew about it, so Yi Xin was unaware that his advisor's family kept a somewhat peculiar cat."

After searching around and seeing no sign of the cat, Yi Xin went to the bedroom and called Associate Professor Jiao back using the phone there.

Translation: "After searching around and seeing no sign of the cat, Yi Xin went to the bedroom and called Associate Professor Jiao back using the phone there."

"Professor Jiao, I didn't see the cat—has your cat run away from home?" After saying that, Yi Xin wished he could slap himself. "You damn mouth!"

Translation: "'Professor Jiao, I didn't see the cat—has your cat run away from home?' Yi Xin said, then immediately wanted to slap himself. 'You big‑mouthed!'"

"Did you unplug the air conditioner?" asked Jiao Dad on the other end of the line.

Translation: "'Did you unplug the air conditioner?' Jiao Ba asked on the other end."

"Unplugged! I also turned off the kitchen socket switch!" Yi Xin hurriedly replied, describing the situation in the house.

Translation: "'Unplugged! I also turned off the kitchen socket switch!' Yi Xin hurriedly replied, describing the situation in the house."

"Professor Jiao, should I go buy a pack of cat food and leave it here?" Yi Xin asked.

Translation: "'Professor Jiao, should I go buy a bag of cat food and leave it here?' Yi Xin asked."

"No need; as long as there are snacks on the sofa and the fridge is still full, that's fine."

Translation: "'No need; as long as there are snacks on the sofa and the fridge is still full, that's fine.'"

Yi Xin: "…" Is there really such a way to raise a cat?

Translation: "Yi Xin: '…' Who keeps a cat like that?"

"Just come by each day to check in and let me know using my home phone. As for your work summary, you don't need to report it this week."

Translation: "'Just come by each day to check in and call me from my home phone. As for your work summary, you don't need to report it this week.'"

Upon hearing that he didn't need to report experimental progress, Yi Xin breathed a sigh of relief; his experiments over the past two days haven't gone smoothly, and there's nothing to report.

Translation: "Hearing that he didn't need to report experimental progress, Yi Xin breathed a sigh of relief; his experiments had been sluggish the past two days, with nothing to report."

"All right, rest assured—I'll come by at this time every day to check."

Translation: "'All right, rest assured—I'll come by at this time every day to check.'"

On the train, after finishing his instructions, Jiao Dad put his phone back in his pocket and gazed out at the night beyond the window.

Translation: "On the train, after finishing his instructions, Jiao Ba slipped his phone back into his pocket and gazed at the night outside the window."

That little bastard has indeed run out again!

That little bastard has indeed run out again!

————————————————————————————

This is a separator line; we need to output it as is? The instruction: translate lines. This line is just a series of dashes; translation would be same line of dashes. We'll output the same line.

Thanks to Wan Shou Wu Jiang Gong De Wu Liang, Wu Bian Mu, lazyorange, WhisperwindW for the rewards! Thanks to light blue leaf for the upvote!

Thanks to Wan Shou Wu Jiang Gong De Wu Liang, Wu Bian Mu, lazyorange, WhisperwindW for the rewards! Thanks to light blue leaf for the upvote!

But we also have "Wan Shou Wu Jiang Gong De Wu Liang" which seems like a phrase, maybe a username? Could be a name? It's likely a username too. The instruction says we should translate everything except names. If it's a username, we might keep it as is? But it's Chinese characters; we need to output English. We could transliterate to pinyin: "Wan Shou Wu Jiang Gong De Wu Liang". That seems plausible as a username. Similarly "Wu Bian Mu". We'll treat those as usernames and transliterate to pinyin. The instruction says for place-NAMES that are a bare surname/meaningless proper noun use pinyin. For usernames, not explicitly covered, but we can treat as meaningless proper noun and use pinyin. So we will transliterate those.

Thus line 55 translation: "Thanks to Wan Shou Wu Jiang Gong De Wu Liang, Wu Bian Mu, lazyorange, WhisperwindW for the rewards! Thanks to light blue leaf for the upvote!"

But we need to keep the original punctuation: "Thanks to Wan Shou Wu Jiang Gong De Wu Liang, Wu Bian Mu, lazyorange, WhisperwindW for the rewards! Thanks to light blue leaf for the upvote!" We'll keep exclamation marks.

Never expected to appear on the homepage's new‑book list; thanks to every friend who supported in their own way!

Translation: "Never expected to appear on the homepage's new book list; thanks to every friend who supported in their own way!"

;