Chapter 52: The Fox

“Foxes like to wreck houses?”

Qiu Lingling, slightly curious, glanced at the little fox now lying on the ground, full and content, then turned to Yu Xueqing to ask about her experience raising a fox.

Most households, when keeping pets, typically choose only from cats, dogs, fish, birds, or insects.

More exotic options are limited to reptiles; for residents of Jiule City, foxes are among the special creatures meant only to be admired from afar, never touched.

This was Qiu Lingling’s first time encountering a live fox capable of casting charm.

As for the fox’s charm, you could see it plainly in its round, plump belly.

The older sister who raised the sheepdog had already spent over a hundred yuan on snacks for the fox, not to mention the treats given by the owners of the two Golden Retrievers and Labrador.

In just fifteen minutes, the little fox had earned back the cost of its pet park admission ticket through sheer talent.

“Foxes don’t wreck houses.”

Hearing Qiu Lingling’s curious question, Yu Xueqing sighed with deep emotion: “When I first got Xiao’an, I scoured the internet. Netizens on Bilibili all said pet foxes have dog hardware and cat software.”

“They combine the destructive power and endurance of dogs with the nosiness and curiosity of cats.”

“I’d already prepared myself mentally, expecting to replace all my underwear, socks, and shoes.”

“But Xiao’an never wrecked anything—even after raising him, our house lost all its dog holes, and even previously faulty door locks returned to normal.”

Yu Xueqing spoke slowly, sharing her joyful experience raising a fox with other pet owners.

Since Xiao’an came home, Yu Xueqing only had to handle three meals a day, plus baths and massages—she never worried about anything else.

Occasionally, her little scarf-like fox would bring back things from outside.

Food, drinks, jewelry, accessories—even yesterday, it brought home two hundred yuan and a bottle of liquor.

Yu Xueqing scanned the QR code on the newly sealed bottle of baijiu; the retail price was nearly four hundred yuan.

If you did the math properly, excluding snacks and extra meals, Yu Xueqing had actually earned four million yuan in accessories and two hundred yuan in cash from the fox.

Of course, she dared not speak publicly about the watch.

“.”

After hearing Yu Xueqing’s story, both Qiu Lingling and the others at the camp wore expressions of disbelief.

They spent money recklessly on their pets.

Yu Xueqing’s pet made money for her.

She picked it up a month ago; now, a month later, she could stand right outside the tea house luring customers, bringing in thousands of yuan in morning earnings—and sometimes even bringing back cash from outside as pocket money.

Qiu Lingling stared, mouth agape, her forehead clearly inscribed with: “I don’t understand, but I’m profoundly shaken.”

Qiu Lingling looked at the white fox, then at her own cream-colored Tushong, Abai.

“Abai!”

“Aowu?”

Hearing her owner’s slightly angry call, Abai tucked his tail, slunk to the corner, and offered a sly, Samoyed-like grin.

Tushong, really, isn’t all bad.

It’s just that its guarding skills are exceptional, and it loves smashing rare, absurdly expensive exotic pets.

Last time, it smashed a blue-tongued skink.

Luckily, the pet hospital intervened in time; otherwise, that three-ten-thousand-yuan blue-tongued skink would’ve been lying in Qiu Lingling’s arms with its coffin lid on.

As for other Tushong guarding skills, Qiu Lingling didn’t know much.

But her Tushong Abai? When the soy sauce bottle runs out and you toss it in the trash, Abai will later retrieve it.

Then carefully carry it back to its original spot.

If any object stays in the house for more than three days, Abai treats it as a family member and guards it.

If not for Qiu Lingling’s fondness for Abai’s timid, sneaky expression,

she’d have thrown this messy creature out long ago!

“Uhh?”

Abai grinned toothlessly, tiptoeing closer to his little mistress and rubbing against her thigh.

Qiu Lingling swatted his head, unimpressed.

Abai didn’t care at all—he kept rubbing against her thigh.

“Whew, I’m exhausted!”

While everyone at the camp was admiring Yu Xueqing’s little fox,

Song Lang panted heavily, drenched in sweat, carrying his sheep back to camp on his shoulders.

The sheep, weighing over 130 jin, had its four hooves tied together with rope, and Song Lang carried it straight back.

The sheep’s already vacant face now wore a vacant, dumb expression as it bleated.

Song Lang tossed the fat sheep onto the grass and collapsed onto his camping chair, grabbing a cola and gulping it down in big swallows.

The sheep’s legs were bound, so it couldn’t run—but it still wriggled to hide behind Yu Xueqing.

“Whoa.”

Yu Xueqing, meeting Song Lang for the first time, stared in shock as he returned with the sheep, then subtly elbowed Qiu Lingling beside her:

“That big brother… is he always this intense?”

Wrestling a sheep down on the grass, tying its legs with rope, then carrying it back to camp.

Yu Xueqing had never in her life met anyone so fierce.

“You mean Brother Song? That’s normal,” Qiu Lingling said, as if it were routine:

“Brother Song is a martial arts instructor at the gym, and he teaches the Advanced Green Fitness class. His physical strength isn’t surprising at all—though his hobby is a bit odd.”

“He has a huge crush on fluffy sheep—he dreams of riding one like a sheep knight.”

“The instructor of the Advanced Green Fitness class!” Yu Xueqing’s eyes widened, and she sucked in a sharp breath:

“I never thought a wealthy man would be right beside me!”

Green Fitness scores are tied to the college entrance exam; even though universities don’t force students to train at youth centers, Green Fitness remains an exam subject.

Unless you’re a genius, you can’t graduate smoothly without passing Green Fitness—it’s an unavoidable core subject.

Green Fitness education was launched five years ago.

At the time, Qing was in her second year of high school, at one of the most critical junctures of her life.

Yu Zhenghong and Chen Peipei enrolled Yu Xueqing in an off-campus Green Fitness enhancement class to boost her score.

Each student in the Green Fitness enhancement class paid 3,800 yuan per month, not including meals and accommodation.

One student: 3,800 yuan. Ten students: 38,000 yuan. One hundred students: 380,000 yuan.

Yu Xueqing looked at Song Lang with envy. Running tutoring and enhancement classes—wasn’t that just another kind of modern landlord?

Collecting tuition every month, he easily earned millions a year.

“. If money were that easy to make, it’d be great.”

Hearing Yu Xueqing and Qiu Lingling talk about him, Song Lang, having caught his breath, waved his hand:

“The boss makes the money—what’s that got to do with me?”

“I’m just a poor worker.”

Oh no, I forgot we were going out to eat today for the Winter Solstice.

I was out all afternoon and only got back around nine to update.

Although the update is late,

I still boldly beg for monthly votes.

Hmm.

Also, dear readers, have a happy Winter Solstice.

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(Chapter ends)