Chapter 603: The Cubs

The reason Territory Seven had Huo Zhun come over today to lead her in—was it because Sister Yan was afraid of the smell?

Under the unintentional interference of these two stinky little rascals, Xia Qing felt the distance between herself and the goddess Yan Long growing farther and farther, and the distance from the cute little kitty growing farther and farther too…

Huo Zhun was a thick-skinned fellow; even without hearing Xia Qing's reply he was still all smiles. "I'll go fetch you a basin of warm water so we can wash this little fellow, alright?"

"Sorry to trouble you, Brother Huo." Being able to wash it was of course better. Little Bai Mao was inside undergoing a caesarean section, and when it came out it would definitely need the careful tending of the plucked weasel. By then the plucked weasel would still be covered in mud, and could very well infect Little Bai Mao with germs.

"No trouble at all." Huo Zhun went out cheerfully, and in a moment came back carrying a large laundry basin more than half full of warm water. With that much water, it would be enough to wash not just a weasel but a half-grown wild boar.

Before Xia Qing could speak, Huo Zhun had trotted out again and brought back a small washbasin, saying with great thoughtfulness, "Use this basin to wash your hands first, then use the big basin to wash the weasel."

Huo Zhun didn't dare underestimate this anesthetized little weasel at all, because this little fellow was very likely to be an important partner for him after leaving the army!

"Thanks, Brother Huo." Xia Qing first set the towel-wrapped weasel on the ground before starting to wash her hands. The corridors of Territory Seven were spotlessly white and clean—far cleaner than Xia Qing and the weasel.

While Xia Qing washed the mud off her protective gloves and arms, Huo Zhun squatted beside her, staring at the plucked weasel.

When Xia Qing took off her protective gloves and put on thin antibacterial ones, and placed the little weasel into the big basin to wash it, Huo Zhun saw the anesthetized little fellow's body stretch out, and couldn't help clicking his tongue in wonder. "Such a tiny weasel—not even as big as a cat—how did it evolve such a powerful toxic gas?"

This question, Xia Qing had actually considered before. "Releasing toxic gas is originally the weasel's main defensive method. It's perfectly normal for Blue Star's biological evolution to strengthen this ability of theirs."

Huo Zhun strongly agreed with Xia Qing's reasoning. "That's true. My dad used to be a blacksmith, so he was stronger than most people. During the Great Biological Evolution his strength surged and he became a Strength Evolver. I inherited it from him and became a Strength Evolver too."

Xia Qing nodded. "My dad was also a Strength Evolver."

Mentioning her parents after avenging them, Xia Qing's mindset was very calm.

Huo Zhun knew Xia Qing had no family left, and being clumsy with words he didn't know what to say for the moment, so he just squatted beside her silently watching her wash the weasel.

After quickly washing the mud off the plucked weasel, Xia Qing lifted it up and stroked it from head to tail several times. After squeezing out the water, she took an absorbent towel from her backpack, wrapped the little fellow in it, and quickly rubbed to let the towel soak up the remaining moisture from the fur. Then she switched to a clean towel, wrapped the little fellow up again, and held it in her palms.

To be honest, stroking this little fellow actually felt pretty nice…

In less than an hour, the operating room door opened, and Zhang He walked out from inside, followed by a surgical assistant carrying a case.

Xia Qing recognized this assistant as the one who had come to Territory Three last year to collect the water rats. His name was Zhang Song, and he specialized in animal research.

Before the "family member" Xia Qing could even ask, Zhang He briefed her on the situation. "This albino weasel was pregnant for the first time. Because of the difficult birth, three of the eight cubs were already dead. The five that are alive are fairly healthy. See for yourself."

"Thank you for your hard work, Sister He. If it weren't for you and Brother Song, these five cubs wouldn't have survived either." After thanking her, Xia Qing took the cardboard box Zhang Song was carrying.

Opening the cardboard box, Xia Qing saw the albino weasel's long body lying on its side on a light-blue pee pad. The incision on its belly was very small and still covered with a layer of adhesive tape. Five cubs with sparse down were crowding against Little Bai Mao's belly to nurse.

Among the five little ones, three had light brownish-yellow fur, one was white, and one had a light brownish-yellow back with a white belly. Watching them nurse so earnestly, they really did all look quite healthy.

Xia Qing asked, "Sister Zhang, may I take the three dead cubs back with me?"

Zhang He certainly had no objection, and told Zhang Song to go fetch the three dead weasel cubs from the operating room.

Zhang Song handed over the three cub corpses—still with their amniotic membranes not fully cleaned off—sealed in small bags to Xia Qing, and cautioned her, "Miss Xia, don't touch the weasel or the cubs with your bare hands, or your scent will be left on the cubs. That could very well cause the mother weasel to misjudge and bite the cubs to death."

Xia Qing took the bags. "Got it. Sorry to trouble you so early, Sister He and Brother Song. Back home I still have…"

"No need. Our Lord will settle the medical fees with you." Zhang He cut Xia Qing off. "The incision on this weasel was treated with the best medicine—no stitches to remove, no dressing changes needed. As long as it doesn't get wet or infected with bacteria, it'll heal in three to five days."

After thanking her, Xia Qing opened the cardboard box again, carefully placed the plucked weasel and the three dead cubs inside as well, then took the box and took her leave.

As Huo Zhun walked her out, he asked quietly, "Are you going to raise this litter of weasels?"

Xia Qing answered very crisply, "Not raising them."

The Plunder Rain Season was almost here. She had to protect the farmland, protect the valley, prepare for spring plowing, plant rice, and train to improve her combat ability—she simply couldn't spare the time to raise a litter of weasels. Once the anesthesia wore off, these new parents could take their children wherever they wanted.

When Xia Qing returned to her territory, the sky was already growing light. The sick wolf waiting on Gao Po saw her coming back carrying a box, and immediately came over to sniff it.

Xia Qing stroked the sick wolf's mud-and-frost-dusted fur and said softly, "She's already given birth. Most of the cubs are alive, and Little Bai Mao is fine too. I'll show you when we get home."

Xia Qing carried the box to the big Chinese toon tree and asked her other companion, "Why is Wolf Lao Da out so early? The temperature has only just started to warm up—the big Chinese toon tree won't be able to sprout today."

Wolf Lao Da ignored Xia Qing, only raising its head to stare at the big Chinese toon tree.

Xia Qing rubbed its head. "Wolf Lao Da, keep watching. I'm going home to make us some food."

Wolf Lao Da shook its head, very much disapproving of Xia Qing's bad habit of idly patting its head whenever she had nothing better to do.

After going down the slope, the sick wolf indicated to Xia Qing that it would carry the box in its mouth.

"Alright, grip it here, don't drop it." Xia Qing handed the box to the sick wolf. She herself hurried to the small hut by the farmland, explained the situation to Guan Tong and Chen Zheng, then returned home to find the sick wolf had placed the box containing the litter of weasels in the sheep shed filled with dry grass and firewood.

Seeing Xia Qing back, the sick wolf that had been obediently guarding the box immediately stood up and grinned at her with its mouth open.

"Wolf Lao Er thinks it's appropriate for the weasels to stay in the sheep shed?" The sick wolf wagged its tail once, grinning very happily.