PCJ – Chapter 178 Twenty-four Mountain Sweeping Dogs

“Jiaohua, I heard from others that your family’s wild boar meat is quite tasty. Can I come to your house for a meal?” Crazy Chen said with a smile, appearing to be a lunatic, but his eyes were sharper than ordinary people.

“No. There’ll be leftovers. If I can’t finish it, I can feed it to our dog. Why should I give it to you?” Zhang Jiaohua seemed to see something unusual in Crazy Chen, but he didn’t treat him differently; instead, he was extremely disgusted.

Crazy Chen’s expression was strange. Zhang Jiaohua’s demeanor didn’t escape his eyes either. “Why?”

“Don’t think I don’t know you’re faking this crazy act. I hate people who pretend to be mysterious.” Zhang Jiaohua didn’t hide his dislike for Crazy Chen at all.

Crazy Chen was taken aback. He didn’t expect Zhang Jiaohua to see through him. “Since you saw through it, you should also know that we are actually the same. Shouldn’t fellow disciples of Meishan Water Masters help each other? Why are you so stingy with a meal?”

“With your pathetic look, you think you’re my peer? You’re a disgrace to Meishan Water Masters. You couldn’t even keep a woman, and you still have the nerve to call yourself a Meishan Water Master! Get lost, don’t be an eyesore here.” Zhang Jiaohua showed a look of disgust.

“You little brat, you know nothing. I’m focusing on my cultivation, ignoring all worldly matters.” Crazy Chen couldn’t help but say.

“Then why are you telling me this? You just want to eat my wild boar meat, right? You have hands and feet, but instead of working for your food, you go around begging for meals. You still have the nerve to say you’re cultivating. With your attitude, you won’t achieve anything even after ten thousand years.” Zhang Jiaohua scolded.

Crazy Chen was choked by Zhang Jiaohua’s words, but he had no way to deal with Zhang Jiaohua. He said angrily, “Do you think the last wolf disaster was a result of your talisman? If I hadn’t negotiated with the wolf king, who knows how many households in Meizi’ao Village would have survived!”

Crazy Chen usually acted like a reclusive master, behaving crazily in front of others, enduring all insults without reaction. Today, however, he was provoked by Zhang Jiaohua and revealed his true self. After speaking, he regretted it, feeling his resolve waver.

“Forget it, I originally thought you had potential and wanted to give you some pointers. Since you don’t appreciate it, why should I care? Take care of yourself!” Crazy Chen resumed his usual crazy demeanor and drifted away.

Zhang Jiaohua chased to the door and heard Crazy Chen’s words again, “I’m going on a long journey. I don’t know if I can return. If the wolf king comes again, you negotiate with it.”

“Ten thousand ants marching, ten thousand mountain songs as scripture, born in the fields, grown in water, picked from the mountains, stored at home, the ancestor of songs was Meng Jiangnu, teaching the Meishan brothers, men teach women, old teach young, passed from grandson to son, singing across lakes and seas…”

Crazy Chen’s singing came from afar.

Zhang Jiaohua didn’t understand the reason for Crazy Chen’s visit, but he was worried about the wolf king’s mention. Last time, the wolf king led over a hundred grey wolves in a major attack on Meizi’ao Village. Zhang Jiaohua had no better method than using a talisman to deter the grey wolves. With his current ability, he could only deal with a few wolves’ attacks, but repelling the wolf king was impossible. Crazy Chen said the wolves retreated because he negotiated with the wolf king. How powerful must Crazy Chen be?

Zhang Jiaohua still knew nothing about Crazy Chen’s background, but it wasn’t important. What mattered was that Zhang Jiaohua knew the wolf king was a looming threat over Meizi’ao Village. If he didn’t find a solution and the wolf king returned without Crazy Chen’s help, it would be a big problem.

Zhang Jiaohua had heard in a dream from his Taoist master that Meishan Water Masters had a saying: four flower, four black, nine yellow, seven white, and twenty-four mountain dogs sweeping Meishan. Meishan’s ancestor Zhang Wulang would release twenty-four mountain dogs, causing tigers, leopards, and deer to flee in terror. Zhang Jiaohua thought if he could also get twenty-four mountain dogs, he might not have to worry about the wolf king’s attack.

But the twenty-four mountain dogs were specific: four flower dogs, four black dogs, nine yellow dogs, seven white dogs. Even gathering twenty-four ordinary dogs wasn’t easy, especially for a kid like Zhang Jiaohua. Even if he gathered twenty-four mountain dogs, training them would be a huge task. Feeding twenty-four mouths wasn’t easy, let alone training them as mountain dogs.

Thinking about it made Zhang Jiaohua’s head hurt. But he decided to try. He wasn’t afraid of difficulties. 

Returning home, Zhang Jiaohua checked his funds. Today, Luo Changjun brought a sum of money. Zhang Jiaohua opened the big red envelope Luo Changjun sent; it contained 668 yuan, a significant amount. Luo Changjun’s monthly income was only a few dozen yuan, so this was almost a year’s income. Zhang Jiaohua decided to use the 668 yuan as development funds for the twenty-four mountain dogs.

The largest place Zhang Jiaohua had been to was Gezhu Town, which didn’t have a place to buy dogs. Few people sold dogs there. Even Xintian County town didn’t have dogs for sale, let alone Zijiang City. But could pet shops in the city sell suitable mountain dog puppies?

Thinking it over, it seemed difficult. Zhang Jiaohua scratched his head, unable to think of a solution. Later, he decided to ask Luo Changjun for help. As the head of the police station, he might have a way.

Maybe because he was scared by Zhang Jiaohua last time, as soon as Zhang Jiaohua arrived at school on Monday, Gong Ziyuan called him aside.

“Zhang Jiaohua, I want to adjust the seating for the students. Which seat do you prefer? I’ll try to meet your request.” Gong Ziyuan firmly didn’t want to place Zhang Jiaohua under the podium again, as it was too risky. He could become a test subject for Zhang Jiaohua’s talismans anytime. So, he planned to move Zhang Jiaohua during this seating adjustment.

Zhang Jiaohua didn’t want to sit under the teacher’s nose either, as it was too restrictive, so he pointed to the corner by the window at the back of the classroom. “I’ll sit in my original seat.”

Gong Ziyuan expected Zhang Jiaohua to choose his original seat, so he happily agreed. “I wanted you to listen to the lectures more and improve your grades. But since you’re used to the back seat, I won’t force you. Keep up the good work.”

“Actually, I’m used to sitting under the podium.” Zhang Jiaohua said.

Gong Ziyuan was stunned, not knowing what Zhang Jiaohua meant, fearing he would change his mind. He quickly said, “Since you want to return to your original seat, it’s decided.”

Gong Ziyuan hurriedly ended the conversation, turning their agreement into a done deal.

Dumb, without exception, followed Zhang Jiaohua to the window seat. He was also very happy to return. For a student consistently at the bottom of the class, sitting under the podium was a unique misery only he knew.

“Jiaohua, the seat under the podium is really bad. Every day you get the teacher’s spit and chalk dust. I don’t understand why they want to sit there.” Dumb thought Zhang Jiaohua was unhappy about moving. In reality, Zhang Jiaohua was still thinking about where to find twenty-three more mountain dogs. Imagining leading twenty-four mountain dogs to bring back wild boars from Meishan was exciting. Although he brought back a big wild boar last time, it was due to luck, not skill.

During recess, Zhang Jiaohua heard some students talking about dogs and immediately approached them.

The surrounded boy was Chen Santou, son of the hunter Chen Fangsong from the mountain across.

“Santou, your dog had puppies. Can you give me one? I don’t care if it’s male or female.”

“Santou, can you give me one of your puppies? I’ll give you my toy gun.”

“You think you can trade a wooden gun for a hunting dog puppy? You’re dreaming.” Chen Santou said contemptuously.

“Then I’ll trade my set of *The Legend of the Condor Heroes* novels. How about it? I worked hard to get them from my uncle’s house. They’re martial arts novels.”

Chen Santou was tempted. “Your book is all torn up. I’m not very interested.”

Actually, Chen Santou was very interested, but he thought the book wasn’t worth it.

“I’ll give you ten yuan for one puppy. I’ll take as many puppies as you have.” Zhang Jiaohua squeezed into the crowd and loudly said to Chen Santou.

Ten yuan was a lot of money for a kid. Naturally, it scared away Zhang Jiaohua’s competitors.

“But my dad said our hunting dogs can’t be given away casually.” Chen Santou was in a dilemma but was also moved by Zhang Jiaohua’s offer.

“Fifteen yuan!” Zhang Jiaohua was eager. Chen Santou’s puppies were undoubtedly of good quality. Getting hunting dog puppies wasn’t easy. Chen Santou’s hunting dogs were all yellow, and by Meishan Water Masters’ standards, they had pure mountain dog bloodlines.