PCJ – Chapter 179 Buying Dogs

Suddenly adding five, fifteen directly confused Chen Santou.

“I, I, I need to go back and ask my father.” Chen Santou stammered.

“Twenty! Bring them tomorrow, I’ll give you twenty each, as many as you have! But they must be hound puppies!” Zhang Jiaohua directly added another five. He didn’t want any delays.

Chen Santou stood frozen on the spot, not knowing how to respond.

“See this? This ten yuan is my deposit to you. Bring your puppies, if I don’t have the money, this ten yuan is yours. If you bring the puppies tomorrow, I’ll buy them for twenty each.” Zhang Jiaohua took ten yuan from his bag and stuffed it into Chen Santou’s hand.

Although Zhang Jiaohua was just a first grader, he had an imposing presence. A large group of kids were stunned by his offer. They only dared to speak after Zhang Jiaohua left.

“Hey, hey, is that guy Zhang Jiaohua? I heard he’s amazing. He’s from Meishan Mountain.”

“He has so much money. He casually pulled out ten yuan. I don’t even have a single coin in my pocket.”

“Why is he buying dogs?”

“Isn’t it obvious? He’s from Meishan Mountain, raising dogs to catch wild animals in the mountains.”

“If raising a few hunting dogs can catch wild animals in the mountains, we could eat meat every day.”

…

Everyone chattered, and suddenly noticed Chen Santou. The ten yuan was already gone, stuffed into his pocket, which he held tightly, afraid it would fall out.

The kids were all envious of Chen Santou, who could get twenty yuan for a puppy. Usually, no one would pay even a yuan for a mongrel puppy; they were often given away for free. Only Chen Santou’s hound breed was valuable.

“Santou, are you going to sell your puppies to Jiaohua?” a kid asked.

“Do you need to ask? Twenty yuan each! Only a fool wouldn’t sell.”

Chen Santou didn’t reply; the bell rang, and he ran to the classroom, clutching his pocket.

The news that Zhang Jiaohua was buying puppies quickly spread throughout Meizi Ao Primary School. A kid willing to spend so much money on puppies was shocking.

Principal Ma Lishong felt the need to inquire.

“Jiaohua, do your parents know you’re spending so much on puppies?” Ma Lishong asked.

“My parents are working in Guangdong, they don’t know,” Zhang Jiaohua shook his head.

Ma Lishong showed a knowing expression, “You should write to them to ask for permission. If they disagree, it’ll be a problem.”

“My parents won’t disagree. By the time they reply, the puppies will be gone. I don’t want mongrels. My parents said I can spend the money I earn however I want.” Zhang Jiaohua wasn’t swayed.

Ma Lishong remembered that although Jiaohua was just a first grader, he was financially independent, earning more than him.

“Just don’t let your parents blame the school if they’re unhappy,” Ma Lishong advised.

“They won’t.” Zhang Jiaohua didn’t care.

The next morning, Chen Santou brought five puppies in a bamboo basket to school, waiting on the path Zhang Jiaohua would take.

Zhang Jiaohua spotted Chen Santou sitting on a stone by the roadside.

“Did you bring the money? Five puppies, you owe me ninety yuan!” Chen Santou extended his hand.

Zhang Jiaohua glanced at the basket, saw five yellow puppies, and without hesitation, took out a stack of money, counting out nine ten-yuan bills. He still had a stack left. Chen Santou took the money and stuffed it into his pocket.

Zhang Jiaohua gave another ten yuan to Chen Santou, “Consider the basket sold too. Keep me in mind if your dogs have more puppies.”

“Sure.” Chen Santou’s family had several hounds, three of which were female. There was a chance they could have more puppies, and he might earn more if Zhang Jiaohua wanted them.

“Still twenty each?” Chen Santou asked as he prepared to leave.

“Twenty each, not a cent less.” Zhang Jiaohua confirmed.

Zhang Jiaohua carried the basket home, skipping school, and prepared a place in the yard, building a small kennel. The five puppies, just a month old, initially cried for their mother, but Zhang Jiaohua used some tricks from Meishan Waters, quickly calming them down.

Shanbao was thrilled with the new companions, excitedly acting both as a father and a mother. Although it had grown significantly, it hadn’t fully matured. But now it took on a parental role.

“Shanbao, get some fresh meat, I need to make porridge for them.” Zhang Jiaohua pondered, having nothing suitable for the puppies to eat. The puppies quickly got accustomed to him, following him around and occasionally getting stepped on, yelping in pain. With five puppies, Zhang Jiaohua couldn’t move without stepping on one.

Shanbao, now an excellent hunter, brought back two fat wild chickens from the mountains. With five new mouths to feed, it stepped up.

Zhang Jiaohua bled the chickens, letting the puppies lick the blood. These puppies were to become mountain dogs, fiercer than hunting dogs, known to even dare to touch a tiger. A single mountain dog could hold its own against a large wolf. Their feeding was more meticulous than hunting dogs.

He chopped the chickens, cooked them with rice all afternoon, and finally mashed it into a porridge, adding a pinch of salt, filling the puppies’ bellies until they were round and they settled quietly in the kennel.

In the afternoon, news of Zhang Jiaohua spending a hundred yuan on five hunting puppies spread in Meizi Ao. Zhang Manyin hurried to Zhang Jiaohua’s house.

“Jiaohua, did you really spend a hundred yuan on five puppies?”

“Yes, twenty each, all hunting dogs.” Zhang Jiaohua nodded.

“When your parents decided to leave you the money, I was against it. Now look, you’re wasting money. Twenty yuan for a puppy, are you crazy?” Zhang Manyin was exasperated.

“They’re worth it. I plan to buy twenty more. The legendary 24 Mountain Dogs from our ancestors could sweep Meishan. With 24 of them, I won’t fear anything, not even a big wolf.” Zhang Jiaohua proudly shared his grand plan.

“Nonsense! I’m writing to your parents. This is outrageous. Raising 24 dogs, how much food do you need? What’s the use? Twenty yuan each? Buying 24 means spending four or five hundred yuan. Do your parents earn that much in a year? You’re wasting money!” Zhang Manyin was furious.

“It’s my own money, not my parents’. I raised Shanbao without needing to feed it.” Zhang Jiaohua wasn’t afraid.

Zhang Manyin wanted to beat him. He picked up a stick, but Ma Donghua arrived.

“What are you doing?” Ma Donghua stopped him.

“Don’t stop me, this kid needs a lesson.” Zhang Manyin dropped the stick reluctantly as Ma Donghua intervened.

“Jiaohua, tell grandma why you spent a hundred yuan on puppies? If you want dogs, you can get them for free. Why buy them?” Ma Donghua asked gently.

“Don’t ask him. Let me beat him first, then return the puppies to Chen Fangsong.” Zhang Manyin played the bad cop.

“These aren’t regular dogs, they’re hunting dogs. I want to raise 24 Mountain Dogs. With them, Meishan will be mine.” Zhang Jiaohua boasted.

Ma Donghua laughed, “You think raising 24 dogs will make you a king?”

“Grandma, you don’t understand. The 24 Mountain Dogs are legendary. With them, I’ll rule Meishan. No wolf will dare come near.” Zhang Jiaohua was unhappy with her disbelief.

“You see, he doesn’t listen at all. Let me teach him a lesson.” Zhang Manyin pretended to be strict, but it didn’t work on Zhang Jiaohua.

“Believe it or not, I’m raising 24 Mountain Dogs. The money is mine, not my parents’.” Zhang Jiaohua’s words had impact. Other kids relied on their parents’ money, but he earned his own. Zhang Manyin knew how much Zhang Jiaohua earned last year.

“Fine, raise them. But consult us first. If anything happens, we need to explain to your parents.” Ma Donghua advised.

Zhang Manyin, frustrated and speechless, left Zhang Jiaohua’s house. Ma Donghua gave some advice and followed. How was their grandson different from others?