Surprised, I quickly chased after it and finally found it in the horse shed. It was curled up next to the horses, burying its head in the hay, as if not wanting to be seen.
I squatted down, parted the hay, and pulled it out.
Its originally even and dense white fur had lost several patches, with a small wound under its eye, looking pitiful and tearful.
Having lost the fight and been disfigured, Yuan Qing had probably finally lost its confidence. I seemed to see a dejected white dog with a lonely silhouette slowly disappearing in the sunset…
I applied medicine to its wound and held it in my arms, comforting it for a long time, swearing I would never abandon it. Only then did it slightly recover, extending its tongue to lick my arm.
An Jin brought Xiao Huang in and placed it in front of Yuan Qing. I had expected Yuan Qing to rise up in anger, but it didn’t even look, just nestled its head into my arms.
Xiao Huang hesitated, jumping in front of it and gently rubbing its beak on Yuan Qing’s tail.
Yuan Qing lazily opened its eyes and glanced at it.
Was this a reconciliation?
And so, after half a month of bird-flying and dog-jumping in the An residence, peace finally arrived. Later, Xiao Huang could even perch on Yuan Qing’s head to sunbathe and help scratch its itches. Yuan Qing finally adopted a whatever attitude towards this noisy bird, occasionally pretending to pounce, gently pawing it before letting go.
The neighbors now had a pair of partners in crime that together made the entire street restless.
I felt quite gratified. With these two lively creatures causing a ruckus, life felt quite flavorful. An Jin heard me say this, and though he smiled, there was a hint of bitterness in his eyes.
I knew he really wanted a child. However, since drinking the sterility wine, we had tried every method but with no effect. I had gradually given up hope and started trying to adapt to life with just the two of us, while for An Jin, accepting this reality was obviously more difficult.
My elder brother had also finally married Miao Yin, spending every day happily with his wife. Both marriages went smoothly and added much festivity.
