Chapter 9

Master Fu got drunk, and it was Fu Ming Shi who carried him down the mountain. Zhen Bao ran home, and quickly tidied up her father's bedroom, changing the sheets and quilt to clean cool mats and blankets. Just as she finished, she heard the geese honking in the yard. She went out to the balcony and saw that the big white geese had blocked the door again, not letting Fu Ming Shi in.

Zhen Bao hurried to go get him.

Fu Ming Shi followed behind her as they went inside. Seeing the aggressive big white geese eyeing him, his calves ached a bit.

As they climbed to the second floor and passed by Zhen Bao's bedroom, since the door was open, Fu Ming Shi unintentionally glanced inside. The small ten-square-meter room had light green wallpaper on the walls, the floor was rammed earth, to the north was a homemade wooden bed with bamboo mats and a pink quilt and pillowcases.

Next to the bed was a similarly homemade small bookcase, neatly lined with several rows of books. The big red covers of the Xinhua Dictionary and an English-Chinese dictionary were particularly eye-catching, like the desk essentials of a high school student.

"I just tidied up the room, it's a bit messy." Knowing they were wealthy people, looking at her own shabby room, Zhen Bao felt awkward.

"He likes living in old houses," Fu Ming Shi carefully placed the sleeping Master Fu onto the bed. In the summer heat, he only loosened the collar and sleeves of the Master's outfit, and didn't touch the light green summer quilt on the bed.

"I'll go get some water to wipe Grandpa Fu's face." Having settled him for now, Zhen Bao turned to leave. Reaching the door, she seemed to hear Fu Ming Shi following behind, and looked back in puzzlement.

Fu Ming Shi looked at her calmly, "I'll take care of the Master, you go wash up."

Zhen Bao only then remembered that she had also been crying and was sweaty from running home...

Neither wanted to face people while dirty, Zhen Bao's face flushed red, acquiescing to Fu Ming Shi's arrangement and hurried downstairs. She first put out a basin of water for Fu Ming Shi before collecting the laundry drying in the backyard and going next door to Auntie Guo's house to wash up and tidy herself before returning home.

No one was on the first floor. Zhen Bao slowly went upstairs.

Fu Ming Shi sat at the bedside watching over the old Master. Hearing movement, he turned his head to look out.

Zhen Bao felt guilty about offending him before, and avoided his gaze as she softly asked the old Master, "Do you want some water?"

Fu Ming Shi said, "No need, you tidy up and pack, we'll set off tomorrow morning."

The Master needed medical treatment, and he had business to take care of too, no more time to waste.

At the mention of going to the capital, Zhen Bao's expression darkened as she turned and went back to her own bedroom, closing the door and sitting on the bed in a daze. In all her years, the farthest she had gone was the county town over a hundred miles away. A big city like the capital she had only seen on TV.

How would she live once she got there?

She had a little over 2000 yuan in savings, the chickens could sell for 400-500 yuan, the geese...

Zhen Bao couldn't bear to sell the geese. Chickens only laid eggs while the geese could watch the house. When she went fishing, they would even help catch small fish.

And there was Hei Dan. Zhen Bao couldn't part with him either.

At dusk Auntie Guo next door invited them over for dinner. Master Fu had also woken up, washed his face, and was spirited.

"Is everything packed up at Phoenix Store?" Master Fu asked Zhen Bao after the meal.

Zhen Bao kept her head lowered.

Seeing Hei Dan circling around her, Master Fu laughed. "Couldn't bear to part with Hei Dan? Don't worry, we'll bring Hei Dan with us." City folks all liked pet dogs, like Pomeranians, Huskies, Poodles and the like. Master Fu just liked local dogs, honest and obedient, easy to feed, without so many delicate temperaments.

Zhen Bao's eyes lit up as she looked towards the goose pen, "Can the geese come too?"

Master Fu was rendered speechless for a moment. Seeing Zhen Bao's disappointed look, he quickly added, "Of course, of course! Ming Shi's villa has a swimming pool, and a lake in the backyard, perfect for them to paddle around in."

Zhen Bao looked to Fu Ming Shi for confirmation.

Fu Ming Shi couldn't imagine the swimming pool occupied by a flock of geese, but he didn't want to dampen Zhen Bao's spirits, only reminding her of one thing, "Transporting pets requires quarantine paperwork."

Master Fu immediately said, "That's easy to arrange. I'll take Hei Dan and the geese to City C tonight. You two set off tomorrow morning, the paperwork will definitely be ready by the time you get to the airport." Getting certification might take regular folks a few days, but with the Fu family's money and connections, this little matter was no worry.

"You're leaving now?" Zhen Bao asked in surprise. Fu Ming Shi also frowned at the old Master.

Master Fu put on a stern face and lied to Zhen Bao, "Grandpa has an appointment with the doctor, I must get back tonight. Feng Bao, take your time packing, no rush." After which he instructed Fu Ming Shi, "Feng Bao is going so far from home for the first time, take good care of her on the way."

When Zhen Bao wasn't looking, he secretly winked.

Fu Ming Shi immediately understood that the old Master was deliberately creating opportunities for him and Zhen Bao to spend time alone together.

Looking at Zhen Bao, still foolishly asking after the old Master's condition, Fu Ming Shi averted his gaze, not exposing the old man's intentions.