Chapter 6 Circlip 99

On Saturday, the doctor came in with several nurses to check on her. He shone a flashlight into Jiang Haoxiang's throat and listened to her heart and lungs.

"You're recovering well. The fever has subsided and the inflammation is under control. You can be discharged today. Just go back and take the prescribed medicine on time, eat a light diet, and get enough rest."

Xiang Li quickly thanked him: "Thank you, doctor, for your hard work."

Jiang Haoxiang sat on the hospital bed, her eyes following the doctor's lead. When she heard she could be discharged, she swung her legs over the edge of the bed. Zheng Yi had already stuffed Jiang Haoxiang's luggage into her own bag.

"Let's go home!" Xiang Li reached out and rubbed Jiang Haoxiang's hair.

Jiang Hao wanted to put on her own shoes, but the uppers were still dirty because they were from the night she ran after the cat. She looked down and said nothing.

Xiang Li went to the nurse's station to complete the discharge procedures and settle the bill. Zheng Yi put on her bulging bag and took the bag of medicine.

The three of them walked out of the inpatient building and the sun was shining brightly outside.

Xiang Li's car was parked in the hospital parking lot, and Jiang Haoxiang and Zheng Yi sat side by side in the back seat.

Jiang Haoxiang leaned against the car window and looked outside. After not seeing him for a few days, the world was still the same.

As she looked, she realized something was wrong with the route. This wasn't the way back to her neighborhood.

She turned her head and looked at Xiang Li, who was driving in the front seat. "Auntie, where are we going? Did you drive in the wrong direction?"

Xiang Li held the steering wheel with both hands, glanced at her in the rearview mirror, smiled a little mysteriously, and did not answer.

Zheng Yi had been leaning back in his chair, but upon hearing Jiang Haoxiang's question, he perked up. He'd known the entire plan for today last night; Xiang Li had discussed it with him. But now that Jiang Haoxiang was completely in the dark, he felt uneasy and his excitement returned.

He leaned over, trying to scare Jiang Hao: "That's right. We're going to sell you off! Are you scared?"

After saying this, Zheng Yi didn't have time to appreciate Jiang Haoxiang's expression before he suddenly felt something was wrong. When he looked up, he bumped into the rearview mirror - Xiang Li was staring at him.

Zheng Yi felt a surge of anxiety, and then he realized what was happening. He was so upset that he wanted to slap himself in the face right there.

Not long after Aunt Lin Ran passed away, Jiang Haoxiang cried constantly. Jiang Cheng drove little Jiang Haoxiang back and forth between his home and her grandmother's many times, comforting the grief-stricken old woman and sorting out some of the things and matters left behind by Lin Ran, which the adults called her inheritance.

Every time Jiang Haoxiang had to leave her grandmother's house with her father, she would cry and no amount of coaxing would stop her. Children have terrifyingly sharp intuitions. Once they leave the environment where their mother grew up, their mother will be completely gone, never to be found again.

Jiang Cheng was probably upset by her crying, and coupled with the fatigue from running around for days, when Jiang Hao wanted to cry so hard that she was out of breath, he blurted out to his daughter in the safety seat in the back seat: "Stop crying! Are you annoying me? If you cry again, I don't want you anymore! I'll sell you!"

Jiang Haoxiang, who was only three years old at the time, looked at her father's face, which had become unfamiliar, and she really didn't dare to cry anymore. Her body was shaking violently from trying so hard to hold back her tears.

She was terrified. Her mother was gone, and now her father said he didn't want her anymore and was going to sell her off. She stifled her tears, and with them, her breath. Her face turned purple, and she began to cough violently, looking as if she was about to suffocate.

Jiang Cheng broke out in a cold sweat and rushed to the hospital. After a series of examinations and treatment, the doctor said that Jiang Hao seemed to have respiratory alkali poisoning caused by excessive excitement. It was not serious, but he needed comfort.

He was fine, but for several days afterward, Jiang Hao seemed numb, not talking or laughing much, like an idiot. There was fear in his eyes when he looked at his father.

The next day, Xiang Li took Zheng Yi to visit Jiang Haoxiang at her home. Zheng Yi felt that something was wrong with Jiang Haoxiang. She was completely different from the annoying person who followed him around chattering. He circled around the dazed Jiang Haoxiang for a long time, asking her all sorts of questions. Jiang Haoxiang finally whispered, "My father doesn't want me anymore. He said he wants to sell me off."

When Zheng Yi heard this, her first reaction was that this must be a joke played by an adult to scare a child! Just as she was about to laugh at her, asking if she was stupid enough to believe such a thing, Xiang Li tugged her arm hard.

He turned his head and saw Xiang Li shaking his head at him with a serious look in his eyes.

He walked towards Li and hugged Jiang Haoxiang in his arms.

After a long while, Xiang Li finally loosened his grip a little, holding Jiang Haoxiang's face and looking into her eyes. "Haoxiang, your father was just trying to scare you. He was wrong. He was talking nonsense. He's your father, how could he not want you? Auntie promises you that even if you were really sold, Auntie and Brother Zheng Yi would definitely buy you back, no matter how much it costs. We will buy you even if we have to spend all our money. Okay? Do you believe Auntie? Do you believe Zheng Yi?"

Jiang Hao wanted to look at Xiang Li, then turned his head to look at Zheng Yi who was a little confused.

Zheng Yi was stared at by two people at the same time. Although he didn't understand what was going on, he suddenly felt a sense of responsibility. He suddenly felt that he had grown up a lot and had to take on responsibilities.

He straightened his back and nodded his head like a chick pecking at rice: "Of course, I must buy it, no matter how much it costs! I will definitely work hard to make a lot of money in the future, and give it all to you and my mother!"

After Zheng Yi finished his thoughtless joke, he regretted it so much that he wished he had a mouth. He was about to raise his hand to smack himself on the mouth, then quickly say that he was just talking nonsense and teasing him.

But Jiang Haoxiang laughed and waved his hand: "How is that possible! Stop lying, I don't believe it!"

Without being sad about the sad things that happened, like Zheng Yi in the past, he really just treated this joke as a joke.

Zheng Yi's heart, which had been in his throat, fell back into his stomach. He breathed a sigh of relief and hurried down the stairs. "Of course I was lying! I was just trying to scare you! How could I possibly sell you out? I'd sell myself out!"

Jiang Haoxiang shook his head and said, "I can't sell you either. Even if I sell you, I will make money to buy you back. Don't worry, Brother Zheng Yi."

Xiang Li, who was driving in the front seat, laughed out loud at her seriousness. She looked at Jiang Haoxiang in the rearview mirror and followed up on her question, "So what big business do we Haoxiang plan to pursue in the future? How do you plan to make a lot of money to buy back our brother Zheng Yi?"

Jiang Hao seemed to be stumped by the question. He thought for a long time, thinking about all the professions he knew. In the end, he said a little embarrassedly: "I don't know. I haven't thought about it yet."

Xiang Li's eyes softened. "It's okay. Don't worry. We can think about it slowly. No matter what you want to do in the future, Auntie believes that you will be able to do it well and make a lot of money."

At this time, the car slowed down, turned on the turn signal, and turned into an unfamiliar community.

Xiang Li stopped the car.

"We're here, get out." She unbuckled her seat belt.

Zheng Yi jumped out of the car first, and Jiang Haoxiang followed suit.

Xiang Li led the two children into one of the apartment buildings. On the ninth floor, a woman who looked about Xiang Li's age opened the door. "Are you here? You're here earlier than expected. Come on in."

"Chen Yu, I'm sorry to bother you even though I know you're busy this week." Xiang Li greeted him with a smile, while letting the two children in.

"What's the big deal? You're still being polite to me." The aunt named Chen Yu went to the kitchen, got out a few cans of drinks, and asked them what they wanted to drink.

Jiang Hao wanted to follow Xiang Li into the living room and saw the cat on the sofa at a glance.

"Wow! Cat! What a fat cat!" Jiang Haoxiang was completely attracted by the blue cat. He didn't care about the unfamiliar environment and the restraint of the first meeting. He knelt on the ground and lay on the sofa, facing the cat face to face.

Xiang Li quickly picked her up and said to Chen Yu with a smile, "Look, this is the child I was talking about yesterday."

Aunt Chen Yu didn't mind at all. She stroked Jiang Haoxiang's hair and said, "You like cats? That's okay. They have good tempers and won't scratch you. But I'll show you something more interesting."

As she spoke, she led the three of them towards a closed room. When they opened the door, they heard the soft, gentle sounds of a kitten.

Jiang Hao's heart almost jumped out of excitement. The blue cat also slipped in and quickly lay down on the mat. Five furry kittens of different colors were squeezed around its belly.

Jiang Haoxiang's mouth dropped open, stunned. Zheng Yi squatted beside Jiang Haoxiang. He looked at the kittens and pointed at a calico cat. "See? This one. It's all fancy, just like you."

His original intention was to tease her, waiting for her to retort, "You are the one who is flashy! Your whole family is flashy!" or to pounce on him and hit him.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Haoxiang was filled with surprise: "Really? Brother Zheng Yi, does it really look like me? Really?"

Zheng Yi's plan failed, but he suddenly felt a little embarrassed. He looked away and uttered a few words, "hmm" and "ah".

Chen Yu, watching from the sidelines, explained that the blue cat was a stray she had found downstairs on her way home from work a few months ago. She felt so sorry for it that she took it home. She was tired the day she brought it home and didn't realize it was pregnant. The next day, Chen Yu had to go back to work at the botanical garden. The next day, and then the day after, she discovered it had given birth to a litter of five kittens in the living room.

Cats are prone to multiple pregnancies, often with different fathers. This litter likely has more than one father. None of the five kittens have the same coloring; it's truly a surprise.

Chen Yu couldn't afford to care for so many cats. She was too busy with work. She already had one cat at home, which her son had taken care of. She simply didn't have the energy to raise this litter. Once the kittens had learned to eat cat food, she posted an adoption notice on her WeChat Moments, hoping to find them reliable owners. Xiang Li happened to see this message yesterday morning.

Xiang Li pulled Zheng Yi aside to discuss this matter last night.

She handed her phone to her son, showed him a photo of the litter of kittens, and asked him, "Zheng Yi, Mom wants to adopt a kitten, just for good. She can come to our house whenever she wants to see a cat. You know, given her family's current situation, they definitely can't keep a cat anymore." Xiang Li said this and told Zheng Yi some sad news, "The missing kitten from the Jiang family was found in the innermost corner of the bicycle shed by a patrolling security guard on the third day after it disappeared. I don't know if it was frightened or stressed, or if it accidentally ate something, but it was already dead when it was found, its body stiff."

Xiang Li said in a serious tone, "You must not tell Hao Xiang about this. Don't even mention a single word. Just let her think that Mimi just ran away and might come back someday. Do you understand?"

Zheng Yi looked at Xiang Li's expression, understood the seriousness of the matter, and nodded.

As for having another cat at home, Zheng Yi himself has a nonchalant attitude.

His house is quite big, so it’s no big deal to have a few small animals.

His only request was: "You can keep it, but you can't let it into my room."

"Hao Xiang," Xiang Li squatted down, put his arm around Jiang Hao Xiang's shoulders, and pointed at the kittens. "Look how cute they are. Pick the one you like best, and we'll take it home. It'll be our cat from now on. You can come to our house anytime to see it, play with it, and feed it, okay?"

Jiang Haoxiang couldn't believe his ears!

She actually didn't like fireworks at all; every year she just thought they were choking and noisy! But now, she felt like a giant firework was exploding in her heart! She was so happy that she almost lost herself in joy.

She looked at this one, then that one, each one was furry, sniffing her fingers with its wet nose and making noises, and she couldn't let go! It was hard to decide!

These kittens are already two months old. They can eat softened cat food by themselves and use the litter box. They are at their most lively and active age.

Jiang Haoxiang hesitated for a long time, but finally decided on the calico cat that looked like her. It was well-behaved and a little bit arrogant.

She pointed at the calico cat and looked at Chen Yu: "Auntie, can I have it? I like it."

"Of course! You have a good eye." Xiang Li and Chen Yu smiled at each other and breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that this trip was not in vain.

Chen Yu was already prepared and brought out a new cat bag. Jiang Hao wanted to pick up the calico kitten himself.

The kitten meowed softly in her palm and did not struggle.

On the way back in the car, Jiang Haoxiang held the cat bag. Jiang Haoxiang was in a state of extreme excitement and happiness, with a red face, red ears, and red neck.

Xiang Li was a little worried: "I miss you so much, are you allergic?"

"I didn't! Auntie, I'm fine!" Jiang Hao wanted to answer loudly.

After answering, he raised his hand and said loudly: "Aunt Xiang Li! Brother Zheng Yi! I have chosen a name for it!"

"Have you thought of it so quickly? What's the name?" Xiang Li asked cooperatively.

"Call me Jiujiu! Because today is September 9th! It's a very good day!"

She announced again, "I've decided! I'm going to change my birthday to September 9th! From now on, Jiujiu and I will celebrate our birthday together every year! We'll eat cake together!"

Xiang Li was amused by her and laughed out loud: "Okay, okay, ninety-nine is ninety-nine."

Zheng Yi rolled his eyes and complained, "Jiang Haoxiang, why don't you just change your name as well and call yourself Jiang Jiujiu, it's much easier to pronounce."

Jiang Haoxiang didn't mind at all. On the contrary, she thought the name Jiang Jiujiu sounded quite nice. She put her face close to the cat's crate and called out, "Jiujiu, Jiujiu, did you hear that? You have a name now! Your name is Jiujiu! We will celebrate our birthdays together from now on, every year! Pinky promise!"

"What's the point of making an agreement with it? Shouldn't you make an agreement with me as well? This is the cat I keep at home." Zheng Yi was dissatisfied.

"Brother Zheng Yi, can I celebrate my birthday with Jiujiu every year from now on? Please." Jiang Hao wanted to ask immediately.

“…Okay, okay.”

"Then make a pinky promise with me." Jiang Hao wanted to stretch out his little finger.

Zheng Yi made a pinky promise with her.

"Let's make a pinky promise for a hundred years, and nothing will change. We'll be together forever and ever." After Jiang Hao said this, he pressed Zheng Yi's thumb with his own.

Zheng Yi suddenly thought Xiang Li's idea of ​​raising a cat was a great one. Even though Jiang Haoxiang wasn't living in his house, it felt like she was truly part of his family. At least they had a close connection. They would be together forever.

The kitten seemed to be attracted by Jiang Haoxiang's voice and meowed in response to its new owner, its new name and its oath.

The sunlight poured in from the car window. The pain of losing Mimi was still like a small thorn, but at this moment, Jiang Haoxiang's heart was cushioned by the furry grass.

She had a little Jiujiu. She had a little Jiujiu that belonged only to her, Aunt Xiang Li, and Brother Zheng Yi.

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