Back home, Zhuang Zhimeng looked around the house and discussed with Jiang Yanxia and Su Mengmeng the need to set up some traps around the courtyard wall and also stick glass shards on the top of the wall.

The courtyard wall is still too low; anyone can easily climb over it. I'll talk to Aunt Tian again tomorrow and see if anyone has a dog. We can get two, one for Zhuang Zhimeng and one for Jiang Yanxia. Su Mengmeng is a boy, so forget about it.

An Qingbai only came out after Jiang Yanxia and Su Mengmeng had left. He had overheard their conversation and had made up his mind.

"What brings you here?" Zhuang Zhimeng asked, surprised to see An Qingbai.

"I'm delivering this thank-you gift on behalf of Yangyang!" An Qingbai said awkwardly.

Are you in trouble? Do you need my help?

Do you care about me?

"Yes." An Qingbai's face flushed, but he still said affirmatively.

"Alright then, I won't stand on ceremony. I'd like to find some broken glass and some tools to set up a trap."

"Okay, I'll come and help you with it tomorrow."

"Excuse me! Would you like to come in and have some water?"

"No need! No need! I have something to do, I'll go first." An Qingbai waved his hand hurriedly.

An Qingbai left as fast as the wind, not daring to stay any longer, lest he tarnish the reputation of the young educated youth.

The next morning, the brigade leader had Wang Laizi and Luo Qiuping brought to the commune. The brigade leader returned and said that the commune would conduct a trial, and it would probably take a few days to get a result.

When she heard about this while at work, Aunt Wang comforted Zhuang Zhimeng. Who would have thought such a thing would happen? Everyone in the village knew that Wang Laizi was a nuisance and everyone avoided him. Only that educated youth thought of him.

After finishing work, they went to Aunt Tian's house to see if anyone in the village kept dogs, as Zhuang Zhimeng and Jiang Yanxia wanted to exchange two dogs.

Aunt Tian agreed without saying a word, especially since this incident had just happened.

They were taken to the home of An Shouye, the forest ranger in the village. He had no children and lived alone on the mountain.

“When it comes to dogs, the patrol dog is the best. It’s an excellent hunter, very alert, and great for guarding the house. It would be perfect for you to keep one,” Tian Cuie said to the two of them.

"Shouye! Are you home?"

"Yes! Who is it?"

"Do you still have any patrol dog puppies? These two young educated youths want to trade some things with you. They live in a remote area, so it's better for them to have a dog to keep them alert."

"Yes! The mother dog just gave birth, and the puppies are two months old. Which one would you like to choose?"

Zhuang Zhimeng and Jiang Yanxia quickly looked over and exclaimed, "Wow! Mengmeng is so cute!"

Beside the large mother dog were three puppies, some curled up, some asleep. They were all in different poses, each one endearingly clumsy.

It has a little belly that's bulging as it sleeps, a chubby body that's twisting and turning, and a paw that's kneading its breasts. It's just too cute!

I want them all! I'm having trouble choosing!

Seeing that they really liked it, An Shouye simply let them take it all.

An Shouye told them to treat the dog well and to return it to him if they ever wanted to stop keeping it. Zhuang Zhimeng and Jiang Yanxia nodded in agreement and promised to take good care of it.

In the end, I traded 10 kilograms of coarse grains for 3 dogs.

After buying the dog, I parted ways with Aunt Tian.

"Let's give these little cuties names!" Jiang Yanxia suggested.

"Okay! How about calling it fluff ball, fluff roll, or yarn?"

“I agree, let’s call it that. You can raise two, Zhimeng, and I’ll raise one. I probably won’t have time to feed Mengge’er.”

“Okay, then I’ll raise Maoqiu and Maotuan.” With that, Zhuang Zhimeng picked up the two dogs.

Maoqiu has a black patch on its head, Maotuan has spots on its body, and Maoxian has white stripes on its body. Maoqiu and Maotuan are male dogs, and Maoxian is a female dog.

Jiang Yanxia hugged the yarn, touching its fur, which felt very smooth. Its chubby bodies were simply adorable.

Back home, Su Mengmeng also liked the three dogs very much, and he had no objection to her not keeping them.

The three began setting up the trap, and were just getting started when An Qingbai arrived.

They were given broken glass and tools.

Zhuang Zhimeng introduced him to several people, and even though they knew he was a descendant of a landlord, they didn't show any annoyance.

An Qingbai was truly a skilled worker; he finished the job in no time, even raising the courtyard wall and sticking broken glass all over the top. He also helped them set up traps, telling them how to arrange them so they wouldn't hurt themselves.

Seeing that there were dogs, An Qingbai suggested that they help make a doghouse, and Zhuang Zhimeng and Jiang Yanxia both agreed.

After finishing preparing the doghouse, Zhuang Zhimeng noticed it was time to cook, so she invited An Qingbai to stay for dinner to thank him for his help.

An Qingbai felt embarrassed and was about to refuse. Su Mengmeng saw through An Qingbai's thoughts and practically dragged him away, so in the end An Qingbai had no choice but to stay for dinner.