Chapter 371 New Member Little Fox

The way it stared at the little fox was less wary and more like a childish challenge, as if it were silently protesting: Why should this furry little thing get to occupy its owner's arms?

Sheng Sheng couldn't help but chuckle: "Stone, you really are still a five-month-old baby. But how could you think like that? Why don't you feel jealous when you're with Yan Hu and Xiao Bai?"

Stone grumbled and drooped its head: "How can that be the same? They are the older brothers, Stone's 'seniors'. They came to Master's side before Stone, and Stone should thank them for taking care of Master. But, but... Master already has Stone, why would he pick up another one?"

Sheng Sheng laughed loudly: "Stone, are you afraid that if a new member comes along, I won't like you anymore?"

The stone grumbled and mumbled, but didn't say anything.

With a helpless expression, she said, "But you're a new member to Yan Hu and the others too. Since you arrived, have you seen them being neglected?"

Stone's ears perked up suddenly, its tail swept across the carpeted carriage floor, it secretly glanced at Yan Hu who was clearly watching the commotion, then quickly lowered its head, the humming in its throat weakening slightly.

"No……"

"That's right, we're all good friends." Sheng Sheng took the opportunity to hand the little fire fox to it. "Look how tiny it is, and it's injured. We have to take care of it together, okay?"

The little fox timidly raised its eyes and gently sniffed the tip of the stone's paw: "Hmm... Although I should be older than you in terms of age, thank you for taking care of me."

Stone: What? So I have to call you sister after all this time?

"...Oh, you're welcome."

The stone moved awkwardly, its sounds both laughable and pathetic.

Fortunately, Zijuan finally managed to find out the exact address of the best hospital in Jinzhou City from the young monk. The carriage drove down the mountain and into the city at a moderate pace, heading towards the hospital.

They still left Stone in the carriage to wait. To appease Stone's jealous feelings, Sheng Sheng even specially asked Yan Hu to stay with Stone as well.

Sheng Sheng and Zi Juan took the little fire fox into the clinic. After the doctor prescribed medicine for the little fire fox, Zi Juan followed the clinic's servant to get the medicine, while Sheng Sheng waited in front of the clinic with the little fire fox in his arms.

The medicines in Putuo Temple were all ordinary medicines. Just now, Shen Shen had instructed the doctor to reapply the best medicine to the little fire fox's bandage. Now, he naturally asked the little fire fox, "How are you feeling? Are you feeling any better than before?"

The little fox had become completely dependent on her, and replied with a soft rustling sound, "Much better. The wound still hurts, but it doesn't feel as bad. Thank you."

"That's good. Don't be afraid, we'll take care of you until you're fully healed. Once you're healed, I'll put you back in the forest."

Upon hearing this, the little fox hesitated and said, "Um, could I... come with you?"

"Hmm?" came the voice, full of doubt. "Why?"

“My parents were both killed by hunters because fox fur is very valuable. My parents… Anyway, I am now a lone fox, and I am always on the run from hunters’ traps. All my injuries are because I accidentally fell into a hunter’s trap. If I hadn’t struggled to the death, I would have been skinned alive.”

The little fox said pitifully, "Master, can I live with you? I will be as loyal to you as that tiger. I just want a home!"

"sure!"

She felt heartbroken; she never imagined that this little fox, only one year old, would already be homeless.

Fox fur is indeed very expensive due to its fine, smooth texture and lustrous appearance.

These precious items were quite common in the palace.

I had never thought about these things before, so I didn't think much of it.

It only now do I realize that those so-called fox fur cloaks and fox fur coats were obtained by taking away these little lives.

The luckier ones might have their fur taken only after they have lived, grown old, become sick, or died.

More often than not, they are cruelly treated while still alive, enduring unnatural suffering in order to preserve the integrity of their fur.

Thinking about this, even the most luxurious and beautiful fox fur products only retain a cold, bloody aura, making them hard to find appealing.

With a mix of heartache and guilt, she said, "Don't worry, you'll be very happy with us. Don't worry about not having enough to eat or getting hurt!"

"Thank you, Master!"

"Since that's the case, shall Shengsheng give you a name?" Shengsheng thought for a moment, "Little Fox, Little Fox, let's call you Little Fox. Little Fox, Little Fox, your fur is all red, our Little Fox is such a cute little girl."

She admitted that she really had no talent for naming things; Xiao Hei and Shi Tou were just ordinary names.

This little fox is even more direct, just as straightforward and convenient as naming the little tiger Stone "Little Tiger".

Sheng Sheng thought to herself that if she had named Yan Hu, she would definitely have named him Da Huang or Xiao Huang.

Fortunately, the little fox didn't find the name unpleasant at all: "Thank you, Master, the little fox has a name now!"

Sheng Sheng chuckled and patted her head, then turned to check if Zijuan had gotten her medicine, only to see that there seemed to be an argument going on in the clinic.

Sheng Sheng took two steps forward and could barely make out what was being argued inside.

"Doctor, please, we really can't afford it. As you know, most of last year's grain was ruined by those rats and insects. We lost everything, let alone made a profit. If it weren't for the magistrate lowering the grain tax, we wouldn't even have anything to eat!"

A young couple was kneeling in front of the clinic counter. The man's coarse clothes were still stained with mud that hadn't been washed off. The woman was holding a sallow-faced child tightly in her arms. Her voice was trembling with sobs as she repeatedly kowtowed to the doctor behind the counter, who was stroking his beard, pleading with him until her forehead was red from the repeated kowtows.

"The rice harvest is in a little over two months. We'll pay for Xiaobao's medicine on credit for now, and we'll definitely pay the clinic back once we sell the grain. Doctor, please be kind and let us pay on credit, otherwise Xiaobao..."

The doctor at the clinic looked reluctant, hesitated for a long time, but still said firmly, "It's not that we don't want to give you credit, but you've already bought more than ten taels of silver on credit. Our clinic isn't a charity. Giving you credit is already more than enough."

He sighed, tapped the counter with his fingertips, and softened his tone but still did not budge. "The cost of medicinal herbs is getting higher every year. I can't let the clinic go out of business just to buy on credit. If the villagers in the neighborhood get sick, they won't even have a place to get medicine."