Zhao Youliang chuckled upon hearing this.

"Don't worry, sister-in-law. My dog ​​didn't go out and cause trouble today. He's just sitting there 'drying his eggs' in front of the shop."

"With it around, not even a mouse can get in, let alone a living person!"

Zhao Youliang was right after all.

As he hurried back to close his shop before sunset, he saw the big yellow dog bullying a little mouse.

They cornered the "others" against the wall, neither arresting nor letting them go.

However, whenever the little mouse tried to escape, it was held down with its paws.

Then "kick" it back into the corner.

Zhao Youliang originally didn't intend to get involved in this matter, since he himself couldn't beat the big yellow dog.

Just as I was about to sneak into the store, I saw the little mouse's pitiful and helpless eyes.

This reminded Zhao Youliang of his childhood, before he met his adoptive father.

As an orphan, didn't he have the same look in his eyes when he was bullied?

At that time, Zhao Youliang so desperately wished someone could come and help him, to hug him...

After empathizing with him, Zhao Youliang immediately decided to "draw his sword to help those in need."

However, what he "pulled out" was not a knife, but the fried dumplings that Yingchun's sister-in-law had brought back for him as dinner.

He respectfully placed the lunchbox in front of the big yellow dog, and said with a fawning expression as the dog looked at him with a puzzled expression.

"Hey Dog, I want to make a deal with you. How about we trade you some dumplings for some mice?"

"Dumplings taste much better than mice!"

"If you don't say anything, I'll take that as a yes..."

As Zhao Youliang spoke, he cautiously approached the little mouse.

Seeing that the big yellow dog ignored him and was only focused on eating dumplings, he finally felt relieved.

He quickly scooped the little mouse into his palm and dashed back into the house, making sure to close the door tightly.

Only after confirming that it was completely safe did Zhao Youliang place the little mouse on the table in front of him.

The little guy seemed to be very intelligent, knowing that Zhao Youliang had saved him.

Therefore, they not only don't run, but they aren't even afraid.

She just stared at Zhao Youliang with her bright, sparkling eyes, curiously examining him.

Zhao Youliang found it fascinating and couldn't resist reaching out to touch it.

The little mouse didn't run away; instead, it closed its eyes and looked quite pleased with itself.

Upon seeing this, Zhao Youliang couldn't help but like the little guy even more.

He took out the two dumplings he had secretly hidden from his sleeve and ate one with the little mouse.

After finishing his meal, Zhao Youliang saw that the little mouse still wouldn't leave, staring at him with its bright, sparkling eyes. He couldn't help but laugh and scold it.

"Little one, are you still hungry? Look, there's nothing we can do, we're really out of dumplings."

"Only those two are left; the rest are all freeloaders!"

"If you haven't had enough, come back tomorrow. But be careful when you come back, don't let that old dog catch you again, understand?!"

After Zhao Youliang finished speaking, the little mouse squeaked twice and then jumped off the table.

Before running away, he looked back at Zhao Youliang one last time, seemingly reluctant to leave.

Zhao Youliang didn't think too much about it. He closed the shop on time according to the rules, while shaking his head helplessly.

"Sigh, looks like I'll have to go to bed hungry tonight!"

However, this was destined to be an extraordinary night...

Zhao Youliang had just lain down when he heard a series of rhythmic knocks on the door.

"Knock knock knock".

Tap three times lightly, pause for a moment, then tap three more times.

The so-called "seeing the big picture from small details":

Judging from the proper way he knocked, Zhao Youliang knew that the person outside must be a very well-mannered person.

And they are definitely not residents of the town.

Because any resident here knows the rules of the paper-making shop, and would never come to visit late at night.

"Coming, coming! Please come through the back door!" Zhao Youliang said as he put on his clothes and got out of bed.

After all, one of the rules of the store is that once it closes, the main entrance cannot be reopened.

The back door opened, and with the help of the streetlights, Zhao Youliang finally saw who was knocking.

A slightly hunched old man, but with a robust spirit and extraordinary demeanor.

Although the old man was dressed simply, his clothes were extremely clean and tidy, with very few wrinkles.

What attracted Zhao Youliang's attention the most were the old man's eyes, which seemed to see through everything.

Zhao Youliang, who already had a very good first impression of the person knocking on the door, quickly said politely upon seeing this.

"Sir, what brings you knocking on the door so late at night?"

The old man smiled kindly and gently, and after carefully examining Zhao Youliang, he spoke.

"Haha, I'm really not used to being called 'Grandpa'."

"Young man, you can still call me Sixth Master. Oh, by the way, my surname is Hui, so you can just call me Hui Sixth Master."

For some reason, the aura emanating from the old man made Zhao Youliang feel particularly safe.

It felt like being held in my adoptive father's arms when I was a child.

Therefore, he hurriedly nodded and agreed, "Yes, yes, hello, Sixth Master Grey!"

"It's so late, I should have invited you inside, but..."

At this point, Zhao Youliang hesitated, because he really didn't know how to explain the store's bizarre rules.

Fortunately, he had a quick wit and came up with a reason that wasn't really a reason.

"But my dog ​​is too fierce, I'm afraid it will bite you."

It was only when the big yellow dog was mentioned that Zhao Youliang noticed something was amiss.

In the past, no matter who knocked on the door or what time it was, the big yellow dog would immediately bare its teeth at the person who came in.

They might even pounce on you and hit and scratch you at the slightest disagreement.

Why didn't I see the big yellow dog showing off today...?

Thinking to himself, Zhao Youliang unconsciously looked towards the doghouse.

To their surprise, the usually arrogant and cocky dog ​​had become a coward—lying in its kennel, trembling as it looked at the old man outside the door.

Even the dog's eyes were filled with terror.

What the heck is going on?

Could this Mr. Grey be from the town's "dog-catching office"?

Just as Zhao Youliang was lost in thought, the old man spoke.

However, it wasn't said to a person, but to a dog.

"There's no need to be so afraid. I'm not here to cause you any trouble. I'm just here to thank this young friend."

"As for bullying my little brat, he'll settle the score with you when he grows up."

Zhao Youliang was completely confused by the old man's words, but the big yellow dog clearly understood.

It hurriedly crawled out of its kennel, stood on its hind legs like a human, and wagged its bald tail very happily.

It clasped its two front paws together and kept bowing to the old man.

The dog's face was full of ingratiation.

Seeing this, the old man couldn't help but laugh and scold, "Alright, go back to your nest."

"This old man and this young friend still have something to discuss."

Zhao Youliang, who was still confused, quickly asked when the old man mentioned him.

"Sixth Master, what can I do for you?"

"Everything is negotiable except for not being allowed to enter the store."