Chapter 68 Cat Fashion Show It's Chinese New Year!
On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, the festive atmosphere is like an overturned honey pot, and the air is filled with that sweet excitement.
The heavy snow arrived quietly last night, transforming Meow Meow Farm into a silver-clad fairytale world. The rooftops, treetops, and fields were all covered with a thick, fluffy white blanket, shimmering with tiny sparkles in the thin winter sunlight.
Shi Wan gave Aunt Li and Xiao Zhang their annual leave, and also packed two bags of free-range eggs and live chickens for them to take home, so that they could go home and reunite with their families for the New Year.
The online store also posted its announcement well in advance, explaining the holiday arrangements during the Spring Festival.
However, orders placed before the end of the year still need to be processed as soon as possible; they can't be left until after the new year.
Shi Wan got up very early. The heating in the room was on full blast, and she felt a little hot even in her short-sleeved pajamas. Her cheeks were rosy like an apple.
She drew back the curtains and looked out the window, then decided to pull out her thick, long down jacket and put it on.
I walked into the warehouse, my feet crunching through the snow.
Tangyuan, accompanied by a group of kittens, followed behind her, stepping in her footprints, and arrived at the warehouse.
Shi Wan turned on the lights and the machine, sat down and stroked each of the kittens' proud chests before getting into the packing work.
With a unique year-end tranquility, a mixture of weariness and anticipation, she began processing the last batch of orders.
"Okay, these are the last few boxes, that's all! Once we've shipped them all out, we'll be on vacation!" she said to the cats around her as she skillfully packed the boxes.
Huanhuan had an endless passion for cardboard boxes and tried to "help" roll the tape into the corner, but Shiwan quickly retrieved it.
Mianmian jumped onto the high shelf to supervise the packing process. Her fur was too long, making her legs look short. Shi Wan was afraid that her fur would be accidentally injured by the machine, so she didn't let her help with the packing.
Bingbing was the most genuine and also the funniest. He squatted next to the warm air vent, dozing off in the residual heat of the packaging machine. His round body rose and fell with his breath, like a piece of over-fermented fluffy dough.
After processing the orders, Shi Wan breathed a long sigh of relief as she watched the delivery truck pull away the last few cardboard boxes, feeling a weight lifted from her shoulders.
The real annual leave has begun!
She returned to the small building with a sense of excitement and took out the spacious cat carrier with a ventilation window that she had specially prepared for going out.
Upon seeing this, the previously lazy cats instantly perked up.
Huanhuan excitedly circled around the cat carrier, while Tangyuan, with the air of an empress, sat properly in front of the cat carrier. Although he didn't say anything, he stared intently at Shi Wan, as if he would punch her twice if she didn't choose him.
Only Bingbing, probably feeling that going out would consume too much of his precious fat, tried to squeeze himself under the sofa, but Shi Wan laughed and pulled him out.
"Let's take Tangyuan King to inspect the people's conditions today," Shi Wan rubbed Bingbing's head, and then stuffed a piece of freeze-dried fruit into Huanhuan and Bingbing's hands. "You two stay home and behave yourselves. You'll get New Year's gifts when you come back!"
In the end, Tangyuan King successfully protected his status as Shi Wan's only caretaker, and was carefully carried into the cat carrier by Shi Wan and carried on her back.
He looked out at the white world through the ventilation window, tucked his claws under his body, and the hen squatted down and started purring softly.
The city's largest supermarket was brightly decorated and played cheerful New Year's songs on a loop. The number of people was several times greater than usual, and the atmosphere was filled with the joy and busyness of people shopping for New Year's goods.
Shi Wan, carrying a cat carrier, weaved through the crowded shelves. Tangyuan, inside the carrier, curiously observed this noisy human world, occasionally letting out soft meows, as if offering its comments.
Shi Wan's shopping cart gradually filled up with items.
Red paper for writing the character "福" (good fortune), Spring Festival couplets exuding the fragrance of ink, various nuts and roasted seeds, candies and chocolates, and premium flour and meat filling for making dumplings.
She even picked out a few red envelopes with cartoon cat patterns to use as New Year's money for Tangyuan and the others.
She kept her chat with Xinglin almost always open, and would ask for his opinion every now and then.
Agent: Do you think this "福" (good fortune) character is cute? How about we buy it and stick it on the warehouse door?!
Agent: Wow! This candy is wrapped in the shape of a cat's paw! I have to buy it!
Agent: Xinglin, Xinglin! Should we buy ribbonfish or yellow croaker? Tangyuan seems more interested in ribbonfish!
As she spoke, she pushed the shopping cart to the seafood section, letting Tangyuan in the cat's bag see the fresh ribbonfish with her own eyes.
Xinglin's responses are always timely and concise, carrying a warmth that seems to be transmitted through the screen.
"Xinglin: This 'Fu' character is great; it would be quite suitable to paste it on the warehouse."
"Starfall: Then let's buy it. Nothing is more suitable for our farm than cat paw candy."
"Xinglin: Let's buy ribbonfish. I just noticed that Tangyuan's pupils dilated by 0.3 millimeters. He must think the ribbonfish tastes good."
Shi Wan looked at the last one and couldn't help but burst out laughing, which attracted a curious glance from an older woman next to her.
She quickly covered her mouth, her eyes curving into crescents.
This feeling of sharing small things and receiving responses made her feel that Xinglin was also immersed in the festive atmosphere of the New Year with her.
After finishing her shopping, she returned to the farm with bags and packages. Before she could even catch her breath, she saw several express delivery boxes piled up at the entrance.
The things she ordered online before the Lunar New Year have arrived!
After sorting the New Year's goods into categories and placing them in the kitchen and storage room, Shi Wan, without even taking a break, enthusiastically picked up a paper cutter and began the most enjoyable part of unpacking the packages.
"Come, come, look what good things I bought for you!" She sat cross-legged on the carpet and announced to the few cats that had gathered around curiously.
In the first large box were the New Year's outfits she bought for her cats.
She first unfolded a piece of clothing for Huanhuan, a bright red Tang-style cotton-padded jacket with the four characters "招财进宝" (meaning "bringing in wealth and treasures") embroidered in gold thread, and it also came with a matching melon-shaped hat.
"Huanhuan, come and try it on!" Shi Wan called out, holding up the little clothes.
Huanhuan was initially a little resistant, but Wan lured her with a small piece of freeze-dried food and successfully put it on her. Huanhuan stared at herself in the mirror for three seconds, then started to twist and roll around wildly, trying to get rid of the restraints. Her comical appearance was just like a red fur ball throwing a tantrum.
While laughing, Shi Wan hurriedly held her down and quickly snapped a few "ugly photos".
Next was for Mianmian, a royal blue velvet cape with an exquisite bow at the collar and the arrogant "朕" (Zhen, meaning "I" or "the Emperor") embroidered on the back.
Mianmian was the most obedient and cooperative little angel. She sat quietly and waited for Shi Wan to dress her, and then waited patiently for Shi Wan to take pictures of her. In the end, she received a lot of kisses from Shi Wan.
I can't help it, they're just too cute.
What was given to Bingbing was a highly elastic fleece sweatshirt printed with various dried fish patterns.
Bingbing didn't have any problem with the clothes themselves, but he was so fat that Shi Wan had to use a lot of effort to squeeze him into them, and the zipper almost wouldn't close.
Once he put it on, the half-hanging pancake's rounded figure was perfectly outlined. He tried to take a couple of steps, looking like a moving, bouncy collection of dried fish, clumsy yet adorable.
Finally, there was a soft, dark green vest for Tangyuan. The design was simple, with only a small star and moon pattern embroidered in silver thread on the chest. It was understated yet suited his temperament.
Tangyuan didn't struggle much. Every year when Shi Wan was a child, he would have new clothes to wear, but they weren't bought; they were made for him by Shi Wan's mother herself on a sewing machine.
He made many different things, including little capes and jackets, as well as all kinds of bibs and hats, some made of cloth and some of wool. His own little wardrobe alone took up two drawers.
After Shi Wan's mother got off work, she went to the market to look at fabrics and bought them to make clothes for him.
Tangyuan licked its fur and suddenly felt a little melancholy, missing its mother.
Shi Wan didn't know that the little cat was reminiscing about someone from a distant past at this moment. She kissed Tangyuan just like she did when she was a child and whispered, "Another year has passed, Tangyuan, stay with me forever."
Tangyuan nuzzled against her.
Meanwhile, several cats were lying sprawled on the carpet, wrestling and scrambling about, while some dogs, seemingly just watching from the sidelines, were lurking in other corners, curiously observing with expressions of surprise and fear, making onlookers chuckle.
Shi Wan was so amused by their various reactions that she almost fell over. She quickly set up her phone and recorded the chaotic scene of the "Cat New Year Fashion Show".
She edited the cheerful video slightly, added festive music and cute subtitles, and titled it "A Chinese New Year 'Surprise' (or 'Scare'?) Extravaganza for the Meow Meow Mimi Farm's Pets!" and posted it on the farm's social media account.
Before long, the comment section exploded.
"Hahaha, Huanhuan is just acting out how my mom forces me to wear long johns!"
"Oh my, Mianmian is such a good girl! She's beautiful and has a great personality. I wish I could have such a magnificent, jazzy cat!"
"Bingbing's figure, hahaha... the clothes are bearing a burden that shouldn't be on a size like hers!"
"The farmer is very calm, like he's used to it, hahaha."
"Humans are inferior to cats - these clothes are so cute! Can you give me a link?"
"I could feel the girl's effort and the cats' reluctance; it's so real!"
"The festive atmosphere is in full swing! Wishing everyone on the farm (including both two-legged and four-legged creatures) a Happy New Year!"
Shi Wan scrolled through the comments, laughing so hard she almost fell over, and she didn't forget to send the funny ones to Xing Lin.
"Agent: Look, look! Netizens say Huanhuan is acting like them!"
"Agent: Bingbing got roasted again, hahaha!"
Agent: Xinglin, which one do you think looks best? I bet you like the one with the glutinous rice ball, right?
Xinglin's response, interspersed among Shi Wan's numerous messages, was like a cup of perfectly warm tea on a winter's day.
"Xinglin: Huanhuan is indeed both funny and inexplicably pitiful, what a clever little devil."
"Xinglin: Hmm... Bingbing... Your clothes are very stretchy."
"Xinglin: I really like Tangyuan's outfit the most. It's very pretty and cute."
He didn't say much, but he always managed to hit Shi Wan's desire to share, making her feel that he wasn't just being perfunctory, but was genuinely observing and feeling.
Outside the window, dusk was falling, and the snow began to fall silently again, gently covering the world once more.
Inside, the heating was on full blast, and the carpet was littered with opened delivery boxes, colorful wrapping paper, and various cat-themed New Year toys.
There's an electric mouse that lights up, inside which is a red koi fish plush toy with catnip, and a scratching post with the words "Cat Fat Home" printed on it...
Shi Wan leaned back in the soft sofa cushions, surrounded by furry children, some wearing awkward new clothes and others playing with new toys.
While busy with her work, she didn't forget to chat with Xinglin for a few minutes.
I casually picked up a cat paw-shaped candy and put it in my mouth, the sweetness melting away.
All the busyness, hard work, gains, and joy of the year seemed to have condensed into this warm, lively, and sweet snowy night filled with the scent of candy and cats.
The snow and wind of the old year have been kept outside, while inside lies a warm, bright, and expectant new year for her and them.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com