After I Started Working at a Pet Kindergarten - Chapter 4

Chapter 4

We reached the veterinary hospital a few minutes later.

I left Million to watch the other dogs and carried Sangbiao inside.

The vet determined that he had ingested rat poison. They induced vomiting first, then took him away for scans.

While they worked, I sent Dad a message and my location and asked him to come drive the school van. Someone had to stay with Sangbiao, but I couldn’t keep an entire van full of dogs at the hospital.

Dad arrived quickly. At almost the same time, the test results came back.

There was rat poison in Sangbiao’s stomach, and the car had broken several bones. He needed surgery and a hospital stay.

After paying the bill, I waited outside the operating room. I couldn’t leave until I knew he was safe.

Several hours later, the vet emerged.

“He’s out of danger for now. He should wake up soon. You can go see him.”

“Thank you, Doctor.”

In a small recovery cubicle, bandages wrapped Sangbiao’s hind legs and back. An IV ran into one front paw, and an Elizabethan collar circled his neck.

His eyes fluttered open. He gave a hoarse meow.

[********]

What a filthy mouth.

As Sangbiao grew more alert, the pain set in and his meows turned into a long string of curses. One sentence, however, was meant for me.

[Human, you saved Cat. Cat will repay you.]

From the obscenities, I pieced together what had happened.

Last night, Sangbiao had been roaming the apartment complex when someone offered him a sausage. He was happily eating when a silver-shaded British Shorthair tried to steal it. Naturally, Sangbiao took it back—and beat up the other cat to establish that this was his territory.

When the British Shorthair’s owner found out, he secretly bought rat poison and stuffed it into dried fish.

Many strays lived in the complex, fed by kind residents. The poisoned fish had simply been dropped into their food bowls.

[Lots of cats ate the fish.]

Sangbiao had too. He noticed something was wrong with the taste, but not soon enough to avoid being poisoned.

Then the British Shorthair’s owner came outside with his cat and tried to make it attack Sangbiao for revenge. Sangbiao fled, already stumbling from the poison, and failed to dodge the car in time.

So many cats had eaten that fish.

I pressed my lips together and called the police to report that someone had poisoned animals.

I didn’t know whether it would do any good. The victims were cats, not people.

But the poisoner deserved to pay.

Once I knew Sangbiao was stable, I returned to the pet kindergarten. The moment I entered, every dog rushed up.

Soda: [Miss Teacher, how is Sangbiao? Is Sangbiao going to die, Miss Teacher?]

Rice: [Probably not, right, Teacher? Sangbiao rules the whole complex. Even dogs get slapped by him. He’ll be fine, right?]

Million: [Is Sangbiao still alive?]

I stroked their heads to soothe them.

“He’s all right. Sangbiao is safe. He can leave the hospital in about two weeks. When I pick you up and take you home, we can stop by and see him.”

To my surprise, every dog froze.

Dozens of round eyes stared at me.

Then they scattered in panic.

[Scary, scary! She understands dogs!]

[She speaks dog! We’re doomed! We can’t insult the principal and teachers whenever we want anymore.]

[…]

Only Million remained where he was, watching me.

[Miss sure knows how to make things interesting. No wonder Old Man likes her.]

“?”

I crouched in front of him. “When you say ‘Old Man,’ do you mean your owner?”

Million grinned, cocked his head, and trotted away.

[Heh-heh. Not telling.]

“…”

That was fine. I had to take him home that evening anyway.