"Whimper—"
The fox's miserable whimper startled Aqing awake. She opened her eyes to find a fluffy arm draped across her cheek. But upon closer inspection, she was surprised to see the little fox sitting on the bed, leaning back as if in a tug of war, its face showing great strain.
Tug of war?
Aqing was momentarily dazed and suddenly realized there was something in her mouth. When she let go, she was shocked to find she had been gnawing on the little fox's finger.
In that moment of realization.
Aqing quickly covered the little fox's mouth.
"Shhh!" Aqing looked around nervously, quickly gesturing for silence as if she'd committed a crime, instructing Little An to lower its volume. She reached out and gently kneaded the small paw of the fox she'd just bitten:
"Go back to sleep! You were just having a nightmare. Aqing never bit your hand. Hurry and go back to sleep. How about I treat you to shrimp dumplings tomorrow morning?"
It seemed like she had just had a dream, but Aqing couldn't remember the specifics. The final feeling was something flitting around her cheek, and she instinctively bit down when she couldn't shoo it away.
If Dad found out she'd been gnawing on the fox's elbow in her sleep...
Even if he doesn't stew her in bamboo strips, they'd surely set up a baby crib for the fox master, physically separating him from her at night to prevent her from gnawing the life out of him...
Aqing, feeling slightly guilty, glanced around, stroking the little fox as she said, "Don't be afraid, you were just having a nightmare. You'll feel better after you wake up, little fox, go back to sleep..."
Aqing, with a serious face, tried to lull the fox back to sleep, but as she murmured, she couldn't help but feel drowsy herself.
"......"
Ansheng, whose mouth was covered by Aqing, rolled his eyes at her fiercely.
Do you think I can't tell if it was a dream?
My paw still hurts!
However.
Seeing as you promised shrimp dumplings for breakfast tomorrow, I'll pretend nothing happened and won't retaliate... The little fox, resting its head on Aqing's arm, nudged her face with his snout, silently wishing goodnight, and wriggled to get comfortable for sleep.
Nothing more was said until eight o'clock in the morning.
When Aqing woke up, she saw the little fox, limbs tucked in, lying on her arm, unconsciously letting a bit of a soft pink tongue slip from its snout due to complete relaxation.
Finding the sight amusing, Aqing reached out to tap the little fox's tongue.
Ansheng did not react, so Aqing gave it a gentle squeeze.
"Whimper....."
The little fox shivered, retracting its tongue as if about to wake up.
"Little An, wake up! It's time to wash up!" Aqing lifted her hand and placed it mockingly on his backside, giving him a small pinch.
"Mmm...."
Ansheng rolled over twice on the bed mat, then stretched his body luxuriously while lying on his back, yawning a "Good morning!"
The little fox yawned, flipped off the bed, landing lightly on all fours, and ambled towards the room door, hopping up to open it. Glancing at the closed bathroom door, he headed outside.
"Hmm? Where are you peeing?"
Upon reaching the courtyard, Aqing's little cousin was by the dry flowerbed, preparing to pee. Ansheng was momentarily dumbfounded, then teased with a whimper.
He didn't mind too much, as the flowerbed was over ten meters long, so one more person wouldn't make a difference.
"Whimper—"
Ansheng found his usual spot at the tiled edge of the flowerbed, lifted his hind leg, aiming at the flowerbed to relieve himself comfortably.
But!
Just as he was about to go, a hand pressed down on his raised thigh, forcing it back to the ground.
What was about to flow out was abruptly held back, as if the pressure suddenly reversed.
"???"
Ansheng turned with a puzzled, docile look on his face, seeing Aqing's younger cousin in front of him, pants still down, curiously watching him.
The little fox tried to raise his leg.
The little cousin pressed it back down.
"......."
Ansheng stared speechlessly at him, whining, "I advise you to be kind; otherwise, your dad might stew you with bamboo strips for pork!"
But the little cousin seemed utterly fascinated by the fox's urination, showing no intention of leaving, eagerly anticipating the fox lifting his leg for another sneak attack.
Seeing this.
The little fox stepped down from the flowerbed, deciding against peeing.
The little cousin, disappointed, got up to continue his unfinished business, pinching his tiny caterpillar as he aimed a pale yellow stream at the flowerbed.
But!
The fox master stood upright, smiling, and approached the little cousin from behind, hitching up his pants.
The little cousin's eyes widened with shock, not understanding how his pants had suddenly been pulled up, unable to stop the warm flow spreading through his pants.
"Mom! Boohoo—"
The little cousin scrambled indoors, legs splayed, and called for his mom tearfully.
"I'm no villain, just have to pee really badly..."
Ansheng hopped back on the flowerbed, lifting his hind leg, proudly peeing into the flowerbed, raising his head in defiant triumph before heading back inside.
Inside.
Yu Jingwen, face tightening, stared at her son's wet pants.
The little cousin, tear-streaked face, looked up at his mom.
"Whimper..."
The little fox sauntered by, heading towards Aqing's room, intending to ask how many trays of shrimp dumplings could be ordered later.
"Peipei! Aqing! We're ready to leave!"
Yu Zhenghong, having gone out earlier, drove back in Lao Chen's van and called out in the courtyard.
"Alright, coming!"
Chen Peipei responded, gathering everyone to head out for morning tea at the teahouse.
When Aqing's third uncle and his wife returned, they drove back in a sedan, while Yu Jingwen and her husband came back in a Changan MVP.
Two seven-seater cars, one for the men and one for the women, made their grand journey toward the city.
Ansheng accompanied Aqing, sitting in the front seat of the Guangqi M8 driven by Yu Jingwen, merrily gazing out at the Changxi Town scenery.
With the festival approaching, some women working outside or married off returned home to their maternal families for the Mid-Autumn Festival, bringing with them young, fashionably attractive girls of various ages.
The vehicle gradually entered the city, with a noticeable increase in foot traffic, clearly indicating some non-essential or holiday-booming shops had already closed, as shopkeepers returned home to prepare for the annual reunion festival.
"Hmm?"
Contentedly enjoying the holiday atmosphere, Ansheng suddenly paused, ears twitching, and said to Aqing, "Aqing, Aqing, roll down the window. I think something's happening outside!"
Due to the car window's sound insulation, it might not be clearly audible inside.
But Ansheng heard a chorus of barking, likely from just two streets away.
The barking squad was rallying the crew, urging them to bring knives and wrenches for a street fight.
"Hmm?"
Aqing rolled down the window, listening to the barking. Her expression froze as she said:
"It sounds like..."
"People are fighting with dogs..."