Chapter 42: Animal Cruelty

Jiang Yuan watched Fu Xiaohang drive away, then led Zhanzhan and Momo home. Suddenly, the system's voice rang in her head.

【System 009: New mission triggered: Assist the police in finding a murderer. Mission rewards: Amphibian Dictionary, one million RMB in cash, 50 points.】

Jiang Yuan's eyes brightened slightly.

The system was handing out money!

She was practically obsessed with money now.

Back at home, Jiang Dashan was busy in the kitchen, while Deng Rui and Jiang Die were making dumplings at the dining table.

Seeing this, Zhanzhan and Momo excitedly raised their little paws, saying they wanted to help.

A loving smile spread across Deng Rui's face. "Alright, let Auntie help you wash your hands first."

After Jiang Yuan took the siblings to wash their hands, she sat on the sofa to think.

Assist the police in finding a murderer... Should she message Si Heng and ask if there were any unsolved cases in that field?

"Jiang Yuan, come over and make dumplings!" Deng Rui called out. "A family should be all together. Everyone is making dumplings; don't just sit there staring into space."

"Got it." Jiang Yuan gathered her thoughts and walked over. Seeing the two cats and one dog, she raised an eyebrow. "Then shouldn't Blueberry, Xixi, and Xiaobai come make dumplings too?"

Deng Rui: "..."

Blueberry, Xixi, and Xiaobai seemed very interested and began crowding around the dining table.

Deng Rui hurriedly said, "No, no need. If they're bored, they can go downstairs to play for a bit."

"Little ones, do you want to go downstairs to play?" Jiang Yuan asked.

The three little ones nodded in unison.

Jiang Yuan opened the door to let them out, instructing, "Don't leave the residential complex. Come back after playing for a while."

"We know!" the three little ones replied in chorus.

However, by dinnertime, they still hadn't returned.

The sky had already darkened, and Deng Rui was getting worried. "I'll go downstairs to look for them. I don't want them getting lost."

"I'll go." Jiang Yuan reached the door first.

She found her three furry companions downstairs.

Beside them, there seemed to be a thin little Golden Retriever.

"Made a new friend?" Jiang Yuan asked with a smile.

When Blueberry saw her, her cat eyes suddenly lit up. She ran up to her and said, "Yuan Yuan, Jinjin is in trouble. Can you help him?"

Jiang Yuan blinked in confusion. "What kind of trouble?"

"Jinjin, tell my master yourself," Blueberry said, looking toward the little Golden Retriever.

Jinjin took a few steps forward and looked up at Jiang Yuan timidly. "H-hello... Blueberry, Xixi, and Xiaobai said you are a very good person and very capable."

Hearing this, a trace of a smile flickered in Jiang Yuan's beautiful eyes.

Did her little furballs praise her like this to other animals outside?

Extra treats tonight!

Jinjin mustered the courage to ask, "Um... my male master hasn't come home for many days. Can I stay at your house first? They said your house is very fun and the dog food is delicious."

Jiang Yuan: "..."

No extra treats tonight.

How small was her house? Did these three little rascals have no sense of scale?

If she brought Jinjin home, she'd likely end up sleeping under a bridge tonight.

"I'm sorry," Jiang Yuan said, squatting down in front of Jinjin. She reached out to pat the dog's head and explained gently, "My house isn't big enough right now. If you like my dog food, I can give you some to eat, okay?"

Hearing this, Jinjin's watery eyes filled with profound disappointment. He lowered his head. "It's okay. I won't go."

Xixi meowed anxiously, "But Yuan Yuan, Jinjin's female mistress is so mean. She's always scolding him, kicking him, and not even feeding him."

Xiaobai also barked, "Right! Jinjin is so pitiful! What should we do?"

Jiang Yuan: "..."

But she hadn't moved to a new house yet. Once a Golden Retriever grew up, it would take up a lot of space; her home couldn't accommodate so many animals.

Furthermore, Jinjin had an owner; she couldn't just take him in because she wanted to.

Jinjin was deeply moved that his newly made friends were speaking up for him.

He barked an explanation, "Thank you all. I'll be fine. Actually, the mistress isn't always mean. I'm very safe when she goes to work during the day!"

Ever since she started raising pets, Jiang Yuan couldn't stand hearing about animal abuse.

Especially when it involved such a well-behaved little dog.

"Wait a moment. Let me ask a friend if Jinjin can stay there temporarily." Jiang Yuan remembered Fu Xiaoxiao mentioning a few days ago that she wanted to get a pet.

Hearing this, the four sets of furry eyes lit up simultaneously, looking up at her expectantly.

Jiang Yuan's heart nearly melted at the sight.

She took out her phone, snapped a photo of Jinjin, sent it to Fu Xiaoxiao, and then called her to explain the situation.

"Yes, yes!" Fu Xiaoxiao replied almost without hesitation. "Are you bringing him over, or should I pick him up? Oh, right, do I need to prepare dog food and a dog bed first... what color does he like?"

"No rush," Jiang Yuan interrupted. "I still need to ask Jinjin's owner."

Fu Xiaoxiao urged, "Then go ask quickly! Tell me as soon as you're done! I'll go pick out some pet supplies first!"

"Got it." Jiang Yuan hung up helplessly and said to the furry youngsters, "Jinjin can stay at my friend's house for now. I'll bring you over once I move to a bigger house in the future."

Jinjin nodded vigorously and barked, "It's okay. I have to go home once my male master returns anyway."

Jiang Yuan froze for a moment before realizing that Jinjin just wanted a place to stay while his male master was away.

"Alright," she nodded. "Jinjin, where is your home? I need to go discuss with your mistress so you can stay at my friend's place first."

However, Jinjin said, "Actually, you don't have to say anything. Even if I go missing, the mistress won't look for me..."

"No," Jiang Yuan shook her head, explaining, "Since you have an owner, I can't just take you away. That would be considered stealing."

"Okay then, follow me." Jinjin led Jiang Yuan and her new companions out of the complex.

Jiang Yuan was somewhat surprised. "So Jinjin doesn't live in our complex."

Jinjin's home was in the residential building directly across from the complex.

Jiang Yuan followed him into a building and pressed the button for the 4th floor.

Stepping out of the elevator, Jinjin stopped in front of door 403.

The door was closed. As Jiang Yuan pressed the doorbell, she looked down and asked, "How do you usually get back into your house after playing outside?"

Jinjin: "I can go in when they go out."

Jiang Yuan: "..."

Then how long would she have to wait?

Jinjin's life was only slightly better than that of a stray dog.

"Who is it?" a man's voice came from inside.

Jiang Yuan's gaze tightened slightly, a sense of doubt arising in her heart.

Didn't Jinjin say his male master wasn't home?

The door opened from the inside, and a middle-aged man in pajamas sized up Jiang Yuan. "Who are you looking for?"

Jiang Yuan smiled slightly. "Hello, is your wife home, please?"

"What is it?" the middle-aged man asked.

Jiang Yuan: "Does this little Golden Retriever belong to your family?"

The man glanced at the dog on the ground and frowned. "What about it?"

His attitude was not particularly good, but a smile remained on Jiang Yuan's lips. "I like him very much. I was wondering if you would be willing to part with him?"

The man said impatiently, "It's just a dead dog. If you want it, take it!"