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Before her dad could bring back the two mongrels, Jiang Niannian already saw Dahei—the dog she’d been eyeing for ages.
“Little Sis! Little Sis, come out quick and see the dog I got for you!”
When Jiang Niannian stepped outside, she saw her second brother holding the leash of a hunting dog. She sucked in a breath. This kind of dog had gone extinct in the modern world. You could only see them during this rural era in the North, out hunting in the mountains.
Her eyes lit up—it was her dream dog!
“Amazing dog! So tall, strong, and handsome! Full of spirit! Its frame is a bit lean, but those muscular legs mean it runs super fast. And those sharp teeth—definitely strong enough to bite through a thigh bone!”
Jiang Daguo shivered and quietly took a few steps away. Yep—best to keep some distance.
“Little Sis, aren’t you able to talk to dogs? Can you tame it?”
The black hunting dog snorted from its nose.
【Just a skinny little girl. Sure, she looks nicer than the others, but thinking she can tame me, Dahei? Tsk, even a dog would shake its head.】
Jiang Niannian: “Dahei, don’t shake your head! We’re gonna be the perfect team! If you stick with me, I’ll feed you three meals a day!”
【Woof woof, howl woof woof!
You—you can actually understand what I’m saying? And you even know my name is Dahei?!】
Jiang Niannian reached out and rubbed its head.
“My special ability is being able to talk to all animals—of course I can talk to you.
Come on, how about we go for a walk?”
**【Woof woof? I can go out even if we’re not hunting?
My last owner only ever let me off the leash to hunt in the mountains. Otherwise, I was tied up all day and never fed enough.
With you… I really get three meals a day?】**
Jiang Niannian gave her word and took the leash from her second brother.
“Second Brother, hand me the leash. I’m taking the dog for a walk. He’s my top general now—his name is Dahei!”
Jiang Daguo handed it over, then waved his hand.
“Big Brother’s name is Dafu. I’m Daguo. And he’s Dahei?”
Jiang Niannian couldn’t help but laugh.
“Your brain really works in mysterious ways, Second Brother. But I guess that makes sense—he’s part of the family now.
I’m taking him to patrol Big Brother’s fish pond.”
Right now, what Jiang Niannian was most worried about was someone poisoning the fish pond. It felt like one shoe had already dropped, and she was just waiting for the other to fall—it kept her on edge.
She also planned to visit the village chief’s house to ask Da Huang where Li Laosan lived, so she could question his family’s rats and find out exactly when the sabotage would happen.
She had to catch them in the act. Otherwise, with every household owning pesticides, who would believe her if she said, “Your rats told me you’re going to poison my brother’s fish pond”?
Once out of the courtyard, Dahei darted off playfully. Jiang Niannian gave the leash a tug and instantly pulled him back.
Dahei stared at her in shock.
【Woof woof! Master, how are you this strong?!】
Jiang Niannian also noticed that as long as she was well-fed, her strength was off the charts—just like in her past life. But when she was hungry, she was no stronger than a normal person.
In all the years living at Jiang Dahe’s place, what a coincidence—she’d never had a full meal.
Feigning mystery, she patted Dahei’s head.
“I’m actually a goddess reincarnated. You know the Celestial Dog, Howling Heavenly Hound? We’re besties. He passed on this animal-talking skill to me.
I’ve descended to the mortal world to undergo trials. Meeting me is your destiny. Stick with me, and when I return to Heaven, I’ll take you with me to meet him.”
Dahei was so excited he started circling her.
**【Howl woof, howl woof! The Howling Heavenly Hound is the supreme ancestor of all dogs! Master, I’ve got pure celestial blood running through me!
Howl woof, howl woof! Whether I get to see our great ancestor depends entirely on you! From now on, you’re my real master!】**
Jiang Niannian burst out laughing.
“Heheheh! Telling fairy tales to a dog—you really are something. Are you seriously getting a dog hyped with nonsense?”
Suddenly, she turned around—and saw someone walking out from behind the shabby shed near Big Brother’s fish pond.
It was Xiao Jingyan?!
Oh no—why was this guy haunting her like a ghost?
She suddenly imagined the worst: if this guy had personally escorted Jiang Xiaolin back to the city, then maybe he was Jiang Xiaolin’s lapdog?
And lapdogs… when they go crazy, they might resent the person who ruined their “engagement.”
What if he turned out to be a psychopath, held a grudge, and hurt her? That’s exactly how it went in all those novels and short dramas.
The more Jiang Niannian thought about it, the more she suspected that all those coincidental meetings might’ve been him trying to harm her!
Her heart clenched. She immediately tensed up and got on guard.
She kicked Dahei, who was still giddily dreaming about meeting the Celestial Dog.
“Code Red Alert!”
Dahei had been panting happily just moments ago. Though he didn’t know what “Code Red” meant, as a descendant of the divine canine bloodline, he couldn’t lose face now.
He immediately positioned himself in front of his master, standing taller than her. His eyes turned fierce and sharp, watching the man in front with full vigilance.
【If you want to hurt my master, you’ll have to step over Dahei’s dead body first!】
Xiao Jingyan noticed how tense she and the dog were and awkwardly rubbed his nose.
“You don’t need to be so nervous. I—”
Jiang Niannian reached into her pocket. She’d already paid him before—there was no way she was giving him more now.
“Don’t come any closer. I was a victim that day too. I already gave you money. We’re even—goods and payment settled. Let’s just pretend we don’t know each other from now on.
And as for you and Jiang Xiaolin—even without me, she was still heading to the city. If you’ve got guts, go after her. If you don’t, don’t blame me. Or I’ll sic the dog on you!”
As she said this, it suddenly hit her—what if he couldn’t be with Jiang Xiaolin and had started resenting their whole family?
What if he was the one planning to poison her brother’s fish pond?
It actually made sense. In those brain-dead web novels, male side characters would do things like this.
Even though his face and figure didn’t quite match the usual loser-villain look… you never know.
She used to think he looked pretty handsome, but after hearing her dad explain things today, she thought—meh, he’s just average. Regardless, staying alert was necessary.
She remembered how Jiang Xiaolin had returned to her parents’ home and tried to steal her marriage prospects by scheming against her.
That’s how she ended up in that room next to the guesthouse, sleeping with him—twice—during that critical time. But she’d paid him fifty cents! Was he seriously upset it wasn’t enough?
Xiao Jingyan raised a brow. He understood the first half of what she said, but the second half… did she think he liked Jiang Xiaolin?
“I think you’re misunderstanding something. I didn’t come to ask you for money—though, yes, what you gave me was kind of… little.”
Fifty cents? That didn’t even buy a pound of pork.
No wait—if anything, he should’ve been the one paying her.
“Comrade Jiang, do you maybe have some misconceptions about me?
Me and Jiang Xiaolin—”
“Comrade Xiao! You’re here. I was checking on the earthworms earlier, didn’t notice you.”
Jiang Dafu walked over, just in time to cut off whatever Xiao Jingyan was about to say. His eyes lit up when he saw the fierce black dog beside Jiang Niannian.
“This dog’s great!
Looks wild. Does it listen to you?”
Jiang Niannian smiled and patted Dahei’s head.
“Don’t worry, Big Brother. Any dog that comes to me will behave. His name’s Dahei.”
Hearing that, Jiang Dafu was reassured. Then he turned to Xiao Jingyan.
“This is my younger sister, Niannian—you’ve met.
I remember your pig farm has two dogs too, right? If one of them has puppies, save one for our family.”
Xiao Jingyan nodded. “Your sister likes dogs?”
Watching Jiang Niannian walk off with the dog, he asked Jiang Dafu again.
“She likes dogs?”
Jiang Dafu: “Yeah. How’d you know?”
Xiao Jingyan: …Because I just watched her talk nonsense to one.