In the outskirts of Jing City, beside a small, leafy grove, a few simple blue-brick, white-tiled buildings sat quietly.
Above the door hung a red sign with five bold characters: “Jing Suburban State Veterinary Station”.
At the entrance, an elderly man and his grandson squatted chatting.
Sun Zhengfei sighed. “Grandpa, why won’t you agree to work at the pig farm?”
This veterinary station was in a remote area; few knew it existed, and even fewer came. In nearly a year, aside from the neighboring pig farm, there had been almost no business.
If it weren’t for Grandpa’s connections keeping it afloat, the station would have closed long ago.
“Anyway, it’s state-provided work. Why not go to the pig farm? Director Zhang offered better conditions.”
About five kilometers away was a small pig farm. Director Zhang was in charge.
Since the farm was small, with just over a hundred pigs, no veterinarian was assigned. Whenever the pigs had problems, Director Zhang called on Grandpa Sun.
Recently, he suggested that Grandpa Sun and Zhengfei move directly to the farm to avoid commuting; he would handle all the paperwork.
But Grandpa Sun was stubborn.
“You don’t understand! The Sun family’s veterinary skills are passed down from our ancestors. I can’t let it end with me!”
He puffed on his pipe, his face lined with age and years of work.
“If I agreed to go to the pig farm, I’d only care for pigs. What about other animals? I can’t abandon our ancestral craft just for higher pay. Impossible!”
Grandpa Sun was immovable once set in his mind.
Zhengfei knew he couldn’t convince him. He rubbed his eyes, then smiled teasingly:
“Grandpa, why don’t I go to the pig farm? You can manage the veterinary station by yourself.”
“You little brat!” Grandpa Sun thwacked him on the head with his pipe.
“You half-baked fool! Don’t embarrass the Sun family. Stay here and learn properly!”
Zhengfei pouted, rubbing the lump on his head. “Learn what? There are barely any animals here all year. I’m bored sick!”
Before the conversation could continue, the roar of a car engine sounded.
In the distance, a military-green jeep sped over, kicking up mud.
Grandpa Sun and Zhengfei exchanged glances and stood.
Soon, the jeep stopped, and three people stepped out:
Grandpa Sun hurried over. “What happened to the dog?”
Granny Wen quickly explained.
Sun Zhengfei took Little Potato and carried it inside.
“Quick, put it on the bed so I can examine it carefully.”
The veterinary station had treatment rooms on the left and two care beds on the right.
As soon as Zhengfei placed the pup on the bed, Grandpa Sun examined it carefully—its limbs, belly, mouth, and eyes—muttering to himself.
The others stayed silent, afraid to disturb him.
Ten minutes later, Grandpa Sun finished.
Granny Wen anxiously asked, “Doctor, how’s Little Potato? Can she be saved?”
The pup remained unconscious, only briefly opening its eyes when given anti-venom at the hospital, then slipping back into a coma.
Tears welled up in Granny Wen’s eyes.
Grandpa Sun said, “She can be saved. Thankfully, you wisely gave her anti-venom at the hospital. Otherwise, it would have been too late to bring her here. She still has some residual toxins in her system, but a few acupuncture sessions and some herbal medicine will do the trick. Her leg isn’t too bad—the bandaging done at the hospital is fine, no need to redo it.”
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
“Xiao Fei, get my acupuncture kit.”
Grandpa Sun instructed his grandson, then turned to Granny Wen.
“During acupuncture, we’ll need two people to hold Little Potato’s paws to prevent sudden movements.”
Shen Ran said, “Then I’ll help Granny Wen.”
Qin Lie frowned.
Little Potato knew Granny Wen, so even if startled, it wouldn’t bite her.
But Shen Ran? Who knew what she might do.
If the dog went crazy and bit her, she could make a scene, refusing to finalize the divorce at the military station.
This woman’s schemes ran deep.
He had thought she had changed to hold onto him, but it seemed she was just toying with him, confusing his eyes to lower his guard.
Luckily, he hadn’t fallen for it.
“I’ll do it—I’m stronger,” Qin Lie said, glancing at Shen Ran.
He expected her to refuse, so he was already thinking of alternatives.
Shen Ran nodded. “Fine, then you do it!”
Qin Lie: ???
She agreed so easily?
Even after finishing acupuncture, he couldn’t quite believe it.
“Hey, Qin Lie, what are you standing there for? We can go now!”
At that moment, her clear voice sounded in his ear.
A soft little hand poked his lower back.
Qin Lie jolted as if electrified, straightening up, ears burning red.
Shen Ran dared to touch him in public—shameless!
“Don’t overdo it. Everyone is watching!” he warned.
Shen Ran: …
Wait, what is he saying? She seems not to understand at all…