Xia Li got out of bed while Mrs. Xia was preparing breakfast in the kitchen.
She let Dangdang sniff the Silver Bullet before confining it to its room. She then sprinkled some liquor on the small Silver Bullet and buried it beneath the backyard wall.
Xia Li had already observed that Dangdang, having crossed over, remained clever—perhaps even more so than in its previous life. Its agile and nimble posture indicated that this body was also formidable, possessing strong offensive capabilities, though its sense of smell remained untested.
Her actions were meant to evaluate its olfactory abilities.
In its past life, Xiao Shuai had an exceptionally keen sense of smell.
After hiding the Silver Bullet, she brought Dangdang out and had it search.
Dangdang twitched its nose and headed straight for the backyard. Moreover, it followed the exact path Xia Li had taken earlier, successfully locating the buried Silver Bullet. After sniffing carefully, it signaled that the object was there.
Overjoyed, Xia Li confirmed that Dangdang’s sense of smell was still as sharp as ever, capable of detecting scents carried by the wind. The soil she had buried it in was loose, and Dangdang dug it up in less than two minutes, carrying the Silver Bullet in its mouth and delivering it to Xia Li’s hand.
“Excellent, absolutely wonderful, well done, Dangdang…” Xia Li praised it while rubbing its head.
Afterward, Dangdang trotted all the way to Xia Li’s bedroom, scratching at the wardrobe a few times with its paws, then scratching at a chest.
The silver inside the wardrobe and chest carried not only the scent of silver but also Xia Li’s scent. Even yesterday’s scent, it could still detect. Of course, it also remembered from yesterday.
Xia Li rubbed its head and praised, “Dangdang, you’re truly capable.”
Next, Dangdang twitched its nose again and ran to Mrs. Xia’s bedroom. It scratched at a locked chest with its paws, then stood in front of the bed, indicating that something was hidden underneath.
Xia Li didn’t know whether to laugh or cry—it had even uncovered Mrs. Xia’s hiding spot for silver. She chuckled and said, “This is where our own family hides silver. Don’t let outsiders know; keep it a secret.”
After the meal, Mrs. Xia went inside to embroider, while Xia Li took Dangdang to the backyard. She practiced archery while Dangdang ran circles around the vegetable patch. The yard was too small for Dangdang to fully stretch its legs, and after a while, it began to feel restless all over.
Xia Li thought for a moment, then went inside to find a burlap sack, filled it with sand, and made a large sandbag. She then called Wang Erniu over and had him set up two wooden stakes in the open space of the backyard, tie a rope between them, and hang the sandbag. This way, she could practice boxing, and Dangdang would have an outlet for its energy.
Her explanation to Wang Erniu was also that they had started keeping the dog at the end of March. At that time, it hadn’t been fully tamed yet, so they only dared to keep it locked in the side room. Now that it was better behaved, they had let it out.
The simple-minded Wang Erniu believed her and said, “Sister Xia, you’re really brave. What if the dog bites you? You should still be careful in the future.”
Xia Li smiled and agreed.
In the afternoon, Old Mrs. Xia arrived with Xia Erhu and Da Huang. Xia Erhu and Da Huang came to play with Dangdang, while Old Mrs. Xia wanted to discuss with Mrs. Xia once more the benefits of adopting San Bao.
The old lady also wanted to catch a glimpse of the dog. As soon as she entered the backyard, a large dog rushed toward her. The old lady stumbled backward, and though Mrs. Xia quickly supported her, she still strained her lower back.
Xia Li pretended to scold Dangdang a few times, then went over to help Mrs. Xia escort the old lady to the main hall. Apologizing, she said, “Dangdang is very well-behaved; it was just playing around with Grandma…”The old lady said angrily, “Calling such a fierce dog well-behaved? You really know how to lie with your eyes wide open… Ouch, this is killing me. Drive it out, drive it out…”
Mrs. Xia rubbed the old lady’s waist and gave her a hundred coins to see a doctor. With few eggs left at home, she sent Xia Li to buy twenty eggs from their neighbor Hao Danniang.
When Xia Li arrived at the Hao residence, she casually mentioned that after being frightened by someone pushing her into the river last month, she had adopted a guard dog. The dog had just been playing with Xia Erhu and Old Mrs. Xia when the old lady accidentally strained her waist.
Hao Danniang laughed, “I was wondering why I’d been hearing barks from your house lately, since Li Girl has always been afraid of dogs. But you’re right – a widow and her daughter should have kept a guard dog long ago.”
The original host had been bitten by Hao Danniang’s dog in childhood, hence her fear was known.
Xia Li smiled in tacit acknowledgment. Noticing Hao Yunxiu’s embroidery hoop, she praised, “Sister Xiu, your hands are so skillful! These peonies look as exquisite as my mother’s work.”
Both Hao Danniang and Hao Yunxiu beamed with pleasure. Hao Yunxiu often sought embroidery guidance from Mrs. Xia, being among the few girls Mrs. Xia genuinely mentored. At fourteen, she was already betrothed.
Hao Danniang said gratefully, “We owe thanks to your mother – Yunxiu has been learning embroidery from her since she was eight.”
Though her back still ached, Old Mrs. Xia’s condition didn’t require medical treatment – rest would suffice. Having gained a hundred coins and twenty eggs for free, her wrinkled face blossomed into a radiant smile.
Mrs. Xia helped the old lady home while carrying the eggs, leaving Xia Erhu and Da Huang to continue playing with Dangdang.
Xia Li smiled inwardly – their story about keeping the dog since last month was now firmly established.
That night, thunderstorms raged. Thinking of Dangdang in the east wing, Xia Li felt more secure with his company.
Five days later, Mrs. Xia returned from Sanshao Town with purchases. She urgently pulled Xia Li into the main room, with Dangdang wagging his tail behind them. Before he could enter, Mrs. Xia shut him outside, making him scratch anxiously at the door.
In hushed tones, Mrs. Xia said, “Li Li, our Dangdang is actually Commandant’s dog – his original name is Huzi… What should we do?” Her face flushed crimson with terror.
The news had finally reached here.
Xia Li responded calmly, “Don’t panic, Mother. How do you know our Dangdang is the Commandant’s Huzi?”
Mrs. Xia explained urgently, “In town, people said the Commandant lost his dog named Huzi in Tongning County on the nineteenth this month. Notices are posted everywhere describing the dog – black and yellow coat, precious Yanshan Wolfdog breed, wearing a black linen collar strung with thirty-six Golden Lilac beads, eleven months old… They’re offering five thousand taels of silver reward! One local family brought their Yanshan Wolfdog to try their luck, but it wasn’t Huzi. Li Li, Dangdang came to us that very afternoon on the nineteenth, matching the description perfectly, even wearing that black linen collar. Heaven above – five thousand taels!”
Xia Li’s heart sank. She never expected Dangdang’s previous owner would care so deeply – offering five thousand taels to find him. Not just wealthy, but mad!