Seeing it was getting late, Suming drove Zhu Chenggui back to the factory where he was on duty.
On the way back, Zhu Chenggui brought up the topic of cigarettes and alcohol, complaining about how life was so tough that he couldn't even afford a little drink.
Suming, being a perceptive person, stopped by a supermarket and specifically bought two bottles of Jiannanchun and a pack of Double Happiness cigarettes for Zhu Chenggui.
For the two hundred yuan worth of goods, Zhu Chenggui kept thanking him and said if there was ever any issue with fish farming, he should just ask. He might be old, but if there was one thing he was skilled at, it was fish farming and fishing.
Though they hadn't spent much time together, Suming could tell that Zhu Chenggui was sly in a peasant-like way and somewhat mercenary, so he had no plans to rely too much on him for fish farming matters.
Heading back to the zoo, Suming hit the evening rush hour and encountered traffic jams all the way, arriving at Whisperwind Pavilion when it was already pitch dark, around eight o'clock.
Before even entering, he could hear a cacophony of cats and dogs coming from inside the pavilion.
Upon pushing the door open, the house was in complete disarray, pots and pans knocked over everywhere, and two big wolfhounds and the Meow Corps led by Hei were having a standoff, tense and ready for battle.
Under Hei's leadership, several felines formed a semicircle, cornering the two wolfhounds against the wall. Their fur bristled, they stood on tiptoes, and their tails were as straight as antennas!
The wolfhounds, not showing any weakness, stuck by the wall, their upper bodies crouched down, mouths open to reveal sharp canine teeth, and fiercely barked at the group of cats as if they were ready to pounce at any moment!
The alligator turtle, apparently having come inside to find something to eat, had a bag of chips in its mouth, caught between the frayed nerves of the felines and the wolfhound brothers, leaving it stretching out its big head in a panic, unable to decide whether to advance or retreat.
As the saying goes, those who love to watch the turmoil don't fear the chaos escalating. Er Gouzi, the wasp, not wanting to be outdone, crawled out of its little nest in the beams and buzzed annoyingly around the room, making a bad situation worse.
"Will all of you f***ing stop it!"
Suming strode in, stood tall, and yelled at all the animals up and down.
Seeing its chance while the cats and the wolfhound brothers were taken aback, the alligator turtle, still holding the bag of chips, scurried out of the pavilion like the wind, and plopped into the pond with a splash.
"Woof woof woof..."
Without needing to ask or think, Suming knew for sure that the Meow Corps must have bullied the newcomers and hoarded all the food, so he turned his head and glared at Hei.
"Meow..." Hei meowed reluctantly and then dragged a pile of stuff from the depths of the cat's nest.
Cat food, dog food, snacks... and there were even several lively little fish and shrimps...
"You've even learned to hide stuff now? No more bullying the wolfhounds, and you two, don't bite the cats... Alright, you two will be called Wang Cai and De Fu," Suming decided as he pointed at the wolfhound brothers.
Wang Cai and De Fu scampered off with their food to eat, while Hei and some junior Meow Corps members, already full, listlessly played with a half-dead crayfish. The crayfish, dragging its tail to escape, was scooped back by Hei's paw after several flips, brandishing its large pincers threateningly at Hei.
Because they had been following Suming around all day and frequently came into contact with Animal Friendship, the cats' strength and speed had noticeably increased. After several snapping attempts by the crayfish, Hei skillfully dodged them and with a hefty pat, the crayfish was smacked into the wall with a splat, its shell cracked, clearly beyond saving.
"If you're going to eat, can you not be so cruel..."
While talking, Suming suddenly had a revelation, as if he had remembered something very important!
"Wait! Wait... the crayfish... where did the crayfish come from?"
Suming remembered that when he had sent Big Head and the alligator turtle to scout Shuijun Lake, he found that although there were very few fish, there were lots of loaches, crayfish, and crabs, which thrive in dirty water and mud.
A bold idea emerged in his mind!
Without further thought about tidying up the house, he ran to the platform and yelled towards the lake, "Old Turtle, come with me!"
Then, he turned and ran towards Shuijun Lake.
The zoo was already closed, and there wasn't a soul around Shuijun Lake, the breeze rustling the willows on the shore with a sound like whispers.
Near the shore, large ripples appeared on the water as a big-headed catfish over a foot long surfaced, whiskers fluttering and half a loach hanging from its mouth. Seeing Suming, the big-headed catfish swallowed the loach whole with a gulp, then straightened its body in the water, tail flicking, waiting for Suming's command!
"Old Turtle, Big Head, both of you go into the water and herd all the loaches, crayfish, crabs, anything that digs holes, right up to the shore. I want to talk to them!"