Chapter 19

editor/TLC: serefina

Zhang Qiming bought a small condo in a newly-built high-rise community located in Kaishi. The names on the real estate certificate were his and Zhang Hang’s. He had wanted to only write Zhang Hang’s name, but Zhang Hang was still a minor and could not yet be completely independent. With help from the police from the police station, he transferred Zhang Hang’s bank account to be under the child’s own name. Zhao Xiaolian had abandoned her underage son and no longer had the qualifications to raise a child. They could, in fact, hold Zhao Xiaolian legally responsible for her actions, since it was illegal to abandon one’s children. However, Zhang Hang unexpectedly didn’t wish to do so.

Zhang Hang was a little hesitant about Zhang Qiming writing his name on the certificate, because he didn’t want to increase the burden on his father. His idea had been to rent a house until he was independent. However, sensing Zhang Qiming’s joyful mood when he took him to check out the condo, Zhang Hang swallowed the words he wanted to say. At this stage, he couldn’t make too many promises, but he would definitely work hard and repay his father properly in the future. If Zhang Qiming were to get married and have his own children, Zhang Hang would be the eldest brother and help care for them. He would provide for his father.

Of course, these words were currently just empty talk. Whether he could stand on his own was unknown. Zhang Hang could only hide his thoughts at the bottom of his heart and remain determined.

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

The new condo was convenient and simple in structure without too many walls. Zhang Hang became familiar with the new home’s layout with Big Black’s help. Zhang Qiming had purposefully chosen to buy a condo with uncomplicated decor and furniture so that Zhang Hang would not bump into anything.

The high-rise had an underground floor with a supermarket, so residents could directly go shopping by using the elevator. It employed good quality shopping guides. If Zhang Hang wanted to buy something, he could just ask for help from the guides. He also would not have to push his shopping cart upstairs, as he could just use the elevator to bring goods home.

Once luck arrives, all kinds of good things follow.

This summer, the Kaishi School for the Blind had joined up with many vocational high schools in the city. Schools for the blind included ordinary elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and vocational high schools. Many courses were especially set up for employment of the blind. This was a new policy starting this year. It used to be very difficult for blind people to learn employable skills, but now, schooling for the blind had opened up convenient specialized education.

The Kaishi government had issued a series of new policies regarding blind people all at once, one of which was that guide dogs could not be barred from entering a public place, and had to be accommodated for. They should not be discriminated against, touched, or fed by people other than their owner. This would open a door for the majority of blind people.

Lu Chengye had the habit of watching the national and local news each day. At the time this regulation was issued, Zhang Qiming had not yet arranged the condo and they still lived with Xiao Ren. While Lu Chengye watched the news, Zhang Qiming led Zhang Hang to drop out of his original high school. They then contacted the school for the blind. Xiao Ren, on the other hand, was off duty and had slept until he was fully rested. He was currently in the middle of brushing his teeth.

Xiao Ren was no longer surprised by the phenomenon of a dog watching the financial and news channels. Big Black was Hang Hang’s dog anyway, so if he was smart, he would take care of the child better. Big Black always stuck by Zhang Hang’s side, so he didn’t have to worry about him becoming too smart and running away from his owner. Xiao Ren felt that what he should really worry about was the dog becoming too amazing and outshining his Hang Hang… Pei, what was he thinking!

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He was shaving his face when he heard the dog growling in the living room. Big Black was rarely loud, as if he knew that barking would disturb people. Unless he was particularly angry or excited, he kept any noises as low as a person’s speech so it wouldn’t affect anyone.

Xiao Ren didn’t have the same kind of tacit understanding with Big Black that Zhang Hang did, but could still hear some emotion in Big Black’s cry. Thinking that something had happened, he ran out of the bathroom with a face full of white foam that had a trace of red. He had been scared by Big Black and nicked his jaw with the razor.

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Fortunately, he knew Big Black was not an easily surprised dog. He followed the dog’s line of sight to the TV and happened to see the tail end of the headline, so knew that it was something to do with policies for the blind. Going back to the bathroom, he cleaned his face and put a bandaid on his jaw, then read the day’s news online. In 2006, the government were not as open about affairs as they were later. However, because the city was so advanced, its transparency was top tier. A government website had been established a while back to make it easier for people to view recent developments.

Xiao Ren found a series of new policies about blind people. After seeing that guide dogs could now access public spaces, he immediately understood why Big Black was so excited.

It was just… was that right? Did this dog really read the news? It knew to dance when it was happy?

He felt that it was a bit mysterious. Because it was still too early, his in-game comrades who usually went online in the afternoon hadn’t woken up yet. Xiao Ren decided to go back to sleep. If he wasn’t awake, he wouldn’t daydream.

When Xiao Ren woke up once again, Zhang Hang had returned home with lunch. Big Black was still wagging his tail and trying to drag him to the TV to watch the news.

Oh, their TV was digital and had the function of storing video and replaying it. So Big Black must have recorded the news and waited for Zhang Hang to come back to replay it?

Hang Hang, your dog will really become a master!

Although uncertain, when he saw Zhang Hang holding Big Black’s face and smiling happily, Xiao Ren resolutely decided that he must have just been daydreaming. Big Black was an everyday guide dog who loved and cared for his master. He and Zhang Hang were inseparable.

He’d just let himself believe this and not think too hard about it.

“Big Black, in the future I can take you everywhere!” Zhang Hang happily hugged Big Black. He was so excited that he directly kissed Big Black’s forehead once.

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“Awooo~” Big Black let out a very emotional cry, stretching out his long tongue and licking Zhang Hang’s face.

“Haha, Big Black, stop it, it’s itchy…” Zhang Hang’s voice which had started out happy became a little annoyed. Xiao Ren rushed out of his bedroom to see Big Black pressing Zhang Hang under his body with one paw on each shoulder. His tongue licked everywhere, from the boy’s face to his neck to his collarbone, and even further down. Xiao Ren heroically rescued the beauty by pulling Zhang Hang off of the sofa and pulled out a towel to wipe the saliva off his face. At the same time, he watched Big Black warily.

Being extraordinary was okay, but having bad ideas was not!

Lu Chengye’s body stiffened. Lately he’d been having so much fun that he’d forgotten himself a little. He turned his eyes, smiled in his heart, then threw himself directly at Xiao Ren.

“Big Black, what are you doing? Don’t lick, don’t lick! Ow, are you licking or biting?! Help, Hang Hang, help…”

Zhang Hang, however, shamelessly sat in the audience and listened to Xiao Ren’s cries for help. He put out his hands innocently, saying, “Where are you, Brother Ren? I can’t tell where you are. Big Black, what are you doing?”

Big Black bullied Xiao Ren. He pressed him under his body, pulled open the collar of his coat, and starting biting. With Zhang Hang he would gently lick, but with Xiao Ren he would only bite hard and cause pain! Xiao Ren was crying and asking for help, but Zhang Hang remained obstinate. He let his dog bully the poor man. In the end, Xiao Ren’s clothes were a mess and covered with dog teeth marks. He sat up from the ground with a face covered in slobber, cutting a very sorry figure.

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

“This is too much! You have no loyalty! What happened to being brothers?” Xiao Ren angrily scolded Zhang Hang, his eyes wide.

However, his indignant and wronged expression could only be seen by the dog. Zhang Hang had no idea. He petted Big Black who stuck beside him, then innocently said, “Brother Xiao, you know I’m blind. How could I help you? I’m sorry, I’m so useless…”

He then lowered his head and placed his forehead against Big Black’s, as if he was grieving.

Xiao Ren: “…”

Who wanted you to see! Who told you to stop it! Did your dog really need to be physically pulled back? With just a word, you can call him to you. Hang Hang, are you following other people’s bad examples? Recently, you’ve become a bit of a rogue.

As a matter of fact, Zhang Hang’s appearance of pretending to cry was a little familiar. It seemed that Wang Guiying had acted like this when she came to visit that day…

Xiao Ren rushed off to the bathroom to wash off the saliva and awkwardly wiped his face. It seemed like someone had misguided Hang Hang.

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Presently, Zhang Hang was in the living room “educating” Big Black. “Don’t bully Brother Ren anymore and don’t keep licking my face and neck. It itches.”

“Ouwu~” Lu Chengye put his head on Zhang Hang’s shoulder with satisfaction. He and Hang Hang would live together in the future anyway. Zhang Qiming would hire a part-timer who would only come twice a day to clean the condo and cook for Zhang Hang. For the remaining time, Big Black and Zhang Hang would be alone together.

How they would live in the future… Lu Chengye looked up slightly while imagining the future and couldn’t help but lick Zhang Hang’s fingers.

A few days later, Zhang Qiming tidied up the condo. Xiao Ren took time off to help Zhang Hang move his things over to his new home. After inspecting the home’s environment, he nodded in satisfaction. It was quiet, tidy, and very convenient for transportation, quite suitable for Zhang Hang to live in. The price was not low, but Zhang Qiming did not lack money to spend.

Speaking of his father, he had indeed done well. Not only had he taken care of Zhang Hang so he would not feel guilty in the future, he also made sure Zhang Hang would be able to get the high quality care he would need in the future. Zhang Qiming’s face was full of relief.

–

In September, when the school term began, Zhang Hang officially dropped out of First School. Zhang Qiming took him and Big Black to the school for the blind to register.

sere: uwu ;3c eating Hang Hang’s tofu secretly

bear: such a happy Big Black… gives me warm fuzzies