Chapter 21

editor/TLC: serefina

In the eyes of outsiders, it was hard to understand the meaning of Zhang Hang’s words. Big Black was just a dog. It was true that Big Black was loyal, lovable, and intelligent, but that was just a dog’s natural instincts. People would be touched by such words, but couldn’t fully understand them.

During his loneliest and most helpless years, Big Black witnessed Zhang Hang’s fragility and helped him build up the strength in his heart. No one could understand the feelings between them.

While he was living alone, Big Black would call out to him if he woke up during the night. If it was a low “woo” sound, it meant he should continue to rest. If it was a vigorous “woof woof”, it was an early-morning greeting, and he had woken up earlier than the alarm clock. Each morning when he got up, as soon as his feet touched the ground, his slippers would be placed so he could easily put them on. He never had to step on the ground barefoot. Every day after school, he would also hear Big Black’s familiar bark at the school gate, letting him know that he wasn’t alone.

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Such companionship strengthened his heart.

His unwillingness to talk about the past was not meant to hide his experiences from others, or that it was simply too difficult to face it all. Rather, Zhang Hang was strong enough that he was able to feel relief without having to talk. He didn’t need to use his words to win sympathy from others in exchange for inner peace like the rest of his class.

However, he understood them. It was like putting food in front of a starving man, but not allowing him to eat it. Seeing but not being able to eat was more painful than having nothing at all. Being able to see the colorful world only to have it ripped away by darkness was also very painful. They could no longer see the beautiful light anymore.

Therefore, people wanted to talk and vent their feelings in order to gain people’s sympathy. This was a common mentality among most people.

However, Zhang Hang, a 16-year-old boy, understood that sympathy was not understanding. Sympathy couldn’t replace inner strength.

What had kept him going up to now wasn’t caring words, but silent support. No matter where he went, Big Black would follow him. Even if he was exhausted and fell, he would fall on Big Black, who was soft and alive and gave off the warmth of life, instead of the cold of the floor.

“Big Black!” When he heard the familiar cry, Zhang Hang waved his hand despite not being able to see. Big Black rushed through the crowd to Zhang Hang’s side and licked his fingers.

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Although there were dormitories in the School for the Blind, they were a last resort for the students’ families. If they had the ability, they would definitely want to take care of their relatives. So, there were a lot of people who came to pick up their family members each day. Some were parents coming to pick up their children, and others were there to pick up their parents. No matter what era, there would always be old people with young hearts.

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There was some stubbornness in the old man’s words. However, the man’s hands were calloused from years of work. He would touch the pages the same as everyone else, but it was harder for him to feel. Zhang Hang took the initiative to hold the old man’s hand and stroked it carefully, trying to remember every line.

This was not an ordinary hand.The skin was full of strength and spirit, and its pattern was full of memorable years.

At that time, Zhang Hang had thought this old man was his future.

Touching year round, his hands would become scarred. But every scar and every wrinkle would show his years. His life would be written on his hands without a diary.

Thinking about it made him feel proud.

Zhang Hang smiled and hugged Big Black’s neck. He planned to return home and tell Big Black about his conversation with the old man. He’d share all his happiness and pain with the one who was his family in his heart.

Big Black had been taking Zhang Hang to and from school for more than three months in a row. Today, the first snow of winter fell. Big Black’s nose was cold and he sneezed several times. The guard for the School of the Blind wasn’t an old man, but a young security guard. When the security guard on duty saw the dog who waited there every day for three months sneezing, he couldn’t help but take off his coat and use it to cover Big Black. Big Black accepted. Five minutes before class ended, he returned the coat to the security guard and waited for his master.

The guard and the students’ families were already familiar with the clever dog. For other students, either the father or mother picked them up. It was very difficult to take care of a blind person alone, so generally, three people would take turns with pickup. However, this big black dog had always been the only one to come for Zhang Hang for more than three months. At first, some people had doubts and there were many discussions. Someone would point to Zhang Hang and whisper that this poor child had no family other than his dog. Three months later, not one person gossiped about him, instead saying, “I really want to have a dog like this.”

Yet in the end, Big Black belonged to Zhang Hang.

As usual, he showed affection in front of the crowd, licking Zhang Hang and covering him with slobber. Lu Chengye then proudly led Zhang Hang home. Now, his neck had a collar around it, on which the address and mobile number of his Hang Hang was written. In 2006, having a mobile phone was rare, but Zhang Qiming had bought a mobile phone for Zhang Hang so it would be easier to get in contact.

Once upon a time, Lu Chengye had hated this collar, which symbolized imprisonment, but he was now content to wear it. With this collar, he could be leashed and lead Hang Hang anywhere. Lu Chengye was confident that when they had income, he would surely be able to lead Zhang Hang and travel all over the country and abroad. Even if the young man couldn’t see, Lu Chengye could let him hear different voices from all over the world, feel the breeze from each place, and touch the whole world.

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As a guide dog, this was Big Black’s grand ambition. At the other end of his ambition was the hand holding the leash.

Once they were home, Zhang Hang took a towel and wiped Big Black’s body. It had snowed today, but the city was still fairly warm. Fallen snow would turn to water, which would then turn back into ice. Big Black’s fur was wet and would freeze in the cold air. If they didn’t warm his body soon, Big Black would catch a cold.

He used a hairdryer to blow dry Big Black’s fur. When he finished, he was relieved and clumsily poured himself a cup of hot water to warm his body.

Then Lu Chengye shamelessly put his paws on Zhang Hang’s shoulders, pasting his whole body against the boy’s. He could be called a “dog skin mat”, perfect for keeping warm. Zhang Hang couldn’t understand Lu Chengye’s bark, but could probably understand the meaning behind it. How could such a pure young man know the hidden feelings in a dog’s heart? He did not push Big Black away, and instead hugged the dog even closer. “Big Black knows to help warm me up. You’re really nice and warm.”

It was so warm that it could melt the winter’s ice and snow.

“Wu… woof woof~”

The end of Big Black’s bark contained a hint of excitement. Listening to the sound, Zhang Hang knew that he was very happy.

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After one person and one dog were warmed up, Big Black got up first to patrol around. He didn’t find anything misplaced by the part-time workers. After confirming it was safe, he made a “woof” in the kitchen, and Zhang Hang walked in smoothly. He stood in front of the steamer, which was warm. The part-time workers knew when Zhang Hang finished school, so would prepare the food and leave about ten minutes before he returned. He seldom met them, but the part-time worker aunt’s food was delicious, and Zhang Hang liked them very much. The salt content of the food prepared for Big Black was moderate and completely suitable for dogs.

“Ouwu~” One lay at Zhang Hang’s feet and nibbled at a bone, while the other slowly ate at the table. Big Black made a satisfied whine.

After dinner, it was time to do homework. The School for the Blind also assigned homework. It was good for Zhang Hang to master all the new words he had learned that day, then strengthen his old knowledge for an hour and a half. After previewing the next lesson, it was time to watch prime time TV!

News and weather forecasts were essential. Zhang Hang liked listening to this news the most, because the anchor was articulate and seldom spoke wrong. He sounded the most relaxed out of all the other news hosts. The weather forecast was the most important to him out of the two, as he couldn’t simply look at the sky. Whether he would take an umbrella with him the next day depended on the weather forecast.

After, there was a show on each channel. Zhang Hang was a young man, and liked watching TV, especially martial arts movies. Every time there was a remake of Master Jinyong, he had to watch it. If there hadn’t been any good martial arts films showing recently, he would go to the sports channel. Although he couldn’t see what was happening, the commentary was always very detailed. Most events were explained clearly, and the most exciting moments were replayed multiple times. The host’s commentary would make him feel as if he was really watching the game and inject him with chicken blood, especially football.

At last, it was time for Big Black’s financial channel. Although he didn’t know why a dog liked to watch financial programs, Zhang Hang would give up the TV to Big Black whenever it was time for the program, as if he wasn’t lying next to a dog, but a real person.

After watching TV, he would go to bed early and get up early. As he lay in bed, Zhang Hang talked about the old man he talked to today and his beliefs in a serene voice. Big Black looked up and licked his hand in wordless support.

Story translated by Chrysanthemum Garden.

Then, they went to sleep together after getting through another peaceful and comfortable day. In this way, Zhang Hang’s first New Year alone passed by, and 2007 was ushered in.

sere: almost the new years for us too 🙂 i hope you all have a Big Black in your life