Chapter One: When the Dog Bites the Man

The sun in March was gently warm. Many people liked to take advantage of this warmth, going outside to bask in the sun, fly kites, or find a scenic spot to camp. Places like Ping’an Wetland Park were perfect for such outings.

In a secluded corner, Zhang Congwen sat on a bench in Ping’an Wetland Park, feeling a bit regretful for acting on impulse. His previous job hadn’t gone well, and in a fit of frustration, he quit without any backup plan. To this day, he still hadn’t found a new job.

He sighed, having sent out seven resumes, all vanishing without a trace. If he couldn’t find work soon, he feared he wouldn’t be able to pay his rent. People said that the post-2000 generation was shaking up the workplace, but now it seemed the workplace had shaken him up instead.

“Help! Someone help! The dog is biting someone!” A little girl’s panicked cries rang out just as Zhang Congwen was mired in his worries, followed by an adult’s urgent call for help.

“What’s happening?” He quickly turned toward the sound and saw, not far away on the green lawn, a five or six-year-old girl being mauled by a large Alaskan Malamute.

The dog growled, clamping onto the girl’s right leg with its jaws, shaking its head fiercely. Blood pooled beneath them. An elderly woman—likely the girl’s grandmother—was desperately trying to shield her granddaughter, but the Malamute seemed fixated on the child, refusing to let go. The girl was powerless, only able to sob for help as the dog tossed her about, dragging the grandmother along who was thrown aside several times.

Several people had already rushed over. Some wielded sticks they’d found, striking the Malamute repeatedly. Others, lacking anything suitable, resorted to punching and kicking in an attempt to drive the dog away.

Zhang Congwen, who had studied this kind of situation before, knew their actions, though well-meant, would only make things worse. Not only would they fail to drive the dog away, but they could also provoke its aggression.

There was no time to correct them now—saving the girl was paramount. Without hesitation, Zhang Congwen charged forward.

There were three ways to deal with a biting dog. The first was to squeeze the dog’s cheeks, pressing its teeth against the tender flesh. Usually, the pain would force the dog to release its grip. But this method was limited; it wasn’t suited for a dog shaking its head madly. Worse, it could injure the rescuer or make the dog even more aggressive.

The second method was to grab the dog’s hind legs and drag it backward. If both legs were lifted off the ground, the dog would lose balance and fall, naturally loosening its grip. Yet for a dog in a frenzy, even this wasn’t reliable.

While either method might free the girl, subduing a large dog afterward was another challenge. If not handled well, the Malamute could attack others.

So Zhang Congwen chose the third method: he tackled the dog directly.

Because he was tall and strong, he managed to cover the Malamute with his body. At first glance, it seemed less like rescuing and more like protecting the dog. The bystanders assumed he was the owner, rushing to shield his “son” from their blows.

Their anger flared. The dog had bitten a child, and instead of saving her, he was protecting the animal? Without hesitation, they beat both man and dog.

Zhang Congwen ignored their misunderstanding, enduring the blows. He slid his left hand from the left side of the Malamute’s neck, reaching toward his right shoulder to lock the dog’s throat. His right hand hooked over his left, circling the back of the dog’s head, and with his own head, pushed forward, forcing the Malamute’s head to bend.

In an instant, he executed a rear naked choke, just like in a martial arts ring. With a burst of strength, within seconds, the Malamute’s body went limp, losing consciousness.

The girl’s grandmother hurried to pull her granddaughter aside, anxiously checking her wounds.

Only then did people realize Zhang Congwen wasn’t protecting the dog but saving the child. Remembering how they’d struck him without mercy, they felt a pang of guilt.

“My son! How could you kill my son?” Just as Zhang Congwen subdued the dog, a woman rushed over, frantic. Her first concern was not the injured girl, nor the brave rescuers or Zhang Congwen, but the unconscious dog lying on the ground.

It was clear she was the real owner of the Malamute.

When the dog first attacked, she had been present, but whether out of fear or shock, she hadn’t intervened. Only after the Malamute was subdued did she appear.

She knelt beside her unconscious dog, wiping her tears, pointing at Zhang Congwen and unleashing a tirade, as if ready to fight for her pet.

“It only bit someone, didn’t kill her! How could you be so ruthless and kill my darling son?”

“What kind of person are you? Have you no compassion? You must pay for my dog!”

“I’ve raised my precious for three years. Do you know how much money I’ve spent on him? Now you’ve killed him—can you afford to pay?”

Zhang Congwen brushed dirt and dog hair off his clothes, grimacing. Those who had beaten him earlier hadn’t held back.

The Malamute’s owner looked every bit the urban beauty—stylish and refined, attractive and slender, yet far too frail to control such a large dog. With her build, there was no way she could handle a Malamute on a leash; it would drag her along. If the dog attacked someone, she’d be powerless to stop it. Moreover, the dog wasn’t even wearing a leash—an accident was inevitable.

“The dog isn’t dead, just unconscious. It’ll wake up soon,” Zhang Congwen said coldly, sizing her up.

He had no patience for people who were irresponsible with their pets.

Seeing his attitude, the Malamute’s owner became even more relentless.

“You think just because my darling isn’t dead, you won’t have to pay? I’m telling you, I’ll take him for a full checkup. If there’s even the slightest problem, I won’t let you off!”

Her dog had bitten a child, yet she offered no apology, instead arrogantly blaming others.

“All of you, each one of you, were so cruel to my darling. Where’s your humanity?”

An elderly man couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke up: “Your dog bit someone, and you ignore the injured girl to care about your dog. If anyone here lacks humanity, it’s you—you’re more dog than human!”

With the old man taking the lead, the crowd began to criticize the Malamute’s owner.

Facing their accusations, she stood her ground. “You big men bullying a single woman—is that humane? Besides, my darling has never bitten anyone before. If he bit that girl, she must have provoked him!”