Chapter Forty-Four: A Good Intention, A Flawed Approach

Because he had promised Xie Caizhe, Zhang Congwen didn’t search for jobs or submit resumes online the next day.

Yet, once idle, Zhang Congwen began to feel bored. This wasn’t how things used to be. In the past, whenever he had free time, he would amuse himself with his turtle, scroll through videos, play games—the day would pass in such a manner, never feeling bored, only enjoying a sense of ease.

Today, Song Jiawei came home rather late, his face weary. Zhang Congwen didn’t feel comfortable asking whether he’d gone on a date with Xie Julie or met with clients. In any case, Song Jiawei shut himself in his room upon returning and exchanged barely a few words with Zhang Congwen.

Zhang Congwen didn’t pry any further.

When the appointed time with Xie Caizhe arrived, Zhang Congwen promptly set out.

From afar, he spotted Xie Caizhe walking alongside a girl. Not far behind, another boy flashed Xie Caizhe a contemptuous middle finger, then strolled off with a mischievous grin.

“Brother Zhang, over here!” Xie Caizhe called out from a distance as soon as he saw him. Once Zhang Congwen drew near, the girl by Xie Caizhe’s side timidly greeted him, “Hello, Uncle Zhang.”

Zhang Congwen was helpless. He’d only graduated two years ago, yet already someone was calling him uncle. He couldn’t help rubbing his face, convinced he didn’t look that old.

Although a bit disheartened, Zhang Congwen had to admire Xie Caizhe’s discernment. Though still young and not fully grown, Xie Caizhe’s classmate would surely be as beautiful in the future as Xie Julie, Xie Caizhe’s elder sister.

Despite being called uncle, which irked him, Zhang Congwen’s impression of Xie Caizhe’s classmate was quite favorable—shy but not lacking in courtesy.

Through conversation, Zhang Congwen learned that Xie Caizhe’s classmate was named Lin Xiaoru. Her family owned a French bulldog called Big Ears. This bulldog shared a similar fate to Dahu—before reaching adulthood, it had already changed owners twice, and Lin Xiaoru’s family was its third.

Unlike Dahu, Big Ears wasn’t abandoned for biting, but for various other reasons. According to Lin Xiaoru, its first owner was a college student who, finding the bulldog cute, bought it on impulse.

But once the real responsibilities of raising it set in, problems arose. As a puppy, Big Ears hadn’t learned to relieve itself in designated spots, and its first owner kept it in the dormitory. The outcome was predictable: the bulldog’s messes irritated the other roommates, and once the novelty wore off, the owner found it troublesome and decided to give it up.

Thus, Big Ears ended up with its second owner, who had adopted it shortly after getting married. But happiness was short-lived. The owner unexpectedly became pregnant, and the family, worried the bulldog might harm the child, insisted it be given away.

Though the second owner was fond of Big Ears, in the end she couldn’t withstand her family’s opposition, so Lin Xiaoru’s family became the bulldog’s third caretakers.

At first, everything went smoothly when Lin Xiaoru’s family brought Big Ears home. But over time, issues began to emerge. One day, the bulldog started biting the heels of its new owners. Soon it grew more aggressive, leaping to attack. Sometimes, when the family used their legs to block Big Ears’ jumps, it would seize the opportunity to bite the inside of their thighs. If they tried to fend it off with their hands, it would bite their fingers.

Though the bites were never forceful, accidents happened, and the bulldog’s sharp teeth occasionally left wounds.

Fearing that, left unchecked, Big Ears’ temperament might worsen, Lin Xiaoru hoped Zhang Congwen could help train the dog and resolve these issues.

Upon arriving at Lin Xiaoru’s home, Zhang Congwen knocked at the door, and Lin Xiaoru’s mother, Yu Qin, answered.

In the foyer between the living room and the front door stood a gate to prevent the bulldog from escaping. Zhang Congwen noticed that as Yu Qin opened the door, Big Ears clung to the gate, curiously scrutinizing both him and Xie Caizhe. Though it didn’t bark or show hostility, anyone could see how excited and inquisitive it was toward strangers.

Since Lin Xiaoru had already informed her mother, Yu Qin wasn’t surprised by their visit. After welcoming them in, Big Ears became intensely interested in Xie Caizhe’s backpack.

Standing upright on its hind legs, with its forepaws on Xie Caizhe, it repeatedly tried to sniff and even seize his backpack to drag it to the floor.

Only when Xie Caizhe raised the backpack high above his head did the bulldog lose interest in it and begin sniffing Zhang Congwen.

As Zhang Congwen headed for the sofa, the bulldog, just as Lin Xiaoru had described, followed behind and nipped at his heels. But Zhang Congwen merely stamped his foot lightly, and the bulldog quickly retreated, putting some distance between them. After glancing at him, it shifted its attention, trailing Xie Caizhe and biting at his heels.

When both Zhang Congwen and Xie Caizhe sat down on the sofa and ceased moving about, the bulldog finally returned to Yu Qin’s embrace.

Zhang Congwen then asked, “When Big Ears bit our heels just now, why didn’t you stop it?”

Yu Qin hadn’t expected this question and replied apologetically, “We used to try to stop it when it bit our heels, but it never helped. Sometimes, it would just switch targets and bite our hands. After a while, we felt powerless and just let it be.”

Zhang Congwen frowned slightly. “But letting it bite guests like this easily leads to injuries.”

Yu Qin’s apology deepened as she explained, “You don’t know—usually when it bites others’ heels, it doesn’t use much force. But if we intervene, it bites harder. That not only increases the chance of us being hurt, but also our guests.”

Zhang Congwen sighed. He could tell Yu Qin wasn’t shirking responsibility, but speaking from experience with dogs that enjoy biting heels. Her intentions were good, but her methods were flawed.

He said, “If a person is timid and gets bitten unexpectedly on the heel, they might panic and dodge suddenly. That’s just as likely to lead to injury.”

At this, Xie Caizhe discreetly nudged Zhang Congwen, feeling his tone was too stern and might leave a bad impression on Lin Xiaoru.

Actually, Yu Qin already understood what Zhang Congwen meant, so she didn’t argue much. Deep down, she believed that as long as guests didn’t move suddenly, her bulldog wouldn’t harm them. But that was wishful thinking. After all, not every visitor knew her dog as well as she did.

It’s much like people claiming their dogs don’t bite; it’s all the owner’s wishful thinking. Owners can control their own dogs, but not other people. Others might make an ordinary movement that could provoke the dog and lead to a bite.

Though Zhang Congwen knew he was being rather blunt, he felt these things needed to be said. The ultimate goal of dog training isn’t merely to manage the dog, but to ensure the safety of both people and animals. Still, to spare Yu Qin’s feelings, he added, “In fact, when strangers visit, you could put Big Ears on a leash and keep it close. It would be much safer.”

No sooner had he finished speaking than he noticed Big Ears, nestled in Yu Qin’s arms, suddenly began licking the edge of the sofa. The bulldog licked vigorously, its tongue making a persistent “shh shh” sound against the fabric.

Curious, Zhang Congwen asked, “Does it often do this?”