Granny Song looked at Xiao Nuan and sighed in relief when she saw that Xiao Nuan no longer seed guarded or fearful of her: "Do you rember when I ca to give you a red envelope this New Year? I really scared you."
Xiao Nuan nodded. When a stranger handed her a large red envelope for no reason, her first reaction was not joy but fear.
Especially after Granny Wang, who lived at the end of the alley, found out that Granny Song was giving Xiao Nuan milk, eggs, and the like, she continuously warned Xiao Nuan. She said that Granny Song had a good-for-nothing son and advised Xiao Nuan to be wary of her, claiming that the things were just small bribes.
Granny Song’s gesture of giving her a red envelope was very conspicuous. After witnessing it, Granny Wang secretly told Xiao Nuan that it ant Granny Song was securing an engagent for Xiao Nuan to marry her son, scaring Xiao Nuan even more.
Her dislike and fear of Granny Song reached a peak.
Once, when it suddenly poured rain and Xiao Nuan didn’t have an umbrella, Granny Song passed by and offered her umbrella to Xiao Nuan.
Xiao Nuan straightforwardly refused and sternly told Granny Song not to bother her anymore, or she would call the police.
"Granny Song, did you give a red envelope because of Juzi?"
Granny Song nodded: "One day late last year, when I had an asthma attack, I couldn’t breathe. It was Juzi, following my instructions, who brought my asthma dicine, saving my life."
Recalling this, Xiao Nuan was taken aback, realizing that Granny Wang had deliberately tarnished Granny Song’s image in front of her: "Granny Song, do you have a grudge against Granny Wang?"
After hearing about Granny Wang’s actions from Xiao Nuan, Granny Song sighed.
"Did Wang Ju at the end of the alley really say that? Maybe she resented since three years ago when I caught her secretly picking the cabbages I grew outside my house."
"When she learned that my son had been tricked into going to Southeast Asia, she was delighted, discussing my son’s situation with neighbors during tea ti every day."
"She said I birthed a delinquent and that it’s karma for my own past misdeeds. She bragged about her son pursuing a Master’s in Computer Science in the United States, with the country begging him to return."
Xiao Nuan hadn’t expected such a significant misunderstanding between her and Granny Song and regretted blindly trusting Granny Wang’s words.
"Your little cat is so considerate, even more so than my own family."
Granny Song rambled on about the joy this little cat brought her: "After that asthma attack, Juzi was especially attentive. Sotis when I dozed off, Juzi would jump up to the head of my bed, checking my breath with its paw, worried I had fainted."
"When I sleep and forget to keep my phone by my pillow, Juzi would mouth it over to my bedside, so I could reach it in an ergency and call for help."
"It even uses its mouth to tug the blanket over ."
As Granny Song spoke, tears of emotion fell: "I raised my son for twenty-three years, and he never did anything like that for ."
Granny Song’s son was unruly from a young age and dropped out after middle school, loafing around all day. Whenever he ca ho, he demanded money, and if he couldn’t get any, he’d beco violent. Three years ago, after he stole Granny Song’s bank card and cash along with so jewelry, he left and never returned, disappearing without a trace.
Granny Song asked around and found out her son had gone to Southeast Asia with friends to make big money, realizing he might never co back.
"Since you won’t accept gifts, I can only try making delicious food for Juzi as a way to repay it."
Speaking of food, Xiao Nuan then explained her visit’s purpose to Granny Song.
Upon learning that a cat gaining weight could negatively affect its health, Granny Song’s expression imdiately turned remorseful.
She quickly apologized to Xiao Nuan: "I’m sorry, I’m really sorry, I didn’t know cat obesity was scarier than human obesity."
"I saw that Juzi wasn’t full and had heard about toxic cat food, but as an elderly person, I don’t know how to select or buy things online. I thought homade food would be healthier, so I fed Juzi myself."
"I was happy seeing it eat with such delight every day, not realizing my good intentions had unintended consequences."
As she spoke, Granny Song promptly went to her dresser and took out an old box, retrieving a jade bangle wrapped in velvet.
Granny Song handed the bangle to Xiao Nuan: "Sorry for the trouble I caused you!"
"Consider this bangle as compensation for Juzi’s dical expenses. Please take her to the vet for a check-up and see what treatnt the doctor advises."
"No, no, it’s my responsibility for being negligent in caring for my cat, resulting in Juzi not being full enough and going out at night to look for food."
Xiao Nuan shook her head vigorously in refusal: "I haven’t even paid you, Granny, for all the feeding and care you’ve given Juzi."
Thanks to Granny Song’s care, Juzi was besides just being chubby, without other issues. Her coat was smooth, didn’t shed, was neatly trimd regularly at ho, and though she secreted more, there were no tear marks at the corners of her eyes.
One must admit, the elderly do have a knack for taking care of children.
Xiao Nuan proactively held Granny Song’s hands: "Just help and Juzi lose weight together!"
"I’ll be working during the day, so I’ll leave the task of overseeing Juzi’s weight loss to you~"
"I’d like to drop Juzi off at your place during the day, if that’s okay? I’ll pay a boarding fee every month."
Granny Song quickly shook her head: "No, no, just seeing Juzi during the day is enough for . You’re such a kind-hearted girl!"
Xiao Nuan said righteously: "How could that be? You’ve taken such good care of Juzi, I don’t even know how to thank you."
Thinking it over, Granny Song said: "Xiao Nuan, if you really want to thank , how about you buy so groceries after work and bring them to my place? I’ll make dinner for you, buy enough so you can make bento lunches to take to work. I’ve seen you eating takeout every day; it’s not good."
Hearing this, Xiao Nuan’s eyes welled with tears, realizing Granny Song’s request was genuinely for her benefit.
Every day after work, she just wanted to lie down and not cook. The monthly takeout expense was a significant part of her budget, yet she knew Granny Song’s cooking skills were exceptional, evident from her skills in making cat food.
Xiao Nuan responded, her voice trembling softly: "Okay."
She had heard from Granny Wang about how frugally Granny Song lived, barely eating at twice a week. She decided she’d bring at dishes every day!
So the now frail Granny Song could gain so weight!
"From now on, Juzi and I will keep you company."
Xu Ying sighed, touched by the story of the woman and the cat: "Granny Song probably feels as happy watching Juzi eat as if she were watching her granddaughter eating, very satisfied and happy."
Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed by the control room door, five ear fox cubs quietly watching her.
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