Love Unfinished Between Human and Fox

Half a month passed in this way, with Little White behaving obediently and never causing trouble, so everything remained peaceful.

One morning, seeing that the straw used for the kitchen fire was running low, Tian Yi called Tian Xiaoqi to fetch some from the stack behind the house. When Tian Xiaoqi reached the back, he gathered some straw and was about to return when he heard a rustling from the nearby chicken coop. He crept over to investigate, but just as he drew near, a flash of white darted out straight at him, startling him so much that he cried out, dropped the straw, and ran for the house.

Hearing the commotion, everyone hurried out to see what had happened. Gasping for breath, Tian Xiaoqi exclaimed, "There's... there's a monster!"

Jiang Ran scolded, "In broad daylight, where would a monster come from? Don’t talk nonsense!"

"It's true... really a monster! It just ran past me! Scared me half to death!" Tian Xiaoqi was still shaken.

Tian Yi then asked, "What did the monster look like? Where did it go?"

"I didn’t see clearly, just that it was white, and it ran up the mountain!" At last, Tian Xiaoqi managed a coherent sentence.

Zhao Liang went over to the chicken coop and saw it was empty. He realized Little White had been startled away by Tian Xiaoqi. Seeing everyone speculating, he recounted everything that had happened.

Finally, Zhao Liang turned to Tian Yi and Jiang Ran. "Uncle Tian, Master Jiang, it’s thanks to Little White these days that we've had meat every day. She hasn’t caused any trouble. Could we keep her?"

Tian Yi and Jiang Ran exchanged a glance, pondering for a moment. It was Tian Yi who spoke first. "It’s just a fox, after all. What harm could it do? We’ll keep it like a dog."

Zhao Liang looked at Jiang Ran, who shrugged and spread his hands with a wry smile. "Your Uncle Tian already agreed—how could I say no?"

Zhao Liang was overjoyed. After thanking Tian Yi and Jiang Ran, he ran up the mountain and finally found Little White under a large tree. Little White looked at Zhao Liang with pitiful eyes, whining softly, clearly aggrieved. Zhao Liang quickly comforted her and brought her back.

The children at the charity house were curious to see Zhao Liang return with Little White. She was frightened by so many people and hid behind Zhao Liang.

Zhao Liang said gently, "Don’t be scared, Little White. Look, this is Uncle Tian, this is Master Jiang, this is Jiang Xiaotao, and this is Tian Xiaoqi. They’re all good people and won’t hurt you."

Little White gradually calmed down, no longer as nervous and fearful as when she first arrived.

A month later, a new scene could be seen in Tianjia Village: a small white fox dashing bravely in front like a general leading troops, followed by a troop of half-grown children charging up a dirt hill. Once they’d assembled, the fox would dash down the slope as if charging into battle, and the children would howl and tumble after her, raising clouds of dust. Some lost their footing and rolled to the bottom, but they only laughed and clambered up again.

This wild band would dash from east to west of the village and then back again, turning everything upside down and leaving chaos in their wake. Sometimes, they played so hard they forgot to eat, and Tian Yi would stand at the charity house gate and roar, “All of you, get back here and eat!”

Then the whole gang would come laughing and tumbling back. At such times, Master Jiang would stand by the door, shaking his head and sighing, “Hopeless, absolutely hopeless!”

One day, Zhao Liang took Little White up the mountain to try their luck. She bounded ahead, full of joy, sometimes startling sparrows, sometimes chasing butterflies.

Zhao Liang followed at a leisurely pace. When they reached the usual spot for setting traps, he got to work while Little White played about, chasing bees and butterflies.

Suddenly, a series of fox cries sounded from deep in the woods. Little White’s demeanor changed at once; she turned and darted toward the forest’s depths.

Zhao Liang hurried after her and found her by a creek, nestled close to an adult vixen. Seeing Zhao Liang, Little White ran over joyfully, as if to tell him her mother had come for her.

The mother fox regarded Zhao Liang kindly, nodding as if in thanks. Little White circled Zhao Liang again and again, chattering excitedly, overflowing with the joy of reunion.

At last, the vixen called to Little White as if telling her it was time to go home. Little White stopped, came close to Zhao Liang, whimpered twice, and gazed at him with wide eyes. Then, she left with her mother, pausing every few steps to look back.

Zhao Liang stood there, waving to Little White until her figure vanished into the woods and her cries faded from hearing. Only then did he turn and trudge back to the charity house, forlorn and dejected.

The children at the charity house saw Zhao Liang return alone and asked where Little White had gone. Listlessly, he replied, "She went home with her mother," and then said nothing more, going straight to bed.

After dinner, Zhao Liang sat alone in the courtyard, gazing at the star-filled sky, lost in thought, silent and still.