Chapter 4: Watching the Mountain Mastiff Roll

Chapter 4: Watching the Mountain Mastiff Roll

"Zhaozhao, why don't I remember Grandpa ever having a mountain mastiff?" Big Lin Zi asked curiously.

"You were too young to remember; it was gone before you could recall things. The old man loved that dog dearly. Back then, fish were more abundant than now, and he would feed it with fish that weren't worth much. That dog grew to weigh over a hundred pounds, able to eat a whole bowl of food in one sitting. Not long after it passed away, I started school, and the burden became heavier. Since then, the old man hasn't kept another."

Raising a mountain mastiff was akin to feeding two or three extra people, which even for the current islanders, was no small feat. Wealthier individuals preferred prestigious breeds that were popular online, leading to the near extinction of local mountain mastiffs.

Xiong Zhaozhao, having completed her main task, took the man and bird on a stroll around town.

Chang Mountain Town had far more tourists than Jinshi Island. Swimwear and swim rings were sold everywhere on the bustling streets, alongside fishing gear.

At the end of the street, they found a decent sports brand store. Xiong Zhaozhao went inside to pick out a summer outfit and a pair of shoes for Big Lin Zi, urging him to try them on. Scratching his head, which was now covered in longer hair, Big Lin Zi whispered to the distant salesperson, "Zhaozhao, I usually either go out to sea with my dad or stay at home. There's no need to buy such nice clothes."

"The summer wear here isn't expensive. Go try it on and let me see how it looks. I'll only buy it if it fits well." Big Lin Zi obediently headed to the fitting room, while the salesperson ignored him, instead surrounding Yaoguang, who was standing on the cash register.

After changing, Big Lin Zi came out and awkwardly tugged at his shirttail in front of the mirror. Dressed in a light gray athletic T-shirt, black drawstring sun-protective pants, and denim-colored skate shoes, Big Lin Zi, tall and fit, looked refreshingly handsome in this simple ensemble.

Xiong Zhaozhao had a new idea and sent a message to Yaoguang: "I was originally planning to do the live stream myself, but now I have a different thought. This tanned, sunny young man is perfect for live streaming at sea. His appearance is tailor-made for outdoor broadcasting! From now on, I'll just be in charge of directing. His hair is a bit long, though. Let's take him for a haircut later!"

Yaoguang flew over upon hearing this, and the salesperson finally remembered their duties, approaching to introduce the product: "This quick-dry T-shirt is this year's summer model. This ice silk fabric is very breathable, a new high-tech material developed by our company. It feels comfortable, doesn't it? How does it look on you?"

Yaoguang replied, "Average."

It was unclear whether it was referring to the clothes or the person.

Xiong Zhaozhao picked out another set in a different color and a pair of running shoes, settling the bill together. She let him keep the outfit he was wearing.

Upon leaving, she took Big Lin Zi to a barber shop, instructing the stylist to give him a stylish cut.

The stylist worked for over half an hour, and she was left with a sunny, energetic young man. This was what a 21-year-old should look like. He was unrecognizable from the person she had led out that morning. While clothes made the man and saddles made the horse, hairstyles were also crucial.

Xiong Zhaozhao was pleased with this stylist and promised to return next time, causing the young man to happily escort them a considerable distance.

When she mentioned the next destination was to buy an aquarium, the 185cm tall man felt uneasy, remembering that the clothes alone had cost over a thousand yuan. "Zhaozhao, maybe we should forget about it..."

Xiong Zhaozhao interrupted him, "We agreed it was your reward. Let's go."

"We've spent quite a bit today, Zhaozhao, I..."

The boss lady's authority was being challenged. She removed her glasses, pretending to glare at her younger brother. Tourists passing by stopped to watch from a distance, wondering if she was a celebrity due to her stunning looks.

"Xiong Lin! Do my words still hold any weight? Are you still under my control? Have you forgotten who's in charge after being left to your own devices for too long?"

Big Lin Zi, accustomed to his mother's strictness, wasn't particularly generous in this regard.

"Xiong Lin, you need to broaden your horizons, understand? Be confident! You're very handsome; few people on this street can match you. Why are you always scratching your head? It's not graceful. Put your hands down! Stand straight!"

Yaoguang rolled its eyes on her shoulder. You have grace, alright. You looked like a female bandit with that fierce expression.

The female bandit dragged her brother, carrying the dog, and quickly bought a pile of items, hiring a vehicle to transport them to the pier. Among these purchases was a landing aquarium costing over a thousand yuan, an outboard motor, life jackets, and a bunch of fishing gear, all top-quality. Every time Big Lin Zi saw the price, he wanted to scratch his head...

Back on the boat, Xiong Zhaozhao communicated with Yaoguang, "Our petty cash balance is now twelve thousand. We're further away from renovating the small inn. If the first live fishing broadcast fails, we'll have to sell apples on the street to make ends meet."

Yaoguang, who had been with her for three years, was no longer the same as before: "How could it fail? Just hire more water army!"

You know too much.

On the return journey, Yaoguang continued to bask in the limelight, as if it were a personal fan meeting. Xiong Zhaozhao spent the entire trip vowing to buy a speedboat for transportation as soon as possible.

Upon returning home, she immediately gave the dog a bath. To ensure its survival, she infused it with spiritual energy. The plump, round dog was lively and energetic, seemingly without immediate danger to its life.

Xiong Zhaozhao was terrible at naming things. Regarding the dog's name, she decided to seek others' opinions.

Big Lin Zi: "Naming a dog is easy. Wangcai, Dahuang, Laifu. What's wrong with any of those names?"

"None of those will do. If you shout any of those names at the village entrance, ten dogs will come running. Yaoguang, what do you think?"

Without hesitation, the large parrot said, "Guardian No. 2 of the Great Yaoguang!"

"Who would name a dog something so long? Wait, No. 2? Who's No. 1?... Could it be who I'm thinking of?"

"Yes, that's right," Yaoguang nodded.

Big Lin Zi was already laughing on the floor, struggling to say, "Is there a person pretending to be this parrot? How could a bird be so smart, hahahaha..."

You're not far off, young man.

Unable to come up with a name, she decided to let it go. Looking at the round, chubby dog with its deep brown eye circles, Xiong Zhaozhao decided to borrow the name of a national treasure, naming it directly—Roll Roll.

She didn't care what it would look like when it grew up. At that point... calling a forty-year-old, burly man "Zaizai" wouldn't be too different...

Roll Roll looked at the large parrot on the coffee table and let out a cute bark: "Wang'er wu~"

Indeed, living in the moment was the way to go.