Truly a meat-eating rabbit. Zheng Qing smiled bitterly. He thought that to feed these three rabbits, it seemed it would cost quite a bit of money.
Fortunately, Zheng Qing was in advertising, so the little money needed to keep the rabbits was still affordable for him. However, as an advertising professional, the nature of his work meant he often had to travel to other cities on business. Sure enough, two weeks later, when the two small bunnies had just started to take shape and their bodies were already covered with soft, light white fur, Zheng Qing received a task from the company's boss, requiring him to go to a neighboring city for an outdoor billboard business negotiation.
The big Siamese rabbit was easy to manage; it was quite smart and even could open the refrigerator door by itself to find the meat inside. The two small bunnies, however, were troublesome. They were not yet strong enough to open the fridge door, and the big Siamese rabbit never shared the meat it ate with the two little ones. After all, rabbits are still rabbits—you cannot expect them to follow any ethical principles.
Helplessly, to prevent the two small bunnies from going hungry, Zheng Qing decided to send them to a pet boarding station. A pet boarding station is a place that temporarily takes care of pets for people who are away on business. Although it's only temporary care, the fees are considerable.
The pet boarding station was in the suburbs of the city, covered in dust. Braving the relentless sun, Zheng Qing carried the two little bunnies in a wire cage to the station, only to be told that they had never cared for rabbits before. In their view, rabbits were just something to eat. Having no choice, Zheng Qing had to carry the wire cage back.
On the way, he repeatedly thought about which friend he could ask to temporarily care for the two little bunnies. But after counting and considering, he couldn't find a suitable person. Just when he was feeling frustrated, he suddenly heard someone calling his name from behind. Turning around, he saw that fat, wealthy Taiwanese man, Huo Tong's current husband.
This Taiwanese man was called Jin Liufu, a somewhat tacky name. He ran a luxurious restaurant called 'Ama Trendy Cuisine' in the city's suburbs. And Zheng Qing happened to be walking past the entrance of his restaurant with the wire cage, so he was called over. 'Mr. Zheng, let's have a drink and have a proper chat,' Jin Liufu said, somewhat humbly this time.
Zheng Qing let out a sigh, lowered his head, and placed the cage by the restaurant door, then followed Jin Liufu into the dining hall.Sitting by the window, the two each ordered a pitcher of dark beer and took a sip. Their conversation revolved entirely around Huo Tong, with Jin Liufu of course taking the lead in speaking. He tearfully recounted his interactions with Huo Tong to Zheng Qing, without paying any attention to Zheng Qing's reactions or ability to accept it. He even inadvertently mentioned that he had had physical intimacy with Huo Tong before she divorced Zheng Qing.
Zheng Qing listened with a dark expression, not saying a word. It pained him deep inside, his heart quietly bleeding at its most vulnerable spot. He had always thought that Huo Tong only met Jin Liufu after divorcing him; he never expected to have been deceived for so long. Just as he was about to storm out, he suddenly heard his stomach growl a few times. Only then did Zheng Qing realize he hadn't even had breakfast, and it was already lunchtime.
Jin Liufu, being somewhat considerate, snapped his fingers, and a waiter immediately brought over exquisite snacks. His restaurant specialized in Chaoshan cuisine, so the signature dishes naturally showcased the flavors of the region, both in taste and presentation. The final soup dish, however, was particularly distinctive, with a broth white from pepper, floating a few chunks of meat that looked tender.
“Boss Jin, what dish is this?”
“Mr. Zheng, this is our signature specialty, Fragrant Bunny Soup,” Jin Liufu said loudly, proudly patting his belly. “We specially select young rabbits, preferably those less than a month old. They're briefly blanched in oil in the pot, then pepper, scallion, ginger, fish sauce, soy sauce, and our restaurant's secret sauce are added to the soup…”
For some unknown reason, Zheng Qing felt dizzy. He couldn't hear what Jin Liufu was saying; all he could see under the bright lights were Jin Liufu's lips moving mechanically, and a chaotic, grating, metallic roar constantly ringing in his ears. It must be tinnitus, a symptom that occurs under mental stress or when one hears a shocking keyword.
Mental stress? That was certainly possible, since Huo Tong's death, coupled with her past betrayal, had indeed dealt Zheng Qing a heavy blow.
Keywords? If there were any, what could they be? Zheng Qing thought for a moment and finally understood. It was what Jin Liufu had said — that this Fragrant Bunny Soup was made from newly born rabbits.Zheng Qing stood up and looked toward the door—the wire cage was still by the restaurant door, but it was already empty. Those two little rabbits had gone somewhere, nobody knew where.
Zheng Qing lowered his head, staring at the rabbit meat in the soup bowl, suddenly feeling a wave of unease in his heart, his stomach churning as if a storm was raging inside.
Zheng Qing did not know how he had finished the meal on the table without any taste. The effect of the alcohol made him stagger out of the Chao cuisine restaurant, and as he was leaving, Jin Liufu asked the waiter to pack the rabbit soup that was barely touched on the table and handed it to Zheng Qing.
Zheng Qing, dizzy and heavy-headed, arrived home and opened the door. As soon as the door opened, the long-haired Siamese rabbit dashed to the door with a slipper in its mouth, rubbing against Zheng Qing's leg in a friendly manner.
Zheng Qing was still a bit tipsy, put on his slippers by himself, and collapsed heavily onto the sofa, casually throwing the lunch box he was holding onto the floor. The rabbit immediately excitedly pounced on the lunch box, using its mouth to open the lid and began to chew the rabbit meat inside with great relish. It had no idea it was eating its own kin. But then again, how could it possibly know?
