Reborn Cat Sheriff

Chapter 456 Family Responsibility (Bonus Chapter for Cold-Hearted Fish's 2000-Point Donation)
A lively, wriggling crucian carp sparked a chase among all the cats.

The tabby kitten ran ahead carrying a live fish, while the other cats chased after it, meowing wildly. Aside from the mother tortoiseshell, the orange tabby, and the kitten who remained quietly in place, even the lame cat and the money tree joined the chase.

The chinchilla and golden shaded cats, who were just moments before cuddling up to Gu Peiyao, now abandoned her without hesitation and chased after the tabby cat. Despite their small size and short legs, they were surprisingly fast runners. The group of cats, like city cats who had never seen a live fish before, eyed the creature struggling desperately in the tabby's mouth with predatory intent. Even the concrete floor creaked from their rapid movements, demonstrating just how excited they were.

The little tiger-spotted fish, clutching a live crucian carp, was the most excited, frolicking and dodging the chase with great joy. But a moment later, an unexpected incident occurred: the crucian carp leaped and escaped from its mouth.

The little tigerfish, looking bewildered, slid several meters forward due to inertia. It tried to turn around as it slid, but it was too late. It could only watch helplessly as the money tree snatched the live fish and ran off in the opposite direction.

This guy was smarter than the little tabby cat; it quickly found a tree and climbed up. Standing on the treetop, it glared menacingly at the cats eager to pounce, looking like a bully ready to kick anyone who dared to come near.

Faced with this attitude, the cats quickly backed down and could only squat under the tree, tilting their heads back and meowing.

Old Jiang watched this scene with amusement, then turned to Lin Ge and said, "Your cats are really energetic! Is the police station always this lively? I always thought Nie Guoqiang was serious and dignified, and I imagined his police station would be a gloomy and cold place like the King of Hell! Jiang Yan'er told me that Nie Guoqiang was different from usual, but I didn't believe her at the time. Now that I see you all, I finally understand what she meant."

"Is this a case of Nie Guoqiang's reputation being damaged? By the way, what is the Yama's Palace? Is this the kind of terrifying thing you usually think of your son-in-law?"

Lin Ge glanced at Old Man Jiang speechlessly.

On the treetop, the money tree had already killed the crucian carp and was fiercely tearing it apart. Seeing there was no more fun, the other cats turned and scattered without hesitation, quickly finding other amusement to play with.

The lame cat reluctantly returned to its wife's side, only then remembering that its wife needed its comfort. It quickly went over and rubbed against the little female cat, the two cats' tails getting tangled together.

Seeing their sweet display, Lin Ge felt a surge of disgust.

Old Jiang glanced thoughtfully at the lame cat and the little female cat, still unable to shake the idea of ​​keeping a cat. So when Li Siyu came over carrying a plastic bucket, he chuckled and said, "This cat, she'll be giving birth in about a month, right? Judging by her big belly, she must be carrying quite a few. Remember to save one for me. No, I want two. Hmm... never mind! I'll choose myself then, so you don't have to pick the leftovers for me."

"This is a lame cub. Isn't it inappropriate to take its cub away right in front of it?"

Lin Ge glanced disdainfully at Old Man Jiang, but in his heart, he knew this was the best home for the kittens. Generally speaking, the elderly are the ones most capable of seriously raising cats and treating kittens well. Those who abandon cats are mostly young people with only a passing interest or middle-aged people who have to choose between their children and cats due to family reasons. The elderly not only treat their pets well, but also raise them meticulously, which is reassuring. So rather than letting the lame kitten become a stray cat wandering around the police station or even unattended, it's better to give them to reliable humans to raise. This way, not only will their lives be better, but the level of pampering they receive will be completely different from those who roam freely.

Therefore, Lin Ge did not refuse Old Man Jiang's suggestion. Whether the cat would grow up and cause trouble for rabbits, pheasants, or squirrels was something Old Man Jiang should consider himself.

"Alright then, if it's produced at the police station, I'll give you a call."

Seeing Lin Ge's attitude, Li Siyu understood that Mimi had no objection, so she smiled and nodded, making a promise.

"Teacher Jiang..."

Gu Peiyao walked over cautiously, looking pitifully at Old Man Jiang.

"Don't worry, one of them is reserved for you. But I won't give it to you until after your college entrance exam. Hmm... Until then, I'll take care of it for you. You can come and visit whenever you have time to get to know it and grow a relationship with it."

Old Jiang nodded and smiled in agreement.

Gu Peiyao's eyes lit up instantly, her hesitation and confusion vanished, replaced by a deep longing and anticipation for the college entrance examination to arrive as soon as possible. She nodded heavily, a relieved and satisfied smile spreading across her face.

Seeing this, Li Siyu and Lin Ge exchanged a glance and both breathed a sigh of relief.

That's great! At least there's something that can help this child get through the next three most difficult months! As long as there's still hope in her heart, she won't be completely lost, and she won't do anything foolish that others can't bear to see.

Of course, this doesn't mean everything is completely fine. The necessary education, reassurance, and encouragement still need to continue. Hopefully, Huo Junpeng has learned his lesson and won't neglect this again, so everyone can finally feel a little more at ease.

Taking this opportunity, Old Man Jiang stared intently into Gu Peiyao's eyes and suddenly said softly, "Gu Peiyao, I've noticed that you seem a bit off lately. Has something happened?"

"..." Gu Peiyao was stunned for a moment, looked up at Old Man Jiang, then looked at Li Siyu beside her, and slowly lowered her head.

Old Jiang quickly waved his hand and said, "Forget it! Forget it! If it's something difficult, then I won't ask. Hmm! You still have to keep going and not let external things affect your studies and the college entrance exam. Understand? Whatever you're facing now is insignificant compared to your long future! So don't think about it, and don't let it affect you! Overcome it, conquer it! After the college entrance exam, settle the score with a satisfactory result!"

"Gu Peiyao, don't blame me for being long-winded. Look, there are so many people in this world who care about you, even your cat! Right? Whether for yourself or for everyone else, you can't give up! The future is long, don't let regrets linger in every memory you have. Keep going, okay? Just grit your teeth, and three months will be over..."

Old Jiang, as expected of the former head of student affairs, spoke with emphasis and earnestness. The sight of a white-haired old man encouraging a young student revealed the deep concern in his heart.

Gu Peiyao's eyes slowly reddened, which Lin Ge, who was standing low, could see clearly.

No one knew which of Old Man Jiang's words had touched her, but she actually started wiping away tears. Li Siyu quickly took out a tissue from her pocket and handed it to her. She choked out a thank you and then slowly wiped the tears from her eyes.

It's clear that this child is really upset.

"My...dad and mom have been arguing every day lately..."

Gu Peiyao's sudden remark stunned everyone present.

"They're getting a divorce, they're dividing their assets, they're arguing about who should raise me..."

Under the heavy gazes of the group, Gu Peiyao whispered, "Actually, I noticed something was wrong as early as the beginning of high school. Dad would stay away from home for months on end, saying he was busy with work, but Mom always said he didn't bring home much money to spend at home. Mom is very busy at work; she works in sales, and besides her work hours, she has many dinner invitations and such after get off work. Many times she came home drunk at night and I had to help her to bed. Then she would start cursing Dad, saying he was useless and not as rich as others..."

"..."

Old Jiang and Li Siyu exchanged a glance, unsure how to comfort the child.

Lin Ge was surprised to find that Gu Peiyao was in this situation, and couldn't help but sigh deeply.

Family conflicts are always the primary cause of ruining a child. If parents truly care about their children, they should not create conflicts or disputes in front of them, cutting into their bodies and hearts with arguments and hurt.

Even if you're going to get a divorce, why does it have to be at such a crucial time for your child? If you really can't go on like this, you could have quietly resolved the situation and gotten a divorce yourselves, at least putting on a show for your child until she finishes her college entrance exams! But now, the child is already under a lot of pressure, and you're adding even more pressure and despair to her. Aren't you just pushing her to the brink of suicide?

"No wonder Gu Peiyao chose to jump off the building at this time. She couldn't find any peace or support at school or at home!"

Lin Ge sighed again, suddenly feeling a deep pang of sympathy for the girl named Gu Peiyao. Her admission to Longquan Middle School was undoubtedly due to her excellent grades, and she deserved a promising future. How tragic it would be if all of this were ultimately ruined by her worthless parents!
You can even tell from her own words that her parents not only can't provide any help in her life, but they also require her to take extra care of them! How pathetic and hateful it is that a girl who has to work late into the night every day has to take care of her drunk and mentally unstable mother.

The father doesn't come home, and the mother has no sense of propriety. How can these parents be parents?
How can a mother criticize her husband in front of her child for not being as rich as other men? There are plenty of rich people in the world. What was it about this man that you chose to marry him?

Money?

As for her father, needless to say, the mere phrase "not coming home" is already a betrayal and abandonment of his family, his wife, and his daughter.

"Is... that really how it is?"

Old Jiang took a long time to speak, his voice heavy as he asked, "Gu Peiyao, what's the situation at your family now? Is your father back home arguing with your mother? Who's responsible for your daily living expenses?"

"I study at the convenience store until midnight every day, and then I go home after she's asleep. As for money, I still have some of my saved New Year's money, and the convenience store auntie will also sell me expired meals at a discount. Hmm... As for other things, there's not much else to spend money on. I'm just taking care of myself and getting through this period first. After the college entrance exam, I'll be an adult, and I'll go out to work during the summer vacation to earn some tuition fees..."

Thank you to reader "Cold Fish" for the 2000 Qidian Coins reward. Thank you everyone for your support.

Okay, as usual, I'll continue to ask for monthly votes.



(End of this chapter)