Chapter 15: The Cat Was Taken to an Old Alley—Remember to Give Cigarettes to the Urban Management Officers First

Holding the cat, Yu Zhimei felt as though these people were like roses scattered along the roadside, still vying to outshine each other. But she wasn’t captivated by how brilliantly each bloomed—she was moved by the fact that, at this moment, they all had thorns.

Out of guilt, Xiao Ma agreed to delay reclaiming the apartment until the end of the month, leaving only one week left. She grabbed the remaining bag of cat food and stepped outside, feeding the stray cats while there was still light. At the convenience store, she bought several cardboard boxes and wide tape to pack her belongings. Room by room, the space emptied out. The flowers and plants remained where they were—she no longer wanted to take them with her. The quiet room reminded her: there would be no Ruru knocking over vases, no waking up to his licks, no sounds of him breaking his scratching post, and no empty plates waiting for her to add canned food.

She couldn’t bear this silence—she couldn’t give up. Until she found her cat, she couldn’t leave the area.

The next morning, a knock woke her up. She realized she had fallen asleep on the living room sofa without showering. Outside stood Jian Zhaowen, a large suitcase at his feet, staring at her unblinkingly: “I’m leaving tomorrow and came to say goodbye. When are you moving out?”

“I’ll stay at a nearby hotel first. I won’t move until I find Ruru.” Yu Zhimei continued packing boxes: “Do you think I’ve gone crazy?”

“No. I’ve had pets too.”

“Not ‘pets’—he’s family. I’m sorry. Ruru has always been frail. If he ran away out of mischief, it’s my fault. I’m afraid he might have gotten sick and died somewhere, sneaking off so I wouldn’t be sad. After all these years, he’s never left me. He’s nearby, but I don’t know what kind of life he’s living now. It keeps me awake at night.”

A month ago, the balcony was filled with flowers, furniture and clutter occupied every corner, and everything was perfectly arranged. Now, though most of the furniture remained, the place felt like an empty shell devoid of soul. The wind blowing through both balconies slipped into Jian’s collar. He set down his backpack, as if making a decision: “I’ll stay and help you. I don’t have anything urgent to do in Beijing for now. Which hotel are you staying at? I’ll help you search the area. An extra pair of hands will make a difference.” Jian placed his backpack on top of the suitcase: “Let me check the nearest hotels. Let me do something—I feel responsible for losing Ruru.”

“You don’t have to do this.”

“I absolutely do.”

“I’ll say it again—it’s my responsibility. I’m Ruru’s owner. I failed to watch him when I let you in, and now he’s gone. It’s my fault. So… please leave. I’m begging you.”

Jian dragged his suitcase into Yu Zhimei’s living room and sat on the covered sofa: “Enough talk. Someone fraudulently registered me as the legal representative of a company, and I’m rushing back to Beijing to deal with the lawsuit. But I lost your cat—it’s my fault. From now on, I’m involved. Until we find Ruru, I won’t leave Shanghai.”

Yu Zhimei stared at him in astonishment: “What?”

“I don’t know how it happened. During a background check for a new job, I found out I’m listed as the legal representative of some company.” Jian’s laugh was bitter: “We’ll handle the paperwork later. For now, finding the cat comes first. I can’t leave you alone. Besides, I…”

Before he could finish, Xiao Ma rushed upstairs: “Brother Zhaowen, are you ready to go?”

Interrupted, Jian grew anxious: “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to collect the house. We agreed—your sofa, cabinets, and the sound system upstairs are mine. Keep your word.”

“They haven’t been moved yet.”

“Once you leave, the place will be empty. I’ll move your stuff into this room, renovate 301, and rent it out. Easy money.” Xiao Ma noticed Yu Zhimei’s grim expression and changed the subject: “Brother Zhaowen, if you strike it rich in Beijing, remember to bring me along. If you need me to run errands in Shanghai, just say the word.”

“I’m not going back to Beijing right now. I’ll stay at a nearby hotel.”

“Huh?”

“I’m helping her look for the cat.”

Xiao Ma lowered his voice: “Damn, Brother Zhaowen, do you have feelings for her? It’s just a cat!”

Jian avoided answering, his gaze still on the busy Yu Zhimei: “Is the second floor completely empty?”

“Of course not. That stubborn tenant in 203 refuses to leave. It gives me a headache just thinking about it. Those who went on business trips had friends move their stuff, but she’s unmoved. She claims my grandfather renewed her lease three months ago, and even though I refunded her deposit, she won’t budge. I’m seriously considering throwing her stuff out.”

Jian Zhaowen had no interest in what Xiao Ma was saying. Just as he was trying to figure out how to get rid of Xiao Ma and have a final word with Yu Zhimei, an unfamiliar number called. The voice from the second floor echoed eerily through the corridor: “Brother Zhaowen, this is Shi Rui from 203. The cat with folded ears you mentioned last time—I think I’ve found it. Do you want to come and identify it?”

“Cats can stand on the windowsills of old alleys, and even if they slip, they can quickly find footing on the various rooftops. There’s no chance they’d wander into upscale neighborhoods—look how dense the courtyard nets are in Bihu Tiandi. My fingers can’t even fit through them.”

Shi Rui walked ahead, her loose white jeans and sweater making her look a bit bulky. Jian pulled Yu Zhimei along behind her, with the nosy Xiao Ma tagging along. The four of them squeezed through narrow paths, passing four intersections before stopping at an old alleyway along the street. Outside a shop called “Welfare Lottery,” a man squatted lazily. Jian squinted in the sunlight: “The cat’s in this building?”

“Upstairs in this lottery shop. A couple found it. One of their neighbors’ daughters was my tutoring student back in the day, and she told me about it. Cats in these old alleys aren’t kept as pets—they’re used to catch mice. Your cat probably can’t catch mice, right?” Shi Rui waved across the street at the squatting man, who reluctantly stood up.

Ruru couldn’t even handle seeing guinea pigs at the pet store without hiding in his carrier. Yu Zhimei’s heart raced, and her steps quickened: “Let’s cross the street! What are we waiting for?”

Xiao Ma glared at the man squatting by the roadside and sneered: “Wanna bet? You won’t get your cat back without shelling out a few thousand.”

The group climbed the narrow staircase, barely wide enough for one person. When they reached the second floor, the four of them filled the corridor completely. Xiao Ma proudly remarked: “Thank goodness my grandfather didn’t leave me a dump like this. I wouldn’t be able to collect rent—just wait for demolition.”

Jian, walking last, wasn’t listening. His heart raced as he tried to catch a glimpse of Yu Zhimei ahead of him. The old, narrow stairs barely fit half his shoe, and he constantly worried that the frail Yu Zhimei might fall. Unable to push past, he finally reached her side just as she cried out: “Ruru!”

In the tiny room, a cage the size of half a bed held a dirty, curled-up Ruru. Cat food and litter were mixed together, and his folded ears were filthy. Yu Zhimei’s eyes welled up with tears. The woman spoke first: “Whose cat is this?”

Yu Zhimei crouched down, staring intently at Ruru: “Mine.”

Ruru timidly sniffed and began rubbing against her fingers. The couple compared her phone for a long time. Jian, standing behind her, grew impatient: “Do you think you’ll find another cat with folded ears within ten miles? This breed is rare.”

“Oh, don’t even mention it. Such a fine cat wandering into our neighborhood—if not for my husband’s quick reflexes, it would’ve run off. That day, everyone on the street was chasing it but couldn’t catch it. So beautiful—how could someone just abandon it?” The woman scrutinized Yu Zhimei, then Jian: “Where do you live? Around here? Give us ten thousand yuan, and you can take the cat.”

Xiao Ma wasn’t surprised: “Here we go.”

Shi Rui looked at the man running the lottery shop: “Brother Hu, Sister Hu, weren’t we clear? You said you’d return the cat—it belongs to my neighbor…”

“Oh, your neighbor, huh? I thought they lived in Bihu.” The woman sized up Yu Zhimei: “Even so, we need some compensation. We can’t just hand it over.”

The husband pointed to the air conditioning unit outside the window, where an orange cat was perched, eyes half-closed: “See that? Cats like that—you wouldn’t care if they fell to their death. When spring comes, cats are everywhere inside and out. This fancy cat cost us a lot. We’ve tried several types of cat food—he wouldn’t eat at first and even peed on the bed.”

Yu Zhimei sighed. The cheap cat food was obvious, and they were demanding ten thousand yuan.

Shi Rui stubbornly stared at the man: “Brother Hu, Sister Hu, don’t be greedy. Everyone living in these old houses struggles too…”

“Everyone’s struggling. We don’t rent out rooms, but our house is small, and the lottery shop doesn’t make much either. Ten thousand yuan is because this cat is valuable. We’ve been feeding it for over a month—you owe us something.”

Jian grew angry: “This isn’t your cat. You’ve been keeping it at home for a month, treating it like your own pet. If we hadn’t come today, you’d probably still be raising it as your own, right?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Or should I throw this cat out the window?” The woman opened the cage and tried to pull Ruru out. He crouched inside, his fur bristling. Jian lunged forward to stop her but was shoved into the wall by the man. Furious, Jian snapped: “It’s just money…”

“Easy now.” Xiao Ma suddenly stepped in, his gesture more like a shove. He pushed to the front and bent down to examine the cage: “Damn, is this even a proper cat cage? The food’s the cheapest kind from the supermarket. You think you can raise a cat without spending money? I’m calling this cat stolen property. Otherwise, why would such a well-behaved cat just wander off and get lost?”

“How dare you accuse us of stealing?”

“Fine, call the police. Look around—so many witnesses. We’ll say you stole the cat. Three thousand yuan covers a month’s worth of cat food. Will you hand over the cat or not? With this crappy cage and cheap food, the police will definitely believe you stole it. The owner’s being reasonable. Otherwise, I won’t give you a single cent. Your husband’s lottery shop doesn’t make much either. Even if nearby houses are demolished, you won’t see a penny. Money’s tight, right?”

The small room was on the verge of a brawl. Shi Rui stepped between them: “Xiao Ma, don’t fight. Their kids are my students—it’ll look bad if things escalate…”

Yu Zhimei carried Ruru downstairs, clutching him tightly as she crossed the street. Ruru seemed oblivious to what had happened, his blue eyes squinting in the sunlight as he gazed around.

Xiao Ma continued talking animatedly to Jian: “Brother Zhaowen, you almost forked out ten thousand yuan just now. So generous—how about sponsoring me? I’m broke!”

“People like that are unreasonable. If ten thousand yuan could bring the cat back, I’d accept it—it was my fault for losing him in the first place.” Jian Zhaowen didn’t realize he was pressing close to Yu Zhimei, shielding her from the bustling traffic. Shi Rui followed behind, her eyes fixed on Jian’s arm around Yu Zhimei.

“It’s one thing to give some money out of gratitude, but demanding an exorbitant amount is their fault. Why shouldn’t we fight for our rights? With people like this, you can’t reason—you have to scare them. Even calling the police won’t help; dog licenses matter, but cats don’t. The police will only mediate, and with these kinds of people, mediation drags on forever. But I did check—a thirty-thousand-yuan cat? What were you thinking buying such an expensive cat? You must be loaded!”

The sun warmed Ruru, making him drowsy. Jian was still reflecting on that cramped house: “It was my first time stepping into such a narrow alley. I can understand why people in that environment want compensation.”

“You’ve got to use your head when spending money! Don’t feel sorry for them. After demolition, they’ll have more liquid assets than you. Did you know? He Jie from the dessert shop—her family was also a holdout during demolition. Then the leadership changed, and the municipal government just left that area untouched. Their house couldn’t be moved. In the end, her current husband resolved the relocation issue—when one person rises, everyone around them benefits.”

As soon as she finished speaking, He Jie came running from afar, phone in hand, her shoes barely staying on: “Did you find him?”

“Yes.” Yu Zhimei beamed: “Thanks to Shi Rui.”

“You’re really something.” He Jie patted Shi Rui’s shoulder: “How much did it cost in the end?”

“Three thousand yuan.”

“What? Are you kidding me? For situations like this, you go to the urban management officers—they’re very familiar with these cases. A few hundred yuan and a couple of cigarettes would settle it. You guys really lack common sense!”

Xiao Ma raised his eyebrows, chin tucked into his neck, looking as if he saw through everything. He Jie earnestly criticized Jian Zhaowen for not being resourceful enough and Xiao Ma for being inflexible. If it were her, she could’ve stripped the couple of all dignity. Xiao Ma, wearing flip-flops, looked like a thug; Jian, after entering the greasy old house, had dirt smeared on his clothes; Shi Rui stood by, seemingly unsatisfied with the praise she received. In short, no one thought anyone else was wrong. Yu Zhimei held the cat, feeling as though this group of people was like a bouquet of roses scattered along the roadside, each vying to bloom brilliantly—but she wasn’t captivated by how radiant each flower was. She was moved by the fact that, at this moment, they all had thorns.

After parting ways, Shi Rui remained silent until they entered the unit door and reached the second floor. When the three of them gradually quieted down, she finally spoke: “Brother Zhaowen, could you wait a moment?”

Xiao Ma and Yu Zhimei went upstairs first, but their ears lingered below, especially Xiao Ma, who paused between the second and third floors, his footsteps light. Shi Rui’s voice was low, but it carried clearly through the stairwell: “Brother Zhaowen, I worked so hard to find the cat because you asked me to. You don’t know how diligently I’ve been gathering information among the neighbors lately. Because… I like you.”