Because of that stranger's issue, Ah Huang and the sheriff stayed calm at home for a few days, and Da Pang still kept to his usual behavior of staying out of sight unless called. As for Zheng Tan, having agreed to Xiao Guo to shoot a cat food advertisement, Mr. Jiao and Jiao Ma took him to the Mingming Pet Center, where he was photographed for two days.
The first advertisement wasn't the video advertisement Zheng Tan had imagined, but rather it was in the format of a pictorial story.
Zheng Tan had previously overlooked one thing—during this period, the development of online videos hadn't exploded like it would ten years later. In fact, many people were skeptical about the growth of online videos, predicting that its prospects would not be optimistic; some even deemed it hopeless.
However, Xiao Guo didn't think so. While discussing the contract issue with Mr. Jiao, he said, "The charm of the internet lies in its ability to turn decay into magic with the updating of technology." This statement had made Zheng Tan regard him even more highly; as someone from the future, Zheng Tan knew better than anyone what the internet would become in ten years.
Unlike other merchants' singular advertisement images, Xiao Guo's approach to create an advertisement in the form of a pictorial story was more attractive, appealing even to those without pets at home, and at least improved the brand's visibility.
With Zheng Tan there, shooting such story images didn't require much effort, not even using cat food, which pleased Xiao Guo. Getting cats to make the ideal expressions was difficult; the limitations of the era meant that merchants wouldn't spend too much effort on this type of advertisement.
Xiao Guo planned to post these pictorial story advertisements on an online pet forum, while also publishing them in a print magazine. This was another reason why Xiao Guo was eager to have Zheng Tan come over for the shoot. Recently, one of Xiao Guo's friends had started a pet-themed magazine, published monthly, and Xiao Guo was happy to hop on this convenient ride.
Before Zheng Tan came to the pet center, Xiao Guo had tried other cats, some of which were expensive breeds, but the shooting process and results were... frustrating to the point of causing him stomachaches.
However, once Zheng Tan arrived, the shoots went smoothly; every movement and look required little negotiation, so Xiao Guo's stomach pains ceased, and he even saved on cat food, quickly urging Mr. Jiao to sign the contract.
Since "Chong Ai" magazine was a monthly publication, Zheng Tan only needed to shoot once a month. For Zheng Tan, this wasn't much of a problem; besides earning a little extra, he approached the advertisement shoots with a playful mindset. Funnily enough, at the very end of the story image, a small line of text read, "Actor: blackC."
Naming the pet was a practice of Xiao Guo's team, and this "blackC" was Mr. Jiao's idea; he didn't report Zheng Tan's real cat name, offering a kind of protection for Zheng Tan.
As for "blackC," Xiao Guo had also asked about the reason, to which Mr. Jiao explained: "black" represents black, and "C" represents "carbon" in the periodic table, so...
For the first time shooting a cat food advertisement, Xiao Guo credited 1,000 yuan to the card, which Jiao Ma mentioned was much more than expected. For the Zheng Tan of the past, 1,000 yuan really wasn't much, but now it was a significant reward.
Mr. Jiao also obtained a bank card specifically for Zheng Tan's advertising fees. In fact, not only Zheng Tan, but also Jiao Yuan and Gu Youzi had their own bank cards. New Year's money was stored inside, as were academic awards, and their pocket money was deducted from there. This was being held by Mr. Jiao to prevent them from squandering it. This was Mr. Jiao's unique educational method.
However, Zheng Tan was always puzzled as to why Mr. Jiao would apply this method to a cat as well.
Sometimes, Zheng Tan didn't quite understand Professor Jiao's thoughts, but nonetheless, after over three months of interaction, Zheng Tan had gained a good understanding of Mr. Jiao, at least confirming that Mr. Jiao would not harm him. Perhaps, being a researcher made him more receptive to extraordinary occurrences.
If outsiders knew how Professor Jiao interacted with his own cat, it would likely shock many. Including Jiao Ma and Jiao Yuan, Gu Youzi as well, in fact, they didn't know how Zheng Tan and Mr. Jiao interacted.
After finishing the advertisement, Zheng Tan had nothing else to do, and after lounging at home for two days, he still couldn't stay put and went out for a walk. This time, he didn't encounter any suspicious individuals. He visited the large lawn once more and didn't see that person from last time, but he did see that guinea pig again, watched by a little girl no much older than Gu Youzi and her mother, as the furry bundle moved around the grass. Zheng Tan planned to stay away from the mother and daughter in the future, to avoid encountering that person again.
That day, as Zheng Tan was returning from his walk, he sensed an unfamiliar presence before even entering the house.
Were there guests?
The atmosphere in the living room was not good, overly silent. Jiao Ma was cooking in the kitchen but seemed somewhat distracted. Mr. Jiao and that person were sitting on the couch smoking, not talking.
The guest was about the same age as Mr. Jiao and looked in poor spirits, a bit downcast with red eyes as if he had been staying up for several nights. Mr. Jiao referred to that person as "Yuanzi," clearly showing that they had a good relationship. However, why both were so unusually silent, even somewhat solemn, Zheng Tan couldn't quite understand.
In Jiao Yuan's room, a small table with a Huaxia chess pattern was placed there; Jiao Ma only moved out this small wooden table to let Jiao Yuan and Gu Youzi eat in the small room when it was inconvenient for the children to be present during adult conversations.
Seeing this made Zheng Tan even more curious; what topic was not suitable for the children to hear?
Zheng Tan jumped onto his designated chair to rest and, incidentally, to learn more about the situation.
Mr. Jiao simply glanced up at Zheng Tan's actions, didn't say anything, which was tantamount to tacit approval.
No matter how silent it was before, after three cups of wine, the tightly closed mouths opened.
In the tearful conversation between the two grown men, Zheng Tan grasped the general idea.
Professor Yuan, Mr. Jiao's mentor during his master's and PhD studies and "Yuanzi's" father, had stage four lung cancer and was in poor health, estimated to live only two more months.
When Mr. Jiao graduated from Nanhua University, Professor Yuan went abroad. Since Mr. Yuan wasn't around, Mr. Jiao didn't stay at Nanhua University but returned to his hometown in Jing Han Province to teach at Chuhua University.
Nanhua University, the leading university in the southern coastal areas of Huaxia, holds the same status in the southern region as Chuhua University does in the central area.
Jiao Ma, Mr. Jiao, and this "Yuanzi" had a good relationship when they were at Nanhua, so naturally they also had a good relationship with Professor Yuan. Hearing the news about Mr. Yuan today, both of them were very upset.
"Yuanzi" didn't inherit his father's mantle; he had no interest in research, or to put it another way, he had never been focused during his school days, just like Zheng Tan back then, a real prodigal.
Zheng Tan didn't know what "Yuanzi" had gone through after graduation, nor how much his father's illness had affected him, but from their conversation, it seemed that Yuanzi had changed a lot. Just as Mr. Jiao had said a moment ago, "The prodigal son returns."
It is said that a prodigal son's return is priceless, but often, prodigals would rather remain prodigals forever, because the cost of returning is immense. They would rather trade anything to avoid that "cost."
"So, if Fei Hang hadn't told me you were in Chuhua City, were you planning to keep shouldering this alone? Planning to hide it from everyone for a lifetime?!" Mr. Jiao's eyes were red. His voice wasn't loud, but it trembled slightly, clearly unable to control his emotions.
Jiao Ma had been silent, sitting beside, wiping her tears alone.
"The old man... he didn't want too many people to know. He has stopped all treatments now, just wants to close his eyes peacefully in his hometown," Yuanzi sniffed and said.
Back in the day, Mr. Jiao was Mr. Yuan's trump card. Who at Nanhua University's Life Sciences didn't envy Professor Yuan having such a student? Coupled with his own son's lack of action, Professor Yuan treated Mr. Jiao almost like his own son. Mr. Jiao's achievements today were all nurtured by Mr. Yuan. But since Mr. Yuan had gone abroad, the two only occasionally communicated through chat apps or emails, not very frequently, as it seemed Mr. Yuan was always busy. Last week, Mr. Jiao received an email from the old man, saying he would be away from the computer for a long period. It seems now that he indeed planned not to tell others.
After a silence, Mr. Jiao steadied his emotions and asked, "What brings you to Chuhua City this time? Fei Hang said you came to do some surveying. Surveying what? Just say if you need any help."
Yuanzi rubbed his face with his palm and said, "I am planning to start a biotech company. It's not a small venture."
Mr. Jiao nodded, "Chuhua City here is indeed good. In the Southern coastal area, there are too many new companies. Domestic and international companies rise successively. Mingzhu City in the east has Nanhua Gene, Beijing has Hua Da Gene, and major bases dominate, gradually forming interest groups. It's not impossible to get involved, but it would be very strenuous. By comparison, Central has much less competition and faster development. I can still help you here."
Zheng Tan didn't quite understand the business that Mr. Jiao and Yuanzi were discussing. He didn't know exactly what kind of company they were planning to start, so after listening for a while, he went to Jiao Yuan's room.
A few days later, Zheng Tan was called into the room by Mr. Jiao and informed that the four members of the Jiao family were going to visit the Northeast.
Professor Yuan's hometown was in the Northeast, and given what had happened, Zheng Tan understood why Mr. Jiao made this decision, but... did that mean he would be left alone at home?!
Mr. Jiao asked for Zheng Tan's opinion. If Zheng Tan wanted to join them, Mr. Jiao would borrow a car and then drive to the Northeast, which would be more convenient with Zheng Tan along.
Zheng Tan thought about it and shook his head. If it were to the South, he would definitely go with them; he was curious to know whether another self of his still existed. But as for going to the North, he'd rather not.
Zheng Tan didn't want to be sent to a pet center for foster care, nor did he want to stay at someone else's house, so Mr. Jiao left him a key.
Before the family left, they took turns admonishing Zheng Tan, and the gist was, "Be good while you're home alone, and don't open the door to strangers."
Zheng Tan: "..." Do they really think I'm a child?
Jiao Yuan and Gu Youzi left reluctantly, looking back every three steps. They took out all their snacks and piled them on the couch, afraid their cat would go hungry.
After the Jiao family of four left, Zheng Tan looked around the empty house, suddenly feeling as if the old house had gotten much larger.
Damn, this is boring.~
Zheng Tan rolled from one end of the living room couch to the other, then rolled back and ended up hanging upside down from the edge of the couch, viewing the world upside-down.
Finally, Zheng Tan's gaze landed on the living room calendar. Mr. Jiao had said they would be gone for a week, today was Wednesday, and he would have to wait until next Wednesday…
Wednesday?!
Zheng Tan flipped over and got up.
Every Wednesday is the day new stock arrives at the East Garden Supermarket. The delivery trucks arrive around four or five in the afternoon and leave at six or seven in the evening.
It was now four-thirty in the afternoon.
Zheng Tan put the key Mr. Jiao had left around his neck, and went out the door.
Thus, less than three hours after being admonished to "stay good at home," Zheng Tan decided to make a long journey out too.