Story Magazine - 2006 Bimonthly Combined Issue 14, Total Issue Number 362-365

Author: He Chengwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Wang Shungu's Dog Meat Hot Pot Restaurant
Wang Shungu is forty years old this year. Lately, he lost his job. He borrowed money from all sides and managed to gather some funds. In a remote area of the county, he rented a room and hung up the sign "Wang Shungu's Dog Meat Hot Pot Restaurant." With a bang of firecrackers, the hot pot restaurant officially opened. Wang Shungu knew this location was a bit too remote, and the store was small, but as long as the service was good, there should still be customers. After all, people say, "Good wine fears no narrow lane." To ensure customers had a delicious and safe meal, Wang Shungu had his dogs killed, skinned, and cleaned on the spot, and he personally cooked them. As expected, after sending away the first batch of customers, the restaurant gradually saw more and more visitors. The small store was always full of customers, and Wang Shungu was drenched in sweat, happy and busy.
That day, a black luxury car parked in front of Wang Shungu's hot pot restaurant. When the door opened, two black long-haired dogs jumped out first. Wang Shungu could tell from their silk-like glossy fur that these were high-end, noble dogs that only wealthy people could afford. But what puzzled him was how the owner brought the dogs to a hot pot restaurant to eat dog meat. Wasn't he letting the little dogs taste what their own kind tasted like? Wang Shungu was thinking this when several men in suits got out of the car. One of them, a fat man, pointed to the two noble dogs and said to Wang Shungu, "Take them away!" Wang Shungu was stunned and didn't react at first.
"Still don't understand?" The man smirked arrogantly, "We just want your cooking skills. Got it?" Wang Shungu hesitated, saying, "These two look like noble dogs, right? And they're a bit small, aren't they?"
"Hahahaha," all of them burst into laughter, their laughter filled with arrogance and disdain, making Wang Shungu feel very uncomfortable. The fat man said, "Just do as you're told. It's not like there are only two dogs, right? So many unnecessary words! Do you know who we are? Are we going to eat the cheap dogs you sell?" Seeing that Wang Shungu hadn't moved, he added condescendingly, "It's just money. Don't worry, you won't get a single cent less!" Wang Shungu still felt a bit guilty and couldn't help but say, "They must be very expensive. It's such a waste to eat them." His words once again drew a series of harsh laughs.
Just then, a loud screech of tires and a dog's agonizing howl came from nearby. Wang Shungu looked and saw one of the noble dogs lying nearby. A motorcycle was parked in front of it, and there was a pool of blood on the ground. Everyone had been too busy talking to notice the dog had run away. The motorcycle owner was standing there, looking lost. When he saw Wang Shungu and the others approaching, he kept saying, "I'm sorry."
The dog that was about to be killed had been hit by the motorcycle. Wang Shungu had expected to see how these people would react, but before they could speak, the dying dog suddenly seemed to remember something, leaped up, and then slowly, limping, ran toward its companion, who was obediently sitting in front of the luxury car. The dog spat something out of its mouth and then lay motionless on the ground.
Curious to see what the dog had spat out, Wang Shungu walked over and found it was just an ordinary bone. In its final moments, the dog still wanted to give that bone to its companion. Oh, dogs! Poor dogs! Wang Shungu felt an indescribable emotion surge in his heart. The dog was dead! The living dog lay obediently beside its companion, licking its bloody fur with its pink tongue slowly and intently. Seeing this, Wang Shungu felt his heart ache.
The fat man walked over and said, "Alright, now you can even save the trouble of killing the dogs!" And once again, they burst into laughter. But now, Wang Shungu found that laughter to be like the wails of ghosts and wolves, making him feel disgusted and angry!
Wang Shungu said nothing and entered the small store, picked up a shovel, and walked to the luxury car. He gently patted the living dog and then picked up the dead one, carrying it toward the nearby fields. The fat man and the group saw this and shouted, "What are you doing? Kill it quickly! We're waiting for it for a drink!"
"Get out!" Wang Shungu, for some reason, found the courage to roar at the group. He even raised the shovel, looking as if he was ready to fight to the death.
The next day, Wang Shungu's hot pot restaurant didn't open. On the third day, and the fourth day, the door remained closed.