They caught me.
Two boys held my legs and neck, bringing me to the girl.
She yanked out my whiskers one by one, sneering, “Not so tough now, are you?”
“If your legs are so strong, let’s see how you jump with them broken!”
They taped me to the floor, then kicked my legs.
I heard a sickening crack.
“Meeeeeow!”
My scream made them laugh.
They kicked my belly, then grabbed chopsticks from the kitchen, threatening to shove them down my throat and boil water to burn off my fur.
The chopsticks stabbed my throat. Blood filled my mouth. I wouldn’t be able to meow for Mama again.
They crushed my tail—Mama loved it when I patted her wrist with my fluffy tail. Now, I never would again.
“Meow, meow.
Mama, where are you?
I’m going to die.
Isn’t there a guardian spirit for cats?
Please, save me. I don’t want to die. I want to be Mama’s cat.
“What are you doing?!”
A furious voice rang out from the doorway.
It was Mama.
Thank the heavens, the spirits listened—Mama came to save me.
She rushed in, dropped to her knees, and tore the tape off me, her hands shaking.
“What did you do to my Nian Nian?!”
The bullies froze. Mama had arrived sooner than they expected, and police were right behind her.
They were caught red-handed, still holding a pot of boiling water.
Breaking and entering, destruction of property—the police took them away.
Xiao Mei tried to calm Mama down. “Sis, don’t panic. Nian Nian is still alive. Let’s get her to the hospital!”
Mama held me gently, whispering, “Nian Nian, don’t be afraid. Mama’s here. Mama’s going to save you.”
Two years ago, Mama couldn’t save a girl named Xiao Nian.
Today, she saved a cat named Nian Nian.
Chapter 07
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