Strange Life of a Cat - Chapter 94

Chapter 94: Cat Tree

Papa Jiao said a lot of parents didn't accompany their kids to school because they couldn't bear to say goodbye, though most cried anyway when their kid boarded the train back home.

He went to university accompanied by friends. The school was not very far from his home and he was not close to his parents. He had never been a father, so he didn't quite know what it felt like so say goodbye to your child.

Here at the Jiao family, Jiao Yuan was starting middle school. Mama Jiao took him along with some other kids and their parents to her school. They didn't need to check the classroom list. Mama Jiao told them ahead of time.

Jiao Yuan and the kids were pleased with this. They all decided to eat at the school cafe for lunch. Mama Jiao was busy since it was the start of the term and she now had Jiao Yuan to look after, so she couldn't go home at lunchtime anymore. She let the kids eat at the teacher's cafeteria where the food was better.

At noon, the bell rang at the elementary school.
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He came to pick up Youzi every day to have lunch at his family's restaurant which opened recently. Though it was farther from campus compared to some other restaurants, there were plenty of potential customers since it was the start of the year. Business was blooming and they hired someone from back home to help out. Jiao Wei tried to help when he had time but his mother wouldn't let him.

Papa Jiao was busy these days, so it was up to Jiao Wei to pick up Youzi.

Jiao Wei was more outgoing these days and his Mandarin also improved. Many around him had accents and this made him relax. School was still a relatively simple place compared to the outside world. Sometimes people who knew Youzi would talk to him, he always answered with a smile.

The first time Jiao Wei came to pick up Youzi, Zheng Tan forgot the time and was late. Jiao Wei was ready to leave when he found Youzi but she wouldn't walk. She was kicking pebbles while looking around. It was only when he asked her did she say she wouldn't leave until she saw the cat.
Jiao Wei looked up at the black cat. He was now used to the cat's unnatural behavio

r and somewhat understood why the Jiao Family spoiled it. Jiao Yuan had told him about the cat and its past glories. Some of the things it did seemed impossible for a cat. Jiao Wei still didn't understand why the Jiao family saw it as another kid. No matter how smart and understanding a cat was, it was still a cat.

There was a small room above the restaurant. The original owner used it to pile supplies. Jiao Wei's parents had cleared it out and made it into a small bedroom where they could rest when there weren't customers. There was a small table in the room like the one in Jiao Yuan's bedroom. Papa Jiao and Youzi normally ate in that room. It was still a bit hot but the temperature was manageable in September, unlike in the earlier months. With a fan running, they could eat quite comfortably.

Papa Jiao was busy that day and was not coming. Yi Xin was tasked with bringing him lunch.

He had a delivery with him today. It was Qu Xiangyang's lunch.

To his surprise, the car stopped beside them and the windows rolled down. Zheng Tan saw a familiar face.

Youzi looked at the man and smiled. She liked Fang Shaokang. He was the one who brought Charcoal home so he got one of her rare smiles whenever he came over.

"Who is this?" Fang Shaokang looked at Jiao Wei.

After Fang Shaokang parked his car, Zheng Tan went over to check out what he brought.

Fang Shaokang scooped up Zheng Tan next but was kicked in the face.

Jiao Wei felt his face twitch. The cat ate so much every meal, of course it had gained weight.

"These are...?" Jiao Wei asked

"..."

Jiao Wei didn't know what to say. A cat tree. Again, something for the cat! The boxes were quite heavy too.

Youzi wanted to see how the cat tree was built, but Fang Shaokang was not about to start the process when it was time for her nap.

Papa Jiao didn't look at the caller id when he picked up the phone and needed a moment to remember who Fang San was. "Oh hello, Mr. Fang."

Papa Jiao had nothing against the plan and looked forward to the final product.

After lunch, Jiao Wei and Youzi needed to leave for school. Youzi lingered around the boxes before finally leaving.

He had seen these things at Mr.Guo's place before, but the things Fang Shaokang took out seem different.

The pole was moveable and all the materials on the boards would be taken off to wash. Except for the 'tunnel' and the 'stairs', everything else was easy to take apart and rebuild.

The Jiaos loved the cat tree. Youzi was pleased with it as well. She didn't have a lot of things in her room, so a cat tree was a good use of space.

Except, that night Zheng Tan got off the cat tree and climbed onto Youzi's bed.
The bed was still more comfortable than the cat tree.