novelaction Chapter 534 But it's fine this way.
Chapter 534 But it's fine this way.
"Dad, what's wrong with the puppy? Why won't it play with me?" Li Wangchen asked, feeling wronged and completely confused as to why this was happening.
Li Xiangyang squatted down to be at eye level with his son: "Wangchen, this isn't a puppy."
"Not a puppy?" Li Wangchen blinked his big eyes, his face full of doubt.
“This is a wolf,” Li Xiangyang said seriously.
"A wolf? Is it the big white wolf from the story that eats Little Red Riding Hood?" Li Wangchen asked in surprise.
Li Xiaoyun couldn't help but laugh, "You still remember the story your father told you?"
“Yes, it’s a wolf cub,” Li Xiangyang nodded. “But it’s still young, though, it’s more wild than a puppy. You hurt it just now, that’s why it howled. If you hadn’t let go, it might have been bitten.”
Li Wangchen suddenly realized what had happened, and a guilty expression appeared on his little face: "Did I do something wrong?"
"It's not entirely wrong, you know that, right?" Li Xiangyang patted his son's head. "But remember, no matter what kind of small animal it is, you must touch it gently, not grab it hard."
"I understand." Li Wangchen nodded, then asked cautiously, "May I touch it gently now?"
Li Xiangyang looked at the wolf cub; it had calmed down a bit, but still remained alert.
"Not yet," Li Xiangyang shook his head. "It's still scared and needs to get used to our home first. Once it's not scared anymore, Dad will teach you how to get along with it."
"How long will it take?" Li Wangchen asked, somewhat disappointed.
"It won't be long," Li Xiangyang said with a smile. "But before that, you have to promise your father that you absolutely cannot touch it alone, understand?"
Why?
Li Xiangyang thought for a moment and decided to explain it to his son: "Because wolves and dogs are different. Dogs are our friends and are used to living with humans. But wolves retain their wild nature, and if they are afraid, they might bite."
Li Wangchen's eyes widened: "It bites? Is it dangerous?"
“It’s still small, so there’s not much danger,” Li Xiangyang explained patiently. “But if you accidentally hurt it or frighten it, it might use its teeth to protect itself. Just like you cry when you’re scared, it might bite when it’s scared.”
Li Wangchen nodded, seemingly understanding, "Then why do we keep it? Since it's so dangerous."
This question made Li Xiangyang pause for a moment. He recalled what had happened on the mountain earlier that day.
“Because its father entrusted it to his father,” Li Xiangyang said softly.
Li Wangchen looked at the wolf cub thoughtfully and asked softly, "Will it miss its father?"
“Yes, it will.” Li Xiangyang nodded. “So we need to be kind to it and not let it be so sad.”
Li Wangchen nodded seriously: "I understand, Dad. I will be very careful and won't hurt it."
"Good boy." Li Xiangyang patted his son's head with satisfaction. "But you must remember, even if we treat it well, it will never be exactly like a puppy."
"What if it's still dangerous when it grows up?" Li Wangchen asked worriedly.
Li Xiangyang looked at the wolf cub and said seriously, "If it really isn't suitable to live with us by then, we'll send it back to the mountains so it can live with its companions."
"But its leg is broken, how will it live in the mountains?"
"So first we need to heal its leg," Li Xiangyang said with a smile. "Once its leg is healed and it's strong enough, it can live a good life in the mountains. Okay, let's give it a name first. Since it'll be staying with us for a while, it needs a name."
"What should I call him?" Li Xiaoyun thought for a moment.
"Little White!" Li Wangchen suddenly exclaimed excitedly, "It's white, so let's call it Little White!"
Li Xiangyang smiled and said, "Xiaobai...that's a good name."
He whispered to the wolf cub, "From now on, you'll be called Little White, okay?"
The wolf cub seemed to understand, raising its head to look at Li Xiangyang, its wariness lessening.
Just then, Little Tiger's cry came from outside.
"Little Tiger's back." Li Xiangyang stood up. "We need to let them meet and see if they can get along. Little Tiger, come in."
Little Tiger wagged its tail and ran in when it heard its master's call.
As soon as it entered the house, it smelled an unfamiliar scent and immediately stopped alertly, sniffing the air.
When it saw Little White curled up on the kang (a heated brick bed), its whole body tensed up.
Little Tiger lowered his body and let out a low whimper.
Xiao Bai sensed Xiao Hu's hostility and responded without backing down. Although his voice was still very immature, his wildness was already evident.
"Xiao Hu, come here." Li Xiangyang patted his leg, gesturing for Xiao Hu to come closer.
Although Xiao Hu was somewhat reluctant, he obediently walked to Li Xiangyang's side, but his eyes remained fixed on Xiao Bai on the kang (a heated brick bed), remaining vigilant.
"This is Xiaobai, from now on it's part of our family," Li Xiangyang said softly, stroking the tiger's head. "You should get along well with it."
Little Tiger seemed to understand its master's words and relaxed a little, but still stared at Little White with curiosity.
Li Wangchen excitedly said from the side, "Little Tiger, this is Little White. Its leg is injured, you have to protect it!"
Perhaps sensing the goodwill in Li Wangchen's words, or perhaps realizing that Xiaohu didn't have any real malice, Xiaobai's tension eased somewhat.
Li Xiangyang observed the reactions of the two small animals and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although there was some nervousness at the first meeting, it seemed that no conflict would occur.
"Little Tiger, smell its scent and remember it." Li Xiangyang gently patted Little Tiger, encouraging it to approach it.
Little Tiger cautiously walked to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), stretched his neck, and sniffed Little White.
Although Xiaobai was still a little nervous, it did not shy away. Instead, it curiously sniffed Xiaohu's scent.
The two little animals remained locked in this stalemate for a while, when suddenly, Little White gently licked Little Tiger's nose.
This move stunned everyone.
Little Tiger was also confused by this sudden "friendly gesture." It tilted its head and looked at Little White, then tentatively rubbed its nose against Little White's head.
"Wow! They've become friends!" Li Wangchen clapped his hands excitedly.
Li Xiaoyun smiled too: "They seem easier to get along with than we imagined."
Li Xiangyang nodded, his worries completely put to rest.
Animals often interact more directly and innocently than humans, without so many complicated thoughts.
Over the next few days, Xiaobai gradually adapted to life in the Li family and lived with Xiaohu.
Although it still retains some wildness and occasionally bares its teeth, every time it dares to do so, it gets a good beating from Little Tiger.
After being beaten up by Xiaohu many times, Xiaobai gradually learned many "dog behaviors," such as wagging its tail and acting cute.
"Dad, has Little White forgotten that he is a wolf?" Li Wangchen squatted in the snow, watching Little White playing with Little Tiger, and asked curiously.
Li Xiangyang smiled and said, "Maybe. But it's fine this way."