Rescued a Little White Fox

Early the next morning, Tian Yi set out on the road with the children from the Shelter, leaving only Zhao Liang and Jiang Ran at home.

With nothing much to do, Zhao Liang recalled that he and Tian Yi had set up a trap for animals on the mountain a couple of days ago. Wondering whether they had caught anything, he bid farewell to Jiang Ran, took his waist knife and bow, slung a bamboo basket over his back, and headed up the mountain.

The mountain on the eastern side of Tianjia Village was called Crow Mountain. Legend had it that when the descendant shot down the suns, one of the three-legged crows that fell to earth transformed into this mountain. Crow Mountain was thick with forests, its ridges and peaks layered one upon another. Birds and beasts roamed everywhere, and wolves, tigers, and leopards were not uncommon sights.

After walking for nearly half an hour and nearing the spot where the trap was set, Zhao Liang heard faint, plaintive whimpering ahead, sounding like an injured animal. Holding his breath, he crept up to the trap and saw a pure white little fox struggling desperately, its hind left leg firmly caught in the trap, unable to move at all.

On closer inspection, Zhao Liang saw that the wound nearly exposed the bone. Judging by the dried blood, it must have been trapped there for a whole day and night. When the little white fox saw Zhao Liang approach, it immediately became wary, baring its teeth, fur bristling, growling from its throat in warning, and glaring at him with fierce, round eyes—every inch the image of a threatened animal.

Zhao Liang was used to such things and paid no mind to the fox's threats, approaching it directly. The clever little fox, seeing that intimidation did not work, quickly changed tactics, adopting a pitiful expression. Its bright black eyes looked at Zhao Liang full of grievance, and it whimpered softly as if pleading for mercy.

Seeing the fox’s forlorn look, Zhao Liang’s heart softened; he could not bring himself to harm it, and instead, felt a twinge of pity. Thinking that the Shelter’s companions would hardly miss one meal, he saw no need to take an innocent life.

He approached the white fox and carefully opened the trap. The little fox, understanding that Zhao Liang was trying to help, stayed completely still, letting him work. Seeing how badly it was hurt, Zhao Liang gently patted its head and spoke softly, “You’re badly wounded. Don’t move around. Let me find you some herbs for your injury—don’t run off, alright?”

The little white fox whimpered a few times as if it truly understood him, even sticking out its tongue to lick his hand gently. Warmth flooded Zhao Liang’s heart; he nodded to the fox and turned away to look for medicinal herbs in the forest.

Under a tree, Zhao Liang found several plants of notoginseng, and his heart leapt with joy. Quickly gathering some stones, he ground the herbs to a paste and hurried back.

The little white fox was still obediently waiting where he left it. Zhao Liang gently applied the medicine to its wound, wrapped the leg in large tree leaves, and tied everything securely with grass twine.

When all was done, Zhao Liang sat down on the ground facing the fox and asked, “Did you get separated from your mother? Why are you here all alone? What’s your name?”

The little white fox whimpered in response, as if answering his questions.

“Then I’ll call you Little White, how about that?”

Naturally, the fox had no say in the matter. It whimpered a few more times—whether in agreement or not, who could tell? The name was plain, but it had no choice in the end; whatever Zhao Liang decided to call it, that was its name.

Noticing that Little White looked exhausted—no wonder, after being trapped all night and likely parched with thirst—Zhao Liang scooped some water from a nearby brook. The little fox immediately lapped up every drop, and when finished, looked up at Zhao Liang with longing eyes, whimpering as if still unsatisfied.

Zhao Liang made several trips to fetch water, and only after drinking its fill did Little White contentedly lick its lips. Next, Zhao Liang took out a chunk of cornbread he had brought, broke off a piece for the fox, but after sniffing at it, Little White showed little interest and looked up at Zhao Liang expectantly.

Shaking his head in resignation, Zhao Liang realized that this fellow was a meat-eater and not fond of grains. He had no choice but to head into the forest again to find it something tastier.

Having hunted on the mountain with Tian Yi for two or three years, Zhao Liang was no match for the likes of wolves or leopards but was more than a match for pheasants and hares. In no time, he returned with two fat mountain rats in hand. The sight instantly revived Little White’s spirits, and it devoured the rats hungrily, licking its lips and burping with satisfaction when finished.

Seeing that the fox was much livelier, Zhao Liang began to consider how best to look after it. If he brought it back openly, it would likely end up as a meal for the Shelter’s residents. For safety’s sake, he decided to secretly take Little White back and care for it in secret.

With his mind made up, Zhao Liang placed Little White into his bamboo basket and carried it home.

Behind the Shelter was a pile of dry hay taller than a man, beside which stood an abandoned chicken coop. Zhao Liang lined the coop with hay and gently placed Little White inside, instructing it, “Stay in here and don’t run around. I’ll bring you water and food every day, understand?”

The little fox looked at Zhao Liang with a mixture of understanding and puzzlement. As Zhao Liang turned to leave, it whimpered mournfully, unwilling to see him go. He quickly lowered his voice, “Shh—don’t make a sound. If anyone finds you, they’ll catch you for food!” Only then did Little White quiet down, gazing after him with longing as he left.

Having settled the fox, Zhao Liang returned to the Shelter and found that Tian Yi and his group had already come back. Tian Yi asked a few questions about his day, but Zhao Liang answered evasively. Tian Yi, thinking Zhao Liang was merely lost in thought and feeling down, asked no more.

That night, Zhao Liang lay awake with thoughts churning in his mind, tossing and turning until he finally drifted off in the depths of the night.