Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

  In the early morning, Zhang Zian pulled open the door of his pet shop. Just as he was about to go back inside to do some cleaning, he heard rhythmic footsteps approaching.

  Ta! Ta! Ta!

  A figure wearing professional training clothes appeared on the street corner.

  She was as agile and robust as a deer in the forest. With the striking reflective strips on her clothes and shoes, she could be seen from far away. She was also pulling an energetic Beagle with a long leash so that the Beagle had room to have fun.

  “Good morning!”


  Masanori Suzuhara greeted Zhang Zian in Mandarin. When she neared at the pet shop, she slowed down, but she didn’t stop completely. She lifted her legs high to keep her body warm. Today’s air quality was good, so she didn’t wear a mask.

  “Good morning, you’re really hard-working,” Zhang Zian responded, getting a broom.

  Almost every morning, Zhang Zian could see the student from Japan. She passed the pet shop at the same time, unless it was snowing.

  “I’m just used to running in Japan.” She smiled. “I feel uncomfortable if I don’t run at least once a day. I feel even more energetic now that Snoopy runs with me.”


  Masanori Suzuhara lifted the dog feces cleaning tool-kit, a small plastic spade and a self-sealing plastic bag, in her hand to show Zhang Zian.

  Beagles needed ample time and intensity for outdoor activities, otherwise their extra energy wouldn’t be used, and they might make trouble at home. However, Masanori Suzuhara’s morning run was enough for her Beagle to let off steam.

  Snoopy’s chest rose and fell violently, panting with its tongue out. It trotted to Zhang Zian and circled him, sniffed at his shoes and trousers, then squatted next to his feet. As if it had recognized Zhang Zian, Snoopy glanced at the pet shop with nostalgia. It had been here a long time before Masanori Suzuhara took it home.

  Zhang Zian knelt and looked at Snoopy. On the collar around its neck, there was a nameplate that had Masanori Suzuhara’s contact information.

  As a student who had spent a long time in the laboratory with Beagles, Masanori Suzuhara had a good understanding of Beagles, so she trained her Snoopy well. Snoopy didn’t bark or run around, it stayed quiet while Zhang Zian rubbed its head.

  “By the way, the Japanese company shipped the machines and they’ll arrive in China soon.” Knowing that Zhang Zian must be very concerned about the automatic dog washer, Masanori Suzuhara made sure to mention it. “The machines will be exhibited at the Capital Science and Technology Exhibition during the Spring Festival. After the exhibition, the machines, along with the matching voltage transformers, will be shipped to Binhai City.”


  “Thank you so much,” Zhang Zian said, “I hope it didn’t cause you too much trouble.”


  “No.” Masanori Suzuhara smiled. “In fact, during our email exchanges, I left a good impression on the supervisor. When he heard that I could speak Chinese, he invited me to do an internship at their company after graduation. I heard that the company may be trying to expand to the Chinese market.”


  “Really? Congratulations!” Zhang Zian was surprised to hear the news, but then he thought that it made sense.

  China’s pet market was growing rapidly compared to Japan, which was suffering from declining birthrates and economic recession. If the Japanese company had no intention to expand to the Chinese market, why would they attend the Capital Science and Technology Exhibition in Beijing? In order to expand, the company must hire talented people who are proficient in Chinese. If Masanori Suzuhara could intern for that company, her talents would certainly be highly valued.

  “I should thank you! If I hadn’t met Snoopy in your shop, I wouldn’t have found the right internship opportunity so easily,” she said with a sincere smile.

  “If you say you can only understand a bit of Chinese, you’re being too modest. Your Mandarin is better than many Chinese people,” Zhang Zian praised her in a matter of fact manner.

  “I’m flattered,” Masanori Suzuhara said embarrassingly. “Actually, like many Japanese people, before I came to China, I had many prejudices. Take walking dogs as an example, have you heard of the controversial remarks of Koji Yano?”


  Zhang Zian thought the name was familiar. “Do you mean the Japanese actor who said that the Chinese aren’t qualified to raise dogs?” he asked tentatively.

  She nodded. “Yes.”


  Koji Yano’s remarks had caused a great uproar in both China and Japan. After living in Beijing, Koji Yano discovered that dog poop could be seen everywhere because dog owners wouldn’t clean up after their dogs.

  He wasn’t completely wrong. However, his remarks were taken out of context by the media and were widely publicized as “Chinese people aren’t qualified to raise dogs.” The remarks surrounded Koji Yano with a great deal of controversy, and people still brought it up to this day.

  Masanori Suzuhara continued, “His remarks made me think that there would be many dogs’ droppings on the roads of China. However, the situation isn’t that serious. There are many Chinese people, like you, who carry plastic bags and small spades with them when walking their dogs.”


  “You’ve seen me walk my dogs?” Zhang Zian was surprised.

  “Yes,” she said with certainty. “When I ran in front of your shop a few days ago, I saw you enter the shop with two German Shepherds, plastic bags, and a small spade in your hands. You didn’t notice me, but I saw you.”


  Whenever Zhang Zian went outside with the dogs, he carried plastic bags and a small spade with him. He also carried these tools when he went to set with Famous and two police dogs.

  Masanori Suzuhara bowed and apologized to Zhang Zian. “I secretly took a picture of you from behind and sent it to my classmates in Japan. They realized that Koji Yano’s remarks were biased because not all Chinese people forget about their dog droppings when they walk their dogs.”


  Zhang Zian didn’t think she needed to apologize for taking a picture of him. In fact, he wished that the picture was taken from the front, so that the Japanese girls could see how handsome he was.