Chapter 5: Mama Da Huang Comes Through

Sleeping in the corridor, Xiao Man thought she was dreaming, unaware that the biting winter wind was howling outside, waking her from the cold.

She hugged the blanket tightly around her, poked out her little head, and sneezed several times in a row.

Clusters of ants swarmed around her, chattering urgently: "Man, the kitchen wires have caught fire again! You have to run!"

Despite her stuffy nose, Xiao Man sprang up and hurriedly knocked on each dormitory door. "Everyone, wake up! The kitchen is on fire!"

The dormitory was separated from the kitchen by just a wall. As doors opened, people saw smoke and flames billowing from the kitchen. The dry air fueled the rapid spread of the fire, which quickly crept toward the dormitory.

Everyone rushed downstairs. The director called the fire department and, with the welfare home's staff, gathered the children in the open yard to count heads.

"Xiao Man and Dou Dou are missing!" someone shouted. "I saw Xiao Man run back to the dormitory to save Dou Dou."

For a moment, no one could speak.

Xiao Man had warned everyone of the fire, yet she hadn't come out herself.

Dou Dou was born with cerebral palsy; his limbs didn’t obey him, making movement difficult.

Zeng Ren called his assistant. "We’re going to find Xiao Man and Dou Dou. The others should take care of the kids here."

Just as they prepared to rush into the burning dormitory, a jeep drove into the welfare home.

Zhou Lin, Lin Nan, and Gu Ye got out. They were returning from a mission but, seeing the smoke and fire, immediately came to help.

"Director, are all the children safe?" Zhou Lin asked as he scanned the group standing in the yard, but Xiao Man was nowhere to be seen.

A bad feeling settled in his chest. Zeng Ren anxiously said, "Captain Zhou, Xiao Man and Dou Dou haven’t come out. Sun and I are about to go rescue them..."

Zhou Lin cut him off and charged inside. "I’m going!"

Gu Ye followed immediately. "I’m coming too!"

Lin Nan wanted to go as well, but Gu Ye told her, "You stay outside and back us up."

"Got it!" Lin Nan said anxiously.

She liked Xiao Man very much—a brave and adorable little girl who had endured life's hardships yet still loved life. Her character was truly precious.

“Woof woof…” Da Huang, the dog, dashed into the fiery dormitory faster than the two men.

Gu Ye shooed him away. "Don’t get distracted licking around now."

Da Huang barked twice at Zhou Lin, who suddenly recalled the scene when Xiao Man fed Da Huang earlier.

Zhou Lin understood: "You want to lead us to Xiao Man?"

Da Huang seemed to say, "I know where Man is!"

Though Zhou Lin didn’t understand the dog’s language, he followed him upstairs.

On the third floor, thick smoke swirled. Zhou Lin’s heart sank. His voice trembled as he called her name, even he didn’t realize it. “Xiao Man… Xiao Man…”

“Woof woof!” Da Huang rushed into the dormitory, signaling to Xiao Man: “Man, your police uncle is here!”

Xiao Man, small and fragile, was carrying Dou Dou, who was about her size, struggling step by step but too weak, and she fell to the ground.

Still, she refused to give up. Clinging to Dou Dou’s hand, she summoned every ounce of strength to inch forward, but the flames were dangerously close.

A few ants were guiding her: “Man, the east wall hasn’t caught fire yet. We have to hurry!”

Xiao Man gasped, “Can you carry Dou Dou?”

The ants looked skyward in helplessness: “Even if all the ants in the welfare home gathered, they couldn’t carry a two-legged human!”

When Xiao Man heard Da Huang’s good news, she hugged Dou Dou excitedly. “Dou Dou, don’t be afraid! The police uncle has come to save us!”

Dou Dou cried, his speech slurred but joyful: “That’s great… Xiao Man, we won’t… be burned to death…”

Zhou Lin scooped Xiao Man up, looking at the girl who had arrived healthy just that morning but was now blackened by smoke, her eyes shining like stars.

He dared not imagine what would have happened if he hadn’t passed by the welfare home tonight.

“It’s Uncle!” Xiao Man happily clung to his neck. “Why did you come?”

Zhou Lin’s voice was low and restrained. “Uncle promised to visit after work. Today’s mission delayed me.”

“Thank you, Uncle!” Xiao Man’s voice was hoarse from the smoke.

Da Huang barked sharply: “Man, hurry! I don’t want five lives lost at once!”

Xiao Man exclaimed, “Da Huang’s mommy has four puppies inside her belly. You’re amazing!”

Da Huang barked again: “Is that what matters? Run for your lives! Or my head’s off!”

Xiao Man smiled brightly: “With Uncle here, nothing bad will happen.”

Da Huang grumbled: “Your police uncle rushes in without a smoke mask. He must be a crazy cop!”

That was Uncle’s fearless bravery! Seeing Zhou Lin look her way, Xiao Man translated: “Da Huang’s mommy says Uncle is the bravest cop!”

Da Huang protested: “Man’s lying! I clearly said—”

“Go! It’s dangerous!” Zhou Lin rolled swiftly on the ground, shielding Xiao Man as fierce smoke and flames poured in through the window.

Da Huang screeched to a halt, claws scraping the floor: “This cop’s got skills!”

Xiao Man beamed proudly: “Of course, Uncle is the best cop!”

Da Huang wagged his tail: “Move it, humans! Follow my tail closely!”

Xiao Man cheered, “Uncle, follow Da Huang’s mommy, and we’ll get out of the fire safely.”

Listening to the conversation between a child and a dog, Zhou Lin didn’t know what Da Huang was saying but grew curious about Xiao Man’s ability to communicate with animals.

Gu Ye held Dou Dou, wide-eyed. During the abuse case involving Tang Zheng, Tang had mentioned Xiao Man was a little monster who could talk to animals. Seeing it firsthand was astonishing.

The fire blocked the exit; Da Huang jumped out but caught fire on his tail, rolling on the ground to put it out. “Now I have to tuck my tail and play it safe!”

Zhou Lin took off his coat and wrapped Xiao Man in it. “Don’t be afraid, Man.”

Gu Ye stuffed the underdeveloped Dou Dou into the coat. The four humans and one dog escaped through a safe passage. Firefighters had already arrived and were dousing the flames.

When Xiao Man peeked from Zhou Lin’s coat, she saw both Zhou Lin and Gu Ye still had small flickers of flame on them.

Lin Nan hurried over and extinguished the fire on them. “Is Xiao Man okay?”

“Aunt Lin, I’m fine.” Xiao Man noticed Zhou Lin’s hair was singed in one spot and gently blew on it. “Uncle, blowing makes it stop hurting!”

Hearing this, Zhou Lin no longer felt pain. His heart melted.

At that moment, Qiang Qiang whispered to someone nearby, “How did this lunatic survive the fire?”

Zhou Lin’s sharp hearing caught it. Always stern and imposing, he shot a cold glare. “What did you say?”

Bad kids instinctively fear the police. Qiang Qiang quickly hid behind the director. “N-nothing…”

Zeng Ren immediately said, “Thank you, Captain Zhou and Officer Gu. Xiao Man and Dou Dou were successfully rescued! Xiao Man is the hero of our welfare home; she woke us all up in time!”

Seeing everyone safe, Xiao Man smiled. “Actually, I just woke everyone up in time. The credit really belongs to…”