Chapter 28: The Arrival of Big Monkey and Er Gou

Inside the car, Logger Vick watched as Baboon and Er-gou tangled with the police.

"Perfect opportunity! Time to make a run for it."

He slipped quietly out the other side of the police cruiser, unhitched his bicycle, and prepared to flee. Meanwhile, the officer who had been looking at the missing person poster of Dudu turned around, intending to bring the two men in, but suddenly his vision went dark and he collapsed to the ground.

"Er-gou, why did you hit him?"

"He was just babbling on and on. So annoying." With that, the two climbed into the police cruiser.

"Wow, I've been in a police car so many times, but this is the first time I've actually driven one!"

Baboon then noticed the photograph of the kidnapper, Logger Vick, on the police radio. The pair danced with joy, instantly ecstatic.

"Well, well! Talk about looking for something high and low, only to find it without any effort at all!"

Back at the forest, Logger Vick arrived home with his supplies and opened the door.

"I bought so many things; Dudu should be able to settle down for a while now. I wonder what kind of mess Su He has been dealing with while trying to keep her quiet. Hahaha!"

But as the door swung open, the scene inside shattered his expectations. The house was in total disarray, looking even worse than it had when Dudu was throwing a tantrum.

"My heavens! What on earth happened here? My house! My home! Su He, get out here right now!"

The bedroom door opened, and Su He walked out, rubbing his eyes. "Vick, you're back. Why are you shouting so loud? I was still sleeping."

"Su He, I’m giving you one chance to give me a reasonable explanation for what happened in this house. Otherwise, you’re going to be in big trouble."

"Oh, you mean this? Vick, you should actually be thanking me."

"What? You turned my house into this dump and you expect me to thank you? This is too much!"

For the first time in his life, Logger Vick cursed. He grabbed a broom from the side, ready to give Su He a good thrashing.

"Wait, Vick! Listen to me first! I temporarily dropped the little ancestor, Dudu, off with Briar and Bramble to look after her."

Hearing this, Logger Vick froze, the broom stopping just a centimeter from Su He’s backside. His face shifted from shock to a touch of pleasant surprise.

"You—you sent Dudu to Briar and Bramble?"

"That’s right. I noticed Dudu really loves playing with them, so I sent her over there so they could watch her for a couple of days."

"But are you sure those two clumsy bears can take good care of her?"

"It’s fine, we’re still here, aren't we?"

"Fine, fine. And what are you still standing there for? Get over here and help me clean up this place. Look at what you’ve done to my house!"

Meanwhile, inside the tree hollow, Briar watched as Dudu rode on Bramble’s back as if she were playing horse.

"Briar, I’m starting to regret agreeing to help Su He watch Dudu. Look at what she’s turned me into."

"It can't be helped. Since we promised Su He, we have to see it through to the end. Let’s go outside and play; otherwise, the honey in the tree hollow will be finished."

In the woods, Bramble carried Dudu along. Dudu’s gaze was caught by a butterfly fluttering by, and she immediately tugged on Bramble’s ears, pointing at the dancing insect.

But clumsy Bramble couldn't catch the butterfly. After several jumps, he still came up empty-handed.

"Waaaah!" Seeing that he couldn't catch the butterfly, Dudu immediately burst into tears.

"Oh, alright, alright, don't cry. I'll catch it for you!" With that, he leaped up, snatched at the air with his paw, and landed on the ground.

When Dudu came over to check, Bramble excitedly revealed the butterfly in his palm. "Look, what’s this?"

Dudu danced with joy, gently took the butterfly, and ran over to Briar, as if showing off her treasure.

"Yes, yes, alright, go and play, go and play."

Dudu happily cradled the butterfly and returned to Bramble, kissing him on the cheek. This simple gesture made Bramble blush with shyness, and he picked her up again to play in the air.

"Whee! Flying!"

The two bears spent the day playing with Dudu all over the forest—from the woods to the river and the streams. As the happy time passed, evening arrived, and Briar and Bramble brought Dudu home just as Logger Vick and Su He were coming over to take her back.

"Sigh, Vick, how is it? Has it been a bit quieter today?"

"A little, I suppose. But I’m still not used to the house being so empty and quiet."

"Oh, so you actually enjoy taking care of Dudu? Maybe when you get married and have a chubby kid, and find a steady job, being a stay-at-home dad wouldn't be so bad, right?"

"Alright, alright! You little brat, stop teasing me."

Before long, they reached the tree hollow and found Bramble playing with Dudu.

"Briar, Bramble, how was it? Dudu didn't give you too much trouble today, did she?"

"Not at all! Dudu is so cute; we had a great time today."

Su He noticed that Dudu’s forehead felt a bit hot and realized that Briar and Bramble must have taken her to the river.

"Briar, Bramble, Vick, stop messing around for a second. Dudu seems to have a fever; let’s take her home and have a look."

Hearing this, Logger Vick grew nervous and quickly accompanied Su He to bring Dudu home. Once there, Logger Vick fetched a basin of water, soaked a towel, and placed it on Dudu’s forehead. Su He looked at the two bears with a hint of reproach.

"Briar, Bramble, didn't I tell you not to take Dudu to the river or let her get near the water? She’s still a small child; it’s easy for her to catch a cold in those places."

"We’re sorry, Su He. Bramble and I were having so much fun we completely forgot."

"Forget it, forget it. Luckily we caught it early; it’s just a low fever. Don't let it happen again."

"Yes, yes, yes."

Logger Vick, busy caring for Dudu, poked his head out and looked at Bramble. "Hey, Bramble, go cook a bowl of noodles!"

"Oh, alright."

Outside in Logger Vick’s yard, Baboon and Er-gou stood ready with sticks and ropes.

"There’s no mistake, it has to be here."

"This time, I absolutely won't let you get away. Er-gou, let's go!" Baboon looked at his companion, but there was no one there.

Er-gou was already charging ahead excitedly. "Hehehe, I’m taking the lead this time!"

Seeing this, Baboon quickly threw his rope, caught Er-gou’s leg, and yanked him to the ground.

"You’re still too inexperienced to compete with me!" He didn't forget to pull a comb from his pocket to groom his hair. Er-gou, refusing to be outdone, reached out and grabbed Baboon’s leg, pulling him down as well. And so, the two remained locked in a stalemate on the ground.