Chapter 223

: Richard Deserves Rewards
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Zhang Zian picked up a zip-lock bag with some assorted dried fruit in it which was left by Little Celery. He threw the bag onto his shoulder, and Richard caught the bag nicely with its beak.

Quack!
When it opened its mouth, the plastic bag fell. It quickly bowed its head to pick up the bag again, and flew onto the cashier desk. Richard loosened its beak, and the bag fell on the desk.

Quack! Quack! Why are you being so nice to me today, Jeff?
it cried noisily.

It seems you are somewhat valuable,
said Zhang Zian while he was cleaning up the food bowls of his three cat elves.
Richard clenched the plastic bag with its claws, pecked open the bag, and poured all the dried fruits onto the desk. It kept pecking the fruit, yet it did not stop talking even when its mouth was full.

Quack! Quack! Jeff, don’t be shy! Just admit that you have fallen in love with me!
It tilted its head,
Quack? You ARE falling in love with me? Or you HAVE fallen in love with me? Never mind! Either is fine!


No! I haven’t, I’m not and I won’t!
complained Zhang Zian.

Quack!
Richard kept pecking at the dried fruit satisfyingly.
When he met the Apprehensive Bird in the Chinese class for the first time, Zhang Zian had sensed that it was able to imitate the voices of others very well. He didn’t think much of it at the beginning, because many impersonators of celebrities can do the same. But what just happened had proved that various results would occur if the very skill was used in different ways.
He had never expected that the Apprehensive Bird could make his white lie plausible, thus preserving the childhood dream for Little Celery. Maybe its cynical appearance was just a disguise; it might have a soft heart inside.
So he gave that bag of dried fruit to Richard as its reward. He also decided to buy some dried fruit, vegetables and fresh fruit online for it. Richard deserved these rewards for its performance this morning.
Zhang Zian took the food bowls to the second floor to wash them clean.
At this moment, he heard someone talking downstairs.

Hello? Is anyone home?


Coming.
Zhang Zian quickly put down the food bowls and rushed downstairs,
Who is it?

He came down to the first floor and looked around, but no one was there.
Old Time Tea pouted its lips as a signal. It was the Apprehensive Bird, and it was looking outside pretending nothing happened.
Zhang Zian yelled at Richard,
You!


Quack! You got me! Did you like it? It was funny, wasn’t it?
Richard clamored while fluttering its wings.

It was not funny at all!

Richard kicked the empty plastic bag with its claws.
Jeff, I need more food.


I don’t have any. Little Celery brought these for the hamster and Lop Ear rabbit, not for you. I only gave them to you because you did well earlier today.
Zhang Zian went upstairs and continued to wash the food bowls.

Pfft, stingy Jeff!
Richard muttered indignantly.
Within ten seconds, there was another noise downstairs,
Hello? Anyone home?



No!
Zhang Zian knew it must be the btch bird again, so he replied impatiently in a loud voice.
Silence.
Zhang Zian sneered and swore that he would not fall into that btch bird’s trap again.

Then who’s answering me?
The sound downstairs continued asking.
What the hell! That btch bird had nothing better to do?

I said no one is here! I’m warning you! Don’t think I am an idiot, I will not be fooled by you again! Stop this prank!
he shouted downstairs.
Silence.
Zhang Zian finished washing the food bowls and put them into the cupboard in order.

Hello? Is this the lunatic asylum? There is a lunatic in urgent need of your treatment. The address is Southport, Zhonghua Road…
Someone was making a phone call.
Zhang Zian’s brain crashed for a few seconds.
That btch bird didn’t know that his address was Southport, Zhonghua Road!
Oh my god!
He ran downstairs without closing the door of the cupboard, and shouted,
Wait! I was kidding! No need to bother the psychiatrists!

Next to the cash register, a tall and slender man with his hair in a ponytail was talking on the phone. He acted and dressed like an artist. He was the designer Guo Dongyue, recommended by Xiao Yan.
Apprehensive Bird was standing on the cashier and winking at Zhang Zian with schadenfreude.

I’m sorry! So sorry! I was just kidding! Could you please put down your phone?
Zhang Zian quickly explained to Guo Dongyue. There was no time for him to punish that bird.
Guo Dongyue hesitated, and spoke on the phone,
I’ll call back later.
And then he hung up.

Mr. Zhang, you said you were just joking?
He tried to confirm.

Yes!
Zhang Zian was relieved,
I really was kidding!


With whom?
Guo Dongyue asked again.

With…
Zhang Zian raised his hand and was going to point at that bird, but immediately realized he shouldn’t, and his wrist turned to Guo Dongyue,
I’m joking with you!

Guo Dongyue was quite surprised and pointed at his own nose.
Me? Mr. Zhang, I believe we have only met once before. Besides, how did you know it was me calling for you?

Zhang Zian was going to say that he saw Guo Dongyue approaching through the window on the second floor, but Richard chimed in,
A bird helps people find their destined love!

Guo Dongyue was so scared that he stepped back a little bit. He gazed at this peculiar grey parrot, and his face became pale.
Zhang Zian angrily stared at Richard, and hastily made his explanation,
This parrot was not talking. It can’t talk!

Guo Dongyue kept staring at it for thirty seconds, and turned to Zhang Zian,
You are acting weird. I heard very clearly that this parrot can talk. Why did you say it can’t?


No, I mean… it can talk, but it can only repeat what I teach it!
The more Zhang Zian tried to explain, the more mysterious Richard seemed.
Guo Dongyue looked at his cell phone, and hesitated whether he should continue that phone call.
You teach your bird to say things like that?

Zhang Zian really didn’t know how to explain further. He swore that he would punish that btch bird severely when he had time!
Fortunately, Guo Dongyue seemed to have accepted the fact that the shop manager was a little bit lunatic and strange, and stopped delving further into what happened.
He bent down and looked at Richard carefully.
Richard was straightening the feathers on its chest with its beak, and ignored Guo Dongyue’s gazing.

What breed is it?
He asked.
Zhang Zian was so happy that Guo finally changed the topic, and he immediately replied,
African grey parrot.

Richard rolled its little black eyes,
Hi! Hello! My name is Richard, nice to meet you!

Guo Dongyue stared at it. It was greeting him in a somewhat normal way, so he was not much surprised.
Zhang Zian explained,
Those are the only sentences it knows, and it just keeps repeating…


Quack! Person in front of me! Tell me who you are!

Richard flapped its wings and yelled loudly, proving that Zhang Zian was wrong.