Chapter 464: Degeneration
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Old Han didn’t believe that Zhang Zian trained dogs better than them or that Famous was better than Red Dragon and Prince. Was Zhang Zian just really lucky?
At that moment, the door of the room was opened to reveal a guy, who looked to be in his 40’s, pushing a stainless steel trolley inside the room. He had a unshaved beard and oily face, and was wearing a yellow apron with black rain boots. There was also a stainless steel tray on the trolley with some nice smelling dishes inside.
“Excuse me,” he murmured to all the people inside.
“This is Old Yang from our kitchen. Everyone make some room for him,” Old Han simply introduced Old Yang and made way for him before reminding the others, “Director Feng, be careful with the food and do not let them touch your clothes.”
Old Yang pushed the dining trolley down the line of cages. He stopped at each cage and pulled on a drawer to take out the food basin. Then, using a stainless steel spoon, he’d scoop the food out and onto the food basin. When he finished, he put the basin back and pushed the drawer closed. The whole process was just like what you saw with criminals on TV.
“Stop barking.” He looked at Big Teeth. “What are you yelling for?” His voice wasn’t loud, but it was enough for Big Teeth to stop barking.
Zhang Zian got close and saw the food in the basin was rice with vegetables and only a few meat slices. The vegetables were rotten, and the rice was not fresh either. The amount of food was not enough for mature German Shepherds.
Without asking, he could understand why they did this. The German Shepherds showed mercy when they fed them. They needed to use the budget for other police dogs, healthier ones. It was, after all, a police dog training base, not a charity institution.
Old Yang pushed the trolley to the last of the cages and fed every German Shepherd with the same, average food. He then used the spoon to hit the bucket and yelled, “Eat. Eat it until there’s nothing on your plate. You don’t have many meals left.”
Although the German Shepherds were old and retired, they had been strictly trained to not eat until they received the order. They started eating after they heard Old Yang’s words. Suddenly, the room was full of eating and grinding noises.
Old Yang glanced at them and noticed that every dog was eating, so he pushed the trolley out the way.
When he passed Zhang Zian, he looked at Famous and couldn’t take his eyes off it. He held his breath and asked, “Where did you get the dog?”
Old Yang didn’t ask anyone particular. Zhang Zian hesitated. He wasn’t sure if he should answer him since Feng Xuan was the guy in charge and it was usually him or Old Han who dealt with questions.
Old Han frowned, worrying Old Yang asked questions too casually and it might give the impression of their group being undisciplined. He waved his hands anxiously. “Old Yang, do your job and mind your own business!”
Old Yang rolled his eyes and yelled back, “I was just asking, what’s wrong with that?”
Feng Xuan, afraid that they might argue, interrupted softly, “This is a dog from our crew, called Famous. It’s the lead character.”
“Of course he is.” Old Yang twisted his mouth, looking like he was sorry for the dog, and left with his trolley.
His words came out of nowhere and made others curious. Feng Xuan walked forward and blocked the food trolley. “Old Yang, you seem to have a problem with this dog. What do you mean? Just say it.”
Old Han worried that Old Yang might say something that upset his guests, so he glared at him, a signal for him to shut up and leave.
However, Old Yang didn’t feel it and said naturally, “There’s not a problem. It’s just that I haven’t seen a good dog like this in years so I looked at it for a second. I don’t know when I will be able to see a good dog again.”
Now, Old Han wanted to say something. To him, Famous’ appearance was average, far from the appearances of the top police dogs here in the training base. Did Old Yang just say things to humiliate them?
“Wait! Old Yang, explain yourself! Don’t confuse our guests!” Old Han scolded.
Feng Xuan took out his cigarettes and asked curiously, “Old Yang, tell me the good things about this dog.”
Based on appearance, Feng Xuan thought Red Dragon and Prince looked tougher and stronger, but Famous was a better performer. Overall, that was why they chose Famous as the lead role.
Old Yang took a cigarette and laughed, “Yo, a fancy cigarette!”
Feng Xuan gave the rest of the cigarettes to him. “Old Yang, take all of them, if you want!”
Before Old Han could stop him, Old Yang took it happily. He put the cigarettes in the pocket of his oily apron and smiled, “What do you think is the difference between Famous and Big Teeth?” Everyone here would agree that Big Teeth looked stronger, more intimidating.
“You think Big Teeth is more threatening?” Old Yang laughed, “You’re wrong. I have been in the base for over 20 years and I’ve seen dozens of dogs, even retired dogs. Every ten years, we will import a group of German Shepherds and they look just like this one, not like a dog but like a wolf.” He pointed at Famous.
“They got worse after the third generation, their big heads and strong bones made them all slow runners. We had to import more dogs from Germany, and repeat this cycle again and again.” Old Yang said.
Zhang Zian had heard about this before and asked, “You mean, the German Shepherds are degenerating?”
“That’s right, they are degenerating. They are not as good as their ancestors, the wolf.” Old Yang lit a cigarette, “Personally, I think the recent import is worse than the one before, maybe the German Shepherds in Germany are also degenerating.”
He said sadly, “After 10 years, we may not be able to see German Shepherds as police dogs anymore.”
Zhang Zian had also heard this before, that German Shepherds all over the world are degenerating, even in Germany. The issue was especially worse in China, where German Shepherds were degenerating because of mating and training issues.
Old Yang pointed at Big Teeth and said, “Our selection process requires dogs with square head and thick bones because they look more intimidating and threatening to criminals. But how can they threaten criminals when they are too goddamn heavy to even run?”
“Old Yang, mind your language! You can’t judge our plan or our boss like that.” Old Han yelled at him seriously.
Old Yang chuckled while he smoked his cigarette.
Zhang Zian and Feng Xuan thought about Famous’ performance at the audition. In the final round, Famous didn’t try its best to run, instead it saved the energy for fighting. Though it didn’t look as strong as Red Dragon or Prince. It was lighter and livelier.
“Does this dog belong to you?” Old Yang glanced at Zhang Zian. He could tell it was his dog when Zhang Zian said things about the degeneration of German Shepherds.
Zhang Zian nodded.
“Take good care of it. You can’t even find a good dog like this in Germany. It’s very expensive!” Old Yang put out his cigarette and pushed the trolley outside. “Excuse me! Excuse me!”
When his voice disappeared in the corridor, the room went back to silence.
No one spoke. All of them were looking at Famous. Maybe it was what Old Yang just said, but now they thought Famous looked different. It was no longer an ordinary German Shepherd, but something noble and elegant.
Looking at these dogs tagged with “German Shepherds”, there was sadness in Famous eyes.
“Um…” Old Han forced a smile. “Old Yang doesn’t know how to speak properly to people, I hope you weren’t offended”
Feng Xuan sighed, then asked, “What does Old Yang do? Does he just work in the kitchen?”
“Not really. He used to be a trainer long time ago, but then he was dismissed for being misbehavior and insubordination. The top showed him mercy and let him work in the kitchen.” Old Han answered.
“I think he is something at training dogs. These dogs listen to him.” Feng Xuan looked at Zhang Zian. “Zhang, what do you think?”
Zhang Zian was silent as he thought, Why bother asking for my opinions? I’m not Yuan Fang or Doctor Waston.
He thought about what Feng Xuan meant and said carefully, “Your Majesty… oh no. Director Feng, we need someone to take care of the dogs we bought. I suggest we ask the boss if we can have Old Yang to help us for few days?”
“I think that sounds good.” Feng Xuan nodded, then turned to Old Han. “What do you say, Old Han?”
“This…” Old Han hesitated. He remembered that their boss said they would do whatever they could to support this film. They would definitely say yes. He’d better do this as a favor so he replied, “Yeah, I’ll plan this. I will talk to Old Yang and ask him to be on board.”
Feng Xuan smiled and looked at his assistant, who then ran to Old Yang.
After a while, Old Yang came back, looking confused. “What? What do you want from me?”
Old Han said seriously, “Old Yang, we want you to join the crew and be in charge of the dogs’ eating and living habits. This is the famous director, Feng Xuan. You will work under him, so you do what he asks you to do, understand?”
Old Yang seemed unwilling until Feng Xuan leaned over and whispered something in his ear that made him happily agree. He probably told Old Yang that it was okay to smoke whenever he wanted or something like that.
“Copy that! I will do my job!” he saluted.
