Ji Huan's heart tightened, and she looked at Dahuang.
Dahuang was staring intently at the puppy in her hands, its frantically wagging tail betraying its worry and anxiety.
For the first time, she saw emotions like sadness and helplessness in Dahuang's eyes.
'No, could it be a case of apparent death?'
'Like asphyxiation caused by amniotic fluid in its respiratory tract...'
The possibility occurred to Ji Huan.
She recalled a dog-owning colleague once mentioning a first-aid method for newborn animals. After wracking her brain to remember the details, she decided it was worth a shot, regardless of whether it would work. 'Might as well treat a dead pup as a live one.'
"Aunt Xie, quick, pass me a dry towel."
Widow Xie didn't understand why, but she did as she was told and handed one over.
Ji Huan wrapped the puppy's body in the dry towel, held it firmly with both hands, pointed its head downward, and began to gently swing and pat it.
