"Here! And here! Put flower baskets everywhere!"
"There's a fruit pit under the table. Are you all blind? Why hasn't it been cleaned up?"
"And the carpet—where's the black carpet? Lay it out, now! Do you want an important person walking through mud?"
The little mouse in a green vest paced back and forth through the cramped shop with its hands behind its back, its steps firm. Every so often, it waved its arms and shouted instructions, arranging every aspect of the reception.
A group of mice in identical green vests clustered tightly around it. From time to time, several mice dashed off to adjust the shop's layout and address its shortcomings according to the green-furred mouse's wishes.
Zheng Qing stood beside the counter with his arms folded, watching coldly.
Fatty Xin stood on the other side of the counter, guarding the rows of cages along the wall as he cautiously observed the uninvited guests' every move. Fat Cat Tuantuan had also left the hard countertop and was now sprawled atop the fat man's head, the corners of his mouth faintly raised as he idly watched the mice who had taken over the shop. A trace of mockery showed on the chubby cat's face.
A few minutes earlier, Ding Dang Ear had explained their purpose. After a brief discussion, Zheng Qing and his companions had conditionally agreed to all the mice's reasonable requests—after all, they were guests, and had every right to ask for such things.
That clearly defined understanding finally collapsed when Ding Dang Ear instructed the mice to lay black carpets inside and outside the shop. The young scholarship student had no choice but to clear his throat, step forward, and block the mice's way.
"Erhem." He rose onto his toes, crouched on his heels, and braced both