(Quick Transmigration) Even If You Become an Animal, You Still Have to Serve an Iron Rice Bowl - Chapter 23.3

Chapter 23.3:

The skinny man nicknamed “Skinney Monkey” was still on the run and was officially placed on a wanted list. After a meeting, the task force unanimously agreed that he must still be hiding somewhere in Haishi.

Citywide checkpoints were immediately set up.

Every possible exit from Haishi was blocked off for inspection.

Shen Qiu and all the police dogs except Guoguo were deployed to assist with the search. It was the first time since becoming a police cat that Shen Qiu had appeared in public.

When the patrol car stopped at a highway checkpoint, the sight of a Maine Coon wearing a “Police Cat” shoulder band immediately drew attention.

Today’s search location was an expressway entrance. Shen Qiu crouched at Qin Yan’s feet, ignoring the curious chatter around them.

“Wow, that’s a Maine Coon!”

“So adult Maine Coons really are that big? He’s about the same size as that cocker spaniel!”

“Hello, please stop for inspection.”

Qin Yan flagged down a car, checked the driver’s license, and asked the passengers to step out and open the trunk.

Shen Qiu followed closely, beginning a full inspection as soon as he heard the command. When he was done, he brushed Qin Yan’s leg with his tail, signaling that everything was clear.

“Whoa, that’s really a police cat! I thought it was just someone’s pet tagging along!”

“Since when does the Haishi police department have a police cat?!”

People found the sight so amusing that they started recording videos.

With how fast things spread online, it didn’t take long before clips of Shen Qiu at work began circulating widely. “The First Police Cat in History” was already edging toward the trending list.

Shen Qiu, unaware of his newfound fame, kept his sharp eyes fixed on the traffic, missing nothing. But after an entire day without any leads, he knew this approach wasn’t working.

He began to think—what was Monkey most afraid of?

Losing his life, of course. That’s why he was desperate to run

Shen Qiu’s tail flicked anxiously against the ground. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he meowed toward Qin Yan.

The hospital! Monkey was terrified of dying so after that bite he took from Shen Qiu, he’d definitely go get a rabies shot!

Qin Yan didn’t understand, thinking Shen Qiu was tired, and scooped him up to offer water. Shen Qiu sighed, tail swinging back and forth like a pendulum.

Just then, the wail of an ambulance siren echoed from a distance. Da Zhuang and the others quickly cleared the road.

Shen Qiu’s eyes brightened. He meowed loudly and mimed a biting motion.

“Meow!” Monkey’s a coward! After that bite, he’s bound to get a rabies shot!

Qin Yan froze for a second, then his face broke into a knowing smile. He ruffled the cat’s head and immediately called Yang Yue at the station.

“Pull up every clinic or health post in the city that provides rabies vaccines, especially ones in quieter areas!”

Shen Qiu raised his tail approvingly. Exactly. Skinny Monkey would avoid hospitals with cameras and head somewhere remote.

Ten minutes later, Qin Yan’s phone rang again. Yang Yue sounded excited.

“We found one, captain! It’s near your location!”

Perfect timing. Qin Yan spun the steering wheel and sped toward the coordinates.

Ten minutes later, they parked near the small clinic, deciding to wait outside.

Sure enough, a few minutes later, a man wearing a cap slipped out of the building, glancing around nervously.

Skinny Monkey.

As he started walking away, Qin Yan opened the car door and unclipped Shen Qiu’s leash.

The cat bolted forward, slamming into Monkey’s legs so hard the man stumbled, and before he could react, a 1.2 meter Maine Coon had him pinned flat on the ground.

Caught off guard, Monkey screamed like he’d seen a ghost.

“Meow!” Quiet down! What are you yelling for?!

Shen Qiu swatted him across the head. Skinny Monkey howled even louder.

Qin Yan came over, cuffed him, and finally, the noise stopped. Skinny Monkey glared at the cat, eyes wide with disbelief, then spat at him. 

“Just my luck, taken down by a damn animal!”

Shen Qiu rolled his eyes and kicked him right on the bandaged bite mark. Skinny Monkey convulsed with pain in response.

With his arrest, the new drug never reached the market, and after four long months, the case was finally closed.

Shen Qiu, meanwhile, had become a national sensation.

The first police cat in history.

Clips of his serious, focused, and majestic face while working spread across the internet.

Every day, people tagged the Haishi Police Department’s official Weibo, asking if the “police cat” was real.

After the task force wrapped up, the publicity department finally confirmed it online, officially announcing that Shen Qiu had been awarded a Third-Class Merit for outstanding service.

When Shen Qiu heard the news during training, he was so excited he nearly fell off the equipment.  Catching himself midair, he bolted straight to Yang Yue.

“Meow meow meow!” I got a medal? For real?!

He batted her leg with his tail, his voice trembling with excitement. Yang Yue struggled to lift the heavy cat and laughed breathlessly.

“You’re getting so big I can barely carry you! But yes—it’s true. Now come on, let’s go to the chief’s office and get you your medal!”

Shen Qiu was so happy he started spinning in circles, chasing his tail like a kitten. Yang Yue watched, both touched and amused.

“This is the only time you really act like a cat, Qiuqiu.”

The chief pinned the medal on Shen Qiu’s harness himself. His tail stood tall, his furry face practically glowing with pride.

Then he went straight to show off in front of Ba Wang, puffing up his chest, before carefully stashing the medal on his cat tree.

The next day, Boss Bai’s gang was sentenced to death. 

And that afternoon, Guoguo, who had been pregnant for over sixty days, finally went into labor.

After five or six grueling hours, she gave birth to eight healthy puppies.

When Shen Qiu went to visit, Guoguo looked up at him and said, “See that, Qiuqiu? I’ve got kids now, and you’re still single. You’d better hurry up and find yourself a mate!”

Shen Qiu’s smile froze.

He didn’t want a mate, but being called “a single dog” still stung.

He turned and left silently, vowing that if he ever talked to Guoguo again, he’d be a pig.

Life returned to its usual routine: training, the occasional mission, and plenty of peace. His only amusement came from watching Ba Wang and Guoguo’s strange little family.

Ba Wang didn’t mind that the puppies weren’t his and doted on them endlessly, visiting them every day after training. The pups adored him right back, and everyone joked that if not for their coat color, they’d think the puppies were his.

They were fond of Shen Qiu, too, maybe because he was the only non-dog in the unit.

By the time they were one month old, the little ones were wobbling around and endlessly fascinated by Shen Qiu’s fluffy tail. Every time he came near, they’d swarm to chase it.

After two or three rounds of that, Shen Qiu gave up entirely, deciding that children were terrifying and that he’d never have any.

But life has a way of laughing at your decisions.

The very next day, a new arrival came to the precinct: a bright orange Maine Coon.
A female. And one in heat.

Shen Qiu’s first clue that something was off came during dinner. His favorite meat suddenly didn’t taste good at all, but he forced himself to finish it.

Restless, he paced back and forth, feeling an unfamiliar heat rising inside him.

Then he saw Yang Yue walking toward him, carrying the orange Maine Coon.

Shen Qiu froze. Then he shot straight up onto the roof. 

 That was it. That’s why he’d been so agitated!

Even if he didn’t want a mate, biology had other plans.

A male cat won’t go into heat unless there’s a female nearby, but if there is one within five kilometers, his body will react automatically.

And clearly, this female was deep in heat, and her pheromones were driving Shen Qiu’s body wild.

Realizing this, Shen Qiu’s mind went blank. Heaven, why me?!

Yang Yue, seeing him bolt, laughed helplessly.

“Qiuqiu, what’s this? You see a pretty lady and run? Planning to be single forever?”

Shen Qiu backed up, face full of alarm.

Yes, exactly! Please, for the love of all things holy, take her away!

But Yang Yue only thought he was shy. She brought the female closer.

The little orange cat leapt from her arms onto the roof, brushing her tail and backside against Shen Qiu.

“Meow meow~” You really don’t like me? Really?

For Shen Qiu, it was pure torment. Why did feline biology have to be like this?!

Desperate, he locked himself inside the officers’ quarters, sealing every door and window crack to keep her scent out.

It helped a little…but only a little.

He knew enough to realize he had two options: neuter or mate. Otherwise, he’d just have to endure it. Even with a human soul, it was hard to bear.

He lay sprawled on Qin Yan’s bed, pondering what to do. Meanwhile, Yang Yue had already contacted the female cat’s owner.

Only after hearing she’d been taken home did Shen Qiu cautiously emerge from hiding.

Her scent lingered faintly in the air, still making him uncomfortable.

He drooped miserably.

Was… was neutering really his only choice?

The trainers, amused but also concerned, began to discuss it. After all, neutering might affect his performance in the field.

“I heard neutered tomcats get clingy and fat,” one mused, poking Shen Qiu’s belly.

“You’re already heavy enough…how are you going to run if you gain more?”

Shen Qiu slapped his hand away, glaring at them.

 “Meow meow meow!” I’m perfectly fit! Who are you calling fat?!

But the trainer was still thinking it over.

The female cat kept showing up three times a day, throwing his training schedule into chaos. By night, her owner would finally come to retrieve her, giving Shen Qiu a brief reprieve.

After three days of this, he’d had enough.

Fine. Neuter it is!

Ignoring the chill that ran down his spine at the thought, he marched off to find Qin Yan…to file his very own “personal request.”

~~~

T/N: Ngl, this was not where I was expecting this arc to go. Surprisingly, there are 16 more chapters to this arc. So we change to the next arc in chapter 40. I’m reading this as I translate, so I have no clue where this will end up either. 

3.9k characters to 1.6k words | Translation Time: 1 hour