It was just before dawn when Manager Wen was woken by the sound of a rooster crowing.
He thought he must have misheard. His own chicken coop had been empty for ages; he didn't have a small dog, let alone a chicken.
Manager Wen rolled over, only for something to hit the window with a loud THUD. Then, the rooster's crowing erupted from right outside, so piercingly loud it felt like it could split his skull.
"A rooster?" All traces of sleep vanished as Manager Wen sat bolt upright to look.
As soon as he opened the window, he saw a rooster, head held high, pacing back and forth beneath his windowsill.
It had a tall comb and multi-colored feathers that seemed to glow with a proud, imposing air in the sunlight.
Manager Wen rubbed his eyes again and again. Once he was sure he wasn't dreaming, he shouted, "Whose chicken flew into our yard?"
The words had barely left his mouth when his daughter, Wen Xiaoman, walked into the courtyard, her face glowing with joy.
