Fu Zai‘s Year-End Bonus

The cold wind howled, and police dog Fu Zai shook off his wet fur, his ears drooping like two withered leaves battered by rain. Today was the day the team was handing out year-end bonuses, and also the day his bonus was deducted.

Fu Zai was an excellent police dog, at least in the first two years after he joined the force. He had a keen sense of smell, fast pursuit speed, precise biting skills, and had assisted in solving many cases, earning him numerous awards. However, in the past year, Fu Zai had changed, becoming full of "office vibes."

He no longer barked excitedly upon hearing a siren like the other police dogs. Instead, he would first check his watch to calculate if it was during working hours. When on a mission, he would precisely control his speed, neither running an extra step nor a step short, as if strictly adhering to some kind of procedure. After catching a bad guy, he would only bark a couple of times symbolically, then immediately return to his post, lie down, and wait to get off work. He would also go to the logistics department every day on time to collect his dog food, one kibble at a time, as if completing a daily check-in.

"Fu Zai, what’s wrong with you?" handler Old Wang asked, puzzled.

Fu Zai looked up, his eyes seemingly calm yet revealing a trace of helplessness, as if saying, "Don't you understand? No overtime, no internal competition, enjoy life, that’s the correct way for a police dog."

The other police dogs didn't understand Fu Zai, feeling that he had changed and become out of sync with the group. They were still enthusiastically throwing themselves into work, competing to show off their abilities. Fu Zai, on the other hand, always kept his unique rhythm, like an anomaly detached from the system.

At the year-end summary meeting, Fu Zai's behavior naturally became a negative example. The leaders criticized him for losing his enthusiasm for work, losing his fighting spirit, and for bringing "bad habits" to the police force. The reason was that he was too rigid, lacking the "wolf nature" of a police dog and losing the police dog's "spirit of dedication."

Old Wang tried hard to defend Fu Zai, saying that he was just more rational, more efficient, and more considerate of himself. However, his defense sounded weak. In the eyes of the leaders, Fu Zai's "rationality" and "efficiency" were challenges to the current system. In the end, Fu Zai’s year-end bonus was deducted for “improper work attitude”.

On the day the bonuses were distributed, the other police dogs happily received their "dividends." Only Fu Zai was alone in a corner, unmoving. Old Wang looked at Fu Zai, his heart filled with mixed feelings. He quietly walked up to Fu Zai and handed him a sausage. Fu Zai glanced at the sausage, then at Old Wang, and shook his head.

Old Wang was a little surprised. He had thought Fu Zai would eat it.

Just then, Fu Zai stood up. He extended his paw, took out a piece of dog food that he usually never ate from his food bowl, then, carrying the dog food in his mouth, he walked towards the trash can and accurately threw it into the trash can.

Old Wang was stunned, suddenly realizing something. Fu Zai was protesting, using his own way to express his dissatisfaction with this absurd system. He had not lost his enthusiasm, but rather had seen the truth. He was not slacking off, but rather unwilling to be bound by meaningless overtime and internal competition.

"Fu Zai, you… you really are…" Old Wang was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say.

Fu Zai looked up, a trace of cunningness in his eyes, and let out a soft bark as if saying, "Old Wang, don't take it too seriously, life is about being happy." Then, he returned to his usual calm demeanor, quietly lying in the corner, waiting for the end of the workday.

In the distance, the other police dogs were still chasing and playing with abandon, their barks sounding particularly harsh in the cold wind.