Chapter 2

Thankfully, from that day on, my piggy life finally started to look up.

Every day, Josh pampered me with tasty food and even dressed me up in all sorts of ridiculous, flashy outfits.

I wore a custom-made pig collar with a nameplate that had "Nathan" engraved on it.

After every lunch and dinner, Josh would take me out for a stroll, rambling on about his old days with Nathan.

It felt like I was collecting all the pieces of Nathan's life, and I was finally starting to understand him.

Nathan lost his mom when he was a kid, and Josh had to raise him all by himself. He tried to get Nathan a stepmom, but she was a nightmare. She abused Nathan and slowly drained the Evans family's money to spoil her secret boyfriend.

Josh ended up taking her to court. After she paid up a bunch of cash, he got the funds to start his pig farm.

Nathan really lived up to his dad's hopes. He managed to leave the small town and make it in the city.

Josh couldn't believe his son would ever stoop to being someone's boy toy for money.

As Josh continued to treat me like his son, gossip started to spread in the town that no one in the Evans family was normal.

First, Nathan was rumored to be someone's sugar baby for cash, and now Josh had gone off the deep end, head over heels for a pig. He treated the pig like a queen every day, and even chatted with it like it was his soulmate.

Eventually, all that gossip started to ruin Josh's pig farm business.

"Hey, son, I've been telling everyone you're my son, but nobody believes me. Why don't you help me prove it someday?" Josh sighed.

I nodded and oinked in agreement.

Josh smiled warmly. "That's my son."

One day, Josh called the mayor over as a witness. He announced to everyone that I was Nathan, and claimed he could prove it.

People here were pretty superstitious, so a whole crowd gathered out of sheer curiosity.

"Nathan, go fetch the vegetable basket," Josh called out.

I obediently picked up the basket and carried it over to Josh, for everyone to see.

"Nathan, if you're really my son, oink twice and spin around," Josh said.

I oinked twice and spun around right there.

Next, Josh scattered a handful of sand on the ground.

I slowly traced out the word "Nathan" in the sand with my hoof.

Sure enough, the whole town was stunned by what they saw.

After that, business at the pig farm really took off. Everyone thought that I, the Miracle Pig, was a blessing.

Finally, I got to enjoy a stable life for once.

But the good times didn't last long.

No one could've imagined how wild the rumors about the Miracle Pig would get. At first, folks said that eating the Evans family's pork would bring good fortune, but before long, the gossip had morphed into, "Eat their pork and you'll live forever."

One day, Josh took off all my outfits and removed my collar with the nameplate. Then he moved me into the sow pen.

"Son, there are people out there who want to eat you. You'll have to tough it out for a while, or you could be in real danger," Josh said, with a heavy heart as he gently patted my head.

I nodded, letting him know I got it. Survival was the only thing that mattered.

So, he found another sow about my size and put my clothes and collar on her.

Sure enough, just three days later, a wealthy man arrived, hauling in three heavy cash boxes.

"Excuse me, is this the Miracle Pig?" the man asked.

Josh nodded at first, then shook his head.

"So what does that mean? Can't bear to sell it?" the businessman strode over, rubbing his round belly as he spoke.

"No, but honestly, this pig isn't as magical as the rumors say. It's just a bit of marketing hype," Josh replied.

"So, Mr. Evans, are you too attached to let it go?" the businessman asked.

"No way," Josh said. "I'm just afraid you might regret it after buying."

"That's on us. I'm offering 3 million cash for the Miracle Pig," the businessman declared.

"Well..." Josh hesitated, eyeing the three big suitcases of cash. "I'm worried about keeping all this cash safe. If someone gets any ideas, it could be trouble."

"Easy fix. Here's a bank card with 3 million loaded on it. The PIN is..." The businessman really had it all figured out.

"Alright, but sir, I really can't promise this pig is as special as everyone says." Josh was secretly thrilled by the businessman's generosity, but he couldn't help worrying about the trouble it might bring.

"Tell you what, I'll add another 2 million and take all the pigs on your farm," the businessman offered.

"Absolutely not," Josh blurted out. After all, I was still laying low in the sow pen.

"What, are you trying to pull a fast one on me?" The businessman eyed Josh suspiciously.

"Of course not. It's just that some of the sows got sick earlier, so I had to keep them together," Josh explained. "Is it alright if I take those sick pigs away?"

"Oh, that makes sense. Sure, go ahead," the businessman replied cheerfully.

"Well, since there are a few pigs missing, how about you just give me another 300 thousand dollars? Consider the rest of the money as my apology," Josh said.

The businessman smiled, his eyes full of admiration. "Mr. Evans, you're a real stand-up guy. I'm definitely making you my friend.

"Let's stick with the original price, 5 million. I'll transfer the remaining 2 million to your account in a bit. But I'll have to trouble you to take all the sick pigs away."

"Absolutely," Josh said, finally letting out a sigh of relief.