On Jan. 22, a picture posted online caused a sensation among netizens. The picture showed a rat that had been caught and tied up by its four claws, with a note in front of its body. One playful netizen saw an opportunity to imagine the rat's inner voice, even adding a caption to describe the rat’s possible grievances.

Indeed, rats may have it tough in the Year of the Rooster, as another netizen discovered many peanuts hidden away in his car by rats. Eventually, the “hard-won” food was seized by the car's owner, and netizens jokingly condemned the rat-catcher for not “cutting the rats some slack” in light of the holiday.