Super Zoo

Walking on the cobblestone path in the park, the winter sun felt itchy on my skin... oh no, I mean it felt warm and cozy. People strolled by in small groups, and occasionally someone would exclaim in surprise, stopping to take a photo with the stray cats wandering around the zoo.

When the cats from Cat Planet didn't have to work on the boats, they often roamed around the zoo. Everyone in the zoo, inside and out, knew them, so they were allowed to wander as they pleased.

These guys were usually lazy, but as soon as they saw a tourist wanting a picture, they'd straighten their bodies and wave at the camera like beckoning cats, all the while meowing.

Back when I was poorer, I had vests made for a few kittens... The so-called vests' main feature was their many pockets. Before heading out, I would casually stick a five or ten-yuan bill in the vest pocket, with a corner deliberately sticking out. After taking pictures with the tourists, they would often slip a ten or five yuan into the vests' pockets. Some big spenders would even stuff in a hundred...

Now that I don't lack such small change, these felines seem to have fallen in love with this money-collecting activity. The vests are empty when they leave the house, but after returning, they bulge with cash. A shake in place sends money flying everywhere.

They were truly cats that brought in wealth.

I don't care about this small change now, using it all to buy cat food, all imported at that, which has made a few cats quite picky eaters. If this trend continues, they'll probably taste every cat food flavor in the world.

Halfway through my walk, I suddenly remembered to call Wang Hao. I had told Wang Jian She before that once I had a bit of a career, I'd have Wang Hao join me so he wouldn't have to be at receptions every day, running his health into the ground. Right now, I just happened to need trustworthy hands.

But after several calls, there seemed to be no signal on Wang Hao's end, just a female voice saying "out of service area." So I called Wang Jian She and found out that Wang Hao was in the critical phase of a government project and had been running around the rural towns.

The official conduct in rural towns sometimes can be helpless, with alcohol required for all sorts of matters, big and small. The other party had no ill intentions; it was just custom or sometimes a bit too much enthusiasm. No matter what, Wang Hao was sent by the city, and with Wang Jian She covering him up there, but still, when doing work below, he had to drink, often nearly to death at every meal.

"The current official scene... sigh... let's not talk about that. I was actually planning to look for you, because Wang Hao's mother and I discussed it. His civil servant job is not that great. Once he finishes this project, seen through from start to finish, he'll resign and come help you, to gain some experience in society," Wang Jian She said, not sounding like a leading official at all but more like a father worried about his son.

"Great, I'm planning to merge the zoo's fish-riding and boat-riding businesses into a small entertainment company. Have Wang Hao manage it for me," I said.

"Ah, that's thoughtful of you. It's still the classmates that have the closer relationship. When you have time, come over to my house for a visit," Wang Jian She said.

"Sure thing, Mr. Wang, you're busy, so when Wang Hao gets back, give me a call," I said, exchanging a few more pleasantries before hanging up.

With the Wolfhound Brothers not around, I couldn't play the villain. My mood was good, so I decided to let out the Parrot Sisters for some fresh air. I found a couple of small chains to tie to their legs and had Su Meng follow behind holding them.

Along the way, the two parrots never stopped chattering and throwing shade at female passersby.

"Not wearing pants..."

"Snake-spirit face..."

Even I was surprised—when did these two get so smart, managing to say things like "snake-spirit face"? Who taught them that?

But their eyesight was still terrible! The person was clearly wearing stockings, okay? Just transparent ones...

Wandering nonchalantly along the way, as we passed by Xiongshan, the Parrot Sisters began their roasting session towards the bear family. One said, 'Big-headed and thick-necked,' and the other chimed in: 'Either a boss or a cook.'...

A little girl holding a pack of chewing gum was excitedly shouting outside the bear enclosure, "Don't wait for the animal to say hi for you!"

The bear family looked through the bars at the little girl, utterly bemused, as she talked and started unwrapping the chewing gum, ready to throw it into Xiongshan.

"Looking for trouble!" I rushed forward with quick steps, snatched the chewing gum fiercely from the little girl's hands.

The little girl was startled, about to cry after having her candy taken. Her parents were even more upset, "Hey, what do you think you're doing, snatching candy from a child?!"

I glared at them, pulling out my work badge for a quick flash, and said sternly, "Don't feed the animals willy-nilly! Bears eating chewing gum can get gastrointestinal diseases. I'll let it slide this time, but I'm confiscating the means of committing the offense. If you're caught again, there'll be a fine, you hear..."

After saying that, he slipped the chewing gum into his pocket, leaving behind a stunned family of three, turned around with his hands behind his back and ambled away.

Once he turned a corner, Suming took out the chewing gum, unwrapped all five sticks, and stuffed them into his mouth, chewing vigorously.

As he passed by Tiger Mountain, the two parrots were just about to make a snarky comment when a newly arrived Bengal Tiger inside Tiger Mountain suddenly let out a fierce roar with a "roar."

When Suming was in school, he had observed tigers up close at the zoo. Those tigers that had been confined for a long time had become docile and rarely roared, and even when they did, it wasn't scary. But it was a different story with the new tigers; their roars were truly frightening. Even though you were separated by a cage and knew they couldn't harm you, their roars could still make your legs weak and heart pound in fear.

The tiger is the king of beasts, and that's no mere saying. Perhaps animals like lions and rhinoceroses are not weaker than tigers in terms of combat ability, some perhaps even stronger, but in terms of aura, the tiger firmly overshadows any other animal.

This Bengal Tiger, having been confined in the zoo for less than a week, let out a wild roar so mighty that it spread throughout half the zoo.

Just a moment ago, the zoo was filled with various noises: the monkeys on Monkey Mountain chattering, the gibbons making their strange calls, and so on, but all these noises suddenly vanished. Birds from several groves fluttered their wings and took to the sky in alarm.

The parrot sisters' criticism was cut off mid-sentence, turning into a 'cluck,' like chickens who had their necks snapped. They suddenly urinated in fright, then their legs gave way, and they plopped down on their own poop...

"Scared now?" Suming taunted with his hands behind his back, sniggering creepily.

He too had once wanted to learn how to roar like a tiger to understand how to be so intimidating. He communicated with a tiger using "Animal Companion" and the tiger was quite open, roaring for him to see.

But even after the tiger had roared itself hoarse, Suming failed to get it right. His voice had the look but lacked the soul-stirring power of a tiger's roar.

It seemed to be an issue with physical structure, the tiger's secret technique. It's like how the sounds of mating tigers wouldn't possibly excite Suming – same principle...

"What am I even thinking about..." Suming rubbed his face.

Up ahead, beyond a row of wooden fences, a large group of tourists had gathered, leaning on the fences and pointing at the animals inside, waving tree leaves and the like, full of energy.

Behind the large enclosure, divided into several sections, were camels, ostriches, and a dozen or so assorted deer previously.

A few new members had arrived here the day before yesterday.

"Grass Mud Horse!"

A chubby kid was lying flat on the fence, yelling incessantly at the new arrivals inside, which resembled sheep but with long necks and an appearance that seemed 30% sleazy and 70% cute: "Grass Mud Horse, Grass Mud Horse, Grass Mud Horse..."

The new members behind the fence were indeed the legendary "Grass Mud Horse," also known as alpacas.

With their timid nature and being new to the zoo, they were already wary of the unfamiliar environment. Startled by the chubby kid's shouting, they immediately trembled and huddled in a far corner, staring in terror at the people outside the fence.

Children love a lively scene, and the other kids around the fence, being naughty, started shouting along. A few braver ones even picked up small stones to throw at the alpacas.

"You fatso! Grass Mud Horse!"

"Grass Mud Horse! You fatso!"

The two parrots started cursing out loud, not at the alpacas inside the fence, but at the chubby kid. Despite their sharp tongues, the parrot sisters could tell friend from foe. Seeing the chubby kid bullying the new alpacas, they got furious and started swearing, flapping their wings, ready to peck the chubby kid! Experience new tales on empire

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