Chapter 55 First Part

Chapter 55 First Part

Although the panda has the word "small" in its name, it is quite large, much bigger than a cat, and can't hide in the garden. Even if it's not visible, there should be some sign that it was there.

The current climate was cold, yet the panda had vanished without a trace.

Fourth Brother Qin said, "I've asked many people, but no one has seen it."

Fourth Brother felt perplexed. He wanted to see the "cat" alive or dead. Could a panda just grow wings and fly away?

After talking with Fourth Brother, Qin Yao secretly activated her "vision skill." The sight made her dizzy. There were too many little animals in the zoo. Oh my! Some were even digging holes in the ground, trying to escape to other enclosures to fight... She watched the animals for a while, getting engrossed.

"Yaoyao, Yaoyao? What's wrong?"

Qin Yao deactivated the skill and saw Gu Cheng's handsome face before her. He was wearing heavy winter clothing and a brown hat, looking concerned. His flawless skin reminded her of the five red pandas she had just seen.

According to her brother, there were six red pandas in the zoo, and one had disappeared.

The red pandas were incredibly beautiful, with delicate and charming faces. When they lifted their paws and stuck out their tongues, they were full of mischief.

"Nothing. Let's keep looking," Qin Yao said, having found no trace of the missing red panda.

Gu Cheng asked what areas Fourth Brother had searched.

Fourth Brother said, "I've searched everywhere I could think of."

"It's been a whole night, and the weather is so cold. The animal must have found a cozy spot to hide," Gu Cheng pondered.

Qin Yao said, "Could it be in the dormitory? Have you checked the staff dormitory, Brother?"

"Ah?" Fourth Brother was stunned. He had vaguely guessed that Circle had escaped on its own. Would it really go to a place with lots of people?

He hadn't searched the staff dormitory.

Doubtfully, Fourth Brother led his sister and brother-in-law to his dormitory, a small two-story building. Fourth Brother lived in a single room on the second floor.

Upon arriving at the dormitory building, Fourth Brother immediately thought it was impossible. "There's nowhere to hide here."

"Yaoyao, I'm really sorry. You and your husband came to visit the zoo, but instead, we're running around for my sake—"

"Little Qin, you're back?" A young man in his twenties walked out carrying an enamel bowl, slurping noodles as he spoke to Brother Qin.

"You didn't come back last night. There’s no point in making such a fuss. You didn't lose it, after all. Animals running off in this zoo isn't anything rare."

Brother Qin: "I have feelings for Circle."

"Feelings?" The young man scoffed mockingly, "Don’t flatter yourself. After working in the zoo for a long time, you'll discover that animals don't have feelings for you. Who do you think you are? Stop being sentimental."

"If you have feelings, better spend them on your family and friends after work."

"A monk who rings the bell does so for the day. It's not worth putting in real emotions for these animals."

As they spoke, Qin Yao activated her skill and looked around. This skill had its advantages and disadvantages; if she wasn't careful, she might see strange things. For example, there were even some adult magazines hidden in the dormitory.

Gu Cheng walked a few steps forward, towards a dimly lit pile of miscellaneous items in the hallway. He lifted a wooden board, speaking calmly, "I've found it. Brother Qin, come and see. Is this the one?"

Found it?

The other three were momentarily stunned into silence. Brother Qin blinked, his eyes filling with joy as he ran forward. Sure enough, under the pile of clutter and wooden boards, a furry ball was curled up, with a familiar bushy tail. It was Circle, his beloved animal.

He had searched all night, and there it was, sleeping soundly!

Brother Qin's eyes welled up with tears of joy.

It turned out to be a false alarm.

Dragging Circle by the tail, he tried to take it back, but the ungrateful creature scratched him several times. Unlike the eager, bright-eyed look it gave during feeding, its eyes now clearly showed wariness.

That look felt like a knife stabbing into his heart.

Circle was returned to its enclosure, but Brother Qin's mood soured. He realized the young man was right. His affection for the animals was one-sided. The animals didn't like him. Given the chance, they yearned for freedom.

So, in Circle's eyes, what was he? A jailer keeping it captive?

"I thought we had some sort of connection. I thought it was different with it. Every time it saw me, it was lively and its eyes sparkled... I thought we knew each other."

Although Circle was found, Brother Qin was deeply hurt. He began to doubt whether this zoo job was right for him. He started questioning the meaning of his work.

Once passionate, he used to look forward to seeing these little animals every day, taking good care of them, feeling an immense sense of satisfaction inside.

Now realizing his role as a "jailer," he felt as if a bucket of icy cold water had been poured over him, bringing a sense of sorrow. He couldn't muster any enthusiasm in his body or mind.

"These little ones are really ungrateful. They live a more comfortable life than humans, with nothing to worry about, constantly being served. Yet, they're still not satisfied."

Qin Yao said, "Even if a person is locked in a cage with food and drink, they would still desperately want to escape."

Qin Si muttered, "In that case, zoos shouldn't exist. What's the point? It's just to satisfy our human selfishness, allowing children to visit zoos to learn about animals."

"It’s not like the old days when we only had paintings and stories. With cameras and photos, seeing them in a zoo is no different from looking at pictures."

"Some zoos train animals to perform, making them do acrobatics like humans; it’s also quite cruel."

Qin Si sighed, "I feel cruel, wanting to set them free in the wild."

Qin Si began to regret switching his job with someone for a position in the streets. The street job was noisy and mundane, involving daily interactions with people, which was mentally exhausting, though not physically draining.

In the zoo, he didn't have to deal with people. The animal world was simple. Though it was tiring, he came to love these cute little animals. However, the more he loved them, the more he began to question the purpose of his job.

"Little sister, should I switch back to my old job? I don't want to do this anymore. I feel so sad. No matter how much I give to these animals, they will never truly care for me. It hurts, and I can't take it." Qin Si looked lost as he spoke. He thought he should be as cold-blooded as that man to do this job well, but he didn't want to be.

If he didn’t want to, he should keep his distance from them.

"Brother, if you truly love these animals, you have to accept that they are different from humans," Qin Yao said with a smile. "You give because you love them. As long as you love them, that's enough. If they reciprocate, you feel happy. If not, it doesn’t matter. You remain true to your own feelings."

Qin Si: "...I think if I truly love them, I should let them go and allow them to follow their natural instincts. But I can't do that, so I have to leave. If I don’t see them, I won’t be troubled by it."

"Zoos serve not only for human viewing but also as homes for the animals," Qin Yao recalled. Many zoos have already started reforms, moving away from confining animals in viewing cages and instead creating simulated natural habitats for them.

"Watching animal performances in zoos is meaningless. If you want to see them, you should see their real-life reactions in the wild. Each animal has its own habits. I think the future of zoos should be to build environments that simulate their survival in the wild."

"Not confining them to cages or training them to perform, but creating an environment where they feel they are living in the wild, surrounded by interesting and engaging activities."

"Ideally, create a cozy den for them, where they can come out for a stroll if they want to be seen, or stay hidden if they prefer."

...

"Brother, your work has meaning. Striving to create a happy home for these animals, being their friend, and letting them live contentedly is your purpose."

As soon as Qin Yao finished speaking, a round of applause came from the doorway. A few men wearing black cotton jackets were standing there, the leader wearing black-rimmed glasses.

Lu Lian was a research expert from the Forestry Science Institute. This time, he had come to the zoo to provide guidance and form an expedition team to several African countries for exchanges and inspections.

In previous years, animal exchange activities with foreign countries were interrupted, but this year, these activities have resumed, with animals being introduced from abroad.

This morning, he had heard that a red panda had gone missing, and a zookeeper had searched for it without eating or sleeping for most of the night. He was deeply moved, and when he learned that the animal had been found, he came to check on the situation and overheard this conversation.

He was very touched, as he too had a deep affection for animals.

Various areas of the zoo were being renovated. He agreed with Qin Yao that in the past, the zoo's constructions were modeled on Soviet styles, with animals kept in sunken enclosures for visitors to view from all angles.

These designs were entirely for the benefit of human viewers. But were these conditions comfortable for the animals?

"Zoos should be designed and built with the animals' well-being in mind," he said.

After saying a few words, Researcher Lu suddenly began coughing heavily. He had been like this for several days—fine when not speaking, but once he started, he couldn't help coughing, his throat dry.

Hearing his cough, Qin Yao realized something was off and used her medical knowledge to assess him. She discovered that his lungs were in a severe condition. "Sir, your cough doesn't seem right. You should go to the hospital right away to get your lungs checked."

To convince him, Qin Yao emphasized that she was a trained nurse.

After a brief conversation, Researcher Lu departed, and Qin Xueguan's spirits lifted.

Qin Yao smiled and asked, "Brother, are you still considering changing jobs?"

Brother Xueguan Qin's expression was troubled, and he muttered, "I want to go to Africa to see wild animals."

Qin Yao: "?"

"I wasn't particularly fond of animals before, but now I'm genuinely curious about animals. I want to see how they survive in the wild. As you said, I need to see it with my own eyes to create a comfortable home for them."

"Unfortunately, I don't have the chance to go," Qin Xueguan sighed, realizing he was just an ordinary zookeeper, neither a veterinarian nor an animal researcher.

Qin Yao said, "Maybe you'll get the chance in the future. Keep at it and stay hopeful."

Qin Xueguan smiled, unaware that his eyes sparkled when he mentioned animals.

He couldn't bear to leave this job. After a moment of discouragement, he regained his spirit and continued to care for these lovely, carefree little creatures.

Qin Xueguan rested in his quarters for a while. Later, Gu Cheng and Qin Yao visited the zoo. At noon, Qin Xueguan invited them to stay for a meal. He cooked the dishes himself rather than going to a state-run restaurant.

Though Qin Xueguan hadn't specifically trained under his father in cooking, his brothers were all quite skilled in the kitchen. Some of their signature dishes were even better than those served in restaurants, so there was no need to spend money dining out.

Qin Xueguan handled the ingredients with brisk efficiency. Gu Cheng helped him out, appearing calm on the surface but secretly planning to pick up a few techniques.

Gu Cheng asked about a few of Qin Yao's favorite dishes.

"My little sister isn't picky and eats everything, but there are a few dishes she especially likes..." As Qin Xueguan spoke, he felt a warmth spread through his heart. His little sister had found a caring and thoughtful husband.

Care and concern were not just spoken words but actions.

The more Qin Xueguan observed his brother-in-law, the more he approved. He seemed cold at first but was actually warm-hearted. He even helped his little sister empty the night pot. You couldn't find a better man even if you searched with a lantern.

The two men were busy by the stove. With no more standing room, Qin Yao sat behind them, drinking tea and eating sunflower seeds. Before long, Gu Xing's family arrived.

"Auntie, the giraffe we saw just now was this tall." Gu Miaomiao excitedly told Qin Yao about her day at the zoo.

He An sat by the side resting, while Gu Xing silently wandered behind the two men, quietly observing their movements.

On the surface, Gu Xing showed no expression, but inside, he was surprised. The last time he tried making an egg cake in the kitchen, it was a disaster!

He discreetly watched from the corner of his eye, thinking of secretly picking up a few techniques.

"This is my older brother, Gu Xing, and that's my sister-in-law, with our daughter, Miaomiao."

At this point, Qin Xueguan became very nervous. Gu Xing looked cold, tall, and imposing, like the mighty lion in the zoo. He stood silently, observing. Was he displeased?

His younger brother was here helping in the kitchen, while his sister was there, eating sunflower seeds and chatting.

Thinking of this, Qin Xueguan felt deeply guilty. As the elder brother, he felt he should show some initiative.

Qin Xueguan was conflicted. He wasn't someone who knew how to say the right things at the right moment, which was why he came to work at the zoo.

After a moment of hesitation, Qin Xueguan finally spoke to Qin Yao. "Little sister, go get some water to boil. Your husband is honest, gentle, and has a good temper. Don't always bully him."

Brother Gu: "?!"

Sister-in-law: "?"

Gu Miaomiao: "!!!!!"

Her uncle, a good temper?