"You want to stay here?"

Upon hearing Chen Wen's suggestion, Jiang Xue was quite puzzled.

Chen Wen scratched his head and said, "Well, I was thinking our zoo is on holiday now, and there's no one to take care of so many animals, so I thought of staying here to help."

"Of course, I don't want any salary, purely as a volunteer, just provide food and accommodation, I'll pay for the meals and lodging."

Upon hearing this, the old doorkeeper clicked his tongue: "Young man, don't underestimate me, just an extra pair of chopsticks, talking about meal expenses, that's too polite of you!"

Jiang Xue shook her head: "You don't need to pay for meals and lodgings, and there will definitely be a salary. I'm very happy you're willing to stay and help, it's just that..."

How should I put it?

It's a bit sudden.

Chen Wen didn't know what Jiang Xue was thinking, he could only say: "Of course, I may not be professional, and can't work long-term, but I'm very good at getting closer to the animals, it should be somewhat useful, right? If nothing else, I can do the manual labor, feeding and such."

Jiang Xue massaged her forehead and explained: "I didn't mean it that way, it just feels a bit sudden."

"But it's nice that you're willing to help, we do lack manpower here."

"Mr. Li, please find a room for Mr. Chen to stay in."

The old doorkeeper replied cheerfully.

He liked lively atmospheres, and the more people, the better for him.

Moreover, Chen Wen wasn't stingy about sharing his cigarettes, which really suited the old man's taste.

Chen Wen nodded: "Then I thank Director Jiang for giving me this opportunity. By the way, you can call me Chen Wen, or Chen."

"Sure, once you're settled, I'll go over some points to note with you."

.....

Just like that, Chen Wen, the temporary zoo worker, joined through the job site and took up his post.

Became an honorable zoo employee.

Of course, there was a salary.

However, since Chen Wen didn't want it, Jiang Xue directly converted the salary into the animals' food expenses for him.

"Feeding is not difficult. The animals have already gotten used to daily feeding and scheduled feeding times. Just change into appropriate clothes, place the food in the designated spots, and they'll come to eat."

Jiang Xue walked in front, introducing the charts on the wall: "These charts change every Monday, recording the daily food quantity and frequency for the animals in this room, as well as the corresponding time. Remember to check it off after feeding."

Chen Wen nodded, keeping these details in mind.

"There aren't many animals in the zoo now that need feeding. Basically, it's possible to finish in about thirty minutes."

After Jiang Xue finished speaking, she sat back in her wheelchair.

Chen Wen originally wanted to help the director push her wheelchair, but Jiang Xue gently refused.

"It's okay, I can do it myself, I'm very familiar with this route."

Jiang Xue said with a smile.

Chen Wen nodded and followed behind.

"Besides the animals, you need to feed the poultry too, but Mr. Li and his wife have been doing that lately. Just check them as you pass by. If there's no food in the trough, put some, but not too much."

Jiang Xue spoke as she led Chen Wen to his assigned animals.

"As for your animals, they also have specific feeding times and preferences."

Jiang Xue pointed at the records: "Snowy Owl likes insects, the Browed Eagle and Golden Eagle prefer chicken and beef, while the Snowy Owl likes live food. The two lynxes are not picky but also tend to prefer some live prey."

Saying this, Jiang Xue took a glance at Chen Wen: "Your animals have preserved their wildness quite well, how do you do it?"

Chen Wen scratched his head.

This was difficult for him to explain.

The Snowy Owl was a fierce bird of prey, daring to wrestle with the Golden Eagle, and the Lynx and Bobcat were lynx champions.

In their original habitat, they stood at the top or higher levels of the food chain.

Even after becoming friends with Chen Wen and gaining intelligence, their wildness wouldn't disappear.

It just became hidden in their bones, becoming controllable.

"Maybe it's because of love?"

Chen Wen intended to make a joke to move past the topic.

But Jiang Xue seriously pondered over this direction.

...

After a period of thought, Jiang Xue got no results.

She said helplessly: "Maybe these animals can feel your affection more. They're very unique animals, and you're a very special person."

Chen Wen laughed heartily but didn't dare continue the conversation.

"There's nothing else inside. Oh, you need to pay attention to Da Ju."

Jiang Xue said as she led Chen Wen to the inner side.

Chen Wen looked up at the familiar name.

But what he saw made him shiver.

"This is Da Ju, a very old Northeast Tiger."

Jiang Xue said as she opened the door to the room.

In a hurry, Chen Wen instinctively grabbed Jiang Xue's shoulder, preventing her from standing up.

"It's alright, Chen Wen. Da Ju is a very approachable Northeast Tiger."

Jiang Xue spoke softly.

At the same time, as she reached out her hand, the old and large Northeast Tiger raised its head, looking listlessly towards them.

It let out a low growl.

Of course, this growl wasn't harsh; rather, it was like an ordinary greeting.

Only then did Chen Wen realize he was too nervous.

"Sorry, I'm in a line where encountering creatures at the top of the food chain instinctively makes me nervous."

Chen Wen explained.

If he came across a Northeast Tiger in the wild, his reaction might be even more intense.

Jiang Xue nodded with a smile, indicating her understanding.

Once Chen Wen entered the room, the Northeast Tiger called Da Ju only glanced at him before wearily lowering its head.

"This Northeast Tiger is very old indeed."

Chen Wen couldn't help but comment.

Jiang Xue reached out and gently patted the tiger's head with affection: "Yes, it's already eighteen this year. If it survives this winter, it will be nineteen in spring."

Eight years old!

Chen Wen couldn't help but look at the tiger a bit more.

In terms of the Northeast Tiger family, it's already considered an old-timer.

"But as I just mentioned, you need to pay attention to Da Ju. It hasn't been able to eat recently and can only be force-fed some meat paste to sustain its life."

Jiang Xue said with a somber expression: "It's very hard for it to make it through this winter."

Upon hearing this, Chen Wen's eyes showed a hint of sympathy.

The lifespans of many animals are, in fact, shorter than that of humans.

Take the Bobcat, for instance.

It's less than ten years old this year.

But how long it can live, Chen Wen is not clear.

He only knows that a wild Bobcat's lifespan is about 13 years, and in captivity can go up to 33 years.

Perhaps in the near future, Chen Wen would also have to go through such an event, bidding farewell to his special animal friends.

Therefore, looking at the elderly Northeast Tiger and the young Jiang Xue,

Chen Wen felt a bit melancholic.

At this moment, the aging Northeast Tiger seemed to sense something.

It lifted its head, its dull eyes glanced at Jiang Xue, nudged her with its head.

Jiang Xue chuckled, seemingly familiar with this gesture.

She nudged back against the Northeast Tiger's head.

The Northeast Tiger let out a pleased cry, placing its head on Jiang Xue's lap.

Jiang Xue then explained to Chen Wen: "Da Ju is a Northeast Tiger with no wild survival skills. It was discovered by some environmental protection uncles when I was a child and brought back for treatment."

"At that time, domestic protection for Northeast Tigers wasn't as strong as it is now, so Da Ju was sent to the zoo for captivity. My father worked at the zoo back then, which is when I first met Da Ju."

"Because Da Ju lost its mother at a very young age, it doesn't know how to hunt, its wildness is very weak, and it can only survive in the zoo relying on the caretakers, which is why it really likes humans and is very gentle."

Chen Wen nodded slightly.

Many young animals struggle to survive in the wild after losing their elders.

Without the guidance of elders, they aren't good at hunting and surviving, and if not discovered by kind-hearted people, the only thing awaiting them is death.

"So, for Da Ju, its world isn't the forests of Northeast China, but this small zoo. Its friends aren't those at the top of the food chain but me, a human who can take its life effortlessly."

Jiang Xue sighed softly and said: "Perhaps it's my special relationship with Da Ju that sparked my interest in animals. After growing up, I studied a major related to wildlife research, and with my father's help, I became the director of this zoo after graduation."

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