Chapter 538 - 249: Amazing, My Little Junior Brother (Part 4)
Chapter 538: Chapter 249: Amazing, My Little Junior Brother (Part 4)
"..."
Yang Qi’s attitude was sincere and his tone was gentle. There wasn’t a trace of arrogance for his contributions or any sense that he was giving a handout. It was purely the gratitude and holiday courtesy of a junior toward his elders.
The families all tried to refuse at first, saying things like, "You’re too kind," "It was nothing, we just lent a hand," and "It’s what neighbors do." But they couldn’t argue with Yang Qi’s insistence and finally accepted the gifts. They all had smiles on their faces and were deeply touched.
After Yang Qi left, the families closed their doors. Looking at the obviously expensive, exquisitely packaged New Year gifts on their tables, they were filled with emotion.
"That Qi kid is a good man. He really shows up when it matters, and he never forgets a favor!"
"Yeah, and look at these gifts. They’re substantial. Not flashy, but you can feel the sincerity."
"He’s successful now, but he still remembers us old neighbors. That’s really something."
"This just goes to show, you have to walk the right path. As for the Jiang Family... that was just karma!"
"..."
As night deepened, the chatter in the village gradually died down.
「On the other side.」
In the "Xianlai Zoo Family" group chat, however, messages were flooding in nonstop.
It all started in the evening when Feng Jianye posted a few brand-new photos and a short video in the group.
The photos showed two red pandas in a temporary enclosure in the quarantine area. Though they were skinny with disheveled fur, one was nibbling on an apple while the other peered curiously at the camera.
Russet fur, a fluffy, ringed tail, the iconic white facial markings, and big, round eyes...
Cuteness overload!
The video was a clip of Luo City carefully performing a basic check-up on the red pandas. Although the little guys were a bit nervous, they were quite cooperative thanks to Yang Qi’s soothing presence, making for a heartwarming and loving scene.
[Feng Jianye: @All members, I have good news to report. Our Xianlai has welcomed new members. And they’re rare guests—two wild red pandas. They wandered into the zoo from the back mountain on their own last night, and it looks like they’re planning to stay! [Image][Image][Video]]
This message was a bombshell, instantly drawing out all the employees who had been lurking, busy, or getting ready for the New Year.
[Red pandas? And they’re wild? They just ran in on their own? That’s incredible! Sooo cuuute! [Starry eyes]]
[They really are adorable. I want to pet one!]
[The feng shui of our zoo must be amazing, right? It even attracted red pandas.]
[Uhm, are there red pandas in Cangshan?]
[Maybe they’re a remnant population from long ago. Whatever the case, this is fantastic.]
[Wow, if word of this gets out, our Xianlai Zoo will go viral before we even open.]
[You guys think other animals might be attracted here too? Like golden snub-nosed monkeys?]
[What are you dreaming about? There are no golden snub-nosed monkeys around here... but maybe there really will be others.]
[Haha, now if a South China Tiger wandered down one day, that would be a real thrill!]
[The person above me sure knows how to dream big!]
[Hahahaha...]
[...]
The chat was flooded with a barrage of astonished, curious, and excited discussions.
Previously, Yang Qi had brought back a vehicle full of various rare birds, which had already amazed everyone and made them think Director Yang had some incredible abilities.
Who would have thought that right before the New Year, something as legendary as "wild animals willingly seeking refuge" would actually happen.
And to top it off, it was red pandas—animals that are both incredibly cute and exceptionally rare!
This was simply the best New Year’s gift and shot in the arm for all the Xianlai Zoo employees.
Just as the discussion reached its peak, an account with the nickname "Fatty Rui" popped up.
[Fatty Rui: Director Yang is a legend! [Respect][Respect]]
The big boss and investor, Pang Yunrui, had personally shown up to give his seal of approval.
The atmosphere in the group became even more fiery, and everyone immediately started posting the same message in response.
[Zhang Xin: Director Yang is a legend!]
[Feng Jianye: Director Yang is a legend!]
[Luo City: Director Yang is a legend!]
[...]
After the chat was spammed for a while, Pang Yunrui called Yang Qi’s phone directly.
As soon as the call connected, Pang Yunrui’s loud voice, filled with undisguised excitement and emotion, boomed through.
"Junior, my dear Director Yang, what can I even say? Hahaha... Red pandas, wild red pandas, just ran into the zoo on their own. When I heard Teacher Feng tell me, I almost thought he’d had too much to drink for the holiday and was talking nonsense."
Yang Qi took his phone and walked out into the courtyard. He smiled as he looked at the dark silhouette of the back mountain in the distance.
"I just got lucky and happened to run into them. They probably came down because of a food shortage in the mountains and were attracted by the zoo’s environment."
"Lucky? Yeah, right!"
Pang Yunrui laughed and cursed playfully from the other end of the line. "Once is luck. Twice? Three times? Is that still luck? Ever since you took over Xianlai, the good things just haven’t stopped."
"Do you have any idea how much it costs to acquire a healthy pair of red pandas these days? It’s not just about money; you need connections and a slot in the quota. But you? Zero cost, and they even delivered themselves to your doorstep!"
"Hahaha, my friend, you’re my lucky star. No, you’re Xianlai’s lucky star! What you’ve saved us isn’t just money, it’s time and opportunity!"
Pang Yunrui meant these words from the bottom of his heart.
In zoo development, animal acquisition is one of the biggest expenses. This is especially true for rare animals, which are often unobtainable even if you have the money.
Yang Qi’s successive windfalls had genuinely solved a huge problem for Xianlai.
"You flatter me, Senior. It’s the result of everyone’s hard work," Yang Qi replied, ever humble.
The two chatted a bit more about the subsequent arrangements for the red pandas, and Pang Yunrui declared they would go all out after the New Year before hanging up in high spirits.
The excitement in the group chat continued late into the night before gradually quieting down.
...
「In the blink of an eye, New Year’s Eve arrived.」
Back at Yang Qi’s ancestral home, the main hall was brightly lit.
Yang Qi had helped his grandmother prepare a table full of sumptuous, steaming-hot, home-cooked dishes.
A festive program played on the TV, and the sound of laughter and joy coming from the screen added to the holiday atmosphere.