Super Zoo

As the saying goes, "If you call a person a thousand times and they don't respond, but if you have what they want they'll come knocking on your door." If Suming had to pay for advertisements for the cruise, he wouldn't even be able to afford the fees if he sold his pants, and there was no guarantee that people would take the bait; yet, after the reputation of the money-collecting cat spread, the television station actually took the initiative to come for an interview.

"Since when did you become a reporter? Aren't you going to school anymore?"

By the edge of the small lake, Suming, with a surprised expression, looked at the tall, fair-faced 'reporter' in front of him.

Not far away, a staff member wearing a Yangchuan Television Station vest was carrying a camera, and Mrs. Tong, the director of the zoo's office, was luring several cats together with a bag of snacks,

"Pssh, just because you're working doesn't mean I can't do an internship," she retorted.

Nangong Yan was dressed in a pink suit today, with light makeup, a bit less lively and spicy than Suming remembered her, but she appeared more dignified and steady.

However, this girl's actions were anything but dignified; she yanked Suming to one side, pretended to check the script, while secretly pinching his arm hard.

"Humph, wasn't it someone who said that once they found a job, they would treat me to dinner?"

Suming's mouth twitched in pain as he quickly tried to offer an apologetic smile, "I've been really busy lately, totally slipped my mind. You see, with so much on my plate, I barely have time to eat myself. Hey, how did you end up being a reporter, by the way?"

"Don't change the subject," Nangong Yan said, lifting her chin and 'tsking' before she continued: "As a top student in the Chinese language department, what's wrong with me interning at a television station, huh?"

"It's not about being a Chinese or foreign language major, the key is being pretty!" Suming said quickly.

"You're quite sweet-talking today, different from before," Nangong Yan's mischievous eyes, sparkling with teasing, "But, you know, Mommy told me, when a man suddenly becomes sweet-talking, it's usually because he's feeling guilty. Isn't that right, Mr. Su?"

"I'm no boss, heh heh, yeah, I forgot about it. How about this, you pick any restaurant you like, order anything, my treat!" Suming said.

"Okay, at least you're somewhat sincere. I'll think about it," she said.

"Nangong, are you ready? We can start now!" came the director's call from the other side.

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"OK!"

…

"Hello, everyone. I'm Nangong Yan, an intern reporter from the 'People's Life' column. I am at Yangchuan Zoo right now, bringing you a live report. Recently, a few cats have appeared in our city's zoo, sparking heated discussions among citizens.

These cats are no ordinary felines; they're adorable and possess a very special skill: they can collect money!

This is their owner, a zookeeper at the zoo, Suming."

The camera panned to Suming, and he greeted with a beaming smile, "Hello, everyone."

"Mr. Su, I've heard that your father was a field worker who dealt with various animals all year round. It seems you have inherited his insight into animal training, and these cats have been trained by you, right?"

"Yes, my father passed away early, and training animals was the most valuable legacy he left me. I'm so grateful to him, and I miss him dearly."

The sincerity in Suming's voice was heartfelt, and as he spoke, Nangong Yan at his side was also visibly moved, nodding slightly.

Suming paused briefly, then continued, "These cats were strays in my university campus. I'm someone who likes interacting with animals, so I started training them during my college years. They've been trained for three or four years now and can recognize the denominations of money. After I started working at the zoo, I thought that the zoo should have its unique attraction, so I specially trained them to find money. Hence, they became known as the 'money-collecting cats.'

"I personally think 'Fortune Cats' would be more appropriate," Nangong Yan said with a smile. "Now, let's see how these cats collect and find money."

The camera focused on the cats 'charging' the visitors.

Miao Yi was taking a fifty from a middle-aged woman, then wagging his tail as he handed the money to Hei and took a ten-dollar note back from the cash box.

"Ma'am, is this your first time here?" Nangong Yan directed the microphone toward the woman.

"Yes, I heard these cats were very clever, so I especially brought my daughter to see them. And they are indeed incredibly smart. Look, it gave me ten dollars back," the woman said, showing the ten-dollar note Miao Yi returned to her to the camera.

Nangong Yan laughed as well, then handed the microphone to the woman's daughter and crouched down to ask, "Little girl, do you find these cats cute?"

"Uh-huh!" The little girl seemed a bit camera-shy, her face turning red, she murmured a response, but her eyes were fixed on Miao Yi.

The middle-aged woman patted her daughter's head, smiling, "I usually am busy with work and don't have much time to accompany my child. This is a great opportunity to spend time with her and to cultivate her compassion from a young age—a win-win."

A fat man suddenly jumped out and loudly interjected, "This sister is absolutely right! There are many species on Earth that are on the brink of extinction, and it's possible that by our grandchildren's generation, there won't be any animals left! That would be a tragedy. We share the same Earth and the same sky; we can't just live for our own pleasure and ruin the planet, leaving a mess for future generations. That's why we need to protect animals, and bringing children here is about instilling a sense of animal conservation from a young age. I call on the people of Yangchuan to bring their kids to the zoo!"

This fat man spouted off all sorts of grand principles with a serious expression, but Nangong Yan's lips twitched twice, barely holding back her laughter.

"You're so sneaky!" While the camera was on the cats, Nangong Yan gave Suming a playfully reproachful glance.

The fat man was naturally Wang Hao, invited by Suming to act as a 'plant.'

When the camera turned back, Nangong Yan asked Suming, "So, I've also seen some concerns from netizens, such as the issue of counterfeit money and safety. How do you address these concerns?"

"I believe that the majority of our citizens have basic decency. Even if we occasionally encounter some counterfeit money, we just laugh it off, because, as our friend pointed out earlier, our hope is to bring people closer to nature and protect animals, rather than merely making money. As for the safety issue, we have life jackets, and without wearing a life jacket, the cats won't let anyone onto the boat... Besides that, we have another safety measure!"

Suming smiled and looked back at the crowd, "Who would volunteer to help out? I can give a live demonstration of our safety measures."

Mr. Wang quickly stepped forward, puffing out his chest: "I will!"

"Thank you. Would you be willing to jump into the lake?" Suming said with a smile.

There was a murmur of discussion among the onlookers. Although the lake wasn't deep, at nearly two meters, it could easily drown a fat person.

Mr. Wang already knew Suming's plan, so while he feigned hesitation for the camera, he finally agreed as though 'out of face.'

"It really won't be a problem? I can't swim!" Mr. Wang, not wearing a life jacket and seated on the boat, asked with a nervous face.

Nangong Yan, struggling to suppress her laughter, whispered to Suming, "This guy would be wasted if he weren't an actor."

"Am I not the honest one?"

"You? You're the director!"