Wilderness Survival with Druid System

Chapter 323: Chapter 12: Daily Work at the Zoo

As she spoke, Jiang Xue seemed to realize that Chen Wen wasn’t really a colleague.

She smiled apologetically: ”Sorry, seeing Big Orange made me a bit emotional, so I talked a bit more.”

Chen Wen shook his head: ”No worries, I totally understand you, because I also have a friend like Big Orange.”

At this moment, Jiang Xue seemed to remember something.

She curiously asked: ”Is it that octopus?”

Chen Wen nodded with a smile: ”Yes, and it was only after parting with the octopus that I realized animals have feelings too.”

”Since then, I’ve tried to immerse myself in the food chain as I survive, becoming a part of it, befriending creatures of the same level, and protecting those of lower levels. That’s why I’ve met so many animal friends.”

Jiang Xue rubbed the Northeast Tiger’s loose skin and said with a smile: ”Animal friends, that’s a nice way to put it.”

”As for Big Orange, you just need to help it clean up the food regularly.”

Returning to the topic of work, Jiang Xue said: ”The food it doesn’t eat, you can clean off the smell and feed it to the vultures over there to avoid waste.”

Chen Wen nodded and glanced at the two vultures sunbathing not far away.

This zoo doesn’t seem to have many animals, but the variety covered is quite extensive.

Jiang Xue accompanied the Northeast Tiger enjoying the afternoon sun for a while.

Chen Wen just watched from the side.

When the Northeast Tiger shook its body and got up, he then helped Jiang Xue back into her wheelchair.

This time, Jiang Xue didn’t refuse.

”Let’s go, today’s work is almost done.”

Jiang Xue tidied up her clothes that were creased by the Northeast Tiger and said with a smile: ”Starting tomorrow, I’ll accompany you for your first day of work. I won’t go easy on any mistakes you make.”

Chen Wen patted his chest and said: ”Don’t worry, I can handle this job perfectly!”

Jiang Xue smiled without saying a word.

...

The next morning.

Jiang Xue was holding a cup of hot tea, watching Chen Wen as he dealt with the group of animals with a smile on her face.

When Chen Wen was feeding the pheasant.

”Ouch, hey, go for the food, why are you pecking me?”

”What Brazilian turtle, aren’t you a Western Eight turtle! Ignoring the food to bite my hand, huh?”

This was when Chen Wen was feeding the Brazilian turtle.

”I’m dodging! Hehe, gotcha dumb, didn’t I?”

Chen Wen skilfully dodged the attack of the marten, looking proudly at the not-so-big marten.

”The dumb roe deer isn’t called that for nothing. I was already standing behind it before it reacted, just waiting to pat its butt.”

This was Chen Wen’s site commentary as he went around to the back of the roe deer and gave it a pat.

After feeding a round.

Chen Wen was also sweating on his forehead.

”How is it? Tired?”

Jiang Xue handed over a pack of tissues with a smile, watching Chen Wen.

Chen Wen took it and thanked her.

”It’s okay on the tiredness; playing survival games is tougher than this. It’s these animals’ temperaments that are hard to figure out.”

Chen Wen crumpled up the used tissue, stuffed it into his pocket: ”Like the marten, I looked up its info before; it’s one of those vigilant and timid types, yet this one actually tries to ambush me.”

Jiang Xue nodded: ”Yes, some animals’ personalities change after being kept in captivity for a long time. In internet terms, they become wacky.”

”This marten is one of them. It’s originally a bold type and was caught on the spot while poaching pigeons from a farmer’s property. The forestry workers released it three times, and the farmer captured it three times. In the end, there was no choice but to leave it here.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Wen curiously asked: ”Can’t it be released farther away?”

”We tried, but it always found its way back. And releasing it too far is not an option either; if it dies, no one can take responsibility as it is a first-class protected animal.”

Jiang Xue said helplessly.

Chen Wen was quite amazed; who would’ve thought there’d be such an animal?

He said: ”Can this zoo be understood as a shelter for problem animals?”

Jiang Xue burst into laughter.

After a moment, she regained her composure and said: ”Pretty much, there are always some issues with those that stay here long term.”

”Well, it looks like I’ll have to be more careful when feeding them in the future.”

Chen Wen said, carrying the remaining food further inside.

Next was feeding his own animals.

Chen Wen walked into the glass house and was immediately surrounded by the animals.

”Wow, it’s you serving the food today!”

The owl said excitedly.

The Snowy Owl and Golden Eagle perched on the high climbing rope, eyes fixed on the big fat mice in the bucket.

The Canada lynx lazily sprawled at Chen Wen’s feet, waiting for the good stuff.

”Come, come, everyone gets a share.”

Chen Wen called out, scattering a small bag of mealworms on the ground.

The owl’s face immediately fell: ”Wow! Human, why did you throw the food on the ground? And there’s so little of it?”

Seeing this, Chen Wen flicked the owl’s body with his hand: ”This is dieting, you need to fly up yourself and peck at these worms around you, got it?”

”If you keep eating without exercising, you won’t be able to fly anymore!”

The owl expressed its dissatisfaction.

But the hunger in its belly could only drive it to hop around pecking at the mealworms on the ground.

The owl’s dieting plan was finally set in motion.

Chen Wen thought.

Next, feeding the Golden Eagle and Snowy Owl was much easier.

Chen Wen tossed out the field mice enthusiastically provided by the gatekeeper.

The Snowy Owl and Golden Eagle swooped down from the climbing rope, offering a spectacular midair relay.

The two fat rodents hadn’t even hit the ground before being snatched up by their claws.

”Not bad!”

Chen Wen praised them.

This time he gave an order, accompanied by a swift ”hunt.”

The Crested Hawk at the lower perch suddenly spread its wings and pounced.

Chen Wen reversed his throw of a field mouse, and the Crested Hawk deftly changed its flight direction.

Grabbing the mouse firmly.

”Beautiful!”

Chen Wen watched the Crested Hawk in surprise; its flying skills had greatly improved.

The field mice weren’t plentiful, not enough to fill up the animals.

Therefore, Chen Wen placed remaining chicken and beef strips around the ground.

The lynx immediately brought its head closer.

After feeding them, the bobcat on the other side needed equality too.

Chen Wen brought over some medicated chicken.

Letting the bobcat quietly finish its meal.

Finally, it was the older animals.

The Northeast Tiger Big Orange still looked listless, not having touched the food set out yesterday.

Chen Wen glanced at it, carefully putting down the new food.

Big Orange yawned, ignoring Chen Wen, just enjoying the morning sunshine.

”Alright, do as you please, elder.”

Chen Wen took away the old food, rinsed it slightly, and tossed it into the nearby vulture enclosure.

The two vultures eyed the meat, waiting a few minutes beside it.

Before finally bringing their heads closer and devouring it heartily.

After making a round of feeding, Chen Wen’s mood brightened: ”I must say, this work is quite nice.”

Jiang Xue, standing by, laughed: ”It’s your first day here, so it feels nice. But doing it day in and day out, you’ll soon find it monotonous.”

”Among the zookeepers in our zoo, the longest one has stayed for just over five years.”

Chen Wen nodded: ”Indeed, it takes some perseverance to stick with this line of work.”

”But I heard from Sun earlier that the salaries you offer aren’t very high, which could also be a factor.”

Chen Wen said, glancing at Jiang Xue’s expression.

Seeing that she wasn’t resistant, he continued: ”Actually, you could consider raising the salaries a bit, allowing the keepers to gain more benefits and also retaining talent.”

Hearing this, Jiang Xue smiled wryly and shook her head: ”If people’s salaries go up, the quality of animal food will have to go down. We don’t have any profitable projects in this zoo...”

Upon hearing, Chen Wen chuckled.

He knew, the opportunity to gain favor had arrived.