“I’m taking this steppe eagle down to Old Huang. Eldest Princess and “Can’t See” will be left to you.”
While carrying the steppe eagle toward the car, Chen Zhiye didn’t forget to instruct Su Muzhi.
“‘Can’t See’… don’t tell me that’s the steppe eagle from yesterday?”
Su Muzhi asked in disbelief, her eyes full of shock.
“Yeah. I named it. Simple and clear, right?”
Chen Zhiye showed no embarrassment at being questioned. Instead, he looked satisfied with his naming sense, shook his hair, and strode away confidently.
“Hahaha! ‘Can’t See’—a name even more casual than mine has appeared!”
Blackie flapped its wings and spun in place happily.
“Blackie, your own name isn’t exactly nice either, yet you’re laughing at others?”
“Newbie, I saved you earlier, and your name can’t be any better!”
Blackie’s cheerful tone suddenly turned sharp. It no longer landed on her shoulder, keeping a one-arm distance instead.
“My name really isn’t better than yours. Let’s go check on Eldest Princess.”
Su Muzhi tried to avoid the topic and walked forward on her own.
“Good that you admit it. Then you should at least tell me your name—I can’t keep calling you newbie!”
Satisfied with her answer, Blackie flew back onto her shoulder.
“I’m Su Muzhi. Just call me Susu.”
“Susu… fine. Slightly better than ‘Can’t See.’”
Blackie remained as sharp-tongued as ever.
Not long after, it seemed to sense something and pecked her ear.
“Someone’s coming.”
It then flew into a nearby tree to hide.
Chaotic footsteps approached. Judging by the sound, there were quite a few people.
Her first thought was that the person who left the threatening note had returned. She tightened her grip on her phone, ready to call the police at any moment.
“Miss, is this the new rescue station?”
An elderly man with a hunched back and sun-darkened skin stepped forward first. Several similarly aged villagers stood behind him, all cautious and uncertain.
Su Muzhi relaxed slightly but kept her hand on her phone.
“Yes, uncle. Did you bring an injured animal?”
“Yes, yes—that’s good then.”
The old men visibly relaxed. The leader continued:
“We’re feed sellers at the foot of the mountain. This morning someone bought a lot of feed from us. When it was time to pay, he suddenly said something urgent came up and told us to bring the feed up to the new rescue station here, and he’d settle the payment later.
We thought there wasn’t any rescue station here—just an abandoned zoo. Turns out it really became one. We’ve brought the feed, so about the payment…”
Su Muzhi internally cursed Chen Zhiye for forgetting to mention something so important.
With a sigh, she said:
“Uncle, I’m also just an employee. Our station chief is out. I’ll take you to the office and try calling him.”
The “office” was just a small, low house, and it felt extremely cramped once everyone entered.
She called Chen Zhiye three times, but he didn’t answer. Looking at the nearly pleading expressions of the elderly men, she couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
After a long internal struggle, she gritted her teeth:
“Alright. How much is it? I’ll pay.”
Seeing her phone balance—only two digits left—she collapsed onto the table and sighed.
Then she felt something cold and slightly wriggling beneath her hand.
“Hey! You’re stepping on me!”
Startled, she leaned back instinctively. The poorly maintained wooden chair immediately collapsed, sending her crashing to the ground.
She snapped:
“Is this place cursed against me or what?! First money, now injuries!”
Blackie didn’t know when it had flown in. It perched on the table, looking down at her.
The true culprit finally poked its head out: a green lizard.
“Teacher Black, what’s wrong with the new girl? She’s the one who stepped on me!”
“People go crazy at work. Little Green, just bear with it.”
The lizard—Little Green—nodded seriously, but in Su Muzhi’s eyes, it looked like disdain.
“Who are you?!”
“It’s Little Green, one of my students. It escapes once a week for exercise,” Blackie explained seriously.
“And me! Little Fat! A hamster currently on a diet!”
From a nearby wheel came the sound of rolling. A giant hamster was running desperately.
Watching this scene, a bold idea suddenly formed in Su Muzhi’s mind.
Could she livestream using these animals? It would promote the rescue station and earn her extra income.
She acted immediately, quickly registering a livestream account and going live.
The camera pointed at the hamster running wildly in its wheel, shouting about losing weight.
She stared at the viewer count: 0 → 1.
A comment appeared:
“Is this hamster on steroids?”
She said nothing and moved the camera to Little Green.
Another comment:
“Is that lizard escaping?”
She explained:
“It’s Little Green. It escapes once a week.”
“Hahahaha what kind of magical place is this!”
Donations began to appear. She moved the camera to Blackie.
“This is Blackie, a foul-mouthed white-necked crow.”
Blackie tilted its head innocently, then immediately cursed:
“F*ck!”
“Holy—this is amazing! I’ll tip more, make it curse again!”
“One donation equals one curse from Blackie!”
Immediately, two virtual gifts appeared. She excitedly thanked them:
“Thank you for the glasses gifts! I’ll get Blackie to curse twice!”
Blackie shot her a resentful look through the phone screen.
After intense pleading, it finally gave in:
“F*ck! Idiot!”
The livestream peaked at a thousand viewers. Only when Blackie pecked her ear in irritation did she reluctantly end the stream.
Seeing the earnings, she hugged Blackie and spun around:
“Blackie—no, Teacher Black—you’re my lucky star!”
“Didn’t you say this place was cursed against you?”
Blackie looked pleased but kept its arrogant tone.
She shook her head vigorously, then suddenly paused.
“Teacher Black… I feel like we forgot something.”