Chapter 96 Visiting the Forestry Bureau

A thorough study will allow us to better protect them and make it safer for the fish to live here in the future.

So, if I may be so bold as to ask, could you please give us a hair sample, little fish?

Just one; it won't hurt it.

He turned to look at Yu Na, squatted down, trying to bring his line of sight to the child, and wore a friendly smile.

"Little fish, don't be afraid. Uncle just wants to borrow a strand of your hair. I'll just pluck it gently; it won't hurt you."

Yu Na was a little nervous being watched by so many people. She hid behind Xia Zhiyun and looked at Yuan Yuan as if seeking her opinion.

Yuanyuan held Yu Na's other hand, looked up at him, and asked, "Yu Na, are you willing?"

If you don't want to give it, we won't. Grandpa Chen won't blame you.

Yu hesitated for a moment, "Just... just one hair?"

"That's right, that's right, just one, one is enough."

Yu Na bit her lip, then looked at Yuan Yuan. Seeing Yuan Yuan nod at her, she slowly moved out and nodded to the president: "Well... okay."

The president successfully obtained a single hair and left in a hurry.

The staff around her chatted with Yuanyuan for a few more minutes before dispersing.

After the little wolf finished eating the jerky, it trotted back and rubbed against Yuanyuan's leg. The little snake rolled its eyes at it in annoyance.

So greedy, she was easily lured away with just a piece of jerky.

We shouldn't have saved it last time; it got eaten by the bear.

"Let's go, let me take you back to your rooms to rest first."

Xia Zhiyun hummed in agreement and followed behind. He could only stay for two days; he had to rush back to work on company matters the day after tomorrow.

Once in the room, Gu Zheng told Yuanyuan to get some rest, as training would begin tomorrow, and then hurriedly left.

After Gu Zheng left, Yuanyuan immediately turned around, ran to her mother's side with her short legs, and gently shook her hand.

"Mommy, Mommy, let's not rest, let's go for a walk, okay?"

She's been here so long and hasn't really had a chance to explore properly; she's been either resting or training and studying every day.

Before Xia Zhiyun could react, her daughter pulled her outside.

Don't let her small size fool you; after a period of training, she's now full of energy. Leaning forward, her twin ponytails swing back and forth.

"Run slowly, don't fall."

Xia Zhiyun followed along, feeling both helpless and amused. She wasn't a staff member of the Forestry Bureau; at most, she was only considered a half-family member, and she was only doing so out of respect for Yuanyuan.

Although Gu Zheng did not restrict her freedom, she felt she should not wander around.

"Yuanyuan, some places are classified, we can't go there."

"Don't worry, Mom. There are guards at all the important places. They won't let anyone in easily."

Hearing her say that, Xia Zhiyun relaxed a little.

The forestry bureau's compound was much larger than Yuanyuan remembered. She usually either went to the training grounds or stayed in her private classroom and had never had a proper chance to explore it.

Tall, unidentified trees lined both sides of the road, their leaves a glossy green. Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground.

Occasionally, a few birds whose names I don't know would land on the branches, chirping and chattering.

It wasn't afraid of Yuanyuan at all; instead, it flew down and circled around her.

"Mom, look, those are the uncles and aunties from the animal protection league!"

The Forestry Bureau is also divided into plant and animal systems.

Gu Zheng and Lu Yuan are responsible for plant research and conservation.

The Department of Zoology is headed by an old professor, but the entire Forestry Bureau is under Gu Zheng's jurisdiction, so he usually has almost no free time.

After Yuanyuan arrived, he squeezed in time by compressing his rest time and increasing experimental efficiency.

Yuanyuan stopped and pointed to a row of bungalows not far away.

Two people in camouflage uniforms were standing at the entrance, tidying something up, with several animal traps next to them.

Hearing the voice, the two looked up and saw Yuanyuan. They immediately greeted her with smiles, "Oh, it's our little Yuanyuan! What brings you out for a stroll today?"

"Since there's no training today, let's take Mom out for a stroll!"

Yuanyuan looked up at her with her little face and asked, "Uncle, Auntie, what are you busy with?"

“We are inspecting the animal traps. We rescued an injured fox cub a few days ago and just released it back into the forest today.”

"Has its injury healed?"

"Don't worry, the little fox has a strong ability to recover. We only returned it to the mountains after confirming that it could walk freely."

Hearing them say that, Yuanyuan felt relieved.

Just then, two small figures darted out of the bushes.

The little wolf ran ahead, and only when it got close to Yuanyuan did it see the little snake wrapped around its back, its head slightly raised.

"Awoo~"

The little wolf ran to Yuanyuan's feet and rubbed its head against her trouser leg.

The tattletale snake always bullies it.

The little snake slapped its back with its tail in disgust.

"Awooo!" Look, it's bullying me again.

If the little snake weren't so venomous, it would have bitten it a few times to teach it a lesson.

"Little snake, you're not allowed to bully the little wolf."

"Hiss hiss hiss!"

Yuanyuan bent down and picked up the little wolf, who nestled obediently in her arms.

How did you get out of there?

The two little ones disappeared as soon as I stepped outside; I never expected them to be hiding here.

The little wolf nuzzled her cheek, "Awoo!"

"Uncle and Auntie, you're busy, I'll go wander around with my mom."

"OK."

………

They strolled along, stopping occasionally, and before they knew it, they had wandered into the back mountain of the Forestry Bureau.

The place is filled with all sorts of plants, and a babbling brook flows through it.

Yuanyuan couldn't resist running to the riverbank, taking off her shoes, and starting to soak her feet and catch fish.

Of course, it's just for fun; the fish here might be their experimental data.

After walking around for about an hour, Xia Zhiyun noticed that Yuanyuan's forehead was sweating. "Yuanyuan, let's go back and have some water. We have training tomorrow."

Yuanyuan nodded and took her mother's hand as they walked back.

Back in her room, Yuanyuan drank a glass of water, fed the little wolf and the little snake some food, and then obediently lay down on the sofa to rest.

Xia Zhiyun sat beside her, looking at her daughter's unguarded little face, and couldn't help but ask:

"Yuanyuan, will you be afraid when you go to the beast world?"

Yuanyuan shook her head. She perked up as soon as she heard this, propping herself up to sit up with bright, sparkling eyes.

"Don't be afraid! The beastman uncles and aunts in the beast world are all very nice to me, and they are very kind to me. I also have a little wolf and a little snake with me, so it's not scary at all."

She paused, then took her mother's hand and said, "Mom, when I become powerful, I'll take you to see the Beast World too."

Xia Zhiyun felt a warmth in her heart and hugged her daughter. "Okay, Mommy is waiting for Yuanyuan to take Mommy to the Beast World."

But you must protect yourself, okay?

"Okay, Mom."

Yuanyuan snuggled in her mother's arms and told her many interesting stories about the beast world. As she talked, her eyelids grew heavy and she quickly fell asleep.

...

The next morning, just as dawn broke, Lu Yuan came over to call Yuan Yuan to start training.

"Yuanyuan, are you up yet?"

Today, your geology professor is going to teach you something new.

Yuanyuan responded, quickly washed up, changed into a small camouflage outfit, and followed behind him.