Chapter 214: Why is one friend missing?
Haicheng Zoo is located in the western suburbs. It covers a vast area and the entrance fee is only six copper coins, making it very inexpensive. Many people visit it every day.
Lou Hongjian parked the car, hung the camera he had brought around his neck, and Lou Heming also took his younger sister out of the car and went to the ticket office to buy two tickets.
He couldn't help but sigh as he handed over the four tickets.
"Second Brother, you're not still thinking about going out with Mao Mao, are you?" Lou Hongjian said gloatingly. "I think I've been quite lucky lately. I just got home yesterday and caught this trip."
Lou Heming nodded without hesitation: "That's right, it should have been just the two of us, Mao Mao and me."
Now, the two have become four, and there are two more younger brothers vying for their younger sister's attention.
But once at the zoo, Mao Mao didn't care which older brother it was.
Her attention was completely drawn to the animals in the zoo. She had just entered the gate and hadn't even seen the animals yet when she heard the roar of a ferocious beast in the distance. It was a loud and powerful roar that seemed to shake the mountains and rivers.
Mao Mao hugged her brother's hand, her eyes sparkling: "What is this?"
"It should be a tiger."
"tiger!"
Mao Mao had never seen a real tiger before, so she immediately pulled her brothers and ran in the direction from which the sound came from.
The zoo's ferocious beasts were all confined in cages, their territory shrunk, but their imposing presence remained undiminished, standing atop the artificial hill, surveying the crowd with disdain. South China tigers, African lions, leopards, Asian elephants... many ferocious beasts that Mao Mao had never seen in person before were all displayed before his eyes.
The camera that Lou Hongjian brought came in handy at this moment.
He asked his sister to stand in front of the cage and take a picture with the animals inside. Film was limited, so every single shot was taken.
Mao Mao is already a skilled little model.
At home, she often takes photos, and the developed photos have filled half an album. At first, she was reserved when taking photos and dared not move at all, but now she has learned to give her brother a sweet smile.
Click, click, and a roll of film was quickly used up.
Lou Hongjian, still not satisfied, looked at his younger sister Mao Mao standing in front of the peacock enclosure. Mao Mao was holding onto the railing, her little head close to the iron cage, chattering away to the peacock.
Whether it understood or not, the peacock tilted its head, then suddenly shook its long feathers, its magnificent emerald tail slowly unfolding before everyone.
A murmur rippled through the crowd.
Mao Mao was overjoyed and turned around to shout loudly to her brother, "Brother, it's open! The peacock is spreading its tail feathers!"
Lou Hongjian quickly raised his camera—but the film was all used up!
He frantically changed the film again, but the opportunity was gone forever. The peacock had displayed its magnificent tail feathers to the tourists, only to quickly fold them back up. By the time Lou Hongjian raised his camera again, the peacock had already flown proudly to the nearby artificial hill, its long feathers trailing down like silk.
He was immediately annoyed: "If I had known, I should have changed it beforehand!"
“The photos are black and white, so they don’t capture how beautiful the peacock’s feathers are,” Lou Heming said. “Perhaps you should bring a sketchbook.”
That makes sense!
Although he didn't take any photos, he could draw.
Lou Hongjian quickly perked up, noted down the peacock's characteristics, and resolved to unleash his inspiration and create a masterpiece once he got home.
However, taking photos is naturally more convenient now.
After changing the film, he started directing his younger siblings: "Mao Mao, Asui, stand together... Second brother, you stand over there too, I'll take a group photo of you."
The zoo is vast; it would take a whole day to explore it on foot. They wandered around, stopping frequently, and after half a day, they had only seen half of it.
By noon, not only were people starving, but even the animals needed an extra meal.
The staff carried animal feed into the cages and fed the animals. They didn't feed them like they would cats at home, simply pouring cat food into a bowl and having the big white cat meow and munch. The food was hidden in various places by the staff, waiting for the animals to search for it across the mountains.
Mao Mao lay on the iron fence, watching intently. She saw the staff hang a piece of meat high up, causing the small animals below to stretch their heads and try their best to reach it, jumping and climbing. When they finally managed to reach it, all the onlookers breathed a sigh of relief.
The food that had been obtained after much effort seemed even more delicious. Watching the little animals inside the iron bars enjoying their food, Mao Mao rubbed her belly and turned her head away.
She looked over expectantly and said, "Brother, I'm hungry."
"Let's go eat!"
There's no need to bring your own food; there are tea houses within the park where visitors can relax and enjoy tea.
At noon, the aroma of food wafts through the air. The tea houses are divided into Chinese and Western styles. The Western-style tea houses are called coffee shops and sell Western tea and snacks.
The café is a large glass hall built over the lake, offering views of the water from the windows. Swans glide across the lake, their long necks arched gracefully.
Mao Mao took off her shoes, climbed onto a chair, broke a piece of bread into a small piece, and threw it out the window. All the swans swam towards her and gathered outside.
She giggled with delight until the hot meal was served by the waiter, at which point she quickly sat down and began to eat.
"Mao Mao."
Lou Hongjian used a fork to pick up a strawberry from the cake and handed it to him with a smile: "Ah—"
At home, Mao Mao was often fed by her brother. She didn't suspect anything and obediently opened her mouth wide to accept the feeding.
Just as the strawberry was about to enter her mouth, Lou Hongjian suddenly withdrew his hand, leaving Mao Mao with nothing to bite.
"hold head high?"
Before she could react, another strawberry, exuding a faint fragrance, was offered to her. Mao Mao immediately opened her mouth wide to take it, but the strawberry flew around in front of her, sometimes high and sometimes low.
Her eyes followed the strawberries flying around, her little hands clenched into fists in frustration, but the strawberries just wouldn't land in her mouth.
Lou Yansui glared at him: "Third Brother!"
Only then did Mao Mao finally eat the strawberry with satisfaction.
She ate the whole thing, her little face round and chubby, and she leaned happily against her brother, her little feet dangling in the air.
Lou Hongjian smiled maliciously: "Ah Sui, doesn't this look like feeding animals?"
Lou Heming coughed, almost choking on his coffee.
Lou Yansui: "..."
It must be said that the scene just now did indeed resemble the way animals forage for food.
Lou Yansui glared at him: "Third Brother, you can't treat Mao Mao like a toy!"
Lou Hongjian immediately raised his hands in surrender: "Okay, okay, I won't play anymore."
After lunch, we took a quick stroll and looked around.
The Haicheng Zoo exhibits dozens of rare animals, many of which are rarely seen and only heard of in books. Everyone was very interested in seeing them and enjoyed a feast for the eyes. When leaving the zoo, people couldn't help but go into the zoo's shops.
It sells all sorts of animal-themed gifts, making it hard to look away.
Wild birds and beasts can only be kept in zoos and cannot be taken home, but children can take home gifts that resemble the animals in the zoo. As soon as they enter the store, all the children are unable to leave.
Mao Mao looked around, her feet firmly planted on the ground in the store, she liked everything she saw, and her eyes sparkled as she looked at her brother.
Mao Mao wants it!
"Buy it!" Lou Hongjian waved his hand generously and said, "Whatever Mao Mao wants, I'll buy it for you!"
Lou Heming also said gently, "I just received my salary a few days ago, so it doesn't matter how many items I choose."
With a cheer, Mao Mao happily ran to the shelf to choose what she wanted.
Lou Hongjian nudged his younger brother, who was standing motionless beside him, and said, "A-Sui, you go too."
Lou Yansui paused for a moment: "I don't need it. Only children would like these."
Lou Hongjian ruffled his hair vigorously: "A-Sui, you're still just a kid."
"I'm already sixteen!"
"Is sixteen years old a big age? Isn't he still a minor?"
Lou Yansui: "..."
Lou Hongjian gave him another push: "Hurry up, I just sold a painting, and I'll pay for it today. Think it over, you don't get many chances to take advantage of me."
"Does he really need this little bit of pocket money?" Lou Yansui thought to herself.
But he still took a step and followed behind Mao Mao. The two of them circled the shelves and brought back a lot of gifts, their hands full.
On the way home, Mao Mao divided everything up one by one.
"This is for Mom, this is for Dad, and this is for the cat..."
Count them one by one, making sure no one in the family is left out.
Lou Heming watched her finish counting in the rearview mirror. "Mao Mao, why are there two extra items?"
Mao Mao continued counting: "This one is for my sister, and this one is for my uncle."
Lou Hongjian gripped the steering wheel, and upon hearing this, his teeth ached.
What's going on? Zhang Jingshu got a share too?
How come Zhang Jingshu benefited from the money he paid?
Lou Heming asked again, "Is something missing?"
"hold head high?"
Mao Mao lowered her head in confusion and counted on her fingers again: "No."
Mao Mao can already count to 20. She knows fewer than 20 people, so she won't miscount.
She drew a big circle: "At home."
She then drew a small circle and included the last two gifts: "To Mao Mao's friends."
That's fifteen!
Lou Heming adjusted his glasses, looking puzzled.
Strange, at Mao Mao's birthday party last time, besides her father, three other invitations were sent out. Those were for Mao Mao's three friends.
Why are there only two friends left today?
...
After a happy day of playing, Mao Mao returned home and shared the gifts she had brought back with everyone.
It was her first time at the zoo, and she was incredibly excited. Back home, her excitement hadn't diminished at all; she wanted to tell everyone about what she'd seen. Big tigers, big lions… She wasn't satisfied with just telling them at the dinner table; after dinner, still full of enthusiasm, she tilted her little head and continued telling them in the small living room.
Xia Xiaoxiang was captivated by the story: "I've never been to a zoo before."
Mao Mao immediately raised her little hand enthusiastically: "I'll take Mommy there!"
She's been there once before and has plenty of experience; she can introduce it to my mother.
Grandma Lou, holding the cat, frowned as she listened: "Aren't you afraid of the danger of keeping so many wild animals in this zoo?"
The first wife laughed and said, "It's alright, they're all locked up behind iron bars, they can't get out."
"I'm not afraid to come out." Commander Lou clenched his fist, which was as big as a sandbag, and said in a loud voice, "When I went to war, I sometimes went deep into the mountains and forests. What kind of ferocious beasts haven't I seen? I've even fought wolves with my bare hands! I can take down any animal that comes to me in a cage."
Lou Fengju glared coldly at his younger brother: "All three of you went, why didn't you call me?"
Lou Heming responded gently: "Brother, you are busy with military affairs and have important matters to attend to. We will not disturb you."
Lou Fengju glanced at his third brother again: "You even went out of your way to ask for leave for Asui?"
"I took Asui out for a walk to relax." Lou Hongjian said matter-of-factly, "Look how happy Asui is today."
After returning from the zoo, Lou Yansui began writing new stories.
This time, he wrote about a mischievous yellow tabby cat sneaking into the zoo, and how he also entered the zoo to find the cat, leading to a series of frights and adventures.
Perhaps because I had just been there during the day, I was inspired to write, and soon I had written several lines.
He was immersed in the joy of creation, and the thought of reading it to his sister as soon as he finished made him even more excited and in an incredibly good mood. He wrote non-stop until late at night, and even at bedtime, he was still not satisfied and started a new story.
There's a new story to tell. Today, Mao Mao also came running over to find him to sleep together.
Not only did they come by themselves, but they also brought back an animal doll from the zoo. After listening to the story, the brother and sister snuggled together and fell asleep contentedly.
The next morning, Mao Mao volunteered to take her brother to school.
As soon as he finished breakfast, he couldn't wait to run to the car and wait for the First Madam and Lou Yansui to come out.
She carried a small shoulder bag, held her little pigtails high, and looked full of fighting spirit.
Lou Dashuai looked on with envy: "Mao Mao, how about we take your fourth brother to work instead of you today?"
Lou Fengju added: "For Dad and me."
Mao Mao shook her head vigorously: "No!"
Mao Mao: "Send it to Fourth Brother!"
Lou Hongjian asked in bewilderment, "How did you become so close to Ah Sui?"
Lou Yansui snorted: "Mao Mao and I have always been the best of friends."
Mao Mao nervously pursed her lips, her eyes blinking rapidly, without saying a word.
You can't say that.
This is a secret between Mao Mao and her brother!
Mao Mao's brother was bullied at school, and suddenly he seemed so pitiful. Mao Mao wanted to be her brother's bodyguard and protect him!
Mao Mao rode in the car and took her brother all the way to the school gate.
When they arrived at the school gate, she couldn't go in. She could only hold her brother's hand reluctantly and earnestly tell him in her sweet little voice, "Brother, don't be afraid, Mao Mao is here."
Lou Yansui was both amused and exasperated: "Yeah, I'm not afraid."
"MaoMao will pick you up again this afternoon."
"Okay." Lou Yansui paused, then said, "Mao Mao, you don't need to work so hard."
Mao Mao patted herself with her little hands and said firmly, "Mao Mao will take it!"
Lou Yansui tried to persuade her a couple of times, but to no avail, so she had no choice but to agree.
As he said goodbye to his sister and walked towards school with his schoolbag on his back, he was still wondering: Was Maomao's story really that effective?
I'll write a few more when I get back!
Watching Lou Yansui's figure disappear into the crowd, the First Madam lowered her head and asked, "Mao Mao, are you going back?"
"Um!"
Mao Mao led the First Madam's hand and walked back.
"Maomao?"
Mao Mao turned her head at the sound, and Shen Zhaolin, who had come to work, stood behind her with his briefcase, looking at her with surprise.
First wife: "Good morning, Teacher Shen."
"Hello." After greeting her, Shen Zhaolin bent down slightly and said gently to the little girl in front of him, "Mao Mao, are you here to take your brother to school?"
Mao Mao stared at him intently for a long time.
Suddenly, she let go of the first wife's hand, turned her little head, and ran silently to the car, climbing up on her hands and feet.
The first wife asked in confusion, "Mao Mao?"
Shen Zhaolin stood there, still in the same position as when he was talking to her, completely bewildered.
Without exchanging a single word, he looked at the car and, through the window, could only see the back of the little girl's head turned away from him.
strangeness?
What happened?
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