Chapter 231: Let

"Huh? What kind of business?"

Chen Zhiyu looked at Master Fuli, reading the text on his phone screen, and for a moment her mind went blank.

Business? Master Fuli is inviting me to do business?

What could we possibly do? Are we upgrading our veterinary services to include animal training too?

"Mmm."

An Sheng lowered his head and typed rapidly on his phone screen, then showed it to Chen Zhiyu:

【I've got good buddies in rivers and seas—they're all top-tier spirit beasts in their territories, but their pockets are empty, always going from full to hungry.】

【I'm thinking we team up: we set up a fishing attraction here at Changping Mountain. I'll get my underwater buddies to bring in the big fish, and you handle operations.】

【I provide the resources, you provide the people, and Yu Xueqing handles online promotion. If funds are short, we can borrow from Lin Ying Loan.】

"Master Fuli"

Seeing Master Fuli's message and his business plan, Chen Zhiyu suddenly felt a sting in her eyes and fell momentarily speechless.

Changping Mountain.

It wasn't a poor area, but neither was it rich—just an ordinary mountain village, utterly unmatched by other county villages in tea cultivation.

The only industries left were hunting, gathering mountain produce, and fishing—but with ecological protection and fishing bans, many young people left for Guangzhou or Shenzhen to work.

Later, livestock farming improved the population drain slightly.

Domesticating wild boars and breeding them with domestic pigs to produce new meat pigs could make money, but it wasn't respectable—many young villagers would rather sit in an office earning three thousand than return.

Chen Zhiyu's father was the village chief here.

He saw this situation and grew anxious, but anxiety changed nothing.

It was all mountains and forests—no room for large-scale development.

If nothing unexpected happened, after her father's term ended or he retired, Chen Zhiyu would likely succeed him as chief, with far greater prestige than the older generation.

With her wealth and abilities, she could sell all her fixed assets and live a middle-class or better life anywhere in Xia Country.

But she didn't want to leave.

The cool, rustling wind through the woods at night.

The rustling sounds in the forest at night used to scare young Chen Zhiyu, but she was bold—she wouldn't let fear rule her life; if she looked, worst case was getting knocked over by a wild boar.

And when she pushed aside the shrubs, she found a raccoon dog, head tilted, face utterly clueless, staring at her.

When everyone was poor as a child, finding small treasures along the mountain path often fetched a good price at market, letting Chen Zhiyu accumulate enough rubber bands to play jump rope in class.

Little things like these filled Chen Zhiyu with deep affection for Changping Mountain.

She wanted this place to thrive—not to become a ghost village where all the young bought homes elsewhere, the elders passed away, infrastructure decayed, and the government moved the few remaining old folks into resettlement housing.

Chen Zhiyu had invested in pets and related industries, trying to lead change.

She'd also tried reviving ancestral temple culture.

But both required money—villages that held temple parades and welcoming ceremonies during festivals were either wealthy or had produced a billionaire on the list.

"Drip."

Seeing Master Fuli's proposal, Chen Zhiyu didn't know if the attraction would succeed.

But at this moment, she truly felt Master Fuli's sincerity—and a warm current flowed through her heart.

"Huh?"

An Sheng looked at Chen Zhiyu in confusion—why had she suddenly frozen, and why had she dropped the vitamins she was holding?

"Master Fuli"

Chen Zhiyu crouched down and hugged the little fox tightly, rubbing her face against his round cheeks:

"Wu-wu… good Fuli, you're truly a master."

"Mmm-mmm?"

An Sheng looked puzzled, watching Chen Zhiyu, her eyes slightly glossy, nuzzling against him.

Someone offering you a chance to make money is indeed worth celebrating.

But given your wealth, why cry over it?

"Mmm-mmm"

Though An Sheng didn't understand what had happened, out of politeness he raised his paw and gently wiped her face with his clean back, then patted her forehead.

…………

As the kitchen pot boiled, Chen Zhiyu collected herself, took a few deep breaths, and carried boxes of rabbit meat into the kitchen.

No one knew whether the attraction business would succeed.

But she truly felt the kindness and warmth Master Fuli had conveyed to her.

Perhaps Lin Ying, that wealthy woman, hadn't called the little fox "Master Fuli" without reason.

"Huh? Miss Chen, you're moving stuff? Let me help! I'm strong."

"No need—each box is under twenty jin. I'll make two trips and be done."

Chen Zhiyu smiled and shook her head, placing the rabbit meat into boiling water, then going to the blender to mix the vitamins.

"All this is rabbit meat? Will feeding foxes rabbit meat be better?" Yu Xueqing asked, puzzled, turning to Chen Zhiyu for advice.

"It's a weight-loss diet. After cooking, the rabbit meat gets blended with beef and vitamins before feeding the foxes. Your Xiao'an can keep feeding him the old way—he's healthy, no need for my complicated special meals."

Chen Zhiyu explained to Yu Xueqing.

"Exactly! Did you hear that? Restore my Coke supply to 600 milliliters—otherwise the hyenas next door will think Master Fuli can't afford it!" Seeing the animal expert defend him, An Sheng lifted his head high, utterly defiant.

"We'll lose face internationally."

"Then, Miss Chen, can foxes drink Coke?"

"Sugar-free! Coke has too much sugar—even humans can't drink too much."

"???"

An Sheng stared at Chen Zhiyu, eyes wide, as if struck by lightning.

I was just thinking about drinking Coke.

And now you're lecturing me about health?

…………

After feeding the foxes scattered across the mountains, everyone returned to the veterinary hospital. Yu Xueqing and Mo Yiqing went to the river to prepare for livestreaming and fishing.

An Sheng waved his paw, signaling Chen Zhiyu to follow him—he'd show her something impressive.

He'd also take the odd fish to pay respects, introduce it to the sea's big shots, so they wouldn't accidentally clash later—like a flood hitting the Dragon King's temple.

"Hey! You carp over there—come here! Master Fuli needs your help. I'll reward you with two bottles of fermented corn kernels."

At the riverbank, An Sheng crouched on the stone railing, sticking his rear up, wagging his big tail, and called out to the carp grazing in the water.

"Go get your boss. Tell him I need to talk."

"If he doesn't show up, tonight I'll bring Bai and scrape his scales with a fish scraper."

"Plop." The carp stared blankly—its brain couldn't process anything too complex.

All it understood: a four-legged beast wanted the fish boss.

(End of chapter)