Forest Ranger, starting from Picking Up a Lynx Girl

Dao Meihua hadn't been gone for long when the students from the research station across the way also began to leave one by one, until only two doctoral students researching winter animal behavior remained to watch over the station.

The Animal Husbandry Bureau's station next door was a bit busier, with staff rotating every three months. The crew that had come were due to return just before the Spring Festival, and their replacements would arrive after the holiday.

They didn't participate in patrolling the mountains; the cold weather really left little to do.

A group of youngsters spent their days huddled in the yard playing online games and then would gather in the evenings to cook hot pot or soup.

You have to say, there's something different about being resource-backed; their storeroom was piled high with supplies.

Every half-month, logistics personnel would come to boost morale, bringing food, clothing, and other necessities.

Chen Ying and his crew took advantage of this, snagging a few thick winter jackets.

The brother from the coastal region stayed at River Source for ten days before departing, and he specifically came over to see Chen Ying before he left, clutching his hand and insisting he must visit his hometown for a trip.

"I can't promise much, but food and lodging are on me, as well as sea fishing and going out to catch fish. Big brother will definitely set it up for you."

People from the coastal regions love high mountain and gorge tourism, just as inland folks long for the sea.

Chen Ying had been to the seaside; he went with his classmates after graduating high school, backpacking, strolling around a beach that didn't cost a penny.

Sea fishing, going out to catch fish – were those activities poor students could afford?

Big brother's invitation was sincere and heartfelt, and Chen Ying promised that if he did go to the seaside, he would certainly join him for a drink.

As he sent big brother off, he also gave him his mobile number, saying if there were any troubles on the road, just let him know. He couldn't guarantee to handle everything, but at the very least, he could contact a local for help.

After entering October, the weather grew colder day by day.

The third day after the National Day holiday, they woke up to a white blanket covering everything outside.

Hajimi and Xinxin returned to the cave near the Protection Station to spend the night, only making occasional appearances in the early morning and evening.

Er Niu's three cubs had started hunting, venturing as far as the edge of the big fence at the emergency station to catch Tibetan Foxes, Highland Rabbits, and Ground squirrels.

Er Niu and Snow Leopard stayed close to guard their young from other fierce animals on the grasslands.

Jinya and Lady Lynx teamed up to train the Little Lynx cub and Little Grey White.

Because of the mischief of a few carefree youngsters, the grasslands often saw various extraordinary scenes, including but not limited to mid-air collisions and Big Cat herding sheep.

The mid-air collisions were Big Zai and Second Cub's signature act. As for Big Cat herding sheep, that was the collaborative project between Third Girl and the two lynxes.

Even once, when a Tibetan Fox was preparing to hunt a Mouse Rabbit, it saw Big Zai and Second Cub leap and collide fiercely mid-air, and it was so shocked that its mouth hung wide open, allowing a Mouse Rabbit to dart straight into its mouth in panic.

Envious of the sight, Big Zai and Second Cub found a spot they thought suitable, lay down, and opened their mouths, waiting for Mouse Rabbits to come to them.

However, they waited until their jaws nearly froze off, and not a single Mouse Rabbit fell in.

Frustrated and embarrassed, they dug up the Tibetan Fox's den that very night, guilt by association, taking out at least five fox holes.

Once the snow fell, it would cling to the fur, making the little clumps larger by a roll.

By the end of October, weather turned abruptly, with heavy snowfall for three consecutive days.

"Brother Ying, if this snow keeps coming, the herders are going to have a tough time this winter."

With temperatures only a few degrees during the day and dropping to minus thirty or forty at night, the livestock could freeze to death.

Even with preparations in place, such as shelters for the livestock to shield them from wind and snow, the harsh conditions for wildlife meant they would opt for easier prey like the domestic animals to fill their stomachs.

In previous winters, wolves and bears had been the greatest threat.

Snow Leopards would also enter the herders' livestock sheds to hunt, but they generally took their kill and didn't attack humans easily.

Bears and wolves were different, however; needing to feed heavily or hoard food in the cold winter, they inevitably clashed with herders.

Upon seeing them, herders would try every method to drive them away, sometimes leading to accidental injuries in the heated conflicts.

Bears were slightly better; wolves held grudges. If you hurt them, be ready for the pack's retaliation.

But if you didn't drive these creatures away, they'd take even further liberties, treating the herders' livestock sheds like a buffet.

Even with compensation, there's a gap compared to the actual losses.

A small difference is tolerable, but who wants to bear a significant shortfall? In the end, it becomes a vicious cycle.

Despite three days of heavy snow, they hadn't yet heard of any herders being affected, but the Meteorological Bureau and Forest Grassland Bureau had issued notices for all villages and protection stations to prepare for frost and disaster relief.

The former targeted people and livestock, while the latter focused on monitoring and recording the conditions of registered wildlife.

Geological teams had completely withdrawn from the uninhabited areas, and two injured and ill students had been taken away.

Chen Ying thought they wouldn't return until after the New Year to continue their surveys, but within days, half the team moved into the research station.

Fortunately, the prefab houses were pretty sturdy and, with charcoal and cow dung burning in the rooms, it wasn't too cold.

A group of students rearranged the iron beds, consolidating them into two rooms, separated by gender for sleeping.

It felt like a big dormitory, but it couldn't be denied that it was much warmer, and they wouldn't freeze like in an ice cellar at night.

Sun Qihai and Uncle Tashi also stayed in one room, and Chen Ying still had his own, but he never felt cold. In fact, he often felt so hot he wanted to go out and walk in the snow.