Super Zoo

Gazing at the crisp green of the mountains and listening to the bubbling mountain springs, Suming was in high spirits. How could he not be? Spending half a day in such a place could erase any troubles. If zoo visitors had enough time, they would all stop here for a moment, as if dwelling in a rustic Taoyuan by Shuijun Lake and gazing out at the reservoir, it was as though they'd truly arrived in the Otherworldly Qingqiu Kingdom of the Nine-tailed Fox. "This is just the beginning!" Suming, donning a straw hat, stood halfway up the mountain like an old farmer, one hand on his hip, the other gesturing grandly. This side of the slope had barely taken shape; in the future, pavilions and small bridges for resting and viewing scenery would need to be built; The agricultural crops on the hillside were a bit too monotonous, limited to rice and sweet potatoes, and only the side facing the zoo around the Fox Immortal Residence had been planted with crops. Suming planned to introduce a variety of crops, like watermelon, corn, sugarcane—things people often ate; he intended to plant a bit of everything, especially setting aside an area for a tea garden. He didn't drink alcohol but loved tea, so he wanted to grow his own tea leaves to enjoy; If the government approved, he even wanted to plant a field of tobacco, which was entirely a personal vice. Besides, the hillsides in other directions were naturally going to have a variety of fruit trees as planned. Only when this particular mountain top, where Fox Immortal Residence sat, was fully developed, could it be considered complete, and the Lure People Community behind the mountain, relying on this mountain top, would assuredly have more than enough supply of food, vegetables, and fruits for the Whisperwind Pavilion. "Wow, why not build a bunch of thatched cottages as a vacation area?" Wang Jin suggested. There would certainly be a vacation area, but the scenery behind the mountain extended far beyond this one mountain top. With the serpentarium, Larno Temple Hot Springs, ancient tombs, Lure People Community, Fox Immortal Residence, and Great Sage Liquor Industry scattered across five mountain tops—and with only the ancient tomb and Great Sage Liquor Industry being relatively distant—the remaining three mountain tops formed a character shape. Only after these three mountain tops were fully developed would there be a true scenic vacation area. By that time, a vacation village would be constructed amidst the three mountains. As one walked through the mountains, each hill would offer different scenery, animals and birds could be seen everywhere, and a secluded path would extend towards the distant ancient tomb, inviting exploration. However, for some reason, Suming had halted all construction work, assuming the air of being fully committed to filmmaking and not planning to develop a tourist area. "Mr. Su, you have to reserve a guest room for me year-round when that time comes," Wang Jin said with a laugh. "The countryside has its charm, but it can't compare to the bustling world of Xiangjiang," Suming replied politely. "It's not the same, not the same!" Wang Jin waved his hands dismissively and squatted down to beckon a passing gazelle with his fingers. The gazelle stared at him with its round, glossy black eyes, then bounded away with leaps and bounds. Wang Jin stood up and said, "This place has great mountains and water, natural and healthy food, and is accompanied by so many animals. To call it a paradise wouldn't be an exaggeration. Living here, artists can burst with creativity, businessmen can relax their minds, and old folks like me can live several years longer!" "The only downside," Suming said with a twinkle in his eyes, "is that it's quite expensive." "Haha, that's why we have to work hard to make money while we're young," Wang Jin responded with an understanding smile. Arriving at Ancient Moon Xian Residence from afar, one could see several huge wishing trees with wind chimes and wishing ribbons fluttering in the breeze, making a gentle tinkling sound. Passing through a scattered peach grove, Wang Jin made wishes and offered incense at the Ancient Moon Xian Residence. People from Xiangjiang, be they commoners, celebrities, or business moguls, shared a common trait—they believed in Buddhism. Wang Jin was no exception, clasping his pudgy hands together, closing his eyes under the wishing tree, muttering a string of sutras. "Mr. Wang, I have a good relationship with the abbot of the nearby Kaiyuan Temple. If you're keen on Buddhist devotion, I'll accompany you for a visit someday." Suming chuckled softly, "This place, after all, is just a tourist spot." "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. When one has Buddha in their heart and is filled with good intentions, praying and chanting sutras are the same everywhere. There is no need to specifically go to a temple," Wang Jin said. "Does this environment meet your filming requirements?" Suming asked. "Wow Mr. Su, if this place doesn't cut it, then I don't need to make films anymore," Wang Jin said, pointing at the little foxes drawing lots for the tourists, "I don't mean to upset you, but before I came here, I thought the site rental fee was too high. Now, it seems like you're actually looking out for me, Mr. Su." How could Suming not be happy with these comments? It was clear that he was complimenting the development of the Fox Immortal Residence. The daily income from ticket sales and the wishing lot fees brought in by the zoo at the Fox Immortal Residence was a significant figure. The place had to be cleared during filming, and the site rental fee Suming charged Wang Jin barely made any profit. Suming would really be annoyed if Wang Jin acted vague about it. Mind you, taking advantage offered no issues; these days, everyone enjoys shared benefits. The truly detestable ones are those who take advantage and then play it cute. However, Wang Jin's words did give Suming a wake-up call. If in the future the zoo and the mountain behind it really developed a trend towards becoming a film and TV production base, it would be essential to strike a balance between film crew shooting and tourist visits. The objective of filming was to enhance the cultural depth and visibility, but ultimately, it was about attracting tourists. It would be putting the cart before the horse if tourists ended up not being able to enjoy themselves. While chatting, they left through the back door of the Fox Immortal Residence, following a winding path between two small pebble ponds, heading towards the farther Larno Temple Hot Springs. Indeed, the area behind the Fox Immortal Residence was not as vibrant as the front, with vast expanses of wasteland, many parts without even finished paths, and piles of building materials strewn along the roadside. It looked like a construction site that had halted due to lack of funding. Seeing this, a shrewd look flashed in Wang Jin's eyes, but he didn't ask anything further. There was a distance from the Fox Immortal Residence to the Larno Temple Hot Springs. Suming extended his spiritual power to sense around and found two large wild boars digging holes not far away. Responding to the summons, the boars, Second Pig and Second Brother, came huffing and puffing over, mouths full of mud. Second Pig had a half-eaten earth snake dangling from its mouth. As it ran towards Suming, it slurped up the snake like a noodle, munching and crunching, swallowing it down its belly. "Wow, Su Sheng, run! There are wild boars!" Seeing the two boars, resembling small hills with tusks sharp as blades, charging over, Wang Jin nearly collapsed in fright. "Don't be afraid; they're mine," Suming reassured him with a chuckle, pointing at Second Brother who was leading the charge, "It's a long journey, and halfway there, it's a bit unsafe. Mr. Wang, please, mount the boar!" Second Brother stopped in his tracks, shook his head, and bent his front legs in front of Wang Jin, bobbing his head. Seeing Wang Jin standing there, dumbfounded beside the wild boar, Nangong Huang couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter. "Be serious!" Suming scolded, whacking him on the head. The kid was likely thinking of a poetic line. They were of the same root, why be so eager to torment each other?