Chapter 12.2

Mu Ling’s trembling fingers hovered over the bill for 29,000 star coins before she finally swiped her card.

Accompanied by the crisp sound of “Payment Successful,” Mu Ling felt as though her soul was about to leave her body.

A week’s worth of animal food cost 30,000 star coins. With two weeks until reopening, that meant 60,000 star coins. She had 200,000 in total. After paying 100,000 for the protective fence and 60,000 for food, only 40,000 remained. This 40,000 had to cover all other zoo expenses. How could it possibly be enough?

Not to mention, reopening meant reactivating the first-floor service area. The mini-market and food court needed to open, or visitors would have nowhere to buy things or eat lunch. The ticket office also needed dedicated staff. Once open, Brother Xiang and Brother Wei would drive the shuttle cars, taking tourists into the forest. Mu Ling herself had to oversee everything, unable to cover the ticket office. There were other miscellaneous jobs to be done too.

At its peak, Bi Ke Zoo had over a hundred employees. Mu Ling couldn’t afford to hire that many now, but she needed at least ten people for the zoo to function.

Looking at her dwindling savings, Mu Ling forced herself to stay positive. She needed a solution, fast.

First, newly hired staff wouldn’t need to be paid right away. Salaries were paid at the end of the month. Starting mid-September, they should earn enough for wages by month’s end.

Second, items for the market and food court didn’t need to be purchased upfront. She could place orders and settle accounts at the end of the month

“Suppliers don’t usually offer credit.”

No, no, no. It depended on negotiations. With a reputable zoo, steady customers, and guarantees, credit was possible.

Though Mu Ling owned the zoo, she couldn’t sell it for nine years, preventing bank loans. But she could use the zoo to negotiate with suppliers. It was all about the right approach.

As she rapidly calculated how to get something for nothing, her became clearer. Mu Ling’s expression shifted from gloomy to bright, a cunning merchant’s smile slowly spreading across her face.

Wei Li, watching the director’s terrifying grin, felt his hair stand on end and goosebumps rise.

“Chirp, chirp.” Just then, the walkie-talkie on Wei Li’s desk suddenly crackled to life.

Wei Li grabbed it and pressed the button. Immediately, a cacophony came through, followed by an unfamiliar male voice: “Hello? Hello? Is anyone there? Can anyone hear me?”

Wei Li was startled. This seemed to be the voice of Master Zhou, who was repairing the protective fence.

Wei Li quickly responded: “Master Zhou? We’re here. What’s wrong?”

Master Zhou spoke rapidly: “We’ve encountered two wolves. That Xiang from your zoo lured the mother wolf away. He told me to call and tell you to bring your director in with a first aid kit. There’s a wolf pup here that’s about to die.”

Wei Li and Mu Ling stared at each other, speechless.

Mu Ling immediately leaned in to ask: “Is Brother Xiang alright?”

The other end replied: “Don’t know. He hasn’t come back yet. We’re at the southwest inner perimeter, by the third pillar of protective fence section B9. Hurry! The wolf pup is still impaled on a tree branch.”

Impaled on a tree branch?

How severe could it be?

Wei Li and Mu Ling didn’t dare delay. One went to get the first aid kit, the other the tranquilizer gun. Two minutes later, they met downstairs and quickly boarded the off-road vehicle.

Yesterday, riding the off-road vehicle made Mu Ling feel like her brain was being shaken out. Today, she could overcome it through sheer willpower.

Indeed, human potential is limitless.

Wei Li knew the mountain paths well. Seeing Mu Ling’s robust energy, he opted for small shortcuts instead of the main road.

The small paths were efficient. With the noise from the vehicle and searchlight scaring off animals, they reached Master Zhou’s location unimpeded in less than two hours.

The protective fence company’s workers, fearing the wolf pack’s return, had been huddled in the trees for safety. Seeing the vehicle arrive, the most agile Master Zhou jumped down. Pointing to a nearby hillside, he told Wei Li and Mu Ling, “That wolf pup was whimpering earlier, but it’s been silent for fifteen minutes. Probably out of breath.”

Mu Ling’s brow immediately furrowed. She took the first aid kit and walked quickly.

Wei Li lit the way beside her.

Only upon reaching the rocky hillside’s base did Mu Ling see a dark gray wolf pup, the size of a cat, gruesomely impaled on a sharp, fallen tree trunk.

It must have fallen from the hillside, not expecting a fallen tree below. As it fell, its right front shoulder joint was pierced by a sharp branch. This puncture wound alone wouldn’t have been fatal, but unable to free itself, it had struggled, tearing the wound ever larger.

Mu Ling’s heart leapt to her throat. Frankly, the wolf pup looked no different from dead.

She carefully approached, pressing her fingertip to the pup’s pulse point.

One second, two seconds, three seconds…

After a full five-second wait...

“It’s moving!” Mu Ling exclaimed suddenly. “It still has a heartbeat!”