Lin saw that many people were worshipping the little foxes and even stuffing money into the small Land Temple, and he knew he had to step in and put a stop to it.
The Broad-eared Fox was lively, adorable, and intelligent, no doubt, and the fox certainly had many mysterious legends among the people, that was also true. However, this place was a zoo, a public welfare institution open to society, carrying out a variety of functions such as entertainnt, spiritual and cultural construction, and science popularization. If large-scale 'incense burning and Buddha worship' activities, even those involving 'charitable donations,' were to take place in the zoo, what would that beco? It would promote feudal superstition and have a very negative impact.
It was just like playing mahjong or watching ****, a few old n and won playing small-stake mahjong in the courtyard was a form of leisure and entertainnt, but if they set up a gambling den, fully equipped with mahjong tiles and with thousands of dollars changing hands, that was gambling; if you're discreetly watching adult movies with headphones on at ho in the middle of the night, that's your private life, nobody's business, but if you were to broadcast it on a large screen in a public square, that would be illegal.
Lin might not have been highly educated, but having worked at the rescue station for half his life and been sowhat involved in the system, frequently participating in various forms of study, he had a clear understanding of laws, regulations, and common knowledge. He had the most basic awareness on issues of right and wrong; he understood the principle behind it.
What surprised him sowhat was that Suming, despite his young age, was also keeping this issue tightly in mind. He even anticipated this scene might happen, gave a heads-up in advance, and assigned it as a key task, coming up with a strategy that ensured both civil and scientific engagent without pushing visitors away.
Sense of awareness, ah, no wonder he could be a leader.
While thinking, Lin took out several large wooden signs that had been prepared in advance and placed them at the entrance to the Fox Ho. The signs bore a few eye-catching words: "Civilized Viewing, Healthy Visits."
What's ant by 'civilized and healthy' inherently included the concept of 'scientific.' Civilized people, civilized society, civilized behavior, not only refers to civilized manners but also to a civilized and healthy mindset, rejecting feudal superstitious activities.
Of course, we couldn't directly write 'No Worshipping the Fox Immortal' on the sign; that would be counterproductive, drawing even more attention and possibly even sparking interest among people who hadn't intended to take part in superstitious activities, having a negative effect.
However, beneath the large words "Civilized Viewing, Healthy Visits," there were several lines of small print that provided a detailed introduction to the Broad-eared Fox's habits, specifically pointing out the animal's ability to mimic the behaviors and sounds of other animals.
Seeing this sign was essentially telling everyone that the peculiar actions of the Broad-eared Fox were not so kind of 'spiritual power' but the natural instinct of this animal.
With several large signs in hand and a big hamr, Lin hamred the signs into place around Fox Ho, then, speaking through the loudspeaker, said, "Please make way…make way…" as he squeezed through the crowd.
"Madam…sir…everyone…" Lin stood among the crowd and said loudly, "Please enjoy your visit in a civilized manner. The Broad-eared Foxes in the zoo are not any kind of Fox Immortal; they are just ordinary animals, and their only distinction is perhaps being relatively smart… Also, to the comrade who just put in money, please take your money back. In the future, a small entrance fee will be charged for the Fox Ho in order to maintain facilities and feed the foxes…"
After Lin explained for a while, most of the surrounding people looked confused, as if they were looking at a big fool.
This was obvious! Except for a very few individuals, nobody really thought these foxes were Fox Immortals; people were just here to see the excitent. Was there really a need to co out and explain that?
That's what the visitors thought, but Lin couldn't afford to think that way. Even though most people didn't take it seriously, if just a few individuals did, it was an indication that he hadn't done his job well. If word got out, it could tarnish the reputation of the zoo.
The tycoon from before grinned and laughed, saying, "Old comrade, I won't be taking my money back. Just consider it a donation, okay? These little foxes really are quite adorable; let it be used to buy them so nice food, drinks and clothes…"
However, the woman who had been worshipping the Broad-eared Fox frowned and said uneasily, "Comrade, you shouldn't speak like that. There's an old saying that hedgehogs, foxes, and weasels have spiritual power, and you mustn't offend them; otherwise, you'll face retribution."
Lin was speechless; he had heard this saying, but it had its own contextual background. Because weasels and foxes were cunning creatures, if you 'offended' them, they might take it to heart, sneak into your house, and wreak havoc, like stealing a chicken or two.
As for hedgehogs, they might look cute, but they were very stubborn. Once caught, they'd curl into a ball and surround themselves with spikes, tensed up as if they were angry. Hedgehogs also carried a lot of bacteria. People in the mountains would sotis eat caught hedgehogs, and if they were unlucky, they'd catch a disease. In the days when dicine was not advanced, superstitious people thought it was because they had offended the hedgehog, suffer the hedgehog's divine retribution.
That's why the old saying existed, suggesting that hedgehogs, foxes, and weasels were not to be offended, as they were considered immortals by the people.
These pieces of knowledge… it was Suming who told Lin… Many young people only know about the "three great immortals: the porcupine, the fox, and the weasel," but they don't know why these three animals are called the great immortals, especially the porcupine. Many people were suddenly enlightened, and Lin's speech inadvertently played a role in science popularization.
"However, these foxes are indeed quite human-like, just like kittens and puppies. It's fun to treat them as entertainnt and play with them," Lin said as he suddenly made a scary face at a Broad-eared Fox which was looking up at him, puffing up its cheeks and bulging its eyes.
The Broad-eared Fox was startled for a mont, then imitated Lin's expression, puffing up its chubby cheeks with all its might and widening its eyes. With naturally large and round eyes, this action made its shiny black eyes occupy half of its face.
With Lin's interference, no one continued their 'feudal superstitious' activities. However, many young people sat outside the doors of the various houses, playfully teasing the foxes with all sorts of funny gestures and faces.
Yet there were still many kind-hearted young people with a sense of childlike innocence who silently wished upon the little foxes in their hearts. For example, "little fox, please heal my mother's illness soon," or "please bless to pass all my final exams…" It was a beautiful kind of wishful thinking, similar to wishing upon a shooting star or a birthday cake. As for this, Lin turned a blind eye; one couldn't exactly call wishing upon stars superstitious.
These young people chanted towards the small villas, and the Broad-eared Foxes inside seed to understand, nodding their heads as they listened and muttering incessantly.
Continuously, tourists seeing the 'Fox Ho' sign inside the wildlife park would head toward the back mountain one after another. Along the way to the back mountain, an endless stream of visitors descending discussed their recent experiences with excitent.
Those tourists who had 'interacted' with the foxes would, upon leaving, promptly inform their relatives and friends via phone calls or boast with pictures on Weibo and Monts, spreading the word from ten to a hundred, drawing ever more people by word of mouth.
Throughout the day, the number of visitors to the back mountain remained at peak levels, unlike typical scenic spots with highs and lows. It was one peak after another, like waves in a massive lake, each wave surging higher than the last, continuously breaking previous visitor records. As ti went on, prior visitors' promotion gradually took effect, and later arrivals increased still more.
Even after the wildlife park closed, a multitude of visitors still gathered outside the back mountain 'Fox Immortal Slope.' There was no helping it, as this area was open-air and could be directly accessed without going through the wildlife park, so it wasn't affected by the wildlife park's operating hours.
The visitors were enthusiastic, but the little foxes couldn't handle it.
Even humans, who typically work an eight-hour shift, would feel exhausted after work. How much more so for animals?
No matter how friendly or connected to spiritual power these fox immortals were, at their core, animal instincts still prevailed. Even a Husky, energetic as they are, couldn't be active twenty-four hours a day. As tourists ca and went in waves, many Broad-eared Foxes were so tired that their ears drooped, unable to sit up and looking utterly listless in their dens.
"Ladies and gentlen, visitors…"
Lin's Mandarin, thick with the accent of Changping County, once again erged from the loudspeaker: "Today's activities are over. From now on, we will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every week, with a three-hour break at noon…"
With an overwhelming number of visitors and limited space in Fox Ho, those wishing to get up close to the foxes had to queue. Many people had waited in line for hours, only to hear Lin announce the day's end, inevitably leaving so displeased. The crowd lingered around the slope, reluctant to disperse.
At that mont, a rustling sound ca from the surrounding woods, and an animal about the size of a wolf dog slowly erged from the forest. From a distance, it coldly eyed everyone.
The tourists nearby initially thought it was a dog, but a few with sharp eyes realized imdiately that it was a genuine, bona fide, unmistakable big! Grey! Wolf!
"Oh my god, a wolf is coming!" soone scread.
It's said that wolves and weasels are kin, conniving together—wolves being fierce, foxes cunning. However, faced with the cold, predatory gaze of the Grey Wolf that seed ready to pounce at any mont, the visitors suddenly felt that the Broad-eared Foxes back in Fox Ho were angelically adorable by comparison.
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