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Under the sun, there are no secrets to keep, and news of the finless porpoises' discovery spread that very night.
Early the next morning, Wang Jian She personally led a team to the shores of Shuijun Lake.
Along with them ca two large trucks, loaded with a plethora of various materials and equipnt.
"Su, well done!" Thankfully, Wang Jian She wasn't in the habit of patting people on the shoulders and ca up to give Su Ming a firm handshake.
"It's all thanks to Mr. Wang's excellent guidance," Su Ming replied in a quiet chuckle.
Wang Jian She also smiled. Looking around to ensure there were no outsiders, he said, "You've done well, lad. You've made a significant contribution this ti. Do you have any requests?"
Now that Wang Hao was following Su Ming, he had an easy ti earning tens of thousands a month without much to do, and with Su Ming's significant achievent, it also helped Wang Jian She's career. Naturally, Wang Jian She wouldn't be stingy in giving Su Ming so leeway in certain areas.
Upon reflection, Su Ming realized he didn't have any imdiate 'requests'.
Not to say he had none at all, but the timing wasn't right. For major policies, even if Wang Jian She approved them, Su Ming currently lacked the capacity to handle them. Moreover, it wasn't worth wasting the favor for so trifling advantage.
"Young man, look further ahead," Wang Jian She said profoundly as he glanced over the mountains behind Shuijun Lake. "Chairman Mao said, 'There is much to do in this vast world.'"
Su Ming just smiled and replied, "Then I will need more guidance from the leadership in the future!"
At the edge of Shuijun Lake, Professor Chu and Mr. Song had already begun setting up equipnt with their teams, establishing a temporary rescue shelter in the shallows to start treatnt.
The police station dispatched two chiefs and several assistant police officers who cordoned off a large area. A group of zoo staff with nothing else to do gathered outside the cordon, pointing and chatting about the porpoises in the water.
On the lake, a few sporadic boaters were drawn over, rowing closer and craning their necks to see.
A crowd of journalists, having sohow learned of the news, appeared lakeside with their caras at the ready.
"May I ask, who discovered the finless porpoises?"
"Hello, I'm a reporter with Daily News. Are these porpoises wild?"
"Mr. Wang, Mr. Wang, may I ask…"
Wang Jian She waved cheerfully at the reporters, saying, "Dear mbers of the press, the finless porpoise is an important protected species in our country, critically endangered. This ti, with the assistance of the Yangchuan City Zoo and the Agricultural Science Academy, we've discovered three wild finless porpoises all at once, which is unprecedented! Currently, the porpoises need treatnt. Therefore, Professor Chu and Mr. Song are not available for interviews. The porpoises are severely injured, so please refrain from rushing to take their pictures to avoid causing secondary harm!"
There were too many reporters on the scene, one station was even broadcasting live. Upon hearing Wang Jian She's words, the reporters exploded into a frenzy, interpreting his comnts as a ban on interviews.
After the commotion had died down a bit, Wang Jian She continued unhurriedly, "Please don't misunderstand. If our friends from the dia have any questions, Su Ming from the zoo will answer them for you! Hehe, and to respond to the question asked earlier, the first person to find the injured finless porpoises was Su Ming. Comrade Su braved the waters, searching tirelessly for eight whole hours, and finally discovered their traces in a deserted reed marsh. One can say that Comrade Su Ming is the hero of this search and rescue team! Su, share with everyone!"
Su Ming, with a beaming smile, stepped forward and nodded at the crowd of journalists.
"Master Su…"
"Comrade Su…"
"Handso…"
Before Su Ming could even speak, a dozen microphones were thrust toward him. The closest one, pushed too forcefully, nearly poked him in the mouth. Su Ming quickly stepped back a few paces to escape the reporters' encirclent, jumped onto a Taihu stone by the lake, and spoke down to the reporters in a loud voice: "Friends, there are too many of you for to answer individually. So, let one reporter ask questions on your behalf; tell that reporter friend what you want to ask, and I will respond to all at once!"
Without waiting for agreent or dissent from the crowd, Su Ming casually pointed into the group of journalists, "How about you, miss, go ahead with your questions!"
"Ah? Oh yes, thank you!" Nangong Yan, who had been around Su Ming a long ti and whose acting had improved dramatically, put on a surprised expression. Unbeknownst to those unaware of their scheming, there was no hint of the mischief between them.
"May I ask…"
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...
In the intensive care ward of Yangchuan City First People's Hospital, Zhou Jin had finally passed the critical stage, and was able to manage so liquid food the previous evening.
Illness brings a longing for family ties.
At this mont, the ward was empty, save for the noise coming from the television. Zhou Jin lay alone on the hospital bed with his chest wrapped in a thick layer of bandages, feeling a bitter taste in his heart.
If only he hadn't gotten involved with the gang and had instead settled down to start a family, perhaps his children would be old enough to help with errands, and he wouldn't have to suffer such a serious injury alone, without anyone to show him warmth or concern.
His life had been saved, but he had broken six ribs and suffered injuries to several internal organs; his spleen had even been ruptured. The doctors said he needed to rest in the hospital for half a year before he could be discharged and that he must avoid overworking and getting upset in the future.
A sowhat hazy figure popped into his mind.
It was a village girl. A few years ago, her family raised fish near Shuijun Lake. One ti, taking advantage of his drunkenness, he forced himself on the village girl, then intimidated and bribed her with twenty thousand yuan to settle the matter. Because of the incident, her family's reputation was ruined, and they had no choice but to give up the fish pond and move away.
"Damn it, if only I had gritted my teeth and married that woman back then!" Zhou Jin regretted to himself.
During his days of recuperation in the hospital, Zhou Jin not only thought about starting a family but also used the rare downti to calmly reflect on the recent series of "accidents".
The bald man being injured repeatedly, the loss of the fish fry, including this ti nearly being killed by the big fish—all these incidents, while lacking evidence, made Zhou Jin, with his years of experience in the underworld, feel that they were not re coincidences.
As for enemies, he had many, but sohow, he couldn't help but suspect Suming.
Ever since that kid showed up, strange things had been happening one after another.
"Comrade Su Ming, I hear you work at the zoo. In just a little over a month, you've been honored as an outstanding employee. This ti at Huating Reservoir, you risked your personal safety to save the Yangtze River dolphins..."
Suming, Huating Reservoir, Yangtze River dolphins—these keywords imdiately caught Zhou Jin's attention. He struggled to turn his head slightly and glanced at the television out of the corner of his eye.
On TV, the familiar young man was wearing a sunny smile that made Zhou Jin's teeth itch with hatred.
"It's him! What happened at the reservoir, and what's this about the Yangtze River dolphins?!"
Zhou Jin quickly called for the nurse and had her dial the bald man's number.
Over the phone, the bald man recounted the events to Zhou Jin.
Zhou Jin's face grew increasingly dark, his heart bleeding inwardly.
The one that had bumped into him was the Yangtze River dolphin, and there were three of them to boot!
If he had gotten his hands on them and secretly sold them to so foreign collectors, that would have been no small sum!
If the Yangtze River dolphins had been found elsewhere, so be it, but those dolphins were found in the reservoir where they had grown up eating his fish, and they had nearly cost him his life!
They should have been his!
If only he had held on for a bit longer without passing out, if only he had directed the bald man and the others to capture those dolphins...
The more Zhou Jin thought about it, the angrier and more upset he beca. It felt as if there was a heavy stone pressing on his chest, leaving him struggling to breathe. Continue reading at m|v-l'e-
"Protecting animals is everyone's responsibility, and contributing to the country is what I should do. As for the governnt reward, that's not important," the TV showed Su Ming speaking earnestly.
Zhou Jin's eyes bulged, and he suddenly spewed a mouthful of old blood!
The beads of blood sprayed out more than half a ter high and then fell straight down, splattering all over his head and face.
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