Xu Ying looked up towards the source of the sound and saw about ten adult tiger martens lining up in a single file, hunched over and climbing towards her.
When tiger martens move in groups, they usually line up like this, quite orderly.
The leading tiger marten had glossy, sleek fur, with a large light brown pattern on its back that looked like a mink coat, exuding the aura of an aristocratic lady.
It glanced at the little tiger martens, then swept its eyes over Xu Ying, straightened up and put its hands on its hips, shouting: [Are you the one leading other animals to bully our child?]
It spoke with the deanor of a fierce mother protecting her cub.
[You outsiders are even excluding us.]
[If it weren’t for you humans abusing pesticides, causing our habitat to be lost, we wouldn’t be migrating here in droves.]
Upon hearing this, Xu Ying finally understood the reason behind the tiger martens’ group migration. Her emotions were mixed, and she sincerely apologized: "Sorry, we animal rescuers will be responsible for you."
"We protect small animals regardless of whether they are local or not; you’re all our precious ones."
"The rodent species just ran away because you are too ferocious in catching mice, not because of these two cats."
[Hmph, we don’t believe that! These two cats must have been sent by you to bully our kids!]
Seeing the mother tiger marten’s distrustful look, Xu Ying turned to the little tiger martens and said: "Little hunters, only if your parents agree, I can apply to the headquarters to take you to catch mice."
It still depends on the children to do the persuasion!
As soon as Xu Ying finished speaking, the little tiger martens imdiately shouted to their parents: [Mom! We want to go catch mice with the station chief!]
[The village has a rodent problem, so many mice, and the station chief said we’d be scared to tears, but we won’t be!]
The little tiger martens were full of defiance, and their parents were not convinced either.
[What nonsense! My child is no cowardly wimp, a re rodent problem is nothing to them.]
[Exactly, my child can kill three hundred and fifty mice in one night, and was first in this hunting competition!]
[Hmph, that’s because there aren’t enough prey here; my big baby is only three mice behind your kid’s record.]
[I won’t even ntion your son; he picked up two sand rats that banged themselves against a tree stump, and still counted them in his record, tsk tsk.]
The tiger marten parents started competing with each other, the atmosphere filled with tension, reminding Xu Ying of the ti back in school when relatives compared their children’s academics, jobs, and marriages during the New Year, each sentence cloaked in civility but full of competition.
Ling Yu finished dealing with kitchen waste and ca out to find Xu Ying, only to be drawn by the noisy sounds to discover a group of scruffy "little sweet potatoes" arguing.
Ling Yu couldn’t help but ask curiously: "What are they arguing about?"
Xu Ying lowered her voice and "translated" the content of their argunt to Ling Yu, who was surprised: "Even the little animals love to compare!"
"Yes, they compare their children, hunting ability, looks... they even compare whose house is bigger!"
Xu Ying explained the amusing phenona of animal comparisons to Ling Yu: "When Cui Bo Birds build nests, if there’s only one bird, it’ll just live in a nest that fits itself."
"If there are two or more, they’ll continuously expand their nests, trying to outdo each other in size."
"However, their behavior is more driven by survival and reproductive instincts, while human comparisons are more complex."
As Xu Ying explained these interesting animal behaviors to Ling Yu, her bright almond eyes sparkled.
Ling Yu felt that his understanding of small animals went beyond knowing just their nas and appearances; Xu Ying acted like a little tour guide, guiding him into the world of these small creatures of nature as if they were new friends.
While speaking, Xu Ying occasionally looked down to check her phone ssages. Earlier, right after she thought of using biological control to tackle the rodent problem, she reported to Director Yi, seeking organizational approval.
She wondered if the higher-ups would give this energetic, competitive group of little hunters a chance to show their skills.
Unexpectedly, in less than a quarter of an hour after she sent the ssage, Director Yi called directly.
Xu Ying quickly answered, and the voice on the other end was excited: "Little Xu Station Chief, your proposal is very important to us!"
"Lin Mo County is considering large-scale rodenticide spraying in Dongqing Village to control the rodent problem."
"But this would cause residual rodenticide to affect the land and crops in Dongqing Village."
Director Yi sighed: "For at least three months, the villagers won’t be able to farm, raise chickens, or engage in various agricultural activities. The rodenticide residue will also harm other animal life."
The quick effect of rodenticide in the short term cos at the cost of unacceptable negative impacts.
While Xu Ying’s proposal for biological control, using natural predators to suppress the rodent issue, is the most scientific, green and environntally friendly solution.
"However, there’s considerable debate about whether this thod will work as intended because animals are much harder to manage than people."
Director Yi’s voice sounded full of worry, likely facing considerable pressure: "I have negotiated with the county for a chance to try biological control. If it proves effective, it could increase our rescue station’s budget from the authorities."
"Just let know what you need anyti, get everything organized and give a call, we’ll send a vehicle to pick you and the mouse-catching team to Dongqing Village, the sooner the better!"
After hanging up, Xu Ying saw that the tiger martens’ quarrel had reached a fever pitch, so she tily extended an olive branch: "Ahem, parents, would you agree to have your children participate in this mouse-catching initiative?"
"Those who wish to sign up their children can co to the rescue station to get a number. Participating in this action could earn recognition and reward from Huaxia."
"Photos of your tiger marten family will be featured in the national news, and our nation’s over a billion people will know how excellent your hunting skills are and how much you’ve helped humans."
Hearing Xu Ying’s words, the tiger martens who were competing just monts ago all quieted down in unison.
Billion... Over a billion?
[What’s the concept of over a billion?]
[Seems like a countless number of humans will know how aweso my child is.]
[Sign up! Sign up! My child will be the first to sign up, I’ll sign up too!]
The tiger marten parents eager to sign up were jostling each other aside.
[Dear animal rescuer, I want to sign up too~ I have so sand cat buddies as well~]
Little Sand Cat was imdiately tempted when it heard about the "national recognition" Xu Ying ntioned, raising its left paw high: [I also want to be like the dear animal rescuer, to beco a state-recognized cat sergeant~]
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