I have a wildlife zoo

Chapter 203 Calling Home

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After the awards were given out, Fang Ye said to the visitors, "The Mid-Autumn Festival activities have now ended. However, in consideration of everyone's desire to enjoy the moon tonight, the zoo will close later than usual, extending our hours until 9 PM.

Additionally, the tiger exhibit, wolf exhibit, and the mini ranch have been equipped with night lighting. Visitors who wish to admire the moon and observe the nocturnal activities of the animals in the zoo are welcome to stay longer. We have specifically arranged for buses to shuttle everyone back to the city at night."

"That's so thoughtful, thank you, Director!"Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"We were planning on moon-gazing at the zoo tonight anyway!"

"Happy Mid-Autumn Festival, Director!"

"I love Linhai Zoo!"

Touched by the heartfelt wishes from the visitors, Fang Ye was moved as he responded, "Thank you, and thank you for your support of our zoo. I wish everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!"

After greeting the visitors, Fang Ye said to Zhuang Xiaobai and the others, "Let's go to the warehouse to pick out some animal plushies. We've set aside some of the more popular ones that sell out quickly for special occasions, so you'll find a wider selection than at the souvenir shop. By the way, Zhuang Xiaobai, would you consider selling your painting to Linhai Zoo?"

Zhuang Xiaobai generously offered, "I'll give it to you."

"What?" Zhao Chan looked at Zhuang Xiaobai with disbelief, astonished that such a beautiful painting could be given away so casually.

Fang Ye was also quite surprised, "That doesn't seem right. The quality of your work is obviously a labor of love."

Zhuang Xiaobai explained, "I really like your zoo, and I get a lot of inspiration from visiting it daily.

Today's painting actually represents a breakthrough for me, and it's inextricably linked to the inspiration I've gained here. This kind of breakthrough is more important to me than money. So, I'd like to donate the painting to you."

"Oh, I see, in that case, okay then." Seeing this was someone unconcerned about money, Fang Ye could only shake Zhuang Xiaobai's hand, "Thank you very much. We will frame this painting and display it in the wolf exhibit to let more visitors appreciate the charm of wolves."

He then turned to Zhao Chan, "Zhao Chan, your painting is quite remarkable as well. Are you working in the arts?"

Zhao Chan replied, "I'm still in university, studying animation."

"Impressive, impressive..."

Zhao Chan generously said, "Feel free to use my painting however you like, no money needed."

Her forte was digital art, and although her painting for the event was of a higher standard than what an ordinary person could achieve, it fell far short of Zhuang Xiaobai's work and wasn't really of commercial quality. Receiving an animal plushie as a prize was satisfying enough for her.

Fang Ye couldn't help but smile wryly, as he hadn't planned on buying the paintings in the first place.

"I'm afraid the zoo isn't likely to go bankrupt anytime soon," Fang Ye said with a touch of embarrassment. "The zoo is doing really well on my end, we've had thousands of visitors come by for the Mid-Autumn Festival today."

As he was driving, Father Fang's eyes widened, and he almost didn't slow down in time to avoid hitting the car in front of him, saying in surprise, "Really? You're not just pulling our leg, are you?"

Back when Fang Ye had just bought the zoo, they sent staff to gather information!

Based on the photos they sent back, which showed a dilapidated park with pathetically few animals and hardly any visitors even on weekends, they had let Fang Ye do as he pleased, figuring that he probably wouldn't last more than a year or eighteen months.

A melon forcibly twisted off its vine is not sweet!

If they hadn't let Fang Ye try his hand at it, he would have been dissatisfied and unwilling to obediently follow their arrangements.

Only after the cruel reality had given him a wake-up call, would he realize the gap between dreams and reality and willingly come back to take over the family business.

Yet, it was they who got a taste of reality today.

"Really, how did your zoo start doing well?" Mother Fang asked eagerly.

Fang Ye spoke in a light tone, as if he was talking about a trivial matter, "It just so happens that the city is striving to build a cultured city, and the zoo not only offers entertainment and relaxation but also allows people to learn and enrich their cultural lives.

Therefore, our zoo received strong support from the city, which provided much financial and policy assistance, allowing us to develop smoothly. I'll send you some photos of our zoo now."

Father Fang and Mother Fang exchanged looks, unsure of what to say for a moment.

It sounded quite reasonable, but why did it feel so unbelievable!

"Well, happy Mid-Autumn Festival, you are about to head to the banquet, right? I won't keep you any longer, goodbye then," Fang Ye said.

He hung up before they could come back to their senses and ask for details!

He felt refreshingly clear-minded; the persistent issue with his family had finally been resolved, and now he sent over some of the photos he had taken in the zoo that day.

Images of customers queuing at the entrance in the early morning, making mooncakes at the prize draw, the pack of wolves frolicking in the wolf exhibit, the red pandas huddled in a circle eating mooncakes in the red panda exhibit, and visitors admiring the artworks... He appeared in many of these photos.

Mother Fang, looking at the incoming photos, was extremely surprised, her head filled with a hundred questions. How did he do it? The zoo had undergone earth-shaking changes in just a few months.

After pondering for a moment, she said to Father Fang, "Eh, why don't we go check on our son during the National Day holiday?"

Father Fang was quite curious too, "Sounds good, let's not tell him in advance and surprise him when we arrive for National Day."

And so it was decided!

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