The citizen who raised the golden python was named Yang Qi, a retired old man. He had been raising this python for nearly five years. Yang Qi didn't live with his children, but both his children and his wife disapproved of him keeping it, especially as the golden python grew larger and larger.

Not long ago, the golden python accidentally slipped out of the house, giving the neighborhood residents a terrible fright. They immediately called the police, which made the news and even attracted the attention of the Forestry Bureau.

It was one thing for Yang Qi to keep it at home quietly, but such a big commotion made it impossible to hide. Under this barrage of pressure, and since the golden python was, after all, a protected animal, Yang Qi, no matter how unwilling he was, could only bear the pain and send the python to a zoo.

He was still puzzled, though. Why wasn't it sent to the City Zoo, but instead to some new zoo that had popped out of nowhere?

The staff from the Forestry Bureau told him that the zoo had all the necessary qualifications, but he remained skeptical. These days, it wasn't uncommon for people to send privately raised protected animals to official zoos, only for them to die or be kept in terrible conditions.

On the weekend, accompanied by Forestry Bureau staff, reporters, and his children, Yang Qi took the golden python he had raised for several years by car to Lingyou Zoo.

"Hey, this place? Isn't this Cape Zoo?" Yang Qi said to the Forestry Bureau staff.

The other party smiled. "Yes, it used to be Cape Zoo, but it's under new management now. Rest assured, they also have a Burmese python here, which seems to be an albino as well."

Upon hearing this, Yang Qi's spirits were lifted. There weren't many snake keepers in Donghai City, and his was probably the only golden python. "Really? Then I have to take a good look."

Although the reporter this time was also from the City TV Station, he was from a different channel than the female reporter who had visited Lingyou last time. He was a male reporter named Zeng Yu, and at this moment, he was also filming some shots of the zoo.

The previous news report on Lingyou had been very well-received, and Zeng Yu had seen it. Coming to Lingyou himself this time, he found it to be completely different.

It was one thing that the number of tourists had increased after its opening, but the main gate had also been changed, and a new, rather grand visitor service center had been built. The impression it gave was instantly different, raising its class by several notches.

And when tourists visiting Lingyou or Cape Park noticed the TV reporter, they all gathered around to watch. After some inquiries, they found out that he was here to deliver a golden python.

The story of the golden python escaping from home and scaring people had been spreading like wildfire in Donghai City recently. Now, seeing the main subject of the story, many tourists who were originally heading to the park bought tickets and followed them into Lingyou, which was an unexpected delight.

Duan Jiaze came to welcome them as soon as he got the news. It was a lively scene, with a crowd of people surrounding Yang Qi as they entered. He shook hands with Yang Qi and led him to the reptile house. For now, it was only occupied by Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing, and now this golden python was about to be added.

"Hello, sir. We will take good care of it. Does this golden python have a name?" Duan Jiaze asked.

Yang Qi said with a hint of melancholy, "It's called Jinzi. It's over four years old."

A crowd of people entered the reptile house. Many didn't even know that Lingyou had acquired pythons yet. Even if they had found out through WeChat or Weibo, they hadn't come in to see them.

The moment they entered, they could see two pythons hanging on a tree behind a large glass wall.

One was a pure, jade-like white Burmese python without a single blemish, about three meters long and as thick as a bowl. The other, a vibrant green python with some white markings, was slightly smaller, over two meters long and thicker than a pack of cigarettes.

"Whoa!" many tourists gasped. "So beautiful!"

These two snakes, one like white jade and the other like green jade, had truly beautiful colors. The people who had been marveling at the faint glimpse of Yang Qi's golden python in its box instantly felt it was overshadowed.

Even Yang Qi was very surprised. "A Blizzard!"

He had heard from the Forestry Bureau staff that the zoo also had an albino Burmese python and had assumed it was another golden python. He never expected it to be pure white. This was a Blizzard, an albino mutation, and it had been raised to such a large size. It was a bit more precious than his golden python.

Duan Jiaze said, "This is our zoo's Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing."

The tourists all laughed. Zeng Yu also timely captured this scene with his camera. Everyone thought Duan Jiaze was making a perfectly appropriate joke. With one white and one green python, weren't they just like Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing?

Next was the main event. Yang Qi was to take out the golden python and officially hand it over to the zoo on camera.

The keeper in charge of Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing was Wang Yibai. He himself hadn't quite overcome his fear of getting close to snakes. Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing were manageable; they were very docile when he touched them, but he didn't quite dare to with this golden python.

Wang Yibai looked at Duan Jiaze for help. "Zoo Director..."

With everyone watching, how could Duan Jiaze falter? He once again cursed himself for boasting back then and, with tears in his eyes, took the golden python from Yang Qi's hands...

Duan Jiaze managed a smile for the camera and placed the golden python into the enclosure.

Xiao Qing curiously leaned down from the tree. Duan Jiaze resisted the urge to dodge and, under the expectant gazes of the tourists, patted Xiao Qing's head. Xiao Qing cooperated by rubbing against his hand, then went towards the golden python.

To Xiao Qing, this was a rare creature. She flicked her tongue at the golden python.

The golden python, Jinzi, was so scared it nearly wet itself. It didn't even dare to resist, staying frozen where it was.

After Duan Jiaze came out, he saw Xiao Qing circling Jinzi, while Jinzi was like a statue. The tourists began to discuss that they were making friends and might even hit it off.

Duan Jiaze said, "That's a male snake..."

Although it used to be female, it was indeed male now. Besides, they were too different, not just in intelligence but also in age. Xiao Qing probably wasn't into younger partners.

The owner, Yang Qi, stood before the glass wall, reluctant to part but also much more relieved.

After entering the zoo, he realized from the decor and facilities that this was no shoddy operation. The two pythons inside were so well-kept they seemed to glow, making his Jinzi look dull in comparison. He felt at ease leaving Jinzi here, and he could come to visit often in the future.

Zeng Yu filmed Jinzi's new home and new friends, then did a short interview with Yang Qi and Duan Jiaze before finishing the shoot.

Zeng Yu's news report served as good publicity for Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing, because during his interview, Yang Qi also emphasized his change of heart after arriving at the zoo and gave some information about the albino Burmese python.

"At first, I was very worried whether Jinzi would be well taken care of here. But after seeing the environment, I'm truly relieved. I will come here often in the future to see Jinzi and its new friends. This was also a surprise; I didn't expect a Blizzard here. This pure white python is a Burmese python just like Jinzi, but it's a albino mutation, while Jinzi is an albino. I think they can become very good friends..."

Duan Jiaze broke into a sweat when he heard the words "good friends," thinking, 'That snake is scared stiff, it can't react at all, just lying there, and everyone thinks it's calm and relaxed.'

Duan Jiaze, however, felt that the snake was probably about to suffocate. Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing were its great-great-great-great... seniors. The snake's instincts told it that things weren't that simple.

"Haha... Yes, their sizes are similar, so they should get along well." Duan Jiaze laughed dryly and took the opportunity to advertise, "Those two were specially brought in by our zoo. Especially the albino python, it's arguably one of a kind in Donghai City. We welcome all citizens to come and visit."

After the report aired, many people learned that besides taking in that golden Burmese python, Lingyou Zoo itself had a Blizzard Burmese python and a green tree python, which were even bigger than the golden one.

And it was true; many people later came specifically to see the three big pythons. In Donghai City, only the City Zoo had snakes, but none this big, no albino varieties, and none that had been on the news.

......

Xiao Su, who now also handled publicity, was naturally on the side taking photos. She took many pictures and posted them on Weibo, briefly explaining that a citizen, Mr. Yang, had sent his unlicensed, privately-raised golden python to Lingyou's reptile house, where it was now living happily with the newly arrived Blizzard python and green tree python.

Xiao Su didn't write much for the Weibo post, but she made a special feature for WeChat, detailing the story of Jinzi settling in at Lingyou and introducing Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing to attract visitors.

The interactivity on WeChat wasn't as strong as on Weibo. After posting, Xiao Su found that the Weibo post was being shared a lot.

Thanks to Yousu's previous super-effective Weibo post and the frequent posts about it since, Lingyou Zoo had gained a lot of followers, now numbering over five thousand, which provided a solid base.

After the post about the white, green, and golden snakes went out, even Yousu didn't know why it was being shared so much. She was baffled. The previous two viral posts had their own reasons, but this one was a complete mystery to her.

This meant a bonus!

Xiao Su excitedly called Duan Jiaze over to look. The two of them scrolled through the shares and comments and finally understood what was going on.

It started with a netizen who shared an image:

In the TV series, Bai Suzhen stands on high ground, while Xiao Qing and Fa Hai are fighting in a tangled mess nearby.

Bai Suzhen wears white, Xiao Qing wears green, and Fa Hai wears a yellow monk's robe.

Looking at the Weibo picture again, a white Burmese python and a green tree python were circling a yellow golden python...

The shares were full of comments:

"23333 The one on the far right isn't wrong!"

"Hahahahahaha Fa Hai is here, go beat him up!"

"His lingering ghost followed them all the way to the zoo hahahahaha..."

"Nice, the colors are practically identical!"

"This comparison is killing me, the zoo must have done this on purpose hahahahaha."

......

Xiao Su sputtered, "Damn, the color scheme really is the same."

Duan Jiaze's mouth twitched. The strangest part of this whole affair was that the netizens were laughing at the real Bai Suzhen and Xiao Qing...

......

Duan Jiaze went into the city early in the morning. He first went to a department store to buy two bottles of wine. Today he was visiting Sun Aiping's home, an appointment that had been made long ago. Sun Aiping had sent him the address. After buying the wine, Duan Jiaze went to Sun Aiping's home according to the address.

Sun Aiping lived in a government residential complex. A middle-aged woman with a lingering charm opened the door for Duan Jiaze. He guessed she might be Sun Aiping's wife. "Hello, Auntie. I'm here to see Uncle Sun."

"You must be Xiao Duan, right? I'm your Uncle Sun's wife. He told me you were coming. Just call me Auntie Liu." Liu Li'an shook hands with Duan Jiaze, let him into the house, and called out, "Old Sun! Xiao Duan is here, come on out!"

"Hey! Just a moment, I'll be right out!" Sun Aiping's voice came from inside the house.

"Xiao Duan, I hear you're running a zoo all by yourself at such a young age?" Liu Li'an asked with interest.

Duan Jiaze said embarrassedly, "The zoo was inherited from a relative. I am indeed managing it myself now. Uncle Sun has helped me a lot."

"Look at you, so modest. Old Sun told me you're very capable. By the way, since you're a professional, could you take a look at my daughter for me?" Liu Li'an said.

Duan Jiaze was taken aback. "Your daughter?"

Liu Li'an clapped her hands and called out, "Baobao!"

A Golden Retriever rushed out from a room at the sound of her name, stood up, and placed its front paws in Liu Li'an's hands.

Only then did Duan Jiaze understand she meant her dog-daughter. Many people these days treat their cats and dogs as their own sons and daughters. But, even if it were a dog-son, he wouldn't be able to help!

Liu Li'an said, "Our Baobao went on a blind date recently, and her pregnancy symptoms seem a bit severe. Do you think you could offer some advice..."

"..." Duan Jiaze's face darkened. "Auntie, I'm sorry, I'm not a professional in this field, and I don't know much about canines..."

Fortunately, Sun Aiping came out at this moment. "Honestly, you should take your dog to the vet to ask about this. Why are you asking Xiao Duan? He mainly studies fish and birds."

'I actually don't know much about birds either,' Duan Jiaze thought to himself.

Liu Li'an said disappointedly, "Aren't many pet hospitals unreliable? And they always say I'm overreacting. I thought a zoo would be very professional..."

"Go on, go on, you just think too much." Sun Aiping waved Liu Li'an away.

Sun Aiping brewed a pot of tea and had Duan Jiaze look at his fish while they drank.

"Your auntie mentioning the dog reminds me, when the puppies are born, should I send one over to you?" Sun Aiping asked. "I heard you had a break-in. I see you don't have a security guard at night, and you're there all by yourself. It's better to have a dog at the gate. She specifically took the dog to a family with a male Golden Retriever for a blind date, and now it's pregnant."

Using a Golden Retriever as a guard dog? It seemed a bit unreliable, but since Lingyou didn't really need a security guard anyway, Duan Jiaze nodded and accepted Uncle Sun's kind offer.

While drinking tea, Duan Jiaze looked at Sun Aiping's fish and pointed out a few problems. Sun Aiping marveled that an expert was indeed impressive, knowing what was wrong at a glance, as if the fish themselves had told him.

Duan Jiaze didn't understand this talent of his either. He had other things on his mind. "Uncle Sun, could you give me some advice on something? I want to expand the zoo and need to lease forty mu of land, but I'm not sure whether I should lease the vacant land in the adjacent village or the mountain land."

A part of Cape Mountain belonged to Cape Park, but there were also vacant areas. There would be new construction in three months, and the land needed to be leased by then. Duan Jiaze had checked and found that other zoos were built on mountainsides, so he had the idea of imitating them, but he wasn't sure and came to ask Sun Aiping.

Sun Aiping, with his many years of work experience, listened and said, "You'll need approval to build after leasing the land. If you lease mountain land, you'll also need approval from our Forestry Bureau. Although I can help you with this, I don't recommend you lease mountain land. Your idea is probably to build along the mountain to restore a natural form, right?"

Duan Jiaze nodded.

Sun Aiping nodded and said, "While this form is novel, it's more complicated to manage and not suitable for your current scale. I suggest you consider leasing mountain land later. If you want to lease the village land and go through the building approval process, I can introduce you to a few friends. They can tell you what you need to prepare, and it will be much faster when you go to handle it."

Duan Jiaze quickly thanked Sun Aiping, but was interrupted halfway.

Sun Aiping said, "Alright, stop with the pleasantries. Xiao Duan, I think you're a great kid. I see you as a nephew. If you work hard and make something of yourself, that's better than any number of thanks."

"Yes, I will definitely work hard." Duan Jiaze nodded seriously. He had been forced into this position as Zoo Director, muddled and needing others to make decisions for him. But after meeting so many good people, his perspective was starting to change.

Just as Sun Aiping was about to share more of his thoughts with Duan Jiaze, the doorbell rang again. He got up to open the door, and standing outside was his superior, the head of the Forestry Bureau, Bao Hailuan. "Director Bao, come in, have a seat."

Bao Hailuan lived upstairs. He didn't come in but leaned against the doorframe and said, "Old Sun, let's go, let's go mountain climbing. My wife had a fight with me and won't go."

Sun Aiping smiled upon hearing this. This so-called mountain climbing wasn't real mountain climbing, but going up the mountain to Linshui Temple to burn incense. Today was the first day of the lunar month, and Bao Hailuan just used "mountain climbing" as a code. All his old friends knew.

Sun Aiping didn't believe in these things, and he had a guest at home that he couldn't just ignore. "Director Bao, my god-nephew is here."

"You have god-nephews now? He doesn't look like a blood relative." Bao Hailuan took a look and said, "Forget it, none of my business. Then let's all go together. Old Sun, come keep your old brother company."

The two of them were friends even before they became colleagues at the Forestry Bureau, so they had a dual relationship. Sun Aiping felt it was hard to refuse. He also thought that since Bao Hailuan had come to his door personally, it was a rare opportunity to introduce him to Xiao Duan. So he turned back and said, "Xiao Duan, how about we go mountain climbing together?"

Duan Jiaze didn't know Sun Aiping's intention and thought he shouldn't disturb him and his friend. But seeing Sun Aiping winking at him, he nodded. "Oh, oh, okay."

Sun Aiping then said to Liu Li'an, "Xiao Duan and I are going mountain climbing with Director Bao."

Liu Li'an stuck her head out. "Got it. Come back early, our daughter is coming home today."

"Okay." Sun Aiping led Duan Jiaze out.

Duan Jiaze really thought they were going mountain climbing and wondered which mountain they were going to climb. It would be great if it were Cape Mountain, so he could stop by home on the way.