The Civil Servant's Job is to Raise The Furries!-Chapter 282 - 281: Seafood Farmed in the Desert?

Xu Ying sent a message to Chen Su: "Captain Chen, while retrieving equipment at the Ice Lake, the otters helping us mentioned they discovered a female corpse at the lake bottom."

"The corpse hasn’t decomposed and looks as if she’s just sleeping, likely having sunk to the lakebed recently."

Chen Su quickly replied: "Got it, I’ll contact the Snow Mountain Police Station first."

After reporting this unsettling news, Xu Ying breathed a sigh of relief and went to the tent to change clothes. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Qi Xiao mentioned that the convoy took on the task of transporting full-fish banquet supplies for the otters, so they set up a temporary tent near the Ice Lake for the convoy’s rest.

Xu Ying lifted the tent flap, immediately enveloped by warm air. The tent, sturdy and windproof, had warm water bags hanging at the corners, plush lamb wool pads on the recliners, neatly stacked teddy bear plush blankets, and a small stove connected to a portable power source in the corner, with ginger tea simmering on the small teapot.

Qi Xiao’s convoy’s resting tent was unexpectedly cozy and cute, somewhat surprising Xu Ying.

Xu Ying immediately noticed the fluffy warm cold-weather gear hanging on the rack, complete with gloves, earmuffs, hats, and scarves, perfectly matching her usual aesthetic.

After changing into the clothes, she found the cold-weather gear unexpectedly well-fitting!

Even more thoughtful, there were several hand warmers stuffed in the inner pocket, providing a perfectly comfortable temperature through the fabric.

Xu Ying felt warm inside as well.

After changing, she still worried about the sick otter youngling, immediately asking the crew about the youngling’s location after exiting the tent.

To care for the otter youngling more conveniently, the crew had moved its pet tent closer to the Ice Lake.

When Xu Ying arrived, three otters were gathered around the youngling’s pet tent, waiting for their full-fish banquet.

[Little Xu Station Chief!]

The three otters wagged their tails collectively upon seeing Xu Ying.

"I’m here to check on the youngling’s condition."

Xu Ying lifted the pet tent flap, the otter youngling nestled in the small nest, clutching a little blanket with its paws, looking at her with bright eyes, warmly greeting: [Little Xu Station Chief~]

The otter youngling’s call sounded like a squeaking toy, somewhat like a little lamb.

Xu Ying’s heart melted, "Little one, how are you feeling? Is it better?"

[I took a nap, and I’m much better~~]

Xu Ying retook its temperature, listened to its heartbeat, while the otter youngling’s tail affectionately brushed against her hand.

Xu Ying was not worried about drafts while treating the youngling, as the otter parents and elder sibling peeked through the tent seams, sealing it off snugly.

After checking the youngling, Xu Ying found its condition improved significantly after medication. "Have some food later, and within a week you should be fine."

The otter family thanked Xu Ying in unison.

When Qi Xiao and the convoy members approached carrying a specially-designed three-tiered insulated food box, the otter family on the ice immediately perked up their round ears.

Otter dad was the first to stand upright, twitching its black nose to sniff the fish aroma in the air; otter mom gently gathered their playful elder sibling with her front paws to prevent it from rushing out impulsively.

As the food box was opened, the elder sibling twisted in mom’s embrace like a pretzel. The top tier was lined with succulent salmon belly, the orange-red fish meat marked beautifully with fat marbling; the middle tier featured tender cod pieces, the white fish meat steaming; the bottom tier contained lively silver fish swimming in a specially designed insulated tank.

Otter dad, with the demeanor of the family head, stepped forward first but pushed the fattest salmon belly towards wife and children. Otter mom elegantly grabbed a piece of cod, skillfully turning it with her little paws.

Eager as ever, elder sibling lunged at a little silver fish, only to be splashed in the face, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

Seeing the salmon and cod, Xu Ying was stunned, looking at Qi Xiao with eyes like seeing the God of Wealth: "Wow, Boss Qi, you’re rolling in it, feeding them seafood!"

"Aren’t these flown in from the coast?"

Netizens were also amazed:

[This otter family is having a seafood buffet, so envious, better than what people eat!]

[How rich is Brother Qi exactly? Bringing over surplus seafood from home?]

[Brother Qi, do you need any pets at your place? Educated, potty-trained ones!]

[This is too much! Feeding animals such expensive fish, even a show has to be within reason...]

Su Zhining, watching the otters dining better than she did on the show, couldn’t help but sarcastically remark: "Ugh, what’s the flaunting for, feeding animals seafood, really spent a lot just for the persona!"

Xu Ying sharply retorted upon hearing: "It’s not like they’re entering the entertainment industry to make money, why create a persona?"

She picked up the little otter munching on fish, sneered: "Some people can’t perform in a show without adorning themselves with all their possessions, naturally can’t understand what sincere gratitude means."

She dangled a piece of fish belly in front of the little otter, "It’s truly helped save equipment worth a million, getting worked up over a few pieces of fish? Not like it’s your fish anyway."

The little otter cooperatively "nom-nomed" the fish, its oily little mouth smacking audibly, as if telling Su Zhining "Serves you right, serves you right."

Qi Xiao didn’t take Su Zhining’s words to heart, but hearing Xu Ying defend him, he couldn’t help but grin even wider.

Members of Qi Xiao’s convoy then laughingly explained to Xu Ying: "Of course it’s not flown-in seafood, this is from Brother Qi’s aquaculture company, it costs little and it’s safe for the otters to eat."

Ye Jie curiously widened her eyes: "What? In such an inland area as Xizhou Province, so far from the sea, you can farm seafood?"

—"Of course you can!"

Wise old-timer Yao Yingzhe opened up again: "The ice melt from West Mountain and Altai Mountain is suitable for cold-water fish like salmon, South American white shrimp, Atlantic cod to grow, plus saline-alkaline water can be transformed into a sea-like environment through technology!"

"The salmon farmed in our Xizhou Province can even be exported to Japan and Russia!"

Yao Yingzhe was affirmatively speaking, also showing envy on his face: "Young Qi Xiao also runs a seafood farm, probably downstream of the glacier’s meltwater, shipping sea fish from his own warehouse is surely the easiest, takes no more than three hours from harvest to the table, right?"

Su Zhining’s face turned ugly under Yao Yingzhe’s explanation, feeling stifled without words.

[Haha, doesn’t that hurt? The flaunting some speak of is just Brother Qi’s everyday life.]

The live comments unanimously scrolling with [Thank you, Boss Qi, for feeding us].

Xu Ying, holding laughter, casually wiped the little otter’s oily whiskers: "Did you hear? If you want fresh fish in the future, just go find Brother Qi Xiao, his place has plenty!"