Chapter 314: Chapter 313: The Ear Foxes’ Gratitude

However, due to the side effects of the fat-inducing agents injected by those fur traders, the ear fox mother’s memory has been completely lost. She doesn’t remember her five little cubs, and in these days of weight loss interaction, she has considered the five ear fox cubs as friends.

Meanwhile, the Black Jungle Cat sheriff has taken on the task of teaching the little foxes how to hunt.

The Black Jungle Cat brushed its sharp ears against Xu Ying’s palm: [You’re welcome.]

[I feel a great sense of achievement leading these kids.]

The Little Sand Cat has already climbed up to Xu Ying’s head along her shoulder, excitedly kneading: [Station Chief! Station Chief! I’ve improved my long jump! Brother Tusun’s fur is super soft!]

As it was about to demonstrate on the spot, the Black Jungle Cat pinned its tail with a paw. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

A dull thud came from afar — it turned out the drowsy Tusun had turned over, its round body wedged between the branches.

It didn’t seem in a hurry, yawning in this posture, revealing its two signature small canine teeth, while its furry front paws dangled in the air.

Xu Ying chuckled and walked over to rescue this adorably clumsy furball, followed closely by two "supervisors", one black and one yellow.

*

When Xu Ying pushed open the iron gates of the rescue station, she was immediately engulfed by a warm yellow tidal wave before she could adjust to the indoor dimness.

The expanded rescue station, which once felt a bit sparse, was now covered in warm yellow furballs —

Besides the five little ear fox cubs, all the ear foxes who had successfully lost weight had come!

It was like poking a fox den.

Over thirty triangular ears stood up with a "whoosh," their round black eyes suddenly lighting up like a starry sky in the dim room.

[Little Xu Station Chief!!!]

The army of ear foxes surged forward like flowing honey, their fluffy heads eagerly bumping against her pants, and their bushy tails brushing over her hiking boots with a rustling sound.

"You guys..." Before she could finish, the ear foxes were already chirping as they swarmed around her.

Fox Xiao Wu nudged her calf forward with its head, while three others tugged at her pant leg, dragging her to an area where food bowls were placed.

These stainless steel bowls were distributed by Xu Ying when she customized low-fat meals for the overweight ear foxes, each engraved with their names.

When Xu Ying finally steadied herself, she noticed each food bowl piled with gold particles, shimmering gently under the setting sun.

Xu Ying was stunned, "Did you guys dig all these gold particles from the desert?"

[Look, sis!] Fox Si Bao stood up, its paw tapping the largest food bowl, [On the dry riverbed north of the desert! We dug for three days!]

The other little ones immediately chimed in: [There are some under the poplar trees too!]

[And in the crevices of rocks!]

...

As Xu Ying crouched down, the feel of the fur brushing across her hand made her nose tingle.

Three months ago, these ear foxes were fed round like balls by illegal fur traders, struggling to even turn over, and now they are tirelessly hunting for gold in the desert for her.

She was about to speak when suddenly she felt a tug on her coat — Fox Lazing was stuffing a squirming sand lizard into her hand like a precious offering.

[Little Xu Station Chief, besides gold, we also prepared a sumptuous dinner for you!]

Xu Ying’s heart skipped a beat: "Wait! There’s no need for this..."

But it was too late.

The area around the food bowls instantly turned into a site of ear fox "gratitude": some dragged beetle shells that clattered, some teamed up to push a half scorpion tail, and the most outrageous was Fox Erniu, proudly holding a dried jerboa corpse on its head with its chest puffed out.

"Stop! Everyone stop!"

Xu Ying frantically intercepted the "gifts," but still had three cricket legs tucked into her sleeve.

She pinched her brow, half-laughing, half-crying: "I’ll take the gold, but these..." pointing at two dung beetles wrestling on her shoe, "these gourmet dinners, I truly appreciate the thought."

"Darlings, keep them for yourselves, gold digging is hard work~"

The fox group suddenly fell silent.

Fox Xiao Wu dropped its ear and nudged her wrist: [Don’t you like it, sis?]

The other furballs immediately made hurt "cheeping" sounds, causing some gold particles in a food bowl to fall out due to a sigh.

"It’s not that I don’t like it!" Xu Ying quickly stroked the little one’s head, "It’s just..."

She suddenly glimpsed the pet weight loss record forms piled up in the corner, and a lightbulb moment hit her, "How about saving these high-protein snacks for the little ones who need to gain weight?"

The fox group exploded into chaos.

[I need to gain weight!]

[I’m two ounces lighter than Fox Si Bao!]

[Nonsense, my physical exam says...]

Amidst the squabbles, the greedy Fox Si Bao sneaked the scorpion tail into its mouth.

Xu Ying laughed as she bent down to ruffle a few little heads, suddenly hearing a deep cough.

She looked up to see Qi Xiao standing on the edge of the feeding area, his tall figure striking amidst the furry surround.

The man was still in his sharp black work attire, muscle lines faintly visible beneath the snug fabric, his stern face showing little expression.

Yet at this moment, two ear foxes were perched on his shoulders, with three more at his feet, one of which was trying to climb onto his Martin boots.

The most adorable sight was that Qi Xiao, usually so stern, was holding a tiny food shovel, clumsily helping the little ones organize the gold pile.

"You’re finally back."

Qi Xiao looked up at her, his deep voice carrying a trace of relief.

He was surrounded by five or six ear foxes, his normally stern face showing a rare hint of helplessness.

Fox Erniu clung to his shoulder, its little claws tugging at his collar, earnestly attempting to stuff a wriggling sandworm into his neckline;

Fox Sansan and Fox Mofu were biting his pant legs from either side, trying to drag him to the feeding area;

And the boldest, Fox Boss, even jumped onto his head, its fluffy tail sweeping across his nose, inducing a sneeze.

"Boss Qi? What are you doing here?"

Xu Ying blinked, struggling to suppress her laughter.

Qi Xiao looked up at her, his voice both resigned and gentle: "Of course, I was invited to help by the troops you led out."

He reached to grab the Fox Boss from his head, but the nimble little one dodged, sitting gleefully in his palm with its big ears twitching in triumph.

Xu Ying chuckled and walked over to help him out: "Alright, alright, everyone calm down."

She reached out to ruffle Fox Boss’s head, "Brother Qi Xiao isn’t your toy."

Fox Boss chirped, reluctantly jumping down from Qi Xiao’s hand, but soon joined the other furballs to surround Xu Ying, all eagerly seeking acknowledgment.

[Sis!]

Fox Xiao Wu rolled to her feet, proudly presenting a mini food bowl filled with gold particles, [I dug the most!]

The other little ones immediately voiced their dissatisfaction, squeezing and jostling the furballs, with a few tumbling over to Qi Xiao’s feet.

Qi Xiao bent down to help the fallen fox cubs, only to have three more seize the opportunity to climb up his arm.

He was forced to maintain a half-squat stance, resembling a Christmas tree adorned with plush ornaments.