Live Cat Appraisal: Starting with a Beast That's Got a Long Prison Record

Chapter 85 Wildlife Rescue Station

The plateau was still slightly cool in the early morning, still carrying the scent of night dew.

The sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.

Five SUVs roared to life, slowly driving away from the guesthouse under the reluctant gaze of guesthouse owner Lao Liu. They rolled over the gravel road and merged into the vast G317 national highway, heading towards Ganzi County.

The convoy took a short break and resupply in Ganzi.

They then turned onto National Highway G227 and headed south, their destination being Xinlong County.

"Chen Nian! Look over there!"

Xia Qiyue's excited voice rang out from time to time.

For Chen Nian and Xia Qiyue, who were venturing into the western Sichuan plateau for the first time, every frame passing by outside the car window was a new chapter in their lives.

Vast meadows, deep river valleys, and Tibetan villages adorned with prayer flags.
As the convoy traveled through a steep area of ​​exposed, gray-brown boulders, Xia Qiyue suddenly gasped softly, her finger pointing urgently to the steep hillside above the window:

"Look! Isn't that a blue sheep?"

"Where?" Chen Nian immediately looked in the direction of the voice, his gaze instantly locking onto several nimble, gray-brown figures moving on the cliff. His eyes were filled with surprise: "They really are argali!"

These creatures, hailed as 'light dancers on cliffs,' move with remarkable agility and stability on rock faces that are almost perpendicular to the ground.

A faint, cheerful sound came from the back seat.

"That's right, they are blue sheep. Their hooves have a special structure, so they can stand firmly as long as there is even the slightest angle to gain leverage. They are natural rock climbing experts."

Chen Nian listened intently.

He gazed at the cliff spirits and nodded repeatedly, his face filled with pure curiosity and admiration for this magical land and its inhabitants.

"Uh-huh!"

The scenery along the way was like a flowing scroll painting.

Halfway there, news came back that Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu had successfully arrived at the rescue station.

As soon as the video call connected, Lin Qidong's smiling face, tanned dark by the high-altitude sun but full of energy, immediately appeared on the screen.

"Teacher Chen, you should have already set off, right?"

"Yeah, on the way." Chen Nian flipped the camera to frame the magnificent mountains and vast meadows rushing past the car window.

"Haha, it's beautiful!"

Lin Qidong looked at the familiar scenery, his eyes still sparkling with heartfelt admiration.

Then he turned the camera to himself.

Through the bright glass window, two fluffy little heads were huddled together, curiously peering out, their dark eyes reflecting Lin Qidong's figure.

It's Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu!

"The two little ones have completed their initial checkups. They have good physical constitutions and are indeed F1 generation desert cats. Professor Chen, your eye for talent is truly amazing!"

Lin Qidong's tone was light, but then he added with a hint of regret, "What a pity."

"Xiao Liuzi has been diagnosed with congenital heart disease. The little guy will not be able to run vigorously in the future, so he does not meet the criteria for being released back into the wild. It seems that he can only stay here for the time being."

He sighed softly.

For a creature that should belong to the wilderness, losing the freedom to roam the sky is always a regret in its life.

Fortunately, the problem was discovered in time.

With careful care, Xiao Liu can still live a healthy and peaceful life.

"Isn't this the best arrangement for it?"

Chen Nian offered a soft word of comfort.

He could almost see that without this timely intervention, Xiao Liu might have collapsed silently in some unknown corner of the wilderness during a moment of passionate pursuit, her heart unable to bear the strain, like a shooting star that fell too soon.

"Yes," Lin Qidong replied with a relieved expression.

A large, warm hand gently touched the cool glass.

Amazingly, Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu inside the window seemed to hear Chen Nian's voice and immediately became excited, jumping up and down eagerly, their little paws scratching at the glass as if trying to reach Lin Qidong's palm.

This adorable sight made the two grown men laugh together.

"Haha, thanks to your previous training, Teacher Chen, and those amazing cat foods! The two little guys are incredibly adaptable. They weren't scared at all in this unfamiliar place. They ate and played as usual, full of energy!"

"Yes, they are all very strong."

Chen Nian looked at the two lively little ones on the screen with tenderness in her eyes.

"By the way, Teacher Chen," Lin Qidong said, his tone suddenly becoming enthusiastic, "Are you planning to stay in Xinlong County next?"

He only found out about this after watching Chen Nian's live stream preview yesterday.

"Correct."

Chen Nian nodded.

They will set up camp in Xinlong County, and then gradually begin filming, using Xinlong County as the center.

"Hey! What a coincidence!"

Lin Qidong slapped his thigh, his voice brimming with excitement: "Our rescue station is right on the edge of Xinlong County! It's only a dozen kilometers away at most! If you get there, be sure to come and visit when you have time! There are also a few wild cats receiving treatment at the station, I guarantee you'll love them! You can also see Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu while you're there, they must miss you too!"

"Really?! Wait a minute!"

Chen Nian's eyes lit up instantly.

He immediately turned to look at the team leader in the back seat, his eyes full of anticipation.

"Brother Liang?"

Without hesitation, Infinitesimal replied with a smile, "Great news! No problem!"

He planned the itinerary: "When we get to Xinlong County, I still need to finalize the guide arrangements. Without a reliable guide, we can't just blindly venture into the mountains. The earliest we can officially set off is tomorrow. You have half a day, so go and get acquainted with Lao Lin! But we can't go for nothing." "Bring my photographer along, and bring back plenty of footage."

Wildlife rescue can also be considered one of the highlights of a documentary.

Such a great opportunity cannot be missed.

"Okay! I promise to complete the mission!"

Chen Nian happily agreed, her voice even becoming a little lighter.

Lin Qidong, on the other side, also heard it.

The two smiled at each other across the screen.

Lin Qidong: "I'll be waiting for you!"

Chen Nian: "Wait for me!"

With this newfound expectation, the convoy successfully arrived at Xinlong County, with an average altitude of over 4,000 meters, at around 9:00 a.m.

This is a quiet little town nestled in the heart of GZ state.

Their base is a guesthouse hotel with a strong Tibetan style.

Seeing how familiar Wuji Xiaoliang was with the guesthouse owner, Xia Qiyue whispered to Chen Nian, "Brother Liang really has friends everywhere!"

"Haha, this is what connections are all about."

Chen Nian was quite envious of this.

Then, he looked at Xia Qiyue and asked, "By the way, do you want to go to the rescue station together later?"

The two were not in the same car.

Since having a pleasant conversation with Gu Ying yesterday, Xia Qiyue immediately became her disciple.

They even held an apprenticeship ceremony on the spot!

Gu Ying smiled and accepted the apprentice.

So the master and apprentice stayed together and chatted enthusiastically.

Chen Nian relayed Lin Qidong's news.

Upon hearing this, Xia Qiyue's eyes lit up, and she nodded vigorously like a chicken pecking at rice: "Go! I have to go!"

Before she finished speaking, she had already trotted back to her room and quickly began organizing her camera and lenses.

On the other side, Infinite Quantity also informed Gu Ying of the mission to visit the rescue station.

“No problem,” Gu Ying readily agreed.

For her, capturing images of wild cats before even entering the mountains was an unexpected delight that she couldn't miss.

Lin Sen, who had just settled his luggage, also rushed over upon hearing the news.

With an expectant look on her face, she said, "Brother Nian! I heard you're going to the shelter later? Can you give me a ride? I want to see Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu in person!"

Ever since Lin Sen caught a glimpse of those two precious desert cat cubs on Chen Nian's phone yesterday, he has been thinking about them.

The opportunity is right in front of us, so naturally we won't miss it.

"I'm fine with it," Chen Nian readily agreed, "but you'll still have to ask Brother Liang."

"Okay! I'll go ask right away!" Lin Sen turned around and went to find the team leader in a hurry.

During lunch, Wuxian Xiaoliang took the initiative to bring up the afternoon's plans.

"Attention everyone! The official filming will begin tomorrow. This afternoon is free time for everyone to acclimatize to the altitude and rest."

He paused, then looked at Chen Nian: "Also, Teacher Chen plans to visit a wildlife rescue station not far from here this afternoon to see the desert cat cubs we rescued earlier, and also to visit the other wild cats being treated at the station."

"Anyone want to come along? We can do it as part of our afternoon sightseeing!"

Upon hearing that they could get up close to a Pallas's cat cub, a Class I protected animal in China, and possibly even see other mysterious wild cats, the experts, who had been sitting upright, couldn't sit still any longer and eagerly raised their hands to sign up:

"Count me in."

"I want to go too."

Finally, after Chen Nian and Lin Qidong reconfirmed the reception capacity, 15 out of the 22 people in the group enthusiastically signed up.

An infinitesimal quantity cannot escape on its own.

He also grabbed his eager assistant, saying, "You're not allowed to go. Stay here and help me."

The assistant immediately wilted like a frostbitten eggplant, and gave a pitiful "Oh".

It made everyone laugh.

Lin Sen patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, I'll definitely bring you back the photos."

The other members, experiencing mild altitude sickness, chose to stay at the guesthouse to rest.

Finally, Infinite Small Quantity's gaze fell on Gu Ying, and he instructed, "Teacher Gu, remember to bring back plenty of footage."

"no problem!"

So, after lunch, the line split into two.

Wuxianxiaoliang stayed at the guesthouse with his assistant and a few other members who needed rest, and was responsible for key communication and coordination with the local guide.

Meanwhile, the "exploration team" consisting of Chen Nian, Xia Qiyue, Gu Ying, Lin Sen, and more than ten enthusiastic experts and scholars traveled in several vehicles to a wildlife rescue station more than ten kilometers away.

Chen Nian looked out the window, her eyes filled with anticipation.

What kind of felines might be involved?

(Quick answer question: What breed of cat is this?)
(End of this chapter)