'Next time I get a Strengthening Pill, I'll save it for Grandma.'
Yang Qi had been raised by his grandmother. Now, she was living alone back in their hometown. Getting on in years, she had her share of minor ailments. A pill like this, one that strengthened the body without any side effects, was perfect for her.
Even half a Strengthening Pill had a powerful effect.
Yang Qi could clearly feel the gentle energy quietly repairing and strengthening his body, which had been in poor shape from years of staying up late and not exercising.
Right now, his physical condition was basically on par with an athlete's!
...
Yang Qi had lunch at the Zoo's employee cafeteria. The food was average, but the portions were generous.
Thinking of Xiaojiu at home, Yang Qi made sure to get a small steamed fish to-go.
Now that its wound had healed, the little one was bursting with energy. It excitedly explored every inch of its new home, leaving paw prints in every corner.
That afternoon, Yang Qi focused on tidying up the house, unpacking his luggage and putting everything in its place. The empty villa gradually began to feel like a home.
As evening approached, Yang Qi made a trip to the mall nearest the Zoo. He bought essentials like cooking oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, milk, bread, snacks, and toiletries, along with a brand-new smart rice cooker.
Back at his place, he eagerly took out the Low-Grade Spirit Rice he had won.
Each grain of the Spirit Rice was plump and full, shimmering with a soft, warm luster that made it completely different from ordinary rice.
Yang Qi thought for a moment, then measured out about half a pound of rice. He didn't wash it much before putting it in the rice cooker, adding water, and pressing the start button.
Time ticked by as he waited in anticipation.
The moment the rice cooker BEEPED and switched to its "keep warm" setting, Yang Qi lifted the lid—
WHOOSH~
An indescribable, fresh fragrance instantly erupted, filling the entire kitchen as if it were a tangible substance before spilling out into the living room.
The aroma was nothing like an artificial fragrance; it was more like the purest breath of nature—the scent of a bamboo forest after the rain, or a meadow at dawn. It was utterly refreshing, and the mere smell was enough to invigorate the senses and make one's mouth water.
Xiaojiu, who had been playing with a ball of yarn in the corner, suddenly froze. Its tiny nose twitched frantically. Then, with a series of urgent MEOWS, it shot into the kitchen like a black bolt of lightning, circling Yang Qi's legs and rubbing its furry little head against him forcefully.
[Want to eat]
[Must eat]
"Easy, easy, you'll get your share."
Smiling, Yang Qi served it a small portion in a little bowl.
Once the Spirit Rice was cooked, each grain stood separate and distinct, seemingly enveloped in a faint, radiant glow. They looked as if they were carved from silver and jade—translucent, sparkling, and truly a sight to behold.
Yang Qi served himself a heaping bowl as well.
He lifted a clump to his mouth with his chopsticks. No side dishes were needed. The instant the rice touched his tongue, an incredible combination of soft, springy texture and light sweetness exploded across his taste buds!
The wonderful flavor and smooth texture made it impossible to stop eating. It felt as though eating this plain rice by itself was the ultimate indulgence.
"'I barely even noticed, and the whole bowl is gone.'"
Yang Qi smacked his lips, wanting more.
Nearby, Xiaojiu had already licked its small bowl clean. It looked up, its large amber eyes filled with longing, and continued to cry out.
[Delicious]
[More]
"Alright, alright, alright! Seconds it is!"
Yang Qi was craving more himself, so he happily refilled his own bowl and Xiaojiu's.
In the end, the man and cat devoured the entire pot of Spirit Rice, leaving not a single grain behind.
After the meal, the man and the cat collapsed onto the sofa in satisfaction. Their bellies were full, but they didn't feel uncomfortably stuffed or bloated. Instead, a pleasant warmth spread through their stomachs.
A faint, gentle warmth slowly radiated from their cores, flowing through their limbs and nourishing every fiber of their being, leaving them feeling utterly comfortable.
"'Spirit Rice really is Spirit Rice. Even if it's Low-Grade, it's still a rare treasure in this world!'"
Yang Qi mused, rubbing his faintly warm stomach.
'If only I had a Cultivation Technique right now.'
After that thought, a greedy notion surfaced in Yang Qi's mind. 'If I used a Cultivation Technique, I could definitely absorb the Spirit Rice's energy faster and more efficiently. The effects would be multiplied!'
Unfortunately, he had no leads on a Cultivation Technique just yet.
He was leaning back on the sofa, eyes closed, savoring the marvelous sensation of his body being nourished, when the phone beside him suddenly vibrated.
He picked up his phone and unlocked it to see a new friend request. The person had added him via the "Main Zoo Staff" group chat. The note and the username were both simply "Bao Shun."
'The veteran keeper, Master Bao?'
Yang Qi remembered now. Both Mei Ying and Xu Ping had mentioned this veteran employee. He'd worked at the park for over twenty years and was known for being diligent, down-to-earth, and good-natured—a universally acknowledged good guy.
He immediately accepted the request and sent the first message.
"Hello, Master Bao. This is Yang Qi, the new hire."
Bao Shun's reply was quick. "Hello, Xiao Yang."
Then he got straight to the point. "Are you an early riser? If so, come with me to feed the animals tomorrow morning. It'll be a good way to learn the ropes."
"The Zoo Director and Minister Jiang asked me to show you around a bit."
Yang Qi understood immediately. This was clearly a sign that the leadership wanted to train him up, letting him get familiar with the core work as soon as possible.
He replied right away, "No problem, Master Bao. I can definitely get up early!"
Even though the next two days were technically his days off, participating in the feedings early meant more opportunities to interact with the animals, complete missions, and earn contribution points—exactly what Yang Qi was hoping for.
Besides, he only had to host Gao Zhenyue and Qian Yu around noon tomorrow.
So, Yang Qi set his alarm, washed up, and went to bed early.
He was used to staying up until one or two in the morning—a habit from his coding days—but tonight, whether due to the Spirit Rice or his relaxed mood, his head had barely hit the pillow before he was sound asleep.
「At the stroke of midnight.」
[Daily feeding tasks complete. Host has fed one (1) Spirit Beast (Nine-Life Mysterious Cat). Contribution Points +5]
Yang Qi groggily saw the notification but didn't think much of it. He just rolled over and went back to sleep.
「The next day.」
The sky had not yet fully brightened, and only a hazy, pale light filtered through the window when Yang Qi woke up naturally.
As he opened his eyes, he felt an indescribable sense of lightness and ease, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders. His mind was sharp and he was full of energy, completely free of the grogginess that usually came with waking up early.
'Spirit Rice is the GOAT!'
Yang Qi pumped his fist, then jumped out of bed and went to wash up.
As he was eating bread and drinking milk, he suddenly remembered the notification from last night.
He opened the system, and sure enough, there it was!
'"It settles up at the end of each day? And one Spirit Beast is worth 5 contribution points?"'
'Not bad at all!' Yang Qi thought with delight, sipping his milk.
'One Spirit Beast for 5 points, two for 10, three for 15…'
'I have to try and feed a few more types over the next two days!'
Yang Qi decided firmly.
Just as he finished his bread, Bao Shun called.
"Xiao Yang, are you up? If so, head over to the warehouse."
"'Okay, Master Bao, I'll be right there!' Yang Qi replied before hanging up and heading out the door, full of vigor."
...
By the time he jogged over to the logistics warehouse, the sky was just beginning to grow light.
An older man with a kindly face, salt-and-pepper hair, and roughly in his fifties was already waiting by the warehouse entrance with an empty flatbed cart.
He wore a work uniform that was faded but clean, and had a stocky build. It was Bao Shun.
"'Master Bao, sorry to keep you waiting,' Yang Qi said, hurrying forward."
"'Don't worry about it, I just got here myself.'"
Bao Shun gave him a friendly smile and waved his hand. "Come on. Let's get you changed first, then we'll grab the food."
"'You got it~'"
Yang Qi nodded.
Following Bao Shun's directions, he went into the employee locker room and changed into a dark blue keeper's uniform.
When he came out, they entered the warehouse together.
The warehouse was clearly sectioned off. The refrigerated area held meat, while the ambient-temperature section was stacked with bags of various grains, pellet feed, and fresh fruit.
Under Bao Shun's guidance, Yang Qi began loading food onto the cart.
It was mostly large blocks of frozen chicken and beef, along with some apples, carrots, and special nutritional pellets for carnivores.
"Let's head to the Leopard House first. Two leopards live there, and we need to get their food ready while they're hungry," Bao Shun said to Yang Qi as he expertly took stock of the items.
"Okay."
Yang Qi nodded.
Pushing the heavy cart, he followed Bao Shun toward the Leopard House.
The Zoo was exceptionally peaceful in the early morning, the silence broken only by birdsong and their own footsteps.
Just as they neared the Leopard House, a bloodcurdling scream suddenly pierced the air up ahead!