Mountain Looting: Targeted by a Leopard at the Start
Chapter 110: My Duck Brought Back Two First-Level Protected Animals!

Chapter 110: Chapter 110: My Duck Brought Back Two First-Level Protected Animals!

After returning to the farm, Xu Yang settled the old hen and then went to check the installation of the irrigation system.

The so-called irrigation system resembled the sprinkler heads used for watering lawns, capable of spraying water jets in all directions.

If the area to be irrigated was large, this method could greatly improve the efficiency of watering.

And it could be done by one person.

From the outside, Xu Yang’s farm looked quite ordinary.

There was a wooden fence on the perimeter, with red brick houses for living areas at the front, as well as some breeding houses and storage, and four greenhouses on another side.

But in reality, the farm’s cultivation had achieved automation.

The irrigation system was installed smoothly, the water pipes had already been buried, and only the sprinkler heads needed to be installed and tested.

Once confirmed there were no issues, Xu Yang took a rest.

Yet another wonderful day.

He enjoyed this kind of life, everything orderly and under control.

The trouble with life is accidents, as soon as one occurs, you’re busy dealing with it.

Xu Yang was comfortably resting when his ducks, lining up in a queue, quacking away, appeared at the front of the farm.

Those guys had returned from playing around.

Today they had gone out with Xu Yang and only came back in the evening.

The ducks were really fond of playing.

It wasn’t clear what they had experienced today.

Xu Yang looked at the ducks, wanting to check if their number was correct.

He had raised 40 ducks, but two had died young, leaving 38.

Gathered together, the number still seemed quite substantial.

As the ducks made their way back, Xu Yang immediately spotted something amiss.

He was leisurely sitting one moment and the next, he was up on his feet, his face full of astonishment.

In the flock, he saw two ducks with very distinctive appearances.

One duck had silken plumes on its head, and its head feathers were a light red, while the other duck had a black head without any plume.

The two ducks, looking around in panicked confusion, followed Xu Yang’s farm ducks forward.

They mingled with the flock as if they were part of the group.

Xu Yang rubbed his eyes.

I’m not seeing things, am I?

Is that... Chinese Merganser?

He could hardly believe that Chinese Mergansers would come home with his ducks.

He took a closer look to be sure.

There are several types of mergansers, with the common ones being more abundant. The most precious among them is the Chinese Merganser.

This duck has survived from the Ice Age up to the present, known as the "living fossil" among birds, with a very small population.

Currently, official statistics estimate there are about 2400 to 4500 Chinese Mergansers worldwide.

Without a doubt, the Chinese Merganser is a bona fide national first-level protected animal.

On the same protection level as the Giant Panda and Leopard.

"Holy shit, they’re really Chinese Mergansers."

"What virtue do my flock of ducks have to kidnap an endangered species and bring it back."

Xu Yang immediately took out his phone, first to record a video, then to call the police.

No choice, the protection level of these two was too high, also known as "life sentence animals."

If something happened to them, it wouldn’t be easy to explain.

Every spring, Chinese Mergansers return to the Changbai Mountains to live, nesting high up to breed, and after spending some time living there, they head south in the autumn to winter.

Actually, their breeding numbers aren’t low, it’s just that they are terribly reckless.

Firstly, they tend to build their nests extremely high up, and as soon as the ducklings are born, they have to jump from the height of about ten stories.

Those who survive the jump quickly seek out their mother.

Those who don’t make it go off to meet the King of Hell.

Secondly, these fellows are extremely fussy about water quality and are also referred to as water quality detectors.

Whenever Chinese Mergansers migrate and stop by any lake, expect the local news the next day to be all about praising the water quality of the lake and how well they have handled environmental protection.

So, it’s not easy for these creatures to survive.

"What? Two Chinese Mergansers?"

"They went to your farm?"

"What are they doing on your farm?"

Officer Liu Ming, receiving the call, asked in surprise.

"How would I know what they’re doing on my farm?"

"They didn’t tell me the reason."

"Anyway, I’m sure I’m not mistaken, they came back with my ducks and haven’t left yet."

"This matter is a liability on my part, you guys better come take care of it."

Xu Yang added.

"Okay, I’ll report this and then head over," Liu Ming said before hanging up.

Soon after, two police officers drove to Xu Yang’s farm.

This wasn’t their first visit.

Every visit was related to wildlife.

Previously, they came with the Forestry Bureau to find out about the Leopards, then another time they came to see the Sika Deer, and now surprisingly, there were the extremely rare Chinese Mergansers.

It was, to put it mildly, absurd.

Perhaps it was because Xu Yang’s farm was relatively far from the village and closer to the mountains.

The animals were more willing to come over.

"Where are the Chinese Mergansers? We’ve contacted the Forestry Bureau, and they will probably send someone to release them back into the wild."

"That’s something they’ll have to handle."

Liu Ming got out of the car, asking hurriedly.

"In the duck shed, they went in with my ducks, and I didn’t dare stop them,"

"I didn’t lock the door of the duck shed, they can do whatever they like."

Xu Yang led the two officers inside.

Soon, they arrived at the duck shed area.

Indeed, as Xu Yang had said, the two officers immediately saw the Chinese Mergansers squeezed in with the other ducks.

From a species perspective, they were undoubtedly rare Chinese Mergansers.

"Were they lured back by your ducks?"

"Chinese Mergansers are supposed to be birds, right?"

Liu Ming was a bit puzzled.

The police officer beside him mocked, "What you’re saying, domesticated ducks also belong to the bird family."

"What I mean is that Chinese Mergansers can fly and migrate."

"How did they end up mingling with domesticated ducks?"

Both men looked at Xu Yang.

Xu Yang was stunned for a moment.

"Wait, why are you looking at me? How would I know? My ducks are right here; you should ask them how they were lured back."

The three of them looked at the Chinese Mergansers again, all furrowing their brows and falling into deep thought for a moment.

The situation was somewhat absurd.

But in Changbai Mountain, it wasn’t surprising for anything to happen, given the abundance of animals.

"Let’s wait for the Forestry Bureau’s staff to come and set them free. In a while, they’ll fly away, it’s time for them to head south."

Liu Ming said.

"I agree, get them out of here quickly. I’m worried they’ll have an accident on my farm."

"It’s not like Sika Deer, they won’t get into trouble, but these guys could be snatched away in an instant."

Xu Yang nodded.

He was also puzzled; why wouldn’t these two Chinese Mergansers fly away?

They even followed his ducks home.

Upon closer observation, Xu Yang began to understand.

Both Chinese Mergansers were young, likely born this spring in Changbai Mountain.

The little mergansers might have lost their parents and failed to find the flock, so seeing the farm ducks, which looked similar, they followed them.

After all, it’s common for ducklings to get lost.

Sometimes a whole string of ducklings falls into storm drains, and the mother duck frets anxiously.

It takes kind-hearted people to rescue and return them.

Then, Liu Ming received another call saying that it was too late for the Forestry Bureau staff to come today and that they would come tomorrow instead.

Tomorrow they would arrange to transport the mergansers to a habitat for Chinese Mergansers.

Thereafter, these two ducks could migrate with the flock.

Liu Ming informed Xu Yang of the situation.

Xu Yang felt this was for the best.

"It must be two little ducks that got separated from the flock and managed to survive by that river until now."

"No matter what, they need to learn to migrate with the other Mergansers as soon as possible."

"The winters are very cold in Changbai Mountain, and autumn is approaching fast; they need to move to the warmer Southern regions for the winter."

"Taking them to their habitat is the best course of action."

Only the Forestry Bureau knew where the Chinese Mergansers’ habitat was located.

It was inside the National Forest Park and protected by the state.

This rare species was worthy of protection.

"All right, then they’ll have to stay at your place tonight."

Liu Ming said further.

"Bring them into the duck house? Usually, there is no problem, but I fear weasels might come in."

Xu Yang was somewhat worried.

"It is a bit dangerous. Are they scared of you? If not, maybe keep them inside your house, just for one night."

Liu Ming suggested.

"I’ll try, I guess. Now that I’ve encountered them, I should look after them."

Xu Yang found a large cardboard box and laid an old cotton mattress inside.

He couldn’t just grab the Chinese Mergansers directly; that might cause them to panic.

So first, Xu Yang tossed his four domestic ducks in, then carefully picked up the mergansers and placed them inside as well.

They gathered together, feather on feather.

Tired from playing all day, they lay down to rest.

The mergansers were still a bit anxious but seemed less afraid being with the domestic ducks.

"Not bad, this box will stay in my room tonight."

"Shouldn’t be a problem."

Xu Yang settled the ducks and carried the box back into the house.

The two police officers also took the opportunity to drive back to town before it got dark.

They were hoping there wouldn’t be any mishaps, but a mishap had quickly arisen.

However, having encountered two extremely rare First Level protected animals, Xu Yang still felt quite happy.

Rarity was a treasure.

These ducks were nothing like ordinary ones.

Having survived since the Ice Age, they had truly tough lives; let’s hope they don’t perish in the 21st century.

Xu Yang fed them some snails, which he fortunately had in the kitchen.

Both mergansers accepted the feeding, gobbling down all the snails.

At first a little restless, they gradually calmed down.

Seeing them like this, Xu Yang also felt relieved.

Just then, the system notification sounded:

"[Received favor from Chinese Mergansers.]"

"[Favor reward: Duck meat recipes*10 pieces]"

"[Duck meat recipes include the preparation for Beijing Roasted Duck, Nanjing Roasted Duck, Eight Treasure Duck, and seven other duck dishes.]"

"[Note: Favor rewards are only for rare wild animals, and the reward can only be claimed once for each species.]"

Xu Yang was taken aback.

He was somewhat stunned.

What reward?

Duck meat recipes?

Huh?