Chapter 30: Chapter 30: Killer Vulture

“Yes, the situation for this joint mission is quite severe this time.”

Deputy Director Kuang Ming nodded, his face serious: “Three days ago, we received a notice from the Xizhou Province police that someone was caught illegally breeding the nationally protected vulture.”

“According to the suspect’s confession, he had already released six vultures into the Desert Area before this incident.”

Xu Ying raised an eyebrow in surprise: “Wow, he dared to raise vultures?”

The vulture, also known as the mountain eagle, is a large raptor with a wingspan of two to three meters, highly adaptable to the environment, resistant to cold and drought.

Their beaks are long and sharp, with the front end curved into a hooked shape, making it easier for them to tear meat.

This beak is even harsher than a scalpel and can drag out internal organs.

Xu Ying asked puzzled, “Why would he raise them only to throw them away, and then raise them again? Does he have some obsession?”

“For some reason, these vultures became unusually aggressive under his care, with a high tendency to attack.”

Kuang Ming frowned as he spoke: “Unlike wild vultures, which feed on animal carcasses, the vultures he trained attack live animals.”

An ordinary person without systematic knowledge trying to raise such raptors can easily run into trouble, either hurting themselves or causing harm to others.

“He got pecked by the vultures several times and felt they were useless, became scared, and didn’t want them anymore.”

Kuang Ming showed a photo of the vultures trained by the suspect to Xu Ying: “He thought the Desert Area was sparsely populated, so he secretly drove these vultures over and released them there.”

Xu Ying noticed that the vultures in the photo had a red ribbon tied around their ankles.

“These non-native vultures are very destructive and have severely affected the ecological balance of the Desert Area.”

Kuang Ming showed Xu Ying a notice from the higher-ups: “We have received orders to find this batch of non-native vultures and transfer them to the Raptor Protection Center.”

Xu Ying clenched her fist.

This suspect is quite something!

He likely knew his animals were a legal risk and didn’t dare contact the Raptor Protection Center, instead secretly dumping the problem into the wild.

“These three rescue workers will be responsible for this area of search alongside you in this joint operation.”

Kuang Ming indicated the people on three motorcycles to Xu Ying: “They are from Rescue Stations 012, 013, and 014 respectively.”

“I hope you can get along well this time, with no more issues arising.”

He directed his last sentence towards Xu Ying.

The station chief of Rescue Station 012, Liu Wenxuan, was the one who intended to report Xu Ying.

She heard Kuang Ming’s words and raised her eyebrows smugly.

Ning Zexi flared up, his eyes wide: “Director Kuang, what do you mean by this? You should say that to those three people.”

“Our Little Xu Station Chief is both dedicated and kind, yet easily bullied.”

“Some people always wear tinted glasses, seeing our Little Xu as just a newbie in her third month on the job and being biased in their words.”

Kuang Ming was at a loss for words at Ning Zexi’s remark, this cheeky fellow dared to imply him, but remembering Ning Zexi’s background, he decided not to argue.

He put on a stern face: “Alright, stop the bickering here and focus your energy on completing the task quickly.”

Having said that, Kuang Ming returned to the passenger seat of Ning Zexi’s off-road vehicle.

“So you’re using your off-road vehicle for this mission?”

Xu Ying glanced at Ning Zexi’s vehicle: “Isn’t this your private car?”

Driving an off-road vehicle in the desert not only consumes a lot of fuel but also seriously wears down the tires.

Ning Zexi nodded: “Director Kuang said this task is important, and he needs to supervise.”

Xu Ying frowned: “Did Director Kuang say he’d reimburse you?”

“Not yet. But we have no choice; completing the task is crucial. Having a car is more convenient.”

Ning Zexi patted Xu Ying’s shoulder: “Let’s unload the stuff and head out.”

“I’ve bought everything you needed!”

An excitement for unboxing rose in Xu Ying’s heart, “Let’s go, let’s go!”

The two of them unloaded large and small packages from the off-road vehicle into the rescue station.

Ning Zexi took out the plastic fruit crates and small flower pots for growing vegetables and then took out bags of seeds.

“These are carrot seeds.”

“These are lettuce seeds.”

“Why did you choose these two kinds of seeds?”

Carrots are cold-tolerant, can endure brief low temperatures of minus two to three degrees, and the seedlings can withstand high temperatures of around twenty-five degrees.

The advantage of growing vegetables in the desert is the ample sunlight, which enhances photosynthesis and results in fast-growing, high-yield root crops.

Lettuce has a short growth cycle, and about a month after planting, you can harvest a head of lettuce.

Xu Ying particularly likes eating lettuce, which can be eaten in many ways: raw, blanched, in salads, stir-fried… with tender green leaves, it’s convenient and tasty!

As she unloaded, she shared her analysis with Ning Zexi.

Seeing Xu Ying’s logical analysis, Ning Zexi began to anticipate: “Little Xu Station Chief, when you have a bumper harvest, may I come for a meal?”

“Sure, you’ve been a great help to me.”

While they were unloading, Liu Wenxuan from Station 012 came in with a male and female rescue worker.

One tall and thin man overheard their conversation and sneered: “You plan to grow vegetables at the rescue station?”

“As expected of a newly graduated college student, thinking it’s so easy.”

An equally incredulous girl wearing a visor added: “The temperature fluctuations in the desert can freeze or roast you, how can vegetables possibly survive, especially since all you have is sand, where will you find soil?”

“If growing vegetables were possible, everyone at the rescue station would be doing it and eating fresh produce daily, why would we still need to receive supplies every half month?”

Liu Wenxuan and her team expressed their doubts.

Xu Ying counterquestioned them: “Have any of you tried it? What did you plant? For how many days? What was the result?”

Even without nutrient-rich soil, Xu Ying believed that by controlling various factors, growing them was feasible.

After all, the scientific research team from Huaxia at the Antarctic research station managed to grow vegetables despite cravings for fresh greens in such an environment.

She still had advantages in sunlight and temperature in the desert.

The three were momentarily taken aback, none of them had tried.

Firstly, they found it troublesome; secondly, they felt the harsh environment made it impossible, so they didn’t bother with something so laborious for no reward.

Liu Wenxuan snapped back to her senses disdainfully: “Isn’t there fresh vegetables distributed during supply collection every half month?”

“We eat for two or three days, then just endure until the next supply collection.”

She couldn’t resist jabbing at Xu Ying: “City students are spoiled, can’t endure hardship, always needing fresh vegetables, quite demanding.”

Ning Zexi made a face at her: “When our Little Xu succeeds, don’t get greedy and come begging for a meal or veggies!”

“Don’t flatter yourself. Who cares?”

Liu Wenxuan snorted as she wandered around the rescue station with her phone: “Where’s the ear fox?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep