"How many?!"

Zhang Chunming shouted, his face full of disbelief.

Not just him, a group of keepers and other staff were gathered in the director’s office.

When they heard the number reported by the ticket seller Zhang Qian, all the staff were stunned.

1,320 people!

"1,320?? Are you sure there isn’t an extra 0 added?"

"We can’t just say anything, although I do feel like there are a lot of people today, but 1,320 is too exaggerated, isn’t it?"

"Exactly, I felt like getting 500 people would already be quite something."

"It’s Monday today, can our zoo really have this kind of traffic?"

"Is this matching the historical record of our zoo?"

This record was set before Director Liu’s renovations. After the renovations, the pandemic hit, and getting even hundreds was difficult, let alone thousands.

"Unreal, is this the influence of Boss Wang? It’s just the first day, a Monday at that, and we’ve already matched the historical record for our zoo?"

"Incredible, I can’t think of any other way to describe it than those two words."

"If Boss Wang stays with us, wouldn’t our zoo reach its peak in no time?"

"To think the director can just sit there so calmly like a seasoned pro?"

"That’s why he’s the director; such composure."

Director Liu, his back facing everyone, displayed no emotion on his face, though in his heart waves were surging. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

He indeed saw a lot of visitors today and expected a good figure, but never thought it could be so high!

This number can’t compare to old zoos. Even in the slowest months, January and February, Imperial Capital Zoo has at least 20,000 visitors a day.

But with Beijing’s large population and the zoo’s reputation, it’s no comparison. Having 1,300 visitors goes beyond his expectations.

In his best-case scenario, he only expected a maximum of 500 people today!

"Stay calm, it’s just the first day, and you’re this excited. What about the upcoming days?"

Director Liu said calmly, then turned to speak to Zhang Qian, the community operator and ticket seller, "Xiao Zhang, pay extra attention to the online reviews today, see if there’s any change in public opinion, or if any visitors have questions or dissatisfaction, make sure to address them promptly."

Zhang Qian nodded quickly, admiring the director’s calmness in her heart.

After going over the points of attention, it was time to clock out. Zhang Chunming and the others were excited as they walked, occasionally looking back at the zoo and the ticket booth.

It was this lively on the first day; how many would it attract on the second day?

...

Meanwhile, discussions online were lively.

But there were two main points of focus today: one being Wang Fan’s lemon pan-fried duck thigh, and why no one in Nanjing had made it all these years.

The tender and juicy duck meat, the sour and spicy rich flavor, the burst of juice upon tasting—it’s by a person from the Northeast. Don’t the local Nanjing chefs feel ashamed?

"Amazing, truly one word—amazing. Without exaggeration, I’ve been to almost all the duck shops in Nanjing, some traditional ones are indeed tasty, but only Boss Wang’s lemon pan-fried duck thigh truly amazed me."

"Right, BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! Those who haven’t been on-site won’t understand what I mean."

"I get you! When you poke a piece of duck meat with a skewer and bite down, you feel the duck juices explode in your mouth! I swear, it’s like biting into a water balloon."

"Hehehe, I had three meals today all with Boss Wang’s lemon pan-fried duck thigh, it was so satisfying, and surprisingly not greasy at all. Even now, I still taste that lemony tang."

"The title of the strongest wild food BOSS is richly deserved. I’m now worried if Boss Wang starts making Nanjing’s specialty ducks, we’d be eating local Nanjing ducks made by outsiders, which seems terrifying just to think about."

"Sorry guys, you brought this on yourselves. I wasn’t planning on going, but you made it sound irresistible; I’m taking annual leave right now!"

While people were heatedly discussing Wang Fan’s culinary creations, another thread was focused on Red Mountain Forest Park.

"Brothers, let me recommend Red Mountain Forest Park. I originally went for Boss Wang’s food, but after eating, I had some time and strolled through the zoo. It’s genuinely impressive, feeling like the animals are living in the wild."

"I toured it today too. I strongly recommend it for anyone with kids; they won’t just see the stereotypical behaviors of wildlife. My child especially enjoyed finding small animals hidden in corners."

"I noticed this zoo is particularly considerate; they’ve given a name to every single animal, really every single one!"

"And the information in the animal introductions is quite interesting. The most memorable one was a little wild boar digging the ground. The sign said if you can’t find the little boar, it’s off digging somewhere.

Initially, we couldn’t find it and were disappointed, but later we saw it in the lion and tiger enclosure. It was turning the soil there, and it’s a working pig; almost laughed myself to death."

"I feel this zoo truly embodies the purpose of a zoo, where animals and humans coexist peacefully. Even a three-legged leopard can live happily and vibrantly—it’s a noticeable vitality."

"I visited the zoo in the past, and it felt a bit dull. You had to find many animals yourself, but this time, perhaps due to a better mood, the entire experience was very enjoyable. I spent over 200 yuan on extras inside a zoo with a 40-yuan ticket. The creative shops couldn’t stop me from spending my money T-T."

"Did the person above eat Boss Wang’s duck? After eating it, I felt so refreshed and everything seemed sunny."

"Don’t even mention it!"

Zhang Qian scrolled through the comments, her heart racing faster with excitement. The discussions were not only heated but also positive, something she never dared to imagine before!

Reading each line of acknowledgment towards Red Mountain Zoo, tears uncontrollably streamed down her face.

Honestly, if she didn’t truly love those animals, she would never have stayed for three months without pay. She’s not from a wealthy family.

Now that everyone’s efforts are being recognized by so many, how can anyone hold back such overwhelming emotion?

"Director, we might be about to hit it big!"