Chapter 703: Wishing Upon the Golden Pheasants!

The golden pheasant forest was also covered in a layer of pristine white snow!

On the small hill behind, some areas had thick snow, while others still showed patches of grass.

A red-bellied golden pheasant took a few steps at the top of the small hill.

With its bright red chest and belly feathers and its golden, glittering crest, the pheasant looked even more dazzling against the white snow, appearing more beautiful than usual!

It walked to the edge of a cliff, gently pushed off with its feet, and leaped into the air.

Its claws retracted to its belly, wings flapped, and its long tail feathers trailed behind, swaying gracefully and beautifully!

It landed on a branch of a pine tree, causing the branch to dip slightly under its weight before gently bouncing back, shaking off the snowflakes that had settled on the pine needles.

Nearby, a white-bellied golden pheasant perched on a roost, seemingly not wanting to stay with the red-bellied golden pheasant.

It turned its head, shaking its crest of red plume-like feathers with a dashing flair.

Its bright eyes looked forward as it lifted one front claw, striking a pose like a golden rooster standing alone.

Suddenly, it sprinted away with powerful strides, moving like a sprinter!

With a few running steps and a powerful leap, it flapped its wings and flew away, brushing past the red-bellied golden pheasant!

The blue-green scale-like feathers on its body also sparkled brilliantly, and its black-and-white tail feathers, like an ink painting, exuded a sense of natural beauty.

If the red-bellied golden pheasant was a blazing fire, then the white-bellied golden pheasant was an ethereal cloud in the sky!

Both were inherently beautiful, and their flight across the snowy landscape created a dreamlike, fairy-tale atmosphere.

Visitors excitedly took photos, chatting enthusiastically!

"Wow!"

"Whoa, this is incredible! 'Beautiful' doesn't even begin to describe it!"

"I've seen red-bellied golden pheasants in videos, but they look even more vibrant in person! The colors are so vivid, and the feathers seem to shine! The belly's color is like a brilliant sunrise."

"I told you, you can't fully experience this through a screen. But it also depends on the zoo. The vibrant feathers here show they are well cared for, and the environment is beautiful!"

"It truly captures the essence of Chinese aesthetics, with the serene forest, the white snow, and the fiery red-bellied golden pheasant."

"Each one has its moment to shine. The red-bellied golden pheasant is stunning, but the white-bellied one is no less impressive!"

"Beautiful as a painting! No wonder the ancients loved them and used them in the designs of second-rank official robes!"

"I'm going to take a picture and use it as my wallpaper!"

Anzi's eyes widened, "Wow, seeing them in the snow is a completely different experience! Amazing!"

Suddenly remembering something, she couldn't help but ask, "Xin, they look so conspicuous in the snow. Wouldn't that make them easy targets for predators?"

Previously, the zoo's educational boards were all in Chinese, but with more foreign visitors, they planned to make new ones with English translations.

Rain Palace Xin, having started learning Chinese early due to her father's work in China, was proficient in the language!

So she could understand the zoo's educational boards.

Anzi, however, struggled with Chinese, finding it hard to read long texts on the boards, so Rain Palace Xin often explained things to her while they toured the zoo.

Rain Palace Xin explained, "The female red-bellied golden pheasant is quite plain, grayish in color. This sexual dimorphism is common in birds! The males are flashy mainly to attract mates. If a predator spots the family, the colorful male can more easily draw attention and lead the predator away! This keeps the female and chicks safe."

"I see! Xin, you know so much!"

"It's not very profound knowledge. If you visit the zoo often, you'll naturally learn these things!"

Rain Palace Xin suddenly noticed a nearby visitor, hands clasped together, eyes closed, murmuring something: "I hope my investments soar this year, a villa by the sea... Or at least break even, no more losses..."

He had seen coal prices drop for several days and thought it was the right time to buy, only for them to drop further after he did!

He wondered if the bottom had been reached and prices would rise, but they kept falling!

He wanted to buy low, but it seemed the market wanted to take everything. He was stuck halfway up the mountain.

Though she couldn't hear his murmurs, it was clear he was making a wish.

Seeing beautiful scenery or some mystical animal, even planes or dinosaur specimens in museums, could become a wishing pool for people, a unique cultural trait.

Previously, in the black-booted tortoise exhibit, a visitor had thrown coins onto the tortoises' backs and was blacklisted.

Not sure where they picked up this habit, the zoo later put up a sign prohibiting coin-throwing.

Wishing should be done civilly.

The red-bellied golden pheasant symbolizes good fortune, and this beautiful snowy scene made it a fitting place to make a wish.

After making his wish, the visitor seemed comforted, his expression more uplifted. He scanned the QR code nearby and donated 10 yuan.

Rain Palace Xin found it amusing and couldn't help but laugh, tapping Anzi beside her.

"Hey, Anzi... Anzi?"

Turning around, she was stunned!

Anzi had her eyes closed, hands clasped, murmuring softly!

"Great golden pheasant, please help me pass all my exams this semester... Please help me pass all my exams..."

"Pfft!"

After making her wish, Anzi scanned the QR code and donated 1 yuan.

Excitedly, she encouraged, "Xin, do you want to try too? The golden pheasant is the prototype of the phoenix, a symbol of good fortune! Making a wish will definitely be effective!"

Rain Palace Xin teased, "You remember that clearly. But all these fancy things won't help you pass. Only studying hard will."

"Oh, come on, it's just for good luck."

Dragged by Anzi, Rain Palace Xin reluctantly made a wish: "I hope I stay young and beautiful forever..."

Other students from Xinghe University visiting the zoo saw this and scratched their heads, making wishes too: "Golden pheasant, please help EDG win the championship..."

"Go EDG, if you win, I'll come back and fulfill my wish!"

Soon, visitors in the golden pheasant forest were all making wishes.

It was quite a sight.

After spending some time in the golden pheasant forest, Rain Palace Xin and Anzi headed to the red panda exhibit.

For red pandas, besides sunbathing and eating apples, snowy days were their favorite!

Last year, the red pandas went wild in the snow, chasing and playing, jumping around non-stop.

For Hongtang and Shanzha, it was their first time seeing snow since they were born!