Although the Xihong Zoo now boasts hundreds of species and nearly two thousand animals of various types, the number of polar bears remains at zero. Yang Lin doesn't lack desire for them, but the channels for acquiring polar bears in Longguo are simply too few. Even the affluent Diannan Zoo only has one. If he wanted to buy, his options currently are limited to animal traders from Mao Xiong or from the Inuit people. This is why he was so excited upon spotting this wild polar bear.
As Yang Lin excitedly observed the polar bear, Teacher Xiaoliang, bundled up tightly, emerged from somewhere. "What's the matter, taken a liking to them? This one can't be snatched away; this one is ours."
"Ours?" Hearing Teacher Xiaoliang's words abruptly, a hint of confusion appeared on Yang Lin's face. Before he could grasp the meaning, a staff member from the Yellow River Station, clad in an orange uniform, emerged with a large iron basin. "Wangcai! Come and eat!"
As soon as the words were spoken, the polar bear Yang Lin had been staring at for a long time trotted towards the Yellow River Station. As it approached, it immediately thrust its large head into the iron basin and began to eat heartily. Seeing such a comical sight, Yang Lin was stunned. "Wangcai?" He found it hard to reconcile this distinctly Longguo name with the behemoth before him.
With a trace of curiosity, Yang Lin bravely leaned his head into the iron basin. When he saw what was inside, he couldn't help but laugh. The basin was filled with leftovers from the station staff's meals – rice, meat bones, and vegetable leaves, not unlike what is used to feed dogs in the countryside.
"Director Yang, welcome. I am Li Qing, the deputy station chief of the Yellow River Station." While Yang Lin was curiously watching the polar bear Wangcai eat, the staff member who had brought out the iron basin suddenly spoke. Hearing his voice, Yang Lin showed surprise. He hadn't expected to be recognized in this extreme north. "Am I that famous already?" he murmured to himself before extending his right hand to Li Qing.
"Hello, Station Chief Li. I didn't expect to be recognized here."
"Hahaha, of course. Although we are far from Longguo, our channels for obtaining normal information are the same." Li Qing smiled and produced a mobile phone wrapped in an insulated bag, pointing to a photo. "Director Yang, during the Spring Festival two months ago, my parents brought my daughter to Xihong Zoo. My daughter told me she had a wonderful time and loved the animals there."
Hearing this, Yang Lin noticed a photo of a little girl with Da Mi. The other photos were of the girl with other animals, and one even showed Yang Lin holding the child. In all of them, the girl was smiling happily. "This is my third year stationed here. I'll be done in another half-year. When that time comes, I will personally take my daughter to Xihong Zoo." The dark and haggard man's face showed a mixture of anticipation and happiness. Seeing this, even Yang Lin was moved. To travel thousands of miles, leaving behind family, and come to this extreme north – without a noble ideal and conviction, who could endure three years of hardship here?
"Station Chief Li, Xihong Zoo always welcomes you. When you come, give me a call beforehand. All expenses will be waived, not just once, but for life." At this moment, Yang Lin felt compelled to offer his utmost sincerity to express his respect for these dedicated individuals.
After their pleasantries, Yang Lin gradually shifted the conversation to the polar bear that was still eating. "Station Chief Li, what's the situation with this polar bear? Did you adopt it, or is it just freeloading here?"
"You mean Wangcai? We bought him from an Inuit village when he was a cub. He was being bullied by the Inuit's hunting dogs, so we bought him with a pot made in Longguo."
"Ah? You bought him with a pot!" Yang Lin had expected that acquiring such a precious polar bear would come at a considerable cost. He never imagined it would only cost a pot. He now wanted to know the location of that Inuit village; he too wanted to buy some polar bear cubs. However, remembering the main purpose of his Arctic trip, he decided to set this idea aside for now. After all, his parents were still missing.
Just as Yang Lin was about to ask more questions about polar bears, Teacher Xiaoliang, who had already entered the station, walked out with a strange expression. "Director Yang, I just asked the staff at the research station. They gave me good news and bad news."
"Let's hear the good news first!" Before Teacher Xiaoliang could speak, Yang Lin had a feeling the news would be about his parents. "The good news is that about half a month ago, two people did reach the North Pole. Excluding scientific researchers from various countries, those two were most likely Uncle and Aunt."
Hearing this so-called good news, Yang Lin was momentarily speechless. "It seems they really just went to the North Pole for a check-in. Will they go to the South Pole next?"
"And the bad news?" Yang Lin asked after calming down. "The bad news is that they disappeared after leaving the North Pole. There are no traces of human activity found on the ice cap at present." However, the research station staff speculate that they might have returned the way they came, continuing towards Greenland.
After listening to the two pieces of news relayed by Teacher Xiaoliang, Yang Lin nodded. "I also think returning the way they came is more likely. However, the distance from the North Pole to Greenland is over 730 kilometers. If they returned the same way, it would take about a month..." As he spoke, Yang Lin made a decision. "I want to go to the North Pole myself first." The moment he said this, everyone present was stunned.