Chapter 488 - 459: Hidden Project

"Mom, Grandma, look what I brought back!"

The two dogs circled around Yun Jiao, their tails wagging so hard they looked like they might fly off.

Their eyes were glued to the little sea otter she was holding.

The timid little creature burrowed forcefully into Yun Jiao’s arms, leaving only its fluffy little rear end trembling slightly.

"Did you go and catch a kitten from somewhere again?"

Yun Jiao gently squeezed the sea otter’s fluffy little body.

"Nope. It’s a little sea otter I found in the ocean. It’s white. I couldn’t find its parents, so I brought it back."

"Mom, do you know anyone who has a goat that just gave birth? It looks like it hasn’t been weaned yet and needs some goat’s milk."

Shen Yunlian came over to take a look. "It’s actually quite cute."

"I’ll have your dad go look. He didn’t go out to sea today; he went over to your Uncle Wang’s place."

Yun Jiao acknowledged with a sound. "I’ll go find Dad, then."

As she walked down the road, Yun Jiao occasionally noticed many people looking at her, but she was used to it and paid them no mind.

However, she then heard them discussing things like "falling into the sea," "commanding killer whales," and "saving people."

’Alright, so they’re talking about those two kids who fell into the sea,’ she thought.

Without breaking her stride, Yun Jiao continued on to find her dad.

"That’s the little girl? No way, she looks like she’s only a few years old. Commanding killer whales? That sounds like something out of a novel to me."

"That’s what I heard everyone saying. And a lot of people in the village say she can make the killer whales listen to her."

"I won’t believe it unless I see it with my own eyes."

Yun Jiao got her dad, and together they went to the village’s goat herder to order some goat’s milk.

Their youngest son would deliver it to their door every day.

They initially refused to take any money, but Yun Jiao insisted.

There was no telling how long the little creature would need goat’s milk. Once or twice for free was fine, but she would feel bad if it went on for a long time.

So, she arranged a subscription for ten yuan a month, with two deliveries a day, one in the morning and one in the evening.

They were all in the same village and not far apart, so it only took their son a few minutes to run over.

After bringing the first batch of goat’s milk home, Yun Linhai even rode his motorcycle to town to buy a baby bottle.

Yun Jiao cradled the soft little sea otter, holding the bottle near it with her other hand.

The little one smelled it and immediately grabbed the bottle, drinking voraciously.

She sat in her own yard while her family’s two dogs, one cat, and the big white goose all gathered around to watch.

Yun Linhe remarked, "Heh, plenty of people have cats and dogs, but our family is probably the only one with a pet sea otter."

Wang Mei added, "Didn’t we also have a turtle before? If the killer whales weren’t so big, Jiaojiao would probably try to keep them as pets too."

Yun Jiao thought about it. ’She’s right!’

As evening approached, the village chief arrived. He strolled over with his hands behind his back, a pipe dangling from his mouth.

"Jiaojiao, that family wants to come and thank you. What do you think?"

Yun Jiao asked, "Huh? Can I say no?"

As she got a little older, she found she didn’t enjoy showing off as much.

’When they come, are they going to bring a huge crowd to gawk at me like a monkey in a zoo?’

"Why would you say no? They even said they want to make you a commemorative banner to thank you. Isn’t that a wonderful, honorable thing?"

Yun Jiao said, "...That’s too flashy."

The village chief replied, "A little flash is a good thing."

Grandpa and Grandma Yun nodded in agreement. To their older generation, doing a good deed, being thanked for it, and receiving a banner was incredibly prestigious.

"Accept it. Why wouldn’t you, after saving someone?"

"It brings so much honor."

Yun Jiao: ...

The next day, the family came looking for her anyway.

They brought not only the banner but also gifts of oil, grain, flour, and sugar.

Just as Yun Jiao had expected, when the family arrived, a crowd of onlookers tagged along.

She was once again being gawked at like a monkey in a zoo.

’Oh well, I’m used to it.’

’On the bright side, other people don’t get banners like this, right?’

It really was an honor, and they even took pictures.

Someone wanted to ask if she could really make the killer whales obey her.

Yun Jiao replied, "They’re my friends."

"For real? Then can you let us see the killer whales?"

Yun Jiao wasn’t angry about being questioned.

They were strangers, after all. If it weren’t her, and someone else claimed they could command marine creatures like killer whales, she wouldn’t really believe it either unless she saw it with her own eyes.

"No, not unless the killer whales come on their own."

The moment she finished speaking, someone came running over.

"Jiaojiao, Jiaojiao, the killer whales! The killer whales are here!"

Yun Jiao thought, ’What a coincidence.’

She called back, "Got it."

Then she went back to get the ball.

The villagers and the tourists visiting the area all ran toward the beach.

Clearly, news of the killer whales’ arrival had already spread.

Even the villagers who had seen it several times couldn’t resist coming to watch again, to say nothing of the tourists who were seeing it for the first time.

A chorus of gasps erupted on the beach.

"Wow!!! What a huge fish! Mom, look at that huge fish!"

"Dad, what kind of fish is this? How would you even eat a fish that big?"

"That’s a killer whale. You can’t eat them."

Yun Jiao glanced at the kid who was yelling about how to eat it.

’You’ve got a big appetite, little buddy.’

"Are killer whales a type of whale? Why are they so big? They’re not going to come ashore, are they?"

"Why did they all come over here? Did something happen?"

"Are these fish raised by your village?"

The tourists asked all sorts of questions, and the villagers who were asked replied with proud faces.

"We don’t raise them, but our village’s Yun Jiao does!"

Yun Jiao: "COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!"

’No, I don’t! Who started the rumor that I’m raising killer whales?!’

Yun Jiao’s shocked gaze fell upon the woman who had spoken.

But to her dismay, the other villagers around them nodded seriously.

"That’s right! Our Jiaojiao is incredibly capable. Not only does she raise these killer whales, she also raises even bigger whales. What are they called? Humpback Whales! Yes, that’s the name!"

"She also raises dolphins and sea turtles."

Yun Jiao: ...

"Why don’t you just say I raise everything in the entire ocean?"

She walked over, rolling her eyes.

Holding the ball with one hand and putting the other on her hip, she said, "Auntie, if you keep spreading rumors like this, how am I ever going to clear my name?"

"They raised themselves! Since when did I raise them? I don’t have that kind of ability."

"Jiaojiao’s here?"

The women grinned.

"Oh, come on. If you can command them, how is that not the same as raising them?"

Yun Jiao said, "Hey, stop spouting nonsense. I’m just on good terms with them. I’m definitely not raising them, so don’t spread that around."

Climbing onto a reef on the beach, Yun Jiao let out a whistle.

Instantly, all the killer whales leaped out of the sea in response.

"Go on, play with this."

Yun Jiao threw the ball.

Controlling her strength, she accurately tossed the basketball into the middle of the killer whale group.

"WOOO WOOO WOOO~~~"

The killer whales bumped it with their heads and slapped it with their tails.

They were having a blast.

"Oh, oh, oh, the killer whales are playing ball again!"

"Jiaojiao, tell them to hit the ball back!"

Yun Jiao raised her hand and whistled again. One killer whale immediately bumped the ball up with its head. Then, another one leaped from the sea, tracing a graceful arc through the air before slapping the ball back with its tail.

Yun Jiao gave a small jump and caught the ball.

"Who wants to go?"

"Me, me!"

A village kid, brimming with excitement, ran onto the reef. He excitedly hugged the ball and threw it with all his might toward the killer whale group.

It didn’t go far enough.

A few killer whales jumped up and spat water in his direction.

The little boy’s face immediately turned red.

"I... I’m still little! I’m not strong enough yet."

"HAHAHA..."

The surrounding crowd burst into laughter.

The killer whales retrieved the ball and started playing again.

Then another leaping slap sent the ball flying back to Yun Jiao.

"Let me, let me! Let me throw one too."

It was an older boy she didn’t recognize.

He looked like he had just started high school, his eyes filled with excitement and a big smile on his face.

"Can I throw it? I play basketball a lot at school."

Yun Jiao didn’t say anything, just handed him the ball.

’Whatever. As long as it’s a person, the killer whales are happy to play with them.’

The boy held the ball, excitedly adopting a basketball shooting stance. He jumped and threw.

He was indeed strong enough, and a killer whale successfully caught it.

"WOOO WOOO WOOO~~~"

The killer whales began fighting over the ball again.

"Yeah! It made it! Can I play again?"

"Gao Bin, get down from there! It’s our turn."

"Yeah, yeah, we want to try too!"

Those few people were clearly the boy’s classmates, or at least his companions.

"You didn’t even want to come before. I bet you didn’t expect it to be this much fun."

"Holy cow! Not only are there dinosaur fossils, but you can also go clam digging and fishing, and now we can even play with killer whales! What kind of heavenly place is this?!"

The group of young people scrambled to play with the killer whales.

"There aren’t enough balls! Are there any more? Or is there a place in the village that sells them? We’ll buy our own."

"Yeah, yeah! So many killer whales fighting over one ball. I saw a bunch of them not getting to play."

Yun Jiao: ’...I think *you’re* the ones who aren’t getting to play.’

"Yes, yes! My shop has balls. How many do you want? I’ll go get them for you."

It was clear these boys weren’t short on cash, as they each immediately asked for one.

Yun Jiao decided to wash her hands of the matter and let them play with the killer whales on their own.

In the end, the group of them just tossed the balls back and forth. Despite the simple interaction, they didn’t find it boring at all.

Others were eager to try as well.

Some of the younger kids wanted to give it a go.

But in the end, the kid didn’t get to play; his dad snatched the ball away.

"You’re not strong enough to throw it far enough. You can play when you’re older, okay?"

They’d never in their lives had the chance to interact with killer whales before.

"Jiaojiao..."

Yun Xiaoqi and the others had gone to their masters or teachers for lessons that morning.

Only now did they have time to come over.

When they arrived, they were stunned.

’Holy cow, these tourists are actually interacting with the killer whales.’

Yun Xiaoqi was instantly eager to join in. "Playing with balls is so boring! Let’s go whale surfing!"

Yun Jiao rolled her eyes. "If you want to go, go by yourselves."

"I’m going home. You guys be careful and don’t let anyone get hurt in the water."

"We know, we know."

Yun Xiaoqi ran over and whistled. "Xiaoqi, catch me!"

With that, he leaped into the sea.

A moment later, a killer whale shot up from beneath the waves, boosting the person out of the water.

"Wuhu~! Let’s go, Xiaoqi! Over there!"

Full of youthful spirit, Yun Xiaoqi sat on the giant killer whale’s back and pointed. The whale immediately took off with him, racing through the water.

"Little Eight, you guys hurry up and join in! Whoa, hold on, slow down, slow down! The wind’s getting in my throat!"

All the tourists: !!!

’Huh? Your village has this hidden activity too?!!!’