Forest Ranger: Starting with a Giant Panda Mom Clinging to Me

Chapter 02: The House Has Been Empty So Long It’s Growing Golden Monkeys?

“Lin Tian, what’s wrong?” Wang Jian, who had followed behind, saw Lin Tian standing at the courtyard entrance without going in and grew curious. He stepped past Lin Tian, his gaze falLin on the courtyard. Immediately, he spotted the group of golden snub-nosed monkeys perched on the jujube tree. He was instantly dumbfounded.

“Whoa! These are … golden monkeys?! How are there golden monkeys here?” Wang Jian was stunned.

Golden snub-nosed monkeys, as a key first-class protected species, were naturally a top priority for protection in the reserve. Yet here they were, in the outer periphery of the area, and judging by their behavior, they seemed to have settled into the residence—something he hadn’t even noticed until now.

> “Whoa! Is this a wild golden monkey troop?!

> “So many of them!”

> “They all look so cool.”

> “I really want to pet one!”

> “Wait, isn’t this Brother Tian’s residence?”

> “How are golden monkeys living here?”

> “They haven’t made this their nest, have they?”

> “Good grief, the house has been empty so long it’s growing golden monkeys now, huh?!”

> “Haha, streamer, your house has been taken over by monkeys.”

…

The live stream audience, watching through the phone camera strapped to Lin Tian’s chest, also saw the troop of golden monkeys in the courtyard and were equally shocked.

They quickly realized the monkeys had claimed the long-unoccupied residence as their territory. The sudden arrival of Lin Tian and Wang Jian was met with clear hostility.

Sure enough, the largest male golden monkey, presumably the leader, plucked another unripe jujube from the tree and hurled it at Lin Tian. At the same time, it let out a menacing growl.

—Hass!!

(Outsider, leave, this is our territory!!)

Thanks to the magical stone he carried, Lin Tian could roughly understand the animals’ thoughts, and his expression turned peculiar. This house was clearly his residence now, yet he was being treated as the intruder.

“Lin Tian, it looks like these golden monkeys have claimed this house as their territory.”

Though Wang Jian couldn’t read the monkeys’ thoughts, he could guess what was going on based on their hostile behavior. His expression was a mix of awkwardness and unease. Lin Tian was really unlucky—trekking all this way only to find his house occupied by a monkey troop. And since these were first-class protected animals, they couldn’t be driven off by force. The only option was to report it to the bureau and see how they’d handle it.

“Lin Tian, let’s report this to the bureau and see what they arrange.” Wang Jian offered the suggestion.

But Lin Tian shook his head. Even if they reported it now, the earliest they’d get a new residence arranged would be tomorrow. He needed a place to stay tonight. Sure, he could shamelessly crash at Wang Jian’s place or hike a few hours down the mountain to stay with villagers. But neither of those were good options. If possible, he’d prefer to stay in his own house.

“Brother Wang, let’s not bother the bureau just yet. I want to try communicating with the monkey troop first, to see if I can get them to give the house back to us.”

“Communicate with monkeys?” Wang Jian froze for a moment at Lin Tian’s words, seemingly unsure what he meant.

Lin Tian didn’t explain further. He took off his large backpack and pulled out a bright red apple from it. This apple had been grown with spiritual water. Not only was it large, but it also tasted incredibly delicious. It was highly attractive to animals.

Lin Tian broke the apple in half with his hands and slowly approached the courtyard, looking at the largest golden monkey on the tree. This male golden monkey appeared to be the troop’s leader—the monkey king.

“Jia jia …!”

(Outsider, stop!)

The monkey king saw Lin Tian approaching, immediately baring its teeth, raising its tail high, and letting out a threatening sound from its mouth!

Lin Tian paused his approach, softening his voice to show he meant no harm.

“Don’t be nervous. I come in peace and just want to talk. The house you’re staying in isn’t your territory. You’ve seen these strange structures—aren’t they very different from the trees in the forest? That’s because this is a human building. So, this place is actually a human residence.” Lin Tian spoke slowly.

He could tell the monkey troop had been drawn here because the previous ranger had planted fruit trees around the courtyard. The courtyard walls also offered protection from some of the monkeys’ natural predators. That’s why it had become an ideal territory for the troop. Getting them to abandon this place wilLinly would be tricky.

But Lin Tian wasn’t entirely out of options.

“Don’t be afraid. If you leave this place, I’ll give you this apple for free.”

The apple in his hand, nurtured by spiritual water, held an indescribable allure for animals. Compared to the unripe, sour jujubes on the tree, his apple was undoubtedly far more tempting.

Leaving aside the monkeys’ reaction for a moment, Wang Jian and the live stream audience were completely baffled by Lin Tian’s actions.

What was he doing? Actually trying to communicate with the monkey troop? And bribing them with an apple?

Forget whether the monkeys could even understand him—did he really think a single apple would convince them to move out? Wasn’t that underestimating them a bit too much?!

> “What’s Brother Tian doing? Trying to get them to move with just one apple?”

> “Streamer, are you here to be funny?”

> “That’s way too dismissive of the monkeys.”

> “One apple wouldn’t even fill a gap in their teeth.”

> “You really think mountain monkeys haven’t seen the world?”

…

The audience found Lin Tian’s actions laughable.

But then, the monkeys’ reaction caught them completely off guard. When Lin Tian took out the apple nurtured by spiritual water, the entire troop’s eyes locked onto it.

One young monkey, unable to resist the temptation, even started climbing down from the tree to investigate, though it was quickly pulled back by its parents.

Still, it was clear the troop desperately wanted to eat the apple.

> “???”

> “Why do the monkeys look so eager?”

> “Is this apple that tempting?”

> “Have these mountain monkeys really never seen the world?”

…

The live stream comments were filled with confusion.

At that moment, Lin Tian noticed that while the monkeys wanted the apple, they were still cautious.

So, he placed the apple on the ground and stepped back a dozen paces, signaLin he meant no harm. The monkeys on the tree glanced at the apple on the ground, its enticing aroma constantly tempting them.

The other monkeys were visibly restless, but under the monkey king’s authority, none dared to go pick it up.

“No need to worry. Go ahead and eat it—this apple is delicious.” Lin Tian, standing at a distance, smiled and said again.

The monkey king cautiously observed Lin Tian, perhaps sensing that he truly meant no harm. Or maybe it simply couldn’t resist the apple’s aroma any longer. Finally, the monkey king moved. It carefully climbed down the tree, then warily approached the apple.

In a swift motion, it snatched the apple with its hand and quickly scrambled back up the tree, keeping a vigilant eye on Lin Tian. But Lin Tian stood with his hands behind his back, smiLin at it without making any other moves.

The monkey king let out a breath of relief, its gaze settLin on the apple. Holding it in its hand, the apple’s enticing aroma grew even stronger. Though still wary of danger, the monkey king couldn’t resist and took a small bite.

With that single bite, the sweet, juicy flesh filled its mouth. A refreshing, soul-soothing flavor reached deep into its taste buds.

At the same time, a sensation that touched its very soul washed over it, making its entire body feel as if it were floating!

The monkey king felt like it had tasted the most delicious food in the world!

“Ji ji …!”

(This fruit! So delicious!!)