Forest Ranger: Starting with a Giant Panda Mom Clinging to Me
Chapter 31 - Chinese Alligator Brand, Crocodile Leather Bag

Chapter 31: Chinese Alligator Brand, Crocodile Leather Bag

“Did you catch these?” Lin Tian was stunned.

Looking at the two fish flopping lively on the ground, he thought, good grief, the Chinese alligator’s fishing skills are impressive! It had caught two fish so quickly. With this ability, why bother following him? It could go hunt for itself.

Roar.

The Chinese alligator nodded.

Lin Tian was baffled. Looking down, he saw the Chinese alligator circling around and gazing at him. Its eyes were full of longing.

Seeing this behavior, Lin Tian suddenly understood what was going on. It wanted to trade these two fish for his fish to eat?

“You wanted to swap fish with me?”

Lin Tian picked up a small fish with his chopsticks and tossed it toward the Chinese alligator.

“Oow!” The Chinese alligator opened its mouth, caught the small fish, and chomped it down, crunching happily.

It ate with relish, its thick tail wagging back and forth, looking thoroughly delighted. The small fish was gone in one bite. After finishing, the Chinese alligator stared at Lin Tian with gleaming eyes again.

Mouth open, drooling, its thick tail kept wagging, clearly wanting more.

> “??”

> “No way, is this a dog or a crocodile?”

> “This behavior and expression are unreal.”

> “Chinese Alligator, wake up, you are a crocodile! If you wanted food, you should roar ferociously. What is this tail-wagging begging nonsense???”

> “Hahaha, so cute, I want to raise one at home too.”

> “Forget it, you think you could raise a first-class protected animal without connections?”

> “Heh, who says I don’t have connections?”

> “I have the entire country backing me!!”

> “???”

…

The audience burst into laughter seeing the Chinese alligator’s playful antics.

Lin Tian looked at the Chinese alligator’s behavior and felt helpless. He had no choice but to pick up another small fish and toss it to the Chinese alligator.

This time, the Chinese alligator didn’t wait for the fish to land. It tried to leap high to catch the small fish in midair. But it overestimated its short little legs and underestimated its own weight.

What looked like a high leap was actually just its head tilting up slightly. The result was that not only did it fail to catch the small fish, but the fish landed right on its head.

And, it perfectly stayed perched between its eyes, right on its forehead.

The Chinese alligator, seeing food so close, tried to claw it down. But its short, stubby legs couldn’t reach its forehead at all. It could only spin around in frustration. It wanted to eat but couldn’t reach it.

> “Hahaha!”

> “It’s too dumb.”

> “I cannot take it, how can it be so clueless?”

> “Now I get why the Chinese alligator became a national first-class protected animal—it must’ve dumbed itself into it.”

> “Hahaha.”

…

The livestream audience cracked up at the Chinese alligator’s clumsy display.

Lin Tian burst out laughing too.

Crocodiles, with their short stumpy legs, were indeed awkward on land. They only shone in the water.

Seeing the Chinese alligator spin around a few times without reaching the fish, Lin Tian stopped watching and stepped in to help, taking the fish off its forehead.

Only then did the Chinese alligator finally get to eat the fish.

After this little incident, Lin Tian noticed the Chinese alligator loved eating fried fish. So he fried the two fish it had caught, infused them with spiritual water, and fed them to the Chinese alligator.

After eating the two big fish and some small fish, the Chinese alligator was finally somewhat full. It lazily shook its head, wandered around a bit, and then comfortably sprawled out in the courtyard.

Lin Tian looked at his bowl, now missing most of the fried fish, then at the Chinese alligator, looking smug and satisfied after eating.

Feeling a bit annoyed, he tapped its head with his hand.

“Hey, did you pay rent? You just moved here just like that?”

“Ow?” The Chinese alligator tilted its head and let out a breath.

It thought for a moment. Suddenly, it flipped over, revealing its slightly softer underbelly, scratching it with its small front claws.

It even wagged its tail, signaling Lin Tian could rub its belly.

That afternoon by the stream, it had noticed Lin Tian loved rubbing Panda Mom’s belly. So it figured, if it let him rub its belly, it could stay, right?

Lin Tian: ???

Lin Tian looked at the Chinese alligator’s actions and was dumbfounded.

No way. What is this about? Letting me rub its belly as rent?! Damn. Your belly is all hard and bumpy—what is there to rub!

> “Pfft hahaha, sorry for laughing, this crocodile is too hilarious, isn’t it?”

> “Chinese Alligator: Rub my belly, that’s your rent!”

> “I cannot take it, I’ll die laughing in this livestream one day.”

> “Why are all the animals Brother Tian meets so funny?”

…

The audience was nearly losing it with laughter.

Lin Tian looked at the Chinese alligator, belly up, posing as if ready for a belly rub, and felt exasperated. He rubbed it vigorously while muttering, “With this big a piece of crocodile skin, if I turn it into leather bags, I bet I can make a bunch of bags or shoes.”

…

> “Haha, Brother Tian, that idea is pretty criminal!”

> “Chinese Alligator: Stop your bad thoughts, that’s super rude!”

> “Goddamn crocodile wallet.”

> “The crocodile is trembling, thinking humans are terrifying!”

> “I think my wallet is made of crocodile leather.”

…

Perhaps sensing Lin Tian’s naughty thoughts, the Chinese alligator shivered in fear.

It hurriedly flipped back over, wagged its tail, and scurried back to the water tank to hide.  It only poked its head out, trembling.

Lin Tian saw this and burst out laughing. Scaring the Chinese alligator now and then was pretty fun.