Super Zoo

Capital Zoo's deputy director in charge of publicity was a bit annoyed as he looked at the assistant before him. After Yangchuan City Zoo's live streaming platform became popular, the leadership of Capital Zoo had organized a viewing and planned to contact Yangchuan City Zoo to learn from their experience.

However, when a call was made, the response from the director's office at Yangchuan Zoo was full of barbed mockery, leaving them with an awkward rebuff.

Capital Zoo's status in the national zoo hierarchy was akin to the Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch of ancient times, dominating over other domestic zoos in both administrative level and scale. They always acted imperiously, and whenever they set their sights on someone else's animals and resources, a single word from them was enough to claim them for their own. When had they ever been treated this way?

But Yangchuan City Zoo had already restructured and essentially wasn't part of the same system as Capital Zoo. You, the Martial Arts Alliance Hierarch of Huaxia, could have long arms, but you can't manage Robin Hood Zorro.

It was only later discovered that the actual person in charge of Yangchuan City Zoo, who was also the founder of the live streaming platform, was Deputy Director Suming. Before the launch of the online platform, he had already called, politely seeking to exchange ideas with Capital Zoo. However, the assistant who took the call didn't take it seriously at all and coldly hung up.

Now it would be surprising if they showed Capital Zoo any good face!

"So young, where did you learn this bureaucratic style!" the deputy director said pointing at the assistant with irritation, "Thinking you're so important because you've got a career establishment! Standing on the prestige of the Capital, feeling superior to everyone else? You don't even regard the leaders of brother units with any respect! Let me tell you, if one day our zoo undergoes restructuring, all of you will be out in the cold!"

The assistant was scolded until he was at a loss. That day when he took the call, the voice on the other end sounded far too young, barely over twenty, like a student. He wondered how there could be such a young leading official. At first, he thought it might be a scam, which is why his response was particularly unpleasant.

It was only later that he remembered there was a particularly young leader at Yangchuan City Zoo, who had even been mentioned in a meeting within the system. That must have been the person who called.

Most people harbored a stereotype about young leaders, presuming that they must have climbed the ladder through connections rather than ability.

This assistant was no different. Even after discovering Suming's true identity, he didn't take the mention of the online live stream and the possibility of collaboration seriously, dealing with it in a perfunctory manner.

Little did he know that in just a few days, Yangchuan City Zoo's live stream had become a hit!

"How did you offend them, and how are you going to make it up to me!" After scolding the assistant for a while and letting off some steam, the deputy director spoke earnestly, "Look at them; a second-tier local zoo still knows to keep up with the times, reform, and develop. Comrade, our Capital Zoo can't afford to become complacent. We should lower our stance when it's necessary and learn from them."

...

Shanghai Zoo was in an awkward position as well, being the first in the nation to attempt an online zoo. At the beginning, when Yangchuan called to glean wisdom, they responded warmly enough, but with a tone that doused enthusiasm. Acting like old hands, they told Yangchuan how unworkable and unprofitable an online zoo was...

Now the tables had turned, and without their help, Yangchuan managed to make its live stream vibrant and successful. Now Shanghai Zoo, the so-called pioneer of online live streaming, had to turn to Yangchuan for guidance.

How does that saying go? Oh, right, you ignored me at first and now you can't reach me.
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...

These days, the "Huaxia Zoo Research Discussion Group" established by Suming saw a continuous influx of new verification requests, welcoming many new friends. The group's membership skyrocketed from a mere seven or eight to over forty, all leaders from zoos of various sizes across the country.

"We should have had a group like this a long time ago to exchange ideas and learn from each other's experiences!" said someone from Huabei Zoo.

"Yes, Deputy Director Suming has done us a great service by bringing us together," said the speaker, who was the assistant deputy director from Capital Zoo. If it weren't for him calling to specifically apologize that day, Suming would have forgotten about the whole incident long ago.

With Suming's current wealth and status, he was too busy with major affairs to bother remembering a slight from some minor staffer.

"Deputy Director Suming, our zoo is also planning to learn from you and set up a live streaming platform—please give us some guidance when the time comes."

"We welcome our comrades from Yangchuan Zoo to visit our park. We are also in the process of establishing a live streaming platform."

That brought the conversation back on topic. Other zoo leaders were forthright in the group, stating their intention to follow Yangchuan City Zoo's lead and establish their own platforms, hoping that Deputy Director Suming would share more of his experience.

On one hand, they genuinely wanted to learn from Yangchuan Zoo; on the other, they were giving a heads-up as a courtesy, so Suming wouldn't think they were simply jealous of his live streaming success and trying to steal business covertly.

The main purpose of Yangchuan Zoo's online platform was to make money, with promotion as a secondary aim. In contrast, other state-owned zoos prioritized gaining recognition through the platform for public welfare and educational outreach because even if they made money, most would have to be handed over. If they didn't make a profit, they would still receive government funds, so their focus was more on 'making a name' through the online platform or, in other words, conducting public welfare and educational promotions.

One pertains to survival, one affects political achievements; both are very important.

"Everyone's too kind; we are all in the same industry, let's learn from each other and progress together," Suming replied cheerfully.

Before starting the livestream, Suming had been clear in his mind that if it didn't take off, then so be it. But if the online platform were to succeed, there would be a swarm of imitators to follow.

Online platforms are open to the public; there is no way to keep them secret. Whether it's Yangchuan City Zoo or any subsequent imitators, neither could keep their activities secret from the other. Even if Suming were to be domineering, he had no reason to prevent other organizations from engaging in the same industry as his. Even as formidable as China National Petroleum Corporation is, there is still Sinopec competing with it.

Doing business isn't about fearing crowds of competitors. The more people involved, the larger and hotter the animal livestreaming "cake" becomes. Having more zoos join in is a good thing for the growth of the livestreaming industry.

However, who will ultimately profit from this industry and who will be eliminated is like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing their divine powers.

Running a restaurant is the same: some restaurants are deserted while others boom. Similarly with real estate development: some bosses become the wealthiest, while others flee or jump from buildings. So, in the end, it's not about fearing competition in business but rather how you operate it.

Since Yangchuan City Zoo was the first to make livestreaming popular, it's essential to maintain that lead.

One step ahead, always ahead.

Youthful, flexible-minded, and quick to embrace new things, these are the advantages of Suming compared to other zoo leaders; Yangchuan City Zoo, being autonomous in financial and administrative powers after the reform, operates with high efficiency, which is another edge it has over other zoos. Suming was confident that as long as he could fully utilize these two advantages, he would achieve "always imitated, never surpassed."

In the past few days, he had devised a set of subsequent management strategies based on the actual situation of the zoo's livestreaming and also by drawing on the experiences of other online platforms.

But for now, these plans must be put off, as the immediate priority was to take Nangong shopping in Xiangjiang! Once he got back from Xiangjiang, he would implement them step by step.

Making money is ultimately for a better life. If life gets ruined, then no amount of money matters. He had stood up Nangong twice already and couldn't do it a third time.

Unexpectedly, there was a problem on Nangong's end.

Nangong stood Suming up.

"I'm so angry, I was about to quit on the spot!" On the phone, Nangong stomped her feet in frustration and annoyance.

"Don't worry, tell me slowly what exactly happened," Suming calmed Nangong and added, "If it comes to it, just quit the job. It's not like I can't support you."

The situation was like this.

Unlike cities like Beijing-Shanghai-Guangzhou, where celebrities are as common as dogs and big shots roam everywhere, Yangchuan City is just a mid-tier city at the tail end of the second line. Nobody would have imagined filming in Yangchuan City before. But now, with Mr. Han and Jiao Shou living in the zoo, it became a valuable news lead in itself.

If it were just these two people, it would merely be 'valuable'. But the popularity of the livestreaming platform suddenly linked many valuable news leads: the successful reform of a state-owned unit, unexpected web dramas, the star effect of Mr. Han, the local zoo leading a national trend, and the application of internet technology in the new era...

All these news leads linked together, elevating it beyond mere value! It almost reached the political importance of 'promoting the urban image of Yangchuan City, boosting local economic development, aligning with government policies and the Central Committee.' As the official media, if Yangchuan City TV Station did not cover such significant events, it would undoubtedly be failing in its duties.

Outsiders might not be fully aware, but the upper echelons of Yangchuan's local TV station and government knew all too well that behind all this was one man pulling the strings: the deputy director of Yangchuan Zoo, Suming.

Therefore, the task of interviewing Suming and reporting on the story fell on Nangong Yan. There was no way around it; since Nangong and Suming were a couple, she had always handled the reports about him in the past.

Oh, it's not to say 'always', rather, any news report about Suming that wasn't done by Nangong Yan would end up a mess, leaving the presenters, the TV station, and even the government in an embarrassing situation.

So, the head of the TV station directly recalled Nangong from her vacation and issued this glorious yet arduous political task without any room for discussion.

The station head's exact words were, "You must do it, and you must do it well. Only you can do it! If you want to resign, you must finish this program first!"

"Huh? So you're saying it's my fault?" Suming asked, staring blankly.