Chapter 65

"Paul, what kind of punishment will someone receive if they violate the basic hunting laws?" Qiping couldn't wait any longer as he watched Jingang feed the still anxious and restless little bear with a bottle.

"Qi, are you in trouble?" Paul, Qiping's personal lawyer, was a bit worried, but he knew it was part of his job. "This could be a bit complicated, but it also depends on how it's handled. Wait for me, don't say anything until I get there. I need to understand the situation better."

"I'm not in trouble; I want to find some bastards and make them pay. Can you come to the forest now? I need those bastards to pay for what they did." Qiping gritted his teeth, knowing how despicable those bastards were.

Wei Da not only called his personal lawyer but also the police. In the United States, the police have a broad range of responsibilities, including traffic, criminal, and even municipal law enforcement. This kind of situation is well within their jurisdiction.

Based on his limited knowledge of hunting laws, the hunting laws in the United States are quite comprehensive. Before going hunting in a particular area, one must learn and understand the local laws. Otherwise, ignorance of the law is no excuse, and one will lose in any legal battle. Hunting is a highly knowledge-intensive activity, with strict government regulations that everyone must follow, or they will face fines or even imprisonment.

Qiping knew that the hunters might claim they didn't see the cub, but he felt that the bastard who caused the bear mother's tragic death couldn't get away with it. The bear mother had been hit by five bullets, exceeding the limit of three bullets per gun. Moreover, according to U.S. law, if a hunter wounds an animal and lets it escape, they must follow the blood trail and kill the injured animal. Failing to do so is not only immoral but also illegal. Allowing an injured animal to suffer and die is punishable by law, and the hunter must kill the prey as quickly as possible.

"Mr. Qi, thank you for your cooperation. We will immediately launch an investigation and quickly catch that despicable bastard!" Hunting is mainly self-regulated by hunters, with occasional enforcement by officials. Now, with this information, the officials were also very angry, especially when they saw the pitiful little bear in Jingang's arms.

"I will provide all the help I can, guys. I just want that bastard to pay for his shamelessness." Qiping was still furious, unable to eat a single bite of dinner, all because of his anger.

"Trust me, that bastard won't get away. We can find clues from these bullets and make him pay." Although not a judge, Nicholas, the sheriff of Ramona, also felt that some bastards needed to be dealt with, as they had committed unforgivable mistakes. "Mr. Qi, should I contact the zoo or an animal protection association?"

Qiping was taken aback; he understood Nicholas's meaning. The cub needed proper care, and sending it to a zoo or an animal protection association seemed like the best option, where it would receive good care.

"No, I think I will take care of it. I promised the bear mother, and I should keep my word. I don't want this little guy to be locked in a cage; it should grow up carefree." After a moment's thought, Qiping shook his head. Sending the cub to a zoo was out of the question. Thinking of the bear mother's sad eyes, Qiping couldn't bear to do it.

"Then it looks like I need to help you get a special pet license again. I think this won't be a problem." Nicholas didn't see any issues, as the cub was small and cute, and there were people in the U.S. who kept bears as pets, so it wasn't a difficult task.

With this matter temporarily settled, Qiping couldn't get involved in the investigation. He could only provide more evidence. Even after the bear mother's body was taken away, Qiping couldn't do much more. Perhaps he would testify in court once the bastard was caught.

Qiping's enthusiasm for hunting had waned. He felt that these events had a significant impact on him. Now, his focus was on taking care of the poor little cub, ensuring it grew up happy and healthy. Hunting, though interesting, was clearly not a priority right now.

The cub was still a bit frightened, having just been separated from its mother. However, with Jingang and the others around, the little guy found some comfort. The cub was indeed weak but very smart, sensing that these creatures meant it no harm.

After preparing two large bottles of milk, Qiping saw Jingang carrying the fluffy, round cub to the table. These two mainly drank milk, consuming a lot of it every day. Jingang could consider weaning, but it didn't seem to be in a hurry.

"You two sit down first, I'll bring it over to you." Qiping found it amusing how these two gluttons were so in sync. However, they were too young to carry two bottles of milk.

Jingang had a habit of drinking milk either at the table or on the sofa. So, they needed to sit on the sofa to enjoy their milk. The cub followed Jingang, who was now its constant companion.

Seeing Jingang lead the cub to the sofa and place it there, Qiping smiled. Jingang was very agile, easily climbing up and down.

Jingang sat on the left, holding the bottle and drinking greedily. This was just a habit, a way to pass the time.

Qiping's task was to feed the cub with a bottle. Watching the cub try to hold the bottle with its little paws, Qiping was amused by this greedy little guy. It was so young and already trying to monopolize the bottle. Perhaps from the cub's perspective, Qiping holding the bottle was a competition for food.

Qiping knew that the cub was closest to Jingang and the others. As for himself, the cub was still getting used to him. They hadn't spent enough time together to build trust.

This was normal. Jingang and the others had a natural advantage; they were all animals and had a natural affinity. Most importantly, the cub could sense their kindness, which helped it accept them more quickly, playing together all day.

Qiping didn't feel jealous or unbalanced. He believed he could gradually earn the cub's trust. Even the most affectionate Jingang and the others didn't accept him immediately; it took time to build a bond, which was normal.

Seeing the cub finish a large bottle of milk and sit lazily on the sofa, Qiping smiled, gently laying the little guy down and tickling it. Watching the cub happily play with him, Qiping felt joyful. The cute little guy was slowly coming out of its shadow, starting to grow up happily and joyfully.

"You will be called Winnie from now on!" Watching the cub stubbornly try to 'wrestle' with him, Qiping named the cub. Winnie, like the beloved cartoon bear, was one of the most well-known and cutest bears in the world.

Innocent, simple, honest, optimistic, helpful, considerate, greedy, curious... these were the traits of the cartoon bear, and Qiping hoped the cub would grow up happy and joyful!