Pet King

Anyone with beach harvesting experience would know that the harvest was a gift from of the heavens above. There was not much of a harvest when the sea was calm. Yet the day after a storm, as the water levels rose, the beach was usually full of creatures. Sometimes one could stumble upon a surprising harvest.

Jiang Feifei had been harvesting along the beach for quite some time. Nobody had ever taught her about it, but as she became more experienced, she learned by herself.

The weather was oddly very nice the past few days. The ocean was calm. She didn’t expect to harvest a lot when she left in the morning––otherwise, she would have brought a few more containers with her––yet, after a short walk on the beach, she had found a lot more creatures than she had ever even seen. She didn’t even know many of the creatures, such as the Oliva emicator.

Despite that, she didn’t grow suspicious, as it happened occasionally. Although there was no storm in Binhai City, there might be one in the nearby ocean. If the current and wind were both traveling her way, the rising sea level would bring more creatures like the ones she was finding to the beach.

The listener paid more attention than the speaker.

Zhang Zian thought that this was not a coincidence.

Apparently, Sihwa’s arrival had drawn the marine creatures to the beach like a magnet.

As he was thinking, two girls squatted down on the ground. Jiang Feifei pointed at the creatures in the container and introduced them one by one to Snowy and the broadcast audience.

“Is this an octopus?” Snowy pointed at the creeping tentacles of a mollusk, looking disgusted.

“This is a very common octopus. Local fishermen call it ‘octopus minor.’ It has a prettier name––’tide watcher,'” Jiang Feifei said while glancing at Zhang Zian without confidence. She was afraid of being wrong.

As she said, it was a very common octopus. Precisely speaking, it was common on the dinner table. Not many people had seen them live and intact, as they had already been cooked.

“Tide watcher? I like its name. It sounds like the local ‘Wang Haige Forum.'” Snowy nodded, then pointed at another octopus. “What is this? Octopus major?”

“This… I don’t know.” Jiang Feifei smiled with a blush.

Snowy retracted her hands subconciously, fearing that the octopus might be venomous.

“That’s a ruby octopus––kind of rare in our seas.” Zhang Zian realized something. “Did you bring an oxygen pump? This ruby octopus is about to die, I’m afraid.”

The ruby octopus usually lived in tropical areas and was much prettier than the rustic-looking octopus minor. Its body was pink with a hint of purple. The surface was covered with countless white spots. It rested feebly in the water and barely moved, ignoring the small fish swimming past it.

“Oxygen pump… No. All I have is a large net.” Jiang Feifei grew more embarrassed.

“Octopuses need a lot of oxygen and must rely on pumped oxygen to survive away from the ocean.” Zhang Zian shook his head with regret. “The ruby octopus is quite expensive. One at this size is worth 400-500 yuan.”

“400-500 yuan?” Jiang Feifei was astonished. “This morning, someone asked about the price. I asked for 150, and that person bargained for 100. He didn’t take it in the end; he said it was too expensive…”

“I’m pretty sure that guy didn’t know that kind of octopus this was.” Zhang Zian knew the customers’ mind too well. “He only felt that it was pretty and that 100 was not too expensive. It’s a good thing that you didn’t sell it. That would have been a big loss.”

“But it’s a shame that it’s dying. I’m losing anyway…” She sighed. “I know it’s better to have an oxygen pump. But even if I have one, I don’t have anywhere to plug it in.”

“There are UBS-powered small oxygen pumps designed specifically for beach harvesting,” Zhang Zian said. “With a portable charger, you have everything you need for the harvest.”

Jiang Feifei said with embarrassment, “But I didn’t bring a portable charger either…”

“I have a portable charger, Mr. Store Manager. We can buy an oxygen pump from the aquarium market, I suppose?” Snowy interrupted.

Snowy often stayed outside the entire day for broadcasting. She always carried a portable charger in her backpack, otherwise her phone battery might not last too long.

Zhang Zian then realized that they were right next to the aquarium market. As long as they bought an oxygen pump, the ruby octopus might be saved.

“Let’s do this. You can wait outside while we go inside to buy the oxygen pump and bring it to you,” he said.

Jiang Feifei had to stay around her stand and could not leave. She was grateful for his gesture.

Zhang Zian and Snowy were about to tour around the aquarium market, anyway. It was a small favor they could do for her.

They were almost done with the individual stands outside the market building. The remaining stands were quite similar and not worth visiting.

After reaching an agreement with Jiang Feifei, the other two went straight into the building of the aquarium market.

There were two entrances to the market building––building A and B. Building B was only for aquarium creatures, while building A was for other pets. Zhang Zian and Snowy walked straight into building B.

As soon as they entered, the crowd outside the building became distant. There were not many customers in the aquarium market, as it was a work day. Most people were quiet, watching their favorite marine creatures in front of the tank with folded arms and talking to the store owners occasionally. The marine creatures were quiet, as well, unlike the meowing cats and barking dogs.

Once one had seen the best, everything else became second best.

Since Zhang Zian had been to Karl’s aquarium, the market was not impressive at all. The atmosphere, equipment, expertise, and marine creatures were not as eye-catching.

But it was fine. He didn’t come here to learn, but to buy things like bottom sand, eco-bio-blocks, corals, etc.

It was Snowy’s first trip to this place and everything was a novelty to her. But she didn’t forget her priority, which was to buy an oxygen pump and bring it to Jiang Feifei.

They looked at the store plan of building B at the entrance and found out that the first floor was for marine creatures; the second floor for bottom sand, eco-bio-blocks, and other supplies; and the third floor was for different types of aquarium equipment.

If Zhang Zian had come here by himself, he might have skipped the third floor, as he already had all the equipment that he needed.

The two of them agreed on the plan to take the elevator to the third floor, then tour their way downstairs.

“Sir, what are you looking for? A tank? A filter? A heating rod? Protein separator? Calcium reactor? We have everything here. Just come in and take a look. If you want a whole set, we have them, too. It’s even cheaper!”

“Sir, take a look in our shop!”

As soon as they exited the elevator, the shopping guides of the third greeted them in their faces. They were much more welcoming than those on the first floor.

Maybe as a result of online shopping, there were even fewer customers on the third floor. Most of them were shopping for medium to large aquarium tanks. The online shipping cost for these items was too high, after all. But at the market they could deliver them for free to one’s door.

“We are looking for an oxygen pump.” Snowy was straightforward.

“Oxygen pump? We have them. We are specialized in tank accessories and have all models and sizes. We have more stuff than anyone else. Just follow me.” One of the shopping guides was louder. He grabbed Zhang Zian’s arms, bringing him to his store.