Future Pet Shop-Chapter 42: Frustrating Practice
"Sigh. Looks like we’re not getting any business today. Hah’Er, help me close up. Time to make dinner!" He didn’t know if his luck had just turned sour, but ever since the reporters were chased away, not a single customer had walked into Shen Yibin’s shop, all the way until past seven in the evening. Aside from the Chihuahua Nuomituan’s mother bought this morning, he hadn’t made another sale.
A few days ago, Shen Yibin would have been satisfied with just one sale a day. Back then, he only had to feed himself. But things were different now that he had Hah’Er and Cheeky. The meager profit from the Chihuahua sale this morning was completely spent on figs and Brazilian Raspberries for Cheeky. On top of that, he had to pay for Hah’Er’s bamboo shoots and lamb, and even dip into his own savings for the KTV trip this afternoon. If this continued, Shen Yibin was afraid he would go bankrupt very soon.
"Mhmm!" Hah’Er climbed down from the sofa, stepped into his Panda-shaped cotton slippers, and ambled to the entrance. He helped Shen Yibin pull down the rolling shutter and shut the glass door, officially ending the business day.
’Sigh... but as long as I have Hah’Er, a little hardship is nothing.’ Watching Hah’Er’s adorable, wobbly figure climbing the stairs, Shen Yibin’s frustration from a moment ago instantly evaporated. ’If business at the shop stays this slow, maybe I could try writing a web novel? I could write our story, Hah’Er’s and mine. I’ll call it *Future Pet Shop*. For Hah’Er’s sake, who is so incredibly cute, there would definitely be a lot of readers who’d bookmark it, recommend it, and give donations, right?’
"We’re making Sichuan-style braised lamb tonight." According to his research, lamb was a panda’s favorite meat, and Hah’Er loved Sichuan Cuisine, so a dish that combined both should be a perfect fit. ’Of course, I can’t ignore Cheeky, especially since he performed such a great service earlier,’ Shen Yibin thought. "Cheeky, how about I make you a fig salad? Are you okay with salad dressing?"
"Add some Mozzarella Cheese, the olive oil must be Greek, the balsamic vinegar must be Italian, and also..." ’This guy is always bragging about his noble bloodline,’ Shen Yibin thought. ’But judging by how picky his tastes are, he really does have the air of an aristocrat.’
"Nope, don’t have ’em. Just plain olive oil and vinegar. Take it or leave it!" ’As if I could just whip all that stuff out of thin air.’ Shen Yibin was starting to regret being so nice to the bird.
"Fine. If you don’t have them, then never mind. After dinner, before you go to sleep, we’ll do another round of breathing and vocal exercises. Especially the dog panting. We can start with half an hour of that." Retaliation, however, was swift.
He cut the leg of lamb into chunks and washed them, then boiled them in clear water with some seasonings. Once cooked, he scooped them out to drain. In a wok, he heated some oil and stir-fried aromatics like Pip County Broad Bean Paste, onion, and Star Anise. Then he added the lamb, followed by water, Light Soy Sauce, and a generous amount of cooking wine for flavor. Finally, he transferred everything to a pressure cooker, added some Rock Sugar and Carrots, and left it to stew.
While the lamb was stewing, Shen Yibin deftly prepared a fig salad for Cheeky. ’Even though there’s no Greek olive oil, Italian balsamic, or Mozzarella Cheese, using other brands as substitutes shouldn’t affect the flavor too much. Besides, Cheeky’s tongue is all for running his mouth; his standards for gourmet food are nowhere near as picky as Hah’Er’s.’
Before long, the meal was ready. Shen Yibin, one panda, and one parrot enjoyed a delicious dinner. Afterwards, he went downstairs to feed the other pets and let them out to stretch their legs. Shen Yibin also took this chance to continue his breathing and vocal exercises under Cheeky’s tutelage. Practicing the other exercises was fine, but when it came to the dog-panting, the Golden Retrievers and huskies playing with Hah’Er all crowded around him. They seemed to think a new friend had joined the shop and even began to imitate Shen Yibin, panting rapidly. The sounds of panting rose and fell from all sides, much to Shen Yibin’s exasperation.
When all was said and done, he went upstairs to rest. Cheeky had Hah’Er balance his nest on his head and carry it back to Shen Yibin’s bedroom, placing it on the nightstand. Fortunately, the bird wasn’t very talkative before bed, and the three of them soon drifted off to sleep.
"Yaaawn~" Shen Yibin yawned as he got out of bed and drew the curtains. Bright sunlight streamed in; it was another beautiful day. "Hah’Er, time to get up! The weather is perfect today. Let’s go to the park for a walk again." Shen Yibin had a good impression of the people he met yesterday, so he decided to take Hah’Er for another stroll.
"Yes, the air in the park is fresh, which will make the training more effective. Especially the dog panting. We’ll continue our practice in the park." His good mood, however, didn’t last even three seconds before being mercilessly crushed by Cheeky. ’Am I supposed to practice panting like a dog while a crowd of seniors stares at me? You’re really not going to leave me with a single shred of dignity, are you!’
"Mhmm! Mhmm!" Hah’Er remembered yesterday’s outing very fondly, especially that big lawn by the lake. It was so comfortable to roll around on!
After finishing breakfast, he headed out with Hah’Er and Cheeky. Perhaps because they thought the risk of an incident at the park was low, Bai Yanni and her people didn’t follow. He greeted Dragon Willow Birch, snagged two ice cream cones, and the trio made their way to the park, eating as they walked.
"Tuanzi!" Just as they arrived at the park entrance, they ran into Nuomituan and her mother. It seemed she had been waiting there just for Hah’Er. She’d also brought along her new Chihuahua. Seeing Hah’Er approach, the puppy obediently sidled up to him and nuzzled his leg. It had only been a day, but the little guy already had a new outfit—a pink bow was tied around its neck.
"Mhmm!" Hah’Er seemed quite fond of the little girl, too, and began waving from far away.
"Tuanzi." Nuomituan threw herself into Hah’Er’s arms for a nuzzle, then pointed at the Chihuahua. "I gave him a name. It’s Fantuan. You’re the Black and White Bun, I’m Nuomituan, and he’s Fantuan. We’re all a kind of ’tuanzi’!" ’Well, what do you know,’ Shen Yibin thought. ’It’s only been a day and the Tuanzi family has already expanded.’
"Oh, Hah’Er’s here! Look, I went all the way to the countryside yesterday just to find these tender bamboo leaves. Here, have a taste, see if you like them!" The moment they stepped into the park, the crowd of seniors surrounded them again, more than one of them holding bamboo stalks and leaves.
’Are you guys for real?’ Shen Yibin was at a loss for words. ’Is retirement really this laid-back? Don’t you have grandkids to look after or anything?’ Fortunately, Hah’Er didn’t seem to refuse their offerings. He happily took the bamboo leaves, rolled them up like a cigar, and began to munch on them.
’Oh well, bamboo leaves don’t have much nutritional value anyway. It’s fine if he just has them as a snack,’ Shen Yibin thought. He quickly thanked the enthusiastic seniors, repeatedly emphasizing that he already had a reliable source of food and could absolutely take good care of Hah’Er. They really didn’t need to trouble themselves.
"Hey, what are you waiting for? Hurry up and get to the lake to practice!" The warm, cheerful atmosphere was shattered in an instant by Cheeky, who flapped over to land on Shen Yibin’s shoulder.
A few minutes later, Shen Yibin stood on the lawn by the lake and once again began to pant vigorously like a dog. All around him, the jaws of the onlooking seniors collectively hit the floor.
