Chapter 655 Xiaoliu’s Secret Stash

"Alright, you two can keep up your little conspiracy. I’m going to make lunch," Shen Yibin said, stroking his chin. "After we eat, we can have a proper talk about making some money."

Back in the kitchen, he prepared a few restorative dishes for Director Kong. The director was getting on in years, and with all his... vigorous activities, his body wouldn’t be able to handle it without some proper nourishment. Shen Yibin also picked out some dishes to nourish their blood and energy for himself, Hah’Er, and the others. ’Mm, I’ll have to remind them later,’ he thought. ’Let Director Kong eat his own food. You guys don’t need this.’

’Oh, Xiaoliu could have some too, but he’d probably have to make a run for the zoo right after. Better to wait a couple of days. For now, I’ll just focus on how to make some money.’

At lunchtime, Director Kong showed up uninvited with his companion in tow. He couldn’t stop praising Shen Yibin’s cooking. After the meal, he even managed to score a cup of Dahongpao before heading back, completely satisfied, for his afternoon nap. He had to keep working hard later, after all. That music video needed to be finished soon.

"Xiaoliu, come here!" The sun was shining brightly, so Shen Yibin found a comfortable spot in the courtyard to bask in its rays. Hah’Er was sprawled out beside him. He gestured for Xiaoliu to come over.

"SQUEAK! SQUEAK!" Xiaoliu scampered over to Shen Yibin. He glanced at the Turtle Immortal in the stream, then looked back at Shen Yibin with expectant eyes, as if he’d realized something.

"Looks like you two get along really well, huh? Do you want it to stay here with us?" he asked. ’I know I certainly do. My shot at living to a hundred and seeing the 22nd century depends on the Turtle Immortal!’

"SQUEAK! SQUEAK!" Xiaoliu nodded enthusiastically. Hah’Er sat up too, hugging Shen Yibin’s leg and making agreeable noises. It had also benefited greatly from the Turtle Immortal and of course didn’t want it to leave. The same went for Maphario—the Turtle Immortal had led it to countless rare plants.

"Alright. Since you want to keep it, then you can buy the Turtle Immortal to be your pet, just like Hah’Er bought Maphario!" ’Since they all want it to stay, this just got a lot easier,’ he thought.

"SQUEAK! SQUEAK!" Hearing this, Xiaoliu was so happy he started scratching his ears and cheeks, a wide grin spreading across his face and revealing a set of pearly whites. ’This guy’s teeth are good enough for a toothpaste commercial.’

"That just leaves one last question: do you have any money?" Shen Yibin patted Hah’Er’s head. "Hah’Er made a lot of money filming that movie, so buying and taking care of Maphario was no problem at all. What about you?"

Xiaoliu was extremely clever to begin with, and after spending so much time with Shen Yibin, he instantly understood the implication. His face fell. He ate Shen Yibin’s food and drank his drinks every day; he didn’t have any assets of his own.

"Don’t worry. Do you have any Monkey Wine left? Bring it out, and I’ll help you sell it. The money you make should be enough to buy the Turtle Immortal." Shen Yibin really couldn’t bear to sell the specially infused medicinal wine. ’It’s better to just sell some of the regular stuff,’ he figured.

According to a normal business model, Shen Yibin paid for the fruit and Xiaoliu provided the labor to brew the Monkey Wine, so they should have split the final product fifty-fifty. However, Xiaoliu’s appetite for the stuff was just too big; he usually drank more than half of every batch himself. The amount that Shen Yibin, Hah’Er, the Turtle Immortal, Xia Shixuan, Wen Yuan, and Director Kong drank, combined with what was given away for store promotions, was barely the smaller half. Therefore, it was perfectly reasonable that Shen Yibin hadn’t paid Xiaoliu for his work before.

By that logic, the Monkey Wine would have to sell for at least 200,000 yuan for Xiaoliu’s share to be enough to purchase the Turtle Immortal. If it only sold for eighty or a hundred thousand, the Future Pet Shop might not honor the transaction.

When Xiaoliu heard this, a conflicted look appeared on his face. After hesitating for a long moment, he finally made a difficult decision. He ran into the house, found a wine jug, then scurried up the large tree in the courtyard. From an extremely well-hidden spot, he revealed a tree hollow Shen Yibin had never seen before, filled the jug to the brim, and presented it to him.

"Aha! So you were holding out on me, you little rascal!" Shen Yibin was speechless. ’This monkey is just too damn clever.’ He snatched the jug and glared at Xiaoliu. "Spit it out! Is there any more?"

"SQUEAK! SQUEAK!" Xiaoliu shook his head again and again, but his eyes were darting all over the place. It was obvious he wasn’t telling the truth. ’This guy definitely has more than one private stash of Monkey Wine.’

"Oh, dear. This jug is only about two pounds. I’m afraid that’s not nearly enough to buy the Turtle Immortal!" Shen Yibin didn’t press the issue directly. Instead, he lifted the jug to test its weight and spoke in a long, drawn-out tone.

"Sigh, it seems you and the Turtle Immortal just aren’t meant to be. The deadline is almost here, and there’s no time to brew more Monkey Wine. I guess we’ll just have to sell the Turtle Immortal to someone else! Here, you should just take this back and drink it yourself." With that, Shen Yibin pushed the jug back into Xiaoliu’s paws.

"SQUEAK SQUEAK SQUEAK!" The bluff worked. Xiaoliu fell for it hook, line, and sinker. The little monkey grabbed several more jugs and began dashing all over the courtyard, one moment leaping into a large tree, the next scurrying to the base of another. Shen Yibin watched in utter exasperation. ’Just how much have you stashed away, you little hoarder!’

He ended up searching five different locations and filling six whole jugs, which came out to over ten pounds of wine. By the time he was done, Xiaoliu was drenched in sweat. He returned to Shen Yibin’s side, panting for breath.

"Is that really all of it this time?" Shen Yibin asked, staring into his eyes.

"Squeak..." Xiaoliu responded weakly. Not only had he emptied his entire private collection, but he had also revealed all his secret hiding spots. It practically broke his little heart.

"Alright, I’ll believe you for now." This much wine was more than enough to cover the Turtle Immortal’s price. ’Now, I just need to figure out where to find customers for this Monkey Wine.’

’Director Kong and Xu Ye would definitely be willing to buy it, but I’d feel awkward asking them for money. I’d better just post an advertisement at the shop and hold an auction. If Xu Ye and the others want to come, I won’t stop them.’

"Let’s go! We’re heading to the shop!" Having made up his mind, Shen Yibin called Hah’Er, Xiaoliu, and the others into his new car and set off for the pet shop. Before he left, he sent a text to Director Kong, telling him to come to the shop for dinner that evening.

On the way, he bought some groceries, found a print shop to order a few custom-made gift boxes, and had a notice printed. Then, he finally returned to the shop.

As soon as they got back to the shop, Xiaoliu took the Turtle Immortal over to the pond area. While the Turtle Immortal began its spiritual cultivation in the water, Xiaoliu found another tree hollow inside the shop and produced two more jugs of wine. ’The little guy must have been really scared by me,’ Shen Yibin thought, ’so scared he’s worried it’s still not enough.’

’I don’t even know what to say to you anymore.’ Shen Yibin couldn’t help but roll his eyes. ’This guy is just too sneaky for his own good.’

"Hey, can you help me put this up on the door?" Shen Yibin called Xia Shixuan over and handed her the notice.