Pet King - Chapter 574

Chapter 574
Chapter 574: Gift of Congratulations


Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Xie Tao was not particularly talkative, but because he'd known Zhang Zian since childhood and they were pretty familiar with each other, they could easily speak their mind . After stating a topic, he could go on continuously, mostly about complaining how hard it was to do business .

Most of his complaints were common challenges faced by small business owners, such as restocking pressures, low funding turnovers, rapidly changing trends and fashions, picky customers, online business-crushing stores, increasing sanitation fees from Grandma Gu, etc . These were nothing new . But Zhang Zian had faced all these problems before, and his were even worse . The difference was that Zhang Zian persevered through them, but Xie Tao was filled with negative energy and complained all the time . 　　

They'd known each other since childhood, and had went down different paths after growing up, which had made them less close . Zhang Zian acknowledged his complaints, but he didn't agree with his attitude . He didn't say anything back, and just listened and occasionally commented .

As they talked, Xie Tao suddenly realized that he was doing most of the talking, which made him seem impolite . He abruptly changed the topic and smiled . "I'll stop talking about myself . How are you doing? I passed by your pet shop this morning, and your business seems fine . A few people were looking at pets in the store, and most them were young girls . "　　

Zhang Zian smiled as well . "Brother Tao, didn't you watch the news from a few months ago? There was a picture going viral on Wechat Moments . An online business website published a PPT on consumers' investment and market value . In terms of market value, it was young girls>kids>young women>elders>dog>men . Then somebody online added 'cat' in front of young girls, which made it cats> young girls>kids>young women>elders>dog>men . . . "　　

It was better to spend money on dogs over men, and cats over women . This was a sound conclusion . 　　

"Ha! Yes, yes, I've seen this! You just reminded me of it!" Xie Tao tapped his head as if he was having a sudden epiphany . "I get it . You mean that it's harder to make money from men than from young girls? It's true . You gotta find the right business targets! I'm not good at this . I'm not business material . I'm afraid that the shop that my parents left me is going to collapse under my managment . "　　

Zhang Zian gave him some suggestions . "Brother Tao, how about getting more women's shoes? And reading some women's fashion magazines to pick up on trends . Maybe that'll work . "

Although he came to take over the shop, they were old acquaintances and had grew up together . He still wanted to help Xie Tao out if he could . Even if he couldn't take over his store, he could always try his luck with another one . 　　

After hearing this, Xie Tao waved his hands and smiled bitterly . "Zian, I appreciate your good intentions, but no, I'm done with it . I'm not good at this, and I don't have the skills for sales . I always let the customers shop around by themselves, and I'll only look for their size for them if they feel like trying it on . If customers ask me what material the sole and the upper part is, all I know is the most basic cloth, leather, rubber, and mesh . I can't answer anything else . "　　

Zhang Zian secretly shook his head . No wonder the business was declining, from the way Xie Tao was doing business . He himself didn't know much about pets in the beginning, but he'd bought lots of books to cram with, so that he could answer the customer's difficult questions . Fina could teach kittens to dance, but not all customers came in to buy dancing kittens . Like the girl Vivi, if he never learned from his studying that Siberian Forest cats were non-allergenic, he would have missed a good sale . 　　

"Well, you can keep learning more about it," he continued to persuade him . 　　

Xie Tao shook his head . "I don't have the time, nor the focus to read . I'm not like you . I never enjoyed reading since I was a kid, and it gives me headaches . It's over . I don't want to continue anyways . After finding a way to sell all the shoes I have in stock, I'll head home for the Spring Festival with my wife and kid . " 　　

Zhang Zian's heart was pained, and he asked, "Brother Tao, what are you going to do with your store?"　　

Xie Tao was silent for a while, and answered without much certainty . "I'll sell it if I can . If not, I'll rent it out . Even renting is a source of income, and will be better than how things are going on now . I'm just wasting my energy here . "　

Zhang Zian hesitated for a moment and finally asked, "Brother Tao, I'm curious . How much are you planning to sell it for?"　　

Xie Tao was stunned . "What? You want to sell yours too? Your shop is doing pretty well . Why are you selling it?"　　

He'd clearly misunderstood Zhang Zian's question . 　　



"No, I'm not . Actually, I'm planning on expanding . I'll buy it if your price is decent . " Zhang Zian answered honestly and then watched Xie Tao's face nervously . They were store neighbors, right next to the other . One was doing badly and was forced to close, while the other was doing well and needed to expand . Their drastic differences could easily lead Xie Tao to aversion and resistance .

Xie Tao's face remained still . Just as Zhang Zian was beginning to worry, the other suddenly laughed in relief . "That's great! I was just about to advertise it to a real estate broker . If you want to buy it, it'll save me a huge broker fee . It works out for both of us . "

Zhang Zian heard his sincerity, and didn't think he seemed jealous at all . He asked in relief, "Brother Tao, don't you think that it's a pity to sell the store though?"　

"Not at all . How could it be? People have to change to survive . I'm not a nostalgic person . Why would I keep enduring through this if I know that I'm not the right person for business? Don't you agree?" Xie Tao continued on with ease . "I'm needed more by my kid and wife . After selling the store, I'll buy a bigger house for them, and I won't live in Binhai City anymore . Maybe I'll come back for a drink with you, sometimes in the future . "

Zhang Zian tried to suppress his excitement and nodded . "Sure, Brother Tao, it'll be my treat . This is big news . Are you going to discuss it with you wife?"　　

"I mentioned it to her earlier, and she agreed . " Xie Tao smiled . "Our baby is a newborn and we need money . Baby formula costs about 1000-2000 Yuan per month . I can't make money with this shoe store, I'm just losing it . It's better to sell it and make a profit . How much is nostalgia really worth? Zian, you're not married yet . Once you do get married and have kids, you'll understand . "　　

"Maybe so," confessed Zhang Zian . After all, he'd never experienced any of that . 　　

Since both Xie Tao and his wife agreed to sell, he expected everything to go smoothly, as long as they agreed on the price . The building prices in Binhai City had been rising, but gradually stabilizing, without any unusual rises or falls . They both had an idea on how much this building was worth . 　　

The best time for the property market was during September and October, while around the Spring Festival was the slowest time . Xie Tao was eager to sell and knew Zhang Zian well, so he didn't give him a hard time on price . He even offered a discount, and they quickly reached an agreement . 　　

After the deal the settled, both parties felt relieved . Xie Tao informed his wife about the deal through Wechat, and vouched for Zhang Zian's credibility . His wife was reasonable in response and let himself make the final decision .



As Xie Tao was discussing with his wife, Zhang Zian walked around the store . He knocked on the walls and made a rough evaluation, thinking that the store would need some renovation . His funding would be tight, and he might have to get a loan from the bank . After years of hard work, he was back to round one . 　　

The last renovation the shoe store had was dated around at least 20 years ago . That was fine . Still, the walls were thin, with bad insulation for sound and heat . Plus, there were a lot of cracks between the walls and the floor, which needed to be repainted and reinforced . 　

If he were to use this store as a delivery room, he would have to put all the non-sterilized adult cats inside of it . If the sound insulation was bad, the meowing at night would be very annoying to the neighbors and it could bring in a lot of complaints . Even more, all the cracks needed to be filled and it needed pest control . Without it, it could be infested with flees . 　　

"Okay!" Xie Tao excitedly put his phone back into his pocket, and gestured happily at Zhang Zian . 　

"Was your wife okay with it?" asked Zhang Zian .

"Yes . " Xie Tao glanced around the store in contemplation . "Zian, this is your store from now on . You have to work hard, and not follow my example . I'd like to pass by this store the next time I visit Binhai City . I hope you wouldn't sell it to somebody else by then . "　

"No problem, I won't, Brother Tao . " Zhang Zian spoke with confidence . 　　

"Alright, I'll count on your word . " Xie Tao pointed at the store next door . "I trust you too . When I passed by your shop, I saw that you hired someone?"　　

"Yes . Sometimes I have to go out and make purchases, and I can't do everything by myself," replied Zhang Zian . "I want to be open for business everyday, so I had to hire someone to watch it while I'm gone . "　　

Xie Tao smiled grimly . "You know how to do business, and you'll surely do better and better . I'll head back soon . I'll come back another day and pack away all the shoes that I can't sell . Then, I'll clean up the room upstairs, so that I can quickly make some room for you . "　　

After seeing that he was about to leave, Zhang Zian suddenly remembered something and quickly said, "Brother Tao, wait a minute . "　

He went back to his shop hurriedly, picked up a British Shorthair kitten and a carrier, ignored Lu Yiyun's questioning, and headed back to the shoe store next door . 　

He said, "Brother Tao, I have a pet shop, and I have nothing else but pets . This kitten is for you and your wife, as my belated wedding gift . Please take it . " 　　

Xie Tao was astonished . "Brother, this is too kind of you . How can I accept this? Even for a wedding, just a red packet with 300-500 Yuan would be enough . "　　

"That's fine . If your wife had not got pregnant yet, I wouldn't give you a cat, in case of toxoplasmosis . But since she has already given birth, it'll be fine to have one . "

As Zhang Zian spoke, he put the British Shorthair kitten into the carrier and handed it over .

"Wow, what a beautiful kitten! How much is it? I can't take it if it's too expensive . " Xie Tao held the box, and looked at the kitten carefully through the cage door . 　　

"It's not expensive, it's just a regular cat . " Zhang Zian didn't give him time to say no, and waved his hands at him . "Say hi to your wife for me after you get back!"　

"Alright, sure," responded Xie Tao distractedly . His attention was completely entranced by the cute kitten .