Monkeys are omnivores. Besides fruit, Xiaoliu also liked to eat meat and dried nuts. So, one moment he was snatching a few peanuts from Maphario, and the next he was taking a couple pieces of meat from Hah’Er’s bowl, throwing the perfectly fine dinner table into a complete mess. The sight left everyone speechless. ’There are plenty of peanuts and meat on the table, so why on earth do you have to snatch it from others? Does it taste better that way or something?’
"Hmph!" Hah’Er clutched his food bowl and glared angrily at Xiaoliu. He then stretched out a paw and pulled Maphario into his arms. Maphario was his godson, and he wouldn’t allow anyone to bully him.
"SQUEAK! SQUEAK!" Xiaoliu scratched his head and grinned widely, looking a little embarrassed. But the moment Hah’Er let his guard down, he pulled the same trick again, making Hah’Er cry out in anger.
"HAHAHAHA!" The scene made Shen Yibin, Xia Shixuan, and the others burst out laughing, adding a dose of joy to the dinner table. ’Looks like as long as Xiaoliu is around, the shop will never have a dull moment.’
After dinner, Shen Yibin was about to lie down on the sofa for a bit and chat with Sun Qian and the others about the new arrival, but Hah’Er came over, hugging his skateboard. He tugged on Shen Yibin’s pant leg, grunting and whining. He seemed to want Shen Yibin to take him out to play. They had been busy looking at the tree today and had missed their afternoon exercise. Shen Yibin had thought that was the end of it for the day, but to his surprise, Hah’Er still came looking for him.
"Later, later. I just finished eating, I’m still stuffed," Shen Yibin tried to brush him off. He was a little tired today and didn’t really feel like exercising anymore.
"Hmph!" But Hah’Er refused to take no for an answer. He clung to Shen Yibin’s pant leg and wouldn’t let go for dear life. It looked like if Shen Yibin didn’t agree, Hah’Er would keep pestering him indefinitely. Maphario also ran over to help. ’Perhaps the little guy also missed the feeling of the wind while standing on Hah’Er’s head?’
"Alright, fine, I’ll go! Happy now?" Shen Yibin threw his hands up in surrender. ’Sigh, I used to laugh at all those dog slaves, cat slaves, and official poop-scoopers, but I never thought I’d become a panda slave myself.’
This was a classic case of someone getting a great deal and still complaining. If Shen Yibin dared to post that thought on Weibo, he’d probably be flamed to death by netizens. "Being able to serve a panda is a blessing you couldn’t earn in a thousand lifetimes, and you’re complaining?! If you’ve got the guts, let go of that panda and let me do it! I’d do anything Hah’Er asked!"
Hah’Er carried the skateboard, Shen Yibin led Hah’Er, and Maphario sat on Hah’Er’s head. The gang was just about to head out the door. Just then, Xiaoliu, who had eaten and drunk his fill, was lying in his hammock ready to rest. But when he saw the trio’s formation, he immediately jumped down from the hammock and tagged along behind them, heading toward the park.
Once they got to the park, Shen Yibin stretched his arms and legs to warm up. Then, he tied a rope to the front of the skateboard and the other end around his waist, preparing to take Hah’Er and Maphario for a ride. As for Xiaoliu, Shen Yibin told him to go wait in a tree. If he stood on the skateboard too, Shen Yibin wouldn’t be able to pull them.
"Alright, here we go!" Shen Yibin waved at Xiaoliu and started to jog, pulling Hah’Er along. Hah’Er howled with excitement on the skateboard; the only thing missing was a long whip in his paw, as if he were driving a carriage.
"SQUEAK! SQUEAK!" Seeing them get farther and farther away, Xiaoliu grew anxious. He grabbed a branch, swung himself onto a tree up ahead, and then leaped to another. And so, a fierce race began, with Shen Yibin, Hah’Er, and Maphario on the ground and Xiaoliu in the trees.
"Whoa, Bin, you’re really living the life! Where’d you pick up this monkey?" The old regulars strolling and exercising in the park were full of envy. Most of them were retired seniors. Although their lives were more leisurely than Shen Yibin’s, their children were all busy, leaving them a bit lonely without constant company. It wasn’t like Shen Yibin, who always had all sorts of rare and bizarre animals popping up, making his life incredibly interesting.
"Is that silly dog of yours fun to have around? If so, maybe I’ll go to Bin’s shop tomorrow and pick one out too," one old man said, looking at the Golden Retriever belonging to the man with glasses. A chorus of agreement rose up around them; many of the old men and women were tempted. Unexpectedly, Xiaoliu’s arrival had even drummed up a wave of business for Shen Yibin.
"Then it’s settled. Tomorrow morning, when Bin comes to exercise, we’ll go with him to his shop and take a look." The old folks began to ponder whether they should get a cat or a dog. They were more accustomed to these common types of pets.
After three laps, Xiaoliu came down from the tree. The group of seniors immediately surrounded them, curiously sizing up Xiaoliu while chattering away with questions. "What breed is this monkey? It’s not a golden snub-nosed monkey, is it?"
"Golden snub-nosed monkeys are an internationally protected Class-I species. I wouldn’t dare raise one! This is an Emei Mountain monkey." Shen Yibin, however, seemed to have forgotten that Hah’Er, standing right beside him, was also a Class-I nationally protected animal.
"A monkey from Emei Mountain? That doesn’t seem right. I’ve been to Emei Mountain, and boy, the monkeys there are like bandits! They block your path to rob you of food, and they won’t let you pass if you don’t give them any. They’re nothing like this one, who’s so well-behaved," said the wise elder with the glasses, pushing them up his nose.
"Those ones have been spoiled by tourists. This one lived deep in the mountains, so he’s still relatively pure and simple." ’Uh, considering how Xiaoliu was snatching food all over the dinner table, ’pure and simple’ isn’t exactly the first description that comes to mind,’ Shen Yibin thought.
"Well, he’s certainly much better than those ’bandit monkeys’," the man with the glasses said, nodding. The monkeys of Emei Mountain had earned the moniker "bandit monkeys" for their habit of waylaying and robbing tourists. Of course, they were also sometimes called "hermit monkeys."
"Bin, I’m also thinking about getting a dog. What kind do you think I should get?" After the discussion about the monkey, the old folks were even more eager to get pets of their own.
"That’s right, me too! My daughter and son-in-law hardly ever visit, and my grandson is away at boarding school. It’s just my wife and I at home all day. Getting a pet would liven the place up a bit, don’t you think?" another person chimed in.
"Me too! But don’t give me any of those delicate ones that are hard to raise. I want something sturdy and easy to care for," the old folks all chimed in at once.
"In that case, why don’t you all come back to the shop with me? Once we’re there, I can give you some proper recommendations." Shen Yibin was naturally delighted to have business come knocking. He quickly led the seniors back to the shop and called for Xia Shixuan and the others to help the new customers find suitable pets.
More than an hour passed in a lively bustle, after which the old folks left happily with the pets they had chosen. It had been another fruitful day.
It was time to go to sleep. Shen Yibin waved at Xiaoliu, who was already snoring in his hammock. As he did, the corner of his eye caught the tree hollow, and he couldn’t help but swallow. ’I wonder when that Monkey Wine will be ready?’