Chapter 9: Zhang's Pet Shop

Under the scorching summer heat, I walked towards the area next to my middle school, trying to find this pet shop. After about 10 minutes of looking around for it, I could finally see a middle-sized, clean-looking and simply decorated pet shop. Everything would be perfect if not for the very striking red and pink name 'Zhang's Pet Shop' printed on a bright green background...

I walk in and the bells above me jingle as I open the door. Looking around, I notice a variety of objects in different areas. On the right side of the shop, there is a counter filled with a variety of food and toys for animals, on the left side there are some objects like bedding and brushes for dogs and cats, as well as other objects that most owners would buy for their pets. I can also hear faint barks and meows coming from the back of the shop and I sudenlly have an impulse to rush to the back and gaze at the big pack of cuties!

Before I could execute my plan and make a fool of myself, I nearly get a heart attack when I spot a man, who looks like he's around 25 years old, directly looking at me. I shiver as I feel his cold, piercing eyes scanning me all over.

He then looks me in the eyes and says in a very indiffetent and monotone voice. "Welcome to Zhang's Pet Shop, what would you like from us today?"

Even though I feel a little scared of this man, I still show a polite smile as I point towards the flyer about a part-time summer position and say, "Hello, my name is Han Xue Wei, and I'm currently looking for a part-time job during summer, and I coincidentally saw your advertisement. Could I speak to whoever is in charge?"

I notice a slight surprise in the man's eyes as he then tells me to sit down on a chair and wait a minute.

'Haha, he probably thinks, why would a model like him who looks as majestic as an ancient phoenix, want to work in a small pet shop like this? Hmph...it seems that sometimes, being good looking is also a sin.'

After waiting for a few minutes, I see the door at the back of the shop open and the weird man comes out together with an older grandfather who looks very similar to the weird man, although older and much more kinder-looking.

The old man looks over at me and then gives me a smile, big enough to see his fake teeth popping out.

"Welcome young man! My name is Zhang Yichou and I'm the owner of this shop. This is my son, Zhang Da Lei and he often helps me to keep the pet shop clean and delas with all the animals since I'm getting old and need some hand around here to assist me. By the way you said that you wanted to apply for a part time job right, young lad?"

I nod to him as a response and he continues.

"First i need to do a quick employee interview since we need to know if you're suitable for this job, is that okay with you?"

"That's fine boss Zhang" I smile in satisfaction.

"Okay okay just call me grandpa Zhang. First tell me your name"

"Han Xue Wei"

"Are you 16 or older?"

"Yes, I am already 16"

"You don't mind getting paid a minimal wage, do you?

"I don't mind, I'm still a student after all so this is reasonable" I say and think to myself that in two months, I will have at least 7,000RMB saved up from this job.

"How are you with animals?"

I immediately brighten and show one of my best smiles, not including my tiger teeth since I'm pretty sure that the old man would get a heart attack from cuteness overload kekeke.

"I love all of them, birds, cats, dogs, snakes, hamsters, rabbits, fish, guinea-pigs, you name it, I will love it and sincerely take care of each of of these lovely creatures. Well everything other than insects. I hate insects very much" I name all the animals I could think of on the spot and smile sheepishly. I swear I could see the mouth of the weird man turn upwards for a millisecond, before he restored his usual expression.

'Maybe he is not so weird after all. He may just be a little emotionless and not accustomed to strangers...'

"Haha, that's s good, that's good. Okay, I decided to give you a chance so you got the job young man! When can you start? The first week will be me and my son teaching you and showing you the ropes around the shop as well as how to take care of all the animals."

"Thank you, I can start from tomorrow Thursday"

"You will work from 8 in the morning, have a lunch break for an hour and finish at around 7. You can stay and I will pay you for overtime if you decide to help to clean up the shop. Come back here tomorrow morning and we will sign a part-time contract for the first two months of holidays!"

I see the old man dancing happily and singing around the shop as he sweeps the floor, apparently feeling very happy to have a new worker. I thank them and walk out of the shop. I decide to take a stroll near the library.

As I reach the city's library, I want to go around the building as there is a hidden alley which significantly shortens my path to the house. Before I can do that however, I hear someone calling out behind me.

"Stop! Young lad! Please stop for a moment"

I don't recognise this voice at all so keep on walking, thinking that it's not me. The voice however, only got louder and I reasoned out, that since there is only me here, the owner of the voice must be someone who wants to talk to me...

I turn around in confusion as I look at the panting, sweaty and slightly chubby middle-aged man who looks at me like he just found his long-lost treasure.

"Can I help you, mister?" I say quietly, my voice filled with doubt and alertness when taking to an unknown man at night. You always have to be alert in these situations, especially since I'm such a handsome young man.

"Hello, I am the director of the city's library. People call me Uncle Chen"

'Ohhhh, so he's the poetic old man who praised my magnificence yesterday hehe'

"Hello Director Chen, how may I help you?" I answer politely while still maintaining my distance with the newly met person.

"Young man, I have actually been waiting for you for quiet some time, let's walk to this tea shop on the other side of the road so I can sit down and catch my breath."

I immediately agree as I can obviously see his exhaustion from running and since I respect the old, I can't refuse him when I see an older generation in such a state. We walk towards the tea shop in peaceful silence. When we sit down I order my favorite chrysanthemum tea while he orders a Longjing tea.

"Young man, firstly I want to thank you for the beautiful drawing you made" He begins as we sip the tea.

"This was actually nothing, Director Chen. I really only drew this for pure enjoyment and had no intention of selling it so it was more appropriate to gift it" I smile faintly as I rember the talk and the funny business transaction I had with the petite lady who wanted to buy the drawing from me for Director Chen.

"I still have to thank you. Since you said that I can pay for your next artwork, then I realised that I cannot wait any longer and waited for you to offer you a deal."

I perked up my ears and obediently listened to him. A deal. Which means more money in my wallet. This is definitely a good deal(^o^).

"I would like you to make a bigger painting of one of the places in our library. I would like you to paint it as realistically as possible, just like when you drew the picture last time. I will supply you with everything you need, be it the canvas, the brushes or the paint. You name it, I'll buy it! You can then keep these supplies that will be left over and I will pay you a 3,000RMB for the finished project."

I'm slightly stunned by his over generous offer. I feel slightly scared, thinking that this must be too good to be true and I'm probably falling into some kind of scam.

I think Director Chen saw through my thoughts as he merely laughed bitterly and said, "Don't misunderstand me lad, the canvas you will paint on will be quite large and it may take you a few days to finish. If that's how it is then my offer is not that expensive."

"How large is the canvas?" I ask while feeling shocked. How can he trust someone he doesn't know with such a big project?!

He probably saw through my thoughts once again as he looked me in the eye and said seriously, "It will be an extra large,"60x40" canvas. I trust you because I have a good eye when it comes to people. When I saw your drawing, I instantly knew that a talent like you should produce more works so I simply grabbed an opportunity to meet and collaborate with an outstanding, young and talented boy like you!"

In the last few days, it happened quiet often but now once again I felt very warm in my heart because of someone's kind words towards me. In my last life, this feeling was something I only sincerely felt when I was with Tao Rong, but now, I realise that there are actually many people who truly appreciate and support me...

"Okay, I agree, however I just found myself a part time job in a pet shop, so I can only come around to paint during the weekends. Don't worry, two full days should be enough for me to finish if I start in the morning."

I smile very brightly as I think about how fun this weekend be. I haven't used paint and canvas in a while, but I will definitely enjoy myself to the fullest. Plus, I will also get paid for it, and I desperately need money. I really need to buy a smartphone since my brick phone is currently..lets say, on the verge of taking a nap 6 feet down.

'After I buy my new phone, my now handsome and thick wallet will become like a patient with terminal illness again..Yingyingying...' I weep silently as I think about my future expenses. It is therefore good to raise as much money as I can!

We talked until it got darker and we quickly finished our tea as I kolęd at the time. Director Chen, noticing that its already very late, stood up and I followed suit. We shook hands to commemorate out partnership and parted ways.

On the way to the house, I recounted all the events that happened and realised that today was really my lucky day...

*********

On the other side of Beijing, an old man is sitting quietly before a big desk that's filled to the brim with examination papers.

He looks at the paper that his old, skinny and withered hands are currently holding, which are now slightly trembling from shock. He turns the pages of the Chinese paper over to the front to read the name of the young, teenage writer.

*Han Xue Wei* No. 30 Middle School, Beijing*

He looks over this name countless times as if he's trying to imprint it in his mind and starts talking with a slightly shaky voice

"Which... Which God was it that sent this Angel to our planet?!"

This incident actually happened in many other houses of old proffesors tonight.

Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, English, Politics and History. All the professors, checking the paper of the same boy, were having similar reactions while reading his exams over and over until they couldn't stop themselves from heading to the window and looking up towards the sky as they all started to praise the gods for sending someone so gifted to their home country.

Shock, confusion, appreciation and amazement.

All of these emotions are mixed in and are now showing on the faces of those old, but very reputable teachers.

If someone saw them praising the Gods at night like lunatics, their jaws would have dropped to the floor. They would all be thinking: 'Are these the professors that are known for their reputable, strict and fair characters all over China or old men that came out from a mental asylum!?'

And while these old men are trying to figure out how to meet this young man, the perpetrator himself, Han Xue Wei, is quietly sleeping in his small balcony room as he dreams about a fruit that if eaten, will make his already out-of-this-world handsome face, even better looking...