Jiang Feifei had been harvesting along the beach for quite some time . Nobody had ever taught her about it, but as she became more experienced, she learned by herself .
The weather was oddly very nice the past few days . The ocean was calm . She didn't expect to harvest a lot when she left in the morning––otherwise, she would have brought a few more containers with her––yet, after a short walk on the beach, she had found a lot more creatures than she had ever even seen . She didn't even know many of the creatures, such as the Oliva emicator .
Despite that, she didn't grow suspicious, as it happened occasionally . Although there was no storm in Binhai City, there might be one in the nearby ocean . If the current and wind were both traveling her way, the rising sea level would bring more creatures like the ones she was finding to the beach .
The listener paid more attention than the speaker .
Zhang Zian thought that this was not a coincidence .
Apparently, Sihwa's arrival had drawn the marine creatures to the beach like a magnet .
As he was thinking, two girls squatted down on the ground . Jiang Feifei pointed at the creatures in the container and introduced them one by one to Snowy and the broadcast audience .
"Is this an octopus?" Snowy pointed at the creeping tentacles of a mollusk, looking disgusted .
"This is a very common octopus . Local fishermen call it 'octopus minor . ' It has a prettier name––'tide watcher,'" Jiang Feifei said while glancing at Zhang Zian without confidence . She was afraid of being wrong .
As she said, it was a very common octopus . Precisely speaking, it was common on the dinner table . Not many people had seen them live and intact, as they had already been cooked .
"Tide watcher? I like its name . It sounds like the local 'Wang Haige Forum . '" Snowy nodded, then pointed at another octopus . "What is this? Octopus major?"
"This… I don't know . " Jiang Feifei smiled with a blush .
Snowy retracted her hands subconciously, fearing that the octopus might be venomous .
"That's a ruby octopus––kind of rare in our seas . " Zhang Zian realized something . "Did you bring an oxygen pump? This ruby octopus is about to die, I'm afraid . "
The ruby octopus usually lived in tropical areas and was much prettier than the rustic-looking octopus minor . Its body was pink with a hint of purple . The surface was covered with countless white spots . It rested feebly in the water and barely moved, ignoring the small fish swimming past it .
"Oxygen pump… No . All I have is a large net . " Jiang Feifei grew more embarrassed .
"Octopuses need a lot of oxygen and must rely on pumped oxygen to survive away from the ocean . " Zhang Zian shook his head with regret . "The ruby octopus is quite expensive . One at this size is worth 400-500 yuan . "
"400-500 yuan?" Jiang Feifei was astonished . "This morning, someone asked about the price . I asked for 150, and that person bargained for 100 . He didn't take it in the end; he said it was too expensive…"
"I'm pretty sure that guy didn't know that kind of octopus this was . " Zhang Zian knew the customers' mind too well . "He only felt that it was pretty and that 100 was not too expensive . It's a good thing that you didn't sell it . That would have been a big loss . "
"But it's a shame that it's dying . I'm losing anyway…" She sighed . "I know it's better to have an oxygen pump . But even if I have one, I don't have anywhere to plug it in . "
"There are UBS-powered small oxygen pumps designed specifically for beach harvesting," Zhang Zian said . "With a portable charger, you have everything you need for the harvest . "
Jiang Feifei said with embarrassment, "But I didn't bring a portable charger either…"
"I have a portable charger, Mr . Store Manager . We can buy an oxygen pump from the aquarium market, I suppose?" Snowy interrupted .
Snowy often stayed outside the entire day for broadcasting . She always carried a portable charger in her backpack, otherwise her phone battery might not last too long .
Zhang Zian then realized that they were right next to the aquarium market . As long as they bought an oxygen pump, the ruby octopus might be saved .
"Let's do this . You can wait outside while we go inside to buy the oxygen pump and bring it to you," he said .
Jiang Feifei had to stay around her stand and could not leave . She was grateful for his gesture .
Zhang Zian and Snowy were about to tour around the aquarium market, anyway . It was a small favor they could do for her .
They were almost done with the individual stands outside the market building . The remaining stands were quite similar and not worth visiting .
After reaching an agreement with Jiang Feifei, the other two went straight into the building of the aquarium market .
There were two entrances to the market building––building A and B . Building B was only for aquarium creatures, while building A was for other pets . Zhang Zian and Snowy walked straight into building B .
As soon as they entered, the crowd outside the building became distant . There were not many customers in the aquarium market, as it was a work day . Most people were quiet, watching their favorite marine creatures in front of the tank with folded arms and talking to the store owners occasionally . The marine creatures were quiet, as well, unlike the meowing cats and barking dogs .
Once one had seen the best, everything else became second best .
Since Zhang Zian had been to Karl's aquarium, the market was not impressive at all . The atmosphere, equipment, expertise, and marine creatures were not as eye-catching .
But it was fine . He didn't come here to learn, but to buy things like bottom sand, eco-bio-blocks, corals, etc .
It was Snowy's first trip to this place and everything was a novelty to her . But she didn't forget her priority, which was to buy an oxygen pump and bring it to Jiang Feifei .
They looked at the store plan of building B at the entrance and found out that the first floor was for marine creatures; the second floor for bottom sand, eco-bio-blocks, and other supplies; and the third floor was for different types of aquarium equipment .
If Zhang Zian had come here by himself, he might have skipped the third floor, as he already had all the equipment that he needed .
The two of them agreed on the plan to take the elevator to the third floor, then tour their way downstairs .
"Sir, what are you looking for? A tank? A filter? A heating rod? Protein separator? Calcium reactor? We have everything here . Just come in and take a look . If you want a whole set, we have them, too . It's even cheaper!"
"Sir, take a look in our shop!"
As soon as they exited the elevator, the shopping guides of the third greeted them in their faces . They were much more welcoming than those on the first floor .
Maybe as a result of online shopping, there were even fewer customers on the third floor . Most of them were shopping for medium to large aquarium tanks . The online shipping cost for these items was too high, after all . But at the market they could deliver them for free to one's door .
"We are looking for an oxygen pump . " Snowy was straightforward .
"Oxygen pump? We have them . We are specialized in tank accessories and have all models and sizes . We have more stuff than anyone else . Just follow me . " One of the shopping guides was louder . He grabbed Zhang Zian's arms, bringing him to his store .
Chapter end
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