Chapter 58: Even Boss Su Runs Out of Money?
The big dog looked around cautiously, its eyes still showing traces of its former bravery and intelligence. However, its aging physique was evident.
The person delivering the dog handed the leash to Su Tao and saluted:
“Transferring City Defense Army Dog No. 036, Xue Dao, to you.”
Su Tao solemnly accepted the leash. Xue Dao sniffed around her, then obediently lay down by her feet, as if already familiar with her scent.
The person explained:
“Before bringing it over, Commander Pei had it smell something of yours. It’s very smart and recognizes people.”
Su Tao, delighted, squatted down to rub the big dog’s head and asked:
“What does it usually eat? Can it eat raw meat?”
“Raw meat is fine… but it’s a bit costly. Normally, we only feed it low-salt human food, considering the apocalypse. However, by pre-apocalypse standards, large dogs are better off eating raw meaty bones.”
Su Tao’s first thought was that no matter how hard things were, she couldn’t let her “kids” suffer. Even if she couldn’t eat well, Xue Dao and the Sesame cats needed proper meals.
Get more meat!
There was still some time before Zhuang Wan’s next rent payment was due, and Su Tao felt bad about asking for an advance.
She could only hope that once the food shop was upgraded, there might be pet food available to help tide them over.
But upgrading the shop required 100,000 federal credits, and she had just over 90,000 on hand.
Why am I always so poor? Not only can I not save money, but I’m constantly in the red.
“What’s bothering you?” A voice suddenly came from behind.
The person who had delivered Xue Dao saluted Shi Zijin and then got into the car and left.
Xue Dao sniffed the air, recognized the familiar scent, and lay down to rest again.
Su Tao said, “Didn’t I tell you yesterday not to talk to me? We’re still in a cold war. Take it seriously.”
Shi Zijin: “When did I agree to that?”
Su Tao paused. Thinking back, he really hadn’t agreed. She was speechless for a moment before suddenly saying:
“Lend me 10,000 federal credits, and I’ll accept your peace offering from yesterday.”
Shi Zijin’s expression turned a bit odd.
“Even Boss Su runs out of money?”
“Don’t look down on me! I’m openly poor. I admit my struggles and ask for help. If you hear it, extend a helping hand.”
Shi Zijin could barely hold back his laughter:
“The boss of all Taoyang, a major player in water resources, doing business with Gu Mingchi… and you’re short 10,000? No one would believe that.”
“It’s enough if you believe it.”
“I believe it.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Su Tao received a full transfer of 100,000 federal credits!
She immediately put on a shy expression:
“Boss Shi, that’s a bit too much. You’re so generous.”
Though she said this, she showed no intention of transferring the money back.
Shi Zijin saw through her little scheme but didn’t call her out on it.
“Are we good now?”
“We’re good!”
Watching Su Tao happily walk the big dog in the sunlight, Shi Zijin shook his head with a helpless smile.
Su Tao led Xue Dao into her room. As soon as she opened the door, Black Sesame let out a “meow,” jumped two meters away, and stood on the back of the sofa, baring its teeth at Xue Dao.
White Sesame was so frightened it crawled under the sofa and refused to come out.
True to its status as an experienced military dog, Xue Dao remained calm, slowly sniffing around. Sensing no danger, it lay down next to the sofa and pretended to sleep.
Su Tao picked up Black Sesame and tried to reason with it:
“Xue Dao Grandpa is new here. He’s family and won’t hurt you. Don’t be aggressive. Go give Grandpa a sniff, get familiar, and be good.”
Black Sesame seemed to understand. It reluctantly took a few cat steps forward, then looked back at Su Tao.
Su Tao urged, “Go on.”
Black Sesame slowly approached, extending a little paw to tap Xue Dao quickly.
Xue Dao merely twitched an ear, not even opening its eyes, as if it knew this tiny kitten posed no threat.
Seeing no danger, Black Sesame moved closer, its little pink nose sniffing at Xue Dao.
Suddenly, Xue Dao opened its eyes, wrapped Black Sesame in its large paw, and used its big tongue to give it a thorough head bath.
Black Sesame: “?”
Taking advantage of the moment, Su Tao pulled White Sesame out from under the sofa. But as soon as she did, White Sesame clung to her neck and cried, “Mama.”
So, she let it be.
After the two cats and the dog played for a while, Su Tao quickly opened the system’s food store. She spent 100,000 federal credits to upgrade the food store to level 2.
This upgrade was like discovering a whole new world.
The level 2 food store had detailed categories: snacks, grains and oils, tea and beverages, dried goods, and even a pet section.
Excited, Su Tao clicked into the pet section and saw only two types of machines: a pet food dispenser and a pet canned food vending machine.
Both machines cost 3,000 federal credits each.
Without hesitation, Su Tao spent 6,000 to buy them, placing them temporarily in the living room.
Curious, Black Sesame immediately approached to sniff the new devices.
Su Tao let it explore while she studied the instructions to restock the machines. The pet food dispenser offered many options, but she only selected senior dog food and kitten food.
The prices weren’t cheap—just purchasing these two types of food cost her 5,000 federal credits, enough for only two weeks. A month’s supply would cost 10,000 credits.
More expensive than feeding herself!
Su Tao poured some into the sesame cats’ bowls for a taste test. The main ingredients were meat and vegetable fibers—very healthy. The food smelled appetizing and likely tasted good too.
Both Black Sesame and White Sesame smelled the food and immediately dashed over.
White Sesame wasn’t even afraid of Xue Dao anymore, jumping over its back and attacking the food with a fervor, shoving its entire head into the bowl.
Xue Dao sniffed the air, both ears perked up, and its eyes opened wide.
Su Tao grabbed a bowl for it and poured in some senior dog food, which seemed richer in protein and easily digestible.
True to its training, Xue Dao didn’t lunge at the food like a ravenous dog. Instead, it circled the bowl while sniffing, its tail wagging rapidly, clearly tempted.
It looked at Su Tao, then back at the bowl of dog food.
Su Tao immediately understood—it was waiting for a command. So she said, “Eat!”
Xue Dao immediately opened its mouth and started devouring the food with gusto.
After all three pets finished eating, Su Tao began brushing them one by one, checking for any bugs, inspecting their tear stains and chins, and coaxing them to drink water.
To make it easier to bathe them, Su Tao even replaced her hot spring with a large, ground-level pool specifically for washing the dog and cats.
Raising pets was just like raising children—it required patience and love.
Xue Dao seemed to understand how much its new owner cherished it. It began to follow Su Tao everywhere she went. At night, it even competed with the sesame cats for sleeping space.
Su Tao woke up in the middle of the night, feeling as if she were in a sauna. She turned on the light and saw the situation: a double bed, with Xue Dao taking up more than half of it, and the two sesame cats sprawled on the pillow.
She had been squeezed into a corner, drenched in sweat from the heat.
…It was definitely time to install an air conditioner.
Yawning, Su Tao climbed out of bed, opened the home improvement store in the system, and found the air conditioners. Gritting her teeth, she chose the most expensive option—a central air conditioning unit costing 12,000 federal credits each.
One unit per floor was enough, allowing all tenants to enjoy the cool air, including the public areas and hallways.