Chapter 43: Raising a Family Heirloom

“Boss, shall we head to the club?”
Zhuang Chen hadn’t drunk much. He wiped his face with a damp towel and asked, “Do you know where the pet market is?”
Xia Long was taken aback, curious, “There are several. What are you looking to buy?”
Leaning back comfortably on the sofa, Zhuang Chen replied, “Tortoise, a terrestrial one.”
“There’s a large flower, bird, fish, and insect market in Hepingli. Want to check it out?”
The Bentley drove straight to Hepingli. Sports cars were still inconvenient—driving was too much of a hassle. He much preferred the days when he had a chauffeur. Arriving at the market, they got out to browse and found themselves in front of a row of pet shops on the north side.
“Boss, do you have any larger radiated tortoises?”
The shopkeeper’s eyes lit up as he hurried over. Anyone who asked about radiated tortoises right away was surely a big customer. He smiled, “You’ve come to the right place. In this patch of the market, I’m second to none when it comes to terrestrial tortoises!”
Zhuang Chen smiled, glancing around at the variously sized heated enclosures in the shop. The setup looked quite professional. He stopped in front of the largest one, filled with radiated tortoises, more than a dozen altogether.
“All imported from their native habitats, purebred—just look at those patterns, perfectly developed and beautiful!”
The shopkeeper picked out the smallest tortoise, placed it in his palm, and presented it, “Barely six months old, five centimeters. In top condition, see for yourself.”
He set it on the table and produced a stalk of romaine lettuce. The previously lethargic little tortoise seemed instantly energized, quickly crawling over, stretching its neck, and voraciously munching on the greens.
It was Xia Long’s first time seeing such a tortoise, and he exclaimed in surprise, “Wow, even tortoises can move this fast?”
Zhuang Chen picked it up, cradling it in his palm as he examined it closely, “This isn’t an ordinary tortoise. Its scientific name is Astrochelys radiata, the radiated tortoise, one of the world’s rarest terrestrial tortoises. The Guinness World Record notes that in 1777, Captain Cook gifted a radiated tortoise to the King of Tonga, and it lived until 1965—a full 188 years.”
“If you hold it in your hand, it’ll look around, stretching out its head and tongue. It’ll start eating on its own very quickly. Tortoises rely more on touch and smell than sight or hearing. After being raised for a while, they can even recognize directions and always find their way back to their shelter each day.”
He flipped the tortoise over to examine its plastron. “Is it male or female?”
“This one’s a female. Males have longer tails, a V-shaped concave plastron, and pronounced gular scutes. Females are larger, have no concavity at the tail, smooth gular scutes, and flatter shells.”
The shopkeeper introduced them enthusiastically. Even with the popularity of reptile pets, the radiated tortoise remained the most expensive breed. Hatchlings started at five thousand, and every extra centimeter meant several thousand more. Those over ten centimeters were at least thirty or forty thousand.

Xia Long and Xia Hu exchanged a look, not too impressed. If they were to keep a pet, it would have to be a dog: obedient, loyal, and preferably a German Shepherd.
Zhuang Chen set the little tortoise down and eyed the two largest in the enclosure—each over thirty centimeters, with full, vibrant patterns. He asked, “How much for those two?”
The shopkeeper chuckled politely, “A regular customer once offered me three hundred thousand, and I didn’t sell. They’re the treasures of my shop. All those youngsters around them are their offspring—my money tree.”
Zhuang Chen gestured for the biggest one to be brought out. It was heavy—thirty to forty jin—and utterly unafraid of people, meeting his gaze with wide, curious eyes.
“A perfect male and female pair?” Zhuang Chen nodded in satisfaction, saying offhandedly, “I’ll take them both. Name your price.”
“Well…” The shopkeeper glanced at Zhuang Chen, noticing the bodyguards—clearly a wealthy client. He hesitated, “How about you take a slightly smaller pair, like those two over there? They’re also a male and female, and in two years they’ll be ready to breed.”
Zhuang Chen frowned and said directly, “Six hundred thousand for both.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to sell, but my shop relies on selling juveniles. Each year, they produce at least seven or eight hatchlings. I’ve raised them for over a decade and have grown attached…”
“Seven hundred thousand!”
“Are you trying to force my hand? Tortoises are spiritual creatures, excellent for protecting a home. I’d planned for these two to be family heirlooms…”
“Nine hundred thousand!”
Zhuang Chen said firmly, “You can always pick another pair for your heirlooms. Sell me this pair—you won’t lose out.”
The shopkeeper’s eyes gleamed with delight. He stamped his foot and relented, “Alright, you’re sincerely interested. They’ll surely be well cared for with you.”
Zhuang Chen smiled, swiped his card for a million, and also picked up four young tortoises—a complete set of sons and daughters—taking them all home.
Before leaving, he asked, “Do you sell high-quality enclosures?”
The shopkeeper, a bit exasperated, replied, “You’re a big spender. Why not go for a landscaped terrarium? It’s both beautiful and impressive.”
He handed several business cards to Xia Long. Everyone got in the car, and Zhuang Chen happily played with the young tortoises, teasing them with romaine lettuce, thoroughly enjoying himself.
“My parents were never around when I was young—I was always by myself. As far back as I can remember, I was fond of tortoises…”

“No, I think it was envy,” Zhuang Chen murmured, stroking the sturdy shell, “A single meal could last them ten days or half a month. They move at their own pace, carefree and untroubled.”
“No matter how fierce the storm outside, or the thunder and lightning, all they need to do is retract their necks, and they’re home.”
“Never abandoning, adapting to wherever they are…”
Xia Long didn’t speak. He sensed a strange emotion from Zhuang Chen. After all this time together, he had gradually drawn closer to Zhuang Chen’s inner world, as if the ice was melting, revealing genuine feeling.
They arrived at the interior design company listed on the business card and saw the legendary landscaped terrarium. It was much like a bonsai, but on a different scale—a miniature world in a confined space.
“This is our best rainforest terrarium—a 6 by 1 by 1.5 meter tropical rainforest ecosystem…”
The designer explained, “The lighting uses eighteen 150-watt metal halide lamps and thirty-five 20-watt LEDs. The decor uses rock effects to emphasize a natural look.”
“First, we use cement to create the rock walls, then expanding foam. Part of the foam is coated with custom cement paint, while another part is covered with moss fiber.”
“Humidity is managed by sixty misters, eighteen drip lines in the background, two waterfalls, and two foggers—all specialist landscaping equipment for powerful effects.”
“With the tropical rainforest as the main theme, the forest floor is planted, the canopy features treetop plants, and there are additions like deadwood, rocks, and vines to evoke a corner of jungle or a riverside forest.”
“Many of the plants are epiphytes. For example, bromeliads and air plants are best attached to wood for optimal lighting.”
It was the first time Zhuang Chen had ever seen such a massive rainforest terrarium—no wonder it was quoted at three hundred and fifty thousand. Once it was switched on, the mist billowed, creating a scene like paradise.
“Next to it are three reptile warm enclosures—perfect for your radiated tortoises. What you see now is after a few months of growth. The system is self-contained, and the longer it runs, the more beautiful it becomes.”
“We once had a client commission an eight-meter tank, costing over half a million, just to keep a two-centimeter South American poison dart frog…”
Zhuang Chen made the decision immediately: installation would begin the next day. He selected the environment and vegetation most suitable for the tortoises, swiped his card for four hundred thousand, and the deal was done.