Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

Chapter 261 Food Cart No. 03

She carefully took it out, then held it in both hands and handed it to the old man.

The glass bottle has a warm and understated luster, and the red ribbon and gold-stamped label stand out against the dim background.

"Uncle, how about this... is it alright?"

Xu Xiaoyan spoke softly, with a hint of trepidation and anticipation, her eyes fixed on the old man's reaction.

The old man's eyes lit up noticeably the moment he saw the complete outline of the bottle; the light flashed so quickly it was almost an illusion.

But Xu Xiaoyan caught it.

He took it, but instead of putting it away immediately, he first weighed it in his hand, feeling its heavy weight and the sloshing texture of the liquid.

Then, he turned slightly to the side, allowing more light from the doorway to fall on the bottle.

Squinting, I carefully examined every word and every image on the label, even the seal on the bottle cap.

A low, satisfied sigh involuntarily escaped his throat—the instinctive reaction of someone who knows their stuff when they see a genuine piece.

"Um……"

He made a nasal sound of approval, without saying anything more, but his actions spoke volumes.

He placed the bottle securely on the floor next to the recliner, close to the wall.

I even gently pushed it inward with my foot to make sure it was in the shadows and not too conspicuous.

After doing all this, the expression on his face finally changed from indifferent to calm.

Instead, she revealed a rather genuine smile, even one that seemed to say, "You're quite perceptive, girl," and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes smoothed out a bit.

"Young lady, you know the rules and are willing to spend money." His words were a formal acknowledgment of Xu Xiaoyan's "sincerity" and "sensibility".

This also sets the tone for the "operations" to come: if you show enough "sincerity," I will naturally give you the corresponding "convenience."

He said no more, and with a little effort, he stood up, holding onto the armrest of the recliner.

Then, he beckoned to Xu Xiaoyan, "Come in with me."

Xu Xiaoyan was overjoyed, knowing that the most crucial step had been taken.

She didn't dare to delay, so she quickly zipped up her backpack and put it back on.

Then, following closely behind the old man, they entered through the inconspicuous side door of warehouse number three.

Inside the door lies a completely different world.

The warehouse is unusually tall and spacious, with a ceiling height of at least seven or eight meters and a vast area that seems to stretch as far as the eye can see.

The most eye-catching thing is the rows and rows of electric tricycle food carts neatly parked in front of you, all painted in white with the words "C-zone Convenience Service" and numbers.

They were densely packed together; at first glance, there were probably hundreds of them, which was quite a sight.

The uniform colors and logos create a unified visual impact.

But as the old man said, the differences between the cars become immediately apparent with just a closer look:

The rows of cars near the entrance and main passageway are truly "premium".

The paint surface is as shiny as a mirror, reflecting a lustrous sheen under the light, clearly indicating that it has been recently painted or carefully maintained.

The tires are full and the treads are clear, indicating that they are either new or have been used very little.

Some cars also have small LED light boxes or display racks installed on the sides or back. Although they are not powered on now, one can imagine the effect when they are lit up.

The driver's seat was completely clean and the dashboard was spotless.

These vehicles don't look like they're for manual labor; they look more like prototypes for an exhibition.

The further into the warehouse and to the sides, the worse the condition of the vehicles became.

The vehicles in the middle area have decent paint, but there are minor scratches or signs of use. The tire pressure is adequate, but the tire treads are noticeably worn.

The configuration has also returned to the basics: a simple metal frame, a slightly outdated cab, which is considered "ordinary" – usable but unremarkable.

As for the cars further inside or piled up in the corner, they are clearly "defective products" or "overstocked inventory".

The paint is mottled, and in some places it has even bubbled or peeled off, exposing the underlying sheet metal, which has rusted.

The tires were flat or visibly worn, and the equipment was extremely basic.

Many of them are just bare metal truck beds with a makeshift driver's seat.

Some of the cars also had obvious dents or scratches, as if they had been in a "battle".

The old man, with his hands behind his back, led Xu Xiaoyan through the passageway between the vehicles. Occasionally, he would point at a car and mutter a comment or two.

"See those cars over there?"

He pointed to the few gourmet food trucks closest to the entrance, saying they were "reserved for 'specific' spots or people who receive 'special treatment'."

His words were ambiguous, but Xu Xiaoyan understood them instantly.

These cars are an exclusive perk for the privileged class; ordinary people don't even have the right to glance at them, let alone dream of owning one.

She nodded knowingly, her gaze merely sweeping over the subject without lingering.

The old man then pointed to the largest number of vehicles in the middle area:

"These are just ordinary approval slips issued according to the procedure; they vary in quality and depend entirely on luck."

"If you're lucky, you'll get a well-maintained car; if you're unlucky, you'll get a car that's about to fall apart, and you can only accept your bad luck." His tone carried a hint of indifference, as if he were used to it all.

Finally, he turned and led Xu Xiaoyan to a relatively secluded corner on the inner side of the warehouse.

There are only five or six vehicles parked here.

However, upon closer inspection, while these cars were not as dazzling as the "premium" ones at the entrance, they were clearly a level above the "ordinary" ones in the middle.

The paint appears to have been recently repainted uniformly, with a uniform and bright color and no obvious flaws.

The configuration is also relatively complete:

The shed is sturdy and clean, with a solid metal frame and anti-collision strips added to the edges of the truck bed.

These appear to be carefully prepared reserve vehicles, ready for "special allocation" but not yet "reserved".

The old man stopped and stood in front of this small "premium reserve area," hands on his hips, his eyes scanning between the cars.

He first pointed to a three-wheeled food cart in the corner that looked particularly sturdy and had a slightly darker canopy. The number "03" was prominently painted in white on the cart.

"Look, this car, number 03," the old man said with a smug air, as if he were showing off something he owned.

"It's the best one in this corner, especially the battery," he emphasized.

"These are new batteries that were just picked up from the logistics department's battery depot last month, and they have enough capacity."

A full charge lasts for a week with normal use, even if you run back and forth between your three locations and set up your stall. It's worry-free.

He continued, "And this canopy, see it? It's a thicker one, almost twice as thick as the standard one. Even if you put some slightly heavier items on it, it won't collapse."

Then, he bent down and pointed to the inside of the truck bed, "Inside, an extendable folding shelf has been installed as well."

When not in use, it doesn't take up much space when folded up, and can be unfolded and covered with a board or mat when needed.

He glanced at Xu Xiaoyan and said meaningfully:

"When there's no business, or when I don't want to go back to my place at night, I can unfold it up and use it as a simple sleeping mat."

At least I can lie down and rest, which saves me some money on accommodation! This design is practical!

As the old man spoke, Xu Xiaoyan's eyes widened and her heart began to race.

The battery is the "heart" and "lifeline" of the food truck. The new, high-capacity battery means she doesn't have to worry about the battery level all the time and can arrange her business hours more flexibly.

The thickened canopy is not only durable, but also related to the comfort of setting up a stall and the safety of goods.

That folding shelf is really practical!

Can it be used as a sleeping bed? This is a godsend!

She was so excited that she almost immediately asked for more details about car number 03, or simply said she wanted it.

But seeing that the old man seemed to have something else to say, she quickly swallowed back the eager question that was already on the tip of her tongue.

He just stared intently at car number 03 with increasingly fervent and expectant eyes, then looked at the old man, waiting for him to say something next.

The old man seemed quite satisfied with her reaction.

He then pointed to a food truck next to him that looked almost exactly like number 03, except that the canopy was a slightly lighter color and the number "07" was painted on the body.

He spoke more casually about "that car, number 07":

"The batteries were replaced with the same batch six months ago. The capacity is sufficient, but after many cycles, the range is definitely not as good as a brand new one."

The canopy is the standard model, a bit thinner, which is fine for everyday use, but it can't compare to the thicker one in terms of sturdiness.

He paused for a moment, then added, "Oh, right, both vehicles are equipped with matching folding tables and two small stools, which is convenient for guests to dine in."

After the introduction, he turned to Xu Xiaoyan and said, "03 and 07, you can choose one. Consider it... compensation for your 'average' position."

"Uncle, thank you! Thank you so much!"

She immediately said, her tone filled with genuine gratitude and decisiveness, "I choose car number 03!"

The old man nodded, showing no surprise, as if he had anticipated her choice.

"Okay, number 03 it is," he said decisively. "Go to that table over there and fill out the vehicle registration form."

"You're young, help me scan the registration form into the system, and I'll go to the back storage room to get you the car keys and other necessary items."

He pointed to a wooden table against the wall next to the warehouse entrance, on which were placed a register, pens, inkpads, and other items.

Xu Xiaoyan quickly ran over. The form was very simple, mainly checking the approval number, recipient information, vehicle number, etc.

She filled out the form neatly as required, and then solemnly signed her name in the "Recipient's Signature" column.

She had just finished scanning when the old man came over with a brown paper file folder.

He placed the file folder on the table and took out the items from it one by one:

Two silver keys tied together, a black charger, and a metal license plate marked with 03.

In addition, documents such as the "C-zone Convenience Service Vehicle Use and Maintenance Manual", "List of Items Accompanying the Vehicle", and "List of Basic Vehicle Items and Suggested Initial Procurement" were also included.