novelsite Chapter 276 Demanding Additional Amounts
Chapter 276 Demanding Additional Amounts
It is still expensive, but it is the relatively best option she can get under the current rules and conditions.
With this action, Mr. Wang silently answered her previous request about "where to save money".
She nodded decisively, "It can be done! Thank you for your trouble, Master Wang!"
"Let's go with the plan you suggested, and I accept the price." Her straightforwardness was also a statement of her attitude.
Then, as if she had just suddenly remembered something, a slightly embarrassed expression appeared on her face, and she added:
"Oh, right, Mr. Wang, there's another small, perhaps impertinent, favor I'd like to ask you for again. Would that be alright?"
She paused slightly, observed Mr. Wang's reaction, and seeing that he did not immediately show impatience, she continued cautiously:
"Look, inside this carriage, apart from the area where the control panel was converted, there is still a lot of space on both sides and at the back."
Since it's just sitting empty anyway, I was thinking... could I trouble you again to help me weld two sturdier shelves and fix them to the inner walls on both sides of the carriage?
It doesn't need to be too complicated or fancy, just a simple tiered shelf that can hold things securely.
As she spoke, she gestured with her hands to indicate the approximate shape and location of the name:
"I plan to use this truck for buying and selling groceries. With a shelf, it will be much more convenient and organized to store goods for sale or other personal items. It also makes better use of the space."
"I'm not sure if this will be too much trouble for you? If it's convenient, please just include the cost of the labor and materials."
She made this request very cautiously.
She wanted to see what would happen after the main modification plan and price were finalized, and after she had acted "easy" and "sensible" enough.
Can this additional, but technically simple, "minor request" be accommodated?
This is a common type of marginal request in business interactions, made based on an established foundation of good cooperation.
After listening, Mr. Wang took a deep drag on the cigarette butt in his hand, which was so short it was burning hot.
Then it accurately bounced into an old ceramic ashtray with a chipped edge that Xiao Zhou had placed on the side of the counter at some point, making a slight "hiss" sound.
He lifted his eyelids and glanced at Xu Xiaoyan again.
His gaze was calm and expressionless, yet it seemed to carry a knowing edge, as if to say, "I knew you had more to say." He turned to Xiao Zhou, who had been standing respectfully to the side waiting, and instructed him:
"Two simple shelves will be made using the leftover angle steel scraps and composite board scraps I just mentioned."
Keep the structure simple. The uprights are welded to the frame of the carriage, and the horizontal bracing is layered. As long as it's sturdy enough and can bear the weight, that's fine. Don't bother with all those fancy things.
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Xu Xiaoyan. "This is a bonus, you can have it. No need to pay extra."
Xu Xiaoyan's face immediately lit up with a grateful smile, and her voice was filled with genuine joy:
"Oh! Thank you so much, Master Wang! You've really helped me a lot! I... I can't possibly thank you enough!" She thanked him repeatedly, lowering her posture even further.
Master Wang waved his hand dismissively, interrupting Xu Xiaoyan.
Turning to Xiao Zhou, he instructed him on the next steps: "Xiao Zhou, take her inside to Old Li in the finance department to pay the deposit and complete the formalities. As for the car..." He pointed outside:
"Leave it here for today, keep the key, and tell Lao Li that I've taken this order. Prepare the materials as I just mentioned. If I'm free tonight, I'll start cutting the materials."
"Yes, Master! I understand!" Xiao Zhou replied quickly.
He turned to Xu Xiaoyan, his tone much more familiar than before, even carrying a hint of warmth like that of someone "one of his own":
"Sister, this way, the finance office is inside, Accountant Li should be here right now."
Xu Xiaoyan bowed slightly to Master Wang and said, "Thank you for your help, Master Wang. I'm counting on you for everything."
Then, she picked up her hiking backpack and followed Xiao Zhou toward a small door further inside the shop, with a wooden sign that read "No Trespassing."
Pushing open the door, there was a corridor behind it. The so-called "finance office" was actually just a small partitioned-off space at the end of the corridor, which was originally supposed to be a storage room.
The space was very small, containing only a desk piled high with ledgers and receipts, a wooden chair, and a metal filing cabinet.
And the points transfer terminal on the desk, which is connected to the base's internal network.
The machine's casing is dark gray, and the screen is small, shimmering with a faint blue light.
An elderly accountant with thinning gray hair sat behind a table, wearing thick reading glasses perched on his nose.
He was engrossed in a thick ledger, carefully checking something with an old-fashioned fountain pen, the nib making a soft rustling sound as it glided across the paper.
He didn't even look up when he heard the door open.
Xiao Zhou walked over quickly, bent down, leaned close to the old accountant's ear, whispered a few words, and pointed to Xu Xiaoyan behind him.
Then he handed over the repair invoice with the total price written on it, which was signed and confirmed by Master Wang.
The old accountant slowly raised his head, pushed up his reading glasses that had slipped down to the bridge of his nose, and glanced at Xu Xiaoyan through the thick lenses.
He didn't say much or exchange pleasantries, but simply pointed with his thin fingers to a sensor area next to the desktop terminal, indicating to Xu Xiaoyan what to do.
Xu Xiaoyan understood, took two steps forward, and brought her left arm close to the slightly glowing sensor area.
The machine emitted a soft, short "beep," and the small blue screen lit up. The old accountant skillfully tapped a few keys on the terminal keyboard.
A transfer amount popped up on the screen—800 points, which was exactly 30% of the total price written by Master Wang.
Xu Xiaoyan pressed the "Confirm" button on the touchscreen, and the screen flashed, displaying "Transfer successful".
He pulled one out from a thick stack of three blank receipts beside him.
He skillfully laid out the blue carbon paper, then picked up the old-fashioned fountain pen and began to fill out the form with swift strokes:
Customer's name, vehicle license plate number, brief description of the modification project, deposit amount, payment date, and an estimated completion time.
After filling it out, he took a stamp from the drawer, pressed it into the inkpad, and then stamped it heavily on the "Receiving Unit Stamp" section of the document.
The words "Honghu Motor Vehicle Repair and Modification Company Financial Seal" are clearly visible in the red ink.
With a "rip," he deftly tore the document along the creases of the carbon paper, handed the top customer copy to Xu Xiaoyan, and kept the stub and accounting copy for himself.
"Keep the receipt safe, don't lose it. You'll need this to pick up your car," the old accountant instructed before bowing his head again to continue checking his ledgers.
"Thank you," Xu Xiaoyan said as she took the receipt, which still bore the distinctive blue marks of carbon paper and a faint smell of ink, and carefully examined the information on it.
After confirming that everything was correct, I carefully folded it twice, put it into the inside pocket of my coat, and zipped it up.
Then, she took the master key to the dark blue pickup truck from the side pocket of her backpack and handed it to Xiao Zhou, who was waiting beside her.
Xiao Zhou took the keys and pulled out a small roll of self-adhesive labels and a marker from his work clothes pocket.
He skillfully wrote the character "Xu" and the last four digits of the license plate on a blank label, peeled off the adhesive backing, and carefully stuck it on the key ring.
"Sis, I've put the keys away. Don't worry about the car; we'll park it in our private backyard."
Mr. Wang should start work early tomorrow morning. The exact completion time will depend on the actual progress, but since he has taken the job, he will hurry up.
It will probably take three or four days. We'll get back to you later. Didn't we just add each other as friends?
If there's anything we need to communicate about, or if there are any updates on the progress, I'll contact you.
"Okay, thank you for your hard work, Master Zhou," Xu Xiaoyan nodded again in thanks, her attitude sincere.
She didn't linger any longer, turned around, and returned to the noisy repair shop filled with the smell of engine oil.
Lifting the heavy, cold-proof curtain, a rush of cool air washed away the lingering industrial smell.
The points she paid for the capsule she rented hadn't expired yet, and she had quite a few things to do over the next three days.
We need to reread the "Purchase List" that came with the dark blue pickup truck, which has higher authority.
By comparing the differences between the official supply points in Zone C and Zone B, the most efficient procurement route and list can be planned.
We need to check out the designated free parking areas in Zone C to confirm the safety and convenience of nighttime parking.
It is also necessary to understand the access rules for Zone B, the market overview, and all the details that need to be noted when driving that special vehicle between the two zones.
With these tasks quickly listed in her mind, Xu Xiaoyan determined the direction and started walking towards the area where the capsule was located.
Once the nerves, which had been under intense tension for over ten hours, relaxed, an intense hunger rose from the empty stomach, bringing waves of aching cramps and palpitations.
At the same time, a deep sense of fatigue swept over my whole body. My limbs felt like they were filled with lead, and every step was more strenuous than usual. My temples throbbed, and even my thinking seemed to become somewhat sluggish.
She needs to replenish her energy immediately.
Not far ahead on the street corner, there was a makeshift stall that was barely made up of metal plates, wooden sticks and waterproof tarpaulins.
At this moment, a small LED light connected to the old battery is still stubbornly lit, emitting a dim yellow light.
Those are mobile food stalls, which usually sell the most basic, cheap food that can quickly fill your stomach.
From the perspective of the base's officials, these stalls are considered unlicensed "gray market operations" and are not permitted because they are outside the official material control and taxation system.