Chen Yuanshan was stunned when he heard Jing Mingqiu call the middle-aged man "Dad," and stood frozen, afraid to intervene.
Jing Dashan seized the opportunity and rushed over. Looking at the greatly changed shop, his face was filled with rage. "Jing Mingqiu, if I hadn't returned, would you have sold our shop?"
"Sold the shop? How is that possible!" Jing Mingqiu was very confused. "Why would I sell our shop?"
Realizing that Jing Mingqiu genuinely didn't know about selling the shop, Jing Dashan's emotions eased considerably. "Son, I know you don't want to sell the shop, but someone wanted to trick you into selling it. They've already transferred the money to my card."
"That's right," Zhao Cui also squeezed out from the crowd outside, pointing at the large pile of miscellaneous items newly added to the courtyard. Her brow furrowed. "Look, they've already started moving things out. They're planning to take advantage of our absence to clear out the shop completely and present it as a done deal."
"Dad, Mom, it's really not what you think..."
Jing Mingqiu tried his best to explain for a while, but seeing that his parents were still indignant, he knew that a few words wouldn't convince them.
Upgrading to System Level 1 only required a hundred technology points. He already had sixty-five, and modifying the L2 professional drone just now gave him another sixteen, leaving only nineteen more.
This large cargo drone modification plan was very complex. Based on previous experience, Jing Mingqiu estimated it would take at least twenty technology points, which would be enough for him to reach Level 2.
Jing Mingqiu was very curious about how the System Level 2 would change. Would it allow him to modify mobile phones and computers, reaching the level of The Matrix?
To verify this idea, Jing Mingqiu decisively grabbed the still-standing Chen Yuanshan to take the blame, while he himself took the opportunity to slip back.
"Manager Sun, you caused this trouble, you deal with it. I'm going back to modifying."
Chen Yuanshan was slow-witted and not good at explaining. Just as he was about to slip away, Jing Dashan grabbed him and demanded an explanation.
At this critical moment, Sun Yi finally understood the whole story and squeezed in front of Chen Yuanshan, quickly explaining to Mr. and Mrs. Jing Dashan.
"Master, you seem to have misunderstood. We're not moving out the shop. It's just that this room is a bit small, and we have to move out some less important items first before we can move in the other equipment."
Jing Dashan's eyes glared, staring intently at Sun Yi. "Isn't this trying to usurp our place!"
"That's not what I meant, Master. We're not buying your shop. We want your son to help us modify the drone..."
Sun Yi and Chen Yuanshan, their voices overlapping, spoke for a long time and finally explained the whole story, every detail.
"So, you're saying," Jing Dashan scratched his head, "this one hundred thousand yuan is for the modification fee, not because my son sold the shop to you? But he just graduated from high school this year, how much modification skill could he possibly have to warrant such a large sum?"
Sun Yi was very troubled upon realizing that Jing Dashan, as Jing Mingqiu's father, had no understanding of drone modification. Just as he was contemplating how to explain it clearly, Li Yong's scream echoed from the courtyard.
"It's flying! It's really flying!"
Everyone rushed out and saw Li Yong performing an aerial stunt. With two ropes around his waist, he was lifted into the air by a large drone. Zheng Mao, holding the remote control, was laughing heartily below.
"Zheng Mao," Chen Yuanshan said angrily, "what are you doing! We're modifying drones, not planes. They can't carry people!"
Zheng Mao looked wronged. "Coach Chen, I was forced. Brother Li didn't believe Master Xiao's words, he didn't believe this drone could now carry a hundred kilograms, so he insisted on testing it himself."
"Still, you shouldn't be flying with a person! Hurry and lower him..." Chen Yuanshan, worried about an accident, quickly urged Zheng Mao to bring him down.
"Don't lower him yet, don't lower him yet!" Li Yong's voice came from the air, fluctuating. "I'm collecting data. Zheng Mao, what's the engine load now? Are there any system errors?"
Zheng Mao brought up the backend system and quickly scanned it. "Brother Li, the engine load is seventy percent. The power output is very stable, and all systems are operating normally. You're too high up, it's dangerous. I'll lower you down immediately."
"Don't rush, don't rush!" Li Yong refused again. "Have Zheng Mao fly the drone around the courtyard to test its maneuverability..."
Zheng Mao was just a participant and dared not defy the engineer's request. Chen Yuanshan, as the team coach, was not as lenient. He directly snatched the remote control from Zheng Mao and forcibly lowered him.
"Li Yong, if you want to test the performance, go to a dedicated testing ground. It's just been modified, what if it malfunctions!"
Facing Chen Yuanshan's reprimand, Li Yong paid no mind. "Old Chen, don't be scared. At this height, even if you fall, at most you'll sprain your ankle. It won't be a big deal. Besides, Master Jing Mingqiu modified it, what are you still worried about?"
"Give me the remote control, I'll control it myself!"
On matters of principle, Chen Yuanshan would not back down.
"Even if it was modified by top masters from international teams, it must be tested on a professional track. If you're not afraid of death, others are! What if it malfunctions and injures someone else!"
Seeing Chen Yuanshan's firm stance, Li Yong had no choice but to give up. Using his hands and mouth, he unbuckled himself from the large cargo drone, picked it up, and carried it to the truck bed, placing it alongside the three L2 professional competition drones that had been modified earlier.
"Old Chen, you handle the payment. I'm going to the testing ground for testing."
With that, Li Yong jumped into the cockpit, started the engine, and floored the accelerator, taking the secretly onboard Zheng Mao with him and driving off at the fastest speed.
Watching the truck disappear into the distance, Chen Yuanshan said with a wry smile, "Li Yong, you rogue engineer, you ran off with the modified drone. In that case, how much should we pay Master Jing Mingqiu?"
"As much as possible," Sun Yi walked over from behind and patted Chen Yuanshan's shoulder. "I've found out that Jing Mingqiu's father only repairs ordinary appliances. Jing Mingqiu is entirely self-taught."
"For such a genius master, if we don't invest heavily while he's still young and not famous, it will be too late to try and win his favor when he becomes successful. Therefore, I plan to pay the full amount upfront and gift him the equipment and parts as a token of our appreciation."
"I have no objection to paying the full amount, but," Chen Yuanshan's brow furrowed, "if we give all the equipment used for modification to Master Jing, what will we do for drone modifications?"