He could have salvaged usable parts from discarded appliances in the shop to make do, but a while ago, Jing Mingqiu had used up most of the useful components while making tools.
Seeing that the delivery driver was in urgent need of the vehicle, Jing Mingqiu reluctantly dismantled the horsepower regulator he had recently finished making and used its parts to construct a control board for an electric tricycle.
[Congratulations to the host for completing the Tongda three-wheeled electric vehicle and earning forty technology points.]
[Current upgrade progress: 75/200]
"It's fixed," Jing Mingqiu handed the key to the delivery driver. "Try it out."
The delivery driver took the key, got into the electric tricycle, started the motor, and drove around the repair shop, looking very satisfied.
"Thank you, master. How much do I owe you?"
Earning money from deliveries was hard work, and Jing Mingqiu wasn't short on money. He casually quoted a price, "A hundred yuan will be fine."
"How can a hundred yuan be enough?" The delivery driver shook his head vehemently. "I saw you dismantling your own tools to help me fix this vehicle. One must have a conscience. Take this money; if it's not enough, I'll make up the difference next time."
Jing Mingqiu looked at the large wad of change the delivery driver had pressed into his arms, a warmth flowing through his heart. "What's your name? I can modify your vehicle to make it more suitable for deliveries. Come back to see me tomorrow afternoon."
"My name is Zhang Deshun. Young master, I still have deliveries to make, so I have to go now."
With that, Zhang Deshun hopped onto the tricycle and left in a hurry.
After watching Zhang Deshun leave, Jing Mingqiu carefully inventoried the shop's spare parts and found that, apart from common consumables like solder and copper wire, there were very few other parts left.
Jing Mingqiu could use his Level 8 Mechanic ability to modify various parts and also rely on the system's guidance to create various tools.
However, the system had not yet enabled the physical exchange function, and Jing Mingqiu couldn't conjure a part out of thin air. To successfully complete modifications, he needed real parts for support.
Jing Mingqiu quickly calculated and compiled a list of all the parts that might be needed for repairing home appliances and modifying electric vehicles.
[The shop owner is temporarily out. For urgent matters, please call the number nearby.]
After hanging the "Temporarily Closed" sign on the door handle and changing the displayed phone number to his own, Jing Mingqiu closed the shop and rode his electric scooter to the hardware market where his father usually sourced his supplies.
Unlike the bustling and noisy vegetable market, the hardware market was much more desolate. The shops on both sides of the road were open, but there were not many customers on the street.
This was mainly because hardware stores did not rely on occasional purchases from individual customers but generated their primary income from large-scale procurement by repair shops or construction teams.
Jing Mingqiu had been dragged along by his father to help move parts more than once, and many shop owners recognized him.
Therefore, as soon as Jing Mingqiu entered, he was immediately recognized.
A well-fed fat man with a face full of oil and a smile approached him.
"You must be Jing Dashan's son. I'm Chen Lishun; your father has bought from my store many times."
Before Jing Mingqiu could speak, Chen Lishun directly took charge of the conversation.
"Why are you here by yourself today? Where is your father? Why didn't he come?"
Jing Mingqiu didn't overthink it and stated his purpose directly: "My father is on vacation, and I'm staying to watch the shop. We're short on supplies, so I've come to buy some parts."
"What kind of parts do you need? I'm not bragging, but in the entire Dongyang Hardware Market, no other store has a more complete selection than mine. From screws used in spaceships to floor drains for sewers, as long as the money is right, I can get them for you."
"I don't need such high-end parts," Jing Mingqiu handed over the pre-prepared list. "Just prepare a set according to this, and it will be enough."
Chen Lishun took the list and quickly scanned it. "Are you sure you need this many parts? Many of the items on here, like large gear wheels and miniature springs, aren't typically needed for repairs."
"You don't need to worry about that," Jing Mingqiu said, too lazy to explain. "Just prepare according to the list, and I won't shortchange you."
Seeing that Jing Mingqiu was determined, Chen Lishun stopped talking, left with a "wait a moment," and disappeared into the warehouse.
Ten minutes later, Chen Lishun returned, his arms laden. A mountain of parts was piled before Jing Mingqiu.
"That's 2,762 items in total, including the extra-large gear wheels and the miniature mixed shafts. These add up to 2,700 pieces. For your father's sake, you can pay ten thousand yuan."
"Don't worry," Chen Lishun looked at Jing Mingqiu very sincerely. "Your father and I have been old acquaintances for many years. I would never cheat you."
Jing Mingqiu walked to the table, picked up a box, and weighed it in his hand, his brow furrowing even deeper.
The box depicted a gear wheel, with the dimensions marked as 3mm next to it.
Under normal circumstances, a box of gears like this should weigh 300 grams. However, the one in Jing Mingqiu's hand weighed no more than 270 grams.
The insufficient weight either meant he was shortchanging him by hiding some of the gears, or he had weighed them individually and the material of the gears was not Grade 45 steel.
If one was an accident, Jing Mingqiu checked a few more, and without exception, all of them had problems, big or small.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, they're treating me like a gullible fool!"
Jing Mingqiu, too lazy to argue with such a deceitful merchant, ignored Chen Lishun's boasting and turned to leave, intending to walk away directly.
Seeing the fish about to escape, Chen Lishun quickly grabbed Jing Mingqiu. "Young Jing, why are you leaving so quickly? Don't you want the goods anymore?"
"I have no interest in that scrap metal, Boss Chen. You can keep those treasures for yourself."
Sensing that Jing Mingqiu had seen through his scheme, Chen Lishun did not give up. Instead, he beckoned to his neighbors, and they surrounded Jing Mingqiu.
Facing the crowd, Jing Mingqiu showed no fear. "What? You failed to trick me, so now you want to rob me outright!"
"We are all honest businessmen. How could we possibly rob someone?" Chen Lishun stepped forward and walked up to Jing Mingqiu. "I just want an explanation."
"Jing Mingqiu, you came with a ridiculously long list, asking to purchase the items on it. I went to great lengths, exerting all my effort, to help you find them all."
"And you, after just a glance, without even opening the packaging, immediately declared them scrap metal and tried to leave! Ladies and gentlemen, please judge this. Is there such a thing in the world?"
"Now that I have brought out these items, you must buy them today, whether you want to or not!"
It was the first time Jing Mingqiu had encountered such a blatant distortion of facts. He laughed in exasperation. "Heh! Chen Lishun, if these items of yours were good, I would definitely buy them. But these are all defective products. Why should I buy them!"
Chen Lishun shouted loudly, "You say they're defective. Show me the evidence!"
"You want evidence? I'll give you evidence!" Jing Mingqiu suddenly reached out and grabbed a box...