35: Chapter 35 The Cheapest Car
Three days after the party, Lin Feng received a call.
It was from the sales manager of the 4S dealership in Los Angeles.
"Mr. Lin, there is a problem with the paperwork for the car you bought last time."
Lin Feng, chewing on a straw, squatted at the shop entrance: "What problem?"
The sales manager stammered: "You should come over, let's talk in person."
Lin Feng hung up and turned to look at Li Ming, who was peeling potatoes nearby.
"Let's go, come with me to Los Angeles."
Li Ming was stunned: "What for?"
Lin Feng stood up and dusted off his pants: "To pick up the car I never picked up."
Li Ming followed Lin Feng into the used pickup truck and drove all the way to Los Angeles.
On the way, he could not help but ask: "Boss, didn't you buy that car a month ago? Why are you picking it up only now?"
Lin Feng looked out the window and said slowly: "The FBI took me away right after I bought it that day. I forgot about it later."
Li Ming fell silent.
This boss of his was truly absurd.
Upon arriving at the 4S dealership, the sales manager was already waiting at the entrance.
He was a white man in his forties named David, the same one Lin Feng had amused with his broken English last time.
Seeing Lin Feng, his expression was a bit complicated.
"Mr. Lin, let's go inside to talk."
The three of them entered the office.
David closed the door, took a document out of a drawer, and pushed it toward Lin Feng.
"Mr. Lin, the car you bought last time was the cheapest model, right?"
Lin Feng nodded.
David took a deep breath: "But we do not actually sell that model at our dealership."
Lin Feng was stunned.
David continued: "That was a display car, not for sale. But that day you... your bald friend was so funny that I accidentally... sold it to you."
Li Ming, standing nearby, held back his laughter until his face turned red.
Lin Feng raised an eyebrow: "So? Do you want to take it back?"
David shook his head: "No. The car has already been registered, it cannot be taken back. But—"
He took out another document:
"Our headquarters' lawyers say this transaction was non-compliant, and they want to hold me accountable. I might... be fired."
Lin Feng stared at him for three seconds.
Then he asked: "How long have you worked here?"
David lowered his head: "Fifteen years."
Lin Feng was silent for a second.
Then he stood up and patted David on the shoulder:
"Wait."
Lin Feng walked out of the office, squatted at the dealership entrance, and took out his phone.
He called someone.
"David Chen, help me check something."
On the other end of the line, the voice of the Silicon Valley investor, David, sounded lazy: "Speak."
Lin Feng explained the situation.
After listening, the other David was silent for three seconds, then said:
"The parent company of that dealership is a publicly traded company called AutNa. I have their shareholders' phone numbers. What do you want to do?"
Lin Feng chewed on his straw, looking across the street:
"I want them to know that an employee who has worked for fifteen years is worth more than a display car."
Three days later, Lin Feng received an email.
It was from the Vice President of AutNa.
The gist was: After investigation, David's actions were indeed non-compliant, but considering his fifteen-year service record, as well as "certain special reasons," the company decided to treat the matter leniently—a 10% pay cut and one year of probation.
Lin Feng stared at the email and smiled.
He forwarded the email to David with a note attached:
"Next time you sell a car, remember to look carefully and do not sell the display model."
David's reply came quickly:
"Mr. Lin, I do not know how you did it. But thank you. Really, thank you."
Lin Feng did not reply.
He squatted at the shop entrance, chewing on his straw, looking across the street.
Li Ming leaned over: "Boss, did you get it done?"
Lin Feng nodded.
Li Ming asked: "How did you get it done?"
Lin Feng thought for a moment and said earnestly:
"I called that Vice President and asked him one question."
Li Ming: "What question?"
Lin Feng said: "I asked him if he wanted to know what true happiness is."
Li Ming was stunned.
Lin Feng continued: "Then I told him David's story—a man who worked for fifteen years and almost got fired because he wanted to make a customer laugh."
He looked across the street, the corners of his mouth curling up:
"He was silent for a long time after hearing it. Then he said, 'I understand.'"
Li Ming stared at him for three seconds.
Then he laughed.
"Boss, you really are a lunatic."
Lin Feng nodded: "I know."
A week later, David appeared at the entrance of the old shop driving a brand-new car.
He parked the car on the side of the road, got out, and walked up to Lin Feng.
Lin Feng looked up at him: "What for?"
David handed over the car keys:
"This is my own car. It is not from the dealership. It is a gift for you."
Lin Feng was stunned.
David continued: "Because you let me know that my fifteen years were not in vain."
Lin Feng stared at the keys for three seconds.
Then he smiled.
He stood up and patted David on the shoulder:
"You keep the car. I have a car."
He pointed to the used pickup at the entrance:
"That one is just fine."
David was stunned: "Then how did you get here?"
Lin Feng blinked: "I took the bus."
After David left, Lin Feng continued squatting.
The old man next to him walked over slowly and squatted beside him.
"That car is not bad."
Lin Feng nodded.
The old man asked: "You really do not want it?"
Lin Feng said: "I do not."
The old man was silent for a second, then said:
"Then what do you want?"
Lin Feng thought for a while and pointed into the shop:
"I want them all to be here."
The old man looked in the direction of his finger.
In the shop, Maria was frying chicken, Frank was at the register, Chen Yao was calculating accounts, Li Ming was peeling potatoes, Tommy was serving customers, Sofia was laughing, Mike was mixing sauces, Old Zhang was mopping the floor, Xiao Su was taking photos, and Lily was drawing.
A group of people, busy and lively.
The old man watched for a while, then smiled.
"Understood."
"Chapter 35 End"