31: A crisis of trust (5K chapter, please support!)

"Brother Feng, what's a suitable quote for us?"

Zhao Mingyuan had given up thinking and looked at Jiang Feng eagerly.

"For original factory repairs, just the parts procurement alone will cost almost 300,000. Adding in miscellaneous expenses, the quote would definitely be around 400,000. We don't have the qualifications to provide warranty, so we definitely can't charge such a high price."

Jiang Feng's tone was calm, and he uncharacteristically gave a long explanation. Zhao Mingyuan nodded repeatedly as he listened.

"I understand. So, should we quote 300,000?"

Zhao Mingyuan bit his nail, trembling with excitement. If 300,000 was approved, after deducting the 160,000 cost, and if he and Jiang Feng split it fifty-fifty, wouldn't he get 70,000 earth federation coins?

This had already broken his highest record for money earned in a week since he opened his repair shop!

No, not a week, a month.

Except for the last stroke of luck, getting a superluminal engine to repair, he had never made such easy money.

It was so easy that he even questioned whether he deserved a fifty-fifty split with Jiang Feng.

"Let's start by conceding from 350,000," Jiang Feng finally decided, letting Zhao Mingyuan handle the negotiation.

He didn't want to always be at the forefront. If there was an issue, he still needed Zhao Mingyuan to bear the responsibility. Otherwise, why wouldn't he just set up his own repair shop? Why cooperate with Zhao Mingyuan?

Zhao Mingyuan excitedly rushed over and pleaded poverty to Manager Zhang. Manager Zhang, while perfunctorily dealing with him, used his peripheral vision to watch Jiang Feng. Jiang Feng naturally noticed his gaze, so he pretended to listen intently.

"308,800, that should be acceptable, 315,000 doesn't sound good." Manager Zhang said this, and then suddenly caught a glimpse of Jiang Feng sitting up a bit straighter, leaning forward slightly more.

"310,000, Manager Zhang, 310,000 is the bottom line!" Zhao Mingyuan was extremely firm, waving his hand as if to cut through steel.

Manager Zhang pondered for a few seconds, then mused for a moment, until he saw Jiang Feng straighten up bit by bit, and only then did he finally confirm.

'This should be their real bottom line.'

'Hmph, Engineer Jiang is also human, after all. Trapped by money, no one is exempt from common customs...'

Manager Zhang thought for a moment and then deliberately put on a determined facade: "Alright, 310,000 it is!"

"But you must fix it for me within two days! Otherwise, I'll pay the remaining balance in installments!"

Before he finished speaking, he saw Jiang Feng walk over as if teleporting, and said expressionlessly: "I need to borrow two sets of exoskeletons, and one or two helpers! I remember you have exoskeleton boxing matches here, so this shouldn't be difficult!"

Manager Zhang chuckled inwardly: 'See, see, it seems our Engineer Jiang is only outwardly cold as ice...'

"Absolutely no problem, I'll even include three meals for you, how about it?" Manager Zhang laughed heartily.

"Deal!" Zhao Mingyuan extended his hand, but Manager Zhang frowned slightly.

Jiang Feng took a small step back, and only then did Manager Zhang sigh and shake hands with Zhao Mingyuan.

'Hmph, that's strange... What ability does this Zhao fellow have that makes Engineer Jiang think so much for him?' Manager Zhang thought to himself as he led the two to choose power exoskeletons.

Just as they passed through the corridor, Old Wang, who had been waiting for a long time, finally captured a stunning group photo.

The main subject of the photo was Jiang Feng, there was no doubt about that, but behind him was a scantily clad club Dancer wearing black stockings, who happened to be passing by, and the background for all of this was the blood-soaked boxing ring!

'Ha! I never thought I, Wang Defa, had a talent for photography!'

'Jiang Feng, oh Jiang Feng, it's your fault for not bringing me along to earn money. Back then, we used to bet together, cried when we lost, drank when we won, and I even covered for you with your wife... But now, we're both unemployed.'

'Why are you so noble? Why did you quit gambling? Why were you able to find a way out?'

'I even came to you for help, and you actually told me that reselling used parts could make money? If I had that kind of brain, wouldn't I do it myself? Do I need you to remind me?'

Old Wang's eyes were complex, the whites of his eyes growing redder: 'You still want a happy family... I'll kill you!'

'With this photo in hand, I can definitely confirm your identity as a rotten gambler. By then, your wife will have prejudices, and whatever you say will be useless! That's called mud in your pants, even if it's not shit, it's considered shit!'

'Once your wife breaks up with you, Han Tianyu can seize the opportunity... Maybe then, I'll even get a share!'

'Hehehe...'

The more Old Wang thought about it, the happier he felt. He opened his wristband and found Lin Xiaoyu's number.

After all, he had only gotten this number from Lin Xiaoyu when Jiang Feng had health problems last time.

He never expected that this time, it would be used for such a purpose.

Old Wang sneered, a cold glint in his eyes, and sent a message in a sorrowful tone... In the commercial center, the glass dome filtered the thin mist, providing a comfortable temperature and a gentle cool breeze.

Lin Xiaoyu's canvas shoes made a 'squeaking' sound as they rubbed against the shiny floor tiles, and her mother Chen Meilan's complaints were like background noise, never stopping since they left home.

She listened quietly. In the past, she always found it annoying, but at her current age, she vaguely understood a few things.

Her mother had worried her whole life. When she was young, she worried about her career. After having children, she worried about her children. She worried about her husband, who was full of conspiracy theories all day. She worried about her son-in-law when he didn't come back with her daughter. She worried about her two younger daughters causing trouble at school.

Besides that, there were food prices, medicine prices, income, and expenses. The only thing her mother didn't worry about was herself.

"Your dad stayed up late again yesterday, poring over those broken data, always shouting that the Great Leader is a traitor. Is that something you can say? Didn't you see a few days ago, those die-hard fans of 'Terran Union Great Again' burned down several critics' shops!"

"I think your dad needs to take a few more sleeping pills, otherwise he's always so energetic and loves to preach big reason."

Lin Xiaoyu tilted her head, somewhat angrily refuting: "Dad's doing analysis, data-based analysis, not conspiracy theories!"

"So what? The Great Leader is the Great Leader, and he won't be affected by your few words." Chen Meilan was completely indifferent. She sighed: "Don't listen to your dad, focus on living a good life with Engineer Jiang, that's what truly matters."

Lin Xiaoyu didn't answer again. Her mother always had a stubborn persistence; even when she was wrong, she just couldn't be reasoned with.

Chen Meilan pushed open the door and entered the pharmacy she frequented. She used to be a nurse, so she was very familiar with all kinds of medicines.

"Auntie is here to buy sleeping pills again?" The pharmacist was a young woman, delicate and gentle in her demeanor.

"Recently, retirement pensions have been delayed, so many elderly people..."

Halfway through her sentence, she noticed Lin Xiaoyu following behind Chen Meilan, smiled apologetically, and didn't continue.

Chen Meilan opened her wristband to pay and added: "Give me two more boxes, the over-the-counter kind, the blue capsules."

Lin Xiaoyu glanced at it. Each box cost over two hundred earth federation coins, full of small blue capsules. She didn't understand the medicine name, but after comparing, she found that these were already the cheapest sleep aids. Others were more expensive, with two or three thousand earth federation coins per box being common.

"Payment failed, your account balance is insufficient."

An embarrassing voice came from the machine. Chen Meilan calmly calculated, then took out one box, and only then completed the payment.

"Mom, let me pay." Lin Xiaoyu looked at the box of medicine left on the counter and swiped her wristband.

Chen Meilan couldn't stop her in time, two hundred earth federation coins disappeared from the account, and a box of medicine was put into a plastic bag.

She started to sulk, carrying the bag and walking forward with her head down. Lin Xiaoyu quickly followed behind, while the Iron Clad Gold beside her strolled leisurely, practically invisible.

"Mom, what's wrong with you again!" Lin Xiaoyu finally couldn't bear it anymore and rushed up to grab her mother's arm.

Chen Meilan struggled, but her small hand, which usually broke free easily, showed no sign of letting go today.

"Mom!" Lin Xiaoyu snapped.

She had figured it out; her mother's pride was hurt. She had always maintained the illusion of a good life in front of her daughters, but in reality, with the decrease in income, her life was already full of holes.

"I don't need you to support me. I have hands and feet. You don't even have children yet..."

Chen Meilan lowered her head, her stubborn words coming out like a decisive cut, but what Lin Xiaoyu saw was the soft heart beating beneath her mother's hard shell.

"Mom, it's okay." Lin Xiaoyu bit her lip and hugged her mother.

The vibration of her wristband interrupted her. Lin Xiaoyu thought it was a message from Jiang Feng, but when she opened it, she was stunned.

It was a photo, the pink-purple lighting blurry and ambiguous.

In the picture, Jiang Feng wore an expression of "determination" as he parted ways with a Dancer. The Dancer frowned slightly, looking heartbroken.

'What is going on?' Lin Xiaoyu's nails dug into her palm.

The photo's timestamp showed it was taken a few minutes ago, sent by "Wang Defa."

She immediately wanted to send a message to ask about the origin of the photo, but after typing a few words, she suddenly paused.

'Why should I trust Old Wang?'

Lin Xiaoyu recalled seeing Old Wang last time; his eyes had been shifty, constantly lingering on her chest. Was a person like that more trustworthy than Jiang Feng?

Lin Xiaoyu shook her head slightly. Jiang Feng was her pillar of support; no matter how much he had changed recently, it was all for the better.

'I trust Brother Feng.' Lin Xiaoyu's resolve hardened.

But then again, betrayal between a couple was easy, and often it could be done flawlessly. To say she truly wasn't worried would be a lie.

"What's wrong?" Chen Meilan saw her daughter suddenly fall silent and leaned over to look.

"Isn't that Little Jiang?" Chen Meilan was instantly astonished. "Why would he go to a place like that?"

Seeing that her mother had already seen it, Lin Xiaoyu didn't hide it any longer and said directly, "I'm not sure, but the person who sent me the photo is completely unreliable. How about this, I'll ask Brother Feng."

"Yes, hurry up and ask him!" Chen Meilan urged. The issues between her son-in-law and daughter were the most important thing she cared about.

Lin Xiaoyu immediately sent a message to Jiang Feng, attaching the photo.

"Aiya, you girl, why are you so silly!" Chen Meilan held her hand down.

Lin Xiaoyu looked confused. Didn't she just say to ask? Why was she stopping her now?

"I mean, don't be so direct! Test the waters first! What if he was trying to warn you?"

Chen Meilan's words triggered an instinctive resistance in Lin Xiaoyu. She shook her head: "Brother Feng and I are of one heart as husband and wife. If there's any problem, I'll ask him directly. Why should I hide anything?"

"Aiya, listen to me! I've eaten more salt..."

"...than you've eaten rice."

Lin Xiaoyu rolled her eyes: "Mom, can you just let us handle this ourselves?"

Chen Meilan disagreed: "It's not too late to send the photo after you test the waters. Child, would I ever lead you astray?"

After a long stalemate, Lin Xiaoyu thought for a moment and sent a message.

Jiang Feng was changing equipment in the locker room. Two seductive girls surrounded him, fastening the exoskeleton buckles for him while lightly tracing the contours of his arm muscles with their fingertips. They giggled foolishly and gently rubbed against him with their black stockings.

Zhao Mingyuan, standing nearby, had already finished putting on his gear with the help of two boxing apprentices, looking envious.

"I didn't expect Engineer Jiang's physique to be so outstanding. If he came to box, he'd be extremely popular," Manager Zhang exclaimed in admiration nearby. He had seen many bare-chested boxers, but Jiang Feng was the only one with such perfect proportions and unique temperament.

It wasn't just that he was handsome or good-looking; it was a sense of maturity, a reliable and steady demeanor.

Without some life experience, it would clearly be impossible to give off this feeling.

"Handsome, I'll be waiting for you..."

One girl tapped her wristband against Jiang Feng's, deliberately tossing her head so her hair brushed his nose.

"Me too..."

The other girl was not to be outdone; she cupped her chest, her eyes shimmering with allure.

Jiang Feng shrugged, opened his wristband, accepted their friend requests, and noted them as "Dancer 1" and "Dancer 2."

He was different now. Relatively speaking, the former Jiang Feng was not good at socializing, but the current him understood that everyone had their uses.

The Dancers at club were among the most informed people in the city. These two Dancers might hear about something important one day, or perhaps accompany some big shot.

If he built a good relationship, he might get some information from them, and if they had a good impression of him, the price would be negotiable.

If he made enemies with them, and they intentionally spread rumors, Jiang Feng could instantly become an enviable "hot commodity."

Before transmigrating, he was especially skilled at befriending people like this. He even had a dedicated phone just for storing contacts for various models, agents, and entertainment venue managers.

Jiang Feng never indulged in dissipation, but he understood that as long as the price was right, these people could introduce contacts and broker deals.

This point could not be ignored!

"Ding-dong, ding-dong, ding-dong."

Following the continuous notification sounds, the two girls who had reached the end of the corridor turned back, blew kisses, and gave seductive glances.

"Handsome, Room 228 on the fourth floor of club is being renovated."

"Come play."

The two messages, sent by two different people, seemed like a single sentence.

Jiang Feng replied calmly: "No thanks, work comes first."

He clicked open another new message, which was from Lin Xiaoyu, a sentence without beginning or end.

"Brother Feng, are you busy?"

Jiang Feng frowned slightly, worried in his heart, and quickly replied: "Did something happen?"

Lin Xiaoyu's message came quickly: "I just miss you."

Jiang Feng's brow furrowed even more. This wasn't Lin Xiaoyu's style; something must have happened.

He walked out of the locker room with Zhao Mingyuan and arrived at the worksite. After thinking for a moment, Jiang Feng took a photo of the zero-gravity fighting cage for her, attaching a picture of himself wearing the exoskeleton and holding a torque wrench.

"Why are you acting strange?"

"I'm at 17 Phoenix Street, 'Three Black Stockings Club' club. This big guy broke down, and I'm preparing to fix it."

"I'll be working non-stop for at least the next 18 hours. If you have anything to say, say it now."

In the commercial center, Lin Xiaoyu's gaze suddenly darkened. She looked at Chen Meilan, and her mother immediately fell silent.

She quickly replied, sending Jiang Feng the photo Old Wang had sent her.

"Brother Feng, I was shopping with my mom, and that Wang Defa suddenly sent me this photo out of nowhere."

"I wanted to contact you directly, but my mom wouldn't let me. She wanted me to test the waters first."

When Chen Meilan saw these few sentences, she felt anxious but could only watch helplessly as Lin Xiaoyu resolutely sent them.

She stamped her foot: "Aiya, daughter, you... this... how is Little Jiang going to look at me now!"

Lin Xiaoyu shook her head: "You have me for the rest of your life, but I only have Brother Feng for the rest of mine."

Chen Meilan froze, her raised hand suspended in mid-air, until Jiang Feng's reply rang out with a "ding-dong."

"Alright, I understand."

"Say hi to Mom for me. Once I finish this job, I'll go talk to Old Wang."

"Also, when you come back this time, don't go to the old junkyard anymore. We'll build a career together, which will also prevent people from constantly trying to sow discord between us."

Lin Xiaoyu immediately sent a selfie of herself smiling and nodding. In the photo, Chen Meilan was smiling awkwardly.

Jiang Feng coldly narrowed his eyes and scanned the surroundings, but he couldn't immediately find Old Wang's location in the dim lighting.

"Gold-Wrapped Silver, remember that bastard. If you see him, remind me."

The Robot Dog nodded. Jiang Feng walked toward the zero-gravity fighting cage. The immediate priority now was to dismantle the parts, take them to the secret room, and then send them to the Cybrex Warforge for scanning.

Afterward, he needed to go out. He didn't even need to think of an excuse; he could just say he was going to fetch parts.

Once outside, he would find a place to retrieve the parts from the Miniature Galaxy, then he could return and begin the installation work.

Once the work was finished and the earth federation coin arrived in his account, it wouldn't be too late to settle the score with Old Wang.

Having decided what to do, Jiang Feng took a deep breath: "Little Zhao, help me lift this here. We'll start dismantling from this corner."

"No problem, Brother Feng."