Items in green definitely have some reparative value. The Metal Space was filled with bicycles and motorcycles that were faulty,
all of which were green. If they were to be repaired and then sold, there should be a chance to make a small profit.
Although he did not understand antiques and treasures, he already knew from the name that this jade pendant should be worth quite a bit of money.
"How many gold coins will it take to repair the 'Damaged Jade Pendant'?"
"Ding Dong: Thirty gold coins. Would you like to repair it?"
Li Zhongnan frowned – thirty gold coins were not a small amount.
Using recycled books and paper calculated at fifty cents a catty, it would cost one hundred RMB to acquire a gold coin. Therefore, thirty gold coins were equivalent to three thousand RMB. But the cost-effectiveness of selling recycled books and paper to the system was much higher than that of scrap metal, so on the whole, acquiring thirty gold coins would require at least five thousand RMB.
"Yes!"
Li Zhongnan gritted his teeth and went for it. A timid man would starve while a bold man would stuff himself. If he wasn't willing to take risks, he wouldn't know when he could move his stall to the county town.
"Ding Dong: Repair complete!"
A brand-new jade pendant appeared in Li Zhongnan's hand, unbroken and intact. It was slightly chilly to the touch but also had a hint of warmth. It was very comfortable.
He had accumulated 99.8 gold coins. After spending thirty, he was left with 69.8. After selling the waste products he had just collected, he obtained another 0.2, leaving him with a total of 70 coins in the system. Then, he repaired three more dilapidated motorcycles and around a dozen bicycles, using only a few more gold coins.
"Whether I can turn over a new leaf depends on this attempt!" Holding the jade pendant in his hand, Li Zhongnan was full of anticipation and wondered how much he would get for it.
He had been in this business for half a year and originally had almost ten to twelve thousand RMB saved up. But over the past two months, he had transformed all the waste products he collected into items for the system, leaving him with expenses and no income. A couple of days ago, he spent two thousand to buy an old van to repair, and his savings were almost exhausted.
Li Zhongnan stored the jade pendant away, loaded the bicycles and motorcycles onto the van, and headed straight for the county town.
Chapter 2: Turning a Small Profit
Arriving in the county town, Li Zhongnan drove straight to the Second-hand Car Dealer.
A large, fat man stepped forward, "Young man, what kind of car are you looking to buy?"
Instead, Li Zhongnan asked, "Boss, do you buy vehicles here?"
"Buy, of course we buy!"
Fatty Yuan, with his chubby smiling face, squinted his eyes and scrutinized the van, "A Wuling van, almost brand new, the price is fifteen thousand."
Fifteen thousand?
This van, bought for two thousand, and repaired with five gold coins, totaling up to a maximum cost of three thousand. With a single resale, the value was increased five times over. Even as a waste collector with the Recycling System, there would be a day when he would rise to prominence!
"This vehicle is not for sale!"
Li Zhongnan laughed and shook his head. Without a vehicle like this, running this business would be quite difficult. After laughing, he unloaded the bicycles and motorcycles and then said to Yuan, "Twelve bicycles and three motorcycles, give me an offer!"
"Are all of them brand new?"
Fatty Yuan was suspicious as he looked at Li Zhongnan. Li Zhongnan knew what he was thinking and said with a smile, "Don't worry, these vehicles were obtained through legal means and won't cause you any trouble!"
"Of course not!"
Fatty Yuan smiled awkwardly. He had just been wondering whether these vehicles were stolen and whether he should lower the price. But seeing as Li Zhongnan was reasonable, Yuan quickly offered, "One hundred and fifty for a bicycle, fifteen hundred for a motorcycle."
"Deal!"
Li Zhongnan agreed instantly. A new bicycle itself was about three to four hundred, and new motorcycles were priced around three thousand. They obviously couldn't sell for that much at a used car dealership. The price Fatty Yuan offered was quite reasonable, considering he needed to make a profit too.
"That's six thousand and three hundred in total. Here you are."
Fatty Yuan handed Li Zhongnan a small stack of hundred yuan notes, and also gave him a business card, "I go by Fatty Yuan. If you have vehicles to sell, just give me a call and I'll personally make a house call."
"No problem."
Li Zhongnan took the money, feeling as light as a feather. This money was equivalent to what he'd earned in more than two months of his previous work.
Tianning Temple Antiques and Treasures Store.
The store was deserted, with an old man and a middle-aged man engrossed in a game of chess.
As Li Zhongnan entered the store, before he could say anything, the old man spoke up, "My dear customer, please wait a while. Let me finish this round first."
"Alright."
Li Zhongnan, a chess enthusiast who had even won second place in the Huaqing University Freshmen Championship, had spent much time engrossed in chess matches with a group of elderly men in Li Family Village. His attention was now caught, and he watched the game with interest.
After observing for a while, he quickly understood the situation.
The old man was an aggressive player; he only concentrated on attack, relentlessly advancing with each move. He did not concern himself with the losses of a soldier or a pawn, only striving to secure a victory in a single sweep. The middle-aged man on the other hand, was composed and defensive. He slowly and gradually devoured his opponent's army piece by piece. As time passed, the old man's aggressive stance seemed to weaken, while the middle-aged man slowly turned from defending to attacking – his victory was in sight.
"Check!"
The middle-aged man made a beeline for the enemy and laughed, "Boss, you lost."
The old man was a mix of dissatisfaction and approval: "You're good at playing defensively but lack the daring to do something bold. However, being able to beat me suggests you've made significant progress. Now that you're growing stronger, you do not need to come here anymore."
The middle-aged man wanted to say something, but the old man interrupted, "Will you get out of here, or do you want me to cook for you?"