56: Chapter 56 Hiking RV 56: Chapter 56 Hiking RV The two hurled insults at each other through the car window, tossing the same few derogatory words back and forth, but Mark seemed to have systematically learned how to curse, spitting out obscenities with an especially filthy tongue.
The fatso couldn’t take the insults any longer, failing to outswear Mark, he turned and huffed his way into the house.
When he came back out, he had something black and heavy in his hand.
Mark saw the fatso emerge with a Remington M870 shotgun and felt a chill run down his spine; he floored the gas pedal and zoomed away with a buzz.
The fatso fired a shot into the sky.
He then scurried onto the street, cussing out the departing taillights of the Mustang, firing two more shots that all missed, “Come back here!
If you’ve got the guts, don’t run!
The Mustang sped along the bumpy road, pitching and rolling, the two bulldogs in the passenger seat being extra behaved, not daring to so much as fart, no wonder they’re only fit for guarding the gate!
Allen Zhang was dumbfounded, “Is this what the high-end wilderness is like?
Am I not high-level enough to be here yet?
This is too thrilling.
After cooling down a bit, Mark, still shaken, lit a cigarette.
That fatso dared to shoot at me!
Next time, I’m bringing a gun too!”
“Mark, isn’t there more than one modification shop around here?
What’s the relationship between Mike’s Modification Shop and the Mike’s Scrapyard in the city?
Are they run by the same owner?
And who is that fatso?”
Allen Zhang pretended he didn’t know a thing.
Mark didn’t pay much attention to these questions, answering casually, “Buddy, just look it up on the map and you’ll see how many shops are open around here!
After all, this is the most famous car graveyard near Los Angeles.
Vehicles declared a total loss for various reasons are brought here for disposal.
Everyone in this business wants a piece of the pie, and the competition is fierce!
That fatso’s place is run by one of our boss’s sworn enemies.
Businesses rivalry is fierce—I’m going to burn down his shop someday!”
Allen Zhang clicked his tongue, “That’s just too barbaric.
Out here in the outskirts, you could get into a fight, die, and no one would know, just dig a hole and bury you.
Compared to this, the competition tactics in the poor streets of Los Angeles seem way too gentle.
After a steady few minutes’ drive, they arrived in front of a shop with a variety of vehicles parked outside.
An old Caucasian man emerged from the yard, having heard the roar of the Mustang from far away, he knew a customer was coming and came out to wait.
“This is the place.” Mark stopped the car, put away the keys, and stepped out after pushing open the door.
Allen Zhang opened the door, and the two bulldogs, unable to sit still, jumped out ignoring him.
Allen Zhang looked at the paw prints on his pants and couldn’t help but curse.
After patting off the footprints, he got out of the car as well.
“So you want to check out that GMC van?” The old man, having learned of the intent to buy from Mark, looked at Allen Zhang somewhat surprised.
“Even though it’s going dirt-cheap, you can drive it away for 200 US dollars, but that vehicle is not something just anyone can handle.
Just the subsequent repair and maintenance costs are more expensive than buying a new car!”
Don’t get in the way of me doing business with the customer, okay!” Mark was not happy when he heard this, wanting to sew the old man’s mouth shut, he pushed him aside.
Waving to Allen Zhang, “Come in and take a look, if there’s another vehicle here that catches your eye, we can negotiate the price.”
Allen Zhang followed him into the car dealership and discovered all kinds of vehicles in the yard, all pieced together with parts or heavily modified; if you ignore the logos, you wouldn’t recognize what the original cars looked like at first glance.
Their performance was undoubted, with Chevrolet Camaros running top speeds of 300 kilometers per hour.
Is this really a Camaro?
Isn’t this just a powerhouse of a supercar dressed up in a Bumblebee skin?
Under that hood has got to be a V12, right?
You might as well rename it ‘Decepticon’, why still call it Bumblebee?
Aren’t you afraid of running it into pieces?
The signs on the car windows also displayed their specifications and selling prices.
Dodge Challenger, Corvette, Jaguar, Land Rover, prices ranged from 2,000 to 20,000 US dollars, with price directly reflecting performance and quality—solidly built with no empty boasts, if it says it goes that fast, it goes that fast.
Allen Zhang was drooling with desire, but after patting his pocket, he thought better of it.
Just can’t afford it.
You don’t even have a base model Camaro Skull here, absolutely not getting my approval.
Allen Zhang left the modified sports car area and followed Mark over to the yard where the pickups, buses, large trucks, and freight vehicles were parked.
Allen Zhang immediately spotted that green RV; its immense windows offered excellent ventilation, and from the outside, it appeared to have had no issues, evidently having been washed recently.
After all, to be sold, it still had to bear some semblance to a new vehicle.
Mark fetched the car keys from inside the house, approached the RV, and opened two side doors and the front engine hood, exposing the complex wiring inside.
A side-pull generator, with a sky-blue propane tank.
“Take a good look at this vehicle, buddy, it’s still operational.
Both the fuel system and the tire brake system have been checked, no major issues, just step on the gas and it’s ready to drive off.”
Allen Zhang had no clue about electrical wiring and had no idea how to repair vehicles, so he got in the RV with Mark to have a look at the amenities: air conditioning, refrigerator, gas stove, toilet, bedding, tables and chairs, everything complete.
Basically, all designed in the style of the 1970s.
Plastic film on the seats wasn’t rotten, just a bit damp.
The RV was ventilated well and made with sturdy materials—solidly built—the vehicle condition was much better than he had anticipated.
Mark inserted the car key and started the vehicle, the roar of the V8 engine was deafening, yet there was little shaking inside the vehicle; the air suspension was excellent at shock absorption.
After all, the main selling point of a camping RV was comfort, and its facilities also included an extendable awning for outdoor use.
He then turned on the player and played a soothing ballad.
The sound echoed through the speakers inside the car, instantly giving that nostalgic, retro vibe from the ’70s.
He tested the gas stove, refrigerator, and lighting, all of which were functional, but to use them regularly, one still needed to consider the aging wires and safety issues, and go find someone to refurbish and modify it.
Allen Zhang wasn’t planning to invest a lot of money in this RV, but if he wanted to live in it, maintenance expenses were inevitable.
Once bought, he planned to drive it to Old Pick’s garage to have it fixed up.
For just 200 US dollars, you can drive away with this big guy!”
Seeing Allen Zhang’s interested look, Mark immediately started his pitch, “You know, a well-conditioned RV from the ’70s is really rare these days, after refurbishing, it could sell for at least 7,000 US dollars, even more!”
“You don’t have to bluff me.
If it were that easy to make money, you’d have already refurbished and sold it, why leave it for me?
I reckon finding someone who can refurbish and fix it isn’t easy,” Allen Zhang directly exposed his poor sales tactic.
Mark was never good at selling, only skilled in fixing cars and cursing people out.
Seeing Allen Zhang saw through his spiel, he simply stopped pretending.
Frankly admitting, “Alright, this car isn’t so great, and it does have many downsides.
Personally, I don’t fancy this antique and don’t want to waste too much time on it.
To be honest, if even I can’t fix a vehicle around here, then practically no one can get it repaired!
Otherwise, selling it for 200 dollars wouldn’t even cover the rent for the space.”
“Buddy, you sure talk big,” Allen Zhang had never seen someone so bold.
“Confidence requires capital, which I happen to have,” Mark just coolly lit up a cigarette, “Give me the blueprints, and I can fix airplanes and rockets!
This is a talent, see?
I didn’t even finish high school, never formally learned to modify and repair cars, but I’m the best customizer in this suburb!
I know exactly where every screw goes once it passes through my hands, buddy, I was born for this line of work!”
“But those damn airlines just demand that useless scrap of a diploma!”
“My dream is to modify fighter jets, nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, but now all I can do is fix used cars here.
That’s reality, my friend!”
“To me, fixing this RV is just a waste of time, and time is money.
In the time it would take to do that, I could have modified ten more expensive cars.”
“I believe you!!” Allen Zhang pulled out two hundred US dollars in paper currency and gave it to the other man, admiringly saying, “I like confident people like you!
With the same rare qualities I possess!
We could collaborate in the future!”
Mark’s eyes were only on the two hundred dollars; he wasn’t listening to anything else, quickly took it, handed over the keys and said cheerfully, “Pleased to do business!
If you need anything, just let me know, welcome to come back anytime.”