Early the next morning, Xu Bin took the money and headed straight to the agency. After much effort, he managed to knock open the shop's door and was met with a groggy Zhong Yu, clearly still immersed in sleep. Her messy hair, disheveled appearance, and yawning in pajamas and slippers all screamed of her morning temper. Her eyes seemed to say, "If you're not here to sign the contract, I'll curse you out."
Xu Bin had saved up nearly 7,000 yuan, but over the past two days, he'd spent more than 3,000 yuan purchasing goods from Li Jiuren and Brother Han. If not for selling 3,000 yuan worth of goods last night, he wouldn't have had enough to pay today's rent. He handed over 5,000 yuan, leaving just over 1,000 yuan in his pocket. The room still needed some basic necessities—he could make do with the sleeping mat and wardrobe, but some light renovations in the shop had to be done first.
The moment the official contract provided by the agency was signed, a system notification flashed in Xu Bin's mind indicating that the main quest had been completed, and the threat of system obliteration was temporarily lifted. He clearly felt a hard object in the pocket of his jeans—it had to be the anti-theft smartphone reward. Honestly, he was really looking forward to seeing what a system-produced phone would be like.
The contract came with a photocopy of the landlord's property certificate and a real signature from the landlord. Zhong Yu had built a new partition in the shop's center—this couldn't have been done without the landlord's permission. With their approval, subletting became possible. If Zhong Yu couldn't afford the rent someday, Xu Bin would have the first right of refusal to rent the space under the same terms—a small compensation for being a subtenant.
Zhong Yu tossed him a set of keys, including a switch for the electric roller shutter. Fortunately, the shop already had a pair of glass doors. Otherwise, Zhong Yu might've had to scrounge up more money to install another door. Now, Xu Bin could independently lock the glass doors, while the shutter remained communal.
He watched as Zhong Yu lazily locked the glass door from inside with a chain and yawned her way back to bed. The agency, having earned their fee, happily left. Xu Bin, on the other hand, went straight to the back room and eagerly pulled the phone out of his jeans pocket.
White. Apple. Classic model—iPhone 4S.
Ten minutes later, after thoroughly examining the phone's features, Xu Bin couldn't help but exclaim in awe once again—system products, guaranteed premium.
First of all, it had a 1TB storage capacity and 16GB of RAM—far exceeding current technology standards. It could independently connect to the internet without 3G or Wi-Fi, charged via solar energy, and the battery hadn't lost even 1% after over ten minutes of tinkering. Most impressive was the anti-theft feature—not only was it fingerprint-locked, but it would automatically return to his pocket if it strayed more than ten meters from his body. It was scratch-proof, impact-resistant, and nearly indestructible. If someone else tried to unlock the screen, the phone would display a regular 4S interface with 8GB storage and 512MB RAM. Xu Bin could customize which features would remain visible to outsiders—some contacts, messages, games, or functions. Everything else was hidden unless unlocked by his fingerprint.
If he weren't so eager to get the store up and running, Xu Bin would've spent more time exploring this marvel of super-earthly technology that still perfectly blended in on Earth. Since he didn't have a SIM cutter on him, he went to a nearby accessory shop and paid five yuan to have his SIM card trimmed to fit the 4S. His phone number wasn't a luxury vanity number, but he had carefully traded for this easy-to-remember sequence over the past six months. The number started with 3388 and ended with 5588—reportedly worth around 1,000 to 2,000 yuan. He had gotten it by covering a 200+ yuan freezer repair cost for a small restaurant owner.
He had already made plans with Brother Han the night before. With a new store opening, things needed to look fresh. Brother Han helped him buy two sections of phone store-style display counters and contacted a used furniture dealer, from whom they got two 1.2-meter computer desks. According to Xu Bin's plan, the back room would only have a single bed, with the rest used for storage. That meant they needed to leave a corridor over a meter wide from the entrance to the storeroom. Against the partition wall that Zhong Yu had built, they would place one computer desk horizontally to hold a TV, then place two phone display counters lengthwise, and finally one more computer desk with repair tools and a computer. That basically reached the partitioned wall outside the bathroom. For now, that would have to do—the place was small, and this was already an efficient use of space.
Life had taken a new turn. The main mission no longer loomed over him with penalties, though he hadn't finished his monthly task. The new weekly mission required six refrigerators. Xu Bin initially wanted to shift focus from large to small appliances, but that might take some time. The area in front of the bathroom door had become his workspace for repairing large appliances—"workspace" was really just a cover for a pile of refurbished parts. He hated people like Li Jiuren and Che Dong, but also had to thank them. Their early scheming grounded him before he got carried away. Keep a low profile and make money cautiously. Never draw attention before you're ready—even if you don't end up as a lab rat, having everything you worked for taken away would be a bitter loss.
Home appliance repair wasn't a particularly clean profession. Xu Bin hadn't minded before, but now, looking at the bright and clean environment of his new place, his old market shop seemed unbearable by comparison. It had once felt like home, but he didn't want to return. He was determined to keep this new store spotless. Raising the store's appearance would raise its clientele. If you treated your store like a second-hand shop, people would come in expecting to buy used goods.
Good news brings a joyful spirit. At noon, Xu Bin dragged Brother Han for a drink to thank him. Brother Han happily promised he'd come by with fireworks when Xu Bin officially opened the shop. At the table, he offered some advice: to survive in society, small-scale success can rely on skill, but to truly thrive, you need connections. Society runs on mutual support. Don't expect to conquer the world alone—every hero needs his team.
Xu Bin humbly accepted this veteran wisdom. After over a year working mostly in the repair circle, he realized his social exposure was too limited. He didn't even know who the real movers and shakers of society were. If someone was willing to guide you, those words were gold. He hadn't made money before and was only business acquaintances with Brother Han, so he hadn't had the thought—or the funds—to invite him to a meal. A dinner could cost half his monthly grocery bill. Only a fool would recklessly treat people when they couldn't afford it.
Perhaps his mindset had changed. That afternoon, when Xu Bin called his old classmate Ji Peng, he clearly sensed more enthusiasm over the phone. Was it because of the new phone? The 4S had crystal-clear call quality and full signal everywhere. From standby in the morning to a few calls later, it was now 2 p.m. and the battery was still at 100%.
Ji Peng's cargo van wasn't new, but his appearance had changed. He no longer looked like a poor laborer—he now stood tall as a self-employed man with his own vehicle. If he didn't want to work for someone, he could walk away. Whether snacks, home appliances, or furniture—everything needed a vehicle. He could earn a good living just by stepping on the gas. Life was clearly more comfortable now. Seeing an old classmate, he was especially warm and friendly.
"Shuangquan, you rascal, you haven't called me in ages. If you hadn't called today, I was gonna hunt you down and make you treat me!"
Closeness depends on post-school interactions. The more you interact, the closer you become. Less contact naturally leads to distance. Life's changes can temporarily shift someone's attitude. That was exactly what was happening with Ji Peng—his life had gotten easier, and as the saying goes, once your belly is full...
Faced with his old classmate, both of them stayed cordial. Soon, Ji Peng brought along two movers and showed up at the old market shop. Xu Bin just notified the landlord and didn't even ask for the remaining rent. Seeing Xu Bin so straightforward, the landlord didn't nitpick when inspecting the place. Everyone parted on good terms.
Xu Bin donated all his old bedding to protect the new appliances during the move. The movers were longtime collaborators of Ji Peng's. Xu Bin generously accepted their quoted price without haggling, which paid off when Che Dong happened to show up and didn't dare boss Xu Bin around—those two movers looked strong enough to flatten him. Ji Peng, ever the seasoned streetwise guy, threw in a few lines to further bolster Xu Bin's authority.
"Shuangquan, just holler if you need anything. I may not have many skills, but I've got a few bros who can help out—that's all it takes."
Che Dong muttered something about coming to support the store tomorrow and slinked away, casting a venomous glare at Xu Bin from afar.
When people lift each other up, the work goes smoother. The leftover scrap metal was given to a nearby recycler. Xu Bin didn't even pocket the cash. He bought everyone a pack of Furong Wang cigarettes, and with smokes in hand, the workers were more enthusiastic and careful with the goods. When Xu Bin occasionally joined in to help, the two movers even complimented him: "This kid Xu's got some strength!"
On the way back, Ji Peng drove, and the two movers sat in the back. In the cab, just the two of them:
"Shuangquan, it's not easy surviving in the provincial capital. If you need anything, just say the word. I may not be capable of much, but with money, lots of things stop being problems—you get what I mean?"
Xu Bin nodded but said nothing. It's best to stay in control of your own affairs. If you can avoid asking for help, then don't—especially not the kind where you drive out the butcher just to bring in someone worse. Judging by Ji Peng's words, he likely had connections with some shady types. Such people were not to be easily offended—or easily befriended.