Apocalyptic Hoarding Diary

Chapter 268 Testing the Waters by Changing Cars?

She recalled the clerk at the management office mentioning in a low voice the stringent requirements for cross-district permits within the BC area.

It requires "Director Chen's" signature to initiate the joint application, which involves a higher level and stricter control.

How could this small car in front of me have such authority?

What is the true identity of this seemingly ordinary elderly couple who are even arguing over trivial family matters?

The old gentleman just inadvertently revealed that it was a "gift from his son"?

And who is their son?

She couldn't help but ask, "This car...it must have taken a lot of effort and time to get it, right?"

She carefully chose her words, avoiding directly asking "how many points were spent" or "what connections were involved," but the meaning was already quite clear.

In a place like a base, where area control is strict and authority levels are rigid.

For ordinary people, obtaining a vehicle that allows them to travel across districts is extremely difficult and cannot be accomplished simply by "applying".

Sure enough, upon hearing this question, the old man's smile faded considerably, and his complex weariness seemed to become more pronounced.

He shook his head, his tone becoming somewhat ambiguous, as if he didn't want to delve into the topic. "Well... I really don't know exactly how I got it."

This car was actually a gift from my son, who said it would make it easier for my wife and me to occasionally go out for a drive, visit old friends, and buy some things.

He handled all the specific procedures; we're too old to understand them.

He then refrained from delving deeper into the topics of the vehicle's origin or his son's identity, clearly holding back some information.

He then shifted his focus back to the issue that Xu Xiaoyan had initially been concerned about, which was also the most prominent issue at present.

His gaze fell upon the still bustling entrance of "Honghu" company. "This 'Honghu' company... seems to be having some trouble today?"

He frowned slightly, clearly uncomfortable with the fighting and the crowd at the door.

"Young lady, you just said you also got a vehicle, one of those green, three-wheeled food trucks, right? What kind of modifications are you planning for 'Honghu'? A stove? Cookware?"

Seeing that the other party was unwilling to talk more about the cross-regional vehicles and their background, Xu Xiaoyan wisely stopped asking and followed the old gentleman's topic back to her own business.

Xu Xiaoyan nodded, a smile tinged with helplessness and bitterness on her face.

"Yes, Grandpa, it's one of those ordinary light green tricycle food carts issued by the management office."

I just got it, but it's completely empty inside. There's nothing there except for the seat and steering wheel, just a metal truck bed.

She gestured with her hands to indicate the approximate size and structure of the food cart, her tone carrying a contradictory mix of anticipation and uncertainty about her new business:

"I'm thinking that no matter what we sell in the future, the most basic thing is to have a stove and an iron pot that can be used to cook food."

Otherwise, after all that hard work queuing up at the official distribution station to get that little bit of flour, potatoes, and frozen meat, are we supposed to eat it raw? Let alone the customers, even I wouldn't be able to swallow it."

She paused, seemingly considering more specific plans, her brows furrowing slightly. "The other half... to be honest, I haven't fully thought it through yet."

Could we get a flat griddle? To fry potato pancakes or roast sweet potatoes? Or maybe we could install a stove so we can cook and serve dishes quickly at the same time?

"It depends on what solutions 'Honghu' can offer, and... the price." She spoke the last two words very softly, revealing her worry about being overcharged.

The two stood there beside the dark blue car, chatting idly.

The discussion revolved around possible solutions for converting food trucks, the shortage of official supplies in Zone C, and the less-than-ideal reputation of "Honghu" among the public.

The old gentleman was clearly experienced; he spoke calmly and slowly, occasionally offering a few insightful comments that conveyed the wisdom of someone who had been through it all.

In the distance, the commotion at the entrance of "Honghu" seemed to be finally coming to an end.

The intense, personal fight stopped, probably because both sides were exhausted, or because someone finally stepped in and forcibly separated them.

But instead, there was a louder argument, mixed with women's shrill sobs, and the chatter of bystanders trying to mediate and break up the fight.

Clearly, the matter is not over yet, and has shifted from a simple violent conflict to a more complex verbal dispute and moral condemnation.

However, neither Xu Xiaoyan nor the old man were paying much attention to that for the time being.

For Xu Xiaoyan, that farce only confirmed her terrible impression of "Honghu".

For the old man, it was more like another unpleasant source of noise that he needed to leave as soon as possible.

During their casual conversation, Xu Xiaoyan seemingly fiddled with the phone in her hand.

Her fingers tapped the edge of the screen a few times seemingly unintentionally, but in reality, she quickly and discreetly brought up the chat software interface.

She lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes obscuring the fleeting glint of light in them, and her fingertips rapidly tapped a few times on the virtual keyboard, composing an extremely brief message.

Then I quickly selected the contact person – "Ning Jing Zhi Yuan" – and clicked send.

The message contained only one sentence, resembling a simple confirmation or inquiry.

After sending the message, she barely paused before turning the phone screen upside down and gently holding it in her hand.

Her expression remained unchanged, as if it were just a normal little action, and she continued chatting with the old man, picking up where she left off.

Only four or five minutes later, the phone she was gently holding in her hand vibrated very slightly.

While talking to the old man, Xu Xiaoyan turned her body slightly to the side and raised her left hand, which was holding the phone, to her waist.

He flipped the phone about 45 degrees with his thumb so that the screen was facing his abdomen, and glanced down at it seemingly unintentionally.

The screen is on, and a preview of a new message is displayed on the lock screen. The message is short, with only a few words, but the meaning is clear.

Her gaze instantly captured and interpreted those words in less than two seconds, so fast that even the old man standing right next to her didn't notice anything unusual about her.

Xu Xiaoyan's lips curved upwards almost imperceptibly, indirectly confirming the information.

Then, with a nonchalant expression, as if she had merely moved her wrist, she put her phone back and placed it in her coat pocket.

She didn't dwell on the trivial details of the food truck conversion or the bad reputation of "Honghu" in the following conversation.

Instead, she suddenly posed a question that caught the old man off guard and even took him somewhat by surprise:

"Grandpa, if I may ask, have you and Grandma... considered exchanging this car that connects to Zone BC?"

"Displacement?" The old man was clearly taken aback, as if he didn't understand the sudden word, or as if he doubted his ears and misheard.

He looked at Xu Xiaoyan strangely, his brows furrowing slightly, his face full of confusion and bewilderment. "Young lady, what... what do you mean? Trade it in? Why would I trade in this car?"

Xu Xiaoyan moved her face a little closer:

"Grandpa, I guess... your son is quite valued by the higher-ups in Zone B, or... at least he has some connections and influence, right?"

She didn't use a question, but rather a declarative tone, conveying confidence.

"Otherwise, given the current strictness of area control at the base."

"I'm afraid it would be very difficult for you two to obtain a vehicle that allows cross-regional travel. It's not something you can achieve just by accumulating points, right?"

She didn't wait for the other party to admit or deny it; in fact, the fleeting complexity on the old man's face and his tacit silence had already given the answer.

She continued speaking, following the line of thought she had already conceived:

"If you're willing to trade with me, I'll exchange your vehicle, which connects Zones B and C, for my brand-new food truck in Zone C, which can only operate at designated locations—"

In return, you will immediately receive a large sum of points or equivalent in-demand resources that you two might not easily obtain in Zone B.

She paused briefly, observing the changing expressions on the old man's face:

"Then, you two can use my designated food truck in Zone C," she pointed to her truck number 03 parked in the distance, "to go back to Zone B and 'test' your son."

"A test?" the old man repeated subconsciously, his brows furrowing even more, but his eyes already showing wariness.

"Yes, a test," Xu Xiaoyan nodded affirmatively. "You can tell him that the old couple happened to have an opportunity while strolling around Area C and traded their truck for a food truck."

Since I was idle anyway, I thought I might as well do some small business to pass the time and earn some pocket money.

The problem is that this vehicle can only operate at a fixed location in Zone C, and it probably can't return to Zone B in real time.

She leaned forward slightly. "Then you can see if your son is willing to 'pull strings' and 'think of a solution' for you two."

See if we can ask someone to find a way to "upgrade" the operating license scope of this food truck?

For example, could it be changed from a 'fixed-point' to 'area-wide access in Zone C'? Or even... if he has the capability, could he find a way to 'upgrade' it into a new interchange between Zones B and C?

Xu Xiaoyan paused for a moment, giving the old man time to process the information, before slowly uttering the most crucial part:

"If, after hearing about your 'troubles,' he is truly willing to do his best to help and take care of things for you two."

Even if things don't work out in the end due to policy or authority issues, as long as you've shown your sincerity and effort, that's enough.

That shows that he truly cares about you two, and that such a son is still worthy of your continued concern and reliance.

Her tone suddenly changed here:

"If he refuses... or just gives a perfunctory answer and makes various excuses to avoid it, then..."

Xu Xiaoyan shrugged, a smile on her face that was a mixture of mockery and pity:

"Then why do you two still care so much about this 'son' who only talks about being filial? Are you going to put up with his daughter-in-law's temper for him?"