Chapter 37: The Mobile Fortress
Buying a car?
Jiang Chen looked at the mission panel, a slight curve appearing at the corners of his mouth.
The system really was like providing a pillow just as he was nodding off.
He was originally thinking that since he couldn't hail a taxi, he would just buy one.
Anyway, there were over forty million lying in his card; if he didn't spend it, it was just a number.
But the problem was, where to buy it?
In this kind of weather, probably no one was working at the 4S dealerships.
And as for ordinary off-road vehicles, he had just seen on the forums that some had broken down; to be absolutely safe, he needed to get a big guy.
Jiang Chen sat back on the sofa, opened a local second-hand trading website, and directly filtered for "off-road," "RV," and "urgent sale."
After scrolling through a few pages, most were ordinary Iveco-converted RVs or Wranglers.
These cars were fine for normal driving, but on national highways covered in black ice and snow, they weren't quite enough. To carry four adults and ensure comfort, the space had to be large.
Suddenly, a post published less than ten minutes ago jumped into his sight.
【Reluctantly parting with my treasure! Doomsday-grade heavy truck RV, German MAN 8x8 chassis, bulletproof and explosion-proof, vehicle currently in Mudan City, complete paperwork, drive away as soon as you pay! Due to urgent need for capital turnover, serious inquiries only!】
The accompanying photo was of a pitch-black behemoth.
That thing couldn't even be called a car; it was practically a tank on wheels.
Huge all-terrain tires, a towering front end, carrying an armored-looking living cabin in the back, with a row of searchlights mounted on the roof.
This thing, let alone icy roads, could probably ram a path through even a zombie apocalypse.
Jiang Chen's eyes lit up.
This was it.
He glanced at the quoted price: 12 million.
For ordinary people, it was a sky-high price, but for the current Jiang Chen, it was just a matter of moving his fingers.
He directly dialed the number below the post.
The phone rang twice before being picked up. On the other end was a voice that sounded young but extremely anxious: "Hello? Looking at the car? I don't do small talk. This car cost 18 million new, now it's 12 million. No bargaining. Talk to me only if you can transfer the money immediately!"
"I'm in Mudan City," Jiang Chen's voice was steady. "Send me the location. I'll be there in half an hour."
The person on the other end paused, seemingly not expecting such a straightforward buyer these days: "Brother, you're not joking? In this weather..."
"Half an hour," Jiang Chen repeated. "Have the contract ready."
After hanging up, Jiang Chen received a location. It was only five kilometers from the hotel, a warehouse for a modified car club.
He stood up and glanced back at the large bed.
The three women were all awake, looking at him with sleepy eyes.
"Since you're awake, pack up," Jiang Chen stuffed his phone into his pocket, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "We leave in twenty minutes."
"Leaving?" Su Qingge sat up, rubbing her messy hair. The quilt slipped down, revealing her fair shoulders. "Where to? Do you have a car?"
"Not yet." Jiang Chen walked to the coat rack to put on his jacket. "But I've set my sights on one. I'm going to buy it now."
"Buy... buy a car?" Chen Man's eyes widened, doubting if she was still dreaming. "Little brother, you don't have a fever, do you? Buying a car now? And do 4S shops even have stock? Even if you buy it, do you know how to drive? With these road conditions, a novice driver is just seeking death!"
"Stop talking nonsense." Jiang Chen threw Su Qingge's clothes to her. "If you want to go home, listen to me. Also, bring all your luggage. We're checking out and not coming back."
His tone was so certain; that aura of being in control made the three women subconsciously shut their mouths.
Although it felt absurd, they still moved quickly.
Twenty minutes later.
The four of them stood in the hotel lobby and checked out.
Jiang Chen called that toyota prado that had brought them yesterday again.
Old Zhang happened to be nearby waiting for a fare. Hearing they were going to that modified car club, he rushed over without a word.
In the car, the atmosphere was somewhat somber.
Su Qingge had been looking at her phone, seemingly communicating with people from her company, her brow furrowed.
Lin Wan nervously gripped her seatbelt, occasionally glancing at the slippery road outside.
Only Chen Man was still chattering: "I say, little brother, what kind of car are you actually buying? What kind of good car could be in a place like this? You aren't being tricked by a scammer into buying a broken van, are you?"
"You'll know when we get there." Jiang Chen watched the street scenery receding outside.
The car turned into an industrial zone and finally stopped in front of a large warehouse with a sign that read "Peak Off-Road."
The main door was open a crack.
Jiang Chen paid the fare and led the three women out of the car.
The cold wind howled, swirling up snow dust from the ground.
"Here?" Su Qingge wrapped her coat tightly, trudging through the snow in her high heels, her eyes full of doubt. "Does this look like a place that sells cars?"
Jiang Chen didn't speak and straight away pushed open the heavy iron gate.
"Creak—"
The door opened.
The lighting inside was somewhat dim, but it still couldn't hide the domineering presence of the behemoth parked right in the center.
At that moment, all three women stopped in their tracks, simultaneously sucking in a breath of cold air.
If seeing it in the picture earlier just made them feel it was big, then standing before the real thing now, the sense of pressure was simply suffocating.
The vehicle was nearly four meters high and twelve meters long.
The black matte paint shimmered with a cold, hard metallic luster under the lights.
The massive off-road tires were taller than Chen Man herself, and the thick suspension system was exposed, looking like a crouching steel beast.
This wasn't an RV; this was clearly a mobile fortress.
A young MAN wearing a leather jacket and sporting a messy hairstyle was squatting by a wheel smoking. Seeing Jiang Chen and the others enter, he tossed his cigarette butt and stomped it out.
"Was it you who called just now?" The young MAN sized up Jiang Chen, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes. Jiang Chen was too young, looking like a college student. Although he was followed by three top-tier beauties, this combination didn't look like people who could produce over ten million.
"It's me." Jiang Chen walked over and reached out to pat the massive bumper; it felt icy and hard to the touch. "How's the vehicle's condition?"
"Just finished maintenance, hasn't been off-road much," the young MAN said somewhat impatiently. "Inside, it's all imported appliances. The generator and water purification system are top-of-the-line. A full tank can run for two thousand kilometers. This was originally meant for me to cross No Man's Land, but then my family... forget it, let's not talk about it."
He waved his hand: "If you're sincerely interested, go up and look for yourself. But I'll be blunt from the start: this vehicle requires an A1 driver's license, and it's a gas guzzler. Ordinary people can't handle it."
Jiang Chen turned to look at the three women behind him.
They were still in shock and hadn't recovered yet.
"Want to go up and see?" Jiang Chen pointed to the electric lift.
Su Qingge swallowed hard, looking at this vehicle door that was even more grand than her company's main entrance: "Jiang Chen... are you sure you want to buy this? Are we going to war?"
"In this kind of weather, only this can take you back to the provincial capital." Jiang Chen stepped onto the ladder first. "Come up, President Su. Inspect your new office."
The group entered one after another.
The scene inside the vehicle once again refreshed their understanding.
A steel monster on the outside, but a five-star hotel on the inside.
Teak flooring, leather aviation seats, a minimalist-style bar, and even a small wine cabinet.
Living area, rest area, and a bathroom with separate wet and dry zones—everything was there.
The heating was on full blast; the moment they stepped in, they felt an isolated warmth.
"My god..." Chen Man touched the coffee machine that looked very expensive. "This isn't much different from the presidential suite last night."
Lin Wan walked to the kitchen area, looking at the large double-door refrigerator and the built-in oven, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. For her, with these things, she could live anywhere.
Jiang Chen took a look around and was very satisfied.
"Swipe the card." He pulled that bank card from his pocket and handed it to the young MAN who had followed them in. "Twelve million, no bargaining, but I have a condition."
The young MAN froze, looking at the card, his hands shaking: "W-What condition?"
"Fill up the gas and the water tank for me." Jiang Chen pointed at the empty refrigerator. "Also, find someone to help me fill this fridge. I know there must be a supermarket nearby; this little thing shouldn't be hard for you, right?"