I can upgrade the shelter-Chapter 137 - 135: The Next Step Plan

Li Yulong’s original purpose was certainly not to seek cooperation with Chen Xin, but simply to exchange for a geothermal heat pump from him.

However, it was evident that his plans had been thoroughly discerned by Chen Xin, and Chen Xin’s counteroffer put him in a highly passive position.

Yet, even though Chen Xin saw through Li Yulong’s ideas and motives, after Li Yulong’s persuasion, he agreed to cooperate with him.

Leaving behind the goods he brought for exchange, Li Yulong departed contentedly. Even though Chen Xin did not immediately give him the geothermal heat pump equipment, gaining his promise to cooperate was worth giving these items for free as far as Li Yulong was concerned.

After Li Yulong left, Chen Xin and Qin Lan returned to the shelter to continue their previous work.

"Ah Xin, why did you agree to Xiao Long’s proposal and decide to cooperate with him?" Qin Lan asked curiously as she handed him a wrench: "As you said, you could completely work with the SWAT team and bypass him to do this. Why choose to cooperate with him?"

Chen Xin accepted the wrench and tightened a component before answering Qin Lan’s question: "Because I’m lazy and don’t want to be directly involved in this matter. Establishing a marketplace requires doing too many things; it’s tiring and laborious, and entirely unnecessary for me."

As he answered Qin Lan’s inquiry, Chen Xin picked up another component and began attaching it to the equipment being assembled.

This was a geothermal heat pump being assembled, as there wasn’t a system blueprint, Chen Xin could only assemble it manually. The system at this time could only provide component refurbishments and specification adjustments, enabling him to put these parts together without failing due to a mismatch in size.

"Also, each profession has its expertise. I don’t believe that I, a book writer, can manage a market better than Xiao Long, who comes from a merchant family and inherits his father’s trade." Chen Xin explained while keeping his hands busy: "As for cooperating with the SWAT team, do you truly think they’re suitable for handling this?"

Qin Lan wasn’t a fool. Chen Xin had spoken so clearly, of course, she could understand his meaning. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Indeed, the SWAT team isn’t suitable for intervening in black market affairs. This must be done only through cooperation with the city government." Qin Lan nodded in agreement with Chen Xin’s assessment.

The interests related to the black market and the impact it generates are immense; it can even be said that it influences the city’s structural dynamics significantly.

If it were a post-apocalyptic scenario like portrayed in movies where the nation has collapsed, anyone who controls such a black market could even be said to indirectly manipulate the entire city.

But under the current circumstance, where the government has not collapsed and can ensure the municipal control over the city, this must be, and can only be, done by the city government, though the SWAT team can partake in some of the benefits.

However, if the SWAT team were to undertake this, it would genuinely become a showdown between the SWAT team and the city government.

Understanding these relationships, Qin Lan no longer pursued the inquiry. Although Chen Xin could indeed go through the city government with the SWAT team’s guarantee to accomplish this, partnering with others is the best approach if he chooses not to do it himself.

"Yes, that’s essentially the case. I am not familiar with the city government personnel. Even if I work with them through your SWAT team, I’d still be the weakest among the three forces, requiring enormous energy and effort to maintain my interests, and I don’t have time or energy for such matters." Seeing Qin Lan understood his strategy, Chen Xin revealed his upcoming plan to her: "My next intention is to go and bring my parents back; compared to this, all else is secondary."

"Ah Xin, you’re going to fetch Uncle and Aunt back? How are you planning to go? Do you need my assistance?" Qin Lan became concerned upon hearing Chen Xin mention fetching his parents.

"Can you leave the SWAT team for this?" Chen Xin looked up at Qin Lan, noting her determined expression, then said: "In theory, using the currently operational railway to travel by train across four provinces to Anhui Province is the most time and energy-efficient method, but it’s probably hard to get a train ticket now, let alone bringing my parents back from Anhui Province.

The critical point is that my parents and relatives are in their mountain hometown, where it would take about an hour driving even before the snow, most likely now blocked by snow. Even if I could take the train to Anhui Province, fetching my parents would be troublesome."

Understanding Chen Xin’s explanation, Qin Lan nodded, realizing that if even the access roads near Chen Xin in the suburban area became much less navigable due to snow, it would undoubtedly be immensely challenging to drive into his so-called hometown.

"Do you plan to drive yourself there? But your car..." Qin Lan wasn’t optimistic about Chen Xin’s SUV.

Chen Xin rightly nodded, confirming: "My car definitely won’t do; to drive across four provinces, it has to be something like Xiao Long’s vehicle at least."

"So you cooperated with Xiao Long intending to swap for his car?" Qin Lan inferred his motive from what Chen Xin stated.

"It’d be great if I managed to swap for it, but I prefer to refit my own vehicle. His is a luxury RV suited for enjoyment, not quite right for such environments." Chen Xin shook his head. Despite coveting Li Yulong’s vehicle, he didn’t necessarily aim to get it.

Li Yulong’s RV, converted from a truck chassis, was designed for luxury and comfort, offering delightful living facilities but lacking measures to counter today’s extreme harsh environments.

Driving it around the city is one thing, but for long-distance journeys, it becomes less appropriate.

Chen Xin favored modifying a similar vehicle with preparations and protection against severe conditions and then using such a vehicle to fetch his parents.

For such a plan, Chen Xin would inevitably require substantial resources, which he could trade through the SWAT team, albeit less efficiently and slowly.

Hence, another reason for collaborating with Li Yulong; he could gather resources via Li Yulong instead of laboriously building a marketplace to collect them gradually.

Also, before setting off to fetch his parents, Chen Xin must first upgrade the shelter to accommodate more people.

Otherwise, without accommodation for his parents after they arrive, it’d be extremely awkward.