Compared to his uncle's business, Luo Botao was much more concerned with how to crush Chen Mo in the game. Besides, he didn't understand anything about computer hardware anyway. Hearing Chen Mo tell him to go back and keep playing, he was already impatient.
With that, the two temporarily parted ways with Qin Xiaojun and headed down to the first floor.
While still on the stairs, they heard Fang Yongming's voice.
"Zhitong, this Motorola RAZR V3 you looked up came out last year, but it's still far from outdated, and the price is right now. It's especially suitable for girls."
"Yeah, I've liked it for a long time."
Hearing their conversation, Chen Mo roughly guessed that Lin Zhitong had come to the internet cafe to look up phones. He thought to himself: What a hassle for nothing, wouldn't it be better to check out a physical store instead of coming to an internet cafe?
Too lazy to care, Chen Mo went downstairs with Luo Botao and headed straight for their computers.
However, as they passed Lin Zhitong and Fang Yongming, Lin Zhitong suddenly turned around, stopped Chen Mo, and pointed at the computer screen.
"Xiao Mo, my dad said he'll buy me a phone before school starts. Do you think this V3 is okay?"
Perhaps out of habit from the past three years, Lin Zhitong relied heavily on Chen Mo for many things. Although he was no longer acting like a simpering bootlicker, Chen Mo didn't want to be overly harsh either, so he glanced at the screen and said, "It's nice."
As he said this, he thought to himself: Reborn is great in every way, except that I'll never again get to enjoy the convenience of smartphones and the wonders of the mobile internet era.
"If you think it's good, then I'll buy it."
Getting Chen Mo's affirmative answer, Lin Zhitong seemed very happy. She made up her mind on the spot and asked, "Do you want to grab lunch together later?"
"No, I'm busy."
With that, Chen Mo didn't want to get any further entangled and started to leave, but unexpectedly, Fang Yongming stood up as well.
"Chen Mo, my mom is planning to buy me a Nokia 6680. What about you? School starts in less than a month, what are your folks getting you?"
"No money, not buying."
Hearing this, a sense of superiority welled up in Fang Yongming's heart. He wanted to brag some more, but discovered that Chen Mo had already walked far away.
Only Luo Botao remained standing nearby, staring blankly at the picture of the 6680.
"Botao, which phone are you getting for school?"
Luo Botao snapped back to reality, hesitated, and said, "I haven't decided yet."
With that, he ran off to join Chen Mo, leaving behind a dazed Lin Zhitong and a smug Fang Yongming.
……
"Xiao Mo, that 6680 is really nice. I heard it's a brand new model Nokia just released this year," Luo Botao said, his face full of yearning.
Chen Mo smiled. "You like it?"
"Of course I like it."
"If you like it, look at it a bit more."
Hearing this, Luo Botao let out a sigh. "My mom said I have to use the family's old hand-me-down brick of a phone when school starts. They aren't planning on buying me a new one at all."
"Be grateful you have something to use. Why ask for the moon?"
"What about you? What model are Uncle Chen and Aunt He getting you?" Luo Botao knew Chen Mo had just been brushing off Fang Yongming.
"They haven't said yet. They might actually not buy me one at all."
Actually, He Yunlan had mentioned buying a phone during lunch, but Chen Mo said this so Luo Botao wouldn't feel down. Moreover, he seemed to know why Luo Botao's family wasn't planning to buy him a new phone.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Luo Botao's psychological balance seemed much restored.
"Are we playing games? Come on, I'll host the map."
"Not yet, wait a little bit."
Chen Mo was estimating the time it would take for Qin Xiaojun to make the call; he should have an answer very soon.
And things went just as he expected. Before long, Qin Xiaojun appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Chen Mo, can you come over here for a second?"
"Sure."
……
Returning to the second-floor office with Luo Botao, before Chen Mo could even speak, Qin Xiaojun said happily, "Chen Mo, that new parts list of yours is simply amazing! My friends all say that even after doing computer assembly business for all these years, they never would have thought of such a brilliant configuration plan."
As he spoke, Qin Xiaojun excitedly grabbed Chen Mo's hand. "This time you really helped your uncle a huge favor. Tell me, what do you want to eat for lunch? Just name it."
Before Chen Mo could reply, Luo Botao chimed in ecstatically, "Uncle, that newly opened self-service BBQ place on Dongguan Street is pretty good. I heard it's 88 yuan per person."
In 2005, a buffet costing 88 yuan per person was no small sum; for three people, that came to 264 yuan. Qin Xiaojun was thoroughly defeated by Luo Botao, this crafty nephew of his—he really had the nerve to ask for the moon.
However, the value of the configuration plan Chen Mo provided today was worth far more than 264 yuan; it had practically saved the internet cafe.
"Alright, let's go all out."
With that, he prepared to take them there.
Yet Chen Mo made no move to get up and stopped Qin Xiaojun instead.
"Uncle, how many new machines are you planning to buy in total this time?"
"Around 80, I suppose. Replacing all of them on the first floor, and a portion of the second floor." Qin Xiaojun felt a fresh pang of heartache over the expense.
"About how long will it take for the new computer hardware to arrive?" Chen Mo continued to ask.
"My friend says a few days at the fastest, a week at the latest. Why? Do you have a supply channel too?"
Hearing this, Chen Mo understood in his heart; he could finally reveal his true purpose.
"I'm not interested in computer procurement, but can you leave the assembly work after they're bought to me?"
In truth, it wasn't that Chen Mo had no interest in computer procurement; he simply didn't have that much time. The configuration plan he gave Qin Xiaojun was entirely based on information he had picked up while working odd jobs in Yangcheng in his past life. But having been reborn, he knew nothing about the local market conditions. Even if the prices didn't differ much, finding a reliable supply channel wasn't so simple.
Furthermore, once you had the supply channels, what about after-sales service and repairs? Whoever sells the hardware has to handle free warranty repairs for a certain period. School was starting soon, and who knew if the computers might develop issues down the line? Would he have to run all the way back from vocational school to fix them then?
Therefore, Chen Mo never intended to meddle in hardware procurement from the very beginning. He only wanted to make some quick cash before school started. Besides, his overall plans didn't lie in this small county town of Wen County—larger cities offered a much broader horizon.
……
"You even know how to assemble computers?" Luo Botao wore a look of utter disbelief.
Chen Mo ignored him and kept his eyes on Qin Xiaojun.
Qin Xiaojun no longer doubted for a second that Chen Mo could assemble computers, especially after the huge favor he had just done him. Besides, who cares who makes the money as long as it stays in the family? Wouldn't it be even better to give it to one of his own?
"Alright, how much for assembling a single unit?" Qin Xiaojun probed cautiously.
"What's the market price?" Naturally, Chen Mo wouldn't make the first move in naming a price.
"Usually, bulk assembly, debugging, and OS installation run about 70 yuan per machine around here."
"Then I'll only charge 60, and I guarantee both the quality and the timeline."
Hearing this, Qin Xiaojun wasn't one to dilly-dally. He made a decisive call. "Deal, settled."
……
After lunch, they bid farewell to Qin Xiaojun.
Rubbing his about-to-burst stomach, Luo Botao said thoughtfully, "Xiao Mo, I just calculated. Even if my uncle only buys 80 computers this time, you're going to make 4,800 yuan just like that."
Chen Mo smiled to himself, thinking: What kind of money is this? It's just quick cash before the semester starts. Compared to what's coming in the future, it doesn't even amount to spare change.
Seeing the envious look in Luo Botao's eyes, Chen Mo said, "Luobo, I happen to need a helper. If you're free, come work on this with me. I won't let you work for free!"
"Me? Working for free is fine, but I don't know a thing about this."
"All it takes is a pair of hands."
"Okay, I'll help you, but I don't want any money."
Hearing Luo Botao's agreement, Chen Mo patted him on the shoulder and smiled. "Luobo, don't worry. Stick with me, and as long as I have a bowl of rice to eat, I'll leave you a bowl to wash."