Tang Wen carried two pockets of things and walked for over an hour to get home, nearly falling into a ditch in the dark.
He originally wanted to try getting a bicycle or motorcycle from the Shipyard, but the System directly prompted that it could not manufacture items other than those used for vessels.
As for the Diesel Engine, perhaps it was because it could also be installed on a boat for use.
Since it was dark, he figured no one would come. Before sleeping, Tang Wen spent 16 Silver Coins to have the idle Shipyard manufacture two 25 Horsepower Diesel Engines, planning to check them upon waking up.
【Under Construction: Two 25 Horsepower Low-Speed Diesel Engines （6 Hours ）】
【Resource Usage: 100%】
……
“Bang, bang.”
“Xiao Tang? Xiao Tang, are you there?”
“Bang, bang.”
Hearing the iron gate to the yard being knocked loudly, Tang Wen sat up and stretched, realizing it was already past ten o'clock.
Was it Zheng Hai and the others?
But he quickly discerned from the sound that it was Villagers, though he couldn't immediately recall which one.
He got up, put on his shoes, and a few minutes later, Tang Wen pulled open the iron gate to see... the Village Chief?
Chen Yonggui was still driving his sputtering all-terrain vehicle, and seeing Tang Wen just waking up, he spoke with dissatisfaction:
“What were you up to last night with those bad friends of yours? I’ve been knocking here for ages with no response, the Sun is almost overhead!”
The Village Chief purely viewed Tang Wen as a disappointing prospect needing admonishment, which instantly brought back the fear of being nagged by his mother during childhood. Tang Wen immediately put on a look of suffering:
“Spare me, Uncle, why are you looking for me so early? I can’t fix that Tractor either.”
“Who asked you to fix it? By the time you could, I’d have already replaced it with a new Tractor.”
Chen Yonggui looked disdainful, then proudly pointed behind the truck bed:
“My son looked at it last night; the Nose is fine, it’s the clutch underneath that burned out. He happens to have a good set, so I can just swap it.
You have the tools right here, just lend me some. Come to my house for lunch, I’m stewing Pork ribs!”
The Village Chief was rumored to have once received an award as a Model Tractor Driver, so he knew how to fix Tractors. Tang Wen wasn't worried and pushed open the iron gate.
It was perfect timing to get a free lunch; the Pork these days was truly all-natural and additive-free...
Just as he was thinking about the aroma of the ribs, he suddenly heard Chen Yonggui’s confused voice:
“What is this?”
Tang Wen subconsciously turned his head to look. The Village Chief was staring blankly at the two neatly arranged Diesel Engines under the Iron Skin shed.
The two Diesel Engines were almost Brand new. The dark blue anti-corrosion coating showed no wear, the red paint on the fuel tank was uniform, and the surface seemed to have a layer of wax, emitting a soft glow under the sunlight.
“They’re broken!”
Tang Wen had completely forgotten about ordering the Diesel Engines because he came back too late last night.
However, Chen Yonggui had already jumped down from the all-terrain vehicle and squatted on the ground like he was looking at a great treasure, carefully brushing the surface of the 25 Horsepower Diesel Engine.
Just by touching the smooth, neat Iron Skin fuel tank, he knew this was definitely not cheap, high-quality merchandise. Only Imported Island Nation Kubotas had this kind of craftsmanship.
But when he looked down at the Nameplate on the side, he was completely stunned.
It clearly stated:
“Product Name: Gaijin Brand 25 Horsepower Single Cylinder Low-Speed Diesel Engine”
“Manufacturer: Big Bay Village Gaijin Shipyard”
“Production Address: No. 8, Group 6, Big Bay Town, Big Bay Village”
“Production Date: July 16, 1996”
Chen Yonggui blinked. How did he remember that today was the 16th?
At this moment, Tang Wen also squatted down. Seeing the text on the Nameplate, he was also dumbfounded.
He then suddenly remembered that the Hull of the Duty-Free No. 1 also had this thing, but he hadn't paid attention to it at the time.
But now Chen Yonggui was confused by the Nameplate. Group 6, No. 8 was naturally the address of Tang’s Small Workshop, but could these Diesel Engines really have been produced by them? Moreover, two beautiful machines like these would probably cost over ten thousand combined.
“Xiao Tang, what is written on your Diesel Engines?”
Tang Wen’s eyes were also stinging, so he simply gave a vague reply:
“I wrote that. Just carved it on there for fun.”
“Then where did you get these? These things aren't cheap. Aren't you afraid someone will steal them just sitting here?”
“Uh, this…”
Tang Wen’s mind raced, and gradually, he came up with an Idea:
“These? I got them late last night, didn't have time to put them away yet.
These Diesel Engines are... Imported!”
“Imported?”
Chen Yonggui didn't doubt the quality of these two Diesel Engines; purely based on the workmanship, they were better than Domestic ones, but...
Being a Village Chief, as soon as he heard 'Imported,' he immediately thought of those young men around who had suddenly gotten rich.
Some things weren't a Secret; everyone knew that getting good items from outside that couldn't be bought locally and flipping them could earn Big money.
But he hadn't expected the usually unserious Tang Wen to also be involved in this. Thinking back to Tang Wen selling off valuable family possessions a few days ago, did he do it to raise money for this?
The Village Chief suddenly understood. No wonder he changed the Nameplate; he was being cautious.
Good kid, being so meticulous at such a young age.
One shouldn't judge a book by its cover; he truly had hidden depths!
Seeing the Village Chief’s complicated gaze mixed with surprise, appreciation, and realization—an expression of "I know everything"—Tang Wen, though not understanding, nodded along. Let him think whatever he wanted.
After clearing up his confusion, Chen Yonggui shifted his attention back to the Diesel Engines, carefully examining every detail:
“They don’t look much bigger, but this has 25 Horsepower?”
“The upper cover is aluminum; that’s more expensive than iron.”
“Oh, the foot pads on this cover are so thick; it looks like it can be installed on a boat.”
“No Crank Handle? That’s fine, I brought one.”
The Village Chief liked them more the more he looked. He proactively took the oil can and Crank Handle from the truck bed, then waved to Tang Wen:
“Come on, help me hold this steady, and don't touch the flywheel.”
Chen Yonggui first inserted the Crank Handle and gently rotated it without adding Diesel, while simultaneously pinching the side Valve.
Tang Wen was completely confused watching and couldn't help but ask:
“Uncle, you haven't even added fuel yet.”
“You know nothing. A new Diesel Engine needs to have the air purged from the Fuel Line, otherwise, you’ll ruin a new one too.”
While mentally criticizing Tang Wen for wasting resources, Chen Yonggui completed the pre-start steps, then poured in two liters of Diesel.
“Move aside.”
He held one side of the Diesel Engine, gripped the handle tightly, and used his whole body to apply force. His withered arms still had considerable strength. Accompanied by the sound of the flywheel rotating at high frequency, it started successfully on the first try.
The sound of the brand new 25 Horsepower Diesel Engine was completely different from the 10 Horsepower one; it was deeper and more powerful. Standing nearby, one could feel the strong Power.
Tang Wen couldn't tell much difference, but Chen Yonggui was even happier:
“Good! This machine runs much smoother, and the sound is clearer. Xiao Tang, how much are you selling this thing for?”
Tang Wen hadn't considered that issue at all. However, a normal price was impossible; he couldn't put up any Nameplate, and this was inherently a shady business.
“Uncle, I have to explain first: I don't cover anything for these imported items. Once they’re sold, I’m not responsible.”
He gave a preemptive warning, but Chen Yonggui just chuckled:
“No problem. This machine’s quality is excellent. Besides, what machine can’t we fix ourselves? Just tell me the price. Uncle won’t take advantage of you, but I can’t afford it if it’s too expensive.”
Tang Wen thought for a moment and held up three fingers:
“Three thousand... seven hundred yuan.”
Eight Silver Coins equaled 369 yuan. A 900% Profit! Tang Wen already felt he was being Black-hearted and struggled to keep from laughing out loud.
“How much?”
“Three thousand seven! No after-sales, no service, I’m not responsible for anything once it’s sold.”
As soon as Tang Wen finished speaking, he saw Chen Yonggui firmly grasp his hand and say with a conflicted yet happy expression:
“This must be your Cost! Uncle can’t take advantage of you. An 8,000 yuan price tag wouldn't even be too much for a 25 Horsepower engine head. I can’t take this from you for that price.
How about five thousand? Business must be tough for you too. If you need anything in the future, Uncle will look out for you.”
Tang Wen was about to Refuse, but seeing Chen Yonggui’s serious expression, he swallowed the words back down.
In reality, even a standard 12 Horsepower Tractor cost over ten thousand now, so a 25 Horsepower Diesel Engine, even just the engine, was very expensive.
Five thousand yuan was already a huge bargain, and Chen Yonggui was afraid Tang Wen would Go back on his word. He used the excuse of taking the latter back for a meal to give him the money.
Under Chen Yonggui’s strong insistence, the two first hid the Diesel Engines in a Corner, covering them with straw and Garbage, before driving the Tractor to the Village Chief’s house.
After enjoying a fragrant winter melon stewed with Pork ribs, the two returned to the Shipyard in the afternoon and immediately removed the original Diesel Engine from the all-terrain vehicle, replacing it with the 25 Horsepower one.
Since it was a derived model, the Installation process went smoothly. Chen Yonggui was overjoyed driving the transformed Tractor, thinking he could even add a trailer.
The “all-terrain vehicle” was the main means of transport in the countryside at this time; everything relied on it for hauling goods and people. Fish caught every morning had to be transported to Town by Tractor for sale.
A 25 Horsepower Diesel Tractor could easily pull four or five tons, instantly doubling its hauling capacity.
Although five thousand yuan wasn't a small amount, the convenience it brought was greatly enhanced.