NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: Buying A Computer
Lin Canghai and Lin Yun went straight to the only mall in the city after eating.
Lin Yun smiled as they rode in the old mini truck. He had forgotten how peaceful this felt. It was one of the calmest moments in his life.
"Why are you smiling?" Lin Canghai asked while driving.
Lin Yun looked at his father and asked, "Dad, I remember you like sports cars."
"Yes, who doesn't?" Lin Canghai chuckled. "Why are you asking?"
"I'll buy you one later," Lin Yun said with a smile. "I don't know much about cars, so you can choose it yourself."
Lin Canghai glanced at his son with a strange look, but he didn't think much of it. He joked, "Sure. Don't forget to buy one for your mother. She looks gentle, but she used to drive a tractor a lot when she was young. People called her 'Little Crazy Racer.'"
Lin Yun was surprised. "Really? How did you marry her, Dad?"
Lin Canghai grinned. "Your mother asked me out! Maybe she liked that I was handsome."
Lin Yun rolled his eyes. "I didn't know you were so vain, Dad."
Lin Canghai laughed happily.
They soon arrived at the mall. After parking, they went straight to the electronics area. Unlike women, men always go directly to what they want when shopping.
Looking at the familiar mall, Lin Yun felt nostalgic. When he was young, he often came here with his family and they would play in the playground all day.
"Dad, let's go to that store. I've been there before," Lin Yun said, pointing to a computer store called "Good Buy."
"Alright," Lin Canghai agreed.
The store was small compared to future electronics stores, but it was neatly organized with rows of shiny appliances.
Tall refrigerators, old-fashioned washing machines, and rows of bulky televisions lined the walls. The store hummed with the quiet noise of machines and people talking.
Lin Yun's eyes scanned the familiar beige computer boxes. Each one was a time capsule, a relic from a bygone era of technology. He could almost hear the whirring of the hard drives and low-quality fans.
"Can I help you?" A middle-aged man with a friendly smile approached Lin Yun and his father. He wore a crisp white shirt and a name tag that read "Manager Zhang."
"Yes, we're looking to buy a computer," Lin Canghai replied, gesturing towards Lin Yun. "It's for my son."
Manager Zhang's eyes lit up. "Excellent choice! We have a wide selection of computers perfect for students. Are you looking for something for gaming, studying, or general use?"
Lin Yun stepped forward, his eyes already fixed on a particular model. "I'm interested in that one," he said, pointing towards a computer with a slightly larger monitor and a more powerful-looking tower.
Manager Zhang followed his gaze and nodded approvingly. "Ah, you have a good eye! That's our top-of-the-line model, perfect for students who need a bit more power. It comes with a Pentium 4 processor, 512MB of RAM, and a 40GB hard drive. More than enough for all your schoolwork and even some light gaming."
Lin Yun raised an eyebrow and pretended to ask. "Pentium 4? That's a bit outdated, isn't it? What about the graphics card?"
Manager Zhang chuckled. "Outdated? Young man, this is the latest technology! And the graphics card is integrated, more than enough for your needs."
Lin Yun suppressed a smile. He was testing Manager Zhang's knowledge.
"Can I see the other specs?" Lin Yun asked, already knowing the answer.
"Of course." Manager Zhang pulled out a sheet of paper with the computer's specifications.
Lin Yun scanned the sheet, a wave of nostalgia washing over him. It was like stepping back in time. The specs were comparable to a mid-range computer from 1998 on Earth.
"Not bad," Lin Yun commented, handing the sheet back to Manager Zhang.
"Not bad?" Manager Zhang beamed. "It's excellent! And for a limited time, we're offering a special discount. Only 15,000 yuan for this machine."
Lin Yun's eyes widened in mock surprise. "15,000 yuan? That's quite a bit."
Manager Zhang nodded understandingly. "It is an investment, but a worthwhile one. Think of all the educational and entertainment possibilities it offers."
Lin Yun thought for a moment and said, "How about I add a printer, Manager Zhang?"
Manager Zhang's ears perked up. "A printer? Excellent idea! We have a wide selection of printers. And if you buy both, I can offer you a special bundle discount."
Lin Yun seized the opportunity. "How about a 15% discount on the computer, and we'll take a printer too?" he bargained.
Manager Zhang's smile faltered. 15% was a significant discount, but he didn't want to lose a sale.
"10%," he countered.
Lin Yun shook his head. "15%, and we'll take the printer with the most expensive ink cartridges. We'll be regular customers for those."
Manager Zhang's eyes widened. He quickly calculated the profit margin in his head. The ink cartridges were where the real money was made.
"Deal!" he exclaimed, extending his hand towards Lin Yun.
Lin Yun grinned and shook his hand. "Pleasure doing business with you, Manager Zhang."
Lin Canghai watched the exchange with amusement and pride. His son had always been bright, but he hadn't expected him to be such a skilled negotiator.
Lin Yun walked around to check the home appliances while Manager Zhang was busy packing the computer.
The home appliances were mostly old-fashioned with few intelligent systems. Lin Yun believed he could monopolize the electronics market soon if he introduced an era-crossing product like an LCD or LED television.
"Electronic product…" Lin Yun made a mental note.
As he walked back, Manager Zhang had already packed everything up.
"Would you like us to deliver this to your house? We also have an installation service," Manager Zhang asked.
"No need, Manager Zhang. We drove here," Lin Canghai said.
Manager Zhang nodded and handed Lin Canghai a warranty document. "We have a 3-year warranty. As long as it hasn't exploded into pieces, you can bring your computer to us. We will repair it for free during the warranty period."
"Understood," Lin Canghai nodded as he read the document.