Chapter 137: He actually called, is he sick in the head?!

Through the consultation of this knowledgeable friend, Zhou Yi finally learned a thing or two.

The reason they hadn't notified him all this time was precisely to swap out some parts first.

For instance, with vehicle parts, the gap between original factory parts and aftermarket parts is significant, while salvaged parts fall somewhere in between.

Their quality is superior to aftermarket parts, yet the price is lower than original factory parts.

Especially for a car like Zhou Yi's, which was almost indistinguishable from a new car.

The salvaged parts on it were all good items.

"That's why I say, little Zhou, you're too laid back. You have to be careful whenever someone keeps your car overnight for repairs, and you just drove it over and didn't check on it for days."

"I reckon it's this attitude of yours that makes people think you're the careless type, though even if you were careful, you wouldn't have actually discovered this..."

This knowledgeable friend was very chatty; he said that this kind of part-swapping was common ten years ago when parts were expensive, but now it basically doesn't happen.

Especially at a Four S Store, there are too many ways to make money; almost no one does this kind of part-swapping, as compared to services like maintenance, it makes less money and is slow to boot.

Often, swapping parts isn't worth the trouble; if discovered, not only do you bear great responsibility, but your reputation is gone instantly.

So, basically no one does this anymore, but Zhou Yi's situation was truly special: a new car, a laid-back owner, and the car was crashed by an Employee of the shop just after being repaired.

That worked out perfectly; since no one knew the extent of the accident, they just swapped them, which was likely a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Moreover, even if they really did swap them, you wouldn't be able to tell, because you couldn't possibly take those parts off one by one to inspect them.

And having gotten into the swing of it, that person had already started telling Zhou Yi some inside information.

There are many tricks in the car repair trade; a luxury car comes in for repairs, and after two days of inspection, it turns out a certain part just needs cleaning.

So what do you do? Tell the car owner the labor cost is two thousand and the repair fee is thirty?

Might as well do a bit more, and even if it doesn't need replacing, you swap it anyway.

Especially when the owner comes to look and finds the car already taken apart, in many cases, they will agree to whatever you tell them to replace...

This sort of thing is the same in every industry; after all, every trade is like a mountain away, and some people do business honestly for the sake of their reputation, while others just think about swindling and cheating to make a quick buck.

"So, Brother Jiang, you mean it's very difficult to deal with this part-swapping, right? Unless one takes those parts off again and compares them one by one."

"Right, but that is very troublesome. However, the parts they would swap are definitely the more expensive ones; there's no need for ordinary ones."

"Little Zhou, you aren't really thinking of investigating, are you? If you really want to, you can contact some Professional testing agency. As long as you're willing to spend the money, they can find out anything for you."

"But I don't suggest doing that; it's not worth the cost..."

After chatting a few more words with this Brother Xue, Zhou Yi hung up the phone.

He then followed Brother Xue's instructions and began taking Photos of the screws in key areas.

Because if you want to swap parts, these key screws must be unscrewed, though it isn't easy for a layman to tell.

Zhou Yi sent all those Photos to the brother's WeChat as requested, and not long after, he received a reply.

"Little Zhou, it can be confirmed for now that these areas show signs of having been moved; they should have been opened."

Brother Xue didn't speak in absolutes, only saying there were signs of movement; as for whether the parts were truly swapped, that was hard to say.

Looking back, that Manager was no longer there.

After thinking it over, Zhou Yi still dialed the other party's number.

"Hello, Mr. Zhou, I'm busy right now. Don't talk to me about this; it's useless. That's just how our Company's regulations are."

"Manager, I just took a rough look, and the screws in some positions inside my car have been moved!"

"Huh? Mr. Zhou, I wasn't aware of what you're saying. Perhaps the repair technician moved them while inspecting the car after the accident."

"Does an inspection require moving those positions? Manager, this feels a bit wrong, the parts inside..."

However, before Zhou Yi could finish speaking, the Manager said: "Mr. Zhou, are you implying that we swapped your parts?"

"Let me tell you, we are a legitimate shop; such a situation is absolutely impossible, so please rest assured!"

"Of course, if Mr. Zhou is not at ease, you can go find a third-party Professional testing agency to conduct an inspection and issue a professional report; we certainly won't stop you."

"……Okay!"

Hanging up the phone, the Manager felt a bit suspicious; Zhou Yi's reaction on the other end seemed a bit too calm.

The Manager had worked in many repair shops and Four S Stores before and had seen this kind of suspicion about part-swapping many times.

Of course, some were true and some were false, but the Manager always used these words to reply.

Suspicion is fine, but you can't just claim parts were swapped because you suspect it; you have to find evidence.

And you must find those companies or agencies with professional qualifications to conduct an inspection and issue a report.

Many times, customers will excitedly say this isn't over and that they will definitely look into it, but it always fizzles out later.

Anyway, having worked in this trade for so many years, he had never encountered anyone who actually found someone to inspect it, because if the inspection shows nothing was swapped, the agency still charges their fees as usual.

However, after thinking about it, he still dialed another number.

"Hello, Lao Fu, be careful with what you're doing; the person has already discovered traces!"

"It was just two parts, it's fine, Manager. Alright, that's it."

The Manager didn't take it to heart; it was just a few parts. Normally speaking, he really didn't need to swap any parts—it was troublesome and didn't make much money.

It just so happened that a relative had come in for maintenance two days ago and needed a few parts replaced.

It just happened that Zhou Yi's car had been in an accident, so he thought he'd take them off and install them on his relative's car. Charity begins at home, and it wasn't even about making money.

This sort of thing is hard to discover even for professional mechanics, let alone that Mr. Zhou who looked so laid back.

Brother Jiang had already sent the phone number of a Professional testing agency to his phone, and this time Zhou Yi did not hesitate and called directly.

Even though Brother Jiang said it was only possible that parts were swapped, and even if they were found, it would be more trouble than it was worth for the car owner.

After all, the money for a testing company is not a small amount...

Even if you make the other party pay, it won't be much.

But Zhou Yi didn't care about that, because three lines of text had already appeared on his visual interface.

Option 1: Let it go. Everyone knows Four S Stores are scams; don't lower yourself to their level.

Option two: It is clearly their affair, yet they refuse to admit it; one needs to use one's own fists to make them accept an education!

Option three: Whether it is the parts or the accident, pursue it to the end through legal means; absolutely do not condone it!

It's here, isn't it? I originally thought the previous video theft incident hadn't reached one hundred percent progress, so a new event wouldn't refresh.

Yet I never expected it to actually refresh!

It seems the S Shop's practice of cheating people has already incited heaven's wrath and people's resentment; this feeling is just like fighting—I haven't even made a move yet, and the system behind me is already impatient to jump out and unleash its ultimate move!

No need to hesitate, choose option three!

"Event initiated!"

Event name: Car used privately by S Shop employee, resulting in an accident, compensation refused, parts stolen and replaced.

Event goal: Under the circumstances of the S Shop making various excuses and refusing compensation, make the S Shop accept an education through legal means.

Current event progress: 0%

One million in the Virtual Account has arrived!

"Hello, is this Manager Meng of the automotive testing agency? I am introduced by Manager Jiang, Zhou Yi."

"Oh yes, yes, Mr. Zhou, old Jiang has told me about you. You suspect your car had its parts stolen and replaced, and you want to find us to conduct a test, right?"

Manager Meng on the other end said quickly.

"Yes, Manager Meng, I do indeed want to have this test done. Do you have any availability on your end?"

"Availability, of course I have availability. We open our doors to do business, how could we refuse? But Mr. Zhou, old Jiang told you, right? This service fee is not cheap..."

"Even if the other party did replace the parts, you will still end up losing in the end."

It is clear that this Manager Meng and the previous Brother Xue should have a decent relationship; the man spoke very bluntly.

The fee is not cheap, so he let Zhou Yi consider it carefully.

"Manager Meng, I have already considered it. Even if the other party didn't replace the parts, I still want to do this test. As for the money, you can just charge as usual."

Soon both sides reached an agreement; Manager Meng told Zhou Yi to wait first, as the masters from their Company would be able to go over later.

That doesn't matter; Zhou Yi has nothing to do anyway, so he just waits right next to the car.

This place is actually the repair bay. A bunch of masters had gone to eat earlier, but now they have all returned to work, so Zhou Mouren, who was guarding the car, quickly attracted attention.

Everyone knows about this matter of the car being driven out by an Apprentice and crashing; they all understand that this person is here to cause trouble.

"Eh, didn't Manager Ren go to negotiate earlier? I wonder how it went," an old master said there.

"How could it go? You know our rules; they definitely don't want to pay, and are telling him to find that Apprentice himself."

"I don't know what will happen this time."

Whether this rule is legal or not, the old masters are all very clear about it.

To be reasonable, many repair shops, including Four S Stores, will have such things happen, where some repair masters drive customers' cars out privately to be Pretending to be Cool.

The S Shop is a bit stricter with management, but it can only be said to be a bit stricter; people can still drive them if they want to.

Because it is not their own car, they don't feel bad when speeding; under such circumstances, it is very easy to have an accident.

Plus, some Apprentices don't even have a driver's license; they just think about taking young girls out to show off.

This is not the first time this has happened. It's not like no one has come to make a scene in the past; all sorts of people have come to the door, calling reporters and the like.

Lao Fu curled his lips and said: "Rules are rules, what else can be done? Manager Ren even said he would give a discount, but it didn't work; it looks like he wants money."

Giving money is absolutely impossible. Previously, there was a new car in their shop; the customer had placed an order and was preparing to come pick up the car, but it ended up being crashed by a staff member.

So what if it was crashed? The customer wanted to exchange for another car, but the shop definitely wouldn't allow it. In any case, it was just one sentence: the car was already yours, it could only be handled as an accident.

The customer was unhappy; I just bought the car and haven't even driven it yet, and you turned it into an accident car, and I can't exchange it?

Not being able to exchange it was one thing, but they wouldn't even pay the depreciation fee, saying that a car depreciates the moment it is bought, so there was no way to pay it.

In the end, that person even hired reporters, but it still ended with just some free maintenance and a VIP card.

And that was just an accident that happened inside the shop, let alone outside.

The big group of people chatted like this, and soon directly ignored Zhou Yi who was standing to the side.

Pitiful, standing there, with absolutely no one paying him any mind.

As for the matter of the parts, that was a small matter; Lao Fu didn't take it to heart at all. Whether the parts were replaced or not is not for you to decide.

Manager Ren naturally also knew that Zhou Yi was still waiting there; he just wouldn't go over, dragging it out anyway.

After about two hours or so, Lao Fu inadvertently saw that Zhou Yi answer a phone call, and then walk outside.

Not long after, he saw the other party bring in a few people who had the aura of "peers."

What is this for? This is their shop, their repair bay; he actually brought other repairmen in?

So Lao Fu and the others quickly walked up and asked: "What's going on? Who are you people, and what are you here for?"

Zhou Yi replied: "Oh, masters, these are staff members from a Professional testing agency; I have already spoken to Manager Ren about this."

Staff members from a Professional testing agency...

What are they here for? Lao Fu didn't know what was going on either; the key was that the other party had actually spoken to Manager Ren!

"No way, this is our repair bay; look, you guys wait a moment, I'll notify the manager!"

What must be notified must be notified; it can't be whatever they say goes.

Soon, an old master dialed Manager Ren's phone.

"Hello Manager Ren, yes, it's me. That customer of ours, that Zhou Yi, brought a few people in to the repair bay, saying they are staff members from a testing agency, and they want to test his car."

"He even said you knew about this!"

What? Manager Ren, who was busy over there, was directly stunned.

"You wait, you said they are staff members from a Professional testing agency?" Manager Ren asked hurriedly.

"Yes, they are all wearing work uniforms; they do look professional." The old master didn't expect Manager Ren to react so strongly, but he still said it.

"Alright, you wait, don't let them in yet, I'll go over and take a look first!"

Manager Ren felt his heart pounding wildly; that Zhou Yi had actually gone and called people from a testing agency!

What was he even after? Was he sick in the head? How much would it cost to get a report issued after a test like that?

The key point was that it had been said so many times in the past, yet no one had ever actually called anyone; why did he have to play for real this time!

If a matter like this were truly discovered, he, Manager Ren, would be in trouble; after all, the management at the Four S Store was quite strict, and these things were all done by them in private.

He hurried toward the repair shop in a rush.

Meanwhile, in the repair shop, the old master hung up the phone and said very politely to Zhou Yi, "Mr. Zhou, and the rest of you, please wait a moment; our manager will be here shortly."

"It would be better to wait until the manager arrives and we have discussed things before going in."

Zhou Yi smiled upon hearing this and said, "No problem. Manager Ren is finally coming over, then? I thought he wasn't planning on seeing me."

Lao Fu did not speak, only glancing at the few people behind him; he felt things were looking a bit ominous, as if the favor he had done for Manager Ren this time was going to cause trouble!

The second update, and the third update is still a bit short on word count. Speaking of which, have my updates been getting later and later lately... I was short and small again yesterday, someone come quickly and slap me twice!

(End of this chapter)