Chapter 512: Auspicious Opening

Morning light pierces the night sky, dyeing the horizon pale gold and orange-red.

In the faint dawn, Hei Yu An Quan Qu awakens; the scent of earth mingles with the warm aroma of bread from afar, the streets are empty and quiet in the early morning, except for the workshop of the eastern car garage, where lights blaze and clear metallic sounds ring out.

After rushing here and there, by sunrise Chen Qing Shan and the others had finally tidied up the small hut neatly.

Since they were running an outsourced business, the small hut contained only a reception desk and a price list freshly hung on the wall, the ink still wet.

Though the place is small, it everywhere exudes the crisp efficiency of a newly opened shop.

Tools are hung on the wall by category, frequently used parts are neatly arranged, and not a speck of oil stains the floor.

Chen Qing Shan didn't even have time to wash his face before standing before the price list, squinting as he checked each word one by one for the final verification.

"Qing Shan bro!" an apprentice rushed in, speaking low and fast: "Outside… outside people are starting to argue! It seems to be about the queue order!"

Chen Qing Shan frowned slightly; he had anticipated this situation, and Guang Hui had even given him a heads‑up, but when it actually happened he still felt annoyed.

He glanced at the price list one last time, then turned sharply and strode toward the door, tossing out: "Come on, let's go out and see what's happening!"

The hut's door was pulled open, and the cool morning air rushed in together with the increasingly clear clamor from outside.

Chen Qing Shan narrowed his eyes, adjusting to the outdoor light.

The sight outside shattered Chen Qing Shan's just‑prepared mental resolve.

He had thought it was just a few people bickering, at most a little shoving.

But what lay before him was hardly just an argument.

Outside it was nothing short of a chaotic market!

At the main entrance of Qing Shan Car Workshop, a black‑crowd of at least thirty‑forty people packed the doorway, blocking it completely, not even a semblance of a line.

In the center of the crowd, two men faced off, faces flushed and necks thick, spit almost flying onto each other's faces.

"I've been standing in front of you all along, you bastard, how can you claim cutting in line is justified with such a thick face?"

"Bullshit! I clearly arrived before you—it's you who left, letting me take the spot! Who's to blame?"

"Who left on their own? I had to go because of something urgent, but did I say I didn't want this spot?"

"Did everyone hear that? He admitted he just left—so isn't this spot rightfully mine?"

The two shouted louder and louder, the surrounding people split into two factions buzzing with support, while others tried to squeeze forward, taking advantage of the chaos to snag a better spot.

Several Black Feather members tasked with maintaining daily order in the area wore helpless expressions as they tried to keep things calm, but to little effect.

After all, today is the car workshop's opening day, and everyone who came are eager car owners, their emotions growing more agitated by the moment.

"Make way! Make way! The person in charge of Qing Shan Car Workshop has arrived!"

An apprentice beside Chen Qing Shan shouted at the top of his lungs.

That shout hushed the noisy crowd for a moment, and dozens of eyes turned as one to the Chen Qing Shan who had just stepped out of the hut.

Chen Qing Shan took a deep breath, suppressing his nervousness.

He had run a car repair shop before, but he'd never been this kind of boss!

Moreover… Chen Qing Shan realized for the first time that he might be a bit socially anxious.

Chen Qing Shan struggled to control his emotions, walking on slightly wobbly legs to the front of the crowd, his gaze sweeping over the two men still glaring at each other and then over the surrounding faces etched with anxiety.

"Everyone, please quiet down."

After saying that, Chen Qing Shan's mind went blank; he didn't even know what to say next.

But the little apprentice standing nearby was quick‑witted, rushing forward to shout: "Everyone! Quiet down! Listen to the boss!"

The apprentice's voice was clear and bright, carrying youthful vigor that temporarily dampened part of the din.

Chen Qing Shan steadied himself, and with that brief quiet his mind finally began to turn.

He recalled the contingency plan he and Guang Hui had gone over repeatedly the night before, remembering what he truly ought to do.

He stopped trying to make out every face, instead turning his gaze to the distance and speaking in a steady voice: "The rules were already made clear yesterday on the district channel. Qing Shan Car Workshop provides service according to registration order. Registration means personally entering this workshop and hand‑writing your ID and vehicle details on the register."

Chen Qing Shan turned his gaze to the two arguing men, and recalled the tone Cheng Shuili used when speaking before the declaration of war.

He gave himself a mental pep talk, striving to imitate Cheng Shuili's demeanor as he asked sharply: "You two, who went in first to register?"

The two stared, then both flushed red.

"I… I just hadn't had a chance to go in yet when he blocked me here!" the man who spoke first defended.

"Me too!" the other immediately replied.

"In other words, neither of you has registered yet." Chen Qing Shan nodded, his tone flat, "So your argument is pointless. Now, everyone listen—"

He raised his volume to make sure everyone could hear: "Qing Shan Car Workshop is now officially open."

"From now on, anyone wanting repairs, please line up consciously along the wall on my left. I'll have the apprentice keep order here, letting people in one by one to register. Those who cut in, make noise, or disturb order will not be served today by Qing Shan Car Workshop, and Black Feather will record the incident."

Not be served? And also be recorded by Hei Yu An Quan Qu?

Everyone knows what it means to be recorded by Black Feather.

The faces of the two arguing men changed, they glared at each other fiercely, then fell silent and grudgingly stepped back, each seeking a place in the line.

Others also snapped to awareness, rushing in a wave to the wall at Chen Qing Shan's left, shoving, muttering complaints, bickering, yet daring not to raise their voices too much as they vied for a spot nearer the front.

The scene remained somewhat chaotic, but a crooked line was beginning to form.

Chen Qing Shan secretly let out a sigh of relief and gave the apprentice beside him a glance.

The apprentice understood, immediately ran to the front of the line and began directing with a loud voice: "Line up, line up! Don't push! Those behind, follow! One by one! Boss, can we start letting people in?"

Chen Qing Shan nodded, turned and walked back into the workshop, sat behind the registration desk, and opened that brand‑new register.

The pen tip touched the paper, but his hand holding it trembled slightly.

Even when he first gripped a wrench, he had never been this nervous—truly a first‑time experience in his life.

The first person to register was quickly let in, a middle‑aged man with a stubble‑covered face, who as soon as he entered said eagerly: "Boss, my car won't start at all, it's been flooded badly—what do you think…"