"Here, here!" Cheng Ye snapped back to reality and quickly added, "Oh, could you please send me the price list for commonly used vehicle parts?"

"No problem, I’ll organize it and send it over to you." Old Sun agreed readily.

"Thanks."

Cheng Ye thanked him and hung up the phone, still feeling a bit dizzy.

Compared to working at the inspection station, the speed at which he was making money by scavenging at the junkyard was ridiculously fast.

However, on the other hand, resources that can’t be circulated are meaningless, no matter how high the price is marked.

The official system of Happiness City never recycles second-hand parts, even if fixed, they can only be sold to freelance caravans.

But the caravans are sure to push the price down, and Contribution Points can’t be traded privately—they’ll only convert to Happiness Coins at best.

"Not bad; saving money is also a way of making money!"

Cheng Ye shook his head and quickly figured it out.

After all, it’s Matthew Lee’s hard cash being saved; the more they scavenge, the more operating funds the caravan has.

While pondering, the Defense Communication "ding-dong" rang, and the parts price list from Old Sun had arrived.

Cheng Ye opened it and saw an exceptionally detailed table, from engines and controllers as core components to wiring harnesses and gaskets as small parts—even different specifications of screws were clearly listed with their models and unit prices.

However, by comparison, the level of control over resources by Happiness City becomes apparent.

Parts involving core industrial technology have outrageously high prices.

But basic consumables for repairing vehicles, like rubber gaskets, copper-core wiring harnesses, standard screws, or even non-core parts like interior panels and seat slides, have surprisingly low prices—some are even sold by weight.

Especially tires—just submit old tires produced by Happiness City, and each tire can be replaced for free up to three times a year, even if you rupture them while driving on rough roads.

After exceeding the limit, the replacement cost is only 50 Contribution Points, almost the price of production.

"Maybe at the next great era of expansion, when industrial capacity becomes sufficiently excessive and core technologies are no longer rare, regular folks can truly have access to them."

"Before that, each Shelter City conducts silent resource warfare—once technology leaks, it’s like breeding competitors, so Happiness City definitely won’t relent."

Cheng Ye put away the Defense Communication.

No wonder purchasing Energy Storage Plates from Rainbow Light is a level-five difficulty; given Happiness City’s level of control, Rainbow Light is likely the same.

It’s unrealistic to obtain goods unless an Inspector has some special ability.

After marking the vehicle with a marker, Cheng Ye was still uneasy and directly instructed Sonny Valentine to have the people dismantle the parts now.

"Okay, I’ll go call the master over."

Repairing vehicles is a hassle, but dismantling them is easy.

Sonny Valentine didn’t dare delay and immediately pulled out his phone to contact them.

The apprentices from the Mechanical Bureau came quickly, carrying two boxes of tools.

The labor cost to dismantle one car is 5 points, equivalent to 35 Happiness Coins—a high-paying job for the apprentices.

Yet, it’s still slower than the speed at which Cheng Ye selects parts.

Through searching, in no time he’d marked 13 scrap vehicles of various sizes in the outside lot.

Even if some parts are duplicates, it doesn’t matter—so long as the damage is under 10%, they’re good stuff, perfect as spare parts.

Unfortunately, the outer yard cars are mostly severely damaged, and after circling around, no motor with less than 50% damage was found.

Besides, components involving electronic elements, like the whole vehicle controller and battery management systems, aren’t within the skill’s search range for judgment at the moment.

He can only detect inverters, chargers, distribution boxes, booster pumps, etc.

"Sang Zhe..."

Recalling the special skills of Master Sang’s two sons, it seems he needs another chance to search for Sang Zhe.

Once settled, Cheng Ye soon brightened up upon turning to the inner garage.

The scrap cars here were noticeably better than those outside.

Without much effort, he easily picked out three hair-pin motors with a power of 350kw and a torque of 760Nm.

The damage was within 15%, suggesting repair wouldn’t be too difficult.

And for the motors on pickups and off-road vehicles, they all utilized the same model of permanent magnet synchronous motors, each with 200kw power and a maximum torque of 680Nm at the front and back.

Six motors in total for a front and rear dual-motor configuration—due to a large quantity, their damage was mostly below 10%, with one even at only 3%—a dusting and correction of wiring terminals would make it practically like new.

Of course, the parts in the inner yard are priced individually.

"Trash-picking still costs money..."

Cheng Ye rubbed his brow; he’d previously budgeted 1000 points per vehicle’s parts.

A motor cost 250 points, just 9 motors alone used up 2250 points, not including subsequent repair costs.

The total vehicle controller, 350 points for six units, came to 2100 points.

Plus the 13 vehicles outside, priced at 1300 points.

Even allowing for bulk discounts, these core items cost 4955 points, averaging 825 points per vehicle.

Given the final refurbishment and repair, it’s likely to slightly exceed Matthew Lee’s previously checked budget.

"Thankfully everything’s carefully selected quality stock; refurbished, they’re no different from new!"

Having picked all the parts, Cheng Ye didn’t rush to leave but personally oversaw the three apprentice workers dismantling components.

The steering boost pumps, chargers, and crucial motor components needed separate foam box packing, car parts required protective foam wrapping, screws categorized by car model and bagged, and lastly, piled in the warehouse corner covered with moisture-proof cloth and marked.

"Tomorrow or the day after, I’ll have someone come collect the goods; keep a close watch to prevent these parts from being taken." Cheng Ye reiterated his instructions.

"Rest assured! I’ll arrange for two guards to stand at the warehouse entrance; nothing will be lost!"

After all, it’s a large order of 5000 points; Sonny Valentine assured him with a pat on the chest.

After busily working for more than two hours, the sky was already darkening, and the dim street lights in the junkyard began to glow.

Cheng Ye walked out, only to see Master Tian squatting on the steps by the yard entrance, his brows furrowed tight enough to crush a mosquito.

He seemed to have worked something out yet was still hesitant.

Seeing Cheng Ye walking over, he stood up slowly, his face showing a complicated, bitter smile.

"Don’t frown like that; I’m not sending you to your death—it’s getting rich, what’s there to fear?"

Cheng Ye couldn’t help but laugh.

"Come on, let’s head to mine; I’ll whip up a few extra ’pies’ for you!"

...