Chapter 24: Repairing the Mustang

Thanks to Jia Ru 8:30 and Handsome-But-Can’t-Help-It for their tips; Half-Immortal can only work harder to write!

Early that morning, the sound of hammering echoed outside the noodle shop. Qiu Fengyu was making a new sign, designed to be double-sided: one side read “Closed for Business,” the other, “Open for Business.” He fixed the sign in place with a hammer, so he could flip it as needed. At noon, he sold noodles, and as soon as he was done, he locked up and headed to the bar.

“A beer!” Qiu Fengyu said to Breckin Hill.

Breckin Hill leaned over to Zhen Fan and grinned, “What’s this? Forgot about your vodka? Didn’t you say vodka was your lover? Seeking out a new flame will make people resentful, you know.”

“Cut the crap. Just give me a beer,” Qiu Fengyu interrupted, grabbing the glass that was brought over. He took a long swig and said with satisfaction, “This way, I won’t be driving under the influence.”

“You’re already drunk driving, buddy…”

“I’d need a car first for that. Get me one, Breckin. I know you can make it happen. Three thousand dollars—I need something with real horsepower.” Qiu Fengyu crooked a finger at him. “Now… make the call. I know you’re still running your used car business.”

“Aha—I knew it. You’re always well-informed. That’s right, I do have a used car lot around here. You came to the right guy,” Breckin chuckled. “But, buddy, I have to warn you, if you want power, three thousand isn’t going to cut it. You’ll need to up your offer.”

“Just tell me where it is.”

“Uh… about three miles east, there’s a parking lot…”

Before he could finish, Qiu Fengyu had already left the bar. Breckin sensed something was off, and moments later, faintly heard the sound of a car starting outside. It was noisy in the bar, so he couldn’t make it out clearly.

Qiu Fengyu had already left, and without a second thought, drove off in Breckin’s old BMW sedan parked outside. These old cars, aside from their showy looks, were just waiting to be stolen. It was child’s play for Qiu Fengyu to take off with it.

Soon, he arrived at the parking lot, which looked nearly abandoned, with various old cars scattered about, many thick with dust. A chubby man spotted the BMW parked at the entrance and waddled over, only to see Qiu Fengyu step out.

“You stole Breckin’s car?”

“No, Breckin told me to bring it. I just didn’t tell him. I’m here to buy a car—a powerful one. Don’t give me any sissy cars to fill the quota.” Qiu Fengyu opened the car door and strode over.

“This way… there might be something you like here!” The big guy didn’t doubt Qiu Fengyu’s word. In this town, few would dare cross Breckin Hill. He ran the place.

The big man led Qiu Fengyu to a more open area, where several cars were parked under tarps. He pulled the covers off, sending a cloud of dust into the air.

“Focus RS, 300 horsepower, that’s my kind of car… What do we have here? You really should dust these things… Wow—what’s this? A 1994 restyled Mustang, twenty years old and still this stunning. Five-liter V8 engine—I love it…”

Before he could finish, there was a sudden “clunk”—the car door unexpectedly sagged halfway off its hinges.

The big man looked at Qiu Fengyu in embarrassment, shrugged apologetically, and said, “It’s been sitting here. We didn’t do anything. It just fell off on its own…”

“All right, I’ll take it. For God’s sake, five hundred dollars,” Qiu Fengyu bargained.

“No, no, the boss says five thousand for this one…” The big man shook his head vigorously.

“Oh, come on, for God’s sake, this door could be used as a shield. This car is over twenty years old—look at this rust bucket. Is it really worth five thousand? I’m offering five hundred because your boss is my friend. And look at whose car I’m driving…”

Qiu Fengyu deliberately glanced at the old BMW outside the lot. “That’s Breckin’s car. Why do you think I could drive his car here, to his used car kingdom? You know the reason… Don’t be so stubborn—one thousand dollars, that’s my final offer…”

Half an hour later, an old Mustang drove out of the lot in style, heading for the small town—though it only had one door intact. But that didn’t hide the triumphant laughter of Qiu Fengyu.

Fifteen hundred dollars for a classic, powerful ’94 Mustang—just thinking about it made Qiu Fengyu grin.

There was no parking near the noodle shop, so after some thought, Qiu Fengyu decided to park the car at Sirsha’s house. That house had a garage.

He parked the Mustang inside and switched on the lights—making the place as bright as day. There were many repair tools in the garage. It was clear Sirsha’s father had been quite a tinkerer in his day.

The engine was still in pretty good shape, though the exterior needed work. With a little repair, the car would be as good as new.

He was about to fix the door when his phone rang. As soon as he answered, someone shouted, “Hey, man, you can’t just take my best car for fifteen hundred bucks! That’s the most classic ’94 Mustang—I planned to sell it for over twenty grand…”

It was Breckin. When it came to bragging, this guy was shameless. Twenty thousand? That big guy was honest—there’s no way he’d claim twenty as five.

“Buddy, the deal’s done. That’s it!” Qiu Fengyu said, ending the call. He laughed to himself—yes, fifteen hundred dollars was a steal for this car.

Over the next few days, whenever he had spare time, Qiu Fengyu went over to Sirsha’s house. He made a point of staying in the garage, never entering the house itself. The garage was big enough to park three cars side by side, and was fully equipped for repairs. This way, he didn’t have to go rummaging around the house.

During this time, Qiu Fengyu’s driver’s license arrived—the real deal. It meant from now on, he had a proper pass to get around in America.

Repairing the car wasn’t easy. Many parts needed replacing. Without a computer, Qiu Fengyu had to go to Britt’s house to search for parts online.

By the time he’d ordered and received all the parts, he realized he’d spent nearly seven thousand dollars on them alone. Luckily, he’d saved up from the noodle shop and could cover it.

Kefen had been puzzled these past few days—why was Qiu Fengyu always heading to Sirsha’s house? One day, after work, she drove by the noodle shop in her police car and caught Qiu Fengyu returning.

“You living at Sirsha’s place now?” Kefen asked.

“No, I’m just fixing up a car there. I bought a used Mustang, a ’94. The best part is the engine’s in great shape—a five-liter V8. I love powerful old beasts like that.” Qiu Fengyu boasted proudly.

“All right. But once you’re done, don’t hang around Sirsha’s place. The FBI will notice. Their attention on Sirsha and David has waned, but not disappeared.”

“I know, thanks… But you have no idea what a beauty that car is, I… all right, goodbye!” Qiu Fengyu was about to wax lyrical about the car when Kefen had already gotten back in her car and driven off. He waved awkwardly, then went into his shop.

Three days later, Qiu Fengyu took the Mustang to a body shop in Paso City to have it painted—black and red, a sporty look that made the car seem like a wild and alluring young woman.

It was eye-catching, stirring up a sense of desire in all who saw it.

Two days later, Qiu Fengyu drove the freshly painted car back from Paso City, gleaming inside and out. As he passed Breckin’s bar, he honked the horn on purpose, drawing Breckin out, eyes blazing with envy—he’d been taken for a ride.

But he dared not do anything to Qiu Fengyu—he knew exactly what kind of man Qiu Fengyu was. Staying on good terms with him could only be to his advantage.

Meanwhile, as Qiu Fengyu was busy fixing up his car, a major border-crossing incident took place on the Texas-Mexico border. People crossed at three different locations, totaling about a hundred migrants. The entire police force of Paso City and the small town was mobilized. Such brazen crossings were rare indeed.