Chapter 3400 - 3392: Our Booth Was Taken
Chapter 3400: Chapter 3392: Our Booth Was Taken
"Lin Yi, let’s not be too particular about this. There’s no need to haggle with them." Chen Lin advised.
"People like them won’t feel the pain unless you hit them directly. You don’t need to worry about this, it’s not like we can’t afford it."
Chen Lin glanced at the 7-series parked nearby and didn’t say anything further.
Lin Yi looked at the two policemen, "Don’t let them waste any more time. Take them away now, don’t delay our business."
"Got it."
Ma Fangfang’s family of three was taken away, and the yard returned to peace.
"Your connections are really broad, even managing to handle such a thing." Sun Youtian said with a smile.
"I’m not stupid. I won’t do anything I’m not confident about."
"Alright, this matter is over. Let’s get on with our own tasks, no point in standing here."
Chen Lin called out, looking at Lin Yi:
"Let’s head back for a meal first, then leave after eating."
"Alright."
Once at the canteen, Lin Yi ate something simple and prepared to set off.
Accompanying him were He Li and another male colleague.
Around twelve o’clock, a group of four, along with a trailer, set off for Lighthouse County.
About forty minutes later, the car reached Lighthouse Town.
"This place is quite bustling, quite a lot of people here."
"It’s because there’s a train running through here. With convenient transportation, more people come." Chen Lin said:
"And there are several villages nearby. Usually, people come here to shop."
"Why are there so many vendors selling oranges by the roadside?"
"This county is a major orange producer; they live off this."
"Judging by this, sales must be quite good."
"Hard to say, considering the economic disparity. Comparatively, electric bikes and joint venture cars sell better."
"So, we need to come up with a plan."
Following Chen Lin’s directions, Lin Yi drove to a large square.
Exhibition spots had been marked out here, each vendor had an independent area but it wasn’t spacious, slightly cramped, packed densely with over a hundred vehicles, looking like a small car exhibition.
There’s also a stage at the very front, seemingly for performances.
Even before the official start, quite a few curious onlookers were taking photos outside the fence.
"Where’s our booth?"
"Right in the center, I paid an extra 10,000 dollars to get it."
Chen Lin looked outwards, "If sales don’t pick up, we might not even make back the booth rental."
"No way."
Lin Yi, towing the trailer, headed to the booth Chen Lin mentioned.
"Hmm? What’s going on?"
Upon reaching the designated spot, Chen Lin’s expression changed.
"Why is our spot occupied?"
"Let me check."
Chen Lin opened the car door and got out, with Lin Yi following closely behind.
"Hello, this is our booth. Are you sure you’re in the right place?"
The staff of another brand glanced at Chen Lin and then looked at the agreement in their hand.
"No mistake, we’re A18. Are you sure you haven’t got the wrong place?"
"Impossible, we discussed over the phone about being at A18." Chen Lin affirmed.
"I don’t know about that. Our agreement says A18; you might want to check with the person in charge."
The two exchanged a glance, feeling something was off.
"Better call to inquire."
Chen Lin took out her phone and dialed the contact’s number.
"Hello, this is Chen Lin. I’d like to ask why our reserved A18 booth has been occupied."
"Where are you?"
"We’re right here at the booth."
"I’m in the nearby mobile office, let’s talk face to face."
"Okay."
Chen Lin hung up and looked around, pointing at the mobile office by the side door:
"The person in charge should be there, let’s check it out."
The two walked over and peeked in through the window, finding the inside smoky and chaotic.
Three men, cigarettes dangling from their mouths, were noisily playing Dou Dizhu.
"Are you sure the person in charge is here?" Lin Yi asked.
"He said he’s in the mobile office; there’s only one nearby, must be it."
"Let’s go in and check."
Chen Lin pushed the door open and politely asked:
"May I ask if the booth manager is here?"
Seeing Chen Lin, the three men’s eyes lit up noticeably.
Without saying much, those long legs were enough to keep their gaze fixed.
"That’s me; you called me just now, right?"
The speaking man was bare-chested, stout and burly, sporting a full-back tattoo and wearing a beaded bracelet.
Any observant person could tell he wasn’t quite legit.
"We had a phone discussion before, reserved the A18 booth, and I even transferred an extra 10,000 dollars to you. Why is our booth occupied?"
"Someone fancied that spot and paid first." The tattooed man said:
"Consider your 10,000 dollars as the exhibition fee, just pay me the rest."
"That’s not right," Chen Lin said:
"We want the best; other spots won’t do."
"Then I’m helpless; you came late," the tattooed man replied:
"Paying just 10,000 dollars and expecting the best booth; what are you thinking?"
"This price was proposed by you."
"I’ve changed my mind," the tattooed man’s tone grew impatient, "Let me remind you, there’s only two booths left; want them? Wait a bit longer, and they’ll be gone."
Chen Lin was seething, feeling an urge to burst out swearing.
"Where are the remaining booths?"
"I’ll show you."
The tattooed man discarded his cigarette butt, picked up a black vest, wore it, and stepped out of the mobile office.
Striding forward a few steps, he pointed at a distant sign, saying:
"Do you see the big ’Organic Vegetables’ sign? It’s right underneath it."
Chen Lin’s face changed, "That spot is too remote, almost out of the exhibition area."
"If you don’t find it acceptable, there’s nothing I can do. You came late, and the remaining two spots are isolated."
Chen Lin’s face was grim; although location impacts traffic, there’s a more important issue.
The other two vendors got excellent locations, if they were placed in a secluded corner, it’d be a setback in terms of presence.
If someone with ulterior motives posted this online to stir the narrative, it’d definitely become a negative headline.
But at this point, Chen Lin was unsure what to do next.
"Brothers, I understand you want to pocket some extra from us, but taking our money and not delivering on service isn’t right."
"How is this taking money and not delivering service?"
The tattooed man staring at Lin Yi said:
"Like I said earlier, the 10,000 dollars you paid was the booth fee, unrelated to any extra charges."
"Whether it’s related or not, you know best. If you found it insufficient, you could’ve said so upfront; springing this on us now is really unprincipled."
"No need to say that, principles don’t hold much value, not even enough to buy a pack of cigarettes." The tattooed man said:
"But there’s still a chance here. Add fifty thousand dollars, and I’ll select a better booth for you, definitely better than that spot."