MTLNOVEL Chapter 6: Making Some Money
The first thing that James did was to list out his assets.
Yes, assets.
Even with a negative net worth of over $20,000, James still had assets. And what are those assets?
The first of those assets is the rebate-eligible amount of $644 he has in his account. The second is his technical skills and substantial mechanical engineering knowledge. And his last asset is his physically fit body.
Growing up, James loved tinkering with things—he was always fixing or modifying something.
Most of the times, his intentions were to fix whatever he was tinkering with but more often than not, he fails.
But with time and after numerous hours spent on YouTube, and websites related to techs, and everything related to it, his skills improved and he eventually got better at it.
James smiled as he remembered when he earned his first dollar from helping a classmate of his to fix something of hers. It was one of the best and most rewarding moments of his life.
Thinking back on it now, his technical skills were one of the reasons he was able to start helping out with money at home. He made sure that every single dollar he earned through fixing things went toward supporting the household.
Naturally at first, Patty refused and told him to keep the money for himself. She told him to use it buy things for himself but he refused.
Maybe due to the tragic experience of losing both his parents on the same day, James matured faster than other children and at a young age, he understood that things weren't exactly rosy at home.
Patty was earning enough to take care of herself, Leslie and him. Or that's what she told him at least when he gave her his first earning, but he didn't believe it as he sometimes saw her staying up late at night, thinking.
One night, seeing her stay up late, thinking and sighing, James felt very bad and decided to start doing his best to help out at home. He felt that it was the least he could do for the people that took him in.
As one would expect, James continued to bring his earnings to Patty. But the shocking thing was that she never touched the money. She always kept it for him, making herself his piggy bank and even adding some extra change to it from time to time.
The time James found out about this was when he was about to get into college and brought out a piggy bank, telling him that all the money he had ever given to her was inside.
He was shocked to say the least and jt was one of thing that made him to love her more, and he vowed to give her a beautiful life. And it seems like he's to make do on his promise, and very soon.
"Now, how do I proceed? What should be the first thing to do? I need to make sure that I spend the remaining rebate-eligible money I have wisely. If so, the best thing to do is to flip the money." James thought to himself.
"Maybe I can buy some secondhand electronic and techs I can buy for cheap, and do a quick work on it."
"Yeah, that should work. Now, I have to do is to look for where to buy some the things I need," he said, as he quickly took his phone and went on the internet.
He scoured the internet for online marketplace or websites that sells broken items. But after more than half an hour he got almost nothing.
And to make things worst, most of what he saw were website linked to stores that repairs electronics, and not those that sells.
"It seems like this is going to prove to be more difficult than I thought." James sighed.
"I better check out the list of stores and see if they have any good stuff," he said, as he stood up from his bed and left his room.
James walked down the stairs to the living room and saw Leslie and Patty watching TV together.
"I'm going out to get something from a store down the road," he said, as he walked to the door.
"Ok, baby," Patty said, with a sweet smile on her face, before turning her attention back to the TV.
James smiled back before opening the door and walking out of the house.
Outside, James took a deep breath, filling his lung with fresh air. He exhaled slowly and smiled, as he started walking to the first store.
....
It took James half an hour to reach the first store. Upon arrival, he pushed open the door, walked in, and made his way to the man at the desk.
"Welcome to Da Vinci Electronics. How may I be of help?" the man asked, when he saw James standing in front of his desk.
"Hi. I saw on your website that you guys have some faulty electronics. I would like to purchase them. Do you mind if I take a look?" James asked.
The man at the desk raised his brow in surprise when he heard what James said. He has had customer coming to buy already things or fix things, but he has rarely had someone come in and ask for damaged things.
"Sure, I think we have something you might like," he said, as he bent down.
Some seconds later, he stood back up and dropped something on the desk.
"A few days ago, a young lady came in here asking me to help her fix her graphic card and I told her I can't, but she insisted that I hold on to it. She said that if I find anyone capable of fixing it, I should give it to them and have them fix it. So, can you fix it?" The man asked, with a smile on his face.
James smiled when he heard the man's question. He found it to be funny. Can he fix it it? Of course he can! He has been fixing GPUs since high school.
So, how difficult would it be to fix a RX 7900 XT? Something that he has done a couple of times in high school and in uni.
Instead of replying the man's question, James only asked a question.
"When did she say she needs it?"
"The earlier, the better," the man replied.
"Ok, then. I will like to take it home and bring it back tomorrow. Can I?" James asked, causing the man to narrow his eyes slightly.
James could guess what the man was probably thinking and he couldn't blame him.
"Are you sure you can fix this? And how many I sure that you won't damage it completely or worse, disappeared with it?" The man asked, observing James carefully.
James smiled at the man's question. He knew that this was going to happen and there's nothing he can do about it, except to show that he's serious.
"I understand your worries but if you really want this fixed for your customer, then you have to trust me. I promise to return it tomorrow, fixed," he said, putting the most sincere and disarming smile he had.
The man tapped his fingers on the desk, watching James closely. Finally, he sighed, pushing the GPU forward.
"Alright. 3 PM tomorrow. Don't disappoint me."
James smiled and nodded in appreciation as he took the GPU from the table.
"3 PM tomorrow. Thank you," he said, before walking out of the store.
He immediately made his way home. There was no need for him going to the other stores as he has already gotten what he needed from the first store.
"I can smell the cash!"