Chapter 15 Tank Metamorphosis
During the planning stages of this trip around China, Xu Nianyi had already developed an interest in her Tank 300.
She wanted to modify the trunk space to turn it into a mobile coffee truck.
Years of demanding work and lack of sleep have made her highly dependent on coffee.
It's a life-saving elixir, a medium for young people to socialize, and a small ritual to add a touch of ritual to their busy lives.
Although she had no experience in making coffee, she was thinking of buying a simple semi-automatic or fully automatic coffee machine like the ones in the company's break room, and also stocking up on some decent quality coffee beans or even more convenient capsules.
Her thought at the time was very simple: she didn't want to be all alone on the road.
She imagined that perhaps in some service areas, by safe roadsides, in the parking lots of scenic spots, or on lakeside meadows, she could park her car, open the trunk, set up a small handwritten sign, and sell coffee made by herself.
Perhaps the aroma of coffee can attract passing travelers, who will stop briefly out of curiosity, lean against the car, have a cup of coffee, and share a story or two about their journey.
If you hit it off, you might meet like-minded friends and embark on a journey together.
Of course, it would be even better if I could earn some extra cash to help cover my travel expenses.
However, after the incidents involving Su Xiaoxiao and Wang Yue, she developed a strong psychological aversion to carpooling with strangers.
You can never truly see through a person's character and intentions based on a few brief conversations or their seemingly harmless appearance.
The idea of a mobile coffee cart has been reduced to simply having coffee, chatting, and earning a little extra money.
It was confirmed that Tan Chen would accompany her in the future. Xu Nianyi's thoughts changed a bit, inspired by that "Snowpiercer Carriage No. 6".
I'm not a professional barista, but there's a professional barista right here!
It would be a waste to only put a coffee machine in the trunk space; turning it into a bar would be perfect!
Coffee belongs to the daytime, alcohol belongs to the nighttime;
Coffee and wine, day and night;
Coffee by day, drinks by night!
That's awesome!
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At this moment, sitting in the warm wooden cabin coffee bar in Hemu, Xu Nianyi looked at the snowflakes falling outside the window, gently stirred the coffee in her cup, and organized her thoughts, preparing to share her "daytime coffee, nighttime wine" business plan with Tan Chen.
"Look, you've handed over the management of the bar to someone else this time, so you must have to pay a lot more extra wages, right?" She cleverly started the conversation. "How about I create a mobile bar network for you, so you can tour the country and earn back those extra wages along the way?"
Tan Chen looked at her and admired her ability to adjust her mindset.
"Besides, your bartending skills are something that comes with practice! If you don't practice for too long, your skills will definitely become rusty," Xu Nianyi continued. "When you go back, if your skills aren't up to par, who will come to your business?"
She spoke eloquently, each reason sounding as if she were putting herself in Tan Chen's shoes, never mentioning that she actually craved alcohol, nor admitting that she wanted to see him mix drinks.
"I'll put all your bottles and jars in most areas, just give me a small corner to put my coffee machine in."
Xu Nian smiled, pursing her lips. "Do you think it's feasible?"
"Of course." Tan Chen's answer was decisive and straightforward, his gaze softening as he looked at her. "I'm willing to try every idea you have."
His tone was firm and earnest: "I support whatever you want to do."
Xu Nian lowered her head, pretending to focus on sipping her coffee, silently complaining to herself: This chivalrous protector is exuding his damn charm again!
Tan Chen not only offered verbal support, but was also a person with exceptional execution ability.
Once he confirmed that he would return to Urumqi and stay at the same hotel he had stayed at before, he made a very detailed list: all kinds of basic alcoholic beverages, professional bartending tools, glassware and supplies, and even the ingredients and garnishes needed for his special cocktails.
After he finished packing, he asked the store's employees to help him prepare the package and mail it to the hotel in Urumqi.
Immediately afterwards, he contacted the same car modification shop again, made some customization requests, and arranged a time for them to come to his home.
Even after learning that Xu Nianyi couldn't make coffee, he consulted a friend who owned a coffee shop and selected a coffee machine that was easy to operate for Xu Nianyi. He also asked his friend to buy a collection of roasted coffee beans of different flavors that sold well in the shop.
Watching his decisive and methodical actions, Xu Nianyi was at a loss for words.
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The snow scenery of Hemu is something you can never get tired of seeing, no matter how many times you look at it!
However, after several days of high accommodation and food expenses, coupled with their eagerness to modify the Tank 300, the two packed their bags and prepared to return to Urumqi.
During that time, I also spent two days driving to Kanas, which is known as "God's back garden", and Baihaba, a quiet village on the China-Kazakhstan border.
In Kanas, they witnessed what the softest dream of winter truly is.
The entire lake area was covered in a blanket of white, as if a huge goose down carpet had been laid out on it.
Near the shore, the lake water freezes into a thin, transparent ice that cracks at the slightest touch.
The living water flowing deep within the lake has an indescribable, translucent emerald green color.
Fairy Bay appears and disappears in the morning mist, and the mist clings to the pine branches and condenses into crystal-clear rime.
Moon Bay seemed to be draped in a plain white plush scarf;
The snow piled up along the shore of Wolong Bay into round and cute shapes, like adorable mushroom clouds.
In Baihaba, the first village in the northwest, they can stand on the viewing platform and look out at the border of Kazakhstan in the distance.
Following the travel guide, they went to check out the famous "world's loneliest tree".
As Xu Nianyi was busy taking pictures of the lone tree standing alone on the snowfield from various angles, she noticed that Tan Chen was standing quietly not far away, gazing at the tree for a long time.
Lost in thought, his focused profile somehow resonated with the mood of the tree.
Xu Nianyi quietly pressed the shutter button, capturing the scene on her phone.
And so, with heavy hearts and a wealth of video footage on their phones, the two finally bid farewell to this hidden gem of northern Xinjiang and embarked on their journey back to Urumqi, where they were about to begin the modification project for Tank 300.
First, the four snow tires rented for the icy and snowy roads in Hemu were replaced with original factory tires.
Next, a sturdy and durable roof rack was installed on the roof.
Because the trunk is about to be given a new purpose, the suitcases that were originally placed inside will have to make room and be placed elsewhere.
Then, the main event begins.
With his experience in bars and his precise grasp of space utilization and operational flow, Tan Chen customized a batch of wooden boards, lightweight metal frames, and small parts such as slides and hinges.
To Xu Nianyi's surprise, he didn't have a mechanic install it; instead, he skillfully used tools such as an electric drill and screwdriver to install and fix the wooden boards and brackets to the trunk himself.
As a result, the originally spacious but not very large trunk space was magically expanded.
The sliding rails and wooden planks he installed can be pulled out and the folding table legs can be lowered, instantly transforming it into a sturdy work surface at a suitable height, whether for mixing drinks or making coffee.
During the journey, to avoid shocks, various types of alcohol can be placed in custom-made foam camping boxes; when it is time to open for business, they can be taken out and displayed on the tiered wooden frame that he built himself.
Other areas also have partitions specifically designed to store commonly used bartending tools such as shakers, measuring cups, and bar spoons.
Most importantly, the recess on the right is specifically for storing Xu Nianyi's small but fully functional semi-automatic espresso machine, and the storage box below contains several cans of coffee beans of different flavors and a coffee grinder that he has carefully selected.
The reason I chose the Tank 300 Hi4-T hybrid model was because I considered my future electric power needs.
I now realize how wise I was.
Throughout the renovation, all the space in the trunk was designed in an orderly manner, making the most of every inch of space.
With just a gentle press of the trunk release button, a fully functional and professional mini-bar is revealed.
From the initial emptying of the trunk to the installation of the wooden frame and the formation of the foundation, and then to the placement of all equipment, drinks, and tools, the entire process was meticulously recorded by Xu Nianyi using her mobile phone video.
She stayed up all night editing the video into a beautiful piece, added cheerful music, and created a creative handmade vlog.
In the video, she also explained each design ingenuity, demonstrated how the control panel could be pulled out and transformed, shared the wine and coffee beans prepared by Tan Chen, and told the story of the origin of the "daytime coffee, nighttime wine" idea.
Following the resurgence of the previous online storm and her continued sharing of stunning scenery and unique travel experiences in Hemu and Kanas, the number of followers on the "Yinian Jianghu" account has steadily climbed to 890,000, and its activity level is extremely high.
The video of the renovation immediately sparked a new round of heated discussions upon its release.
"Holy crap! Holy crap! Holy crap! This is so cool! Coffee during the day and drinks at night? He's a business genius!"
"I'm so envious of this lifestyle! Driving a modified off-road vehicle, enjoying the scenery while selling coffee and alcohol—what an amazing life!"
"Address! I need an address for a chance encounter! I'm in Urumqi, where are you setting up your stall? I definitely want to come and support you!"
"Blogger, could you please provide the contact information for this incredibly skilled car mechanic?"
"Sister, look at me! I don't want a salary, I'll do anything to play with you guys and help you with chores!"
"I've already added it to my favorites. Once I buy a Tank 300, I'm going to get the same model as this blogger!"
As Xu Nian scrolled through the lively comments section, a smile crept onto her face. The feeling of putting her ideas into practice and gaining recognition was simply wonderful!
After two days of renovation and rest in Urumqi, Tan Chen adjusted and familiarized himself with the equipment at the mobile bar before the two officially began the next stage of their journey.
With the fuel tank full and the battery fully charged, the car was turned west, its destination being Sayram Lake, known as "the last tear of the Atlantic Ocean".
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