Chapter Seventy-Nine - The Car Buying Turmoil (Part Two)

Although the southern part of City C was remote—lacking the prosperity of the west, the bustle of the east, and the commercial allure of the north—it nevertheless boasted a singular attraction: a cluster of automobile dealerships, both large and small. In the beginning, there were only a few modest shops selling motorcycles and bicycles. But after 1995, as China gradually began importing more foreign cars, these auto dealerships started to surpass the other shops, becoming the most distinctive feature of the southern district. With the emergence of large car dealerships and the rise of 4S stores specializing in authorized sales and service, a host of related businesses sprang up in their wake. Auto parts markets and entertainment venues mushroomed, and yet, compared to other parts of the city, this area remained relatively tranquil. After all, the southern district bordered the city’s largest mountain range, and its potential for further development was quite limited.

At this moment, Chuyi Tong and I had just stepped out of a taxi and quickly entered a secondary-level car dealership named Yunda Motors. The last time, she had purchased a red Santana 2000 from this very place. Accompanied by a sales assistant, we made our way to the parking lot. With a casual glance, I was surprised to find that—despite the lot’s modest size—there were nearly thirty different types of cars parked there, mostly economic models from Volkswagen, Honda, and Toyota. In truth, back in 1997, China’s selection of car models was pitifully scant. On the streets, aside from the occasional minivan, most vehicles were the basic Volkswagen Santana—the so-called “Pu-Sang.” Japanese cars like Honda were already exorbitantly priced, not to mention high-end imported cars such as BMWs or Mercedes-Benz. In a prefecture-level city like ours, a few people did drive imports, but they were rare. The BMW 528i driven by Zhang Jing was essentially a status symbol; such a car, costing over a million yuan, could only be afforded by CEOs and people of their ilk.

“Looks like Xiao Qiang doesn’t have any good cars either…” Chuyi Tong’s remark startled me. What did she mean by ‘no good cars’? I coughed deliberately, feigning an air of nonchalance as I laughed, “How could there not be good cars? Look at all these fine vehicles! Heh heh…”

“Hmph, cheapskate!” She shot me a glare, clearly seeing through my act. “Last time, my dad bought me that red Santana 2000, fully loaded, for more than half a million yuan. I never expected you to be even stingier than him. Just look—aside from those Japanese brands, I wouldn’t be caught dead driving a boring old Santana. Far too dull for me.” She glared at me and rapped her knuckles against the side of a gleaming blue Santana, as if to make her point.

“Come on, Miss. Your father is a man of means—of course he can afford to spend half a million on a car for you. For me to buy you something around a hundred thousand should be more than enough.” I was at a loss. How did her mind even work, comparing me to her father? Even if I had more money in my bank account than her dad, she wasn’t my daughter. Why would I buy her such an expensive car?

The sales assistant, overhearing our conversation, couldn’t help but smile. She clearly recognized Chuyi Tong, and was not the least bit surprised to see two young people discussing which car to buy. Undoubtedly, she took us for the children of wealthy families. She glanced at Chuyi Tong and said with a smile, “Miss Chu, our dealership has just received a few imported cars recently, but the boss specifically instructed us not to show them to just anyone. If you’re interested, I can take you to see them.”

“Oh? Something good?” At the mention of imported cars, Chuyi Tong’s eyes lit up with excitement. My heart skipped a beat. Why did this woman get so animated at the sight of expensive things? My poor wallet…

Soon, the sales assistant led us into a garage. After exchanging a few words with the manager, the doors slid open to reveal several brand-new, dazzling luxury cars. The assistant hadn’t been exaggerating—these were indeed extraordinary vehicles: BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, and even a Ferrari sports car! The sight of that Ferrari nearly made me faint. If that little vixen took a fancy to it…

“Yuck… that sports car is hideous. The front looks like some kind of monster. I can’t stand it,” was Chuyi Tong’s first remark, instantly putting my mind at ease. I let out a quiet sigh of relief and shifted my attention to the two cars she was eyeing.

“This is the 1997 Audi A8, 4.2-liter manual. It’s the top configuration, with a premium sound system and ABS anti-lock brakes, ASR traction control…” As soon as the sales assistant saw my gaze linger on the Audi, she launched into an enthusiastic introduction. I was tempted. In my past life, I’d always wanted an Audi A8, though the model I desired was the 2010 version. While this one looked similar on the outside, its interior surely lagged behind. Still, for 1997, it was a remarkable car. Plus, it was painted in my favorite deep blue—a truly handsome vehicle.

“What? You like this one?” Noticing my focus, Chuyi Tong gave the Audi a once-over, then shook her head. “No good. That car’s too heavy. Only men drive that sort of thing.”

I nearly rolled my eyes at her. “Chuyi, if I’m not a man, what am I—a woman?”

“Oh? You’re buying for yourself? I thought you were helping me pick one. My mistake.” She flashed an apologetic smile, then casually pointed to the red BMW next to her. “I want that one. Go pay for it.”

“What? You want the BMW?” I looked closer. Wasn’t that the same model Zhang Jing drove—a BMW 528i? Hers was white, this one was red. Good heavens, over a million yuan… I forced a wry smile. “Miss, don’t you think you should ask how much money I have? How do you know I can afford it?”

Instead of being worried, she burst out laughing, then leaned in and whispered, “My dear tycoon, don’t think I’m some naive little girl. I was right there when Zhou Zisheng spoke to you, remember? That wallet stuffed with gold cards—you’re richer than Xia Fugui himself. How could you not afford this car? Shall I calculate for you? Just one gold card requires at least a million. Ten of them—how much is that? How much is a wallet full? Or should I tell someone about this? I seem to recall her complaining that you spend too freely, dropping tens of thousands on a single outfit. I wonder what her reaction would be if I told her how much money you really have…”

“Enough! I surrender, I’ll buy it, alright?” I finally realized that ever since meeting Chuyi Tong, I had never once bested her. Even if I’d beaten her in some contest, I always ended up losing at home. This time, I had no recourse at all. “I only keep this from Su Xin because I don’t want her to love me for my money. Don’t assume it’s for some other reason.”

“Whatever you say. Anyway, it’s none of my business. Since you agreed to buy it, I won’t say another word.” She was clearly delighted, giggling with satisfaction at her little victory.

“Fine, if I have to buy one, might as well buy both.” With a resigned smile, I took a diamond credit card from my wallet and handed it to the assistant. “I’ll take the Audi A8 and the BMW 528i. How soon can we pick them up?”

The assistant was clearly stunned by my gesture, taking a moment to recover before nodding excitedly. “Of course, sir! Once the paperwork is complete, you can pick them up the day after tomorrow. Please, let me escort you to the front desk to finalize the details.”

Accompanied by the assistant, Chuyi Tong and I headed to the front to complete the paperwork. She insisted on having her father arrange a government license plate for me, rather than letting the dealership handle it. I didn’t object; after all, I looked quite young, and a government plate would make things easier if I was ever questioned. She already had her own plate, so she didn’t need another.

After the payment was processed, I walked out of the dealership with Chuyi Tong, both of us holding receipts for nearly four million yuan. While she was beaming with joy, my heart ached at the expense. Behind us, the assistant’s cheerful farewell echoed—she must have earned a considerable commission from such a sale.

“By the way, Xiao Qiang, do you have a driver’s license?” As we strolled down the main street of the southern district, Chuyi Tong suddenly asked.

“No, but since I’ve bought a car, I’ll just go take the test in a few days.” I replied casually. In my previous life, I’d been a driver for nearly five years; getting a license would be a breeze.

“Hmph, easy for you to say. You think it’s so simple? I had to retake the exam several times,” Chuyi Tong replied, full of skepticism.

“Heh, I’m not as clueless as you. I’m a genius behind the wheel.” I couldn’t resist boasting.

“Yeah, right.” She giggled, but then suddenly stopped laughing. Glancing at me, then at the couples walking ahead, her cheeks suddenly flushed. To my surprise, she inched closer and slipped her arm through mine.