sbdcsierra Chapter 1662 East Wind
Chapter 1662 East Wind
Chapter 1662 East Wind
At this moment, Ye's father was indeed proudly touching the steering wheel. Five or six people lined up in one car, taking turns to practice driving, with each person getting half an hour.
He has been practicing for two days and has made good progress. He can drive several laps in the lowest gear without shifting gears or using the clutch.
He couldn't contain his excitement every day on his way to and from work.
He was in a good mood after finishing his practice today. Seeing the iron gate open and faint sounds coming from inside, he quickened his pace and went inside.
“I knew you were here as soon as I saw the door was open.”
Ye Chenghu was playing cards on the sofa with Ye Chengjiang and Ye Chenghe. The three of them were shouting and cursing, making a huge fuss.
"Master, you're back? Did you go to practice driving?" Ye Chengjiang turned his head and asked casually.
"Yes, I've been practicing driving every day for the past two days, and now I can drive around the track twice."
Ye Chenghe was pleasantly surprised, "That's amazing?"
Ye Chengjiang then said, "So, you can graduate and get your certificate after practicing for two more days? Is it really that simple? It only takes a few days?"
"No way, I'm just doing a couple of slow turns in the training area without shifting gears or accelerating. You guys are still a long way from getting your licenses; you still have to practice reversing into parking spaces, curves, and stuff like that."
Ye Chenghu asked curiously, "If you practice every day like this, won't you get fast too?"
"Five or six people line up to practice in one car, each taking turns for half an hour. The rest of the time they can only wait or rest in a corner. Do you think one person can practice in one car all day?"
Ye Chenghu: "Ah! Is that so? I thought it was one person practicing with one car all day."
Ye Chenghe: "I think so too."
"Dream on. Resources are tight. We'll practice slowly first, and then we'll have to practice on the road, in the city. The city is full of people, that's the real challenge."
Ye Chengjiang: "I see. So, being able to take the exam in one or two months is considered fast."
"That's right, it's common to take three or four months to pass the exam. I just need to pass it before Chenghu's winter break."
Ye Chenghu immediately replied, "Just in time to pass the test before my winter break, then I'll have my dad buy you a car, fill it up with gas, and drive back to Zhoushan in style."
Mr. Ye nodded. He had spoken to the heart of the matter; that was exactly what he thought too!
Wait until Ye Chenghu goes on winter break to drive back to Zhoushan, and then drive back to the village! Perfect!
“We’re going to look at cars this weekend. Uncle said we should go look at some small cars while we’re at it. Do you want to come along?” Ye Chengjiang asked his father.
"Yes, yes, yes! When did your third uncle say that? Where is he? If he's going, I definitely have to go with him."
"My third uncle went out to run errands as soon as he arrived here, saying he would be back in the evening. We had agreed to go look at cars on the weekend, but he seemed very busy and said he would take us to look at cars after he was done."
"Then why did you come here so early? You could have delivered goods at the factory, earning more money for each extra day you delivered. Now that you're here, who's going to drive the tractor?"
Ye Chenghe said, "It's been arranged for my third uncle. He'll have someone from the factory take over and help run it for a few days."
"Oh, that's fine. You've been so busy and haven't been here much. Just treat it as a few days of fun. You can't earn all the money in the world, so a few more days won't make a difference."
Ye Chengjiang chimed in, "Yes, that's why we came along. We'll stay for as many days as Uncle San stays. We've been so busy and haven't had a break, so this is a chance to rest."
Ye Chenghe added, "I'm not here to rest, I'm here to spend money!"
"How much money have you saved?"
How much secret savings have you accumulated?
"nonsense……"
"Since you're secretly not telling us, of course we won't tell you either..."
……
Ye Yaodong returned after dark, and as soon as he entered the door, the four of them surrounded him, calling him all sorts of things.
"what?"
"Nothing..."
"I didn't do anything, so you should all go do what you're supposed to do. Why are you all crowding around me?"
Ye Chengjiang asked, "Third Uncle, when will you finish your business?"
"Two or three days, I'll take you to see cars again on the weekend. You're free to do whatever you want these two days."
Ye Chenghe said, "Third Uncle, does Shanghai have a driving test for large vehicles? Can we spend some money and just get a license to drive back with us? We can drive anyway."
I'll ask about it tomorrow.
"Okay, it's best to get it done in one go to save time. Anyway, we can do it, so there's no need to waste time learning here. All we need is a certificate."
Ye Yaodong nodded and looked at his father, "You've been learning to drive for two days now, right? How's it going?"
"Not bad, I can already drive two laps."
"Sure, it seems we don't need to use connections anymore. You can just take the exam honestly based on your own abilities."
"Save money where you can. You need to be able to drive it on the road, so you need to be competent and pass the test. Don't waste money."
"So that my mother won't say you got in through connections or by paying money."
"He said it in your ear too? Honestly."
"When the time comes, I'll prove myself through the exam, slap her in the face, and then drive back to the village in style to take her for a ride. I'll make her look good and have her serve me tea and water."
"Bullshit, I'm already being nice by not being bossed around all day long."
Although he said that, Ye's father was still very happy inside.
……
Ye Yaodong continued to work on fishing boats and machinery factories in Shanghai as usual, but this time he added an inspection office.
High-rise buildings have been built along the waterfront in Pudong, and office buildings are already up for rent.
Some of these high-rise buildings are just shells, unfinished structures, but they have already been listed for sale in advance. Even Director Zhang's real estate agency has already listed quite a few of them.
He spent the last two days traveling around, originally intending to inspect office locations, but when he heard about the low rent for him, he was very tempted.
Thinking to myself, maybe I could take the 6 million yuan I have in the bank and rent a few floors of office space for 20 or 30 years. Then I could resell it and make a fortune. Doubling my money in two or three years shouldn't be a problem at all...
Then use the rent money to buy residential buildings...
Or he could use the money he earned in the past two years to buy it. He has made quite a bit of money in the past two years. Although part of it was used for expansion and buying ships, he still has one-third left. His accumulated savings from previous years amount to several million.
The exhibition last month also brought him orders worth several million. He has only paid part of the money for this product, and the money has not yet been fully received, but it is a done deal.
We've been receiving a lot of visitors to exhibitions recently, and we've made two to three million in sales. Next year will definitely be good too.
As long as they maintain good quality and develop more varieties, the customers from this wave of exhibitions will continue to place repeat orders in the future, and the resulting sales will definitely double at least next year. It's hard to say what will happen in the longer term.
But they could work hard to participate in exhibitions every year; at least before 2000, everything was profitable.
Money makes money, and it only gets bigger and bigger.
Ye Yaodong was excited when he thought about it; he was already a multi-millionaire.
He would act on his idea immediately, but he didn't rush to spend millions to rent it out. He wanted to do more research, ask more questions, and inquire more thoroughly.
In the past two years, there have been several more agents besides Director Zhang's, and he has been looking around and asking around.
Most of the property rights belong to the government, so you have to deal with the government and sign a contract. It's not something you can do on the same day you want to rent it; it takes time and effort.
While Ye Yaodong was looking around, he also asked Director Zhang to inquire and make contact, and to notify him of any news or progress.
When the weekend arrived, he took Ye's father, his son, and two nephews to the car dealership.
Unlike the 4S stores of the future, today's car dealerships were supply points under the planned economy. Their storefronts weren't particularly grand, but for today's standards, they were already prohibitive for ordinary people.
Moreover, the place is spacious, and there is a sign for a Shanghai car dealership at the entrance.
The most eye-catching thing is the several brand-new, shiny-painted Jiefang trucks parked in the open space, which smell of a mixture of engine oil and rubber. These are mainly the three models: CA15, CA141, and Dongfeng EQ140.
Their eyes lit up as soon as they reached the door.
Ye Chenghe shouted excitedly, "Here, here..."
Ye Chengjiang rubbed his hands excitedly, "There really is ready-made stock?"
"Don't be too happy yet. It's possible that someone else's order just arrived and hasn't been delivered yet."
Ye Yaodong's words dampened their enthusiasm once again.
That seems to be the case. These big trucks are so popular, they can't just sit there; they're readily available.
The CA15 has a boxy shape, with a huge chrome grille and two wide-open headlights, resembling a silent yet powerful beast. The tires are brand new with clear treads, and the cab is tall, requiring a running board to get in.
Mr. Ye walked towards the car, circled it once, and couldn't help but reach out and touch the cold steel plate. "It would be best if we could drive this straight back home after buying it. Tsk tsk tsk, if we could drive it back to the village..."
"Then our family will have four Great Liberation Armor!"
"And a toy car!"
"Let's go in and take a look."
The gatekeeper just watched them without stopping them. When he saw that they wanted to go in, he asked them why and then let them in.
Stepping into the store, there weren't many people inside, but each one wore a solemn and expectant expression, as if their fate was in the balance.
Even if you can't afford to buy a Liberation truck now, just being able to drive one would be like having a secure job for the average person, guaranteeing them a lifetime of comfort, let alone the possibility of buying one.
The staff, dressed in blue polyester work clothes, sat behind a glass counter, with various filing cabinets and walls covered with blueprints behind them.
The atmosphere was somewhat serious, lacking any "welcome" enthusiasm, and instead conveyed an air of scarcity and a "take it or leave it" attitude.
"Hello comrade, we'd like to buy two large trucks. Could you please give us some information? What models are currently available, and could you recommend one?"
"Two vehicles? Which company do they belong to? Show me the company's certificate."
Ye Yaodong took out the certificate he had already obtained from his pocket. Although the economy was being developed vigorously, the Liberation Army was not something that anyone could buy at will. It was a hot commodity, and one had to be recommended by their work unit.
The staff looked at the vehicles with furrowed brows, probably because they were unhappy that the company wasn't state-owned, but they didn't say anything. They were led to see the existing vehicles, and the staff explained the situation as they walked.
The CA15 is an upgraded version of the classic CA10, but the Jiefang CA141 has become the mainstream in the last two years.
However, the CA15 is still in the late stages of production, and there are a large number of new and used cars in circulation. For Ye Chengjiang and Ye Chenghe, the CA15 may be more affordable and easier to repair, making it a relatively cost-effective option.
This vehicle is labeled as having a load capacity of 5 tons, but in this era of lax overloading regulations, loading 8, 10, or even more than 10 tons is not a problem at all.
Tractors can pull 5 tons.
However, the CA141 is the newest and most mainstream model on the market now, and it is a major replacement product independently developed by FAW (First Automobile Works).
There's also the Dongfeng EQ140, which is a cab-over truck and is fuel-efficient, unlike the CA141 which is a gas guzzler.
The Dongfeng EQ140 has also been widely deployed by the military, and its military green color has become a common sight on the streets in the past two years.
If Ye Chengjiang and Ye Chenghe could buy a brand new CA141, the shock and pride they would feel would be even more impressive than buying a luxury car now.
This represents the advanced productive forces of this era.
"CA spot, Jiefang is powerful, Dongfeng is fuel-efficient."
The staff explained the features of three typical cars to them and let them choose for themselves.
Ye Chengjiang and Ye Chenghe were immediately stumped, each with their own strengths.
The CA15 allows for immediate payment and pickup; the production line for this car is mature, and there is a certain amount of inventory.
They certainly wanted to drive straight back, but they couldn't bear to give up the other two mainstream models, which would take at least three months to arrive.
"Third Uncle, what do you think?"
"It depends on how much of a rush you are. If you are, go for the CA15. If not, choose one of the other two models, since they are the mainstream nowadays. The CA15 may be discontinued in less than two years, while the other two models can be driven for decades if you buy them now."
Mr. Ye said, "But the staff said there's a discount if I buy the CA15, which is about 1 yuan cheaper than the other two models..."
Ye Yaodong looked at the other two and asked, "What do you think?"
Ye Chengjiang hesitated and said, "I want a fuel-efficient EQ140... After all, fuel costs can be really high if you drive it for a long time, so it would be great if I could save a little bit."
“If Ajiang chooses the EQ140, I’ll choose that too. It’s a bit more expensive, but we’ll be driving it for decades anyway, so the cost will be reduced over time.”
“That’s right, CA141 is good too, but it’s an oil guzzler, it consumes too much oil. Isn’t Uncle’s CA141? Guangming and Guangwen complain about how much oil it consumes every day.”
Ye Yaodong nodded, "Yes, if you're not in a hurry, you can wait a few months. The CA15 is cost-effective and it's actually enough for your personal needs."
Ye Chengjiang shook his head, "Forget it, if we're going to buy one, let's buy a better one."
"Is that all? Won't you reconsider?" Ye's father asked.
Ye Chengjiang said, "I'm not considering it anymore. There's nothing to consider. After thinking it over and over, there are only these three options. There are no other options."
Ye Chenghe also said, "That's right, time is precious. Since we're here, let's just decide on it. It's not like there will be other models or other options in a few days. If we go back now, we'll have to come back again, which is too much trouble. If we like it, let's just buy it. Anyway, we brought our savings book with us."
"alright."
Since he had already made his decision, Father Ye didn't say anything more.
Anyway, he felt that each of the three cars had its own merits, and he didn't care which one he bought. However, he preferred the one with the best cost performance. Since he was going to use the car to make money anyway, he wanted to buy the cheaper one.
I'm not sure how much money I'll earn in the future, but at least I'm spending less money now.
However, Dongzi also said the EQ140 is good, so it must be good.
Ye Yaodong said, "If you order two EQ140s, I will also order two Dongfeng EQ140s."
"Huh? You're buying more?" Mr. Ye asked in surprise.
"We don't have enough to buy. Having more trucks will allow us to deliver the goods sooner, so we don't have to work until the early hours of the morning all the time."
“Oh no! Third Uncle is going to add more trucks, which means we’ll have to make fewer trips…” Ye Chenghe said bluntly.
"You idiot, Uncle has more ships and more goods, so it's all the same."
Ye Yaodong also said, "Even a little bit leaking between your fingers is enough for you to make a profit."
"hey-hey……"
"Let's go, have a staff member come over and fill out the form for us."
"Then, Uncle, you'll have to get someone tested for a truck driver's license too?"
"Don't Guangming and Guangwen each have two apprentices with them? Send them over in a few days so they can learn here for a while, get certified, and go back home."
Ye Chengjiang's eyes lit up. "Third Uncle, is there a test for a truck driver's license here? Can we just pay some money and get a license and go home?"
"Yes, there are now special exams for large vehicle licenses this year, classified as Class B licenses. I heard they are very popular, and many people are signing up to take the exam."
After all, a few years ago, being a truck driver was a secure job. Now that there are official channels for people to register and take the certification exam, countless people are flocking to it.
Passing this exam means you're a skilled professional with a guaranteed high salary. Many people also get the training through their employers, who pay for it.
There are far more people taking the driving test than those taking the small car test. The number of people taking the small car test is relatively small, since not many people can afford a small car, and small cars are not as practical as the large Jiefang truck. But those who can afford a small car are not ordinary people either.
"Then let's spend some money to take a test and bring one back with us, that way we'll have a certificate too!"
Ye Chenghe nodded, "Yes, we can't save money on this; we need to get a certificate."
"Let's finalize the car order first. I'll take you to register tomorrow. Do you want to go through the procedures, practice, and then take the exam to get your licenses?"
Ye Yaodong still prefers to honestly get the certificate. Who knows if their skills are up to par? They say they can drive, but he doesn't know if they really can.
"It's too time-consuming. We already know how to drive, so let's just get the licenses directly."
"Going back sooner means earning money sooner. If we stay here to practice and get certified, won't that waste several months?"
"Are you sure your technology is mature and stable?" he asked somewhat uncertainly.
"Of course, we've done this for Guangwen and Guangming many times."
"Then report it first. When you get back, you can follow them on a few more trips, and then you can drive a few trips on your own. Let them take turns driving and try it out."
"Okay."
After they reached an agreement, they had a staff member come over to write the order, and then went out to get the money. They paid a deposit of 2 yuan for each car and then waited for notification to pick up the car.
Ye Yaodong ultimately ordered the diesel version of the EQ140. He had asked a few more questions before making the shrewd choice, even though it was 1 yuan more expensive than the gasoline version.
He was wealthy and didn't care about the 2 yuan. In the long run, he chose the diesel version, which cost him 65000 yuan.
The two nephews, due to financial constraints, decided against choosing diesel fuel. The Dongfeng EQ140 was already considered fuel-efficient, and compared to the gas-guzzling Jiefang CA141, they were content.
The two of them each spent 55000, which hurt their hearts, but they couldn't help but feel happy as they left the sales center.
I circled the Dongfeng EQ140 several times at the gate, touched it repeatedly, and even sat on it for a while before reluctantly getting off.
Ye Chengjiang spread his arms and pressed them against the car, "I want to drive home right now, what should I do?"
"Then go and exchange it for a CA15, you can drive it back now."
"No! I want it!"
Before deciding on a car, he wasn't this into it. But after deciding on this one, he thought it looked incredibly cool. The military green color made it look just like a military vehicle, so imposing!
Ye Chenghe followed his example, spreading his arms and pressing them against the car. "I didn't bring a camera, otherwise I would have taken a picture. That way, when we get back, we can take it out and look at it from time to time."
"What's there to take pictures of? This car isn't even yours. You can take a group photo when you get your own car."
"also."
"We can see a lot of Dongfeng trucks on the road now. Just look at them and enjoy the view. Let's go, we've wasted a whole day."
Mr. Ye couldn't help but ask, "Didn't you say you were going to go look at the car?"
Ye Yaodong slapped his wrist and looked at his watch. "It's almost 5 o'clock. Let's go eat. We'll see about it tomorrow. Tomorrow I'll take them to apply for the large vehicle test. I estimate it should only take two hours. Then we'll go look at the small vehicle test."
"That's okay too."
"Anyway, I won't buy it right away after seeing it, so what's the rush?"
"Look ahead, so you won't be caught off guard when it's time to buy."
"No need to panic, I've already decided. I'll buy a Hongqi. I'll take you to see Hongqi cars tomorrow."
Ye's father couldn't help but ask again, "What kind of car is Hongqi?"
"Do you want the National Day parade to feature red flags flying?"
"Yes, yes, yes! This is good, I want this one!"
Before Ye's father could speak, Ye Chenghu was already nodding excitedly.
"Dad, when I learn to drive in a few years, pass this car on to me..."
Ye's father turned and glared at him, "Read your books, why are you driving? Focus on getting into university."
Ye Yaodong smiled broadly.
“Studying hard won’t affect my driving. Once I can drive, I’ll help you out, Dad. I can drive for you then.”
"You should focus on your studies first. If you try to steal your grandfather's job, he'll fight you to the death."
"Isn't my grandpa waiting for the house to be built so he can go back home and retire?"
"No rush, I'm still young, I can help Dongzi for a few more years, so your grandma can enjoy her retirement at home for a while."
Ye Chenghe chuckled, "Tch, you didn't even want to go to sea before, you just wanted to retire at home, but now that you have a car, you don't want to retire anymore."
Ye's father glanced at him but said nothing.
“It’s alright. Let your grandpa work hard for a few years, and then you can take over. From now on, you’ll be Master Ye, or Master Ye.”
……
Everyone was in a good mood, chatting and laughing all the way back.
No one thought to call home and tell them.
Ye Yaodong now holds the reins of the economy. He doesn't need to say anything; he just needs to mention it when he thinks of it.
Ye Chengjiang earns his own money and spends it as he pleases, without having to explain to anyone. Anyway, his father is at sea, and his mother wouldn't understand even if she explained, so he's not going to bother calling her to explain.
At most, when his father comes back from the sea, he'll tell him, and I believe his father won't object.
Ye Chenghe didn't think too much about it. Anyway, his wife didn't know how much money he had, so he spent it first and could pick it up later after he got the car.
None of them expected that there was a leaky father named Ye.