Chapter 31: Routine and Counter-Routine
Just like the various models used in rally and circuit racing.
It looks similar to a mass-produced car, but in fact, even the chassis may have been completely replaced except for the shell.
The President of Citibank’s car must have been modified so much inside that his mother wouldn’t be able to recognize it.
But the shell itself was impressive enough. Throughout the 1980s at Citi, this car was a high-end item used by celebrities to show off that they were riding the same model as the president.
Of course, this also resulted in the Cadillac emperor's daughter having no trouble finding a husband, and she had no ambition to make progress throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
It has been completely left behind by other brands such as BMW and Lexus in all aspects including appearance, interior, power, and technology.
Jing Xiaoqiang knew that this car had begun to decline in the early 1990s.
But in Citi, it is like the old Hongqi sedan in China, it has sentimentality. Twenty or thirty years later, there are still many white people who like this car, and many of them are retro or refurbished.
But now that he actually saw the new car, Jing Xiaoqiang was still shocked.
The dark blue body, black leather-wrapped roof and chrome trim all shine with the definition of American luxury of that era. The car is particularly dazzling when parked in the sunset.
Jing Xiaoqiang couldn't let go of the logo on the hood, and the company's driver was worried: "I don't know why this thing was designed. Not to mention the children, even the adults in the company like to touch and bend it. Several cars were bent, but this one was not damaged."
Jing Xiaoqiang understood: "This kind of ceremonial car often participated in parades in the past. The sign was put up so that the driver could judge the route of Qima. Later, cars with the sign came to show status."
Uncle Cheng listened with great interest and gave a thumbs up to the accompanying personnel from the unit.
I must have driven this car before when I was playing with cars at Citi, but they were all refurbished antique cars.
Jing Xiaoqiang thought that some of the configurations were added later.
Now I understand that this was the standard configuration of Citi luxury cars when it was still at its peak.
The angular body shape, the vertical waterfall-style chrome grille, the automatic air conditioning that was available in the 1980s, and the full leather interior that covers the roof and even the A-pillars make it almost impossible to park the car outdoors.
Even the small handle on the manual door lock switch next to the window glass is covered with leather decoration with Cadillac logo pattern.
The hand-operated gear design, foot-operated parking, fiber-optic display, full set of electric seat lumbar adjustment, fully electronic instrument panel that was available in those days, cruise control, etc. are already amazing enough.
The trunk keyhole is hidden under the Cadillac tail logo, and the fuel tank entrance can only be seen after turning over the rear license plate.
There are hidden details that only veteran players know.
Jing Xiaoqiang opened it to check, and when he pressed the Dolby noise reduction deck, the extremely crisp sound panel brought out the hoarse voice of "Robert, Prince of Love Songs", echoing in the car!
The driver boasted: "The most popular Robert! He has the old Shanghai accent, and I am so excited!"
Uncle Cheng came up and sat in the back, listening to the beat leisurely: "Xiao Qiang, your name is also Robert."
Jing Xiaoqiang cursed in his heart, what the hell, they said they would only sell to second-, third- and fourth-tier cities, but the audio and video company still sold it to Shanghai!
Someone from the symphony orchestra has already said that they came back from foreign exchanges and saw the movie "Lambada" released in Europe.
In the next two years, the Robin Hood in "I Do it for You" will definitely become a blockbuster all over the world.
Damn it, I still have to study in Shanghai for several more years. If it turns out that I plagiarized these two movies, I will be socially doomed in the drama academy.
I really can’t go to the dance hall anymore. In the past two days, I’ve seen a lot of young people dressed as students flocking in.
While thinking about this, he did not hesitate to drive the car around the parking lot twice. The agency's fleet of vehicles was very well maintained, with a total of only more than 7,000 kilometers.
Buy it. This opportunity is really rare. You can give it to your dad later.
He especially remembered that his father had driven a company car for decades in his previous life. The only time he returned to China, he bought him a Passat. He was so happy that he showed it off all over the city.
I will double the compensation in this life.
Uncle Cheng saw him nod, and immediately put his arm around the fleet director and went in to negotiate the price.
Jing Xiaoqiang originally thought that Uncle Cheng might want to have some involvement in some way, which is also human nature.
But the driver who was accompanying him was smoking and said, "Besides him, even the district head and mayor can't get this car. There are so many people watching..."
Jing Xiaoqiang complained in his heart, as the mayor of Shanghai, would he care about a car like yours?
Uncle Cheng came out, looking satisfied: "Fifty thousand yuan, pay the money and drive away, come back in a few days to get the transfer documents."
This is really taking care of Jing Xiaoqiang. In a few months, Uncle Cheng has exchanged about this amount of US dollars.
I don't feel bad at all when I take it out.
Jing Xiaoqiang was so frightened that his head almost dropped off. He had to drive out to the bank to withdraw money, and then when he came back to hand it over to the finance department of the agency to issue a receipt, they insisted that Uncle Cheng sign behind him.
All parties were satisfied with this matter, and the agency that received the 50,000 yuan was extremely happy!
Uncle Cheng obviously enjoyed this kind of face. He came out and sat in the back seat comfortably, directing Jing Xiaoqiang to drive: "I'm helping them."
Jing Xiaoqiang actually didn’t want to ask. The less you know about many things, the better, and he wasn’t interested either.
Uncle Cheng wanted to show off. "No one in the company has money. You know there are so many overseas affairs activities in Shanghai. Even the city leaders attend one or two business events a week, which will add several hundred yuan to their personal expenses. Clothes and drinks cannot be reimbursed according to financial discipline. Some people say that if you don't have money, don't go. Haha... How can reform and opening up work without going out and bringing in?"
Jing Xiaoqiang said nothing.
I hope it’s not illegal to buy this car, and it doesn’t seem to affect anything.
While listening to the song I was singing, Uncle Cheng showed me the way. Not far from the hotel, just behind the symphony orchestra, there was an empty garage in a prime location on the roadside, in an old villa complex.
It was an old single-family villa with three or four floors , and the garage door was on the side of the road. Uncle Cheng himself always entered from the garden on the other side.
He asked his wife to get the garage door key to open the door, and then threw it to Jing Xiaoqiang along with the broom: "Clean it up yourself. I won't care about you if you park your car here in the future."
Uncle Cheng's wife is strong and sturdy, with regular features, but it is obvious that she does not have the local temperament that Shanghai people emphasize most. Her expression is lively and disappears after a few glances.
This doesn't fit with Lao Ke's style. No wonder he often suggests going out to have some fun.
But I don’t have a house now, and I don’t know how expensive hotel parking is. The alley I rent is full of clotheslines and various household items, so it’s impossible to park. I guess even the principal of the school doesn’t have such a good car.
It is right next to the Conservatory of Music, more than one kilometer away from the Drama Academy, and the same distance to the rehearsal hall. It is almost at the center of everything and cannot be more convenient.
He rolled up his sleeves and started working, and asked Uncle Cheng who was smoking by the side, "Don't you... often go to the symphony? It's right in front."
Uncle Cheng sighed: "I have good athletic ability, but I have never liked music since I was a child."
Jing Xiaoqiang asked again: "Then... you don't go to the dance hall often?"
Uncle Cheng lowered his voice and said angrily: "My mother never allowed me to..."
As soon as the words fell, the door at the bottom of the garage, which led to the interior, opened. As expected, it was Uncle Cheng's wife who came out with a plate of fruit: "Young man, you are tired, eat some fruit. I heard that you and Uncle Cheng have been together a lot recently."
Based on Jing Xiaoqiang's experience, this aunt might have a bit of a tough personality, but that's only towards the outside world. At home she's absolutely obedient to her husband and won't get angry. Uncle Cheng is definitely not afraid of his wife.
But I'm afraid of his mother.
Sure enough, an old lady wearing a cheongsam, a pearl necklace and with her white hair combed meticulously came out, supported by her sturdy wife. She looked at Jing Xiaoqiang with sharp eyes and put on gold-rimmed glasses to look at him seriously.
At this moment, Jing Xiaoqiang suddenly felt something was wrong!
Since Lu Xi, he is still vigilant.
The old lady began to ask kindly, "I heard from Ah Cheng that you spent quite a while at Citibank?"
Jing Xiaoqiang's alarm sounded: "No, no, I was just joking with Uncle Cheng. Look at my age, how could it be possible? I've always been at home in a small county town in eastern Sichuan."
It doesn't matter if your friends brag, but when you are tracing the roots of things and checking the household registration, you will definitely not talk nonsense.
Uncle Cheng also cheerfully chimed in: "You speak English so well, drive so skillfully, and know everything about Citibank ."
Jing Xiaoqiang had a reason: "Look, I'm not from eastern Sichuan. My grandfather is a doctor who studied abroad in the north. During the Anti-Japanese War, he fled to a small place near the temporary capital to practice medicine. My grandmother was a nurse from Shanghai and also fled there to meet my father. My father is now driving for the company. My mother is still a doctor in a small place. I have heard my grandparents tell many stories about Shanghai since I was a child, but my family has nothing left, so I decided to come to Shanghai to study in college. I hope I can have the opportunity to go abroad in the future..."
While he was talking nonsense, he had made up his mind that he would never go out again in this life. His hands did not stop and he quickly cleaned up the space.
He thought that he had described his conditions as badly as possible. People in Shanghai pay a lot of attention to various conditions and prefer locals.
Who would have thought that the old lady nodded with satisfaction, said nothing, told her daughter-in-law to install a brighter light bulb in the garage, and then said goodbye gracefully and went back.
Jing Xiaoqiang decided to destroy his image. After the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law left, he whispered to Uncle Cheng: "Tonight... come with me to the dance hall. That's where I work."
This kind of playboy would definitely not be considered as a candidate for son-in-law.
At this time, Jing Xiaoqiang finally reacted. Uncle Cheng had mentioned going out to have fun many times before, and that was all a test for himself!
Routines are everywhere!
We must go against the routine!
As a result, Uncle Cheng quickly glanced at the closed door, his eyes sparkled with brilliant fireworks, and he nodded like a spring horse, with a lot of nose hairs standing out.
Brothers!
