Chapter 215: Every Trade Has Its Master
On the nearby open ground, a car about one meter seven in height.
That’s right, the little devil’s 70-type sedan’s height is only one meter seven!
At such a height, an ordinary little devil standing in front of the car looks like a chunk of radish.
“Cao Sang, take a look, are you satisfied?”
Meize Heiba stood by the car, his height under one meter six echoing the car from afar, quite a contrast cuteness.
Strongly holding back the urge to laugh out loud, he walked to the car and examined it carefully.
To be honest, in his eyes, the sedan’s exterior really didn’t appeal to him.
The overall lines were relatively boxy and rugged, lacking streamlining and a sense of technology.
But this was after all a limitation of the era; sedans in this era were all like this.
If judged by the standards of this era, this car was actually quite good.
Equipped with a 3.7-liter inline six-cylinder engine, top speed up to 85 kilometers per hour, which was a high level for this era.
The vehicle capacity is also good, can carry 5—7 people, seats made of high-grade materials, front windshield is safety glass.
The whole car is made of all-steel structure, sturdy and durable, with good driving comfort.
Most importantly, the safety is truly top-notch, after all, it’s bulletproof!
Stroking the tactile sensation of the metal, Cao Weida grinned, “Mei Ze Jun, I’m very satisfied. I won’t say much in thanks; tonight, I’ll treat you to a meal at the Six Nations Hotel.”
While speaking, he handed over the box in his hand.
Opening the box, seeing the check inside for 3000 amount, the smile on Meize Heiba’s face deepened.
“Yōshi, Cao Sang, you’re too polite. I’d love to have a drink with you, but unfortunately, I have some official business tonight. Really sorry, next time—next time I’ll treat!”
“Mei Ze Jun, where are you talking from? But official business comes first.” Cao Weida had no intention of asking what the business was, because it had nothing to do with him.
If he asked and something went wrong, it’d be like mud falling into one’s pants—not shit but still shit.
In life, it’s better to know fewer secrets; the more you know, the shorter you live.
He gave an awkward smile, “Well then, Mei Ze Jun, I haven’t learned driving. Could you arrange a driver to deliver the car to the place I specify?”
In his previous life, he had learned driving, but only that, and it was automatic transmission.
After getting his license, he hadn’t driven for years; he certainly couldn’t drive this old antique manual transmission.
If no one helped him, he probably couldn’t drive the car back.
“Hahaha, of course, of course. I can even arrange someone to teach you specifically until you learn.”
Having just gotten 3000 silver dollars, Meize Heiba was very happy. It was just a matter of giving an order, no need for him to teach personally—a favor that came naturally, so he was glad to do it.
“As for the driver’s license, you’ll have to figure that out yourself.”
That’s right, driving required a license in this period too.
Actually, in 1928, the Beiping city government issued 《traffic regulations》, stipulating that to drive a car within Beiping city, one must hold a driver’s license.
Those without a license fined ten silver dollars; those with a license but not carrying it while driving fined four silver dollars.
After Beiping fell, holders of out-of-town licenses needing to drive in Beiping city had to present their license to the police bureau, pass an exam, and only then could they drive into the city.
“Then thank you! You’ve really solved my urgent problem!” Cao Weida thanked repeatedly. It was just one driver’s license; for others, it might be an issue.
But for him, working at the police station and already a patrol officer, wasn’t it just a matter of opening his mouth?
He didn’t even need to take the test; just say the word, and the traffic bureau’s leader would come running with the license, acting honored.
“Cao Sang is too polite. By the way, tomorrow is the execution by shooting of the death row prisoner; you can’t be late again.”
“Certainly, certainly!”
When the car was driven to the entrance of Sesame Hutong, it caused a small commotion.
But it was just for show, nothing more.
Although cars weren’t too numerous these days, they weren’t particularly rare either.
Starting from 1934, there were 2841 various cars in Beiping, and now there are even more.
Moreover, the car Cao Weida bought, though well-maintained, was clearly recognizable as a used car at a glance.
After stuffing a few union bonds to the little devil who drove it, the little devil thanked profusely and left with the money.
“Master, is this your new car?”
What others thought didn’t matter; as soon as the little devil left, the several concubines looked at the car with shining eyes, full of wonder.
Especially Mohe, Du Shiniang and the others, excitedly touching the car, loving it so much one cannot put it down.
They had only seen cars from afar before, never ridden in one, not even touched one.
They wanted to sit inside and feel it, but feared damaging it, looking so cautious that Cao Weida wanted to laugh:
“This is a car I got through connections, just a used car.”
“Besides, cars are meant for driving; they’re not that easy to break. Play with it however you want, no need to feel bad.”
Saying that, he proactively opened the car door, letting them fiddle with it freely.
Among the women, not everyone was particularly excited, like Liu Rusi.
Although she hadn’t been steeped in generations of wealth, her father was a high-ranking Kuomintang official, so she was used to cars.
After examining it carefully, she hesitated: “If I’m not mistaken, this should be a Japanese 70-type sedan, right?”
Seeing Cao Weida nod in admission, she said in astonishment: “This is a bulletproof car! They dare to sell this?!”
No wonder she was surprised; not to mention now—even in modern times, buying a bulletproof car isn’t that easy.
Didn’t they see in 《Infiltration》 that Young Master Qi had to beg Xu Zhongyi to get a bulletproof car?
This shows how difficult it is to get a bulletproof car.
Cao Weida touched his nose, “If I said I didn’t expect this either, would you believe me?”
“Who sold this to you?”
“A Japanese Navy officer stationed in Beiping.” There was nothing to hide; it wasn’t a secret.
Or rather, this secret couldn’t be hidden from others anyway.
“…” Liu Rusi was somewhat astonished, then somewhat amused and exasperated, “Are they crazy? Daring to sell such a thing?”
Why not sell it?
Cao Weida pursed his lips; he could roughly guess what was going on inside.
Early last year, 1943, the Japanese Army failed in the Guadalcanal Island campaign, suffering heavy losses in sea and air forces, and losing two elite Army divisions.
From then on, the Japanese Army lost the initiative in combat.
In March, Japan lost 25 destroyers in the Solomon Islands and Bismarck Sea.
In the seven major battles in the Solomon Islands, though the Japanese Army achieved tactical victories in a few, overall, the loss ratios showed they had lost the tactical advantage near Guadalcanal Island from 1942.
Early this year, the U.S. military continued to intensify the offensive, and the Japanese Navy’s main force once withdrew to the Mariana and Caroline sea areas.
In March, the Japanese Army formulated the Z Operation Plan to counter the U.S. fleet, but by month’s end, the Palau Islands suffered fierce U.S. air raids, causing the plan to fail, and Combined Fleet Commander Koga Mineichi also died in a plane crash.
This series of events made the Japanese Navy’s situation on the Pacific battlefield increasingly severe, gradually losing sea and air control, and unable to organize effective resistance.
One event after another all foreshadowed that the international battlefield situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable for the Japanese Army.
Many smart people were already planning for possible defeat in the future war; if not for this, how could Cao Weida so easily tie up all the Japanese Army and Navy in Beiping and surroundings on one business boat?
A bulletproof car was nothing.
Weapons and ammunition, even cannons, had been sold quite a few!
“Why worry about them so much? They dare to sell, we dare to buy; someone has our back, what are you afraid of?”
Cao Weida was too lazy to explain the details; he stretched lazily and asked the maidservant nearby: “Alright, been busy half the day, starving to death. Is the food ready?”
“Master, it’s already prepared.”
“Then let’s go in and eat.” Turning his head, he smiled at the concubines excitedly sitting in the car, touching here and there:
“Alright, stop looking; the car is right here, won’t run away. After eating, look however you want.”
“If you’re interested, I can arrange someone to teach you driving specifically.”
“Really, Master?! We can drive too?!” The concubines were overjoyed one by one; driving was a rare thing these days—learning it and driving out for a spin would be so cool!
“What’s so novel about that?” Cao Weida found it amusing, “Alright, from now on the car is our family’s thing; if you want, all learn.”
At that moment, Yan Zhensheng living across the way walked over with a cheerful smile, cupping his hands: “Cao Ye, congratulations! Your family has added a big item!”
Walking to the car and touching it, he exclaimed ‘hey’: “This iron beast is nothing like the human-powered ones; looks imposing just standing there!”
His eyes were full of envy; men don’t have many things they like.
Cars, watches, women, weapons—these four are the most representative.
Every man hopes to have his own cool car; Yan Zhensheng was no exception.
Touching the all-metal shell, the warm tactile sensation from the sunlight made Yan Zhensheng adore it, eyes unable to move away.
Cao Weida smiled brightly, “Shopkeeper Yan is joking; your family is big and wealthy—a car is just a grab away.”
Don’t think the Yan Family lacks foundation just because they do pickle business; it’s not so.
Not to mention just pickles; three hundred sixty trades, every trade has its champions!
Any trade that reaches top two in a region is very profitable!
For example, a scrap collection station looks dirty and shabby to outsiders, but monopolizing scrap collection in a region means lying down to make money!
