Chapter 147: Bypassing the Pursuit of Wealth Leaves Only Flexing

Let Wei Dong surely had no idea of the historical significance behind the four factories he was currently connected to.

At this time, across the entire country, at least the automobile factories were still like handcrafted workshops akin to Rolls-Royce—there wasn’t a single modern production line.

Of course, without the royal endorsement, these were simply hammered together to be functional.

Their quality was roughly on par with Wei Dong’s Shangzhou Machinery Factory’s vacuum machines.

Even the Isuzu double-cab trucks and Suzuki vans were imported in original parts, assembled by hand, with attempts to replicate parts during the assembly process.

There was no talk of learning from their production lines.

Thus, the various scattered automobile factories typically produced only one or two thousand vehicles per month.

For such a vast country, that was nowhere near enough.

It was like hundreds of millions of women waiting for just one factory to produce sanitary pads—if you managed to get hold of any, you’d be grateful. Hygiene, sterilization, production permits, and product standards were all temporarily set aside.

Once on the shelves, they were snatched up immediately.

Only Jiangzhou had the most automobile manufacturers at present—those making armored vehicles, self-propelled artillery, military trucks, gun factories, shipyards—all transitioning and exploring production of motorcycles and cars, which is why there was some surplus available on the market.

Even Pingjing, despite its size, was precisely where demand was highest nationwide.

All the ministries and units wanted the best, and provinces and regions came to the capital to buy—effectively concentrating the national demand here and in Huhai.

Even the sales departments outside these factories had no vehicles in stock, and buying required formalities.

Zhang Lingyun, who studied engineering machinery at the Aviation Institute, understood this situation well and scratched his head helplessly: “There’s nothing to be done but wait and see, or buy second-hand.”

Wei Dong never minded second-hand vehicles—as long as the mileage wasn’t too high, the engine had no carbon buildup, the suspension was good, the headlights bright, the oil lubrication proper, and the operation smooth, it was even more reliable than a second-hand airplane, which could be life-threatening.

But there was no second-hand market either, so it was a matter of luck.

That young steel institute student with two kids, relying on his physical strength, rode around the whole street looking and shook his head: “No stock anywhere—in Liaoji, Jibei, Huaibei, Qilu factories—they’ve all released new models of vans and small trucks, but no stock. Many are still waiting. These vehicles cost thirty to fifty thousand yuan; so many people can afford them. Honestly, trucks are more useful.”

This was the advantage of university students—they could think comparatively and were proactive.

In the restaurant, among so many fellow townsfolk, hardly anyone dared to express opinions to Wei Dong; they were content to eat, work diligently, and after work play cards and relax.

So Wei Dong tried to nurture them carefully: “Yes, trucks are currently the quickest way to recoup investments. As long as there’s a steady supply of goods and goods owners keep hauling, it’s like a small factory continuously making money. A fifty-thousand-yuan Dongfeng truck pays for itself in two years. Though it’s tiring and somewhat risky, it’s a path. But we’ve passed the stage where we can only make money with trucks. We must strive to produce and sell beyond freight transportation; our vision can’t remain at this level.”

The university students immediately understood: “The difference between manual labor and brain work, got it.”

Wei Dong could only think, damn, university students these days really are valuable.

Since they were there, Wei Dong took them to visit the sales department at the factory gate.

He seized every opportunity to lead his people: “Their approach is good—setting up a storefront at the factory gate. We do this at the food factory; Manager Shen should have something similar at the sanitary pad factory gate.”

Shen Cuiyue, originally from eastern Shandong, surprisingly couldn’t speak Mandarin well: “Got it, but there’s really no stock now, same as here.”

He Yuemei hurriedly tried to build rapport: “Please give us more this month, fifty, a hundred thousand packages, or even more.”

Wei Dong immediately recalled this tactic: “You still have two packs in your bag; try giving them to her…”

Shen Laosan’s eyes lit up as they watched Wei Dong use sanitary pads to ingratiate himself with the auntie at the sales department:

“Sis, does the factory union or women’s federation need these? Would all the female workers in the factory want them? We just came from the city police bureau and the supply and marketing cooperative; all government units and state-run factories in Jiangzhou are scrambling to get these as welfare for their female employees. They don’t affect work or life during those few days and are very convenient…”

Men are trained this way—at first, Wei Dong was tongue-tied facing all these women in Jiangzhou.

Now, he skillfully unfolded his sales pitch.

Zhang Lingyun and the tall geology institute student were wide-eyed, amazed and thinking, “Boss, you’re shameless and reckless; no wonder you’re the sales champion!”

Just looking at the palm-sized printed label, with colorful images of bitter tea seed illustrations for the crotch area, indicated what it was for. There were also fixed usage instructions and a warning not to discard carelessly after use.

The auntie’s eyes lit up immediately: “It’s for that time of the month?”

Wei Dong nodded with satisfaction: “Clean, hygienic, neat, and convenient. The first batch we sent to Pingjing was all snapped up by major universities. We’re coordinating supplies to meet the needs of Pingjing government units and friendly enterprises…”

He glanced back; He Yuemei had to poke Shen Cuiyue’s waist to get her attention, and then she joined in. Wei Dong prompted: “Which universities welcome it most?”

They quickly named names: “Ping University—1,500 packs, Yan University—1,200, Medical College—870… We also provided 3,000 packs to the union at the textile factory for distribution to female workers. Maybe you should ask the union or factory leadership?”

When the school was founded, it was said that since the steel institute was all male, it was close to the textile factory and medical college, following the traditional male-female pairing advocated by Comrade Su Lian.

So even proud Pingjing couldn’t resist the demand.

She happily took the packs to report back.

They had come to buy cars, but it felt like a sales mission, almost like a barter.

The hottest item now was the 212 Jeep, the only small car available for county-level youth league cadres almost everywhere, and it sold like hotcakes.

There was a line of buyers when a female workshop director came out and waved her hand.

She arranged for one vehicle, priced at twenty-six thousand yuan.

They immediately drove over to the steel institute to get the money and, along the way, took the fifty packs of reserve samples He Yuemei had painstakingly saved, which Wei Dong generously gave away.

Once this batch arrived, they would notify the auto factory to buy two thousand packs.

Everyone marveled at how the boss skillfully exchanged scarce goods for scarce goods.

As a result, they not only got a brand-new military green 212 with paperwork but also an eighty to ninety percent new silver-gray small work vehicle, carrying finance and enthusiastic union officials to accompany them.

At first glance, this two-door work vehicle was even smaller than the 212 Jeep yet had an indescribable sleek charm.

Both had soft tops; the 212’s was like a waterproof raincoat made of plastic, while this vehicle’s was canvas.

The soft, faded black canvas top looked like a rag, but the paint on the hood, doors, and bed was clearly different from the 212.

It was a hidden dullness.

The main thing was the off-road vehicle’s front end; Wei Dong recognized it at a glance and circled around to examine: “Is this your assembled prototype?”

The local lady praised with Beijing flavor: “You’ve got a sharp eye! Like it? It was imported and assembled, ready for production, but was suddenly halted a few days ago. What the hell is going on?”

Wei Dong gestured and, after permission, opened the door to inspect. Genuine leather seats and the JEEP logo on the passenger side finally made him realize—it was a two-door Wrangler!

The front unmistakably so, but the nameplate said it was called JEEP-CJ now.

What was that about, preparing for imported assembly production?

Wasn’t Pingjing’s auto factory introducing the Cherokee? Later, Ding Haifeng drove a Cherokee at the police station, and the tax bureau also had a Jibei-made imitation Cherokee, with drivers constantly cursing.

So originally, the Wrangler was planned to be introduced first?

Wei Dong was very surprised; the introduced Cherokee was only mid-range engineering and police vehicle level, but in Shangzhou, the Wrangler was a symbol of wealth and status.

Civil servants passionate about SLR cameras and road trips who could buy Wranglers were the talk of the city, and it seemed to cost forty to fifty thousand yuan!

There had to be illicit income involved.

This two-door version was purely a player’s car and apparently sold for even more.

So he casually asked, “How much are they planning to sell this for?”

They didn’t care: “Who knows? This car is much more complicated than the 212, probably at least a hundred thousand yuan. Now it’s worse—the whole project changed to bigger luxury SUVs after some leader visited the States. This one’s just junk now; no parts, no maintenance, who’d want it?”

Wei Dong inwardly laughed—who would have guessed that during the introduction of JEEP, such drama happened, and the Wrangler was replaced by the Cherokee at the last minute?

Ironically, this later made the Wrangler synonymous with high-end luxury players.

He said, “Do you have any assembled ones left? Give me a price; if it fits, I’ll take it, along with the 212.”

They were genuinely surprised: “Imported, all parts imported; no warranty if broken!”

Indeed, Wei Dong now guessed that the private vehicle sale policy issued in February was definitely related to the domestication of these imported models.

Thus Isuzu, Suzuki, and JEEP were all using various means to form joint ventures and cooperation, just in time this year.

Buying a double-cab in March, a van in June—all coincided with these companies offloading original assembled vehicles at bargain prices.

Especially those without parts or warranty.

He could fully treat it as a Wrangler for repairs: “If the price is right, it’s mine.”

Confirming with the auntie responsible for the union’s sanitary pad distribution, she was sure: “It must be right; I’ll ask!”

Quickly, the price came back: eighty-two thousand yuan, no warranty, but the best-equipped prototype assembled vehicle was ready.

The faded blue-gray body with English lettering, wide deep-tread tires, beige leather seats, and transparent plastic canvas that wasn’t too dirty but still very basic.

The factory folks said it would definitely be replaced with a hardtop; otherwise, no one in the country would want it.

The auntie speculated maybe it was assembled for a leadership inspection but rejected because of the top, which led to the model change.

Now it was cheap, and buyers could take it. Modifications to a hardtop and four doors would have pushed the price over a hundred thousand yuan.

No one else wanted it.

In 1984, no one in the country spent nearly a hundred thousand to buy a two-door Wrangler as a toy, especially such a floppy canvas-top one.

Vehicles were still tools, not toys.

The very few who had the money all bought luxury imported cars, looking down on this from the start.

But Wei Dong inwardly chuckled at this lucky find.

Just opening the passenger door allowed the two kids to sit in back, and only two children could fit. Shen Laosan climbed up, scratching his head in confusion: “This car seems custom-made just for our family?”

Wei Dong glanced back at the two who loved it dearly and joked: “Custom-made my foot. I’ll tell you when we get back!”

They sent an extra driver to help with the 212 and tied three bicycles belonging to He Yuemei and others to the back with ropes.

The three vehicles set off back to the steel institute.

Indeed, the Wrangler’s original hydraulic shock absorbers were in a different league from the 212’s leaf springs. The body was compact and exquisite, with incredibly agile brakes and steering.

The siblings all felt it: “This car’s way better than the red van at home, right?”

Wei Dong wasn’t certain but figured it was at least several times better.

However, he had no intention of driving the car back to Jiangzhou; this thing was only for showing off in Pingjing.