Xu Mingxuan excitedly got on the motorcycle, first familiarizing himself with the throttle, clutch, brakes, and gears for acceleration and deceleration. Then Chen Lan watched as Xu Mingxuan tried to turn on the throttle and ignition switch, warming up the motorcycle. He then slowly released the clutch, and the motorcycle sputtered to life.
Chen Lan was surprised that Xu Mingxuan knew how to ride a motorcycle, watching him with a hint of astonishment, thinking he must have learned it in the army.
After watching him get a feel for the clutch, gears, and brakes, Chen Lan saw Xu Mingxuan start the motorcycle again and speed away like the wind. A feeling of admiration welled up in her heart: "It's truly incredible! It seems no matter the era, men are inherently drawn to this exhilarating feeling of speed! In Xu Mingxuan's eyes, riding a motorcycle must be the perfect fusion of speed and passion. No wonder in my past life, many men used to liken their beloved cars to their wives?"
With this thought, Chen Lan couldn't help but feel a little melancholic and self-pitying, thinking to herself, "This is depressing! Now I'm treated the same way as the motorcycle."
After sulking for a while, Chen Lan suddenly had a brilliant idea. She decided to bring out "that thing" tomorrow, which would surely make Xu Mingxuan shift his affections immediately.
So, Chen Lan decided to take advantage of Xu Mingxuan testing the motorcycle. She used her mind to access the used car trading platform in the system. She searched for an online direct sales store for used cars with a good reputation, intending to buy a used truck that could carry goods. Chen Lan looked for a long time but couldn't find an old Jiefang truck suitable for use in this era.
Just as Chen Lan was about to give up, the customer service representative from the online direct sales store carefully inquired about Chen Lan's specific requirements and then introduced her to a decommissioned old Jiefang truck that had been retired by a previous user.
The customer service representative explained: "Dear customer, to be honest, although this car has been decommissioned, the previous user was very careful when using it and paid a lot of attention to maintenance. So, the entire vehicle doesn't look that old, and most importantly, the car can still run normally. Our boss was so impressed that he bought it without much thought. When he took it to the repair shop, he discovered it was a scrapped vehicle that had reached its service limit."
Upon hearing this, Chen Lan became a little displeased and said, "It's been scrapped, why are you recommending it to me?"
The shop's customer service representative explained again: "Please don't rush, let me finish. According to your requirements, only this old Jiefang truck fits your criteria. To be frank, this car is over twenty-five years old, exceeding the national regulations for its service life, which is why our boss had to reluctantly scrap it.
However, because it's a classic old Jiefang model that has been discontinued, our boss has never been able to bear to part with it. He said he was sure he would meet someone destined to like it and want to buy it. So, this old Jiefang has been kept in storage."
Chen Lan couldn't help but chuckle. So she was that destined person.
Chen Lan vaguely remembered that this model of the old Jiefang stopped production in the 1980s. This should be one of the last batches produced before its discontinuation. Buying it would indeed be very commemorative.
However, Chen Lan was still hesitant, worried that the car was too old and prone to breakdowns, which would affect its future use. Understanding Chen Lan's concerns, the online merchant's customer service representative assured her repeatedly: "Please rest assured! I guarantee with our store's reputation that any used car sold on the platform can be used normally for at least five years. If it cannot be used normally after you buy it, you can return it unconditionally. If you want to use it for more years, you can purchase replacement parts from our store, and we will help you replace key worn parts such as the generator, gearbox, and tires for free, without charging any labor fees. Sudan Novel Network
Hearing that this was possible, Chen Lan was naturally delighted. After some negotiation, the shop's customer service representative finally agreed to a total price of sixteen thousand yuan, all-inclusive, including a new engine and gearbox, tires, and other car parts. They also guaranteed to replace the steering wheel, foot brake, and fuel tank with new ones, and even provided a free full car maintenance.
Chen Lan requested expedited service, and the shop assured her that picking up the car tomorrow morning would be no problem.
As soon as the money was paid, Chen Lan felt a pang of regret. The customer service had already said the car was scrapped, and the shop must have paid very little for it initially. Furthermore, replacing aging parts and ensuring the car's normal operation was something the merchant should have done. Now, she had been tricked by the salesperson and, in a moment of impulse, ended up spending sixteen thousand yuan for a car that was essentially being resold after minor repairs.
The cost of repairing this car was even more than buying it. It was no wonder that in modern times, many people who ran car repair shops became rich; car repair was indeed a highly profitable industry.
Just as Chen Lan was feeling the sting of regret, Xu Mingxuan rode the motorcycle back to pick her up.
As the motorcycle stopped at Chen Lan's feet, Xu Mingxuan excitedly shouted, "Lan'er, hurry up and get on, I'll take you back."
Seeing Xu Mingxuan's excited expression, Chen Lan said nothing and got into the sidecar.
Once Chen Lan was seated, Xu Mingxuan said, "Lan'er, it's a bit cold sitting in the sidecar. Put on your hat and scarf, hold on tight, we're about to set off."
He then opened the throttle and started the engine, and the motorcycle set off. The experience of sitting on the motorcycle could only be described as exhilarating for Chen Lan. The biting cold wind chilled her to the bone. Chen Lan looked up at Xu Mingxuan and saw that he didn't seem to feel the cold at all, enjoying the thrill of riding fast.
Although it was very cold sitting on the motorcycle in the middle of winter, the speed was undeniable. In a short while, they reached the town of Pogranichny. Seeing that it was still early, the couple decided to visit the town market again on their motorcycle, hoping to buy more sausages and large fish.