1980 My literary era

As the end of the month approaches, Yanjing City gradually becomes restless.

The most obvious feature is that the counters selling electrical appliances in various shopping malls are crowded with people. As long as their families have the conditions, they were reluctant to buy TVs in the past. This time, everything has been arranged, and the number of TV sets in Yanjing City has increased sharply.

Lin Weimin has been studying cars these days.

Before the 1980s, cars were a restricted area for ordinary people.

At that time, the price of cars in China was three to four times that of the international market. Most of the working class had a monthly salary of 40 to 50 yuan, and they could not afford to buy a car even if they spent half their lives saving money without eating or drinking.

At the same time, considering that private cars are a symbol of capitalism, ordinary people are not allowed to own them at all. Even cars for official use must be rationed strictly according to grade. Before 1984, county-level cadres could only use domestic jeeps, and these jeeps were basically Yanjing 212.

At that time, domestic car production was also very rare. From the production of the domestically produced Hongqi sedan in 1958 to the discontinuation of production in 1994, only 1,500 units were produced in 25 years; the mass-produced Hushang brand had an annual output of 3,000 units, which was less than the daily output of major foreign automobile manufacturers. Not to mention technology, it is 20 to 30 years behind.

In recent years, due to the reform and opening up, first of all, the class restrictions on official cars have been loosened. Economic development and foreign exchanges have made domestic cars somewhat unable to keep up with the trend.

Toyota Crown and other luxury sedans have flooded into the country through legal imports or smuggling. Last year, Yanjing purchased a batch of Crowns as taxis. In the following years, the number of imported cars surged, reaching its peak in 1985.

The foreign exchange consumed in just a few years is equivalent to more than twice the total investment in China's automobile industry over the past thirty years.

This situation has attracted national attention. Whether to build or buy a car has become a political issue involving national self-esteem. This wave of automobile imports will directly affect the development trend of China's automobile industry in the next few decades.

Of course, this national trend has nothing to do with Lin Weimin. What he is thinking about is what car to buy and how to buy it.

1984 was the most important year in the history of China's private cars. In February this year, the government issued "Several Regulations on the Purchase of Motor Vehicles, Boats and Tractors by Individual Farmers or Joint Households to Operate in the Transportation Industry."

This is the first time that the country has clarified the legality of private car purchases in terms of policy. Although the scope of allowing private car ownership is limited to farmers and agricultural machinery, at least the policy is becoming more and more loose.

Lin Weimin has heard of many private car buyers. These people have some connections and can get the approval documents needed to buy cars.

Lin Weimin has many acquaintances, but not many who can connect with this kind of approval.

When he buys a car, he will definitely not buy small cars like Lada or Fiat. His targets are imported cars of similar quality. It would be too ostentatious to hang them under the workplace.

After much deliberation, he ran to No. 2 Beach North Street.

Zhang Qi has been very busy recently, and I can't see him at all at the Literary and Art Association.

But it doesn't matter if he's not here, and the same goes for Zhang Guangnian.

The old man used to be the editor-in-chief of "People's Literature", and he was an old acquaintance. Now he is the Secretary of Group D of the Literary and Art Association, with a high position.

"You want to buy a car?" Zhang Guangnian looked at Lin Weimin in surprise.

"Why are you so surprised? You're making me look like a criminal! Help me, my car will be parked under your unit." Lin Weimin begged.

Zhang Guangnian hesitated, "Can you still do this?"

"Why not? Teacher Zhang, please help me. It's just a quota. Given the level of our unit, there is no shortage of this quota."

After all, the Literary and Art Association is a high-ranking official unit, but now it only has two cars, which is a bit shabby to say the least, and the quota is wasted.

"Wait for me for a while. I can't say this alone. I need to seek everyone's opinions."

Ba Lao is the boss of the Association, but because he has been in Shanghai all year round, the actual person in charge of the Association is Zhang Guangnian.

He asked Lin Weimin to wait for a while and discussed it with several heads in the unit.

In fact, this is just a formality. Lin Weimin just donated money to his unit last month. Although it was not for the literary association, it was to support the work of the literary association.

If Lin Weimin had not donated money, this matter would be really difficult to handle, because after all, Lin Weimin spent his own money to buy the car, and it would be difficult to settle the bill.

But now that Zhang Qi is running the foundation's affairs, the car can be hung under the foundation. On the surface, it was donated to the foundation by Lin Weimin, but in fact it is for his own use.

People have donated so much money, but they still have to give face.

"It's done, I'll go through the procedures for you here."

"Okay, thank you, Teacher Zhang!"

Lin Weimin left the Cultural Association happily.

After finishing the formalities, the next step was to choose a car. Lin Weimin ran to the newlywed Wang Shuo and called Xie Jing.

He flashed the formalities and said, "Get a Crown for my buddy!"

Wang Shuo and Xie Jing's eyes lit up when they saw Lin Weimin's procedures. Wang Shuo cursed with anger: "You big dog!"

"Don't be envious and jealous." Lin Weimin scolded back and asked Xie Jing: "Can it be done?"

"Leave this to me and get you an internal price."

In 1984, Hainan was designated as a special economic zone by the country. However, Hainan itself is remote and poor. The country sympathized with Hainan and gave Hainan policies, which gave many people the opportunity to take advantage of the loopholes.

A 5,000-meter mud truck imported from China can earn 100% or 200% of the staggering profit when sold to the mainland after tariffs are applied. People are rushing to buy it, but it doesn't matter that you can't buy it.

Why?

Cheap!

Xie Jing and the others couldn't get approval for reselling the car, but there was no problem in helping Lin Weimin contact him to buy a cheaper car.

After asking around the next day, Xie Jing found Lin Weimin, the latest imported seventh-generation Crown, priced at 45,000 yuan.

Xie Jing calculated an account for Lin Weimin. The most imported car in Hainan Island is the seventh-generation Crown, which is divided into four models: royal class, super luxury class, luxury class and ordinary class.

The Crown he asked Lin Weimin about was of ordinary configuration, and the import price was 5,700 yuan. Based on the current price ratio of rice to RMB, which is 1:2.8, and with a 120% tariff, the price was about 35,000 yuan. He asked Lin Weimin A price of 45,000 yuan was quoted. It should be said that the conscience can no longer be conscience.

"I told my buddy that if you buy the car, it's like advertising for him. It must be cheaper!" Xie Jing laughed and said to Lin Weimin.

Lin Weimin took out a few stacks of foreign exchange coupons and said, "I don't have any RMB here. I donated them all, and all I have left is the foreign exchange coupons. Don't get a regular one. It's hard to buy the car back, so it needs to be equipped with some configurations."

Xie Jing's eyes lit up when he saw the foreign exchange coupons, "You told me to use the foreign exchange coupons to buy it! What configuration do you want? He also has a royal-class one, which is twice as expensive as the ordinary-class car and it's a corner!"

When buying a car, you should not buy the lowest configuration or the highest configuration. This is an eternal truth.

"Let's get a super luxurious one." Lin Weimin said, while mentally complaining about the second grade of the Japanese configuration.

Xie Jing threw a few stacks of foreign exchange coupons back into Lin Weimin's arms, leaving only three stacks.

"That's enough, let's go!"

In later generations, when it comes to the car market in Yanjing, it is indispensable to mention the Huaxiang second-hand car market outside the Southwest Fourth Ring Road.

At this time, there was no Fourth Ring Road, so it was called Huaxiang. Since the 1980s, car resellers have appeared here. These people are all about connections and don't dare to be too blatant, so the place is outside the Fourth Ring Road, which is safe and secure.

Lin Weimin saw the boy named Qin Zhao in Xie Jing's mouth. He had an impression that he had met Wang Shuo on his wedding day.

Xie Jing didn't talk nonsense when he came. He flashed the foreign exchange coupons and Qin Zhao's eyes lit up.

This thing is much more popular than RMB!

The last negotiation was for a Toyota Crown with ultra-luxury configuration and 23,000 yuan in foreign exchange coupons.

After the transaction was completed, Xie Jing sat in the car, his eyes shining, groping around, looking like a fool.

The popularity of the crown among the Chinese people has a lot to do with his size. Compared with the petite figures of Lada and Polonaise, who are running a lot on the streets nowadays, the appearance of the crown is much more majestic.

In addition to its size, many modern features of this car also contribute to its appeal.

Electric windows, dual temperature zone control, front and rear stereos and tape players, on-board refrigerator, automatic opening headlights, front and rear reading lights and electric rearview mirrors...

It is almost a feature that many cars will have in a few decades, and it was already available in the Crown in the 1980s.

The ultra-luxury Crown bought by Lin Weimin has everything except a "car refrigerator".

"This big super is really blocked!" Xie Jing explored around the car and pulled up his pants after coming out, with an excited look on his face.

Crown's Royal and Luxury Class models are now affectionately called "Dachao".

"Teacher Lin, do you need me to send someone to drive your car back for you?" Qin Zhao asked with a sense of service.

Lin Weimin got on the driver's seat, slammed the door, rolled down the window and said to Qin Zhao, "Just find someone to ride the motorcycle to Shichahai for me."

Upon seeing this, Xie Jing immediately got on the passenger seat. When he came, he was riding Lin Weimin's motorcycle.

"Teacher Lin, can you still drive?" Xie Jing asked.

Lin Weimin held the steering wheel with one hand and the gear lever with the other, with a calm and confident smile on his face.

"Haven't opened for a long time!"

Start the ignition, put the gear in gear, and add oil. All the operations are done smoothly.

Dachao roared on the spot.

The atmosphere in the car was quiet for a few seconds before Xie Jingcai said, "Teacher Lin, the handbrake hasn't been released yet."

"It's been a long time since I started working, and my skills have become rusty."

Lin Weimin released the handbrake, repeated the previous operation, and finally set off smoothly.

I went to the vehicle management office, got the license plate, and the luxurious Crown was roaming the streets of Yanjing.

It was already late in the evening, and there were a lot of people outside the car. At this time, it was the rush to get off work in Yanjing. The streets were filled with bicycles. From time to time, a few cars ran past, but they were far from the grandeur of a supermarket.

Xie Jing sat in the car, feeling proud in his heart, and then sighed: "The little devil is not very humane, but this car is really well made."

Lin Weimin touched the steering wheel, feeling slightly regretful.

It would be perfect if we drove such a good car that we built ourselves.