Rebirth of Bayi Fishing and Hunting in the Northwest

Chapter 1105 The Key Points in Li Long's Eyes and the Key Points in Li Xiangqian's Eyes
When Li Xiangqian received Li Long's call, he was still a little confused.

"You mean you want to sell me a car? Or a used one? If I have money, why wouldn't I just buy a new car?"

"You know Volga, right?" Li Long said with a grin on the phone. "Five thousand yuan, want it or not? If not, I'm giving it to someone else. There's only one Volga left."

"Five thousand? You're not kidding me? Can it even be driven? It's not just a shell, is it?" Li Xiangqian naturally knew about the Volga. In the eyes of the people in this area, the Volga was on par with the Santana.

How much does a Santana cost? A new one costs 200,000 yuan, and you might not even be able to buy one. A used one… oh, nobody sells used cars; they're practically impossible to find in this area right now.

Five thousand yuan—when you calculate it, it's like finding it on the street.

"I just had the transport company come and get it serviced yesterday. Although it can't compare to a new car, to be honest, it'll definitely run without any problems."

"I heard a convoy of cars came to the county these past few days. Could it be your doing? Drive the cars over here so I can take a look!" Li Xiangqian was intrigued.

How could you not be tempted? A car! These days, how many people in the whole county can afford a car? Even among government agencies, if you count on your fingers, how many cars or official vehicles does the whole county have?
Li Long drove his Volga from the purchasing station to the supply and marketing cooperative, attracting 100% attention along the way.

There are almost no cars in the county right now, and it will be another two years before Santana and Xiali cars are available.

The Volga may look old-fashioned decades later, but back then it was definitely a star car, and even children would run after it.

Anyway, there weren't many cars on the road at that time, so parents weren't worried about their children being hit by cars.

After the Volga drove into the courtyard of the supply and marketing cooperative, the children following behind gradually dispersed, while some adults watched from a distance on the opposite side of the road.

Li Xiangqian heard the sound of a car, came out of his office, and then saw the car.

Li Long got out of the car, didn't close the door, patted the roof, and smiled at Li Xiangqian, saying...
"Director, what do you think of this car?"

With a higher salary, the transportation company naturally put in more effort in maintenance. They not only inspected the oil and electrical lines, but also beautified the exterior. Although it doesn't look brand new, there are definitely no rust or stains.

Li Xiangqian had previously complained that Li Long had given him a used car, but now, as he came out, he was saying, "Is this all?"

But in reality, my eyes were already glued to the car.

The black body, white front, and electroplated anti-collision beams give it a retro look.

Although Li Long has lived here for six years, he still can't stand this car.

It's so retro! Standing next to the car, I felt like I was transported back to the 1950s or 60s.

This car is ten years old, but the Russians really make these kinds of things. Li Long drove it from the supply and marketing cooperative and felt that it was very smooth, with little noise and easy to drive.

Of course, when it comes to details, it certainly can't compare to cars from thirty or forty years later. It's not as comfortable to sit in, and it's not as convenient to adjust, etc.

But even in this era, this was already an incredibly impressive vehicle.

"Hmm, this is it." Li Long made way for him. "Director, would you like to try it?"

"Since you've already driven the car here, I'll give it a try." Li Xiangqian's tone was reluctant, but in reality, before Li Long had even finished speaking, he had already climbed into the car.

His expression was one of barely suppressed excitement, his lips curling upwards as if he were about to burst out laughing if he didn't get into the car soon.

Five thousand yuan! Isn't that like finding it on the street?

Zhou Yuan and the others had also come out and were watching Li Xiangqian tinkering in the car.

Li Long didn't follow up with the introduction. He knew that Li Xiangqian could drive, but he didn't own a car and would occasionally borrow other people's cars to have some fun. However, he wouldn't borrow Li Long's car because Li Long's car was too busy.

"Xiao Li, that's impressive," Zhou Yuan exclaimed. "This car... must have been expensive, right?"

"Yeah, it wasn't cheap," Li Long said vaguely. "It was brought over from the Soviet Union."

The specifics couldn't be revealed, and even the price of five thousand yuan was kept secret by Li Xiangqian. If they actually managed to acquire the car and someone wanted to buy it, the price would be different.

After all, the Daihatsu minivan still sells for 30,000 yuan, while when the Xiali first came out, the sedan sold for 100,000 yuan, which was roughly the same as the Lada. This is the Volga!
Even secondhand ones are Volga!

"Hey, now that the director has a car, our supply and marketing cooperative will be a well-known unit in the county," another colleague said with a smile. "Whenever we go to a meeting in the county, we might be able to hitch a ride in the director's car."

Li Long wanted to tell the supply and marketing cooperative about sending them a Lada car, but then thought it best to wait until Li Xiangqian got off the bus. He figured it was more appropriate to talk to the leader directly.

Li Xiangqian had already started the car and was driving around in the courtyard of the supply and marketing cooperative.

"Hey, Director, you're a really good driver!" someone exclaimed excitedly. "I wonder how hard it is to get a driver's license..."

“It’s difficult.” Zhou Yuan knew this. “The shortest course is to go to a driving school for half a year. You not only have to learn to drive from the instructor, but also to repair cars. Even after half a year, you may not be able to get a driver’s license. As far as I know, an instructor can take on several students. If you don’t have a good eye, you may not even be able to touch the steering wheel in a day.”

"And there are senior students, who need to study for two or three years!" Section Chief Hong knew more.

"Of course, there are exceptions, it just depends on whether you have connections." The oil transportation section chief looked at the Volga with envy. He was in charge of the trucks in the supply and marketing cooperative, but who wouldn't want to drive a car?
He has a driver's license, so driving a large vehicle is no problem, but driving a small car... he doesn't have that opportunity.

Although he was initially put off by the fact that the car was secondhand, Li Xiangqian was still very cautious when he actually drove it, constantly getting used to it. He didn't drive it on the road, but instead drove around the front and back yards of the supply and marketing cooperative.

He already considers this car his own, so he drives it very carefully, and he feels bad if there's even a scratch or scrape.

Twenty minutes had passed by the time we drove back to the original spot in the front yard and stopped.

Li Long and Zhou Yuan were waiting there. When Li Xiangqian came down, Li Long asked with a smile:

"how do you feel?"

"It's alright, not as good as a new car, but driving is better than riding a bicycle." Li Xiangqian was very reserved, but the smile on his face told a completely different story.

The head of the oil transportation section was even more senior than Li Xiangqian. He disliked Li Xiangqian's smug expression of getting a good deal while pretending to be innocent, and said half-jokingly:
"Not bad? Well then, Director, how about this, I can have this car?"

They already knew that Li Long had gotten the car from the Soviet Union and sold it to Li Xiangqian cheaply.

As for how cheap it would be, Li Long didn't say, but to be honest, based on their understanding of Li Long, they knew that the car would cost no more than 10,000.

After all, personal relationships play a role.

Let alone 10,000, even 20,000, Qin Haodong, the head of the oil transportation section, could borrow it. Li Xiangqian drove the car around a few times, and just by listening, he knew from his own experience that the car was in good condition!

It can be driven for at least another ten years, and if it is well cared for, it can be driven for even longer.

Driving this car would be so prestigious, a Volga! There might only be one in the whole county, right?

"Go to hell." Li Xiangqian didn't stand on ceremony with him and waved his hand, saying, "Little Li gave it to me, it's none of your business. If you're so capable, wait until he gets another car, then you can talk."

After speaking to the oil transportation section chief, he directly addressed Li Long:

"I'll take the car. Are all the customs paperwork complete?"

"All the paperwork is in order." Li Long nodded. "It's definitely legal. We don't do anything illegal. Oh, and there's one more thing..."

"Go ahead and say it." Li Xiangqian thought Li Long was going to make some demands, and he figured it was about time to agree.

Moreover, since Li Long was able to say it in front of so many people, it probably wasn't anything serious.

At this time, some employees of the supply and marketing cooperative did not come out; they were looking outside through the windows in their offices.

They had already heard that Li Long was going to sell a car to Li Xiangqian at a discount.

Some people were envious, some were jealous, and some made sarcastic remarks:

"Li Long really knows how to play the game! Our director rides a bicycle to work, so he got a car for him. He's got a knack for getting close to Director Li!"

"They're capable, but can you get one yourself?"

“That’s not what I meant. I meant that Li Long makes a lot of money every year getting those big broom jobs from our supply and marketing cooperative, right? Why doesn’t he do something for the other employees in our cooperative? I’m thinking of everyone.”

After he said that, the others fell silent.

It would be a lie to say that people weren't envious of Li Long's work sweeping the big brooms. Li Long would also occasionally distribute welfare supplies, mainly beef and mutton, to the supply and marketing cooperative.

The supply and marketing cooperative's employees had no shortage of daily necessities, but meat was always in short supply, especially in this era when resources were relatively scarce.

Therefore, the general employees did not have much resentment towards Li Long, because he thought of sharing his profits with everyone.

But there are definitely those who are dissatisfied. Li Xiangqian once said that if someone could make a broom to the same standard as the one Li Long made, then some of the work could be shared.

But no one dared to take the initiative. Everyone knew that if they did the work themselves, they would eventually have to subcontract it out.

He lacked the confidence – Li Long had set the quality standards too high.

But that doesn't stop them from making sarcastic remarks about Li Long behind his back.

Anyway, Li Long is a temporary worker, not a permanent employee, so saying anything about him won't affect anything.

“I’ve gotten a lot of work from your company over the past few years and made some money, so I’m thinking of giving back to you. I have a Lada car that I’m planning to donate to your company for daily office use, what do you think, Director…”

"Really?" Upon hearing Li Long's words, the first to speak was not Li Xiangqian, but the head of the oil transportation section.

He was naturally excited. If the car were given to the commune, what difference would it make if it were given to him? He would be in charge of the car!
Li Xiangqian was momentarily confused; he had initially thought Li Long was going to make a request.

Unexpectedly, Li Long sent another big gift!

Hey! I knew I hadn't misjudged him!
"Won't this affect you?" Li Xiangqian ignored the head of the oil transportation section and asked Li Long, "This truck was brought over from over there, it wasn't cheap, was it? I think the company should give you some compensation, we can't let you lose too much."

Li Xiangqian isn't stupid. If you really told people that he sold this Volga for five thousand yuan, people would definitely be vying for it for twenty or thirty thousand!

These days, thanks to the new policies, Li Long isn't the only one who's made money. There are definitely more than a few people in the county who can afford to spend tens of thousands of yuan to buy a car.

They didn't like Dafa, Xiali wasn't on the market yet, and the new Santana was too expensive.

If a suitable used car becomes available, they will definitely make a move.

Add a Lada, and even though the car is a bit small, it's still a sedan!
He wondered if Li Long would lose too much.

"It's alright, Director, I know what I'm doing. If it weren't for our organization these past few years, I really wouldn't have been able to get to where I am today. Before, I didn't have the time or the resources, but now that I do, our organization is definitely the first thing I think of."

Li Long meant what he said. Although his first pot of gold came from selling fish and mountain products, the real money he made came from weaving carrying poles, making large brooms, and reed bundles.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to accumulate the money to build a fritillaria collection station.

Knowing that Li Long understood, Li Xiangqian was relieved and said with a smile:

"Okay, then drive it over when you have time."

"I'll go, I'll go!" The oil transportation section chief exclaimed excitedly, no longer caring about anything else. "Where's the truck?"

"At the purchasing station," Li Long said with a smile. "Section Chief, wait a moment, I'll drive over in a bit."

"I'll go with you!" The squad leader really couldn't wait any longer.

"Drive this Volga over there, take him with you, and then have him drive the Lada over. When you arrive, come to my office; I have something to discuss with you," Li Xiangqian said to Li Long.

Li Long responded, got into the car, and drove off with the oil transportation section chief.

Along the way, the head of the oil transportation section kept asking about the configuration of the Lada car, and Li Long explained it to him in detail.

When we arrived at the purchasing station, the Lada was parked in the front yard.

The remaining cars are in the backyard; he doesn't intend to show them to anyone.

The Lada car looked almost as good as the Volga, so Qin Haodong, the head of the oil transportation section, took a liking to it at first sight.

"Can I drive it away now?" Qin Haodong walked around the car, gently patting and tapping it here and there. After looking at it, he asked Li Long.

"Sure." Li Long took the keys out of his pocket and handed them to him. "From now on, this car is yours."

"Li Long, I'm truly grateful to you this time," Qin Haodong said with a smile. "No doubt about it, you're a very generous person!"

"Let's go, the people in the commune must be getting impatient." Li Long smiled. "The section chief can go back and study it slowly."

The two men drove away one after the other, while the people at the recycling station continued their discussion.

They realized that Li Long's car was for the supply and marketing cooperative.

What about the remaining cars?

Everyone was very curious.

Some asked Gu Boyuan, some asked Sun Jiaqiang. Neither of them would say anything; how could they casually discuss the car matter with outsiders?

The two cars drove into the supply and marketing cooperative one after the other. Qin Haodong had spoken so confidently, but he was still very careful while driving, afraid of bumping into or hitting anything.

The arrival of the two vehicles at the supply and marketing cooperative caused another sensation.

"Why did another one drive in?" someone asked, unaware of the situation.

"Haven't you heard? Our section chief just said that the yellow one in the back was a gift from Li Long to our supply and marketing cooperative, and he gave it to us!"

"Really? Li Long is really that generous?" Those who were initially dissatisfied with Li Long naturally didn't believe it.

"What do you mean, 'real' or 'fake'? They've already driven their car over, how could it be fake? Look at Section Chief Qin's smile, it's definitely real!"

This time, even if Li Long wanted to be sarcastic, he couldn't. They sold a car to the director and then donated another to the company; that's quite generous.

What else can I say? Who knows, I might get a ride in this car someday when I'm on a mission. It would be unfair to publicly insult it again.

Li Long parked the car, and Li Xiangqian watched and directed him, making sure he parked it correctly before taking him to the office.

Qin Haodong immediately called his men over to clean up the car and clear out the two trucks in the garage to make room specifically for this little car.

The car was very clean, after all, it had just been serviced, but Qin Haodong didn't care. He had just driven it, so the tires were covered in dust.

wipe!
Li Long entered Li Xiangqian's office before they began discussing serious matters.

"Director, I need to make things clear to you. This car came in as a scrapped vehicle, and the paperwork is complete, but if you want to register it and drive it as a legitimate car, you'll need to find someone to handle it."

Li Long thought this was a big deal, but Li Xiangqian just smiled and said, "So it's a scrapped car, but it doesn't look like one to me. The car is in pretty good condition, even better than Director Qian's and the others' cars."

Sedans and Jeeps naturally have different levels of prestige.

However, Li Long realized that what seemed like a troublesome procedure to him was no problem for Li Xiangqian.

“If we don’t treat it as a scrapped vehicle, this car won’t get in,” Li Long chuckled. “If we import it as a complete vehicle, the tariffs will skyrocket. We’ve managed to pull a fast one, haven’t we?”

If you calculate it that way directly, it's borderline, but considering Liu Shanmin's contribution, it's nothing.

"I understand then. I'll handle the formalities myself, you don't need to worry about that. As for the money, I'll give it to you tomorrow."

"Could you do me a favor, Director, and help me with the paperwork for a few more cars?" Li Long asked with a smile, seizing the opportunity.

"You, you." Li Xiangqian thought about it, five thousand yuan was too cheap, so he said, "Okay, I'll get you the paperwork for two more cars, that's all. Any more and I'll owe you a big favor."

"Okay, okay." Li Long nodded hurriedly, so that the paperwork for the car driven by his older brother and father-in-law could be completed.

As for the others, they'll have to figure it out themselves. They can't really be their fathers and do everything themselves, can they?
"How many cars did you bring back this time?" Li Xiangqian asked curiously.

"Seven platforms." Li Long didn't hide anything. "At first, it was just a trial run. Maybe there will be more in the future, but it's uncertain right now. Anyway, let's just keep doing it for now. As long as it's not illegal, we'll try to find more ways to make money."

"Well, it's good that you're aware of this. You absolutely must not break the law." Li Xiangqian didn't understand cross-border business very well. The supply and marketing cooperatives actually had similar transactions, but they weren't something he could do at his level. It required Director Qian or even someone higher up, and it was still within the planned economy.

Although the market is said to be open, it cannot be truly open. In some aspects, especially in areas of international trade, large-scale transactions are still mainly handled by the government.

Private cross-border transactions only really took off after that old empire collapsed.

After leaving the supply and marketing cooperative, Li Long did not plan to take any more vehicles for the time being.

He needs to prepare to go to Kuitun to pick up Zhao Chengfeng.

The bridge in the mountains is also going to be built.

(End of this chapter)