Chapter 235: 100% Return Rate

"Gua Kao? What, are you planning to buy a car?"

Dad asked with interest.

Right now a Santana sells for over 200,000; not to mention ordinary people, even those with ten‑thousand‑yuan households find it unattainable.

Xu Qiang only knows that his son's business is doing well, but he isn't clear on how large it actually is.

So his son's suggestion today to buy a car made him feel quite surprised.

"Yes, I'm planning to buy a car."

"But the policy on private car ownership isn't clear yet, so I want to find a Gua Kao unit."

"Finding someone else to Gua Kao isn't as reassuring as using my own dad, right?"

Xu Yuexin explained his reasoning, fearing his dad would disagree.

"Alright, no problem."

To his surprise, dad readily agreed.

"Alright, dad, you're great."

Xu Yuexin said happily.

"Hold on, don't get excited yet; I haven't finished speaking."

"The group has a uniform rule for private vehicle Gua Kao, requiring an annual Gua Kao Fee of 800 yuan."

"Even though you're my son, you still have to follow the rules."

Dad said with a smile, "Think about whether you can accept it."

What? Even the private car Gua Kao rule has been issued?

Seems dad's unit has accepted many Gua Kaos.

Xu Yuexin was again taken aback, scratching his head in confusion.

The wisdom of the vast People truly knows no bounds.

He only just thought of the vehicle Gua Kao idea, not realizing many had already been ahead, putting it into practice.

"Alright, I'll follow the rule."

Feeling reflective, Xu Yuexin nodded and asked, "Do we need to sign a Contract?"

"No need; just buy the car, tell me, and the group will send someone to accompany you for registration."

"Got it."

Xu Yuexin answered in one breath.

He didn't expect the car matter to be resolved so quickly.

He had originally worried there was no precedent and his father wouldn't accept it.

He didn't anticipate that predecessors had already paved the way.

After a while, mother Wu Yan brought the dishes up, and Xu Yuexin continued probing his dad about the Gua Kao matter.

In this conversation, he learned that not only individuals Gua Kao cars, but also some public units attach their cars under the group's name.

These days, a public unit that wants to buy a car must have a purchase quota allocated by a higher‑level unit.

Consequently, some units have unused purchase quotas while others need cars but lack quotas.

Thus, units flexibly adjust among themselves: I give you my purchase quota, you pay me the Gua Kao Fee.

Of course, the Gua Kao cost between units ends up cheaper than for individuals.

…

Having settled the Gua Kao issue, Xu Yuexin began to work on buying a car.

These days, it's not easy for an individual to buy a car.

Car manufacturers can't sell directly to individuals; to buy one you must go to transport companies, as only they hold large fleets.

The trouble is, transport companies generally only sell big trucks externally and rarely sell small cars.

Xu Yuexin asked several transport companies in succession, but none could provide a small car.

How about asking all across the country?

Xu Yuexin couldn't help but entertain that idea.

But on second thought, he dismissed it.

Jingcheng has so many transport companies yet none can sell, so other places likely have none either.

Xu Yuexin shook his head, feeling a bit at a loss while walking down the street.

At that moment, he passed by the entrance of a Friendship Store.

Wait…

Xu Yuexin halted, as if he sensed a solution.

In this era, Friendship Stores, besides selling existing warehouse stock, also accept customer orders and import goods.

Maybe try them? Xu Yuexin thought, though he wasn't particularly confident.

After all… cars are large items; the store might not be willing to purchase them.

Xu Yuexin, with a tentative attitude, entered the Friendship Store, telling the clerk he wanted to order a product and meet with the Manager.

"Our Manager might not have time."

Seeing Xu Yuexin's fine attire, the clerk didn't refuse, "I'll ask for you."

"Hmm, tell him I'd like to order a car."

Xu Yuexin wanted to add some leverage, so he said to the clerk.

A car?

The clerk was startled but said nothing, hurriedly leaving the counter to find the Manager.

After a short while, she stepped out of the store's interior office and stood in front of Xu Yuexin.

"Just in time, our Manager has time."

"You go find him."

"Alright, thank you then."

Xu Yuexin turned toward the deeper part of the store, came to the Manager's office door and knocked.

"Please come in."

A middle‑aged male voice came from inside.

Xu Yuexin pushed open the door, saw the Manager using an abacus behind the desk, and stepped forward to greet him.

"I just heard the report; you want to buy a car, right?"

"That's right; I wanted to ask whether you can…"

"That certainly can't be done."

The Manager set the abacus aside, waved his hand decisively and said, "A small car requires a great amount of precious Foreign Exchange; how could we possibly import one specifically for a private individual?"

That… sounds like a dead‑end statement? Xu Yuexin reacted instinctively, then quickly felt something was off.

If they truly weren't considering agreeing, why would they even meet with us?

"As for the Foreign Exchange, I can sort it out myself; I just need an entity to help with the import."

Xu Yuexin sat down in front of the Manager and said slowly.

"Oh? You can handle the Foreign Exchange?"

"Yes, I have a friend in Xiangjiang who can take care of it."

Xu Yuexin invented a friend, as he did not wish to expose his Xiangjiang enterprises to anyone outside his inner circle.

"Oh? Tell me more."

The Manager said with genuine interest.

Friendship Store frequently needs to import goods and is short on Foreign Exchange.

If they could earn some Foreign Exchange through a deal with Xu Yuexin, it would be a boon for them.

"It's simple; Friendship Store has a Foreign Exchange account, right?"

"I'll have him transfer the money directly into the account, and you use the funds to import the car for me."

"Of course, I certainly won't let you work for nothing; you can take a commission in the middle, and we can negotiate the amount later."

"Which model do you plan to buy?"

"I intend to buy a Mercedes S‑Class."

"Oh, a tiger‑head rush…"

The Manager fell silent in thought after hearing that, then said, "Then you'll have to give us $100,000 first."

"Fine, $100,000 it is."

"Alright, you go home and wait; we'll decide later whether it succeeds."

"We also need to apply to higher‑ups before we can import large items."

"We'll await good news; I'll leave you a phone number."

After speaking, Xu Yuexin picked up a pen on the desk and wrote his phone number in the Manager's notebook.

The Manager was clearly a person who had seen the world.

At least when he heard the request just now, he showed no hint of surprise.

After Xu Yuexin signed his name and left, he thought to himself.

…

Friendship Store did not keep Xu Yuexin waiting long.

A few days later, a phone call reached his home, saying the import application had been approved and a face‑to‑face meeting was needed. "I have a matter at hand; come to my house."

Xu Yuexin said to the voice on the other end of the phone.

Come to think of it, he is also a major client for $100,000.

"Having the Manager come in person isn't too much to ask, right?" "Then… alright, please wait a moment."

The Manager hesitated briefly, then agreed.

These days, state‑owned stores all face south; there has never been a precedent of proactively visiting a client.

But the problem this time lies in…

Xu Yuexin gave way too much! After a short while, the Manager of Friendship Store arrived at Guogongfu and knocked on the main gate.

Xu Yuexin stepped forward, opened the door, and invited him into the courtyard.

"Comrade, your residence is truly large."

After entering, the Manager saw that the courtyard was Four Halls Layout and nodded in praise.

"So‑so."

"No, no, it's quite big."

While they talked, they walked to the main courtyard and sat in the Zhongtang.

"As mentioned on the phone, the higher‑ups have approved the import quota; may I ask when your money will arrive?"

Just as he sat down, the Manager set his briefcase down and asked Xu Yuexin.

"First, show me the approval documents from the higher‑ups."

"Here you go, right here."

The Manager opened the briefcase and placed the approved copies on the table.

Xu Yuexin glanced at them, confirming that the Friendship Store's superior authority had indeed signed and stamped the documents.

"I'll first transfer a $20,000 advance to you."

"The remaining money, we'll discuss after the car arrives."

"Also, this $100,000 includes all duties, taxes and fees, right?"

"Everything is included."

"Regarding the advance, may I ask if we can transfer a bit more?"

"Twenty thousand dollars isn't a small amount. Besides, looking at me, do I seem like someone who can't pay the balance?"

"Hey, you're just kidding. Even just your family's courtyard, I wouldn't think that way."

The Manager smiled broadly, "Alright, $20,000 it is. I'll give you our Foreign Exchange account details."

After speaking, he took a printed slip from his briefcase, which listed the payee's account, name, and the responsible business department.

Xu Yuexin took the slip and signed a car purchase contract with the Manager.

After the Manager left, Xu Yuexin called Lin Qingxia, asking her to transfer money to the Friendship Store's account first.

Before leaving Xiangjiang this time, Xu Yuexin gave Lin Qingxia a bank card containing $200,000 and HK$1,000,000.

The purpose was to prepare for such occasional needs.

A few days later, Xu Yuexin received a stamped receipt from the Friendship Store stating that the $20,000 advance had been received.

Next, it was a quiet wait.

Days passed. Finally, at the end of December, the Friendship Store called Xu Yuexin to tell him to go pick up the car.

The pickup location was a warehouse on the outskirts of Jing. When Xu Yuexin's car arrived, he saw low‑rise houses around and a three‑ to four‑story warehouse standing in the center.

The Store Manager was standing beside the warehouse, blowing white vapor from his hands and stamping his feet for warmth.

"Thanks for your effort."

Xu Yuexin got off his motorcycle, approached and said, "It's freezing; you must be freezing, right?"

"No, no, not cold. Take a look at the car."

The Manager pulled a key from his trouser pocket, bent his bulky body under the coat, and unlocked the rolling gate.

"Swoosh—"

After the lock opened, the Manager lifted the rolling‑gate net, stirring up a cloud of dust.

"Cough cough…"

Xu Yuexin coughed twice and, eager, walked into the warehouse through the dust.

Inside the warehouse, a brand‑new Mercedes‑Benz sat in the center, its windows and door handles spotless, reflecting a metallic sheen, looking utterly imposing.

"The car key is here."

The Manager walked to Xu Yuexin, handed him the key and said, "The fuel is topped up for you."

"I'll give the car a test drive."

Xu Yuexin took the key, approached, opened the door, sat down, and started the Mercedes‑Benz.

The car carried him and the Manager out of the warehouse, into the bitter cold outside.

Xu Yuexin sat inside and didn't feel cold at all; on the contrary, he felt very comfortable.

A 1980s manual‑shift Mercedes‑Benz has a driving feel that's just superb.

After circling the warehouse twice, Xu Yuexin reversed back to the spot and got out of the car.

"Everything's satisfactory, right?"

The Manager got down from the passenger seat and asked.

"The car's fine; I'll transfer the payment this afternoon, and after it clears, you can pick up the car."

"Alright, once the account is credited I'll let you know; just come back here then."

"Goodbye."

Xu Yuexin waved to the Manager, rode his motorcycle back to Guogongfu.

After arriving home, Xu Yuexin called Lin Qingxia again, asking her to pay the remaining $80,000 balance.

A few days later, the Friendship Store called Xu Yuexin, saying the balance had been received and asking him to come collect the car.

Xu Yuexin rode to the same suburban warehouse, received an $80,000 receipt from the Manager, then walked into the warehouse with him and got into the brand‑new Mercedes‑Benz.

"The registration and licensing at the back are your responsibility."

Through the lowered window, the Manager said to Xu Yuexin in the driver's seat, "If anything requires our cooperation in the meantime, just call."

"Got it, I'll give you a ride."

"Thanks."

The Manager opened the door and sat in the passenger seat.

After bringing the Manager back to the city, Xu Yuexin drove to his father's office to handle the Gua Kao affiliation procedures.

……

By the afternoon, his Mercedes‑Benz had completed all Gua Kao, registration, and licensing procedures, ready to hit the street.

"Comrade, your little car is truly impressive."

As he was about to leave, the staff handling the affiliation couldn't help but exclaim, "It's even better than the cars senior officials ride."

"It's okay, I guess."

Xu Yuexin chuckled, pressed the accelerator, and drove onto the street.

The number of heads turning along the way…

That needs no explanation.

This is just early 1983 in Jing, and a Mercedes‑Benz caused a sensation comparable to a UFO.

From Xicheng District to Dongcheng District, Xu Yuexin's Guogongfu attracted a staggering number of admiring glances.

When he arrived at the house's entrance, Xu Yuexin stopped the car, got out, and made a gesture at the door.

Hmm, the gate is spacious enough to accommodate a Mercedes to drive in.

"Who is it?"

Before he could pull out the key to open the door, a voice from inside announced Chen Qiaoqiao.

"Me."

Xu Yuexin said.

As soon as his words fell, Chen Qiaoqiao opened the gate.

"Where... where did this car come from?"

Seeing the Mercedes, Chen Qiaoqiao said with a surprised expression.

Obviously, this is not a taxi.

More importantly, there was no one else inside the car.

"I bought it."

Xu Yuexin smiled proudly and said.

"You bought it? Where did you buy it?"

Chen Qiaoqiao looked bewildered and said.

"It was imported by the Friendship Store."

Xu Yuexin took his daughter-in-law's hand and said, "Don't just watch, hop in and try it out."

(End of chapter)