As soon as he got in, the interior quickly caught Wang Yuhui's attention.
"The exterior isn't the only thing they did well. The interior has plenty going for it, too!"
"It doesn't have the gear lever you'd find in a regular manual car. It uses a rotary gear selector instead."
"Most of the interior is made of hard plastic, but the design is still pretty good."
"And these seats are almost unfairly nice. They feel great!"
While Wang Yuhui looked around with curiosity,
Grandpa Chen had already closed the tailgate, climbed into the driver's seat, and fastened his seat belt.
"Kid, buckle up. We're ready to go!"
"Sure, sure." At the old man's reminder, Wang Yuhui quickly fastened his seat belt.
Once they were ready to set off, Grandpa Chen turned the key, then reached over and smoothly twisted the gear selector.
The car shifted into drive. He released the handbrake and gently pressed the accelerator.
The Jiuzhou Mini merged smoothly into traffic.
The electric motor hummed as the car slipped through the traffic around the train station with remarkable agility.
And this was only a ride as a passenger, yet it was surprisingly good!
It was no worse than a car that cost tens of thousands of yuan!
Wang Yuhui was stunned again. It was much better than he'd expected.
At this point in time, although a small number of domestic automakers had begun to focus on quality, most were still stuck in their old ways of making cars.
They wanted to make quick money by copying and imitating other manufacturers.
Times had been different. Before 2005, as long as a car got made, looked good, and cost much less than a joint-venture car, it could sell reasonably well for a while—provided its sales strategy wasn't a complete mess.
That was unlike the period after 2008. Joint ventures kept multiplying, and the internet gradually became part of everyday life. People could easily go online and discuss car quality with drivers from all over the country.
The quality of many cars left a lot to be desired. That was one reason domestic cars had become synonymous with poor quality in the minds of many older people.
Some brands had since released models whose quality they strictly controlled, but the damage they had once done to the market had left a lasting mark.
And yet this thing was technically a car, but couldn't be registered and had neither an engine nor a transmission—and it was surprisingly well made!
It was enough to astonish him.
As they drove, Wang Yuhui carefully took in the feel of the car on the road and how its suspension filtered out bumps.
Beside him, seeing that his passenger had nothing to say, Grandpa Chen—who was starting to feel restless—struck up a conversation.
"You heading home for the New Year, young man?"
"Yeah, yeah..." If he wasn't going home for the New Year, was he going on vacation?!
"Where do you work?" Grandpa Chen asked again as the car slowed to a stop at a red light.
"Down on the coast. Can't be helped. There's no money to be made back home, so I have to work somewhere more prosperous."
After answering casually, Wang Yuhui asked curiously,
"By the way, Grandpa, what kind of car is this? I've never seen one before. It looks pretty good."
At the mention of the car, Grandpa Chen's voice grew louder with pride. "This? It's called the Jiuzhou Mini!"
"It's made by our local automaker, Jiuzhou Automobile Company. Looks great, doesn't it?"
Wang Yuhui nodded in agreement. "It sure does. It looks great!"
The passenger's compliment lifted the old man's spirits even more.
"Haha, I'll tell you, it doesn't just look good. It's a pleasure to drive—light and nimble!"
"I've driven all kinds of cars: tractors, big trucks, you name it. Back then, those cars didn't have synchronized transmissions, so you had to double-clutch."
"With this car, there's no clutch at all, and you don't have to shift gears. It's much easier to drive than those old things!"
Once Grandpa Chen started talking about his car, he just couldn't stop.
He sounded just like a young car enthusiast, speaking with authority about the model's strengths and weaknesses.
"This car has another advantage: you can drive it without a license!
"It's great for old guys like us who've passed the age limit for driving but are still in decent shape, and for people who can't get a license because they didn't get much schooling."
"Oh, and some owners are only in their thirties. They buy one as a runabout, too."
"It really is a good-looking car. It looks about as nice as those cars that cost tens of thousands of yuan."
"It's electric, so you don't need gasoline. Just charge it up at home at night, and it'll be fully charged when you need it the next day!"
The light turned green, and the car rolled forward. Grandpa Chen drove the Jiuzhou Mini along with the flow of traffic, continuing to chat with his young passenger about it.
"Having this car has changed my life. Before, if I wanted to go fishing or hiking, I had to take my motorcycle or ride in someone else's car.
"But how convenient was that? A motorcycle was fine when I was younger, but now I can't stand the cold wind in winter. With the Jiuzhou Mini, it's different.
"When I go fishing, I can bring all my gear. No matter how much I catch, I don't have to worry about where to put it.
"And I can go hiking more often, too. I can find other people who enjoy it and visit the well-known mountains around the city.
"There are so many times in daily life when you need a car. The Jiuzhou Mini has expanded the area I can get around."
Grandpa Chen couldn't stop praising his car. To him, everything about it seemed to be an advantage.
Meanwhile, Wang Yuhui carefully committed all this information to memory.
It was easy to drive and didn't require a license, making life much more convenient for older people. And since it ran on electricity, there was no need to buy gas, which cut the cost of owning it considerably.
The Jiuzhou Mini had already made a huge impression on middle-aged and elderly people in the city.
"Um, Grandpa, could I give it a try later?"
"I'm pretty interested in this car, too. Don't worry, I have a license and drive often. It's just that I work so far from home that driving back and forth isn't practical, so I took the bus."
"Want to try driving it?" Grandpa Chen hesitated.
Seeing the old man's uncertainty, Wang Yuhui gritted his teeth. "How about this? I'll pay extra. Another twenty yuan, and you can let me drive it up ahead where there's less traffic!"
Money could solve a lot of problems.
Grandpa Chen didn't hesitate anymore. "All right, but let's get one thing straight. If you don't seem comfortable behind the wheel, you'll only get a short try. And if anything happens, you'll be responsible."
"No problem. It's a deal!" Wang Yuhui replied firmly.
After driving about another kilometer, they reached a road on the outskirts with relatively little traffic.
The Jiuzhou Mini pulled over. Grandpa Chen took out the key, then climbed out of the driver's seat.
They switched places. Wang Yuhui took the key Grandpa Chen handed him and turned it. The dashboard lit up, displaying the battery level and current speed.
"Put it in gear first. Turn the dial to drive, then release the handbrake. Be sure to press the accelerator gently," Grandpa Chen instructed.
After checking the gear selector, Wang Yuhui turned it, released the handbrake, and lightly pressed the accelerator. The car moved smoothly down the road.
He signaled before turning and checked the rearview mirror before changing lanes.
Seeing Wang Yuhui drive onto the road with such ease, Grandpa Chen finally stopped offering advice.
As soon as the car got moving, Wang Yuhui was surprised all over again.
It really drove well—better, even, than the microcar made by his own employer, Shuanghuan Automobile: the Shuanghuan Little Noble!
The accelerator responded instantly and smoothly, and the brakes were sharp, too.
"This car's really good. It doesn't feel any worse to drive than my Qiyun. It's even lighter, and it's an automatic!"
Grandpa Chen replied proudly, "Of course. These days, you have to wait half a month to get one after ordering. That many people wanting one tells you all you need to know!"
"Other than not being able to go very fast, it's got no problems!"
Along the way, Wang Yuhui and Grandpa Chen talked at length about the Jiuzhou Mini.
He learned when the model had been launched, as well as its specifications, price, and other details.
By the time they reached his hometown, Wang Yuhui had even taken a picture of himself with the Jiuzhou Mini using his Nokia N79.
Under the influence of the protagonist—the butterfly—some domestic brands were about to change direction. Instead of competing with joint ventures, they might as well make Old Man Happy cars!
The battle was on, and the new-energy era was dawning.
Before you continue