Chapter 57: The Experienced Driver Takes the Wheel

“Oh, Xiao Zhao, you know how to drive?” Mu Aijun looked genuinely surprised.

Zhao Guoyang replied, “Director Mu, I wouldn’t joke about this. I really can drive. I learned it myself during summer breaks at school, though I haven’t gotten a license yet. Driving a small truck is no problem at all.”

“Is that so? Well, that puts my mind at ease. Getting a license is easy—I have a comrade who’s the head of the vehicle administration office in Ninghai City. Just give me a copy of your ID. When I go to the city for a meeting later, I’ll take care of it for you.”

Zhao Guoyang hadn’t expected such good fortune, and his face broke into a delighted smile. He could drive, but getting a license in these times was quite a hassle.

Seeing Zhao Guoyang’s barely contained joy, Mu Aijun teased, “You’ll get your license soon enough, but the fee’s on you…”

Zhao Guoyang scratched his head. “Of course, that goes without saying.”

Mu Aijun laughed and patted him on the shoulder. “Alright, the truck is parked by the warehouse, keys are inside. Just drive it away yourself. Take it slow, and don’t let anything go wrong.”

Leaving the director’s office, Zhao Guoyang went straight to the warehouse. The factory’s medium-sized Liberation truck was already parked there.

He hurried over to the cab, just about to climb in when Mu Aijun’s driver, Li Xiaoqiang, came down.

“Hello, Section Chief Zhao! The truck’s all set for you, and I filled it up!” Li Xiaoqiang was quick-witted and knew Zhao Guoyang was in good graces with Director Mu, so he put on his best manners.

Zhao Guoyang exchanged a few polite words and, before leaving, insisted on giving Li Xiaoqiang a pack of cigarettes.

His generosity made Li Xiaoqiang think even more highly of this young university graduate—almost enough to call him brother.

With the truck sorted, the rest was easy. Zhao Guoyang arranged for a few members of the technical department to help load the truck frame onto the cargo bed and secure it with ropes.

Once finished, he called out to Hua Guosheng, Xu Dongfeng, and Zhang Chaoyang to come with him to Xiangyang Machinery Factory.

Hua Guosheng’s expression remained calm when his name was called, but Xu Dongfeng and Zhang Chaoyang couldn’t hide their excitement.

In the early nineties, a business trip was a real treat.

No matter how far or close, visiting another factory guaranteed at least one meal. Sometimes, if the host was generous, you might even get a pack of cigarettes—truly a fine assignment.

Compared to procurement and sales, those in the technical department rarely got to go on business trips, so every opportunity was eagerly seized.

Zhao Guoyang was well aware of all this. Noticing Chang Yuan’s disappointment, he patted him on the shoulder and explained that the small truck could only fit so many people.

With everything ready, Zhao Guoyang climbed into the driver’s seat, and the others followed. The little truck started up and slowly rolled out of the factory gate, watched by everyone.

It was the first time since his rebirth that Zhao Guoyang was behind the wheel, and the sensation was strangely exhilarating.

The old manual transmission truck required some muscle to shift gears—truly physical work. Yet Zhao Guoyang was thoroughly enjoying himself, not feeling tired in the least.

As he relished the pleasure of driving, Zhao Guoyang mused to himself, “With less than nine years to the turn of the new century, the domestic auto industry will soon see explosive growth.”

“America, France, Japan, and especially Germany will all carve up the domestic sedan market. Though I have technical knowledge thirty years ahead of its time, competing with these automotive giants won’t be a matter of days or months.”

“In the medium and heavy truck sector, however, perhaps I and the Republic might have a chance to stand toe-to-toe. If the opportunity arises, it’s worth considering…”

This wasn’t idle speculation. In his previous life, Zhao Guoyang’s achievements in heavy industry were recognized worldwide.

At that time, the country’s top heavy vehicle manufacturer, Southwind Group, had hired him to lead a major project, which resulted in a best-selling flagship model globally.

Given a favorable environment and the right supporting technology, Zhao Guoyang was confident he could design a truck ahead of its era.

Still, he knew such things couldn’t be rushed—it was a step-by-step process.

Besides, at this stage, Southwind Group wasn’t yet a household name, and heavy trucks hadn’t gained popularity. Most domestic freight still relied on railcars.

Under these circumstances, Zhao Guoyang decided it was best to prepare quietly and wait for the right moment.

Along the way, as Zhao Guoyang pondered his thoughts, Hua Guosheng, sitting in the front passenger seat, chatted with Xu Dongfeng and Zhang Chaoyang in the back.

Hua Guosheng was a competent mentor; under his guidance, Xu Dongfeng’s skills had improved rapidly. If not for Xu Dongfeng’s laziness, his progress would be even greater.

Their discussion revolved around technical details of the step-frame motorcycle chassis. Zhao Guoyang listened in and nodded to himself.

He could tell Hua Guosheng had a thorough grasp of the blueprints. Perhaps not a great designer, but certainly an excellent implementer.

The road from Ninghai City to Jianghai County was rough, full of potholes. The truck bounced so much that everyone’s back and waist ached, and Xu Dongfeng couldn’t help but grumble.

“Guoyang, are we there yet? How much farther?” Xu Dongfeng craned his neck.

“Come on, Xu, it’s not like you haven’t been to Jianghai County before,” Zhang Chaoyang chuckled.

“Of course I know Jianghai County—I just don’t know exactly where this Xiangyang Machinery Factory is!” Xu Dongfeng pouted.

Zhao Guoyang glanced at Xu Dongfeng’s disgruntled face in the rearview mirror and laughed, “Hang in there, Dongfeng. Another ten minutes and we’ll be there.”

“Oh, that’s great!” Hearing they were almost there, Xu Dongfeng perked up. He glanced at Hua Guosheng and suddenly asked,

“Master, Xiangyang Machinery Factory isn’t very big, is it? It’s probably smaller than ours, right?”

Hua Guosheng nodded, “Yes, it’s a private enterprise; not large in scale…”

“Honestly, our Hongda Machinery Factory is going backwards. Even a small factory like theirs can afford a laser welding machine. Meanwhile, we’re still using regular welding machines. To weld a new product, we have to borrow equipment from a tiny factory. It’s embarrassing!”