Cai Yuanpei is not dead. The reason why he got into a car accident was because of the Ford's Model T's 'half-metaphysical, half-friction' galactic drivetrain. After hearing that his son, who had driven an Audi, was trying to belittle Ford, he thought that it was due to the nature of young people who liked the new and hated the old, so he planned to learn how to drive and thoroughly feel the difference between a tractor and a high-end airship (Cai Wuji's words)'.

Cai Wuji learned Ford first, and now he drives an Audi, in order to let his father agree with his own views, he first let his father learn Audi, and then drive Ford. It was actually a very dangerous process, Ford didn't have a transmission, and the drivetrain was even more weird, and the American L.S. White called it "half-metaphysical, half-friction" in his article "Goodbye, Model T." Under its mysterious control, the stationary Model T always starts suddenly. ’

Cai Yuanpei, who was still a novice, was frightened silly by the sudden roar of the Ford four-cylinder engine, this intense roar was much crazier than the Audi six-cylinder engine, because there was no standard transmission facility, as soon as he left the neutral car, he rushed forward, and when he reacted to step on the brakes, he simply forgot what Cai Wuji taught - the start and brake of the Ford car must use B, C, and R three pedals, not like Audi can be stepped on to the end, so '......boom', the car hit a tree at a speed of more than 60 kilometers, Then he broke through the windshield and flew out of the cab.

Cai Wuji, who was on the side, was suddenly stunned and hurriedly sent him to the Tai Hospital for rescue, and Huang Zhongyu, who learned that her husband had been in a car accident, was so shocked that she hurriedly called Cheng Ying and other good sisters - women are always like this, once something big happens, they always feel that the more people there are, they will rely on it.

When Yang Rui rushed to the hospital. Many people arrived, and Yu Huizu's funeral had just ended. If you go to a revolutionary veteran because of a car accident again, maybe people will be panicked.

"The situation does not seem to be serious. It's just a few broken ribs. Yang Rui, who comforted Huang Zhongyu, didn't know the situation, and Du Yaquan, who arrived early, gave him a brief introduction. He was the closest to the hospital, and he came after answering the phone. "And I'm afraid that the face is going to be broken, so it depends on whether the doctor can stitch it neatly."

"Oh, it's not a big deal." Yang Rui breathed a sigh of relief, and there was an indescribable feeling in his heart. He quickly suppressed this and said, "He is really, why is he so careless." What about Cai Wuji? Why not be optimistic? He said, just looking at the lights in the operating room. The patient and the doctor were inside, and the operation was not over yet, presumably with sutures on the face.

"This can't be blamed on Wuji, the car is already ......," Du Yaquan didn't know how to explain, "This should be regarded as a quality problem." I've already asked people to call the foreign company, this kind of car is so unsafe, I really don't know how many accidents will happen! ”

"Forget it." Yang Rui shook his head, "It's better to make a big thing a small thing and a small thing." We are here to make trouble for the Americans, and they will make trouble for us in the United States. Pay for one's whistle. Don't deliberately report it in the newspaper, it's not good to report too much of this kind of thing. ”

Yang Rui said so, and Xu Huafeng, who came with him, also said: "It's right, the current strategy is peaceful coexistence." Everyone gets rich. It's best not to get into any disputes. This brand has long been rotten, and Shanghai doesn't treat it as a car anymore, and the newspaper counts the number of cars in Shanghai. It doesn't count Ford cars at all. ”

As a few people were talking, the door to the operating room suddenly opened. The doctors and nurses in white coats walked out and hurriedly saluted when they saw Yang Rui in them. The doctor reported: "Prime Minister: Lord Cai is all right, the broken rib has been connected, and the injuries have been stitched. It just needs to be recuperated, and it will be fine in about four or five months. ”

"Hmm......" Yang Rui nodded, "Did you get penicillin?" ”

"Prime Minister: I've beaten it, there is a special Buddhist hall in the Tai Hospital, and the magic medicine can be invited at any time." The doctor replied. Penicillin is just the name of Yang Rui alone, and its official name is miracle medicine. It is stipulated that this medicine is passed down by the Buddha, and must be offered in the Buddha hall to have miraculous effects, and when healing, the patient or the patient's family members need to go to the Buddha Hall to kneel and kowtow to ask for medicine.

The procedure for seeking medicine is extremely cheap and cumbersome, and the reason for this, according to Yang Zengxin, is to prevent heretics from benefiting from this. For example, in Beiting, penicillin is basically open to the supply of immigrants, but the problem is that Beiting is not only entangled by Han people, their children are sick, or they are injured and need to be treated, whether they buy or rob, they can always get their hands on it. Only by saying that this medicine is refined by the internal organs of animals and branded with the mark of paganism, will they not dare to use it if they believe in Allah.

Beiting's handling was transmitted to the Guannei, and Yang Rui immediately ordered the medical department to implement the regulations, so the person who believed in God was immediately dissatisfied, and if he really wanted to go to the Buddha Hall to bow down and kowtow, it would be tantamount to betraying Christ and converting to my Buddha. There are many criticisms in the newspapers, they are not saying that the medicine is expensive, but why should the medicine be asked for this way? Some Westernizers denounced it as superstition, but this made Yang Rui very angry, and it didn't matter if the Bolsheviks said so, because the Westernizers admired Europe and the United States while criticizing superstition, which was basically 50 steps and 100 steps. Yang Rui, who was angry, ordered that no medicine be given to those who believed in God, so that they could shut up.

"It's hard work, you go down." Yang Rui didn't forget the story caused by penicillin dosing at all, and only said softly to the doctor who had been busy for a long time in front of him, and then went to see Cai Yuanpei, who had just finished the operation, with Xu Huafeng. His head at this time was wrapped like a pig's head, and only one eye was exposed, which was very sluggish. It was rare to smile when he saw Yang Rui come in, but the other side of his face was probably swollen, so he froze after laughing for a while.

"You can recuperate in peace." Yang Rui tried his best to hold back his laughter, he really convinced Cai Yuanpei, this thing can happen, his character is indeed too bad. After he said that, he looked at Cai Wuji again, and said very seriously: "What do you think your father has become, fortunately he is in the city, and the important thing is outside, what should I do if I rush to the bottom of the road?!" Don't go to work in the Ministry of Agriculture during this time, and serve your father here with peace of mind! ”

"Yes." Cai Wuji studied agriculture, and after graduating from France, he accompanied Cai Yuanpei to the United States, and he was not a disobedient person, so Yang Rui's criticism was quite mild, and it was over.

"Alright." Looking at Cai Wuji, who was bowing his head, Xu Huafeng played a round field, "Speaking of which, it's still a matter of cars." How can you be weird? Xu Huafeng's words were to the point, and Cai Yuanpei, who was listening, did not say anything. However, after the people who visited left, only Yu Zixun was left around. He only smacked a few times, and the injury on his face was affected by his words, and he had to ask his son to find a pencil.

Yu Zixun thought that Cai Yuanpei had something hidden in the car accident, but knowing that he was driving by himself and the accelerator was out of control and had a car accident, he was completely relieved - many times, he has a deep taboo against Yang Rui, unlike others, the people who come down on the battlefield have a decisiveness and cunning that ordinary people do not have.

The pencil has finally been found. With Yu Zixun's help, Cai Yuanpei wrote: "Continue to investigate the difference in the cost of automobile production between China and the United States. This is the foundation that determines Sino-US relations. ”

Yu Zixun has been seeing some old people in the United States again in the past few days, and he doesn't know what Cai Yuanpei is doing during this time, and now when he sees him writing like this, he can't help asking: "Is it very important?" ”

Cai Yuanpei nodded hurriedly, and his hand did not stop, only writing: "The difference in the production cost of automobiles between China and the United States - the difference in the production cost and quality of industrial products between China and the United States - the Sino-US trade dispute - the war between China and the United States - has to be re-elected because of this." ”

An incomprehensible chain of logic spread out on the paper, and Yu Zixun didn't understand it at once. Cai Yuanpei had no choice but to write again: "The difference in production models between China and the United States has caused differences in the cost and quality of industrial products between the two countries. China is cheap and good; The United States is expensive and poor. The difference in industrial products between China and the United States has led to a trade dispute between the two countries, because what China produces, the United States will go out of business. The economy and trade dictate that there must be a conflict between China and the United States. The car is only one of the representatives, and the inside story can be grasped from the automobile investigation. ”

Yu Zixun understood what Cai Yuanpei was going to say at this time, and he also understood the reason why 'he had to be re-elected', that is, the contradictions between China and the United States made him have to stay on the stage. What has caused the contradiction between China and the United States is the competition between China and the United States for industrial products. Cai Yuanpei was involved in a car accident because of the investigation from the car.

Under Cai Yuanpei's expectant gaze, he nodded and said, "I'll start checking right away." ”

"Tonghua!" Cai Yuanpei finally wrote these two words on the paper and circled them heavily. Before Dalian FAW did not officially produce it. Cars all over the country are produced by Tonghua Diesel Engine Factory.

"I understand!" Yu Zixun said again. After he left the hospital, Cai Yuanpei asked someone to send a thick note in the afternoon. This is what he wrote after a few days of investigating cars. The above is a comparison of the performance of the two models of Audi and Ford, and there is nothing on Audi's side. On the contrary, Ford's side is all 'no' - no shock absorber ......; There is no water pump cooling device......; There is no indication of the oil storage situation of the tank......; There is no hand-cranked window ......; There is no battery ignition system ......; There is no battery lighting system ......; There is no standard shifter......

On closer inspection, there are always more than a dozen places, and each one is very detailed. If Yu Zixun was a car buyer, he would not have bought a Ford car anyway when he saw these comparisons. But these are not important compared to the records on the next page, after seeing the next page with a big word '699' yuan, then the Ford car does not need to look at it - as far as Yu Zixun knows, a Ford Model T car in the United States is priced at least 300 US dollars or more, if it is shipped into China in addition to the freight to pay a certain tariff, in addition to sales commissions, etc., if the Audi sedan is only sold for 699 yuan, then no one will buy a Ford Model T.

And if Ford can't sell it in China, then in the American market, even if you have to pay tariffs, pay freight and commissions, etc., Audi cars can be sold, because the Ford Model T is the cheapest car in the United States, or it is more appropriate to call it a peasant car, except for Ford, which sells for more than 300 dollars, the rest of the cars are all sold for more than 500 dollars.

Of course, Ford is not really two or three hundred dollars cheaper than other cars, he is actually more than three hundred dollars naked cars, when you want to install some accessories, then you have to add money, his real price is only about 15 percent cheaper than other low-end cars, that is, you can save more than 100 dollars - this is a certain time Liu Hongsheng, the general office of the Great China Automobile Office, visited him and talked about the American car market when he unintentionally mentioned.

After synthesizing this information, Yu Zixun began to dignified, if Chinese cars can beat Ford cars in price, then all American cars will not be able to compete with them, but is Audi 699 yuan the price of the whole vehicle or the naked price? With this question, Yu Zixun went straight to the car dealership in the outer city.

"This man, is there anything small that can help?" In the sales hall made of steel beams and glass, Yu Zixun was dazzled by all kinds of cars under the spotlights. He never thought that the capital would have such a modern place. Looking at the rows of various cars, he thought it would be better to find a guy and ask directly.

"Your ......" Yu Zixun didn't know how to start. So after saying two words, he paused, and the salesman in a standard red robe he called was very patient. He smiled and said, "Don't worry, sir, ask slowly if there is anything, the small side is waiting for you." ”

"How many cars are there for sale here?" Yu Zixun looked at the guy with clear eyebrows in front of him and asked, only then did he pay attention to the nameplate on his chest, which read the words 'Liu Jing'an' in block letters, followed by a number and a yellow round plaque, with a few simple strokes on it, outlining a smiling face that felt very funny.

"Back to the master: there are six series of cars in this number, and there are twenty-five car ......," the salesman named Liu Jingan patiently replied. Although the person in front of him is not very well dressed. But his boots were rare and of the highest quality, not cowhide or pigskin, but deerskin, and those who could afford to wear them were either rich or expensive; Besides, under the roots of the imperial city, even if he wears ordinary clothes, it is likely to be a relative or subordinate of that nobleman, and he does not dare to slack off at all.

“…… Here you are looking at the Audi series, this kind of car is made of Tonghua, an old brand. Large households buy the most ......; This is BMW, from Dalian, although it is a new brand, but it is designed by French foreign engineers. It looks modern, and young boys like to ......; This is amazing, the warrior four-wheel drive off-road. At the time of the Great War in Europe. General Lin rode this kind of car to gallop on the battlefield......; Here's a Toyota pickup truck, from Tonghua Factory. It is already the third generation, and it sells best for export to the United States. Last year, more than 105,000 units were sold......"

Liu Jing'an is obviously from Tianjin, I don't know if it sells dog skin plasters before, as soon as this mouth is turned up, then how can it be opened and closed, so half an hour later, Yu Zixun asked: "This sounds, Dalian Automobile Factory has also started to build cars?" ”

"Back to the master: I started selling it last year, but the cars in Dalian are all export cars, with high horsepower and large frames, and the Chinese people are worried that they will not save fuel, so they buy less. This year, their family has a Volkswagen series, four-seater, small fuel consumption, and cheap sales, if you are not very particular, spend 400 yuan to buy a travel must be better than a sedan chair, this car can run 28 miles per liter of oil, and it must save money than a sedan chairman. [Note 123] "After talking for half an hour, Liu Jing'an saw that the master in front of him was afraid that he would not be able to settle down today, and he couldn't help but feel a little discouraged.

"Four hundred?" Yu Zixun's eyes lit up, and he asked: "Is this the price of a naked car, and what else do you need to add if you buy it?" ”

"Master Hui: This is not the price of a naked car, this is a simple price, and there is no shortage of things that should be there. You see, this is a simple car, and there is no shortage of essential things. But if you want to change the leather seats, and add a car radio or something, you'll have to add some money. Liu Jingan replied with a smile, "Our domestic cars are completely different from imported foreign cars, not to mention the one-year and 10,000-kilometer mileage warranty, and they will never be cheated, and those foreign cars that seem to save money but can't save a word......

"Jing'an ......" An old voice came from the other side, hearing this voice, Liu Jing'an's unstoppable chatterbox finally stopped, and when he saw the person who spoke coming, he hurriedly confessed and ran away like a rabbit.

"This lord is invited, the guys can't speak, please forgive me." It was a middle-aged man in his forties who looked like a housekeeper, although he tried his best not to let his eyes linger on Yu Zixun's face for more, but Yu Zixun still felt that this person recognized him.

"It's fine." He chuckled, "I'm just looking at it." Then he pointed to the lane in front of him: "This car sells for 400 yuan?" ”

Hua Yuan said that was a few years ago, at that time there were ...... bank bills of foreign dollars, Chinese dollars, and foreigner banks on the market, in short, there was any money, and the shopkeeper who collected money when selling goods must be well-informed and experienced, otherwise it may be a money-making transaction. The person in charge didn't care about Hua Yuan, but he was surprised that Yu Zixun would buy a Volkswagen, and he asked rhetorically: "Master, do you want to use it for yourself or ......?"

"I'll just ask." Yu Zixun said with a smile. "I want to know if our cars are cheaper or if foreigners' cars are cheaper."

"Of course our cars are cheaper." The steward's words blurted out, and he was guilty again, "Master, this Volkswagen is the cheapest car, and the ones bought are all small households, and they are sold for three hundred and ninety-eight, and they sell very well as soon as they come out, but there are fewer seats, and the family can't sit down when they go out." It's good to use it as a commute yourself. Speaking of this, the steward stopped again and suggested, "If the master buys this kind of car." But it's a ...... that hinders identity."

"I'm not here to sell cars today." Yu Zixun had no choice but to state again, "I just want to know how much cheaper our own cars are than imported foreigners' cars." How much does it cost? ”

"Cost?" The steward muttered, since Yu Zixun asked him and had to answer, he said: "Master, the rebate of this car Dalian is 205 to us, minus the freight shipped, the factory distribution price should be about 290 yuan......"

"Two hundred and nine?" The price was reduced by 100 in an instant, and Yu Zixun asked again: "What about the foreign car?" How much does it cost to go ashore? ”

"This ...... The little ones really don't know. "The steward has been selling cars for ten years, but he has never sold foreign cars, and he doesn't know how much the foreigner's rebate is." Why don't you sit down, sir? If you want to know something, the little one will ask you right away. ”

Under the steward's look, it was indeed because there was something to ask, Yu Zixun was welcomed into the VIP room, the scenery here is completely different from the outside, and it has changed back to the appearance of small bridges and flowing water, pavilions and pavilions, but the creek that remains is estimated to be the waterworks to get tap water, and the mountain is also a rockery, as well as bonsai. And the weather alternates between autumn and winter. The heating inside was turned on louder than outside, and Yu Zixun couldn't help but feel a little hot.

After sitting in the VIP room for a while, the steward came with the shopkeeper. At this time, it was no better than the exhibition hall outside, and the two people bowed respectfully to him. Only call the grandfather of the country. Yu Zixun didn't like this set of things, but in order to inquire about the inside of Chinese and foreign cars, he didn't care about this set of things. The two finished their salutes. The shopkeeper with a goatee handed over a document with both hands and said, "Grandpa Yuguo." This is a small purchase price list, and the ex-factory prices of all kinds of cars are on top. ”

The ex-factory price is the key point for Yu Zixun to know. He looked at it hastily, only to see that the lowest rebate for various models was two into five, and some luxury cars with more than 1,000 yuan were the highest three into five. ”

"Returning to China: imported foreign cars were no longer imported three years ago, but the villain specially asked, saying that it was abroad, and the rebate was about 20 to 2 to 5, but the American Fude Model T, the world's largest sales, the rebate was only 1 into 7. [124]" replied the treasurer respectfully. "But this is a rebate in its home country, exported to our country, foreign cars will generally double the shipment, after all, my country's market is too small, foreign companies are a batch even if a batch, many things are not accurate."

"One into seven......" Yu Zixun thought, which means that the ex-factory price of more than 300 US dollars for Ford is at least 250 US dollars, and it is 500 Chinese dollars when converted into Chinese dollars, which is only 200 cheaper than Audi simple accessories. Thinking of this, Yu Zixun was taken aback, he remembered that when the person named Liu Jingan introduced Audi to him just now, he said that the people he bought were all big families, of course, different models have different prices, and 699 is the lowest.

"How can it be so cheap?" Yu Zixun thought of Cai Yuanpei's inference, and had to ask.

"Returning to China: China's labor is only 10% of Western countries at most, and labor is the bulk of the car price, although advertising and depreciation of fixed assets also account for a lot of parts. Artificial cheapness naturally makes the car price cheaper, which is one of them; Moreover, the production of automobiles in China is different from that of other countries, so the cost and quality are better. Therefore, as soon as the cars of the Tonghua Plant were put on the market, all the foreign cars were withdrawn, and now China's cars are only exported but not imported. Although the shopkeeper had attended the manufacturer's training course, he didn't dare to say that the problem was complicated in front of Yu Zixun, and he just stopped there.

"How many cars can my country produce every year?" Yu Zixun could roughly understand what the shopkeeper meant, so he asked about the output again.

"The Dalian factory is said to have an annual output of 200,000 cars of various colors, and a car factory is also running in Shanghai, and the output is unknown; The Shanxi plant mainly produces three-wheeled vehicles, with an output of 100,000 units; Tonghua plant is the most difficult to estimate, because not close to the port, the Ministry of Industry built the automobile factory in Dalian, but the Tonghua plant is an old factory, it seems that it is not very convinced, they have invested in the construction of several production lines, their cars in addition to domestic sales will also be exported, it is really not clear how much output, estimated, will not be less than the Dalian factory. The shopkeeper said.

"That's right." Yu Zixun secretly thought, from a country that can only build tractors to a country with an annual output of 500,000 cars, he is really not used to it, and when he thinks of such a low cost, he wants to Tonghua more and more. (To be continued......)

PS: Note 123: The model and price are from - 1933, Adam, Germany. Opel Motors, a P4 car, costs 1,400 marks ($198.8). Global Car Wars, p123

Note 124: Organization and Management of General Motors, P123