Traveling back to 1977

Chapter 452 Assembly Complete
January 9th, Monday, the first day of the twelfth lunar month of the Ding Si year.

Yunhu First Passenger Transport Company Driving School, Training Ground.

Chen Fan drove a large Jiefang truck like a seasoned veteran, navigating the examination hall with the most standard routes.

Xia Yuping sat in the passenger seat, clapping her hands with her eyes shining, "Wow, you've really never driven before?"

Chen Fan didn't turn his head and said with a smile, "How could that be? I practiced at the machine factory a few days ago. They have small cars and big cars. I even learned mechanics there. I'm just going through the motions today."

Xia Yuping's admiring gaze remained unchanged. "That's amazing! I heard it takes at least three months to learn to drive a car, and even two years to learn to drive a large bus. And you learned to drive all types of vehicles in just a few days! You didn't even notice their expressions just now, they looked like they'd seen a ghost! It's hilarious, hehehehe..."

Chen Fan then turned to look at her and said helplessly, "I'm a ghost, right?"

Xia Yuping's face stiffened, and she quickly said, "That's not what I meant."

Chen Fan chuckled and said, "I know, I was just kidding."

Xia Yuping glanced at him secretly and breathed a sigh of relief when she found that he didn't seem angry.

Chen Fan drove through the checkpoint, feeling quite helpless.

Director Yang arranged for him to learn to drive at the First Passenger Transport Company Driving School, saying that it was the earliest and best driving school in Yunhu, and that the experienced instructors were all top-notch, guaranteeing that he would learn quickly.

Chen Fan thought to himself that he already knew everything, so he was just going through the motions to get his license. It wouldn't matter which driving school he went to, so he didn't refuse.

As soon as they arrived, they saw Xia Yuping smiling like a flower.

Only then did he realize that it seemed her family had connections throughout the entire Yunhu highway passenger transport system. Could this be considered walking into a trap?
If only I had gone to the bus company's driving school, at least there would have been a distance between us, and she wouldn't have received the news so quickly.

Then, if you just act quickly, you can get your certificate in a day, and you'll have perfectly avoided the problem!

Now, all we can do is put up with it.

Several other cooked food shops in Luwan rent space from others to make money, and besides, Xia Yuping has always been good to him, so what else can he do?
After driving around in a big circle, then going out onto the road for a while, and finally driving back, the exam was over.

The experienced drivers standing nearby were dumbfounded when they saw Chen Fan jump out of the car.

"Pass them all in one go!"

"Not only that, he's even better at auto repair than me. He fixed that GAZ that had been broken down for six months."

"When I first saw Director Xia's child come over, I thought it was someone with connections. The machinery factory had put in a good word for them, and Director Xia's daughter was personally protecting them. I was afraid someone from our area would cause trouble. With skills like this, why would they need to make any connections? They could just come and get the marriage certificate, wouldn't that be enough?"

"Stop talking nonsense and let's discuss what kind of certificate to issue him."

The driver's license of today is different from the ABCs of later generations. It is just a small red booklet containing basic information and a table of the types of vehicles you are allowed to drive.

The stamp is placed on the vehicle model section corresponding to the driver's license requirements.

(Driving license category)
Generally, trainees start by learning to drive small cars, and those in production teams even start with tractors, before gradually taking exams and adding other types of vehicles to their licenses.

But judging from Chen Fan's performance today, he passed all the car models on his first try. The key is that he also had the director's daughter personally escorting him, so it's not easy to block him.

Some people don't even take the exam, yet they still get certified. At least they passed the exam and got all the excellent grades.

In addition to the vehicle type, the driver is also divided into three levels.

The first level is the normal "driver", then the slightly lower level is "learner driver", and the last level is "driving student".

According to regulations, after learning to drive and passing the test, you will receive a "driving student" certificate. You must then learn from an experienced driver for a period of time before becoming a "probationary driver," where you can drive with an experienced driver. Only then can you finally obtain a "driver's" license.

As I said before, the director's daughter is there, and besides, Chen Fan's skills are better than many veteran drivers.

After a few experienced drivers discussed it, they picked up their brand-new, valid driver's licenses, closed their eyes, and stamped them with ten seals.

Yes, to avoid trouble, Chen Fan even passed the tests for tractors and buses!
Although I don't know what the point of taking the exam is, Xia Yuping has already come, so how can I waste such a good opportunity?
Otherwise, why would the master craftsman be so stunned?

When Chen Fan drove his big Jiefang truck back, he walked up to the experienced drivers and finally got his hard-earned driver's license!
(Driver's license information)
There are no private driver's licenses now; all driver's licenses must list the employer. Chen Fan filled in Yunhu Machinery Factory.

He understood this very well; he would only use the benefits given by whoever provided them, and he would never let the health department use the benefits given by the machinery factory.

Unless the health department approves another motorcycle for him.

But now that cars are available, motorcycles are no longer of much use, which is a pity for the health department.

Chen Fan happily put his driver's license into his pocket. At this moment, the experienced driver opposite him said, "Driver's licenses must be reviewed every year. Although with your skills, it's just a formality, you still need to be there in person. Otherwise, it won't be good if your license expires and you run into some trouble."

Upon hearing this, Chen Fan nodded repeatedly, "Thank you, Master, I'll remember."

He then took out the Zhonghua cigarettes with filter tips that Factory Director Yang had given him and handed one to each of them.

Although he was a "superior" veteran car mechanic, he didn't smoke cigarettes often, let alone those with filters.

Some of them haven't even seen it yet.

The earliest filter cigarette in my country was Huazi, produced by the Shanghai Tobacco Factory in 59. It was thanks to its imported filter that Huazi was able to surpass the then-leading Pegasus brand and become a top-tier cigarette.

In comparison, the Magnolia with the filter tip that I had previously swiped from the head of the health department was slightly inferior.

Of course, compared to most cigarettes on the market, Magnolia's filter tip is also quite remarkable.

Or rather, these days, things with filters are very rare.

Several veteran craftsmen, having received cigarettes, were reluctant to smoke them, and instead tucked them behind their ears, grinning from ear to ear.

After getting his driver's license, Chen Fan planned to go back.

Xia Yuping stayed close to him, saying, "Xiao Fan, it's already noon, let's eat before going back."

Chen Fan said apologetically, "I have to go back to the machine factory. They're assembling cars today, so I have to go back and oversee it."

Xia Yuping pouted, looking somewhat sullen, and said, "Fine."

She paused for a moment, then looked up again, her face full of smiles. "You're amazing! Not only can you write articles and practice medicine, but you even know about cars."

Chen Fan chuckled dryly twice, "I learned it all from reading books. You can learn it too if you read more books."

Xia Yuping was so frightened that she quickly shook her head and sighed, "I'm really not cut out for studying. Even with the study materials you gave me, I only scored less than 300 points and barely got into a junior college."

She looked up at him again and said, "If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have been able to go to university."

Chen Fan waved his hand, "No, no, I think you and Lin Liwen are both very smart. It's just that you've been away from school for too long and are a bit unfamiliar with studying. Once you get into university and get back into your old ways, you'll be able to improve quickly."

Although she knew Chen Fan was just trying to comfort her, Xia Yuping was still very happy.

With the self-study books on math, physics, and chemistry given to them by Chen Fan, and the study plan he personally helped them create, they barely managed to get into Jiangnan University's associate degree program. This was already an exceptional performance combined with luck. But compared to the students from Lujiawan, whose achievements even alarmed the provincial education commission leaders to come and investigate, there was simply no comparison.

The two had reached the entrance of the driving school. Chen Fan glanced at the Shanghai sedan parked next to him and said to her, "I have to go back to my unit now. I'll visit you at the health department another day."

"Oh."

Xia Yuping pursed her lips, then took out a woolen scarf from her handbag, presented it to him, looked at him with a slightly nervous expression, and smiled, "Xiao Fan, happy birthday."

Chen Fan looked at the scarf, then at her, and felt a terrible headache. He'd rather build another car than receive a gift from a girl.

But in this situation, it wouldn't be good not to accept it.

He could only accept it with both hands, say "thank you," and then smiled and said, "I have a question."

Xia Yuping was overjoyed to see him accept the gift, but then she heard his words and stared at him wide-eyed, "What's the problem?"

Chen Fan held up the scarf in his hand and asked, "Why do girls always give woolen scarves as gifts?"

Xia Yuping's face immediately froze. "Huh?"

He quickly asked, "Has anyone else given you a scarf?"

This was an idea she had thought about for a long time. Who was so brainless as to have the same idea as her?
Chen Fan said casually, "Yeah, several. My apprentices and friends either gave me scarves or hats. My closet is almost overflowing."

Hearing this, Xia Yuping felt a little dejected.

Chen Fan raised the scarf again and shook it, then laughed and said, "But I still want to thank you. I'll come over for dinner in a couple of days."

He waved goodbye to her.

Xia Yuping watched the car drive away, pouting resentfully, "Next year I'll give you woolen pants, let's see who does the same as me!"

……

When Chen Fan returned to the machinery factory, he had just entered the auto repair workshop when he saw a large group of people gathered inside.

Someone with sharp eyes spotted him and immediately exclaimed, "Teacher Chen is back!"

Within ten days or so, the people at the machinery factory also started calling him Teacher Chen.

Firstly, it was because Chen Fan, the "health consultant," had officially taken office. He took some time to conduct several training sessions for the doctors at the factory hospital, which convinced all the medical staff. When they heard people from Lujiawan calling him Teacher Chen, they followed suit.

Secondly, in this auto repair shop, almost everyone, from top to bottom, has received his guidance, so they naturally started calling him Teacher Chen.

Chen Fan waved to them and walked over quickly.

By this time, the crowd had already dispersed to both sides, revealing two "brand new" cars.

Chen Fan's eyes lit up immediately. "The car is assembled?"

Master Zhou stood there, hands on his hips, laughing heartily. "It's been half a day. If it's not installed by now, people will laugh at us."

As Chen Fan walked, he asked, "Have you test-driven it yet?"

Factory Director Yang stepped forward, looked at him, and smiled, "Have you gotten your driver's license yet?"

He had originally planned to put in a good word with the driving school and ask the experienced instructors to help Chen Fan get his license as soon as possible.

Unexpectedly, in just over ten days, Chen Fan had already learned all the material needed for his driver's license test at the factory, and he could even handle various car models with ease.

So going to take the certification exam today was just a formality; judging from Chen Fan's appearance, he should have already obtained the certificate.

Without hesitation, Chen Fan pulled out his driver's license, flashed it, and showed eight teeth. "Look here."

Factory Director Yang nodded in satisfaction, then turned to the side and pointed to the brand-new car, "Come on, we're just waiting for you to test drive it."

No one around him showed any dissatisfaction; they all continued to back away, making room for Chen Fan.

Chen Fan didn't hesitate and quickly walked over, first circling the two cars.

One of them is a GAZ-69, which looks almost exactly the same as the original model.

It still has the same truck cab and square cargo box, but in terms of details, it is far superior.

The vehicle's exterior is composed of two colors: green for the metallic parts and beige for the canopy.

Originally, the GAZ-69, like the BJ212, had very poor wind and rain protection. If you drove it out in heavy rain, it would drizzle inside the car.

Therefore, Chen Fan modified the entire carriage. He not only added sealing strips to the joints of the metal panels, but also removed all the original soft-top canopy. He first built a metal carriage, and then covered the outside of the metal with a canopy, so that it would hardly leak wind or rain.

Furthermore, even the car doors have been modified. The original doors were very flimsy, and even the glass was fixed. The current doors are similar to those of later off-road vehicles, not only being thicker but also equipped with window cranks for raising and lowering the windows.

As for the interior, it's completely different from the original car.

If the original GAZ-69 interior is like the base model, then the current one is the luxury model.

The center console is die-cast from a single, thin aluminum sheet, covered with a layer of brown leather, and below that is a single piece of wood veneer panel painted with piano lacquer, which gleams under the light.

The steering wheel is also made of wood, which looks high-end and feels very high-quality.

The seat is a "car single sofa" designed by Chen Fan, which can slide back and forth and has three adjustable backrest positions.

Especially the back row, which is like a three-seater sofa for home use, divided into three seats by three safety straps, with springs and palm fiber filling the bottom, so you won't get tired even after sitting for a long time.

Chen Fan nodded in satisfaction, temporarily ignoring the Volga next to him, and opened the door of the GAZ-69 to get in.

First, feel the seat under your bottom; the elasticity is just right, very comfortable.

He then adjusted the seat, picked up the key from the center console, and inserted it to start the engine.

The original GAZ-69 required a crank to be inserted into the front of the vehicle to start, but Chen Fan disassembled the Volga's engine, repaired it, and installed it on the GAZ vehicle, naturally moving the electronic ignition system over as well.

With the roar of the engine, everyone around quickly continued to retreat.

Chen Fan then steered the car steadily forward.

As the GAZ truck drove out of the workshop, everyone ran after it.

When they arrived at the workshop entrance, they saw Chen Fan driving around in circles, even rolling down the window and giving them a thumbs up. Factory Director Yang was the first to applaud, his face beaming with excitement.

In an instant, thunderous applause and cheers resounded through the sky.

(End of this chapter)