Chapter 29: Plans to Buy a Car

Chapter 29: Thoughts on Buying a Car

"I've been seeing ads for 3G and broadband everywhere lately, and I even got text messages about it. They’re on the bus stop signs, too. Is that stuff actually useful?" Zhang Suxin asked over the phone. She wasn't a tech expert and hadn't lived through the rapid evolution of technology, so she had no concept of what 3G or high-speed broadband would truly mean for her life.

Lu Anzhi explained, "It’s definitely useful. For starters, when you’re at home, downloading songs will no longer be a hassle. You won't even need to download them—you’ll be able to stream music in real-time without any lag."

"Then there’s video. You’ll be able to visit websites to watch movies and catch up on TV shows directly. And speaking of the music copyright website, you might not have to struggle with those constant upload failures anymore. Does that sound useful to you?"

In truth, he wasn't entirely confident about the music copyright site. Those persistent upload errors felt like more than just a slow connection—he suspected the site was running on a potato for a server. However, that didn't stop him from using it as an example for Zhang Suxin. Things within her immediate orbit were always the easiest way to explain concepts to her.

Zhang Suxin was genuinely surprised, her voice tinged with a hint of anticipation. "Is it really that powerful?"

"If the infrastructure is installed correctly, then yes, it’s that powerful," Lu Anzhi said. "And that’s just broadband; I haven't even touched on 3G yet."

"If 3G takes off, browsing websites, reading the news, and chatting on Qiuqiu from your phone should all be seamless."

"How do you know so much about this?" Zhang Suxin asked.

"Well, I write novels," Lu Anzhi replied. "You have to collect material, so you have to know a little bit about everything."

That was, of course, an excuse. But he really did have to research quite a bit for his novel. He had to learn about many details of daily life that didn't fit the era in *The Dragon Clan* so he could rewrite them accordingly.

"Daddy is so smart!"

Xianxian, who had been eavesdropping on the other end, chimed in with a timely compliment.

"Yes, yes, Daddy is smart," Zhang Suxin said, doting on her yet sounding a bit dismissive. She then turned her attention back to Lu Anzhi. "I’ll head over with Xianxian in a bit. I don't really understand this stuff, but I’ll come take a look with you first."

"Alright, I’ll wait for you at the shop," Lu Anzhi said.

He waited patiently until the renovation crew arrived and began their work, preparing the space for the furniture. Lu Anzhi kept an eye on them for a while but realized there was no need to micromanage. The workers were diligent, careful, and thorough.

Of course, that was just his initial impression. Since this was going to be his shop and a place he would spend a lot of time in, he would never fully leave it to others without oversight. Even if he wasn't watching every second, he would definitely come back to inspect their work.

After a while, Zhang Suxin arrived with Xianxian via taxi. Lu Anzhi went to the entrance to help them out, and the thought suddenly crossed his mind: maybe it was time to buy a car.

He didn't need anything fancy or luxurious; he had no real desire for high-end vehicles. His work didn't require him to put on airs with a luxury car. A fuel-efficient, comfortable vehicle would suffice—something to pick up Zhang Suxin and Xianxian, and to take the little one out for drives.

He knew how to drive from his past life and did so often. In this life, his predecessor had worked part-time jobs while in university, saved some money, and gotten a driver's license with his classmates. The prerequisites were met, and he had the funds; all that remained was to go car shopping.

"Daddy!"

"What are you thinking about?"

The voices of Xianxian and Zhang Suxin interrupted his thoughts.

Lu Anzhi snapped back to reality and replied truthfully, "I was just thinking that it’s time we bought a car, so you two don't have to take taxis every day."

"Even if you buy a car, I’d feel bad about troubling you to pick us up all the time," Zhang Suxin said.

Lu Anzhi chuckled. "I’m picking up my daughter, not you. You’re just tagging along."

"Hmph!" Zhang Suxin let out a soft sound, but her face was beaming with a smile; she wasn't actually annoyed.

"Besides," Lu Anzhi continued, "I need one, too. I was traveling and moving around a lot before, so I didn't need to consider it. But now that I’m settled here and opening a shop, I need a car to get around."

"Shouldn't you buy a van or something similar so you can haul stock for the bookstore?" Zhang Suxin suggested.

"No need for that," Lu Anzhi said. "I’ve already made arrangements with the folks over at 'Under the Maple Tree.' Once I get the paperwork finished and the shop open, they’ll coordinate the distribution channels for me. I just need to hire someone to run the shop and provide the capital."

"You don't really act like a businessman, do you?" Zhang Suxin noted.

"I’m just doing this for the leisure of it," Lu Anzhi replied. "Otherwise, why open a bookstore here? It’s not even near a school."

Zhang Suxin didn't say anything more.

"Are Mommy and Daddy done talking?"

Only after their conversation ended did Xianxian finally speak up. The little one had been looking up at them, tilting her head back and forth for quite some time, waiting for her chance to interject.

Lu Anzhi looked down into Xianxian’s innocent, wide eyes and couldn't help but laugh. "We're done."

Xianxian immediately opened her little arms. "Daddy, hold!"

Just as Lu Anzhi reached out to pick her up, Zhang Suxin stopped him. "Xianxian, you just got out of the taxi. Walk for a bit first. When you're tired, then you can let Daddy hold you, okay?"

Xianxian obediently nodded her little head. "Okay."

Zhang Suxin said to Lu Anzhi, "This little girl is heavy. If you start carrying her now, she’ll never want to get down once you’re tired, and then you won’t be able to carry her for long."

Lu Anzhi wanted to say that he was strong enough, but he thought better of it. This was part of Zhang Suxin’s parenting, and it wouldn't be right to interfere. Otherwise, if Xianxian got into the habit of clinging to her mother, Zhang Suxin might not be able to handle it for long.

"You're right," Lu Anzhi agreed. He took one of Xianxian’s small hands. "Let's go. I noticed on my way here that there’s a telecom service center just across the street, one block west. Let’s go there and ask."

Zhang Suxin took Xianxian’s other hand and nodded. "Okay, we'll follow your lead."

Xianxian nodded along in a cute, mimicry fashion. "Okay, follow Daddy!"

Both Lu Anzhi and Zhang Suxin couldn't help but laugh again.

After Lu Anzhi said a quick word to the workers at the shop, he set off with Zhang Suxin and Xianxian toward the telecom center.

The streets were bustling with traffic. The midday sun wasn't too intense, but it cast a lazy, relaxed atmosphere over the city. Since the busy commuters were already settled into their workplaces, the street felt leisurely and calm.

Xianxian was skipping along just as she had before, delighted to be with her parents. She was so caught up in her excitement that when they reached an intersection, she tried to cross without looking at the traffic light, only to be promptly lectured by Zhang Suxin.