Super Zoo

Although she asked, she didn't wait for Suming and his friend to respond and instead started to introduce the closest compact sedan, "You've come at just the right time. This Vios 1.3 manual edition is currently on a special promotion, exempt from purchase tax, and the on-the-road price is just over 70,000. It has a fuel consumption under 6 liters per 100 kilometers, making it a very cost-effective choice in many aspects."

As a salesperson, 'reading people' is an important skill, and the sales associate, with her wealth of experience, had recommended the car she felt was most suitable for Suming and Wang Hao the instant she laid eyes on them.

Youthful buyers generally don't have strong purchasing power, and they don't know too much about cars, focusing mainly on fuel efficiency and looks. They want something fuel-efficient and stylish, and this Vios meets both of these criteria, enjoying consistently good sales.

"We are interested in looking at SUVs," Suming said.

"Oh, right this way, please!" Although the sales associate was somewhat surprised, her smile remained unchanged, and she turned to lead Suming and Wang Hao in a different direction.

"The Rav4 is a well-established SUV, this is the new model for 2015, the price range is from 180,000 to 270,000. Among its peers, it has ample space and a very fashionable appearance," the sales associate explained.

"This car is in the same category as my Escape. I've test-driven it, and indeed, it has plenty of space but average power," Wang Hao added from the side.

Suming thought the Rav4 looked quite attractive; its front gave off an imposing yet somewhat adorable impression.

Most Toyota models have appealing designs, with smooth flowing lines and beautiful shapes, but as Wang Hao mentioned, like the Escape, the Rav4 is more of an urban SUV, a "grocery getter," not worth considering.

"Shall we take a look at the others?" Suming asked.

The sales associate smiled but didn't immediately take them to see other models. Instead, she hinted, "Well, anything above that will be quite expensive and not in the same range as the Rav4."

"Let's take a look and then decide," Suming suggested.

"Then you might consider the Prado and the Land Cruiser," she said.

This time, the sales associate didn't provide much of an introduction, simply leading Suming and his friend to the demo vehicles and standing nearby with a smile, saying nothing.

Suming took a close look at the specifications and even climbed inside to experience it for himself.

The imported Land Cruiser was indeed a fine vehicle, a full-time four-wheel drive made for off-roading, with a 4.6L engine producing over 300 horsepower, and weighing two and a half tons. It was like a small mountain parked there, intimidating in size with a surprisingly spacious interior and, notably, quite comfortable.

To be honest, Suming was somewhat tempted, but there was a problem: the price was too high. The base model alone was going for eight hundred thousand, and that was without any add-ons or booking and waiting for delivery.

"What about the Prado? What do you think? This series ranges from 370,000 to 700,000 for the base vehicle. If you include purchase tax, insurance, and the like, the drive-away price is roughly 10% more than the list price. Compared to the Land Cruiser, the Prado looks a bit smaller, but it's also much more spacious than most other SUVs and almost matches the Land Cruiser in performance. I would say the value for money is quite good, and it has quite a presence on the road."

Seeing Suming seriously considering the Land Cruiser led to a subtle change in the sales associate's demeanor. When she introduced the Prado, she was noticeably more detailed and enthusiastic than when she introduced the Land Cruiser earlier.

The Prado's English name is 'PRADO', but people in Huaxia commonly refer to it as 'Domineering', and the vehicle lives up to its name with a very assertive appearance. It's the kind of tough vehicle that Wang Hao mentioned earlier—often seen in Huaxia's police and military fleets and even modified with machine guns by the Middle Eastern tycoons.

"How's the fuel consumption?" Suming asked.

"I can tell you are quite interested, so I'll be frank. In the city, take the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's official data and multiply it by 1.3. However, it has a low consumption on the highway. With good driving habits, it's about eleven liters per hundred kilometers," she replied.

"What do you think?" Suming asked Wang Hao, who gave a thumbs-up and said, "The car is beyond reproach; it's indeed a good one with decent off-road capabilities."

The female salesperson was very experienced and could tell from their expressions that they liked the car and also had the financial capability. Seizing the moment, she said, "If you can make a decision today, by paying a fifty thousand yuan car collection procedure fee, you can sign the car contract."

Suming was startled and looked towards Wang Hao. Isn't it usually a deposit? What on earth is a car collection procedure fee?

"Hey, some cars sell so well that not only do they not get discounted, but they also require an additional car collection procedure fee to get the car. You can choose not to pay extra, but then you'll have to wait. You might not get the car for several months. It's the same with Volkswagen's Tiguan. For a car costing over two hundred thousand, you have to pay an additional ten to twenty thousand in collection fees," Wang Hao explained with apparent expertise.

Suming frowned slightly, somewhat displeased. What was this? Buyer's extortion?

Seeing Suming hesitate, the female salesperson advised, "I think since you've taken a liking to it and you have a connection with this car, spending forty or fifty thousand more after already considering spending hundreds of thousands doesn't make much of a difference. What do you say?"

"Do I have to pay extra?" Suming asked.

The saleswoman nodded apologetically and then said, "Let me go and ask the manager if it's possible to pay less. However, the collection fee is definitely required; it's an industry rule..."

Upon hearing this, Suming waved his hand dismissively, "Forget it, let's look some more."

It wasn't like this was the only good car dealership around. Although his money came easy, almost as if blown in by a strong wind, he had no intention of being fleeced. Since he was a child, he hated being coerced. Just because he liked this car, they demanded a higher price for collection; was there any difference from extortion?

"Wait, let me discuss with the manager and try to minimize the collection fee..." The saleswoman, seeing a big sale about to slip away, hurriedly chased after them in her high heels.

By the time she reached the doorway, Suming and Wang Hao had already entered another 4S shop.

"There goes the deal." The saleswoman sighed dejectedly, feeling quite down.

...

Suming and Wang Hao continued to browse through several 4S shops.

At GAC Toyota, they checked out the Highlander — a good family car, but wanting in off-road capabilities and requiring an additional collection fee; the Buick Enclave was powerful, but Suming didn't like its design, and the cheaper Land Rovers seemed to be more for show than practicality; as for Mercedes and BMW, they were definitely top-notch cars. One could get one for four or five hundred thousand, but Suming felt he wasn't quite at that level yet.

Wang Hao, tired from following around, said, "Man, having money is its own trouble, not knowing how to spend it!"

"That's because it's still not enough money. If I had a few hundred million, I'd just buy whatever I liked, and that'd be simple!" Suming joked.

"I don't even dream of a few hundred million; if I can make ten million in my lifetime, I'd consider it a life well-lived," Wang Hao said.

Legitimately earning ten million is no small feat for anyone, but for Suming who had never taken ten million all that seriously, if he didn't earn it in his lifetime with his animal friends' abilities, he might as well be dead.

As they talked, they arrived at the east end of the luxury car plaza, in front of a modest-looking 4S shop.

The shop was quiet, without a single customer. There was only a young male salesperson sitting to one side with his leg casually propped up, smoking away, completely nonchalant. Seeing customers coming in, he didn't bother to get up to greet them and simply shouted from afar, "Feel free to look around..."

Suming was here to buy a car, not to make friends with salespeople, so their enthusiasm, or lack of it, didn't matter. He headed straight for the display area.

His eyes lit up when he saw the Jeep Wrangler on display.

"Damn, how did I forget? When it comes to off-roading, of course, it's got to be Jeep!"