Super Zoo

Suming's generation grew up watching many World War II, Anti-Japanese War, and Liberation War movies, in which no matter which side's officers appeared on the battlefield, they were definitely riding in a Jeep.

Next to a troop marching through a sandstorm, a military green Jeep would speed by with two soldiers in the back carrying carbines, and the general sitting in the passenger seat wearing sunglasses, slanting a cigar in his mouth—this was simply the most iconic image.

The Jeep Wrangler before his eyes featured straight and strong lines, exuding a powerful, masculine aura.

The original model of the Wrangler was precisely that kind of Jeep often used by American soldiers in World War II. After decades of constant model changes and upgrades, it had significantly larger space, improved maneuverability and adaptability, and its off-road capability only improved. Featuring a ladder-frame construction with solid front and rear axles and non-independent suspension, and locks for the front, center, and rear differentials, it was the unequivocal choice for a hardcore off-roader. Paired with a reliable engine, no matter how harsh the surrounding environment, it could instill confidence in anyone.

"How could I have forgotten about it!" Wang Hao slapped his forehead and said, "Speaking of off-roading, those cars we saw earlier are just toys compared to this fella!"

"The Grand Cherokee is also not bad," the male salesperson finally finished his cigarette and meandered back, butting in to add his recommendation.

Not far from the Wrangler was a Grand Cherokee, which in comparison, was larger and carried a somewhat stronger business-like ambiance.

If the Wrangler was a lone swordsman wandering the world, then the Grand Cherokee was like the head of a large sect. Although both were strong, the Wrangler was more about showcasing individuality, while the Cherokee was more composed and restrained.

In a Xiangjiang movie called 'Blind Detective', the female police officer played by Sammi Cheng drove a Grand Cherokee, which was quite domineering.

"If your requirement for comfort and business suitability is higher than off-roading capability, I personally recommend the Grand Cherokee. Its interior and features are much stronger than the Wrangler's. On the other hand, when it comes to off-road performance, it's the opposite. Hey, you could directly take it mountain climbing with no problem, and the Wrangler is fully mechanical, while the Grand Cherokee is equipped with a lot of electronic gadgets. To put it in off-roaders' terms: mechanical means a guarantee of safety," the male salesperson continued.

"Is electronic really safer than mechanical?" Suming asked Wang Hao.

Wang Hao nodded, "Of course, electronics rely on circuits, which can easily malfunction if they get wet. Mechanical systems are different—unless they rust through. For example, if a car falls into a river, the electronic controls for the door and windows would fail, and the passengers could easily get trapped and suffocate inside. That wouldn't happen with mechanical controls."

"I see," Suming was encountering this information for the first time. Before, he had thought those who drowned were silly, wondering why they didn't just open the doors and windows to escape.

"How about it, want to take it for a test drive?" the male salesperson didn't ask if Suming could afford it but asked directly instead.

"Let's try it!" Suming didn't hesitate and followed the salesperson out of the hall, hopping into a test drive vehicle.

He had learned to drive with a manual transmission, and although it had been a while since he had driven, he still knew how. The Wrangler before him had an automatic transmission, which was even simpler to operate, pretty much like driving a bumper boat or bumper car.

Suming rested his right foot on the accelerator, gently giving it gas. As he started off, he immediately felt a strong sense of pushback.

Only someone with a death wish would floor the accelerator in the city. Moreover, the power of this 3.6L hardcore off-road vehicle was not to be underestimated; most of the time, there was simply no need to press the pedal to the floor.

This vehicle, born purely for off-roading, was indeed a rare sight in the city. The Wrangler took to the test drive route around the 4S dealership, and along the way, it attracted plenty of attention. Continually, drivers passing by would roll down their windows to get a look at the Wrangler.

Whirr… A vigorous engine noise heralded the approach, as an Audi A6 arrogantly sped past the Wrangler.

"Damn it, Su, chase after that mother****er!" Wang Hao was livid.

Suming just chuckled, knowing full well that anger was a driver's worst enemy, especially for a novice. Besides, different cars served different purposes, and the Wrangler wasn't made for drag racing.

"Idiot, just ignore him." The male salesperson flipped the bird through the open roof of the Wrangler, whistled, and said, "If this were off-road, he wouldn't stand a chance at catching even our exhaust!"

Suming looked at the salesperson with unexpected admiration; he had been car shopping all day and all the salespeople he met were well-trained and very polite. This carefree attitude was rare indeed.

The salesperson just grinned: "I'm just a temp here to pass the time."

Suming: "..."

Wang Hao: ...

After a test drive, Suming also gave the Grand Cherokee a try. The comfort of the Grand Cherokee was indeed far superior to the Wrangler. The suspension on the Wrangler was rather stiff, making for a bumpy ride.

"So, what do you think? Are you sure?" Wang Hao pulled Suming aside to discuss.

"The Wrangler!" Suming replied without hesitation. It was like choosing a partner—if the eyes agreed, nothing else mattered.

In the end, they chose a 3.6L four-door version of the Wrangler. There were no discounts or additional fees for the car pick-up procedure; it was all quite standard. Including purchase tax, insurance, and registration fees, the drive-away price was just shy of 600,000 RMB.

The salesman conjured a CD and slipped it into the Wrangler's console like magic.

"This CD, I'm giving it to you personally, it's a perfect match for this car."

Other features of the Wrangler were quite ordinary, but the sound system was exceptional. As the salesman pressed play, a song filled with the raspy texture of bygone eras began to play.

"Old soldiers never die, they just fade away…"

Old soldiers never die; they merely fade away.

"This song is called 'Old Soldiers Never Die,' and it was widely popular among the Allied forces during World War II. Accompanying the Allied warriors through battlefield sweeps was the 'ancestor' of this Wrangler. A war correspondent at the time described Jeeps this way: Without it, I don't think we could've won the war. It could do anything, including carrying twice its designated load, go anywhere—as in chase through the deserts of Africa for tens of thousands of kilometers. It's as loyal as a dog, as strong as a mule, and as agile as a goat."

The salesman's eyes carried depth: "Honestly, I'm quite envious that you can own such a car—a true man's ride."

Before Suming could respond, Wang Hao tugged at Suming's sleeve, leaned in, and whispered in his ear.

"Let's get out of here quick, this guy's got a serious case of chuunibyou."