Chapter 61: Driving Lesson 2
Jiang Dashi rushed forward to practice, imitating his master's instructions. He inserted the crank into the front of the car and turned it clockwise, thinking it would be a piece of cake. He grasped the handle with one hand and tried to turn it downwards, but it wouldn't turn. Jiang Dashi felt pressure on the crank. He placed his other hand on the handle, pressing down with both hands, and finally it turned. This was just one turn; starting the car would require continuous turning until it started.
After Jiang Dashi turned around a few times, his hands felt numb.
Only then did Zhang Weiye step forward and point out his mistake, "Your grip is incorrect. Your fingers must all face upwards, otherwise you'll easily get hurt. When you turn, press down first, and when you reach the bottom, lift up."
Jiang Dashi followed the master's instructions and turned the handle. It was indeed a little harder than before, but it still required a lot of strength. Without strength, it was impossible to turn it at all. No wonder the master said that one must have a strong physique to drive.
"Now you know how difficult it is, right? This is just the first step. There are still many difficulties ahead. You need to use your strength to control the steering wheel, otherwise you can't even turn it." Zhang Weiye looked at Jiang Dashi who was panting, patted his shoulder and said jokingly.
Everyone sees the glamour of driving, but only by driving yourself can you understand the hardships involved. In recent years, there's been no shortage of people using connections to learn how to drive. Many are deterred by the first step, and some don't persist even after the end. If driving were that easy, it would have become ubiquitous long ago, and it wouldn't be so popular.
"That's enough. You take a rest first. Let He Chuan try." Zhang Weiye pointed at He Chuan and motioned him to try. In fact, he still looked up to He Chuan very much. He had a strong physique and looked like he was not lacking in strength. He also looked like a hard-working person. He was a down-to-earth person who didn't talk much.
As Master He Chuan instructed Jiang Dashi, he observed and memorized the key. He Chuan was quite clever and quickly figured out the key. Following his master's instructions, he successfully turned the handle, seemingly with more ease than Jiang Dashi. He Chuan kept turning, but unfortunately, his hands were sore and he still couldn't start the truck.
Zhang Weiye looked at He Chuan and nodded, then said, "You're quite good. You've mastered the techniques. You just lack experience and timing. This car can't just start by turning it. The frequency and force of the turning are very important. You need to practice it over and over again and experience it yourself. Only then can you find the feeling."
He Chuan thought for a moment, then lowered his head and said, "Then how long does it normally take to crank the handle before it starts?"
"Normally it takes about 15 minutes. If it's cold, it may take half an hour or even an hour," said Zhang Weiye, grinning with his yellow teeth.
"What? It takes so long?" Jiang Dashi shouted with his mouth open.
"So, you guys should just practice honestly." Zhang Weiye took out the pastries that He Chuan had given him yesterday and sat beside him, eating leisurely while supervising them.
He Chuan and Jiang Dashi took turns turning the crank, each one taking over when they got tired. They practiced like this for a whole day. By the end, their backs and hands ached, and they both sat down on the ground, unwilling to move again. This work was no easier than farm work. Even He Chuan's farm work wasn't this hard. But for the sake of a better life in the future, he had to grit his teeth and persevere.
During the whole day of practice today, only He Chuan successfully started the car once, while Jiang Dashi did not succeed at all.
"That's enough, everyone, go and rest. We'll continue practicing this tomorrow." Zhang Weiye had been carefully observing He Chuan and the others, and was currently satisfied with their performance. He Chuan, on the other hand, was a quiet, silent practitioner, never complaining about the hard work. Jiang Dashi, like a monkey, chattered non-stop, but his men didn't slack off even once. Although neither of them had practiced yet, they both had a tenacious determination to achieve their goal.
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He Chuan did not go to work, but went to the county town to learn how to drive. Within two days, the news spread throughout the village.
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