Chapter 7

Although he indeed had a driver's license in China, because China is not a member of the International Road Traffic Agreement, the international driver's license is not valid in the United States. Therefore, Qi Ping really needed a driver's license now.

In the United States, a driver's license is also used as a form of identification, which can be used for many things, such as boarding a plane or checking into a hotel. This means that with a driver's license, you don't need to carry other forms of identification, such as a passport. The license has your photo, name, license number, and so on. It is one of the most widely used documents, and it also includes a social security number, which is almost as powerful as a passport.

Getting a driver's license in the United States involves two steps: a learner's permit and a full driver's license. First, you need to obtain a learner's permit by passing a written test and recognizing road signs. With a learner's permit, you can take the road test.

The written test is not a problem. Although he had a driver's license but no car in China, he still knew some traffic rules. As for driving, a little coaching to familiarize himself with the process would be enough. Now, he just needed to wait for the road test.

According to U.S. law, a person with a learner's permit must have a person with a full driver's license sitting next to them when driving on the road. During the road test, the person sitting next to you is an employee from the DMV. They mainly check your ability to drive, park, turn, and follow traffic rules. After passing the road test, you receive your full driver's license on the spot.

Qi Ping was doing quite well, partly because money makes things easier. His speed in getting a driver's license was definitely much faster, being a millionaire and not hesitating to speed up the process. In fact, not long after arriving in the United States and getting his green card, he had already started the process of getting a driver's license. Now, Qi Ping could indulge a bit and buy his first car.

A sports car was too flashy. Not only because it might be more expensive, but mainly because it wasn't very practical. Clearly, the dirt road to the Fairyland Forest was not easy to navigate, and his house was at the foot of the mountain, so he needed a vehicle with better power and off-road capabilities, such as a pickup truck or an SUV.

Americans love pickup trucks because they are practical and stylish. Pickup trucks combine the comfort of a car with strong power. American-style pickup trucks are luxurious and sturdy, with complete configurations, primarily for passenger use, and all the accessories found in a car. Therefore, in terms of safety and comfort, they are on par with cars.

There is also a bit of hearsay that pickup trucks can be declared for work use, which can save a lot of taxes. Pickup trucks can also be modified, with exaggerated paint jobs, larger off-road tires, and the ability to go on road trips while listening to rock music, which is indeed a pleasure. This seems to cater to Americans' love for outdoor activities.

Qi Ping felt he needed a pickup truck, which would be more convenient. The forest was just starting to be developed, and he couldn't spend money recklessly. Having a pickup truck would make it easier to bring things in and out.

He found a Ford dealer in San Diego and went for the Ford F-150. This is a classic model, the best-selling car, and has been the top-selling vehicle in the United States for many years, consistently winning the title of the best car in America. This model is also known as the Raptor.

"Big obstacles are just small obstacles." This is the Raptor, with its prominent personality, strong off-road capabilities, and good stability for long off-road drives.

Describing the Ford F-150 as fierce and massive is very appropriate. The Ford F-150 is long, wide, and tall, with a nearly six-meter body, a wheelbase of over 3.5 meters, a body width of over 2 meters, and a height of nearly 2 meters.

This is a perfect representation of American wildness and ruggedness. A pickup truck symbolizes hard work. Clearly, such a large vehicle is very suitable for work.

The Ford F-150 also hasn't lost touch with technology, featuring a vehicle computer, a large central display screen, and a full range of technological configurations. The seats are custom-made and have higher shock absorption capabilities for off-road driving. The cabin is spacious, and in addition to the basic configurations, Qi Ping also chose options like a sound system, a rearview camera, and a stainless steel extendable trailer hitch. Clearly, this is the top-of-the-line model.

He had always heard that cars in China were expensive, mainly due to high tariffs, which almost doubled the price. Now, the top-of-the-line model was priced at just over $50,000, while in China, even a basic model would cost around 500,000 RMB. This is a difference of about 200,000 RMB, and Qi Ping felt he had made a good deal.

He took the Ford F-150 for a test drive with the salesperson. The 6.2L engine was powerful enough; it could handle not just small hills but even deserts. Qi Ping really liked this car, so he wrote a check without hesitation.

Finally, he was part of the car-owning class. In China, he had always looked at cars with longing, finding them desirable but unaffordable. Now, driving this powerful pickup truck, Qi Ping felt a great sense of achievement. Although pickup trucks were not popular in China, they were quite popular in the United States.

On the way, he saw many pickup trucks, of various types. It seemed that pickup trucks were still the favorite of Americans, which was nice.

"I'll come over in a few days. Can I bring a few friends? I've been thinking about visiting you, and my colleagues are all envious and jealous, wanting to see the charm of the leisure forest." Luo Yi lowered his voice, seemingly at work but not focused.

"No problem. I'm just getting started, but everything will be ready in a few days. When you come, we'll see. I have four rooms, and I can let out three. If you want to bring people, plan the numbers, and I'll take care of it." Qi Ping joked. Luo Yi wasn't unwilling to come; he just couldn't take care of everything now, so he was waiting until Qi Ping was settled.

They chatted a bit, and Luo Yi had to go back to work. As for Qi Ping, he still needed to continue his big shopping spree. Having a pickup truck wasn't enough; he went to look for a four-wheeled motorcycle, also known as an ATV.

This type of vehicle is simple and practical, with good off-road capabilities. It has wide tires that increase contact with the ground, providing greater friction and reducing the pressure on the ground, making it easy to drive on beaches, riverbeds, forest trails, streams, and harsh desert terrains.

ATVs come in various types, including recreational all-terrain vehicles, farm vehicles, snowmobiles, and military all-terrain vehicles.

Qi Ping felt that low-displacement recreational ATVs, commonly seen on beaches and grasslands, and farm vehicles with good off-road capabilities and high load capacity, used for farm and orchard work, were suitable for him.

After some thought, he decided that since he had a pickup truck for work, his ATV would be more for fun in the forest. So, he decided on a sporty ATV, a big toy for himself.

The brand with the best performance in ATVs is Arctic Cat, which designs, manufactures, and sells ATVs, snowmobiles, and related parts, clothing, and accessories. The Wildcat 1000 is an excellent ATV, and Qi Ping was very interested.

Generally, ATVs don't have a roof, so they can't be compared to cars. However, the roll cage on this vehicle proves its strength and safety, and the long double A-arm front suspension design makes it more stable and better at handling difficult terrain.

However, this vehicle is not cheap. Even though it looks a bit like a toy car, it costs over $30,000, and this is just the standard sport model. Although Qi Ping was a bit taken aback, he felt this vehicle was necessary, not just for fun but because it was suitable for the forest.

So, without hesitation, he wrote another check. Qi Ping had now spent about $100,000 on the car, and with the furniture and other expenses from the past few days, he had spent another $100,000. In a blink, $200,000 was gone, and Qi Ping had only about $1,000,000 left, which made him more cautious.

$1,000,000 seems like a lot, and it is a significant amount in the United States. However, Qi Ping had many expenses, so he needed to spend wisely to avoid pressure.

But there was no other way. Qi Ping wasn't spending recklessly; these were necessary expenses, and he knew his limits. He wouldn't act like a nouveau riche just because he had suddenly become wealthy. Although he might seem a bit like a nouveau riche, he felt he was quite low-key.