Question: Shen Wei's car

[china_shop]

I'm reading the Guardian novel for the first time (still only a few chapters in), and of course, I'm fascinated by the differences, and by how many aspects transferred over despite the demands of censorship.

I'm sure this has been much discussed before, but one obvious thing is that novel!Shen Wei has a cellphone and a car.

Why do you think they changed the cellphone thing for the drama? Just as an interesting character note? To make him more odd and old-fashioned (so Zhao Yunlan could deliver that line about Shen Wei being "pretty much a living fossil", ep 12: 我之前就觉得沈教授滴酒不沾又和一切的现代设备绝缘 简直就是个活化石)? So that the Black-Cloaked Envoy would have some limitations and need to work with the SID (ie, complementarity)? Some other reason?

And what about the car?

Poll #31944 Drama!Shen Wei's driving skills

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 21

View Respondents

Does drama!Shen Wei own a car?

View Answers

yes
0 (0.0%)

no
10 (47.6%)

he can drive, and he does sometimes
5 (23.8%)

he has a driver's licence but doesn't drive
5 (23.8%)

no car, no licence, no driving
10 (47.6%)

other
0 (0.0%)

I love how the drama adapted the Li Qian storyline, making it resonate thematically with the Ye Zun storyline
7 (33.3%)

wow, novel!Guo Changcheng is even more hapless than his drama counterpart
5 (23.8%)

but Daqing is hilarious :D
5 (23.8%)

ETA: How about a bicycle?

Comments

[autodach]

It’s likely he’s either inexperienced or out of practice if he doesn’t have a car of his own.
Zhao Yunlan also kinda steamrolls him iirc, simply going “you need a driver and it’s gonna be me!”. And who is Shen Wei do object? Making a scene with the SID chief in front of his students is also not in line with his persona.

Good idea about getting his licence in a different identity! I didn't even consider that.

[china_shop]

Zhao Yunlan also kinda steamrolls him iirc, simply going “you need a driver and it’s gonna be me!”. And who is Shen Wei do object? Making a scene with the SID chief in front of his students is also not in line with his persona.

True, Zhao Yunlan is very pushy. Possibly partly because he's trying to regain face after the book con and the gastritis by being all competent and "I'll protect you"? Anyway, it gives us some great scenes, so I'm not complaining! :D :D :D