Hanwu Weapons and China Industrial Group had interfered and not let potential clients or the media get close, but Shentu Tianyin had her own ways to help her husband solve the problem. Her connections and her status made it as easy as pie to fill the Thunder Horse Military Factory booth.
The top stars of entertainment world started to get things heated up for Thunder Horse Military Factory before Xia Lei could greet them. They’d brought their own acoustic instruments and they started showing off their skills, singing and dancing next to the booth.
Celebrities would always draw attention, and the purchasers and customers from other parts of the exhibition came gathering within minutes, crowding up the whole area.
The female employees did not stand idle either. They took the opportunity to give Xia Lei’s name card to the foreign purchasers and to talk about XL2500 and Gust. Every word they said had been carefully constructed by Xia Lei – Thunder Horse Military Factory’s Gust assault rifle was the best in the world, and the American and European manufacturers would have to bow out.
The foreign purchasers were doubtful, of course. And so they came to the booth to see this amazing Gust assault rifle. This visit then became a first-hand interaction with the Gust assault rifle, and an introduction to its capabilities.
All who saw the written description that it 'had a shooting range of 1,000 metres' were greatly surprised!
A shooting range of 1,000 metres? Most of the sniper rifles in the world had a shooting range of just 800 metres! This meant that the Gust assault rifle could be used like a sniper rifle!
“My God… Recoil…” A blonde-haired, blue-eyed foreigner grasped the English brochure in his hand and exclaimed in surprise. “Zero recoil! Impossible!”
This outburst started a buzz.
No one was willing to believe that this was real, because even handguns had a recoil of about two-point-something N, and that was like a few kilograms of force pressing into the hand. But the Gust assault rifle’s recoil was almost zero. In other words, it had a smaller recoil than a handgun!
Those who had an intimate understanding of guns would not believe something like this, but Thunder Horse Military Factory had it clearly printed in back and white on their promotional material that the recoil was almost zero. Add the claim that the shooting range was 1,000 metres, and this would indeed be the king of assault rifles in the arms world. No country and no weapons manufacturer could beat these!
“This is impossible! Definitely impossible!”
“Yeah, how can this be true?”
“Are they exaggerating it or is this a printing error?”
“Who knows? I wouldn’t believe that there’s such an assault rifle in this world, not even if you beat me up.”
“It’s China-made. That’s always been synonymous with inferior quality and low prices. When did they start making assault rifles like this? They don’t have to brag like this, do they?”
“Don’t say that. This is Thunder Horse Military Factory’s assault rifle. Their XL2500 sniper rifle is widely acknowledged to be the best in the world. They can manufacture the world’s best sniper rifle, so why can’t they produce the world’s best assault rifle?”
A buzz of conversation started. Some believed, some were doubtful, and all were talking.
Shentu Tianyin tapped Xia Lei lightly on the shoulder and said with a smile. “Go on, it’s time for you to take the stage. No need to worry about things here, I’ll look after the booth for you.”
Xia Lei smiled. “You’re so resourceful, Wifey. Thank you.”
Shentu Tianyin pursed her lips. “I told you there’s no need to thank me. What are you going to thank me with, then?”
Xia Lei whispered in her ear. “Twins.”
Shentu Tianyin’s jade skin flushed red. She rolled her eyes at Xia Lei but it was a honeyed, gentle roll of deep love.
Xia Lei walked into the exhibition zone and Shentu Tianyin motioned for the celebrities to stop their activities. However, fans had gathered and were mobbing the celebrities for autographs.
The area had been cold and empty before but it was now full of people, and the other area was empty.
While Xia Lei talked about the capabilities of the Gust assault rifle, Shentu Tianyin greeted the purchasers and directed the employees. Husband and wife worked perfectly together and it was a wonderful thing to see.
Some people were happy, but some others were jealous.
Mu Jianfeng and Ye Kun were these jealous people. Thunder Horse Military Factory’s booth didn’t have anyone there before, much less any of the media, but even the national television station’s reporters were running to the booth to record a segment. Hanwu Weapons and China Industrial’s booths were getting emptier.
“This punk. He really knows how to make people hate him.” Mu Jianfeng’s face darkened.
“Humph!” Ye Kun sneered. “I have to hand it to him for his adaptability though. Xia Lei and Shentu Tianyin are not easy to deal with, but how long more is this couple going to be able to smile? They may smile now, but I’m going to make them so sad they can’t even cry!”
“You’re going to make your move?” asked Mu Jianfeng.
Ye Kun nodded. “Thunder Horse Military Factory has become popular now. The reporters are all there, so it’s the best time to make my move.” He shot a look at Ye Xiaoqi.
Ye Xiaoqi picked up a walkie-talkie and said, “You guys get ready. Come over in five minutes, after Chairman Ye and I go over.”
“Roger. We’re ready.” A man’s voice came from over the walkie-talkie.
Ye Kun and Mu Jianfeng looked at each other and smiled, and the two of them walked towards the Thunder Horse Military Factory booth.
“Move! Get out of the way!” A group of Hanwu Weapons employees pushed people out of the way roughly to open up a path for Ye Kun, Mu Jianfeng and Ye Xiaoqi.
Some people were unhappy at being shoved aside but they did not dare speak up against the group of aggressive Hanwu Weapons employees.
Ye Kun and Mu Jianfeng had smiles on their faces. They were calm and composed as they walked through the pathway which had been made for them, and they came to the Thunder Horse Military Factory booth.
“Enough noise! Quiet down!” said Ye Xiaoqi loudly. “Thunder Horse Military Factory is suspected of infringing on rights. Hanwu Weapons’ Chairman Ye has something he wants to say!”
What was this situation?
It quieted down around them right away. People were talking too, but they were doing it in whispers.
Xia Lei didn’t seem to have heard Ye Xiaoqi. He continued talking in English to a potential client from Argentina with the Gust assault rifle in his hands. “If you don’t believe in the capabilities of the Gust assault rifle, I can take you to the firing range to test it out. I can say ten thousand words about it, but it won’t be as convincing as you testing it out yourself once.”
The purchaser from Argentina was hesitant. The description of this assault rifle seemed quite exaggerated after all. All the specifications and capabilities listed were beyond what he understood and would expect about rifles, and he could not easily believe in it.
Xia Lei laughed. “Mr Lucas, you only have this once chance. If you lack the courage to try now, you’ll miss out on an opportunity to make Argentina stronger.”
The Argentinian named Lucas finally nodded. “All right, I’ll test out your Gust assault rifle. If what you say is true, then it truly is a miracle.”
“Yes, let’s go this way.” Xia Lei picked up a box of ammunition and brought Mr Lucas to the prepared testing range.
Ye Xiaoqi suddenly blocked their way and said arrogantly, “Xia Lei, didn’t you hear what I said earlier?”
“What did you say earlier?” said Xia Lei flatly.
“Are you still acting dumb? I said that you, Thunder Horse Military Factory, your assault rifle is a copy of our Hanwu Weapons’ Shenwu assault rifle!” Spittle flew from Ye Xiaoqi’s mouth. “Our Chairman Ye is here. You’d better give him an explanation!”
Xia Lei glanced at Ye Kun, and Mu Jianfeng behind him, and said evenly, “Must I give an explanation to all the cats and dogs who come here?”
“You…” Ye Xiaoqi had not expected Xia Lei to talk back like this. Her show of power had not worked and she was angered by Xia Lei’s attitude.
“What a savage!” Ye Kun smiled in anger. He clapped lightly, and said, “Xia Lei, you stole our company’s patented technology and manufactured this so-called Gust assault rifle. You stole it, but you’re being so arrogant about it and even dare to speak to me this way. Do you really think I can’t cure you of that?”
Xia Lei just looked at Ye Kun. He said nothing.
Ye Kun suddenly slapped the wooden crate in front of him and pointed a finger at Xia Lei. “Xia Lei! You’re finished this time! You stole our company’s patented designs. I’m going to make sure you go bankrupt. Prepare to spend the rest of your life in prison!”
Xia Lei still looked at Ye Kun, silent.
It wasn’t just Xia Lei, his wife, Shentu Tianyin, was looking expressionlessly at Ye Kun and staying silent too.
Whispers started around them, about why Thunder Horse Military Factory copying Hanwu Weapons’ patented technology. Some people believed it, some didn’t.
“You have nothing to say, Xia Lei?” Ye Kun was looking down at him from his high horse. In his eyes, Xia Lei was not standing in the Thunder Horse Military Factory booth, but in the courtroom as the accused, and what awaited Xia Lei was a severe punishment.
A faint smile appeared in the corners of Xia Lei’s mouth. “Are you done talking? Then get out. I’m not going to waste any words on you. You say I’ve copied your patented design? Just saying it is not enough. Where is your evidence of this?”
“Evidence? What’s in your hands is evidence.” Mu Jianfeng finally said something.
A group of people drew close. Some of them were holding cameras and some were holding printed patents, and there were people who looked like bodyguards blocking the way too, to stop Xia Lei from running away.
This setup – they were not going to give Xia Lei any chances. Once they proved that Xia Lei had infringed on the rights of Hanwu Weapons, Ye Kun and Mu Jianfeng were going to make sure Xia Lei went down!
“What nonsense are you spouting? How can we, Thunder Horse Military Factory, have stolen your patented technology?” Qin Xiang spoke up.
“That’s right. Our Director Xia is an upright man. He is not that type of man you say he is!” A female employee stepped bravely forward despite Ye Kun and the group of fierce thugs behind him.
“You guys wait quietly. You won’t be of help with this. Just let me handle it,” said Xia Lei.
“How are you going to handle it?” A middle-aged man in a suit put the patent in his hand on a wooden crate and said coldly, “The Gust assault rifle Thunder Horse Military Factory made is exactly the same as our Hanwu Weapons’ Shenwu assault rifle. We are the ones with the patent. How are you going to settle this?”
The venue was in uproar.