Up on the screen, Ye Kun talked in private with Mu Jianfeng. The drawings which had been stolen from Thunder Horse Military Factory sat on the tea table between them.
Ye Kun suddenly laughed out loud. “That punk Xia Lei might be up against us but I’ve got to hand it to him. This punk’s a mechanics genius. Just based on these drawings alone, what he has is way more advnaced than all the assault rifles Hanwu Weapons has designed.”
“Ye Kun, there’s no need to get the experts to verify it. This gun can be manufactured,” said Mu Jianfeng. “This is the new assault rifle our two companies have come up with after collaborative research. You pick a name for it.”
Ye Kun stared blankly at Mu Jianfeng, speechless.
Mu Jianfeng laughed. “You’re not willing to do it, Ye Kun?”
“Teacher, no, this…”
“Our companies bribes one industrial spy each in Thunder Horse Military Factory. Your spy succeeded, but mine didn’t. How about this – Hanwu Weapons take 60% and China Industrial takes 40%.”
Ye Kun hesitated, and finally nodded. “We’ll do that then. Because you are my benefactor.”
“Hahaha, I’ve always favoured you. Helping raise you through the ranks was not for nothing, since you’re thinking of me now,” said Mu Jianfeng with a laugh.
“Teacher, since this is a collaboration I’ll name this assault rifle ‘Shenwu’, taking one character from each of our company’s names,” said Ye Kun.
“Shenwu, Shenwu… This is a good name. Let’s use it.” Mu Jianfeng was happy. “I’ll call the patent office right away and get the patent. We’ll cut Xia Lei off.”
The video ended there.
Everyone’s eyes went to Mu Jianfeng. No one spoke, but they looked at him like he was a vile, disgusting rat.
All smiles had vanished from Mu Jianfeng’s face. He was ashen, and his forehead dotted with cold sweat.
He would have some way of saving himself if Xia Lei had submitted all these evidence to court to let the court decide on the punishment. He could make these pieces of evidence not see the light of day again, or ‘mysteriously disappear’. However, Xia Lei had broadcast it all on the big screen for an audience to see, including reporters. Whatever method he used was not going to be enough to stop these people from spreading it!
Mu Jianfeng was regretting it now. Regretting his greed for the political capital to be gained from the Shenwu assault rifle, regretting lusting for the monetary benefits. If he’d known, he wouldn’t have gone to Ye Kun and insisted on having a share of 40% of it. He could have shaken this off and let Ye Kun take responsibility for it all, but Xia Lei had disclosed this evidence and there was no running away now!
Xia Lei smiled. “Don’t you want to say something, Chairman Mu?”
Mu Jianfeng then snapped back to his senses and he looked frostily at Xia Lei. “Good, Xia Lei. Well done. You won. You won’t keep winning though. Just you wait.”
Mu Jianfeng turned and walked off.
Ye Kun paused, then chased after Mu Jianfeng and left too.
Xia Lei did not stop the two of them from leaving because there was no point. He did not have the right to arrest them like police officers did, and he did not have the right of a court judge to sentence them. He could only do the best he could, and wait for justice.
“Xia Lei, these things…” Ling Han drew close, about to ask him something, but he changed his words. “Never mind. It’s not difficult for someone of your capabilities to get hold of evidence like that, so I won’t bother asking. Hand the evidence to me. I’ll make sure you get justice.”
Xia Lei nodded and smiled. “Nn, thank you, Brother Ling.”
“What’s with the formalities? Come, let’s take a look at your gun.” Ling Han put a hand on Xia Lei’s shoulder and they talked closely as they walked towards the exhibition hall.
Back in the exhibition hall, a big group was waiting for them, and they came forward to talk to Xia Lei.
“Director Xia, it was my oversight. I did not do my job well.” The person who spoke was big-bellied and looked like a leader of some sort.
There was another man of similar stature next to him, also with an apologetic smile on his face. “I do apologise, Director Xia, I…”
Xia Lei cut him off. “Who are you?”
“Um, I’m the president of the exhibition management association. I am also surnamed Xia – Xia Wentao. We’re family, aren’t we?” said the first man who’d spoken.
“I am this exhibition’s chief. I’m surnamed Ma – Ma Dinggui.” The other man introduced himself too.
“What is your business with me?” said Xia Lei.
“Well.” Xia Wentao looked apologetic. “It’s because I didn’t do my job well. I was negligent and some employees were instructed by Ye Kun to move Thunder Horse Military Factory to this spot.”
Ma Dinggui spoke too. “Whatever the cause, it was our mistake. We would like to make up for this, so we have specially arranged for a new booth for you. We’ve brought staff over to help you move too. Is this all right for you?”
Xia Lei laughed. “I’m fine right here. Why move?”
Ma Dinggui spoke softly, “Director Xia, please…”
Xia Lei scoffed to himself and did not respond. Would these two have turned up to apologise to him and arrange for a new booth for him if he had not ‘defeated’ Ye Kun and Mu Jianfeng? Not at all. Now that Ye Kun and Mu Jianfeng have got in trouble, these two had easily swayed to his side. Why should he make things easy for these type of people?
Xia Wentao came to persuade him too. “Director Xia, we’ve given the biggest booth in the exhibition to you. The booth has all been set up and it’s just waiting for you to move in. Please, on our account, move to the new booth.”
Xia Lei did not agree. He looked flatly at Xia Wentao and Ma Dinggui. These two people disgusted him.
“Ma Dingui and Xia Wentao, yes? Go back and wait to be investigated,” said Ling Han.
Xia Wentao and Ma Dinggui stared blankly, at a loss as to what to do.
A military representative said angrily, “You people are earning a living from the nation and using the nation’s resources, but you used what the nation gave you to do these sort of things for Ye Kun. You have the cheek to ask Mr Xia to help you cover it up now? Thunder Horse Military Factory is our nation’s best military enterprise. The XL2500 is internationally acclaimed, and the Gust assault rifle is a miracle in the assault rifle world. You’re actually putting these two outstanding guns next to the toilets? Have you more guts than brain?”
“We…” Ma Dinggui and Xia Wentao started to say something, then stopped.
“Scram!” yelled the military representative.
They did not dare linger, and both slunk off.
Ling Han looked at Xia Lei. “Do you want to move, Xia Lei? I’ll get someone to make the arrangements if you want to move.”
Xia Lei smiled. “The military leaders already know about my Gust assault rifle, as well as the many purchasers. I don’t think there’s a need to go to that trouble.”
Ling Han leaned in and said quietly, “Bro, there are so many reporters. Having the two best guns in the world next to the toilets, and in a booth looking like a market stall… It’ll be a slap to the higher-ups’ faces if this gets out in the news. I think you should move.”
“Sure, I’ll move right away.” Xia Lei had not thought of that, and he understood as soon as Ling Han mentioned it. It was true – the Gust assault rifle would shake the world, and international media would surely cover it. If Thunder Horse Military Factory stayed in the booth next to the toilets, it wouldn’t just be his dignity hurt but the entire country’s. Something like this could not be allowed.
Thunder Horse Military Factory was moved to the new booth. It was a better space, and larger too. The booth was also made in a very modern style and was beautifully set up.
Xia Lei got busy too. He first talked to the military representative about placing orders, then handled the enquiries of the foreign purchasers. He then had to talk to the media. Shentu Tianyin helped him out through all these, and lightened the load quite a bit.
Xia Lei relaxed a little after he sent Ling Han and the military representatives off. He finally had a little bit of a break.
“Look at you, you’re all sweaty.” Shentu Tianyin drew close and wiped the perspiration from Xia Lei’s brow.
Xia Lei was flooded with warmth. He smiled and said, “You must be tired too, Tianyin. Tell me how I can repay you.”
Shentu Tianyin covered her mouth and laughed. “Nn, then how about a massage in the evening, at home?”
“Okay, I’ll give you a massage when we get home. I’ll massage you in whichever way you want.” Images popped up in Xia Lei’s head – high peaks, deep valleys, a snow-white moon… He could never get enough of her beauty.
As the husband and wife flirted with each other, Ye Kun was shouting angrily at Ye Xiaoqi in a car. “You bitch! Look at what you’ve done! You’ve ruined me!”
“How did I ruin you?” Ye Xiaoqi lashed back. The words shot from her mouth. “I did what you wanted. What I did was on your instruction. Don’t you be fierce with me, or I’ll tell them everything when they investigate!”
“How dare you!”
“Why wouldn’t I dare? It’s already got to this – can I hope for anything from you? I’m telling you now, Mr Ye, that when the investigation team comes I’ll not only spill about this but about all the other things you’ve done!”
Ye Kun’s face fell, and a smile appeared on his face. “Xiaoqi, my baby, I only said that earlier because I lost my temper. Don’t take it to heart. I’ll give you 100,000 later, no, 200,000. Use the money to renovate your place, hm?”
“Humph! That’s more like it. I did things for you and even slept with you but I’m not going to be your scapegoat. Worse comes to worst, I’ll wait for my Katou Takasuke to come back and I’ll leave the country with him,” said Ye Xiaoqi.
“Katou Takasuke…” Ye Kun suddenly remembered a problem. “Oh no, it’s time to ship the goods in two days. Would Katou Takasuke still want our Shenwu assault rifles if he finds out about what happened today?”
Ye Xiaoqi sneered at Ye Kun. “You sure are unlucky.”
“Xiaoqi, my Xiaoqi… Help me to put in a good word when Katou Takasuke comes to collect the goods. Keep it from him. Don’t worry, I’ll give you another 500,000, okay?”
“Sure, I’ll put in a few good words for you. But I want to see the money today.”
“I’ll give it to you when we get back.” Ye Kun had run out of ideas.
Ye Xiaoqi thought, ‘I’m still planning on having a good life with Katou Takasuke. Would I keep it from him? I’ll get the money, then tell Katou the truth in secret. I’ll see how he takes care of you! Where are you, my Katou?'