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Another engineer said, “Yes, and he has his own company which does processing and manufacturing too. He can make a lathe like this - won’t he make some for his company in order to increase the output of Thunder Horse Manufacturing?”

Yet another engineer said, ”If he builds machines like this in batches and sells them to other companies, which of us has ownership of the intellectual property rights? Our agreement with him is for property rights, and we can claim that China Industrial Group built this intelligent lathe. Now if Xia Lei’s Thunder Horse Manufacturing manufactures intelligent lathes like these in large volumes, how do we fight this lawsuit?”

The group of engineers buzzed with conversation; testing the machine had become a discussion on rights.

Fighting over intellectual property rights of something that was stolen?

Mu Jian-Feng’s brows wrinkled. “You guys mean we should not let Xia Lei build a lathe like this in the future? And not let his company use it?”

The group of engineers looked at each other in shame. Something like this made them feel ashamed and without honour just discussing it here, let alone negotiating with Xia Lei. it was like hitting the person who dug the well after drinking water from the well and they, the water-drinkers, were here discussing how they could chase the well-digger into the desert. This thick-skinned brazenness was thicker than the city walls.

“Elder Mu, we know this request is excessive and cannot be seen as reasonable but... In our China Industrial Group’s interests, and... Um, we need to have a good talk with Xia Lei,” said an engineer.

Mu Jian-Feng was silent for a bit but he nodded in the end. He was the leader of China Industrial Group and had to consider the interests of the company. He had the same feelings about the matter and a request like this was difficult to make to Xia Lei but when considering the interests of China Industrial Group and other factors beneficial to them, he had to be thick-skinned and negotiate with Xia Lei.

“You guys test the machine some more; I’ll go talk with Xia Lei.” Mu Jian-Feng walked out of Xia Lei’s workshop with that sentence.

Zhou Wei followed. “Boss Mu, I’ll go with you. Xia Lei is an excellent negotiator.”

“No need, just myself is enough,” said Mu Jian-Feng.

He went up to Thunder Horse Manufacturing’s office building alone.

In the office, Xia Lei was half-lying on the sofa, enjoying a massage from Liang Si-Yao. She stood behind the sofa, leaning slightly forward with both hands in fists, gently pummelling his shoulders. This wasn’t a head massage but Xia Lei could feel the interesting sensation of one - that was, if she wasn’t careful, the softest part of her upper body could press on his head.

He did not have a reaction this time because he was just too tired. The often rebellious eye was also well-behaved and kept itself hidden.

“Do you have plans for a holiday after working hard for so long?” Liang Si-Yao moved her hands to Xia Lei’s neck and kneaded gently.

Xia Lei was so comfortable that he didn’t open his eyes. “Holiday plans? No.”

“You should go on one and give yourself some time to relax. Your career is important but you are more important,” said Liang Si-Yao, “Go on holiday. Go anywhere in the world, see the sights, don’t do anything - simply relax. I’ll look after the company for you so you don’t have to worry.”

“Don’t you want to go?” asked Xia Lei.

“Do you want me to go?” Liang Si-Yao added, “Okay then, I’ll go with you and Qin Xiang will watch over the company. He should be fine for 10 to 14 days.”

Xia Lei laughed. “So it’s you who wants a holiday, hm?”

Liang Si-Yao reached out a hand and flicked Xia Lei’s ear, then spoke in a cute, huffy voice, “It’s in your best interests - how did it become me wanting to go on holiday? I’ve been to many places in the years I was abroad. I don’t care so much about a holiday. I’m just worried that you’ll be bored alone so I said I’d accompany you. You’re disregarding my kindness.”

Xia Lei was in a good mood. He could imagine himself on holiday with Liang Si-Yao - slow walks on the beach, being pushed along by waves in the sea, enjoying the view from mountaintops, hotel... His fantasies stopped at the thought of a hotel. He was unwed and so was she; he had no girlfriend and she had no boyfriend. What did it mean if he brought her abroad on holiday for 10 to 14 days?

This seemed to be a signal for him to keep himself in check and the atmosphere in the office became one of uncertainty.

As Xia Lei mulled over his thoughts, Liang Si-Yao gradually moved closer to him. Her bountiful bosom descended like two roly-poly parachuters from the sky onto Xia Lei’s head.

Xia Lei was instantly nervous and the suppressed wild beast in him received a prodding. Thoughts flashed in his head, ‘What is she doing? Is she hinting something? What should I do? Kiss her? Should I kiss her? Will we be lovers if I kiss her?’

People who had never been in a relationship were like this - his way of thinking was sometimes even more childish than a junior high school student with dating experience.

Xia Lei could not see it but behind him, Liang Si-Yao was nervous and red-faced. She was glaring at his head in resentment as she clenched her teeth to keep herself from braining him with a rock. She was already making it so obvious and here he was, sitting on the sofa like a blockhead. Did he have rocks for brains?

In the time of the two young people’s heart-thumping uncertainty and nervousness appeared Mu Jian-Feng in the doorway.

Liang Si-Yao snapped her body straight. Xia Lei shot up from the sofa like a bullet.

“Uh, I’m not disturbing you, am I?” Mu Jian-Feng had a faint laughing expression on his face.

“No, not at all.” Xia Lei was flustered. “Please, have a seat, Elder Mu.”

Liang Si-Yao quickly moved his attention somewhere else. “I’ll make you a cup of tea, Boss Mu.”

“No need for tea. Could I speak to Xia Lei in private, just us two?” said Mu Jian-Feng.

“No problem, take your time.” Liang Si-Yao left the office and closed the door on her way out.

“Xia Lei, I know you trust Miss Liang but I have to do this considering China Industrial Group’s honour, and our interests. Please excuse me if it seems rude,” said Mu Jian-Feng.

Xia Lei smiled. “When did you become so polite with me, Elder Mu?”

Mu Jian-Feng sat on the sofa opposite Xia Lei. “I have to be polite when I have a favour to ask of you.”

Xia Lei paused, then laughed. “Have your people tested the machine, Elder Mu? Were there any problems?”

Mu Jian-Feng also laughed. “No problem at all; it’s perfect.”

“That’s good, that’s good... I was worried that there was some slip-up.”

“You’re just keeping a card up your sleeve. You didn’t even stay in the workshop earlier because you knew that there were no problems with your machine and wasn’t afraid to let anyone test it.”

“Heh heh, so does this mean I’ll get the rest of my contracted amount soon?”

Mu Jian-Feng spoke lightly, “Money is no object. I can give it to you whenever you want.”

Tens of millions were peanuts to a great entity like China Industrial Group - there was no pressure.

“Thank you. It’s a pleasure to work with you, Elder Mu,” said Xia Lei. He could tell that Mu Jian-Feng had not yet said what he wanted.

Mu Jian-Feng was silent for a bit before he said, “Xia Lei, there’s something that’s not easy for me to say but this old man here is going to be a little shameless and talk about it with you.”

“Please go ahead, Elder Mu.”

“It’s like this - we bought your intelligent lathe with 88,000,000 and what we want is full intellectual property rights. In other words, we’re patenting it. Only China Industrial Group can build or sell intelligent lathes like this in the future and you can’t. Thunder Horse Manufacturing can’t either. You understand what I mean?” It was difficult to begin to speak about it but Mu Jian-Feng said it all in one go with no stops. It was obvious that he had pondered over what to say to Xia Lei on his way to the office building.

Xia Lei reacted calmly. He was quiet for a few seconds before he said, “Elder Mu, this is not very moral of you.”

Mu Jian-Feng’s face darkened by a shade and he gave two dry laughs. “I know, but we represent our country’s military manufacturing. There may be some immoral things but it is necessary from a long-term perspective.”

“Um... Can I not agree to it?”

“You must.” Mu Jian-Feng spoke evenly but there was an air of great oppression.

Resist? There was no thinking of it. This old man before him could stomp a person like Ning Yuan-Shan flat with just a word, let alone a small company boss like himself. His status as a consultant for Bureau 101 could be used to scare those of Xu Lang or Ren Wen-Qiang’s level but it would be like throwing an egg at a rock if he tried to use it to scare Mu Jian-Feng.

Mu Jian-Feng let out a sigh. “Xia Lei, I hope you understand. This concerns the betterment of the nation and her citizens.”

“Elder Mu, do you know that this type of lathe is currently the most advanced in the world?” said Xia Lei.

“I know. You don’t have to say it.”

“Then do you know how I obtained it?”

Mu Jian-Feng looked at Xia Lei, then shook his head.

“It was stolen from the most advanced country in the industry - Germany. I nearly died there.”

“I am thankful for your contribution to the nation,” said Mu Jian-Feng.

Xia Lei gave a laugh. “You took the drawings and CNC program I brought back but were still unable to build the machine. I built it but now you aren’t going to let me build a second or let my company use it. Things like this won’t be accepted no matter which country you are in, right?”

“I know this is unfair to you but it has to be like this,” said Mu Jian-Feng.

“Fine. I’m not rigidly set in my way of thinking. I know what it means to you guys and I know what it means to the nation. I can agree to it but you have to show your sincerity too.” Xia Lei smiled as he said, “Elder Mu, you won’t just say a line of thanks to solve this issue, will you? You see it too - I have over a hundred people who depend on me to fill their rice-bowls.”

“Name a price.” Mu Jian-Feng was to the point.

Xia Lei thought for a bit. “I’m not greedy. 200,000,000, excluding the amount already owed. Additionally, I will not personally build a lathe like this nor sell it but my company’s manufacturing capabilities have to be upgraded. Give me two intelligent lathes like this in three months, either as a purchase or as a gift.”

Mu Jian-Feng laughed. “Xia Lei, you little punk, you. Sure you’re not being greedy?”

Xia Lei shook his head. “A lathe like this is the most advanced in the world. You cannot buy it with money. If I walk out of here to any manufacturing company, build one and ask for a few tens of millions, they wouldn’t make a peep while paying me. If my company produced this lathe in large batches it’ll be no problem to dominate the Asian market, let alone the European and American markets. Would I make just 200,000,000 then? I would be able to make ten, a hundred times more.”

“This sort of technology is forbidden for public sale in Europe and America - here, too. The circumstances under which you obtained it is unusual so there is even more reason not to flaunt it. In actual fact, we will use it secretly in our military defence manufacturing or in science and technology research. We will not mass-produce or sell to the public.”

Xia Lei shrugged. “I understand the reasoning behind some of that too but my conscience tells me that my request is not in the least excessive.”

“That’s true.” Mu Jian-Feng laughed. “Deal.”

Xia Lei also laughed. “Deal.”

“However, you have to sign a lot of things, including confidential documents and your personal guarantee. If you do sell drawings or CNC programs of lathes like this in the future it will be equal to selling state secrets. The deal is going to be something like this; I’m warning you in advance. Additionally, we will gift you the parts of two lathes and you have to assemble it yourself. However, you have to protect its secrets too and guarantee that you will never reveal it on top of fending off theft by the enemy. Can you do it?”

Xia Lei wrinkled his brow. He wanted to use intelligent lathes to upgrade the manufacturing capabilities of Thunder Horse Manufacturing but it looked like he had grabbed a too-hot sweet potato by the hand. China Industrial Group had its own security systems in place while Thunder Horse Manufacturing had a few security guards. It’d be a miracle if the few personnel he had would be able to protect it from spies sent by enemies with designs on the lathe.

“What I recommend is you give up on having an intelligent lathe like this. We will upgrade Thunder Horse Manufacturing’s standards and manufacturing power,” said Mu Jian-Feng, “We are the strongest leader in the Chinese manufacturing industry. Do you think we’ll have a problem upgrading your little company? Besides, you’re a small civilian company - what do you need an intelligent lathe for? You’re manufacturing shopping trolleys and selfie sticks now. What do you need such high precision for?”

Xia Lei laughed. “Okay, 200,000,000 and you upgrade my company. I won’t even touch lathes like this in the future; it it wholly yours.”

Mu Jian-Feng stood and reached out a hand.

Xia Lei stretched out two hands and held his. “To a happy collaboration.”

A faint smile appeared in the corners of Mu Jian-Feng’s lips. “To a happy collaboration.”

Both of them knew, however, that this was their last time working together.