Time Smuggling Starting from the Year 2000 - Chapter 88

Chapter 88
They had been staring at the diagrams throughout the day and night . Kent and the others used their bloodshot eyes to study each line on the paper, looking for the slightest hint of a flaw .
The security guards from Fighting Veterans Security Company stood guard at the door . It was a company formed by militants who fought in the first war . Due to the economic downturn, their lives were tough . They tried multiple different jobs, and the most typical was being a security guard . The scope of that job still remained largely the same in the 21st century .
Those strong white men's only task was to ensure that the diagrams weren't copied or taken away by anyone . There were six veterans altogether in the room . Each one of them had a solid chest and formidable biceps .
Just as Edsel and the others were getting busy, Huang Xuan entered the other bedroom . He said, "Call Li Qing in P112 . "
Two to three minutes later, Huang Xuan heard good old Chinese through the speaker . Li Qing's voice sounded frantic as he said, "Hello? Boss?"
"It's me . " Huang Xuan enjoyed being referred to as "Boss" . He smiled and continued, "Where are the professionals my mother sought for me? I need to ask them some questions . "
"They're right here," Li Qing answered quickly . "Director Zhang told me to stay here and await your call . "
As he was speaking, Li Qing passed the telephone to the people beside him . The other party spoke with an accent, but clearly asked, "Hello, are you Huang Xuan? I'm Li Dongsheng . "
"Hello Uncle Lee," Huang Xuan remembered his mother's words . He was to be polite . Hence, he decided to address Li Dongsheng as "Uncle" . He had nothing to lose by doing so anyway .
Li Dongsheng was obviously pleased by this . He laughed and said, "I heard from Director Zhang that you're out doing some observations and that you might have some professional questions to ask . Everyone's been waiting for you . "
Huang Xuan was in no hurry . He went through introductions with each of the six or seven people before he said, "I'm having some issues at the moment, and they are pretty professional . Do you all know how to split the diagram of the Citroen Traction Avant into two parts? I need one part to show the technology used and the specifications, but not to reveal the method of installing the technology .
Li Dongsheng had been relaxed at first . However, upon hearing this never-before-heard-of question, he became stunned for a moment . He covered the receiver and said a few words, then he continued, "Huang Xuan, when do you need the answer? The few of us need to discuss this . "
"By tonight? Thank you all . "
"Alright," Li Dongsheng hung up without saying much else .
It was probably not difficult to split the diagram into two parts . However, to have one part displaying the techniques and specifications without revealing the method was a challenge . It went against the natural requirements of a diagram . Of course, it was not impossible . Each year, countless theories were published . There were few problems that man could not solve . Yet, to expect to solve this problem in a few hours was a challenge — even though they were handling a car model from the '30s .
Despite this, Huang Xuan believed that the experts whom his mother sought were indeed experts . He had no other option . Rolin was definitely not going to be able to handle a job that required that much creativity unless he had information on it . He simply wasn't designed to "think" .
…
The morning brought with it clear, crisp air that covered half of Manhattan . Those who were looking forward to the improvement of the economy only saw the green of the trees . The morning dew settled on the traffic light at a cross junction, and the pedestrians were in as much of a hurry as they were three years ago, worry etched on their faces .
Edsel was troubled . After he had handed the briefcase to Huang Xuan, 20 strong men carefully brought the diagrams of the V8 downstairs .


Out of pure courtesy, GM's representative, Edward, did not leave . He could have tried to catch a glimpse of the diagrams that Ford was purchasing, and Edsel did not attempt to stop him .
When all of the diagrams had been brought downstairs, Edsel expressed sincere gratitude . He shook Huang Xuan's hand firmly and said, "It has been pleasant doing business with you . "
[Of course, it has been,] Huang Xuan thought . The diagrams that he had just purchased were to be the final products . Ford would have spent the next ten years researching and working to produce the designs . As things were, the design of the V8 suited Ford . It cost little and was good for large-scale manufacturing . It also matched the requirements of the assembly line . . . The technology that it made use of also far surpassed the A-type V8 . This was what had bought Edsel over . He didn't know how the car would look like, but he knew that the technology it made use of was ahead of its times .
This alone was worth more than $100,000 .

Huang Xuan eyed Edsel's dark eye circles with a motive . "Actually, do you still have USD$300,000?"
"Hmm?" Edsel and Brown, who had turned to leave, looked back at Huang Xuan . The latter thought that Huang Xuan wanted to go back on his word . He placed his hand on his waist .
The veteran bodyguard, Hans, also anxiously stood in front of Huang Xuan . He had seen that the briefcase contained $100,000 in cash . Huang Xuan promised that when he completed the transaction, they could take USD$5,000 . That amounted to an average person's annual income .
Huang Xuan spread his arms and tried to look friendly . He said, "Don't worry, I'm talking about another deal . "
GM's Edward excitedly joined them . He hid behind Edsel's men as he said, "Mr . Huang, do you have other diagrams?"


"Of course," Huang Xuan answered, sticking his chin out . He continued, "They're beyond imagination," as he spoke, he opened the door to the room he had slept in the night before .
Half of the room was filled with diagrams . They were diagrams of the Citroen Traction Avant, which Rolin had copied the night before .
The front-drive car was a new concept in the '30s . According to the experts, Citroen's Traction Avant was a pure invention . It had a front drive, a no-chassis structure, a torsion bar which achieved single-wheel lock, and a hydraulic brake system . Those technologies were way ahead of their time . Each one of them was worth at least USD$300,000 . More importantly, it was highly challenging to combine all of those technologies into one car .
Huang Xuan believed that on seeing half of these diagrams, the two companies would fight each other to pay $300,000 . This would be so, not because of the endless praises that the experts would give . Instead, it would be because of the time . They were in 1931 . Citroen would only hire the young Lefébure in two years . This genius of an engineer would need 13 months to invent the revolutionary car, which then remained in manufacture for 25 years . In other words, the diagrams Huang Xuan had could bring all of these forward by four years .
The speed of advancement of mechanical technology in the 20th century was as high as the speed of advancement of electronic technology in the 21st century . That is, the speed was high to the heavens . It didn't matter that they were during the Great Depression in America and were faced with the mighty Ford and the merger-obsessed GM . The TA could certainly still take over the world with its top-notch design .
According to Rolin, this was a type of trend . It was inevitable, and it had the potential to significantly affect the buffer zone's energy .
At that moment, however, Edsel was purely astonished at the vast number of diagrams in the room . Out of an inexplicable trust, he stopped Kent and his subordinates . Turning to Huang Xuan, he said, "Can we look at them?"
"Yes," Huang Xuan grinned and nodded . Edward remained undefeated . His words carried double meanings as he spoke, "Mr . Huang, GM is already the world's leading car manufacturer . "
Huang Xuan smiled at him and answered, "You can ask others to come and take a look . I have no problems with that . The same rules apply; anyone can come in to see, but they are not to make copies or to take them away until I send a telegram to you . Understand?" He was looking at Hans as he finished .


"Yes," the veterans answered firmly . Huang Xuan liked their style .
He laughed and turned around . To the confused Edsel and Edward, he said, "You can check those diagrams now . These are only half of the diagrams I have . If you want to get the other half, you'll have to pay me $300,000 this time . I'm going to New York soon, and I can't stay here for long . If you decide to pay, look for me in New York . I'm only going to be there for four days . "
Edsel and Edward were taken aback by Huang Xuan's nonchalant attitude . He wasn't going to stay to entertain them . He retrieved USD$1,000 from his suitcase, paused for a moment, and retrieved an additional $200 . He handed the $1,000 to Hans and said, "This is half of what I owe you . After I’ve sent a telegram to you, I'll hand you the other half . "
"Thank you, Sir . You're indeed a generous person . " They had earned USD$2,000 in 24 hours . In 1931, no less . Hans was clearly shaken .
Huang Xuan patted his arm and handed the $200 to him as well . He said, "This is for another task . I need a few men to come with me to New York . They'll be there for about seven days . I'll pay them USD$2,000 at the end of it . This is just the deposit . "
"No problem, Sir . I'll personally send you there . "
"That'll be best . " Huang Xuan admired how decisive the veterans were . He continued, "Bring a few other veterans with you . Preferably the ones who have families to feed . I don't want anything unpleasant to happen . " Men tended to be less tempted by money when they had families . The chances of them stealing from him were lower, and they were more likely to think twice before they acted . Huang Xuan didn't really need their protection . However, he didn't want to take any chances .
Hans understood what Huang Xuan meant . Although some of his men weren't too happy, they couldn't do much about it . After all, they couldn't ignore the client's requests . He accepted the cash from Huang Xuan and assured him, "Boss, don't you worry . The veteran bodyguards are the best people for this job . "
"That's good . " Huang Xuan patted him on his arm once more, but apologetically this time . Then, he nodded at Edsel and Edward before he turned to leave . The bag he was carrying had nothing much else other than cash, sufficient to buy three or four bungalows . He also had a whole set of identification, which was produced by Rolin the night before .
Hans lowered his voice and gave some instructions before he followed behind Huang Xuan .