Tranxending Vision - Chapter 349

Chapter 349: 349

Xia Lei had manpower, equipment and had no lack of materials and capital - it was much faster to upgrade his lathes now than in the beginning . Other than modifying the lathes, he also had to modify three sniper rifles . Two were China-made sniper rifles - one for Tang Yu-Yan and one for Tang Bo-Chuan . The third sniper rifle was the one Annina had made herself . He was going to make adjustments and modify it so that they could bring it to Moscow for the exhibition, as well as for his own use .  

A fortnight passed in the blink of an eye .  

In the workshop, Xia Lei and Annina worked on a large intelligent lathe, modifying it . They were both excellent machinists, and Xia Lei was a high-level albeit uncertified electrical engineer too . They complemented each other well .  

“We did it in two weeks . ” Annina lifted an arm to wipe at the sweat on her forehead, then used the towel to wipe the sweat away for Xia Lei .  

Plump hips, ample bosom, tall and long-legged; Annina was dressed in blue work clothes but she was still as sexy as ever . The attraction of a blue-collar woman was clearly seen in Annina .  

Her movements were gentle and Xia Lei smiled at her .  

His smile was like bait, and Annina was hooked . She couldn’t help herself as she drew close and captured his lips .  

The workers in the workshop sneaked looks at them, some hiding their smiles behind their hands while some watched with hot, envious eyes . Some others also whispered about them but whatever it was, no one dared to say anything disrespectful to either Xia Lei or Annina . The period of time Xia Lei had spent in the workshop had drawn awe from even the top-level mechanics and electrical engineers hired by the factory, and more so for the normal workers .  

“People are watching . We…” Xia Lei was embarrassed .  

Annina laughed . “You Chinese are so shy . You obviously want it but don’t dare to go for it . ”

Xia Lei just laughed and didn’t discuss the attitudes of Chinese people with her . People with different cultural backgrounds would always have their differences . Westerners were more open and the Chinese more reserved and there were pros for each of these types so there was no need to say which was better .  

Just then, Qin Xiang walked into the workshop . He put his hand on his hip and said, “Whatcha all lookin’ at? Get to work!”

The workers then averted their gazes and went back to work . They were afraid of Qin Xiang and they’d even given him a nickname in private - Tigress .  

Annina and Xia Lei separated too .  

Qin Xiang walked over . “You two, really? There’s a rest area in the workshop . If you don’t like the rest area you can go to my office, y’know? I can cover for you too, so you don’t have to get stared at by this bunch of naughty little rascals . ”

Xia Lei smiled wryly . “Just cut to the chase . I’m not going to respond to that barb . ”

Qin Xiang shrugged . “Sure, I’ll just say it . Tang Yu-Yan’s looking for you . She wanted to come with me but I told her to wait for you in your office . ”

“I’ll go meet her now . ” Xia Lei put down the wrench in his hand and left the workshop .  

Qin Xiang watched him walk off and smiled as he said, “Aren’t you going to see what’s going on, Annina?”

“See what?” asked Annina casually as she turned a screw with a wrench .

“Nothing . I’ll help you . ” Qin Xiang rolled up his sleeves and picked up the wrench which Xia Lei had put down .  

“Sure . Turn every screw 10 . 5 times . No more and no less . Not even half a turn’s error,” said Annina .  

“You Germans are so rigid . ”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing . I bought a new pack of facial masks . Want one?”

Annina said nothing .  

Xia Lei came to the office area and went into his office .  

Tang Yu-Yan stood from the sofa and looked at him, all smiles . She was in a teal cheongsum which accentuated her bodyline . Her elegant, almond-shaped eyes, shapely eyebrows, delicate, ruby-lipped mouth, the faint blush on her cheeks and dimples made her look like a lady of China who had just come from the mists of Jiangnan; she had an indescribable beauty reminiscent of the past .  

“You’re so pretty,” said Xia Lei in admiration .  

Tang Yu-Yan laughed . “I’m not buying that . ”

“Then you’re so ugly,” said Xia Lei .  

“Up yours . ” Tang Yu-Yan rolled her eyes at Xia Lei .  

“Okay no more joking . I know why you’re here and I have them ready . ” Xia Lei walked to the bookcase behind his desk and pulled open the bottommost drawer to take out two identical sniper rifles .  

Tang Yu-Yan narrowed her eyes . She had seen a cooler-looking sniper rifle in that drawer . She went forward and took it out herself without asking Xia Lei for permission .  

“You can’t have that one,” said Xia Lei .  

“Why not?” Tang Yu-Yan raised the sniper rifle and took aim, then removed the magazine . She did not hide her delight .  

“This is a prototype for the factory . I haven’t finished with modifications yet,” said Xia Lei .

“Then give it to me when you’re done,” said Tang Yu-Yan .  

“No can do . I’m going to take it to a light weapons exhibition in Moscow when I’m done . It’ll surprise our international friends . If all goes well, this might even bring us a large volume of orders,” said Xia Lei .  

“You punk, you’re not giving me the good stuff . ” Tang Yu-Yan pulled a face . “And I treated your wound in Afghanistan too . A wound in THAT place!” 

Xia Lei laughed dryly . “Why say it like that?”

The corners of Tang Yu-Yan’s mouth turned up . “Do I still need to explain? That Long Bing showed off the present you gave her to me . She didn’t even go to Afghanistan and she got a present from the White Hun Tribe . I was on the brink on death in Afghanistan with you and I got nuh-thing . ”

“I actually have something prepared for you . ” Xia Lei opened a drawer and took out a paper bag . He put it in Tang Yu-Yan’s hands .  

“You… really got me a present?” Tang Yu-Yan was reserved again with the gift in hand .  

Xia Lei gave a laugh . “Didn’t you say that we were in and out of danger in Afghanistan and that you even sewed up my backside for me? You need a souvenir, right?”

“Up yours . Don’t talk about your ugly ass again . ” She spoke roughly but there was a smile on her face . She opened the paper bag eagerly .  

The paper bag held a classy, exquisite gem . It was linked with red sapphires and made one feel that it was most noble-looking from first glance . This was a burial item placed in the coffin of Princess Yong-Mei, so of course it was no normal item .  

“This…” Tang Yu-Yan was delighted, and so touched she could not speak .  

“Take it . It’s yours,” said Xia Lei .  

Tang Yu-Yan did not put it away obediently but put it around her neck to try it on . She only put it away after a few minutes of fiddling with it . She looked at Xia Lei . “I’ve been to the White Hun Tribe and spent some time there . I didn’t even see a copper basin there so why would those women give you such precious jewellery?”

Xia Lei smiled . “Then where do you think these came from?”

Tang Yu-Yan gave him a wicked smile . “I have no idea . I suppose they came from wherever you said they came from . ”

Their gazes met and they smiled . It was enough to know where the jewellery had come from . Tang Yu-Yan knew how much Xia Lei had done and it was only right for him to have some repayment .  

“I’ve modified the guns for you and your brother . I’ve also tested them . These are about the same as the one I modified for you before . ” Xia Lei changed the topic .  

“Didn’t expect you to be so quick . ” Tang Yu-Yan picked up the unfinished prototype again . She seemed to really like it .  

“This is a military factory after all . Of course it’s quick,” said Xia Lei .

Tang Yu-Yan was finally willing to put the prototype down . “I did not come to get the guns this time . I came to get you to come with me to see Grandfather . ”

Xia Lei wrinkled his brows . “I’m busy upgrading the lathes in the factory to prepare for the production of sniper rifles . Can you come again in ten days?”

“I know you’re busy, that’s why I came to see you now,” said Tang Yu-Yan . “I specially invited Grandfather from Sichuan to Jingdu . See how big of a deal you are? Grandfather arrived in Jingdu last night . You can spare half a day though you’re so busy, right?”

Xia Lei could not postpone it . “All right . I’ll go take a shower and get changed and I’ll go with you . ”

The Tang sect of Sichuan, an ancient clan even more powerful than the Gu clan . Grandfather Tang had already come to Jingdu to meet him, so it would be too imperious of him to delay their meeting with the excuse of being busy .  

Half an hour later, Xia Lei got into the Land Rover which Tang Yu-Yan had driven to the military factory and came to a compound with her . On their way there, she had explained that a lot of the Tang sect held positions in the military . Grandfather Tang was an old veteran who had only participated in the Liberation War but still held a high rank before his retirement; he was an important man .  

The vehicle came to a stop and Xia Lei alighted . He followed Tang Yu-Yan to a small tree-lined path . The path had small one-storey buildings on both sides and the buildings were old but elaborate and done in good taste . The overall environment was quiet and soothing and though it was in the city there was no feel of a city .  

People who could live in places like these were not ordinary people .  

“Does your grandfather really want me as his Last Disciple?” Xia Lei had heard that this was happening but he found it surreal when he was actually here .  

“Grandfather has expressed this thought but whether it comes true or not depends on you . Aren’t you good at pleasing people? Get into his good graces and who knows, it’ll all be confirmed if he’s happy,” said Tang Yu-Yan .  

“I’ll try my best . I want to learn the martial arts of your family . I will accept it too if I fail . ” Xia Lei was relaxed about it .  

Tang Yu-Yan pointed at a building to one side . “That’s my home . My parents and my brother usually live here and I live somewhere else . ”

Xia Lei looked where she pointed and saw the building . He also saw a woman walk over from the other end of the path . He wrinkled his brows when he saw who it was .  

The woman was Gu Ke-Wen .  

Gu Ke-Wen was in a black dress and she carried a black bag . Her figure was seductively mature and her attitude haughty and frosty . She seemed not to have changed at all, but Xia Lei felt like she had a deeper layer to her exterior which he could not put his finger on .  

Gu Ke-Wen saw Xia Lei too . Her gaze held no hate, no enmity, just calm . There was even a smile on her lips for a familiar face; she seemed happy .  

Why was she here? 

Xia Lei was perplexed .