Chapter 565: 565
The flight arranged by the Germans departed at 10 in the morning and arrived in Germany after 10 hours . Due to the time difference, it was only three in the afternoon when they arrived .
The plane landed at Essen City Airport . Xia Lei and his group left the airport and arrived at Annina's home in the suburbs under the supervision of a group of German Special Forces soldiers . According to the plan of the Germans, Xia Lei and his group actually needed to go to a military base . However, Xia Lei had put forth a request to let Annina visit her home and the Germans allowed it, just for a night .
The snow-covered mountain forest, frozen river, and wooden German-style house nestled between forest and river sent Xia Lei down memory lane . He felt like he had entered an oil painting . The picturesque tranquility he experienced here was difficult to have in China .
“This is my home . ” Annina introduced the house to Tang Yuyan and Long Bing and said warmly, “Please come in . I’ll get some food for you guys . ”
"Is the food in your fridge still edible?" asked Tang Yuyan .
Annina had been in China for over a year . Even if there was food in her fridge, it was probably no longer edible now .
"No worries, I have my ways," said Annina with a smile .
“Then let me help you . ” Tang Yuyan followed Annina to her house .
Long Bing and Xia Lei followed behind them . Long Bing said quietly, “She’s been so quiet this entire trip that it’s weird . ”
Xia Lei laughed . “Did you want her to cause trouble? It’s good that she’s been quiet . I don’t want anything troublesome to happen . ”
Long Bing curled her lips . She obviously wouldn’t believe that Tang Yuyan would become a well-behaved girl .
“Director Xia,” A young man pulling a suitcase caught up to Xia Lei and Long Bing . “Do you have some time to talk?”
This young man was tall with long legs, and he was nicely built and proportioned . He wore black-framed glasses and was handsome, scholarly . Although he stood next to Xia Lei, he was still not one who was easily overlooked .
This young man’s name was Liu Zhengnan, a very talented man who was just recruited from the talent market into the Thunder Horse Group . He had studied in Germany’s Munich University, and obtained a doctorate degree in electrical engineering . He could speak German, was familiar with the German environment and had a doctorate in electrical engineering, making him a perfect choice for this mission . This was why Xia Lei had brought him along from China . Additionally, Xia Lei also had another aim, and that was to observe him to see if he could be trained to be his assistant .
There was actually a story behind Liu Zhengnan joining the Thunder Horse Group too . China Industrial Group had also had their eyes on him and offered him a high salary, but he chose the smaller Thunder Horse Group in the end . During his interview, he said that Xia Lei was the country’s best mechanic and electrical engineer, and was his idol, and he, Liu Zhengnan, was willing to join the Thunder Horse Group and contribute his youth to China’s first private military enterprise .
“You can enter first . I’ll have a little chat with Zhengnan,” said Xia Lei to Long Bing .
Long Bing nodded and entered Annina's house .
Xia Lei smiled and said, “Zhengnan, what did you want to talk to me about?”
“Director Xia . ” Liu Zhengnan pushed up his spectacles and said politely, “I know this place . It’s quite a volatile area . Essen City is an industrial city that started developing after the Second World War, but it isn’t Germany’s industrial centre . It would be very difficult to ship the parts we need from China if we build our workshop and lathe here . It would also extend our stay in Germany, which also increases our risk . ”
Liu Zhengnan did not know of Xia Lei's identity as a consultant at Bureau 101, nor about Tang Yuyan’s and Long Bing's identities, but he was a very clever person . China sent people to Germany to build workshops for the XL2500 sniper rifle, the Gust assault rifle, and the super composite intelligent lathe, which could be considered the core of Thunder Horse Military Factory . He could infer a little of their identities with this information, and this was why he was worried for Xia Lei .
"I know that you're worried, but rest assured — we're only stopping here for one night . We won't build the workshop here . I'm sure Germany doesn't want such an important workshop to be built here either . Oh right, I was just thinking of asking you something . "
"What do you want to ask me?"
"You've been in Germany for years, so you have had many schoolmates, don’t you? Do you have any classmate or friend who's in the architectural field?"
"Do you want my classmates to help us in the building of the workshop?"
"No no, the Germans will provide the civil work for the workshop . You know Annina . She contributed a lot to help me build my business . She has a dream and she wants a medieval-styled castle, and a farm or something . " Xia Lei smiled . "You know how every girl dreams of being a princess . I want to help her realise her dream, and build her a medieval-styled castle . If any of your friends and classmates can do this, please contact them . "
Liu Zhengnan thought for a bit and said, "No problem, Director Xia . I have a classmate at Munich University who majored in architectural design . He is very talented and is especially good at designing classical style houses . But he is still starting his own business now . I don't know if his capabilities will meet your requirements . "
Xia Lei replied, "It's fine as long as he has talent . I can pay for the materials and the workforce if he doesn't have money . "
"Then there's no problem . I'll call him right now . He’ll be overjoyed, for sure . " Liu Zhengnan was very happy . He took out his phone to make the call .
Xia Lei walked toward Annina's house . Several of the German Special Forces soldiers around the house looked at him, and their gazes varied . Some were cold, some uncertain, and some full of respect . Xia Lei had no need to worry about what the CIA or the FA Organization would do to him under their protection . This was Germany, and he was on German territory . Anyone who disrupted the Germans’ interests would not get away scott-free .
Xia Lei saw Tang Yuyan and Long Bing when he entered . Tang Yuyan was sitting on the sofa meditating . She said she would help Annina, but that's she had only said it to be polite . Long Bing also lay on the sofa, snoring . Jet lag was not comfortable, and even a strong woman would need time to adjust to the time difference .
But this jet-lagged feeling was not very apparent for Xia Lei .
Xia Lei entered the kitchen and saw Annina using some pre-mixed bread flour to make bread . She was also preparing a huge ham, and it was being defrosted .
"Is this ham still edible?" Xia Lei asked . "You've been gone for a year, I'm afraid it has already expired . "
Annina then noticed that Xia Lei had entered the kitchen, and she seemed happy . "It won't have expired . The climate here is different from China's . Hams here can last two to three years . A ham which is a little more than a year old is the most delicious . "
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