Chapter 568: 568
Xia Lei was led to the top floor of the office building by Josef, and into an office . He saw the CEO of Rheinmetall AG, a German man with brown hair, in his fifties . He was big and tall, and slightly overweight .
“Mr Mark, this is Xia Lei, from China . ” Josef made the introduction to Mark Armin but he left out the most basic honorific of ‘Mr’ from his speech . It seemed that the sight of Annina polishing Xia Lei’s shoes for him, and her saying that she would even use her bum to wipe the soles of Xia Lei’s shoes clean had really irritated Josef .
Mark Armin raised his head and glanced at Xia Lei, but did not get up . “Please have a seat,” he said disinterestedly . He then continued reading a document he had before him, and did not seem like he was going to talk to Xia Lei anytime soon .
“I shall take my leave now, Mr Mark,” said Josef .
Mark Armin only nodded in response .
Xia Lei smiled wryly, and walked towards the sofa . He glanced at the document Mark Amin was reading as he passed by his desk .
The document was the one which the German government had given to Rheinmetall AG about this cooperation . Xia Lei had only glanced at it, but he would not forget its content .
‘It is obviously a mutually beneficial exchange and it has great advantages for both sides, but these Germans are still looking down on the Chinese arms industry . Mark Armin would not be so arrogant otherwise,’ thought Xia Lei to himself .
Mark Armin continued reading the document and ignored Xia Lei completely . Xia Lei was in no hurry either as he sat quietly on the sofa, waiting . He was just plain waiting — Mark Armin's secretary had not come in to offer him a cup of coffee or some other refreshment . From the time that Josef had turned up, to this time with Mark Armin now, it was easy to see that the Germans were actually acting this way on purpose . They were acting like they were a level above Xia Lei, and telling him that Thunder Horse Military Factory, and Thunder Horse Military Factory’s technologies were insignificant to them!
If one looked at Thunder Horse Military Factory and Rheinmetall AG from a market perspective, they were actually a rivals . The former was a dark horse of the Chinese arms industry, which had made a name in the world . Rheinmetall AG was the leader of the German arms industry, so it was not surprising that the CEO Mark Armin of Rheinmetall AG was so arrogant to Xia Lei . He was telling Xia Lei that Chinese military must bow to the German military!
A good ten minutes passed before Mark Armin put away the document . He got up and walked towards Xia Lei . He didn't shake hands with Xia Lei, but sat directly opposite him . "You are that Mr Xia Lei, the founder of Thunder Horse Military Factory, huh?"
"Yes I am, Mr Mark . Nice to meet you,” said Xia Lei . He got up and stretched out his hand to Mark Armin .
Only then did Mark Armin stand and shake hands with Xia Lei, but it was just a perfunctory handshake .
"Mr Mark, when will we be able to talk about cooperation?" Xia Lei went straight to the point .
"There is no rush . " Mark Armin gave him a smile . "Let's make small talk first . "
"What do you want to talk about?"
"I heard from Josef that you also have a German name, Lukas, and that you worked at Krupp Mak Maschinenbau for a while . You met Miss Annina during that period, didn’t you?"
“Mr Mark, I have no idea about what you’re saying here . This is my first time in Germany . I don’t know who is this Lukas you’re talking about . We may be similar, but I am not him,” said Xia Lei .
Josef and Mark Armin had got some information from some channels but Xia Lei was not worried that any real trouble would come out of it . The matter had passed long ago, and Long Bing and the Bureau 101 agents had done a clean job . There was no evidence or leads which Germany could follow . This was why it was useless even though they guessed that he was indeed that Lukas now .
“All right, let me assume that you are that Lukas . You stole the intelligent lathe technology from Josef, then modified and improved on it . And you’re now using the technology which was originally ours in an exchange for the fighter plane engine technology which you need . You really are a very clever man, Mr Xia,” said Mark Armin .
Xia Lei gave a laugh . "Mr . Mark, your assumption is very interesting . You Germans occupied Qingdao in the Qing Dynasty, and took the material and labor resources from Qingdao to Germany after World War I to help Germany rise rapidly . Should I say that you Germans are very smart as well?"
Mark Armin frowned . He was obviously displeased by how Xia Lei had phrased it .
"Mr . Mark, you Western countries have erected a technology blockade against China, and some of these technologies are not even for military use, but for civilian use . Those technologies could help human development, but you still blocked them . Did you think China will remain at the level of producing socks and shirts forever? Did you think that China would always act as an OEM for you, to produce the socks and shirts which you find disdainful to do? I’m here today, representing the Chinese military industry, to work with you . It’s a mutually beneficial relationship . Instead, you choose to talk to me about this thing about Lukas, and you’re saying that I stole your technology . If that’s the case, why do you need to do this exchange with us when you already have this technology?" said Xia Lei .
This was Xia Lei’s stance . The other party’s arrogance had pushed him past his limits of tolerance . Since tolerating would not solve anything, Xia Lei was going to pull his mask off and lay his cards on the table!
"Heh heh . " Mark Armin laughed hollowly . "Mr Xia, we are just talking casually . Why are you overreacting?"
"I think you should show me some basic respect . I am not here begging you for something . This is exchange is a win-win for both sides," said Xia Lei .
There was a gleam of annoyance in Mark Armin's eyes, and he shrugged . “If that’s the case, then here is no further need to talk about this . How about this — I will get someone to arrange accommodations for you . Let's talk about it again tomorrow . "
Xia Lei got up . "It is your right to set any time for the talk, but let me tell you that it is not a must for me to discuss this with you . Your German government and our Chinese government settled on this exchange . The higher-ups would not be the least bit happy if they knew about your attitude, would they?”
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