A nail who sticks out would get hammered down. It was a common saying. Xia Lei had made himself the nail and was due for a whole lot of hammering.
A private-owned enterprise had failed to sell its products to the domestic market. Yet they demand an explanation. Who did you expect it from? Just based on paperwork evidence, everyone present was equally if not higher status than Xia Lei.
That was what Ye Kun had feared. What was, even more, worrying for the chubby man was Xia Lei unapologetically claiming that all weapons produced by the Thunder Horse Organization was the most advanced in the world and even emphasizing the fact that all his export orders were full till next year while receiving no domestic orders. This was a clear accusation of someone playing truant in the industry.
While Ye Kun could read the situation, Xia Lei remained blissfully ignorant. The latter was acting as if he was a fresh graduate with dreams, knowing nothing about how society functioned.
Someone scoffed, eager to watch the chaos take place.
Yu Shanhe stared at Xia Lei coldly. Everyone had taken Xia Lei for an idiot but the old man knew Xia Lei had directed that to him!
“Mister Xia.” Ling Han finally spoke. “I’d have to disagree with you on that. I’m sure we’re all aware that changing weaponry in the military is a huge operation. We’d need to go through rigorous testing and then sit through an evaluation meeting. All the vehicles designed for the military had taken a few to a good ten years for it to be used in the military. Perhaps your Sweeper infantry fighting vehicle is excellent but I think you’re too impatient. How could you expect a process that took us years to be over within a few months?”
People started to discuss.
The leading figures hosting the meeting turned to talk about the matter with the military representatives hushed.
Yu Shanhe, who was seated on the host panel, remained speechless. He continued to stare at Xia Lei with utter resentment.
From Yu Shanhe’s perspective, this was no longer an event. This was war.
In this battle, it was a bunch of allies against a single self-proclaimed hero. They were evidently outnumbered but the hero was determined to launch an attack! Xia Lei was crazy stubborn!
“Mister Xia.” Ling Han stared straight into Xia Lei’s eyes. “You’re the first private enterprise to enter our military market. The support you have received is unprecedented and you should be grateful. There’s no point groaning about necessary protocols. I’m very disappointed with the way you’re acting.”
The only thing left out of the sentence was the word idiot.
“Yeah. Did he really think that the market orbits around him alone? All our weapons went through rounds and rounds of evaluation before receiving orders.”
“He’s such an ungrateful person. He already has so much support yet he’s here saying things like this.”
“I heard that the country had even waived his twenty billion debt. Is that not enough for him? That’s just plain greedy now.”
“We should chase this dumbass out of the industry. With him around, things are just not the same anymore.”
“He’s such a rotten apple.”
“A rotten apple? Ha, I think he’s more of a rat dropping.”
Hearing those remarks, a smirk appeared on Yu Shanhe’s face.
Ye Kun sneakily tugged on Xia Lei’s pants, motioning him to sit down and keep quiet.
But Xia Lei remained standing. The man stood proud and tall like a bronze statue, devoid of any emotion.
“Mister Xia.” Ling Han attempted to embarrass Xia Lei. “I think you’ve misunderstood something. It’s not that anyone is being unfair to you, you’re the one making too many demands. Everything has a protocol. If you get it over with quickly, wouldn’t that be unfair for everyone else?”
The crowd turned to look at him.
Xia Lei smiled. “No, not at all.”
Ling Han returned a smile. “How about you tell me where I went wrong.”
Xia Lei answered, “Everything.”
It was Ling Han’s turn to frown. His expression darkened with fury.
Xia Lei replied, “Let me give you an example. Let’s say we describe our military industry in soccer terms. If I’m Ronaldo or Messi or Suarez, it would only make sense if I play for Real Madrid or perhaps Barcelona. But you’re saying here is as if demanding me to play for lower rank teams and to slowly work my way up to somewhere of your level. Now to you, that certainly is fair but is that ethical to me?”
Another round of discussion roared in the venue.
Xia Lei chose to ignore the noise. “The international situation has changed abruptly. America and its allies are picking on any potential competitors, eager to place obstacles on our development. I have the ability to close the gap between China and Western military resources and even surpass them. That way, they won’t be a threat to us anymore. Just as I had described, I’m the best soccer player in the world. I can secure big victories in the AFC, FIFA and even the World Cup. I just don’t understand why everyone is so adamant for me to play lower rank competitions. When I get to your level, I’d long past the peak of my career. What I need now is a channel to get me to international games of the highest-profile! My opponents are Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall, not anyone of you here.”
With that, Xia Lei ended his turn.
“He must be insane!”
“This youngster is out of his mind!”
“Comparing Thunder Horse Organization to Lockheed Martin is utter nonsense! How could he say things like this? There’s no way Thunder Horse can achieve technology as refined as their F35.”
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“Does he not feel any shame yapping bullshit like this here?”
The meeting host quickly raised a hand to calm the crowd. He calmly voiced, “Mister Xia, there are some parts that I agree and some parts that I disagree. You are truly capable but we don’t play favourites here. We’re a team and we’re all working towards the same goal. Everything in this industry is done fair and square. But I’m personally impressed that you take Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall as your opponents instead. Young people should be as ambitious as you! I’m rooting for you! We’ll discuss further the issue you pointed out later.”
Everyone else started to clap.
It was evident that Xia Lei should take the cue to end his turn and wait for things to calm down.
Despite offering him an escape route, Xia Lei remained standing. “Thunder Horse Organization had already launched projects like our tank production, new industrial material research and even AI incorporation for military use. Each of these mentioned will certainly bring mass strategic advantages. Personally, I don’t care much about money and honour but can China’s war strategy interest wait for such benefits? Let me be frank, America and Japan have already sent assassins after me because my research and resources have already become a great threat to their interest. Are we all going to wait till they get rid of me before allowing me such access?”
The host was stunned by the display. He wasn’t offended by Xia Lei’s lofty stance. On the other hand, he was very surprised that someone as smart as Xia Lei didn’t know to voice these requests in private but chose to lay it out in an event like such.
No matter what the request was or what goals he had in mind, putting himself in the limelight was highly inappropriate and idiotic.
“Xia Lei!” Yu Shanhe yelled in a hard cold tone. “Behave yourself. Everything has a process and everyone is not exempted from it. How could you demand special permission? Yes, we know that you’re talented but there’s no need for immense arrogance!”
“I don’t mean anything else.”
Yu Shanhe interrupted Xia Lei. “And I don’t care what you’re trying to bring. If you’ve got anything against me, come talk to me later. It’s not right for you to take up someone else’s speech slot. Sit down now! I’ll talk to you after this meeting is over.”
Yu Shanhe’s palm was starting to sweat. Xia Lei was here to stir things up with one apparent goal, which was to avoid all Yu Shanhe’s obstacles and place him in a dangerous spot!
The current situation was not good for the old man. With all the achievements Xia Lei had mentioned, who would dare to lay a finger on him? Other than that, the three projects currently underway were all relevant to China’s strategy interest. With these two points alone and Xia Lei running his mouth in a place like this, no one would have dared to go against him! If anyone was deserving of punishment, it wouldn’t be Xia Lei but Yu Shanhe!
This was why Xia Lei was a force to be reckoned with. The man had chosen to fire his shot at the right time and place!
Initially, Yu Shanhe had felt no threat but as Xia Lei refused to save the host some face, the man had sensed danger coming his way. That was the reason why Yu Shanhe was determined to stop Xia Lei from saying anything else.
But Xia Lei was not buying any of this. He continued to speak, “I’ve got great projects and the immense potential to improve that could change our current status quo but my strength alone is clearly insufficient. Allow me to repeat myself, I need more support. I’ve got no time left to waste on your so-called protocols.”
“Xia Lei!” Yu Shanhe let his emotions get ahead of him, slamming his fist harshly against the table. “Why can’t you understand anything I’ve said? Didn’t I offer to discuss this with you after the meeting?!”
To that, Xia Lei answered, “No, I’m not going to discuss this with you. I don’t trust you.”
The man was out for blood! There was no mercy! This was Xia Lei’s chance, missing it would mean he had lost it forever.
Yu Shanhe turned around to give a look at the security guards at the door.
The guards then started to approach Xia Lei.
Abruptly, a figure entered the room through a small door.
It was no one else but Fan Fan.
Without any pause, Fan Fan made her way over to the front of Xia Lei and placed down a piece of paper.
Xia Lei glanced at it.
Its content was simple, merely telling him to execute all plans without worry.
A smile slowly crept its way up to Xia Lei’s lips.
Fan Fan closed the distance to whisper into his ear. “You’re such a bold bastard. I’m absolutely intrigued by your personality and courage.”
Xia Lei flashed her a smile.
Fan Fan lowered her voice further. “All you need to do is to do what you should do. Someone else will handle your obstacles. No one has the right to hinder our country’s progression. Anyone who comes in its way will perish, understand?”
Xia Lei nodded.
He was fully aware that his shot had already gravely injured his target.
“Alright, carry on with your meeting. I’ll bring over your orders tonight,” said Fan Fan.
Fan Fan turned around to leave, only stopping for a brief moment to glare at the security guards who had already stopped their tracks as soon as they noticed her presence.
Xia Lei finally sat down, evidently relaxed.
On the other hand, Yu Shanhe found it difficult to do the same. His forehead was already moist with cold sweat.