Chapter 12 (1/2)

Perfect Welding

The setting sun cast long shadows in the streets and alleyways,look like it was encased in a steamer basket Xia Lei finally found the machine shop in the advertisement at dusk It was at the mouth of an old battered alley but faced a main road and had easy vehicle access

Another copy of the advertisement was on the machine shop door The old man who had put the poster up on the electric pole in the afternoon was in the shop clearing things away He had not noticed Xia Lei peering into the shop in the doorway

Xia Lei surveyed the condition of the h the location was a little out of the way, vehicle and huood The shop had a Golden Pheasant CS6140B lathe which looked to be 60-70 new He had used this lathe before for processing small components in one of his previous jobs - its precision and practicality were not bad Theood comprehensive set-up Based on what he could see, he could open for business with little preparation once he transferred ownershi+p

After observing the equipment, tools and shop location, Xia Lei made some mental notes, then walked into the machine shop

The old man saw Xia Lei then and looked at hi done, young’un?”

“No, I ca with you,” said Xia Lei “I saw your machine shop ownershi+p transfer advertisment and I’m interested”

A faint smile appeared on the old ht, let’s talk Have a seat”

“I’” Xia Lei did not want the old man to see that he wanted very e when negotiating the price

“Sure, standing is fine too What’s your na’un?” asked the old man

“Xia Lei,” replied Xia Lei, “What is your na Just call , why don’t you want to run the shop any on in years I’ll be 60 this year and I can’ttoo so I y to keep going either - I’d like to go back to randchild Heh I’ve toiled for so long it’s tiive up the shop

“How is the business doing?” Xia Lei asked another question

“Not too bad After the rent, utilities and other expenses you can still ht to ten thousand If it weren’t for ’un, if your workood I believe business will pick up”

Xia Lei grinned and said, “Business would definitely pick up if the work, let’s not beat around the bush - I want to take over ownershi+p of your shop Howstroked his chin “Hmm, how about this…”

At that moment, astopped talking

Xia Lei looked at the pair The man’s suit had crisp lines; he looked about thirty, was built solidly and had a fierce, tough countenance The woman looked about 25 and had a mature sex appeal She wrinkled her eyebrows as soon as she walked in, as if the environment and people had made her uncomfortable

The suit-cladreplied, “I a that needs to be welded” After he spoke, he shot a look at the sexy lady She opened a red cloth pouch, revealing the ite iron, about seven inches long with strange patterns all over its surface The key had been broken in two and the break looked old - there was no telling how long ago it had been broken

“Can this be welded?” The sexy lady asked Her voice was soft and pleasing to the ear

“Letwalked forward and stretched his hand out for the pig iron key

The suited ’s wrist “This is a very i The patterns on the key ht - not too h or too low You understand me? Accept this job only if you have the confidence to do so”

Uncle Jiang paused and said, “Sir, your requireh I’m afraid I won’t be able to do this Please find someone else”

“I’ve asked around and they all say that your workmanshi+p is the best in this area If you can weld this key as I’ve asked I will pay you 5,000,” said thewas shocked

He had to work hard day in and day out to get eight to ten thousand ajust one key? For the amount of labour needed, this job was very attractive

“Can you do it?” The suitediron from the woman’s briefcase “If you can, weld these first If your work is satisfactory, I’ll let you have the job”

The pig iron pieces in his hands had si patterns which looked quite coht for a bit and shook his head in the end “The compensation you offer is very attractive but your requireood as they hen I was a young lad, I would not dare to accept this job - even less so now since I’m old I cannot accept this job Please look for so to try! What is your shop open for then?” The sexy lady’s eyes were full of conte bore it quietly “I’ it Ask someone else”

The suited ood Why keep it up?”

Uncle Jiang was a good man and he bore those words quietly as well

At that moment, Xia Lei spoke “Let lared at Xia Lei, alert and on guard

Uncle Jiang interjected, “I a otiate the takeover of my shop I cannot do the job but maybe he can Give it to him and see”

“Can you do it?” The suited man did not trust Xia Lei’s workmanshi+p To hi year old with no real skill