Chapter 36 (2/2)

Chi Jing-Qiu didn’t look bothered, “I don’t care. I actually want to talk to you about some business. Do you want to make money?”

“Who doesn’t? Say your piece,” said Xia Lei.

“You have the skill and your own workshop. I have contacts and connections. If we cooperate, we’ll definitely profit.”

“You mean…”

“I’ll pull orders for you and you pay me commission.”

Xia Lei was tempted. Chi Jing-Qiu was working in a large state-owned enterprise like East Wind Heavy Industries as the Chairman’s secretary and her husband and herself had some sort of standing in the industry after all. Her contacts were surely not small fish and the orders she could secure wouldn’t be paltry sums like a few thousand. Though he was indeed tempted by the offer, he kept a straight face and asked, “How much commission do you want?”

“15%,” said Chi Jing-Qiu right away.

Xia Lei chuckled, “You have a big appetite, huh? You’re just flapping your lips but not doing any of the labour and you’re asking for 15%? I’m providing manpower, equipment and materials – I’m probably not going to make much more than you, eh?”

“So how much will you pay?” Chi Jing-Qiu looked intently at Xia Lei.

Xia Lei held out a hand, “5%”

“Too little. 10%”

“8%, take it or leave it.”

“Deal.” Chi Jing-Qiu held out a hand to Xia Lei.

Xia Lei hesitated, then stretched his own hand out and shook her hand. Her little hand was soft and pliable, invoking a stab of excitement in him.

“Wait for me to contact you.” Chi Jing-Qiu shook hands and left, walking briskly back to the group of people.

Watching her swaying bum, Xia Lei thought, ‘8% is 8%. You’ll refer the client and I’ll remember that person. When I build up my own contacts I won’t need to pay you a commission any longer.’

First love? Old classmates? That didn’t exist any more – it was all business to Xia Lei.

Ning Yuan-Shan had moved far off with Shentu Tian-Yin and the little crowd. Xia Lei went back to work but the image of Shentu Tian-Yin kept appearing in his head while he was standing in front of the lathe and holding the control lever. He felt funny – like his spiritual and carnal aspects had some parts missing.*

‘The lady of the Shentu clan is worth tens of billions – why am I being so stupid? That witch Chi Jing-Qiu was right; there’s no use thinking of her. I’d better just get down to work. I’ll get this one million yuan, use it to buy new equipment and hire people, then work with Chi Jing-Qiu.’ Xia Lei quickly focused his thoughts and calmed himself. His gaze locked on the last part to be processed and he slowly lowered the blade – back to work.

Ten minutes later, the processing was done. Xia Lei placed it in the box, cleaned up and called Ning Yuan-Shan.

“Sorry to disturb you when you have an important guest, Uncle Ning but I wanted to give you a call,” begun Xia Lei when the call connected, “I’ve finished the order. The last few parts are next to the lathe. You can send someone to pick them up.”

“Mm, not bad, not bad. I’ll send someone over right away. You’ve really helped me out this time,” said Ning Yuan-Shan with a chuckle, “I’ve already prepared the cheque. Someone from the finance department will deliver it to you.”

“Thank you, Uncle Ning. I’ll leave you to your work now, goodbye.” Xia Lei hung up.

After hanging up, a person came to pick up the precision parts within minutes. Xia Lei watched them finish inspecting the parts and made sure everything was in order before leaving the workshop. He’d not gone far when someone from the finance department of East Wind Heavy Industries delivered a cheque for a million yuan to him.

Ning Yuan-Shan really was a man who was swift and decisive and was not sloppy in doing things.

The cheque was almost weightless but Xia Lei felt like it weighed tens of kilograms. His face was full of smiles too – this was the biggest paycheck yet in his life.

His work was done, the checks were done, the money had been paid and Xia Lei had no further need to go to the villa. He headed straight to the main doorway of East Wind Heavy Industries.

As he passed the car park, Xia Lei spotted a limited edition Rolls Royce Phantom. It had a solemn air, lending it the image of emperor of cars.

‘This must be Shentu Tian-Yin’s vehicle. Only women of her caliber can have cars like that.’ Xia Lei wanted to buy a car too and the desire to own one had grown after Long Bing had bestowed a license upon him. The Rolls Royce Phantom before his eyes, however, was out of the question.

Just then, a female worker wearing the work clothes of an employee of East Wind Heavy Industries entered the car park from an entrance to the side of him, pushing a cleaning trolley. As she walked, she used a pair of metal tongs to pick up rubbish from the ground and threw them into a plastic pail on the cleaning trolley.

Perhaps it was the effect of the Rolls Royce Phantom, but its presence made the female worker look petty and lowly, and Xia Lei could not help taking a closer look at her. The female worker looked very young – perky buttocks, big bosom – very sexy.

Xia Lei thought it weird, ‘Cleaning jobs are usually done by older aunt-like women. She’s so young and sexy – why is she doing rough work like this?’

*三魂七魄 – three finer spirits and several baser instincts that motivate a human being. Also can be explained as the three immortal souls and seven mortal forms in Daoism, contrasting the spiritual and carnal side of man.