There was no connection between playing golf and talking business but Ye Kun was looking for something in which he would have the higher ground and where he could talk to Xia Lei aggressively and condescendingly. His aim in joining in Ahn Suhyeong and Xia Lei’s game was to wipe the floor with Xia Lei’s pride so that he would lose some of his spirit and self-esteem.
This was a sort of ‘show of power’ from a big government-backed company boss to a small civilian boss. He did not need to pander to Xia Lei – he was going to crush Xia Lei like a road roller. He was going to pulverise Xia Lei and make Xia Lei pander to him!
As for Ahn Suhyeong, his motives were much simpler. He wanted to see Xia Lei make a fool of himself and make himself look bad.
30,000,000 was transferred to one of Shentu Tianyin’s accounts and the winner of this little competition would get this prize of 30,000,000.
The three men competing each had their own motives. Shentu Tianyin and Mu Jianfeng watched from the sidelines, each with their own thoughts.
“Right, we can begin now,” said Mu Jianfeng. “This is not a competition and there is no need for too many rules. Who’s going first?”
“Let me have a try before we start playing. I played a few times in Germany but it’s been a while. I’d like to find my grip again,” said Xia Lei.
Mu Jianfeng nodded. “No problem.”
Ahn Suhyeong sneered, “Mr Xia, when did you play golf in Germany? Can’t tell a book from its cover, eh? Oh, right, was it a construction site in Germany?”
“A prison in Germany,” said Xia Lei.
Ahn Suhyeong’s face darkened when he heard the word ‘prison’.
Xia Lei placed a golf ball on the tee and swung his club, aiming for the closest hole. The golf ball dribbled off in another direction.
“Hahaha.” Ahn Suhyeong laughed. This level of skill was even worse than an amateur’s.
Ye Kun laughed. “It looks like you’ve never played golf before, Mr Xia. It’s okay, you can take your money back. We’ll just play a simple game, and raise the bar after you’ve practiced a bit.”
Xia Lei was calm in the face of Ahn Suhyeong and Ye Kun’s ridicule. He put another ball on the tee and swung the club with a whoosh, aiming for the furthest hole.
His swing, power and direction had significantly increased. Though the ball had flown to another side and not into the hole, it was not very far off.
Xia Lei swung two more times. These two swings had no real direction and were just random hits. One ball went into the water and the other flew over a grassy mound and was lost to sight.
Ahn Suhyeong and Ye Kun couldn’t help exchanging glances; it was difficult for them to hold back their laughter. To them, it looked like Xia Lei didn’t have the skill to play properly and that it would be easy as pie to win the competition. Both of them couldn’t wait to see Xia Lei make a fool of himself.
Shentu Tianyin walked to Xia Lei and said worriedly, “Lei, nobody can learn how to play golf well in a few minutes, much less play a standard game. How about just giving it up?”
Xia Lei gave a laugh. “It’s fine. I’m still quite confident against these amateurs.”
Shentu Tianyin was speechless.
This line also made Ahn Suhyeong and Ye Kun almost choke. Someone who had never played golf before was calling them amateurs!
“Elder Mu, I’m ready. We may begin. I’ll let those two amateurs go first,” said Xia Lei.
These big words! Mu Jianfeng could not keep a straight face. Ye Kun was his pupil so Xia Lei saying something like this was also disrespecting him, the teacher.
“Ahem.” Mu Jianfeng cleared his throat. “Ye Kun, you start first then. Play well. Don’t let Mr Xia the professional look down on you.”
Ye Kun sneered and positioned himself, then swung. The golf ball landed on the green and rolled into the hole.
The caddy ran over to pick up the golf ball.
Ahn Suhyeong walked over too. He aimed, he swung. The ball landed even closer than Ye Kun’s and rolled into the hole. He played this hole better than Ye Kun did.
The two of them stood to one side and looked at Xia Lei with schadenfreude.
Xia Lei walked over, aimed and swung. THWACK!
Shentu Tianyin shut her eyes, not daring to see how Xia Lei had done. After a few seconds however, she did not hear anyone speak; it was strangely quiet. She opened her eyes to see the caddy running out to the hole and taking Xia Lei’s golf ball out of it. She was stunned – Xia Lei had done a hole in one!
Ahn Suhyeong and Ye Kun were not smiling now. They had been waiting to see Xia Lei fall flat on his face but Xia Lei’s shot had been done even more cleanly and beautifully than either of them. The ball had not rolled on the grass at all – it had gone straight into the hole!
Mu Jianfeng had an odd look on his face too, as if he had just seen a ghost.
What Shentu Tianyin, Mu Jianfeng, Ahn Suhyeong and Ye Kun all didn’t know was that the testing shots Xia Lei had done earlier were all for Xia Lei to learn the golfing techniques. His method of learning was not normal at all – his left eyes could measure the distance between the ball and the hole, and his brain could calculate the speed and resistance of the ball as it went through the air for his body to adjust itself to the best level of coordination. In simpler terms, his brain calculated everything before he swung, even simulating the trajectory path of the ball! His brain calculated the result and his left eye locked onto where he needed the ball to go. The golf ball he was hitting was like a precise, guided missile!
With abilities like his, Tiger Woods would lose horribly to Xia Lei, much less two amateurs like Ahn Suhyeong and Ye Kun!
The difference was soon obvious. Ahn Suhyeong and Ye Kun were unable to get a hole in one at the second hole; both needed two swings to get the ball in the hole. Xia Lei had stood at the tee, then swung, and the golf ball went whooshing into the hole, not even touching the grass.
The third hole, the fourth, the fifth…
Ahn Suhyeong and Ye Kun’s strokes increased but Xia Lei’s score was domineering. He had all hole-in-ones, no matter how far away the hole was.
The spectators were gobsmacked.
The people present knew some professionals and knew what level professional players were at, but those professional players looked like amateurs compared to Xia Lei!
Ahn Suhyeong and Ye Kun were thinking the same thing – Every dog has its day!
Another hole-in-one. Xia Lei held out his hands. “Mr Ahn, Mr Ye, it’s boring to play like this; it’s a waste of time. How about I just finish all my holes and you guys chase me, huh? It’s hardly any competition to play with you guys. I don’t feel like playing anymore.”
A hit straight to their pride, no quarter given!
Ahn Suhyeong and Ye Kun’s faces were dark. They would have charged up to Xia Lei and beat him up if they had the capability to do so, but this was a fantasy which could never be realised.
Xia Lei put a golf ball on the tee, glanced at the furthest hole, then back at the golf ball and swung hard. THWACK! The golf ball went swooshing into the air, going in an almost-straight line in the air for dozens of metres and onto the green.
It was not a hole-in-one but the ball had landed just centimetres from the furthest hole!
The caddy’s jaw dropped.
“Sorry, there are times when I need two strokes to get the ball into the hole too. Like you guys,” said Xia Lei laughingly.
Ahn Suhyeong and Ye Kun felt like offing themselves.
This stroke had actually been calculated by Xia Lei.
Was there even a need to continue the competition? Nope. Playing on would just mean further humiliation for Ahn Suhyeong and Ye Kun.
“Heh heh.” Mu Jianfeng laughed dryly and stepped in to mediate. “Xia Lei, your golf skills are unexpectedly high. It looks like you could enter professional golfing and get the highest honours.”
Xia Lei spoke evenly, “You’re too kind, Elder Mu. The competition is not over. Maybe Mr Ahn and Mr Ye can overtake me.”
Ahn Suhyeong threw his golf club to the caddy. He’d given up on the competition.
Ye Kun also threw his club to the caddy. He gave two dry laughs. “Mr Xia, I have been utterly defeated. The prize money is yours.”
Xia Lei walked to the caddy and handed his golf club to him.
The caddy gave him a grateful look; he could sense Xia Lei’s respect for him.
“Let’s go have tea, Xia Lei,” said Mu Jianfeng.
“Nn, I have some business to talk about with you. I pushed back a very important meeting for this,” said Ye Kun.
He spoke still with the tone of a man of high rank – arrogantly.
“I’ll have to refuse the tea. I had a stomach upset recently and I don’t want to drink tea. Just say what business you have here. Your time is precious and mine is too. If I’d known that it was you who wanted to talk business with me I would have gone to the movies with my friends.”
“You… “ Ye Kun’s face changed colour.
Hanwu Weapons had already put its chess pieces in place to acquire his military factory. They had also sent someone to cause trouble so there was no need for Xia Lei to be polite with Ye Kun anymore. He now also saw how devious Ye Kun was in sending someone to seize his guns, stopping him from participating in the light weapons exhibition in Moscow, then inviting him here to negotiate. It was already restrained enough for Xia Lei that he had not simply just given a person like Ye Kun a kick!
“Why is your temper still like this, Xia Lei?” Mu Jianfeng could not keep his expression neutral any longer. “The business Ye Kun wants to discuss with you is not like the small processing purchase orders like in the past. This business can ensure you riches for the rest of your life.”
Xia Lei scoffed. “I am rich. Why would I need someone to make me rich?”
“You…” Mu Jianfeng was so angry he could not speak. He had not expected Xia Lei to be so disrespectful.
“Xia Lei, don’t you want to hear what business I want to discuss with you?” said Ye Kun sullenly.
“Everyone knows. I know even if you don’t say it. You’re here for my military factory,” said Xia Lei.
“Since you know, then name your price.” Ye Kun was stubborn.
“And if I’m not selling?” said Xia Lei.
“That’s not up to you,” sneered Ye Kun.
Mu Jianfeng cautioned from his side position, “Think carefully, Xia Lei. Would I harm you? This matter is similar to the time when you sold that intelligent lathe to us. And the result? You don’t need me to say it to know the result.”
