Chapter 516: Machines Makes Mistakes (II)

Shen Lingxue was still his nominal fiancée, and she wouldn’t stay quiet if she were to find out that Zhai Muchen liked another woman over her. Old Master Xu could not help but sigh heavily. In the past, he used to think that there was no need for him to worry about Zhai Muchen; after all, the man had never given him any trouble, and he had always given a cold shoulder to the women beside him. But now—

Old Master Xu was worried, and Shen Lingxue was even more worried. Since when did Zhai Muchen get so close to a woman? He usually stayed in the army and liked to spend his time there. Since when did he start getting chummy with a woman?

"Sister, I don’t even know your name after talking with you for so long." When did Zhai Muchen get to know this woman? Wait a second.

Shen Lingxue paused and looked at Han Ruochen carefully. Though the woman was quite beautiful, she was older than her. Seeing this, she could not help but sigh in relief. No matter how beautiful this woman was, compared to her, she was nothing. No man would be willing to pick this old woman up instead of her. It was impossible for Zhai Muchen to like her. She was too old; how could Zhai Muchen even like her?

Old Master Xu glanced at Shen Lingxue, and when he noticed that the woman was looking at Han Ruochen with a contemptuous look, he could not help but be speechless. What was this woman even thinking?

Why was she looking down at Han Ruochen? What made her think that she was better than Han Ruochen?

Han Ruochen also frowned when she noticed Shen Lingxue looking at her as if she were looking at some sort of clown. She was not used to being stared at like she was the centre of attention. Sensing that Han Ruochen was not comfortable, Zhai Muchen shifted and came to stand in front of her. "Elder Xu, let’s have a seat first. We can discuss everything later on."

Zhai Muchen had already spoken up, and Old Master Xu did not have any objection either. Nevertheless, the situation was destined to become awkward and complicated with Shen Lingxue following them.

Sure enough, just as Zhai Muchen brought Han Ruochen to the two-seater sofa, and pulled her along with him. Because he had already pulled Han Ruochen beside him, Shen Lingxue did not have any seat left and couldn’t sit beside Zhai Muchen.

Shen Lingxue gritted her teeth when she saw Zhai Muchen avoiding her. However, she remembered the objective of coming to the Xu family day, thus, she simply ignored the worries of her heart and sat next to Old Master Xu.

Old Master Xu smiled. He was old and not as attractive as Zhai Muchen, and yet Shen Lingxue sat down next to him. Of course, he was not foolish enough to think that she sat next to him because she preferred him over Zhai Muchen.

"Grandpa Xu, here, can you take a look at these maps? I have been going to the sea for a while now and created a few new channels." Shen Lingxue took out the maps that she had brought with her and showed them to Old Master Xu, she wanted to show him that she was just as capable as the rest of his disciple.

Old Master Xu did not look at the maps; instead, he passed them to Han Ruochen.

Han Ruochen did not wish to take the maps, but Zhai Muchen had already taken the maps from Old Master Xu and handed them to her.

"Young lady, I am getting old and my eyesight is no longer as good as it used to be. I have presbyopia, but I cannot find my spectacles. Can you take a look at these maps for me?" Since this lady was the one who paved her way through the devil’s teeth, it would be quite interesting for him to see what Han Ruochen would be able find in these maps.

"Master Xu!" Shen Lingxue was stunned when she saw that the old master had handed the maps to Han Ruochen. She got up and then bowed with immaculate, practiced grace. "I brought the latest satellite-assisted bathymetric survey maps from the capital. My family spent a good thirty thousand yuan to secure these maps from the ministry of Transport, and I personally checked to make sure that these maps were secure."

Zhai Muchen glanced at the glowing maps that Shen Lingxue had brought with her and then turned to look at Han Ruochen, who remained silent. She neither refused to check the map nor did she make a move to check them either. Instead she turned to look at Old Master Xu.

Old Master Xu did not touch the slick maps that Shen Lingxue had brought with her.

"Maps are drawn by men, young mistress Shen," said Old Master Xu calmly, but his eyes were cold. "And machines can always make mistakes."

Shen Lingxue’s brows twitched. A subtle flash of arrogance broke through her polite posture. "Old Master Xu, with all due respect. Those are official state hydrographic charts. I admit that this young miss might be good and her luck at the sea might be off the charts but reading complex oceanographic contours and deep water thermal currents requires advanced marine training and equipment. Can she even read a compass grid properly?"

Old Master Xu ignored Shen Lingxue and slid a pen at Han Ruochen. "Miss Han, look at this brand-new channel route. Please make sure that you pay all your attention to it because Miss Shen wants our provincial fleet to run five thousand ton cargo freighters through this south by southeast vector at low tide."

Han Ruochen pursed her lips and took the pen that Old Master Xu had given to her. She then turned to look at Zhai Muchen, who nodded in return. Sighing, Han Ruochen picked up the glistening map and activated the sea scanning system.