Rebirth of the Mining Tycoon

Chapter 50: His Face Turned Green with Fear

"This project was initiated by Li Tang," Qin Jianshe reminded him.

Zhao Hepu flipped open the feasibility report and saw Li Tang's name on the title page. "What's going through that kid's head?"

"He's capable, and he has guts!"

"Guts? That's not just guts—this is world-shaking boldness!"

"Do you trust Li Tang?" Qin Jianshe asked directly.

"Do you?"

"I do."

"Sigh…" Zhao Hepu let out a long breath. "Just don't forget the old saying: 'One wrong step can lead to eternal regret.'"

Caution had always been one of Zhao Hepu's defining traits.

Qin Jianshe didn't have many other options left. He'd already tried his best—and that was enough to settle his conscience.

He gathered up the feasibility report and turned to leave.

"Wait a second!" Zhao Hepu suddenly called out. "What was the projected copper reserve in that report again?"

"Ten million tons," Qin Jianshe answered casually as he turned around.

"Ten million tons of copper ore?"

"No—ten million tons of copper metal."

"Holy sh*t!" Zhao Hepu couldn't help but blurt it out. "That Li Tang… he's really something else!"

"That just means we're getting old," Qin Jianshe said as he walked out the door.

"Ten million tons of copper metal—there's no copper mine in the country even close to that! Jiujiang Copper, the biggest in the country, only has seven million tons of reserves! If someone actually discovers a ten-million-ton deposit, that's enough to create another Jiujiang Copper!"

Zhao Hepu was lost in mental calculations. "For a project like this, forget 35 million—even 3.5 billion would be worth it! The real question is, is it reliable?"

He waited a while for a reply—then looked up and realized Qin Jianshe had already left.

His pudgy body sprang out of the deeply indented chair. He ran to the door and saw Qin's figure still slowly moving down the hallway. "President Qin, where are you going?"

"Back to work."

"I wasn't finished talking!"

"Then say what you need to."

"We can't discuss things in the hallway like this."

Their voices echoed down the corridor, where the Mining & Metallurgy Company's various departments were located. Everyone had their ears perked up, eavesdropping on the bosses' conversation.

Qin Jianshe, still holding the report, sighed and returned to the general manager's office.

"You just left in the middle of my sentence!" Zhao Hepu grumbled.

"You turned green when you saw that 35 million number."

"My face turned green?" Zhao Hepu rubbed his fleshy cheeks. "Let's be serious now. I'm actually interested in this project. You came to me because you have a way to make it work?"

The moment he said that, Qin Jianshe perked up. "Here's what I propose—we split the project. Your company provides the funding, ours provides the personnel. With Li Tang leading the technical side, we both know the job will get done right."

This guy had just shifted all the risk onto someone else.

"You've got it all figured out, don't you?" Zhao Hepu chuckled. "But yes—a five-million-yuan preliminary survey? I can get that approved. Our finance department can free up that kind of money."

"So the rumors are true—Mining & Metallurgy really is filthy rich."

"But let's be honest. A project like this, coming out of nowhere—it's risky. Five million isn't a small number. Our annual profit is only around ten million. And with Demen Copper Mine transitioning soon, we'll have to pour a lot of money in there too. That place is a money pit."

Zhao Hepu sighed dramatically. "Now you want to throw in a copper exploration project? If it fails, forget my promotion—I'll be lucky if I'm not demoted and sent back to Demen with a shovel in my hand."

"So what you're saying is, you're not willing to pay for it?" Qin Jianshe was getting annoyed. He picked up the report and stood up again.

"Don't be so quick!" Zhao Hepu flashed his trademark chubby grin. "Five million might not sound like much, but it could cost us everything. That said… there are people who can shoulder bigger risks—like our Group's General Manager. If a five-million project flops, he won't lose any sleep over it."

"Niu Fu?"

"Who doesn't know Niu General's personality? He's a madman!" Zhao lowered his voice out of caution—badmouthing your boss wasn't exactly professional. "If he sees a report claiming a ten-million-ton copper reserve, he'll be overjoyed."

"Haha," Qin Jianshe laughed. "You know, Li Tang and General Manager Niu might just hit it off perfectly."

…

Since submitting the Feasibility Study Report on Copper Exploration in Tibet Province, several days had passed with no news.

Li Tang wasn't anxious. If the project didn't get funding, it wouldn't hurt him personally.

But just as he sat down at his desk one morning, Qin Jianshe himself came over and brought him directly to the top floor of the office building.

The executive office was impressive. Aside from a large desk and meeting space, there was an oval conference table.

Once seated at the table, Li Tang found Zhao Hepu and Qin Jianshe on either side of him. Across the table were several unfamiliar middle-aged and elderly men.

"You're Li Tang?" asked the man in the center, his face stern.

He had a wide face, a head of unruly curls, and a wild, lion-like presence that radiated authority.

This was Niu Fu, General Manager of Wukuang Group.

Li Tang immediately grasped the situation and calmly replied, "I am."

"Just a few days ago, the Metallurgical Association invited me to a technical achievement symposium. The bioleaching copper project has made significant breakthroughs and is certain to win multiple research awards this year. In the project report, your name was listed first."

Niu Fu's sharp eyes studied Li Tang closely. "You've brought honor to Wukuang Group. We've made a name for ourselves in the scientific field."

Li Tang glanced left and right at Zhao Hepu and Qin Jianshe, then smiled politely. "I owe it to the company's leadership and the excellent environment here—it's been a fertile ground for innovation."

It was a standard response.

But those kinds of remarks were exactly what leaders liked to hear.

Everyone across the table smiled knowingly.

Niu Fu raised the feasibility report for the Tibet project. "Our management team has discussed this thoroughly. Honestly, it's a bold proposal. Most of the team rejected it. But I wanted to hear from you directly—and to meet the young man behind it."

"You're very skilled on the technical side. But technical expertise is just one part of the equation. Economic feasibility is just as important," said Ou Pingguo, who sat taller than anyone else in the room even while seated.

"If you want to convince General Manager Niu and the rest of the leadership here, you'll need stronger arguments."

His words were clearly meant to steer the upcoming conversation.

The feasibility report had already laid out in detail the geological possibility of a super copper deposit in Tibet Province.

Technically speaking, it was worth investigating.

But most of the executives present weren't from a technical background. What they cared about was economic return.

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