Chapter 127: A Hazy Kind of Beauty
As he strolled around aimlessly, Li Tang unexpectedly received a call from Ding Shaoying.
"Li Tang, I read your paper—it was like a splash of cold water to the face, incredibly enlightening!"
Ding Shaoying didn't even bother with pleasantries, launching straight into heartfelt praise. One could almost imagine him gesturing wildly while holding the phone, overwhelmed with excitement.
Li Tang felt awkward. "Chief Engineer Ding, that's really unnecessary. You praise me so often lately I'm starting to feel a little too full of myself. I'm curious—how did you get to read the paper so soon?"
The journal editor had previously contacted him to inform him the paper had been published and that a printed copy would be sent to him soon. As of today, he still hadn't received it.
He hadn't expected Ding Shaoying to have gotten his hands on it before him!
"I'm not flattering you—it's all sincere!" Ding Shaoying said fervently. "You said you'd write a paper about the exploration ideas behind Yunshang Bauxite, so I've been watching out for it. Today I found your paper, and as soon as I saw your name, I read it three times! I think this paper has huge implications for our bauxite exploration work here in Huazhou Province. I plan to convene a technical learning session at our entire Geological Survey Institute, so everyone can study your paper thoroughly and understand it completely!"
"Chief Engineer Ding…"
Li Tang was momentarily speechless. His face flushed with embarrassment.
To be honest, A Practical Study of Ancient Continental Weathering Mineralization at Yunshang Bauxite in Huazhou Province had been something he wrote loosely from memory. Some of the arguments still required further investigation.
Hearing Ding Shaoying talk about treating the paper like a textbook for the whole institute made him nervous.
If it ended up misleading people, he'd feel deeply guilty.
"Are you still in Yanjing? I'm planning a trip there soon."
"When will you be coming?" Li Tang wasn't sure about his own schedule. "I'm supposed to go abroad soon, once the paperwork is ready."
"You're leaving that soon? Then I'll try to catch you. If not, we'll delay our trip until right before the New Year holiday, or maybe even after."
"Huh?" Li Tang found that a bit strange. "Chief Engineer Ding, are you not going to Yanjing on business, but just to see me?"
"Of course! What business would I have in Yanjing? The trip was the institute director's idea—he thinks we absolutely must thank you in person."
Ding Shaoying then brought up an old topic again: "When the Yunshang Bauxite project first started, I made several short-sighted remarks. I still feel deeply ashamed about them. Thank you, Li Tang—you've been a mentor in my geological exploration career. Even if the director hadn't said anything, I personally feel I need to take you out for a meal and apologize face-to-face."
"That's really not necessary. Honestly, I'm just as impressed by your expertise in exploration technology." Li Tang felt quite embarrassed and shifted into mutual flattery mode.
After a round of back-and-forth compliments, they finally ended the call.
At Yanjing Geological University, Professor Chen Jinan had also read Li Tang's published paper—something he had been eagerly waiting for.
When he first visited the Yunshang Bauxite project at the invitation of the Huazhou Provincial Geological Association, he had become deeply intrigued by the ore formation theory.
The China Nonferrous Metals Association had set up a fund to research the Yunshang Bauxite formation theory, and Professor Chen had eagerly joined the effort.
Lately, he'd been collaborating with the Huazhou Geological Survey to collect all sorts of data about Yunshang Bauxite, as well as data on large bauxite deposits from across the country. After extensive comparison, they concluded that Yunshang Bauxite was unlike any previously known type of deposit.
That meant many old assumptions no longer applied.
But the research had hit a bottleneck. They couldn't find a breakthrough—until Li Tang's paper landed in their hands.
Professor Chen devoured it, reading it several times. Suddenly, everything became clear—he now had a coherent theoretical framework for Yunshang Bauxite.
Holding the journal, he rushed next door and shouted, "Professor Zhang!"
Zhang Zhongyu was preparing his course materials when he saw Professor Chen burst in, flustered and excited. "What's going on?"
"Li Tang's paper got published!" Chen Jinan exclaimed, placing the journal on his desk. "Take a look—from a geophysical perspective, tell me what you think of this paper."
"Really?" Zhang's interest piqued.
He remembered Li Tang had briefly mentioned his ideas on ancient land weathering mineralization, though the conversation lacked detail and had left him wanting more.
After all, in academic research, clarity and precision are paramount—there's no room for vagueness.
Researchers like them could digest a paper in just a few minutes and understand its core.
"This paper basically outlines the origin of the Yunshang Bauxite deposit, the exploration methods, and the mineralization characteristics," Zhang said after a quick read. "If he fleshed out the practical section, it could serve as a model for future exploration guides."
Chen Jinan pointed at a section excitedly. "Look here—he essentially confirms that the ore's source material is ancient continental silicate weathering products. And here—he says the ore-controlling factors are long-term sedimentary discontinuities, paleo-lithofacies, and supergene weathering! It matches exactly what Li Tang told us before. But this paper is way more detailed."
"Three hundred million years ago, in the Archean, mechanical transport formed the preliminary ore body through ancient land weathering. Then, about 140 million years ago, in the Jurassic and Cretaceous, acid rain and other factors caused further enrichment through chemical sedimentation…"
Zhang read aloud, then frowned. This went beyond his current understanding. "Where did this student learn such deep geological knowledge?"
"No idea," Chen shook his head, equally amazed. "Reading this paper, you wouldn't think he's an undergrad. It feels more like the work of a graduate student—one who's done years of theoretical research. Some of the ancient geologic content in here—I barely understand myself."
"I vaguely remember he comes from a family of geologists. His father and grandfather were both in the field," Zhang said, suspiciously.
"Maybe that really is it—he was raised in an environment full of geological knowledge," Chen nodded in agreement.
It wasn't just the two professors. Many professionals in the mining industry had taken interest in Li Tang's two papers.
They were sparking intense discussion across the entire field.
…
"This year is monumental for our team—a true milestone!"
Standing at a high platform, Zhou Zhenxing addressed more than a hundred members of Geological Team 101, his voice passionate and firm. "This will be a hard-fought battle, comrades! We're heading to Tibet Province, and every technical backbone will be deployed. We must win every fight and seize every opportunity! Do you have confidence?"
"Yes!"
The thunderous response from over a hundred people echoed across the courtyard.
A lazy black mutt napping by the gate jumped up in fright, looked around confusedly, then flopped back down.
"According to our contract with Zise Mining, the total budget for the remaining work this year is 10 million yuan. But that money isn't guaranteed—it depends on how much work we actually complete."
Zhou opened a folder and read aloud, "The leadership team held a meeting, and the Bureau approved it. For this Qinglong Copper Mine project, the fieldwork allowance has been adjusted. For those heading to Tibet, the daily allowance is raised from five yuan to thirty!"
"Good!"
Cheers erupted. That kind of raise meant their monthly bonus would exceed their regular salary.
They had been living frugally for too long—finally, a chance to improve their meals.
"Besides the work allowance, the daily food allowance is now ten yuan. If you don't spend it all, the remainder will be added to your wage."
"Great!"
Some were already calculating how much they'd save by living off hard buns every day—they could pocket ten extra yuan daily, nearly doubling their monthly income.
"And there's a year-end bonus. If we hit the full 10 million work target, I won't just give you a thirteenth month—I'll double your annual salary!"
"Awesome!"
The morale was sky-high.
Zhou scanned their faces—each one brimming with hope for a better life.
"Autumn is here, and it's getting cooler. But in Tibet's Ali region, snow is already falling, and the winds are bitter cold. Working conditions there are brutal."
"We're not afraid of hardship! Those who can endure the worst, achieve the best!" someone shouted.
"I know none of you fear hardship. You wouldn't have lasted in geology otherwise. But remember this: no amount of money is worth your life.
Even if you don't bring home meat or corn—if you come home alive, your family will greet you with joy."
He looked every team member in the eye. "Come back safely. Every single one of you."
Applause filled the square.
Zhou turned to Li Zaiqiang and smiled. "Chief Engineer Li, would you like to say a few words?"
"I'd rather not. I'm not good at speeches. Like Captain Zhou said—work hard and stay safe," Li Zaiqiang said, waving it off.
Zhou smiled and turned back to the crowd. "Chief Engineer Li told me this: if Qinglong Copper Mine succeeds, every single unmarried employee will earn enough to afford a wife!
By the end of this project, everyone will be going to bed with someone in their arms!"
The crowd burst into laughter. Most of them were men—low wages, harsh work, and no time for dating.
If their income doubled, finding a partner would be a breeze.
"Alright!"
The cheers and laughter reached a peak.
After years of struggle, they finally saw a future to look forward to.
"That's it for today. Go home and pack—tomorrow at 8 a.m., we depart for Tibet!"
Zhou waved them off, then threw an arm over Li Zaiqiang's shoulder and walked back to his office.
"Is Li Tang coming with us?" he asked.
"Not sure. Haven't asked."
"Ask him now. Every time I talk to Zise Mining, they ask if Li Tang is coming."
"I'll check." Li Zaiqiang pulled out his phone.
"Better let me call—your phone charges too much," Zhou said, picking up the landline and dialing.
Through the receiver came loud banging sounds.
"Li Tang, what's all that noise?"
"Captain Zhou, nothing—I'm near a construction site."
"We're heading to Ali region tomorrow. Are you coming?"
"Already signed the contract?"
"Signed. Everything went smoothly. Zise Mining was very courteous. President Chen always asks if you're joining.
They hope you'll oversee the project like before. Honestly, you're more like one of them now. But to me, you'll always be part of Team 101."
"I probably can't make it. But the mineralization zones are clear now. Just focus hard on the four main ore bodies—drill as much as possible and define their size and thickness."
"Wukuang is keeping you that busy?" Zhou sounded worried.
They had all realized one thing by now—nothing worked without Li Tang.
From negotiations to execution, it was all Li Tang.
Without him, Qinglong Copper Mine lacked a soul.
"I haven't told the higher-ups I'm working with you guys. They've assigned me to go inspect a mining company in Austria.
I can't explain, so I just have to go. I won't be gone long."
"Going abroad? I hear it's all lights and luxury over there. Don't lose your head, alright?"
"I can handle it."
"Your dad's right here. Talk to him."
Zhou handed the phone to Li Zaiqiang.
"Going abroad?" his father asked.
"Yes."
"Stay safe."
"You be safe in Tibet too. When I get back, I'll join you."
"Any technical notes you want to pass on?" his father asked.
After three months working side-by-side in Ali, the two had developed a deep understanding of each other.
"In terms of tech, just stick with what we discussed. The main thing now is expanding the discovery. I'm sure Zise Mining is thinking the same."
"Alright."
Li Zaiqiang said no more and hung up the phone.
For three months on-site, he and Li Tang had discussed every detail of the project.
He already understood his son's thinking completely.
But there was still one thing Li Zaiqiang didn't know—the reward contract Li Tang had signed with Zise Mining.
At the moment, Li Tang was overseeing the renovation of his new apartment.
Judging by the current pace of work, the renovation would likely be finished before the Chinese New Year.
Meanwhile, all his paperwork for traveling abroad had been completed. He didn't need to handle any of the documentation related to the acquisition—everything was taken care of by the team from the International Investment Company.
At Li Tang's suggestion, He Runqi also joined the delegation. Together, they boarded the plane and crossed from the northern to the southern hemisphere.
For He Runqi, this was his first time flying—it was a completely new experience.
Back home, he had always traveled between his hometown and Yanjing by slow, overcrowded green trains. Especially during holidays, the cars were so packed that he could barely move, surrounded by noise and odors that left unforgettable (and regrettable) memories.
Flying was different. The seats were comfortable, and the flight attendants politely reminded him to fasten his seatbelt.
He was ecstatic.
"Hehe, look! Holy crap, the plane is moving!"
"We're airborne! We're really airborne! Dad, Mom, I'm in the sky!"
"Damn, look out the window, Li Tang! It's all clouds—we're above the clouds! Look at that one—it looks like the heavenly palace! Oh wow, golden light! That must be the Buddha!"
"Look over there! That cloud—must be Sun Wukong storming the heavens from Flower-Fruit Mountain!"
He babbled on non-stop, spouting every random thought that popped into his head.
At least he had the decency to keep his voice down, so only Li Tang, sitting next to him, could really hear him.
"Calm down," Li Tang muttered, not really in the mood to entertain this overexcited guy.
Still, after hearing He Runqi's wildly imaginative commentary, the clouds outside did seem to gain a strange kind of beauty.
The plane landed in Hong Kong, and after a layover, continued on to Perth in southern Australia.
They had left early in the day, but by the time they arrived, it was already deep into the night.
Luckily, Perth and Yanjing were in the same time zone, and the temperatures were similar at this time of year, so there was little jet lag or discomfort.
They were greeted at the airport by a tall, blond young woman named Alice.
She brought the group to a seafood restaurant. The portions were nowhere near enough to satisfy hungry stomachs, but because it was already late, no one discussed work—they went straight to the hotel to rest.
Early the next morning, they headed back to the airport and boarded a chartered plane for Karratha, a town in the Pilbara region.
Crossing most of Western Australia—over a thousand kilometers inland—they finally got an aerial view of the famous mining heartland.
Especially upon entering Pilbara, they could see vast stretches of red earth, sparse vegetation, and lifeless terrain.
Fifty years ago, this place had been a desolate wilderness. Now, it was one of Australia's richest mineral zones.
And it was all thanks to one man: Hancock.
The path their flight was taking now was probably similar to the one Hancock had traveled decades ago—moving from the coast to the interior, and laying eyes on this red land.
Unlike others who had passed over it without a second thought, Hancock had discovered high-grade iron ore here—completely different from traditional magnetite ores—and thus lifted the veil on this buried treasure.
Thanks to him, Australia transformed from an iron-poor land into one of the world's leading iron ore exporters.
Resource traders from all over the world now flocked to Pilbara.
Led by Guo Fengchun, their team of Chinese investors was just one of countless survey groups—but a relatively inconspicuous one.
"Tired from all the travel?" Guo Fengchun slowed his pace to walk alongside Li Tang and He Runqi, noticing He's sluggish footsteps.
"It is a bit exhausting," Li Tang admitted, though his tone was without complaint. "I've reviewed the materials from your department. The mine currently being operated by Coastal Resources Company isn't in Pilbara, correct?"
"No, it's about a hundred kilometers west of here, close to the coast," Guo Fengchun explained as they walked. "But they do hold a key mining license here in Pilbara. On paper, it shows tens of millions of tons in reserves, with high-grade ore—low in sulfur and phosphorus, just like Rio Tinto's product.
Frankly, I think their license here is more valuable than the mine they're currently operating. It's right next to Rio Tinto's. After we've seen Coastal's site, I'll take you to look at Rio Tinto's mine as well."
"Sounds good." Li Tang smiled faintly.
When they exited the airport, they were greeted by Coastal Resources Company's management team.
"Welcome, friends from the Northern Hemisphere!"
They were very warm, giving each guest a friendly hug.
They wasted no time, heading straight onto the road. The highways were long and straight, cutting through barren, red terrain on both sides.
They barely saw a single car coming from the opposite direction.
Eventually, they reached their destination.
Truthfully, Li Tang had no idea where exactly he was.
"This is our company's most precious asset!"
The general manager of Coastal Resources, Patrick—a big, round man whose belly looked like an inflated balloon—stood proudly on the edge of a desolate tract of land.
"We plan to build an iron ore processing plant here. Annual output will exceed 3 million tons. If we expand, we could hit 5 million tons! Our feasibility report has already been approved by the state government. The Ministry of Industry fully supports our plan!"
Each member of the delegation was handed a thick folder by the Coastal staff.
As He Runqi flipped through the sea of English letters, his motion sickness worsened.
Li Tang, however, could read the documents. They were exploration reports, complete with drill hole data.
On paper, the site looked quite attractive.
"The iron ore produced here is comparable in quality to what's coming out of Rio Tinto, BHP, and Fortescue. It's extremely marketable and in high demand by global steelmakers."
Patrick continued to boast. "We never have to worry about selling our ore. All we need now is a reliable partner."
And by "reliable," they clearly meant wealthy.
"Beneath this dirt lies piles and piles of cash. Friends from the north, let's make a fortune together!"
Blunt and to the point—but not wrong.
Who came to Pilbara without dreams of striking it rich?
After wandering across the undeveloped site and listening to Patrick's pitch, there wasn't much else to see.
The real value lay in the reports.
They returned to Karratha, a town built around mining, serving as Pilbara's central hub. With high population turnover, the hospitality industry was booming.
Their hotel was well-equipped, and the town had all the trappings—bars, restaurants, and plenty of mining-related businesses.
Shops sold spare parts for mining machinery, workers wore uniforms from world-famous mining firms, and provocative women in front of bars tried to lure in customers.
The delegation wasn't in the mood for sightseeing. After dinner, they went back to rest at the hotel.
The next morning, under Patrick's guidance, they toured Rio Tinto's mine.
They saw automated ore loaders, kilometer-long conveyor belts, and a vast railway network—all representing the peak of global mining technology.
Standing next to a long train, Patrick gestured proudly. "This railway connects directly to the northwest port of Hedland. Ore is loaded at the port and shipped worldwide. And in return—those ships bring back containers full of cash!"
He was joking, of course—ships didn't literally bring back money. But the sentiment was accurate.
Pilbara now exported over a hundred million tons of iron ore each year—bringing in incredible wealth.
Mining companies were raking in profits.
"Look at this train—it's loaded with ore from Rio Tinto's mine," Patrick said, pointing to the heavy freight cars. "Each train carries over 20,000 tons. And there are many such rail lines, all connecting Pilbara to the ports."
They also visited the power plant, water supply systems, and other infrastructure.
Guo Fengchun was deeply impressed—not only by the advanced mining operations but also by Patrick's passion.
And he wasn't alone.
Everyone in the group agreed—this was an ideal place to mine iron.
Once a wasteland, Pilbara had been transformed over decades. Power plants, railways, and water systems had sprung up from nothing.
It was the completeness of this infrastructure that unlocked the region's immense wealth.
Returning to Karratha, their two-day site visit came to an end.
Though still tired from all the driving, they were adjusting to the climate.
After dinner, they were heading back to the hotel to rest—until Patrick suggested something else. "Friends from the North!"
He always called them that, likely because he couldn't tell any of them apart or remember their names.
"Tonight, we're throwing a grand party—come celebrate with us!"
It wasn't a holiday, but that didn't stop the miners and bosses from partying hard.
In this remote land, after a long day of work, a raucous party was the perfect release.
The bar was packed. People danced wildly to the music, like seaweed swaying with the waves.
Up above, on a raised platform, several dancers writhed around steel poles like water snakes, setting the rhythm of the night.
What they wore couldn't be called clothing—just strips of fabric barely covering the essentials.
Their movements revealed more than they hid.
It was this hazy kind of beauty—fleeting, teasing—that was most dangerous.
Patrick was in his element, shaking his round body as he danced his way inside.
"My friends from afar! Drink to your heart's content—everything's on me tonight!"
He grabbed a bottle from a server, chugged it, and dove into the crowd.
"Guo, shall we dance?" asked a female employee from Coastal—likely Patrick's secretary—her eyes glowing.
"This is what I've been waiting for."
Guo Fengchun, clearly experienced, took her hand and joined the dance floor.
Others followed their lead. Some were awkward and hesitant, but still tempted.
He Runqi was clearly overwhelmed. He nudged Li Tang's arm. "Look up there!"
He couldn't stop glancing—then quickly looking away—his eyes burning with primitive desire.
"Here, have a drink."
Li Tang, though unfamiliar with this world too, poured him a drink.
Even in his past life, he'd rarely visited bars. He held a certain disdain for environments that used alcohol to justify debauchery.
But everyone else was enjoying themselves, and he didn't want to kill the mood—though he had no plans to join in.
He might've been mentally rigid, but physically he was still young. The dancers above stirred something primal.
Alcohol dulled the senses—and magnified hidden desires.
After three drinks, He Runqi couldn't hold back. He charged into the dance floor like a praying mantis preparing for battle, flailing his arms in a stiff, awkward attempt to dance.
He was insulting the very concept of dance.
"Hey, handsome!"
A dark-skinned woman wearing a bikini and bunny ears approached Li Tang with a drink.
She placed one hand on his thigh.
Li Tang's expression darkened.
He had just barely managed to calm down—and now this woman had triggered him all over again.
"Hello," he greeted.
"May I have the pleasure of a dance?" she asked, leaning in.
"I'm disabled," he said flatly, patting his leg.
"Oh… I'm sorry."
She left, hips swaying, full of charm.
Maybe he had just missed out on a beautiful night.
Li Tang sighed, poured himself a glass of juice, and stepped out into the courtyard.
There was a pool, hanging chairs for stargazing, and a much quieter atmosphere.
Some people preferred peace and had wandered outside, away from the loud music.
They sat quietly, chatted, or stared at the stars.
Others embraced in the shadows.
"You don't seem to like bar parties very much," someone said.
A voice came from a dimly lit hanging chair as Li Tang passed by, looking for a seat.
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