Chapter 137: I Want to Report Something (Fourth Consecutive 10k Word Update)
"I don't have a heart condition. I'm fine."
Chen Jinhe tried hard to suppress his emotions, but a little of it still leaked through. The signs of distress were obvious, so to cover it up, he simply stood up and walked out, not even looking back. "I'll take these documents to Finance. If everything checks out, I'll sign."
With that, he opened the office door and briskly walked out.
Finance responded quickly: the paperwork had no issues.
Chen Jinhe didn't delay. He signed the documents right in front of Li Tang and handed them to the finance office, giving clear instructions to process the payment as soon as possible.
No matter how reluctant he might have been or how much it hurt inside, he had principles.
One of them was that people who do real work should be paid what they're owed—without delay.
However, when the Finance Department received both the invoice from Zhenguan Exploration Tech and the Geological Bureau of Qianzhou, they hesitated.
Transferring over 20 million yuan in one go wasn't easy.
The core issue was that the company didn't have that much liquid cash in their bank account.
When word of this reached the higher-ups, Yao Zhenyu and Hu Shenwu rushed over. Along with Chen Jinhe, the three locked themselves in the chairman's office to discuss a solution.
"Eighteen million yuan for Li Tang?"
Yao Zhenyu nearly shouted when he heard the number.
If it weren't for his trust in Chen Jinhe, he would have suspected someone was embezzling company funds.
"You've seen the contract. Anything over 5 million tons of copper reserves is to be rewarded at 2 yuan per ton," Chen said.
He didn't have the heart to explain how this clause had come about. If word got out, he'd become a laughingstock.
"It's black and white—there's no going back now."
Hu Shenwu stayed calm and composed.
"I'm not trying to go back on our word. Zise Mining doesn't do that," Yao clarified, though he clearly struggled to accept the sudden expense.
The company was already strapped for cash, and now they needed to fork over another 18 million yuan? That was adding fuel to the fire.
They had nearly worn out their shoes trying to raise over 100 million to acquire the Jinyindong Gold Mine.
And now this unexpected payout was like a bolt from the blue.
"Li Tang was instrumental in discovering Qinglong Copper Mine," Chen said, finally composed. "Everyone at Zise understands the importance of his contribution.
Without Li Tang, there is no Qinglong."
"No one's questioning his value," Yao said. His worry wasn't about whether Li Tang deserved the money—he just didn't know where they'd get it.
"If you had to choose between Qinglong and Jinyindong—both worth over 100 million—which would you pick?" Hu asked, looking at his colleagues.
"I'd definitely choose Qinglong!"
Yao didn't even pause. Then he thought a bit more and explained, "Jinyindong already has a mining license and decent transport links. It's ready for near-term development.
But Qinglong… a world-class copper deposit? Overseas, that would cost billions!"
"Exactly. So what's the point of panicking?" Hu chuckled.
"Where's the money coming from? Your paycheck?" Yao countered.
"If my salary could cover it, I'd gladly offer it up."
"Oh, come off it!"
"What if…"
Chen, rubbing his chin, hesitated. "The bank loan is arriving soon. What if we divert a portion of it to pay Li Tang first?"
"That loan is earmarked strictly for the Jinyindong acquisition," Yao warned.
"Using it elsewhere would be a violation," Hu added.
"What if we tried negotiating with Li Tang on the payout?" Yao suggested.
"You want to do that?" Hu shot back.
"I can't."
"Then don't even bring it up. It's a legal contract—signed, stamped, and sealed. That money belongs to him."
"Enough."
Chen sighed. He had no better ideas, but he stood up. "I'm going to talk to the branch bank manager and try to get this sorted.
Given what Li Tang has done, we absolutely cannot delay his payment."
…
The press conference was held with great fanfare.
Zise Mining had prepared an enormous venue. The stage backdrop was grand and imposing. Everything was minimalistic, yet polished.
Not only was Zise treating this seriously, but Jiangda Securities had gone all in as well.
They'd pulled every string, leveraging their media network to the fullest.
They brought in major outlets—Hong Kong's Eastern Daily, Firebird TV, Hong Kong Cable News—as well as mainland giants like Finance Express, China Business Daily, and even some international financial news agencies.
To build hype for Zise, Li Feiqun had mobilized his entire media Rolodex.
Of course, how the media ultimately reported on the event would depend on whether the news itself was as explosive as he believed. Time would tell.
"Ahem…"
Chen Jinhe adjusted his tie. It felt too tight. He was sweating, his breath slightly labored, his white dress shirt damp beneath his jacket.
He looked down and spotted Li Tang in the front row—sitting relaxed in a well-fitted suit, one leg crossed, the picture of ease.
If only Li Tang were up here giving the speech, this would all be a breeze.
Suppressing his nerves, Chen faced the sea of cameras and started his remarks:
"Zise Mining has discovered the Qinglong Copper Mine, with reserves reaching 14 million tons.
As exploration continues, that figure will likely exceed 20 million—or even 30 million!
This is the largest copper discovery in China's history!"
A wave of gasps rippled through the room. Cameras snapped into focus.
Chen held up a black lingzhi mushroom as a prop, raising it over his head.
"Qinglong Copper Mine's four ore bodies are like this lingzhi—most of the deposit lies shallow.
But the deep zones have enormous potential as well.
We're confident—and some geological experts are predicting—that Qinglong might become the largest copper deposit in the world!"
Clack, clack, clack!
Many reporters didn't fully grasp the implications, but when they heard "largest copper deposit in the world," their blood stirred with pride and excitement.
It felt like witnessing a historic moment.
Applause erupted. Cheers followed.
Seeing the enthusiastic reaction, Chen finally relaxed. There would be no awkward silence today.
He continued with his prepared speech, passionately describing Qinglong's journey, even comparing it to Qulong—and concluding that Qinglong was far superior in scale.
Then he pivoted to Zise's other major success: the acquisition of Jinyindong Gold Mine.
Finally, his eyes returned to Li Tang in the front row. With deep emotion, he said:
"I want to especially thank one person—Li Tang.
After Qulong came Qinglong. He is a pioneer in China's mineral exploration industry!"
As Chen left the stage, the applause was thunderous.
In the crowd, reporters began whispering to one another: "Who is Li Tang?"
…
The Supervisory Board of Wukuang Group had arrived.
They were appointed by the higher authorities to monitor state-owned assets and ensure transparency in all financial movements.
The board consisted of one chairman and four supervisors.
Every year-end, the board would interview employees at various levels to gather firsthand information on asset utilization—and investigate any signs of misconduct.
In a private room, Chairman Xu Zexue was conducting a routine interview with senior managers at Wukuang's Exploration Company.
Qin Jianshe had just left when Zhou Tianqi entered. He sat down, smoothed his graying hair, and adjusted his reading glasses properly before looking up.
"Chairman Xu."
"Hello, Director Zhou."
Though technically an overseer, Xu was well acquainted with the leadership at Wukuang. He smiled politely, then went straight to the point:
"It's the end of the year—routine interviews. You know the drill. This room is sealed and confidential.
Anything you say—whether it's a complaint, a report on misconduct, or an accusation—will remain protected.
Please speak freely. Talk about anything you feel is unfair or shady."
"I understand the procedure."
Zhou reached into his pocket for a cigarette and match but hesitated halfway and pulled his hand back.
"Don't worry. We're all friends here. If you want to smoke, go ahead. There are no rules in this room."
Xu smiled kindly. "Say what you want. Do what you want."
"Well, then I won't hold back."
Zhou pulled out a crumpled pack, took the last cigarette, and shoved the empty pack back into his pocket.
He looked a little sheepish. "It's the last one. Want it?"
"I don't smoke." Xu waved it off.
"Then I'll help myself."
He lit it with a match, inhaling deeply. The flame flared at the tip as he drew it all in without letting a puff escape.
Xu and the two other supervisors waited patiently.
Once his craving was satisfied, Zhou finally opened his mouth:
"I want to report someone."
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