Chapter 231: Isn't This Basically a Blind Date?
"I'm truly worried about my daughter! She's already twenty-seven—just two more Lunar New Years and she'll be thirty!"
Li Xingchao's face flushed red with embarrassment, but he gritted his teeth and pushed forward for his daughter's future.
"You know our company employs tens of thousands of people across the country. Just here at our Yanjing headquarters, we have the cream of the crop—young, handsome, from good families, and exceptionally capable. I once told her, 'Pick any one of them, and I'll help arrange it. I'll personally matchmake—you'll have your wedding before you know it!'"
"President Li, that sounds like using power to pressure your subordinates," Niu Fu remarked flatly, summing up Li Xingchao's actions with a dry wit.
Red-faced and speechless, Li Xingchao continued with a sigh, "Guess what she said?"
"What?" Qin Jianshe played along.
"She asked me, 'Is there anyone at the company more outstanding than you, Dad?'" Li Xingchao even mimicked her innocent tone, eyes wide with disbelief.
"I'd say no," Qin replied with a chuckle.
"I said yes," Li Xingchao explained. "Then she said, 'Then give him your position as general manager. If he becomes GM, I'll date him.' What kind of logic is that? Sure, I might be outstanding, but I can't just hand out the GM title!"
"And that's when you set your sights on Li Tang?" Niu Fu asked, still with that deadpan look, clearly suspicious of Li Xingchao's motives.
Li wasn't offended. He knew only Niu would speak to him this way. "I've thought this over from every angle. There are many young men who are well-matched and outstanding. But either my daughter isn't interested, or they think she's too old. It's been giving me a headache."
"Then I thought of Li Tang. He's young—not necessarily handsome—but he's clean-cut and proper. I checked—he doesn't have a girlfriend, and his family background is pretty normal…"
"Li Tang's background might be modest, but he himself is anything but ordinary," Niu Fu pointed out.
"Is there any family not worthy of being connected to the daughter of Li Xingchao?" Li asked confidently.
"How old is he again?" Niu pressed.
"Twenty-three or twenty-four," Qin replied truthfully.
"Older women marrying younger men is good luck—they say it's like hugging a gold brick!" Li Xingchao quipped. "In my daughter's case, marrying her is like hugging a gold mountain!"
"But I bet your whole fortune still doesn't equal a fraction of Li Tang's," Niu retorted bluntly. "I always wondered why your Shenxia Group, which only deals in coal, suddenly invested twenty million in Li Tang's Zhongcheng Mining. Then you and Cheng Muye from Huajin even loaned him fifty million. I thought, 'Does this guy have money burning a hole in his pocket?' Now I get it—you were just looking for an excuse to get close to Li Tang!"
Li waved dismissively. "I'm here to talk to Minister Qin, not to argue with you!"
He turned to Qin Jianshe, his tone warm.
"I heard you're an old classmate of Li Tang's father. It was you who recommended Li Tang to Wukuang in the first place. Tell me a bit about him—especially his personal life."
"Li Tang…" Qin hesitated.
Talking about work was one thing, but gossiping about someone's personal life felt awkward.
He glanced at Niu Fu, who was sipping his tea calmly.
"It's not exactly a state secret," Li Xingchao said, reaching for a small bag beside the sofa and handing it to Qin. "I brought you a little gift."
"Bribery through sugar-coated bullets," Niu mumbled through his tea.
Qin peeked inside the bag—it was a small, fancy box that clearly contained an expensive watch.
He quickly raised his hands. "President Li, I can't accept this."
"If he accepts it, that's a disciplinary issue!" Niu barked, eyes wide.
"It's just a gift between friends," Li Xingchao said, setting the box at Qin's feet. "I'm only asking for some information. It's not like I'm asking you to sell out Li Tang."
Qin looked again at Niu before finally speaking.
"Li Tang is a very straightforward person. I spent a year working with him on a project in Mongolia. He was laser-focused—never distracted. You could say he's extremely dedicated to his work."
"And romantically? Is he seeing anyone?"
"I never saw him with any women. He's always alone. And to be fair, we spend most of our time in the wilderness. It's hard to meet anyone out there."
From what Qin knew, Li Tang was still single.
"When I spoke to his father during the holiday, he even asked me if we had any eligible young women in the company—clearly concerned about his son's future too."
"Really?" Li Xingchao beamed.
"Perfect match! A meeting of hearts and minds! The right time, the right people!"
"Li Tang is like family to us at Wukuang. You just want to use your daughter's happiness as an excuse to get him to marry into Shenxia Group," Niu accused, cutting straight to the heart of it.
Li Xingchao remained the picture of gentlemanly composure. Ignoring Niu's jab, he put a hand on Qin's shoulder.
"Minister Qin, could you please tell Li Tang to meet with my daughter sometime? Just a casual meeting."
"He's not in Yanjing right now," Qin said.
"He's probably working in Huizhou," Niu added knowingly. "Li Tang's too busy chasing glory to worry about romance."
"Please, I'm begging you."
Li Xingchao grasped Qin's hand sincerely.
"Try to understand a father's worry."
"Don't be like this, President Li."
Qin didn't dare accept his plea, but he thought about it.
Arranging a meeting wasn't a crime.
"Fine. I'll talk to Li Tang and see if he's willing. Then I'll get back to you."
"Great. Let's exchange numbers."
Li Xingchao finally relaxed, as if he could already see his daughter's happy future.
As he walked to the door, Niu shouted,
"President Li, take your gift! Don't leave it here or people will think I took it!"
Li Xingchao returned, snatched up the little box, and pointed at Niu, scowling.
"Niu Fu, you're a wolf in sheep's clothing!"
"What did I do?" Niu asked innocently.
"You're just jealous that you don't have a beautiful daughter!"
Now that it was just the two of them, Li dropped all pretense.
"You're just afraid Li Tang won't stay tied to Wukuang forever. You're trying to lock him down. Dream on. Sure, Li Tang has helped your group—but he'll never stay in one place forever."
"You're the one scheming," Niu shot back.
"And I'll tell you—this marriage idea? I know Li Tang. It won't happen. Forced matches never work. And Li Tang? He's a 'melon' you can't twist off the vine."
"What makes you so sure he won't fall for my daughter?"
"I'm done talking. Let's wait and see who's right," Niu said, as if he'd already seen how the story would end.
…
After receiving Qin's call, Li Tang returned from Shazhai to Huizhou City.
There, he found Dai Yingchi managing everything at Shazhai Molybdenum like clockwork. Reassured, and seeing his cousin and sister-in-law happily settled in, he went to his aunt's house for dinner.
The next day, he flew back to Yanjing.
Old Wang's BBQ.
Tonight, it was Qin Jianshe's treat.
"Come on, let's raise a glass to Construction—finally a promotion!"
Zhao Hepu beamed.
He and Qin had joined the Mining & Metallurgy Company together. Over the years, their friendship had deepened through battles won and challenges faced together.
Their mutual support and camaraderie had become a bond forged by time.
By this year, both of them had reached the same professional level. They had successfully carved out their paths in the workplace. The bitterness they'd endured stayed hidden in their hearts, but whenever good things happened, they celebrated together.
Luo Qinzhong and Qian Hao had also heard the news and rushed over to join the celebration.
"Aren't you working on the molybdenum mining project in Huizhou Province?" Qian Hao represented Kunshang Group, and by extension, Luoyi Molybdenum, maintaining regular contact with Li Tang.
"I got a call from President Qin—well, now it's Minister Qin—this morning. I took a flight back today."
He hadn't mentioned clearly over the phone that he was returning, so Li Tang only now learned that Qin Jianshe had officially transferred to Wukuang Group's headquarters to serve as Director of the Technology Department. It was definitely a promotion.
He was genuinely happy for Qin Jianshe.
You could say good things always come with some struggle.
After everyone offered their congratulations and started talking about the molybdenum project, Zhao Hepu put down his wine glass and let out a light sigh. "You mentioned wanting to start a molybdenum project. After returning to the company, I discussed your idea with President Niu. From my perspective, we should absolutely support it. But after discussion at the executive level, the group ultimately decided to reject the investment."
Qin Jianshe nodded. He already knew about this. "Our group doesn't currently operate in the molybdenum sector, and we don't have much presence in Huizhou Province either. Entering a completely unfamiliar field so suddenly is indeed risky. The leadership's decision was quite reasonable."
Hearing this, Qian Hao chuckled. "You all say you support him, but when it counts, you still don't really trust Li Tang!"
"It's not that serious."
At this point, Li Tang couldn't avoid being at the center of attention anymore. Every move he made drew others' eyes.
"In any case, Kunshang Group and Luoyi Molybdenum are investing in Li Tang. Say what you will, but I personally have always trusted his judgment!"
Qian Hao raised his glass—full to the brim, with wine spilling over the edges. "Li Tang, come on, a toast to you!"
With a clink, their glasses met.
"Here's to the success of our molybdenum project! Let's make those two who didn't believe in you regret it later!"
Li Tang tilted his head back and drank deeply. The wine was cold as it slid down.
It was spring now, but Yanjing's weather was still a bit chilly.
"It will succeed," he said with a smile.
In fact, he had known for a long time that the project would be a major success.
Everything was already moving along the path he had envisioned—on the right track and progressing smoothly.
Before long, the largest molybdenum mine in Huaxia would be revealed to the world.
He was confident in that, so there was no need for him to keep watch over the Shazhai County project site any longer.
"I definitely hope you guys succeed!" Zhao Hepu wasn't petty about it at all and raised his glass again, joining in the toast.
Qin Jianshe looked at Li Tang and suddenly asked, "Li Tang, are you twenty-four or twenty-five this year?"
"Twenty-four," Li Tang replied, puzzled.
"Your father called me during the New Year to exchange greetings and catch up. He also told me something important."
Everyone paused their drinks to listen attentively.
"What did he say?" Li Tang was curious too.
"He said your family line depends solely on you now—you're the only one left to carry it on," Qin Jianshe said, dead serious.
Everyone else couldn't help but laugh, covering their mouths.
Out of the five people present, Li Tang was the only one not married or with children. They loved to tease him about this topic, always with the unspoken air of: "We know better than you, so listen up."
"You're not that young anymore. When I was your age, there were girls chasing after me every day, begging to marry me. I really was popular back then," Qian Hao shamelessly bragged about his romantic past.
"Having a steady relationship and a harmonious family doubles the joy of success in your career," Luo Qinzhong said, summing up his life experience.
"You're always busy with work and making money. You really should slow down and think about the big events in your personal life!" Zhao Hepu nodded in agreement.
While they couldn't criticize Li Tang's professional success at all, they felt perfectly qualified to lecture him about love and relationships.
This was one of the few areas where they could still play the elder role to him.
Li Tang had actually experienced relationships and the everyday domestic life. But at the moment, his emotional life was quite barren—something he couldn't really explain.
"A fair lady is what a gentleman desires." It was a natural sentiment in any man's heart.
He now had a young body, and he was at the age of vigorous energy.
But when someone was wholeheartedly immersed in a beloved career, deeply focused, they often overlooked emotional needs.
"I haven't met the right person yet," was all he could say to brush them off.
"You don't have to meet her yourself."
Qin Jianshe, speaking in a tone like a leader giving an official speech, said loudly, "To fulfill your father's wishes—and for the sake of your own life—I've found a young and beautiful girl for you!"
"Huh?" Li Tang was stunned.
"Is she someone's daughter from our department?" Zhao Hepu guessed. He knew many middle-aged women at the company loved to play matchmaker for outstanding young employees.
"She's not from our company."
Qin Jianshe looked at Li Tang with a very formal air and said, "She's the daughter of Li Xingchao, General Manager of Shenxia Group!"
"The daughter of Li Xingchao, GM of Shenxia Group?"
"Now that's a true heiress—an aristocratic family, well-educated and high-born!"
"I've never seen her, but girls like that—daughters of big-time leaders—usually dress well and look good. Can't be too bad."
"When I was younger, I often fantasized about marrying the daughter of a powerful leader. I thought my career would just take off smoothly after that. Li Tang, this is your chance—grab it!"
"If you really do marry Li Xingchao's daughter, your father-in-law will be a source of endless power! You won't even need to run to banks for funding—just talk to your father-in-law directly!"
"Isn't this kind of like recruiting a royal consort?"
Everyone started talking at once, the room lively with laughter and speculation.
Some were envious of Li Tang's opportunity. Others were eyeing the potential political and financial benefits. Some simply began to offer their well-wishes.
But Li Tang himself was dazed.
"When are you free? You two should set a time to meet." Qin Jianshe was very thorough in fulfilling this mission. If he could make a good match, it would be a fine deed. "Don't feel pressured. Just meet, chat, and if things click, keep talking. If not, that's fine too."
Wasn't this just a blind date?
Li Tang felt that Qin Jianshe was genuinely trying to help him. Though his instinct was to refuse, he suddenly thought of the moment during the New Year when he was leaving Qianzhou Province and his parents walked him to the airport. His mother's words still echoed in his ears.
"Tomorrow, then," he blurted out, almost involuntarily.
It was just a meeting—not like walking into a fire pit.
"Alright. You choose the place and get in touch with the girl. Here's her contact info." Qin Jianshe had everything prepared and handed Li Tang her phone number.
He had fulfilled his promise to Li Xingchao. Whether this match ended in happiness or not now depended on the young people.
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