Chapter 100: Right Now—Immediately!
"Captain Zhou!"
Han Dexun, still the calmer of the two, called out just as Zhou Zhenxing and Pan Yuexing were about to rush out.
"Just because it looks like a pie fell from the sky doesn't mean you shouldn't be careful."
"We at the 101 Geological Team are so poor, even thieves leave empty-handed. What do we have to worry about people trying to take?"
Zhou replied, showing the unshakable confidence of a man with nothing to lose.
"At least let Pan finish explaining. What's the project, how big is it?"
Han was genuinely concerned. Of course he was eager to hear about a potential big project, but he needed details.
"Zise Mining is a local enterprise from Jian'an Province. They've grown rapidly over the past few years. First, confirm that these people are actually from Zise Mining."
Zhou came to his senses a little and nodded.
"Pan, explain the project details. Should we involve the Bureau officially?"
"I overheard a bit of it. The project is called Qinglong Copper Mine, and the feasibility study was written by Li Tang. From what I could gather, President Chen Jinhe from Zise Mining is mainly giving us the job because of Li Tang."
Zhou and Han exchanged another confused glance.
"Isn't Li Tang part of Wu Mining Group? How did he end up involved with Zise Mining?" Zhou asked, baffled.
"Oh—by the way,"
Pan suddenly remembered, slapping his forehead.
"The total budget for the Qinglong project is the same as the one for Qu Long—35 million yuan."
"Thirty-five million?!"
Zhou and Han both shouted in unison.
Their voices were so loud that the windows seemed to rattle, like an earthquake had just passed through.
They stared at Pan, disbelief written all over their faces.
But then they thought it through—Pan wouldn't dare joke about something like this, especially not with both the team captain and the bureau director.
"Wait, what was the name again…?"
Han asked.
"Chen Jinhe," Pan answered quickly.
"Is he still there?" Han asked, finally regaining his composure and trying to act calm.
"He's still in our geological office. He's been waiting for Captain Zhou to come back and sign the contract," Pan replied.
"You, Pan Yuexing!"
Zhou pointed at him furiously, though it was more frustration than anger.
"You could've said all that in three sentences, and you took half an hour!"
He grabbed his briefcase and bolted, completely ignoring his image as a leader.
When someone hands you a roast duck and it's already in your mouth, you don't let it fly away!
Han staggered to his feet like a man waking up from a fog. He headed next door to his assistant's office.
"Xiao Wang, gather every bureau leader—right now! We're going to the 101 Geological Team immediately."
"What's going on at the 101 Team?" the assistant asked.
"There's a huge project. Get everyone together. Right now. Immediately!" Han barked.
He glanced at the time. Some staff had already gone to lunch.
"Even if they've already started eating, drag them out. No matter what anyone is doing, drop everything and head to the 101 Team. Five minutes—gather in front of the bureau!"
"Understood!"
Five minutes?
Everyone in the administrative office knew this had to be serious. They sprinted from office to office, banging on doors, yelling in the halls, even running into the cafeteria to fetch people.
Meanwhile, Zhou and Pan arrived in a vehicle and stormed into the courtyard of the 101 Geological Team. Zhou didn't even wait for the car to stop fully before he jumped out with his briefcase, racing toward the geological office.
He burst inside—only to find the chairs all in disarray and the room empty.
"Where are they?!" he roared at Pan.
"They were here when I left!" Pan's face went pale. Was it possible that Chen Jinhe had gotten tired of waiting and left?
An employee returning from lunch spotted Zhou and greeted him.
"Captain Zhou, have you eaten yet?"
"No," Zhou grumbled, waving his hand dismissively.
"Have you seen Li Zaiqiang?"
"He's in the cafeteria."
"In the cafeteria? He's still got an appetite at a time like this?"
Zhou panicked. If they'd left Chen Jinhe and his team to fend for themselves and sent them off to eat in the cafeteria, the whole deal could be ruined!
He pressed further.
"What about the people from Zise Mining?"
"I think they're in the cafeteria too," the employee replied, unsure.
"Hmm?"
Zhou immediately rushed toward the rear of the office building, where the team cafeteria was located.
The cafeteria was a row of tiled-roof buildings with a few round tables inside. At the entrance, a small square table held two vegetable dishes and a soup—simple, no frills.
The cafeteria lady was scooping food into meal boxes, her arm shaking like she had Parkinson's.
"Captain Zhou, you haven't gotten your meal yet!" she called out cheerfully when she saw him. Feeling like she had a chance to impress, her hand suddenly steadied.
Zhou ignored her and walked straight in.
There weren't many people inside. He quickly spotted Li Zaiqiang—and beside him, several unfamiliar faces.
Zhou backed out, grabbed a meal box, and whispered to the cafeteria lady,
"Just give me a little. A tiny bit."
Then he picked up a chair, walked in, and tapped Li Zaiqiang on the shoulder.
Li Zaiqiang turned and was pleasantly surprised.
"Captain Zhou!"
The table was full, but they squeezed in to make room.
Zhou nodded politely at the guests, not even sure which one was Chen Jinhe.
To his left sat Li Tang. Zhou leaned over and whispered,
"When did you get back?"
"Yesterday," Li Tang replied.
"What's going on?" Zhou asked quietly.
"It's good news, don't worry," Li Tang said with a smile.
Zhou didn't ask further. He sat there with his meal tray, grinning awkwardly at the guests across the table.
Vrrrmm!
Several black sedans pulled into the courtyard. Han Dexun arrived, leading a group of bureau officials who were all dressed in matching dark Mao suits.
They rushed to the cafeteria door and peeked inside. Sure enough, there were Zhou Zhenxing and Li Zaiqiang sitting with some unfamiliar men.
"This Zhou Zhenxing and Li Zaiqiang… what are they doing?" one leader grumbled.
"We've got important guests, and they bring them to the cafeteria? What kind of hospitality is that? If word of this gets out, people will think our bureau is stingy!"
"I agree. At the very least, they should have brought them to a proper restaurant. Make our guests feel welcome and respected."
"This meal—two veggie dishes and a thin soup—utterly disgraceful."
Everyone was starting to panic and criticize.
Han raised his hand, motioning for them to calm down. Then he led the group back to the center of the courtyard. They stood there, awkwardly waiting.
Most of them hadn't even eaten lunch. Some had just started their meals when they were called away. Now they were all standing around, hungry.
But on the way over, when they heard that a mining tycoon had come with a 35-million-yuan project, every last one of them was so excited they forgot all about food.
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