Chapter 96: Delivered to the Door
Li Tang returned to Zhucheng, Guizhou Province, together with Li Zaiqiang and Pan Yuexing.
Since he was currently working on projects on behalf of the company, his schedule was quite flexible. His only reason for returning this time was to visit his dear, beloved mother.
He went to the middle school near home and waited at the gate for her to get off work.
"Are you Li Tang?"
As school let out, many teachers rode out on bicycles, black briefcases hanging from their handlebars. A balding middle-aged teacher recognized the young man standing at the gate and called out to him.
"I am," Li Tang replied with a smile. "Hello, Mr. Wu. Off work?"
"Yep, heading out to pick up some groceries. You're here to meet your mother after work?"
"That's right."
"It's been years since you came back. You've grown up so fast—time really flies. I remember when you were a student here—you were the most mischievous kid in school."
"I didn't know any better back then," Li Tang said, a little embarrassed.
"Teacher Tang should be out soon. Just wait a bit," the teacher said as he got on his bike and rode off.
"Take care, Mr. Wu," Li Tang said, waving goodbye.
Many of the older teachers at the school still recognized him. When they saw him, they'd greet him with a few words.
Tang Chuqiu, carrying a cloth bag with local ethnic patterns, came running out as soon as she heard someone mention her son was waiting outside.
Sure enough, she saw Li Tang looking around at the school gate.
"What are you doing here?" she said, clearly delighted to see him.
"I came to go grocery shopping with you."
Li Tang took the bag off his mother's shoulder and slung it over his own. "I'll carry the groceries. You just pick out what you want."
"I used to ask you to come grocery shopping, and you always complained. What's gotten into you today?"
She couldn't make sense of it, but was clearly touched. Arm in arm, they walked toward the nearby market.
Along the way, whenever they heard the bell of a bicycle, Tang Chuqiu would turn and greet her colleagues with a smile—proudly introducing her son.
After buying groceries and returning home, Li Tang suddenly got a call from Chen Jinhe.
"President Chen, working late tonight?" he teased after answering.
"We finish later than most. Li Tang, do you have time tomorrow? I plan to visit Guizhou to discuss the Qinglong Copper Mine exploration project with the Geological Bureau. I think it would be best if you were present."
"I'm already in Guizhou. When are you arriving?"
"Really? That's perfect. I'll be flying in tomorrow."
"Then I look forward to your visit, President Chen!"
After hanging up, Li Zaiqiang, who was watching TV in the living room, asked curiously,
"Company business calling you back?"
"No, that was President Chen Jinhe from Zise Mining." Li Tang didn't hide anything from his father.
"He called you personally?"
Li Zaiqiang was a bit surprised but quickly realized something.
He recalled how they had rented trucks from Zhucheng to retrieve their drill rigs from Tibet—but only left them in storage after Li Tang mentioned Zise Mining might have a project coming. Could this call be confirmation?
"Chen Jinhe is coming tomorrow to discuss the cooperation for the exploration project."
Li Tang sat down beside his father, speaking casually.
"A project discussion?" Li Zaiqiang's voice jumped in pitch.
His sudden outburst startled Tang Chuqiu, who was washing vegetables in the kitchen. She came out and glared at him.
"Why are you yelling? Our son's just come home—you already start scolding him?"
"I wasn't scolding."
Li Zaiqiang quickly tried to calm her down, then lowered his voice.
"Is the news reliable?"
"Absolutely."
Li Tang peeled an orange and spoke in an easy tone while eating.
"Chen Jinhe is flying in tomorrow to talk to us in person."
"A big company's president coming here just to talk to us? That feels a little off..."
Li Zaiqiang was unsure. "Maybe you should call him and go to them instead?"
"No need," Li Tang said, spitting out a seed and waving it off. "He's already booked his flight. We'll wait here."
"This feels way too casual,"
Li Zaiqiang muttered. He thought this was something that should be treated with ceremony—make the guest feel important.
"I'm going to call Captain Zhou and arrange an airport pickup and welcome ceremony for tomorrow."
"It's really not necessary! It's late—don't bother him with work right now,"
Li Tang chuckled.
"President Chen isn't the kind of person who cares about formalities."
"We can't come across as too shabby, though..."
Li Zaiqiang was suddenly nervous. He didn't want to mess up the reception and risk losing the project.
Li Tang handed him another peeled orange.
"Relax. If they weren't planning to give us the project, they wouldn't fly all the way here to talk."
"You really think we don't have to do anything?"
"President Chen and I have a mentor-mentee kind of relationship. Trust me."
The family enjoyed a hearty dinner that evening.
But Li Zaiqiang didn't sleep well that night. He got up early, dressed in formal attire, and took Li Tang to the 101 Geological Team office.
He checked Captain Zhou's office but found it empty—no idea where he had gone.
With the pickup time approaching, he didn't wait any longer. He borrowed two cars from the office and went with Li Tang to the airport.
When they saw Chen Jinhe and his entourage arrive, Li Zaiqiang suddenly realized his mistake—he hadn't asked how many people were coming.
There were seven of them in total.
Two cars could fit them if they squeezed, but it would look bad.
"You lead the way. Some of us will take taxis,"
Chen Jinhe said kindly, offering a practical solution.
Thankfully, the local airport had plenty of taxis—locally nicknamed "beetles"—and the fare was a fixed five yuan.
Arriving at the 101 Geological Team office, Chen Jinhe admired the area's surroundings, clearly in a good mood. He shook Li Zaiqiang's hand warmly.
"Brother Li, do you remember me?"
"Of course,"
Li Zaiqiang said, smiling awkwardly.
Back when Chen had asked him about the Qu Long Copper Mine, he'd dismissed him as a con artist. Only now did he realize the man he had brushed off was a bringer of fortune.
Thankfully, Chen hadn't held it against him.
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