Chapter 294: Ximendu Iron Mine
After a short while at the banquet, the bride and groom came over in their formal attire to propose a toast.
When the bride saw Li Xinqi, she excitedly squealed, and the two of them hugged each other, bouncing around cheerfully.
"Chengcheng, you are simply the most beautiful bride in the world!" Li Xinqi gazed admiringly at her friend's stunning wedding gown, her eyes practically glowing.
"I originally wanted you to be my bridesmaid, but I knew you've been incredibly busy with work."
The bride glanced at Li Tang beside Li Xinqi and asked, "So this is your boyfriend?"
"Hello, I'm Li Tang," Li Tang proactively raised his glass, politely offering a toast to the couple, "Congratulations!"
"Thank you," the bride smiled happily, sipping her drink, then added teasingly, "Seeing how perfectly matched you two are dressed today, I'm guessing your wedding is also just around the corner!"
"Seeing your happiness makes me want to get married too," Li Xinqi said, stealing a quick glance at Li Tang.
As they chatted, the bride's family members approached, raising their glasses to toast everyone: "Enjoy yourselves!"
Li Tang joined in and raised his glass as well.
At that moment, a large hand suddenly rested on his shoulder. Turning around, Li Tang saw an unfamiliar middle-aged man.
"This gentleman is Mr. Ren Hanhong, General Manager of the Electric Power Group," the bride's father announced, surprised and honored, assuming Mr. Ren had come to toast all the guests. He quickly introduced Ren Hanhong to everyone.
Indeed, Ren Hanhong held a glass, but instead of addressing the entire table, his attention was solely on Li Tang.
"I saw an old friend here and thought I'd come over for a quick chat," Ren explained to the bride's father.
Everyone at the table looked around, puzzled—mostly young women, friends of the bride. Who among them could be an acquaintance of Ren Hanhong?
Before anyone could speculate further, Ren Hanhong extended his hand to Li Tang, "Chairman Li, I've long admired your reputation!"
Li Tang was puzzled but politely shook his hand. "Have we met before?"
"You haven't met me, but I've seen you," Ren explained. Seeing Li Tang's confusion, he added, "Our subsidiary power station construction company under Electric Power Group is handling the electricity sub-project construction for the Talego Copper-Gold Mine."
"Oh—" Li Tang suddenly understood. He noticed his empty glass and immediately refilled it. "My apologies for not recognizing you earlier."
"I've heard your name many times. When I visited your company previously to sign a contract with Qin Jianshe, I saw your picture posted on your company's employee wall," Ren carefully studied Li Tang's face. "I recognized you immediately from afar today."
Originally seated at the main table, Ren had been repeatedly toasted by other executives from the Electric Power Group. Yet, this time, he proactively approached Li Tang to make a toast, drawing everyone's curiosity.
Li Tang apologized gently, "The construction of the Talego Copper-Gold Mine involves many partners. Recently, Mr. Qin has been overseeing this project, and I'm afraid we haven't properly hosted you during your visits."
"When we signed the contract, we knew you were busy overseas. We fully understand," Ren replied, clinking his glass with Li Tang's. "Your international projects have indeed set excellent examples for our domestic enterprises and brought great honor to the country."
Li Tang drank and smiled modestly. "These are small ventures compared to your Electric Power Group or Shenxia Group."
"Pebble Project, Lianying Mining—these projects are famous overseas, frequently discussed domestically as well. If these are small, then there are no big projects," Ren laughed cheerfully, then quickly switched the topic. "I heard Lianying Mining also plans to build a mine in the State of Ao and is planning a thermal power plant there. You know, we at Electric Power Group have the most extensive installed thermal power capacity domestically and leading international expertise in designing and constructing thermal plants."
This was clearly the reason behind Ren's proactive approach today.
Li Tang felt a bit awkward. The iron ore project in Ao would naturally select international firms as general contractors. As for sub-projects, local enterprises would certainly be preferred, considering various local factors.
"We haven't officially initiated the bidding process yet. If your enterprise is interested, you're very welcome to participate in the bidding," Li Tang replied diplomatically.
Ren, sensing Li Tang's neutral stance, seemed slightly disappointed. After all, they were practically strangers.
"Well, we have extensive international experience, especially with projects in Africa, including thermal and hydroelectric plants," Ren insisted.
"I'm aware of that," Li Tang smiled gently.
"In any case, we will prioritize ensuring the Talego Copper-Gold Mine's power plant construction goes smoothly!" Ren reached out and shook Li Tang's hand again. "Let's chat more when we have a chance."
He turned toward the bride's father, warmly adding, "Lao Wang is deputy director of our Power Operations Management Center. It's his daughter's wedding today, and we're fortunate to meet here. Chairman Li, we've been blessed by today's festivities."
"Indeed, we have," Li Tang nodded politely.
Before leaving, Ren turned towards Li Xinqi, asking affectionately, "How has your father been lately?"
"You meet my father almost daily. You'd know better than I," Li Xinqi replied casually, evidently familiar with Ren.
Ren laughed warmly, complimenting the couple, "You two truly are a talented and beautiful match. When you set a wedding date, Uncle Ren will prepare a generous gift!"
"As soon as we decide, you'll be the first to know," Li Xinqi answered sweetly.
Ren left smiling, leaving the bride and groom's family members momentarily confused about Li Tang's true identity.
"Chairman Li," the bride's father approached Li Tang respectfully, "my apologies for not recognizing you earlier. Allow me to toast you individually three times."
Li Tang graciously accepted and congratulated him once again.
After three drinks, he finally sat down. The bride and groom continued toasting at adjacent tables, while at Li Tang's table, the previously chatty young women fell into a subdued silence, all glancing at Li Tang curiously.
"Qiqi, what's your boyfriend's occupation?" someone whispered curiously.
"He's in mineral exploration," Li Xinqi replied briefly, without elaborating.
"Which company?"
"Seeing that Mr. Ren himself came over to toast him, he must be quite influential!"
"Is he a business tycoon with political connections?"
Their curiosity escalated, and the meal felt to Li Tang like an intense interrogation. Fortunately, many answers required no input from him, as others filled in their speculations freely.
On the way home, Li Tang sat quietly in the passenger seat after drinking. Li Xinqi glanced at him thoughtfully. "Attending events like this—isn't it more exhausting than your work engagements?"
"Not really exhausting," Li Tang replied honestly, though he had felt rather bored, especially once Ren Hanhong attracted everyone's attention to him.
"The bride's wedding dress today was stunning, wasn't it?" Li Xinqi asked brightly.
Li Tang saw the hopeful excitement in her eyes. Clearly, he understood her deeper meaning in bringing him along to the wedding. She was nearing twenty-eight, three years older than Li Tang, and naturally yearned deeply for marriage.
It wasn't only an internal desire; external pressure frequently came from friends and family, constantly inquiring when she'd marry. Over time, these questions could become an obsession.
But Li Tang had experienced marriage's realities before—the sweetness of courtship often became diluted in domestic quarrels. He wasn't afraid of commitment, just hesitant to devote time to trivial matters, potentially feeling trapped domestically and unable to focus freely on international business ventures.
"Let's discuss it after things settle down," Li Tang gently deflected.
"Alright," she replied softly, slightly disappointed but understanding. "You work very hard on your career. Your success makes me proud."
He avoided her eyes, gazing ahead quietly. After arriving home, Li Xinqi didn't stop. She explained she had early work tomorrow, clearly an excuse, and drove away without staying.
Li Tang arrived punctually at the office the next day. Dai Yingchi entered his office soon after, placing a newspaper on the desk.
"This was delivered by someone from Wukuang Group, specifically asking you to read it," Dai said solemnly.
Li Tang picked it up—a copy of "Harbor Daily Finance," with a glaring headline: "Li Tang gives away 34% of trillion-yuan mining rights to Meng Country—Is this betrayal of state-owned assets?"
The article sensationally implied Zhongcheng Mining was gifting valuable shares irresponsibly, entirely ignoring the potential benefits obtained in return. Clearly biased, it lacked objectivity and deliberately misrepresented the facts.
Li Tang felt more irritated by the absurdity than angered. "This is ridiculous nonsense. Ignore it as long as it doesn't affect our operations."
"Wukuang Group's PR team learned someone paid handsomely to publish this deliberately," Dai added gravely.
"Who would intentionally slander us?" Li Tang wondered aloud.
"We don't yet know," Dai shook his head. "Wukuang Group has already threatened legal action, prompting the newspaper to admit an anonymous sponsor is behind this."
"Who would hold a grudge against me?"
Li Tang picked up the newspaper again, examining it carefully.
Reading carefully through the article, one striking detail emerged—Li Tang's name appeared exactly thirty-three times in this accusatory and provocative piece. Clearly, this was a targeted attempt to smear Li Tang personally.
"Although the newspaper passed the blame onto others, they didn't specify who was behind it," Dai Yingchi also noticed immediately that the article specifically targeted Li Tang.
"Could it be Hu Shitan?"
Li Tang struggled to recall anyone he might have offended. Yet, instinctively, this particular name jumped into his mind—not due to any specific vendetta, but simply because their recent meeting had ended unpleasantly. He hadn't intentionally made an enemy of Hu Shitan; rather, he had merely chosen to ignore him. Knowing full well that Hu was a dangerous figure, Li Tang had no intention of getting close.
"Who's that?" Dai Yingchi asked.
"The general manager of Lituo Group's China branch," Li Tang replied uncertainly, though no other suspect came to mind. Additionally, Lituo had offices in both Yanjing and Haigang. Hu Shitan primarily worked from Haigang, managing their convenient access to sea-borne iron ore.
"Is this personal enmity or business rivalry?" Dai Yingchi questioned further.
"I've only met him twice. If he's behind this, it can only be considered business competition," Li Tang scratched his head, feeling unjustly accused since he hadn't deliberately antagonized anyone.
"Should we hire lawyers and hold them accountable?" Dai Yingchi was somewhat indignant, as the attack was blatantly provocative, not legitimate competition.
"We don't have the time or energy to waste on this nonsense," Li Tang leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples thoughtfully.
"If Lituo is targeting us, it could indeed be troublesome," Dai Yingchi admitted. Although he had grown proficient in managing daily operations and after-sales services, Dai had little experience dealing with global giants like Lituo. He'd never even met anyone from Lituo, as previous negotiations never required his involvement. Noticing Li Tang's concerned frown, he added, "Lituo's headquarters recently signed a cooperation agreement with Lianying Mining, a company under us. It doesn't make sense for them to target us now when relations should be at their closest."
"Lituo previously intervened in the Talego copper-gold mining license application. If they are behind this, it's hardly surprising," Li Tang noted calmly. "That's their typical method—appearing transparent publicly, but resorting to dirty tricks privately."
Li Tang was also aware that Hu Shitan, representing Lituo Group in China, frequently exploited their control of iron ore supplies to spy on commercial secrets from steel enterprises. These stolen secrets provided Lituo, BHP, and Rio Tinto with leverage to aggressively raise iron ore prices in yearly negotiations—prices that rose at astonishing speeds.
"How should we respond?" Dai Yingchi awaited instructions.
"We won't stoop to childish games; it's pointless."
Li Tang had previously hesitated about entering Africa for mineral exploration, despite its enormous untapped potential. But since they were actively provoking him now, he felt compelled to respond. An iron ore transportation agreement was one thing; corporate competition was another matter entirely.
According to Li Tang's understanding, Lituo was currently engaged in intense negotiations with Guinea's government to extend their exploration rights at the Simandou iron mine. Near Simandou, the Nimba iron deposit—a world-class high-grade hematite mine—had already been discovered. The two deposits were geographically close and shared similar geological characteristics.
At this moment, the Nimba iron mine was globally renowned, attracting international mining giants. Yet, Simandou remained largely unknown since Lituo hadn't yet invested significantly in exploration, merely recognizing its geological potential based on similarities with Nimba.
No one yet knew that beneath Simandou's surface lay iron deposits even larger than those at Nimba!
In the standard historical timeline, Lituo eventually fulfilled its commitment to the Guinean government by funding exploration, discovering massive deposits. China Aluminum Group later invested billions to obtain over 40% mining rights, though extraction had never fully commenced.
Regardless of geological or political difficulties, Simandou undeniably was a world-class iron mine.
Shortly after, Dai Yingchi returned, bringing along Lei Pingjin.
"You were looking for me, Mr. Li?" Lei Pingjin felt nervous upon seeing Li Tang.
"As Deputy Head of the Technical Department, you'll not only manage the Gongcun copper-gold project, but also oversee the entire technical department during He Runqi's absence," Li Tang gestured for everyone to sit, asking gently, "Can you handle the increased responsibilities of your new role?"
"It's manageable," Lei Pingjin replied formally, then immediately added, worried his answer was too brief, "The Technical Department isn't currently undertaking major exploration projects, mostly tying up loose ends from past projects. So the workload isn't especially heavy."
"What's Yang Kaile's situation? Does he plan to return to work?" Li Tang asked.
"I spoke with him briefly. He wants a stable job and income but struggles psychologically to accept the change in his status. He hasn't explicitly stated his intent to return," Lei Pingjin carefully described his initial task after promotion. "From his attitude, I sense he regrets his mistakes, so I told him he can reach out anytime if he changes his mind."
"Alright." Li Tang didn't dwell on the matter, quickly jotting down a foreign name on his notebook, tearing off the page and handing it to Lei Pingjin. "I have a task for you."
"What is this?" Lei Pingjin looked at the unfamiliar foreign words, perplexed.
"How's your foreign language ability?"
"Decent enough to communicate."
"What about French?" Li Tang asked further.
"To be honest, I've studied several foreign languages independently. I might not speak fluently, but I manage. Initially, I wanted to study languages at university, though I ultimately chose geology," Lei Pingjin admitted humbly.
"Oh?" Li Tang's eyes lit up with surprise, "If you hadn't mentioned it, we'd never have known about this talent!"
"I had ample spare time in college and self-studied languages. I considered double-majoring but couldn't afford the fees, so I attended only free public lectures," Lei explained bashfully.
Li Tang pointed to Lei Pingjin, looking at Dai Yingchi with sudden realization. "I always said someone who quietly improves their skills definitely has hidden strengths!"
Dai Yingchi, astonished, asked Lei, "Why didn't you tell us earlier about this ability?"
"I didn't think it mattered much," Lei replied, delighted by their praise.
Wasting no time, Li Tang indicated the paper. "This is a location name—Mount Nimba, located on the Guinea-Liberia border, famous for its iron mine. Your task is to quickly gather information about this site."
"An overseas project?" Lei hesitated slightly, "I'm not sure if we have much domestic data, but I'll check the library."
Li Tang briefly outlined his plans: a preliminary exploratory visit to Guinea. Whether successful or not would depend on luck and opportunity. The company's core strength remained exploration technology. Currently, with many technical personnel available, starting a new exploration project was feasible.
After arranging details with Lei, Li Tang instructed Dai Yingchi to book a flight to Perth to inspect Lianying Mining's operations personally. There was still $200 million sitting in the company's foreign exchange account. Li Tang needed to decide whether to invest this money immediately in Lianying Mining or allocate part of it toward the African exploration project. It was undoubtedly a suitable moment to enter Africa's exploration market. Giants like Lituo, BHP, and Stranta had long established a foothold, yet entering now was still viable.
After handling these arrangements, Li Tang visited Li Xinqi's family. Following the wedding, she had noticeably decreased her calls to him, clearly troubled by other thoughts.
During dinner, Li Tang revealed, "I'm going to the State of Ao soon."
"Given your substantial investment and energy in Lianying Mining, it makes sense to focus there," Li Xingchao expressed no objections. "How long will you stay?"
"Three to five days at most."
"That's fine then, hurry back."
"We've hired Fred's team and Alice's group to manage things there. I think operationally they'll be fine. Once back, our company plans to dispatch a team to Guinea in Africa to explore possible mining opportunities," Li Tang disclosed further.
"Africa?" Li Xingchao set down his chopsticks. Zhou Muyun and Li Xinqi looked at him in astonishment.
"Why do you always seek trouble?" Zhou Muyun disagreed strongly. "I've heard parts of Africa are very dangerous and medically underdeveloped. If someone gets sick or injured, hospitals are difficult to find!"
"We'll bring medical staff," Li Tang assured them.
"But security is terrible. How will you guarantee safety?" Zhou Muyun pressed further.
"We'll select safe locations and seek experienced local assistance," Li Tang shared their concern about safety but refused to let fear halt progress.
"You've decided?" Li Xingchao recognized Li Tang's unwavering determination. This announcement was more about respect than discussion.
"Initially, we'll simply see if there's an opportunity. After all, it's an entirely unfamiliar region."
"You're taking too many risks," Li Xingchao warned, clearly disagreeing.
"Exploration inherently involves battling nature," Li Tang replied resolutely.
"How long will you stay?" Zhou Muyun asked worriedly.
"If we officially begin, at least several months until stable operations," Li Tang explained.
"Delegate it! Stay in Yanjing overseeing the big picture," she urged.
"Exploration is my expertise. Without me leading personally, I can't rest assured," Li Tang stood firm.
Seeing his determination, Li Xingchao sighed deeply, "You're pushing yourself too hard."
Abruptly, Li Xinqi dropped her utensils and left the table silently, clearly upset. Li Tang's decision to prioritize his career, choosing distant Africa over their relationship, deeply disappointed her.
"What can I say?" Li Xingchao sighed again. Although disapproving, he still offered assistance through his connections in Guinea and Electric Power Group. Ultimately, he could only caution repeatedly: "Just be careful!"
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