Chapter 160: Why Is His Ambition So Big?
Li Tang didn't think he had done anything extraordinary. All he had done was protect the exploration rights—nothing more.
He spent the night at his newly furnished home, and He Runqi stayed over as well.
Early the next morning, after breakfast, they headed to the Wukuang Group headquarters.
Qin Jianshe was still in his old office. When he saw Li Tang and He Runqi arrive, he greeted them warmly, "You're here! Come in, come in!"
As Li Tang walked through the hallway, he had already noticed the office nameplates—it seemed there hadn't been any structural changes at the Wukuang Exploration Company.
"Zhou Tianqi retired, right? Who's the new general manager?" he asked directly.
The door to this office still had the title "Deputy General Manager," which meant Qin Jianshe hadn't been promoted.
"The group's finance department transferred in a deputy director," Qin Jianshe explained with a calm smile, clearly unbothered. "The new general manager, Wei Chaoyin, is next door. He's interested in you and even looked into your departure file. Since you're back, would you like me to take you over to meet him?"
"No need," Li Tang shook his head. "Is he from inside the Wukuang system?"
"No," Qin Jianshe said, lowering his voice just in case. "Neither Niu nor Ou's recommendations were approved. This new GM wasn't involved in the internal power struggle. I think he was as surprised as anyone to be assigned here. As soon as he arrived, he pushed forward the Qulong Copper Mine work. I think your work style and his would've matched well."
"Seagull steals the clam and the fisherman profits?" Li Tang said thoughtfully.
"We're not in a position to guess leadership decisions." Qin waved his hand, not wanting to say more. Loose lips sink ships.
Li Tang and He Runqi left behind some small gifts—tea and pastries—and went on to greet Zhao Hepu, Ou Pingguo, and others, before arriving at the chairman's office.
The door was open, but the room was empty. They turned next door to the general manager's office—sure enough, Lang Hemin and Niu Fu were inside discussing matters.
When they saw Li Tang poke his head in, Niu Fu immediately called out, "Li Tang, come in!"
Li Tang and He Runqi carried in a few boxes of gifts, walking softly.
"Chairman Lang, General Manager Niu—good to see you," Li Tang greeted them.
"You're bringing gifts? That's not appropriate," Niu Fu said with a straight face.
"Just inexpensive tea and pastries," Li Tang chuckled. "Can't I bring home some presents?"
"Li Tang?" Lang Hemin laughed heartily. "Your name has become famous. Finally, I get to meet you in person."
"Chairman, you flatter me," Li Tang said, taking a seat.
"You visited the Mineral Resource Management Department yesterday?" Lang Hemin asked casually. "Director Chen gave me a call, confirming your identity. Sounds like you're on the brink of something big again."
"I had a little business there. Nothing major."
"Would you like us to contact Director Chen and get more details?" Lang offered.
With someone like Lang intervening, things could be smoothed out quickly. After all, why use a cannon to kill a fly?
Li Tang shook his head. "Thanks, Chairman, but everything's been resolved."
"If you ever need help, come to us. Me or Niu—we're both here," Lang said, like an elder giving heartfelt advice.
"Understood." Li Tang nodded.
Niu Fu's face was serious as usual. "The chairman asked you here for two reasons. First, we heard you've started a company—Zhenguan Exploration Technology—and are working on a copper-gold project in Tubo Province. Do you need us to provide funding?"
"Not at the moment," Li Tang replied.
"Exploration requires large, long-term investment, and the returns come even later," Niu said sternly. "You should treat Wukuang Group as your home. If you're in trouble, speak up. Don't just report the good news and hide the bad."
"If Wukuang is willing to join the project…" Li Tang looked at both Lang and Niu seriously, "I'd be glad to have Wukuang involved."
"How much more funding do you need?" Niu asked, already suspecting that Li Tang's funds were running low.
He knew Li Tang had earned 2.9 million yuan from the Huazhou Aluminum Plant award, but in the mining industry, that was nothing. Especially in a place like Tubo, where costs were high. Drilling a few holes could burn through that budget in no time.
He figured Li Tang was short on funds but was too proud to ask.
He was offering help in good faith.
"We have enough for the initial phase," Li Tang said confidently. In fact, he had considered bringing Wukuang into the Gongcun project. Having their name attached would scare off potential troublemakers.
The recent crisis over exploration rights had served as a wake-up call.
Now that Niu had offered funding, Li Tang didn't hesitate. He calmly gave a number: "The project will require between 50 million and 100 million in total. Right now, we need at least 50 million more."
"50 million?" Niu's heart skipped a beat at the sheer weight of that number.
He looked at Lang, who was also visibly surprised.
"This is a huge project," Lang said.
As chairman, Lang had authority. But for a 50-million-yuan investment, the board of directors would need to meet and discuss it multiple times.
"Gongcun Copper-Gold Mine is on the Gangdise Belt, just 300 kilometers from Qulong," Li Tang said with conviction. "I have high hopes for it."
"This is enormous!" Niu said, somewhat overwhelmed. "How much is Wukuang willing to invest?"
"Two million," Niu raised two fingers.
That was already a big number.
Many small exploration projects only required one or two million yuan—enough for surface work and shallow drilling. If they struck something, great. If not, the losses were minimal.
But Li Tang, just starting his own company, was already tackling a major operation!
"Chairman and I thought you'd begin with a smaller project—get some experience," Niu said, his face unreadable.
"You're taking too big a leap," Lang warned gently. "Food should be eaten one bite at a time. Roads are walked one step at a time. Jumping into something this big is risky."
Niu nodded. "And let's not forget, just getting started will cost you at least five to ten million. That's a huge hurdle."
"We've already secured the funding for Phase 1," Li Tang replied calmly.
"You have?" Niu was surprised.
"If all goes well, exploration will begin very soon."
"In that case…" Niu hesitated, then said, "We sincerely wish you success."
"I'm convinced this project has immense potential," Li Tang said earnestly. "Especially the gold—it could be a major or even super-large deposit."
Lang looked at Niu, then forced a smile. "The group can't free up 50 million right now. We want to help you—but we simply can't."
Li Tang understood. It was a tough ask.
Fifty million wasn't fifty yuan.
"All of our divisions need funding. Just our Qulong project this year requires 30 million," Niu explained. Then, as if remembering something: "Actually, there's another reason we asked you here. The Qulong Copper Mine is about to begin its detailed exploration phase. The new general manager of the Exploration Company, Wei Chaoyin, has asked for you to join as a project advisor. It would be a small contract—just technical consulting. A few hundred thousand. Consider it a good opening project for your new company. Are you interested?"
"I might not have time," Li Tang declined politely.
"I understand."
"But since Gongcun is close to Qulong, if needed, I can drop by anytime. I won't turn down a request for help."
"Then thank you in advance."
Niu didn't say more. Someone launching a 50-million-yuan project wouldn't be moved by a 500,000-yuan contract.
Originally, they wanted to show respect by asking him in person. But now, it seemed like a mistake—they should've sent Qin Jianshe instead.
"If there's nothing else, I won't take up more of your time," Li Tang said, standing to leave.
"Come back whenever you can," Lang and Niu said, waving as he walked out.
After he left, they sat in silence.
"Tell me," Lang said slowly, "why is Li Tang's ambition so big?"
He was still stunned by the 50-million figure.
He had approved billion-yuan projects before—but linking that kind of number with a 22-year-old was shocking.
"He once told me he wanted to build a company as big as Wukuang," Niu said, shaking his head. "When you're young, you dream big. At my age, I don't even dare to imagine things like that anymore."
"He's going to fall hard," Lang said with concern.
"Young people need to stumble—it builds character," Niu said.
He didn't know where Li Tang was getting the funds, but he didn't believe a lone entrepreneur could last long in the business world. "Let him get beaten up a little. Then we'll bring him back. Once he sees how stable life is at Wukuang, he'll appreciate it."
"Yeah, young people are always overreaching."
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