Chapter 249: So It Was Them
The Mongolians soon realized that many Chinese mineral trading companies had not only suspended the current handovers of ore shipments but had also slashed next month's orders by almost half.
And just like that, they understood everything.
This collapse in the mineral trade wasn't some sudden, isolated incident.
It was clearly a premeditated, deliberate move by the Chinese trading firms.
If this situation continued for even two to three months, and they missed the peak trading season, things would only get harder when the harsh winter set in.
This was especially critical for Edente Copper Mining Company, which handled nearly all of Mongolia's copper ore exports. They were the first to feel the blow.
In an instant, their export volume was cut in half, and their revenue with it.
The hit to ore sales immediately triggered a chain reaction: production at the mines had to be slowed or halted, and stockpiles of processed ore began to accumulate in warehouses.
As the stockpiles grew, they had no choice but to cut production or stop operations entirely.
This chain of events sent shockwaves through the company's upper management.
Edente Copper was a pillar of the Mongolian economy. A 50% drop in sales wasn't just a business problem—it would inevitably draw attention from the highest levels of government.
It was like tugging a single hair that moved the whole body.
This move had struck Mongolia right in its nerve center—it left the entire system numb.
While panic and uncertainty gripped Mongolia's trade and export sectors, the instigator of it all, Li Tang, was living comfortably back in Yanjing.
That evening, he was enjoying a spicy hot pot dinner.
"You treated me to hot pot last time, so now it's my turn," said Li Xinqi, who had picked a restaurant owned by someone from Qianzhou Province. She had put some thought into this. "I heard the cured meat from Qianzhou is delicious. Should we get a plate of steamed smoked pork belly?"
"Order whatever you want—I eat everything," Li Tang replied casually. He had never been picky.
"I noticed you're not into plain broths, so today let's just go straight for a spicy base. No more half-and-half pots."
Xinqi deftly ordered all the must-have hot pot sides.
The red, bubbling broth gave off an intoxicating aroma.
Her first bite was a large slice of tripe, dipped in her custom sauce. One bite, and it felt like the whole world had lit up in color.
Chewing happily, she said, "This tripe is amazing. Crisp, chewy, absolutely refreshing!"
Li Tang had eaten hot pot in Mongolia, but it never tasted this authentic. Smelling the aroma, he couldn't resist and dug in.
"You're a young man with money and ambition. I heard you built all this from the ground up."
Unlike last time, where they barely spoke, this meal had much more conversation.
Xinqi took the initiative this time. "If people knew who you really are, wouldn't tons of girls throw themselves at you?"
"You think so?" Li Tang asked, smiling as he enjoyed the food.
"I haven't seen you enough to say," she replied, setting her chopsticks down. Her smile revealed two small dimples at the corners of her mouth.
Li Tang had to admit—this girl was very beautiful.
A teenage crush is like a summer prairie—impossible to cut down or burn away. With one gust of wind, it connects to the sky.
Li Tang was emotionally grounded, but physically, he was still a young man. For years, he'd poured himself into work, leaving no space for romantic thoughts.
Day after day, it was endless wilderness, hard rock, and sweaty men. It had been years since he'd felt anything like a crush.
It wasn't that he couldn't fall for someone. It was just that no one worth falling for had ever stood in front of him.
They say men are boys until the day they die.
And when he saw Xinqi's smile, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
Maybe it was because he hadn't seen many women lately. Or maybe it was just that he hadn't seen one so beautiful.
He thought so to himself, and replied with a grin, "Well, you've seen our workplace. Almost all of our employees are men. So, what you're imagining is impossible."
After saying that, he turned the question around. "And what about you? A girl like you—you're young, beautiful, and rich. The classic perfect 'white-rich-beauty.' The line of guys chasing you must stretch from here to the suburbs."
"White-rich-beauty?" Xinqi found the term amusing but didn't deny it. "Yeah, a lot of guys have tried to date me."
"None of them made your heart skip a beat?" Li Tang asked calmly.
"No. When I was younger, I thought—if so many guys are chasing me, bringing me flowers and gifts, I'd pick the handsomest one, or the most capable, or the kindest. You know, all of that."
She recited her old checklist, then laughed a little. "That was the young me. Later, when I started working at Shenxia Group, everyone knew I was Li Xingchao's daughter. Fewer people dared to approach me. Most just stayed away once they found out who I was. Actually, by then, I'd already lowered my standards. I just wanted someone suitable."
"How long have you been working?"
"Five years."
"And you still haven't met someone suitable?"
"Most guys who dare to pursue me openly have good family backgrounds and a strong sense of pride. They're usually popular with girls, so they don't have much patience. They meet me, think I'm nice, try their luck, and if it doesn't work right away, they give up."
She smiled bitterly. "More than once, I was about to say yes, and they had already walked away."
"That's a shame. So close, yet so far."
"I'm not that hard to get along with, am I?"
"No, not at all," Li Tang agreed.
Xinqi smiled again and asked, "Besides work, do you have any plans for your personal life or future?"
"My life plan?" Li Tang hadn't thought about it much. But based on instinct, he had a simple answer: "Do what my parents want—find a good wife, have kids, live a quiet life."
"A simple, ordinary life. That's pretty good," Xinqi nodded, reflecting on her own. "My life's pretty normal too. I work, go home, watch TV, and sometimes cook for myself."
"You cook?"
"Of course! I can make several desserts and really good braised pork ribs!" She lit up as she spoke. "One day, you've got to try my ribs—my parents and even the maid say they're great!"
"Deal. You must invite me for a taste."
Watching her smile, Li Tang suddenly felt younger himself.
They had a great time over dinner—far more than the first time they met. This time, they really connected.
The next day, Li Xinqi arrived early at the office.
She brought several cartons of milk for the staff—as a small gesture to introduce herself.
"Director Li, here's your milk. And I also brought a box of fresh strawberries. Eat them soon—they'll spoil quickly."
She walked into Li Tang's office, handed him the same milk everyone got, but also gave him that extra box of strawberries.
They were bright red, large, clearly the best ones picked.
"Thank you. I didn't bring anything," Li Tang said, suddenly a bit flustered.
"No need to thank me. Also, from today, I officially start here as the operations command center's liaison. If you need to contact Shenxia Group or relay any instructions, just come to me."
She wore a professional outfit—elegant and curvy—with a sweet smile. "From now on, please take care of me, Director Li."
"We'll take care of each other," he replied, smiling. "If you need anything from me, just let me know."
"I don't need anything—just treat me like everyone else." She had already adopted the tone of a subordinate. "I'll let you get back to work. If you need anything, I'm in the office next door."
Zhongcheng Mining had cleared out a separate office for the command center. All shareholder companies sent someone over to both follow Li Tang's directives and track mining license developments.
As she left, Li Tang watched her back, smiled to himself, opened the box of strawberries, and took a bite—sweet and tangy, very refreshing.
He had just finished the first one when a group of unexpected visitors entered his office.
"Hello, we're from Lito's China division. I'm Hu Shitan, general manager."
The man in front wore a slicked-back hairstyle and a sharp suit. He looked about forty, his face full of charm—a textbook networker.
"Hu Shitan?" Li Tang's ears perked up—the name sounded oddly familiar.
Not only the name, but the face too—it rang a bell.
Who was this high-profile figure?
He stared at Hu, sifting through his mental archives, trying to place him.
"You've heard of me?" Hu smiled easily under Li Tang's gaze. "I've heard your name for a long time, Director Li. It's an honor to finally meet you—so young, yet so accomplished!"
"You're the general manager of Lito's China division?" Li Tang asked again for confirmation.
"Yes. I handle Lito's business in China."
Seeing Li Tang's interest, Hu continued, "Lito has a close relationship with Chinese steel enterprises. My job is to serve as a bridge between them."
Lito… steel companies…
Li Tang connected the dots.
Then suddenly, it hit him.
This man was the very same figure who, years later, would be at the center of a case that shocked not just China, but the world—
The Lito Scandal.
So it was them.
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