Chapter 284: Paving the Way to Success!
After dinner, Li Zhaocai invited everyone to his seaside mansion, mentioning that there were many beautiful women attending a lively party. However, Li Tang and Li Xinqi weren't fond of noisy environments, so they politely declined and returned to their hotel, preferring to spend time together privately, thoroughly enjoying each other's company.
Initially, Li Tang assumed that meeting the students from the local Chinese community would merely be a casual introduction, as they were all fellow countrymen. Unexpectedly, early the next morning after a lively night with Li Xinqi, Li Tang received an early call from Li Zhaocai.
After waking Li Xinqi, they headed to the agreed meeting place, discovering it was at the marina. Li Zhaocai, Zhu Yanxi, and several others were already there, waving enthusiastically from the dock. Approaching, Li Tang realized they had prepared a luxurious yacht.
"Follow this wooden boardwalk from the dock to the shore. About two hundred meters away is my house," Li Zhaocai said with noticeable dark circles under his eyes, clearly tired from the previous night's partying. "This house has a private dock attached, but unfortunately, I haven't bought a yacht yet—this one's rented."
"How much does it cost to rent per day?" Li Tang asked, admiring the sleek, white yacht.
"Not expensive—just enjoy yourself!" Li Zhaocai replied cheerfully.
Evidently experienced, Li Zhaocai took the helm himself, skillfully steering the yacht toward the open sea, swiftly cutting through the waves. The passengers felt exhilarated by the strong sea breeze, extending their arms and shouting joyfully.
The yacht eventually anchored near a remote island. Fishing rods were set up along the side, each equipped with large hooks baited with salmon heads, cast into the distant sea as everyone waited eagerly for a catch.
Li Tang and Li Xinqi weren't experienced at deep-sea fishing, but it seemed other students were regular companions of Li Zhaocai on such trips, as they confidently cast their lines. Not long after, a large grouper was reeled onto the boat, flopping energetically on deck, eliciting excited cheers.
"I only know how to use small fishing rods—when I was little, I used to fish for koi in park ponds. It was quite fun," Li Xinqi reminisced fondly, leaning gently against Li Tang's shoulder as they watched the lively scene.
"Our hometown outskirts had small rivers full of carp and crucian carp. Hardly anyone fished there," Li Tang recalled nostalgically. "Near the geological team compound where we lived, there was a small stream. After school, I'd sometimes knock fish unconscious with a wooden stick and pick them up. But those freshwater fish always had a muddy taste—they only tasted good deep-fried."
"Sea fish taste better!" Li Zhaocai approached, noticing that Li Tang and Li Xinqi weren't joining the excitement. "How long will you two stay around?"
"I work here, so I'll be back regularly," Li Tang replied amiably.
"Then, whenever there's a weekend activity, I'll ask Zhu Yanxi to bring you along. Happiness matters most, right?" Li Zhaocai smiled warmly.
"Don't you have classes today?" Li Tang remembered from last night's dinner conversation that Li Zhaocai was a 22-year-old senior majoring in Business and Enterprise Management at the University of South Australia.
"What's fun about classes?" Li Zhaocai joked, clearly not an exemplary student.
With his family running a large private steel company worth billions, Li Zhaocai lived the carefree life of a wealthy young heir. He had smooth long hair, a cheerful round face, and an outgoing personality, which made him popular among friends. According to Zhu Yanxi, he was a typical rich playboy—luxury cars, lavish homes, and endless parties.
Suddenly, Li Zhaocai's phone rang. Seeing the caller was from China, he signaled everyone to quiet down and answered. "Secretary Wang, did my father ask you to call?"
"Something's happened—you must return immediately!" came the terse reply.
"I'm in class right now—what's so urgent?" Li Zhaocai casually responded.
"You must take the earliest flight home right now!" Secretary Wang's voice was insistent.
"What's going on?" Li Zhaocai asked, puzzled.
"You'll find out once you're back."
"Fine, fine. I'll return immediately." Hanging up, Li Zhaocai carelessly shook his head, seemingly unconcerned.
"Sorry everyone, family emergency. I have to rush back immediately. Let's pick another day to continue the fun!" he announced lightly, holding up his phone toward Li Tang. "The old man at home is probably creating some drama again."
Standing close by, Li Tang had overheard the tense voice on the phone. Such a call would have deeply worried him, yet Li Zhaocai appeared unfazed.
"You should hurry back," Li Tang advised seriously.
On the return journey, the yacht sailed back more leisurely than before, eventually docking gently. Wearing a cap, beach shorts, and flip-flops, Li Zhaocai casually walked into his seaside villa. Everyone dispersed, knowing he had urgent matters.
Seeing it was still early, Li Tang chose not to return immediately. Instead, he and Li Xinqi enjoyed walking barefoot on the soft, sandy beach, hand in hand, appreciating the sea waves gently touching their feet, and watching seagulls soaring overhead. Although the scene included attractive sunbathers lounging on the sand, Li Tang seemed preoccupied, deep in thought.
"What's on your mind?" Li Xinqi noticed his distraction.
"What was the name of the steel company Li Zhaocai mentioned last night?" Li Tang suddenly felt uneasy.
"Haixin Steel," Li Xinqi promptly recalled.
"I've heard this name before," Li Tang frowned thoughtfully, unable to pinpoint why it troubled him.
"They mentioned Li Zhaocai's family assets are worth billions—such a large private steel company is surely famous domestically," Li Xinqi reasoned. "Perhaps you've seen it mentioned in newspapers."
"No, it's something else," Li Tang felt increasingly troubled. He stopped abruptly, instructing Li Xinqi, "Call your dad. Ask him about Haixin Steel."
"Does it have anything to do with us?" she asked curiously, pulling out her phone.
"Not directly—but I like Li Zhaocai and want to show concern," Li Tang explained vaguely.
"Okay," Li Xinqi dialed Li Xingchao's number.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Li Xingchao chuckled warmly, clearly happy to hear from his daughter. Embarrassed by her father's teasing about their vacation, Li Xinqi hurriedly passed the phone to Li Tang.
"President Li, can you check if anything happened recently at Haixin Steel?" Li Tang directly requested.
"Haixin Steel, right? I'll check immediately," Li Xingchao assured promptly.
After their pleasant lunch at a seafood restaurant and returning to the hotel, Li Xingchao soon called back, voice grave. "Haixin Steel's chairman, Li Haixin, was killed."
"What?" Li Tang's expression turned solemn.
"He was shot dead in his office by a rival," Li Xingchao explained soberly. "It's tragic news. Li Haixin was an exceptional entrepreneur, and Haixin Steel has been thriving recently. This unexpected event is devastating. Did you have any advance knowledge about this?"
"No, I just met his son here, and he abruptly returned home today," Li Tang replied honestly.
"Do you have any business with Haixin Steel?" Li Xingchao inquired cautiously.
"No."
"Such a loss severely impacts both family and company. Although morally we shouldn't exploit this situation, practically speaking, losing their leader will destabilize Haixin Steel significantly. If you're considering working with them, proceed carefully," Li Xingchao advised earnestly.
"I understand," Li Tang nodded, ending the call with a heavier heart.
But soon, positive news dispelled his gloom—Rio Tinto requested another meeting.
Initially suggesting Rio Tinto's headquarters, Li Tang insisted they come to Lianying Mining's modest office, emphasizing that they initiated the meeting request.
Despite noticing the aging, cramped conditions, Alba was too preoccupied to care. "The board has agreed to assist Lianying Mining, allowing use of our railways and ports for transporting 20 million tons of iron ore annually during non-peak periods…"
"Remove 'non-peak periods'," Li Tang immediately interjected firmly. "Your railways and ports are always busy; everyone knows this."
Alba hesitated briefly before conceding, "Alright, 60 million tons in total, freight charges at market rates."
"Agreed," Li Tang nodded.
"As discussed, we'll pay you $200 million for your 70% stake in Cruise Investment Company…"
"In cash," Li Tang emphasized clearly.
"Can $100 million be paid in bonds?" Alba attempted again.
"No tricks," Li Tang warned.
"Fine, $200 million in cash," Alba finally relented.
"Perfect!" Li Tang smiled warmly, offering his hand. "Pleasure doing business!"
Shaking hands, Alba cautiously added, "We've met all your demands, but we have one additional request."
"Go ahead," Li Tang listened carefully.
"We'd like your personal guidance on the Pebble Project's exploration. You're globally recognized for your porphyry copper-gold exploration expertise."
"I'm quite busy," Li Tang replied dryly.
"We'll compensate generously. You'll only be needed occasionally," Alba persisted.
"I just received $200 million from you—do you think I need this extra money?" Li Tang laughed lightly.
"This is our only condition," Alba insisted, worried about ongoing exploration.
Li Tang paused briefly before proposing calmly, "I can assist technically but under one condition—let's collaborate on your Guinea iron ore project."
Alba stiffened suspiciously, "How did you know about our Guinea project and negotiations for permit extensions?"
"You announced it publicly," Li Tang shrugged innocently.
"No, we didn't," Alba frowned deeply, wondering internally about information leaks.
Li Tang casually backed off, "Forget it, I'm busy anyway. I'll guide your project three times—for free."
"Deal," Alba sighed with relief.
When news broke that Rio Tinto agreed to annually transport 20 million tons of iron ore for Lianying Mining, the industry was stunned. Against decades of restrictive tradition, Lianying Mining had paved a new path forward—a groundbreaking achievement shaking the entire mining community.
However, Rio Tinto now slowly loosened their grip, and boldly flipped everyone off!
They opened their railways and ports to Lianying Mining!
Had Alba been kidnapped by Lianying Mining's people?
Somebody call the police! Alba must be in mortal danger—there was no other explanation for such a shocking decision!
But what truly sparked excitement and widespread speculation was Lianying Mining's stock price.
As soon as the cooperation agreement with Rio Tinto was revealed, Lianying's share price shot up like a rocket.
Lianying Mining's market cap swiftly surged from under 200 million Australian dollars straight past the 300-million-dollar mark—and it showed no signs of slowing down.
Everyone knowledgeable about the iron ore business knew that infrastructure was the greatest challenge to mining operations in the Pilbara region.
Now, Lianying Mining had achieved something countless smaller mining companies could only dream of, practically paving the way toward a prosperous future!
It was now a certainty that Lianying Mining's iron ore would reach the global market!
Investors' confidence soared. If their stock didn't go up now, whose would?
Slap!
Giles slammed the newspaper onto his desk, sending a sharp echo through the room.
"What on earth is Alba thinking?" he demanded, doubting whether Alba had completely lost his mind.
Other department heads sat in tense silence.
Picking up the paper again, Giles pointed at the report. "Are these details from the Financial Review accurate?"
"They're accurate," Ron affirmed clearly. "Rio Tinto has already publicly announced the agreement. In total, they've agreed to transport 60 million tons of iron ore for Lianying Mining."
"I simply can't comprehend their decision!" Giles fumed. "Transporting 60 million tons—how much freight can they possibly earn? They're desperate enough to snatch crumbs from others' tables!"
While the two mining giants hadn't explicitly colluded to suppress smaller companies, their tacit understanding had long been clear: neither would casually break these unwritten rules.
"After analyzing the agreement, we might understand Alba's reasoning," Ron volunteered, seeing no one else daring to speak. "Rio Tinto agreed to help Lianying Mining for only three years, with a total cap of 60 million tons. Beyond that, the agreement automatically expires."
"This limited agreement likely explains why Rio Tinto accepted these terms."
"After three years, Lianying Mining's iron ore won't be going anywhere."
"Sixty million tons total will hardly impact the iron ore market."
"Yet, signing this deal inevitably sets a precedent!"
"What happens when other companies demand similar treatment? How do we refuse then?"
They continued debating, clearly understanding the implications. It wasn't a huge matter, but neither was it trivial—its future ramifications remained unpredictable. Would it quietly fade away or lead to bigger disruptions, eventually shattering the status quo? Nobody knew for sure.
Ron had some inside connections at Rio Tinto and had heard whispers. After some hesitation, he shared, "From what I gathered, Rio Tinto's cooperation with Lianying is due to their successful purchase of most shares of the Pebble Project from Li Tang!"
"What?" Giles was startled. "Is that true?"
"Yes, accurate news should emerge very soon," Ron nodded.
"Li Tang is currently in Perth—we know that. We reached out earlier to discuss potential cooperation on the Pebble Project, but he flatly refused us!" another executive grumbled.
"Li Tang rejected you personally?"
"No, it was Alice, Lianying's chairwoman. That's what irritated me most. Li Tang didn't even bother speaking to us directly; he simply sent his subordinates to dismiss us!"
"This Chinese man is unbelievably arrogant!"
"Our research confirms that the Pebble Project has immense potential, possibly becoming the next Grasberg Mine!"
"Freeport Copper & Gold is also a significant shareholder. Why did Li Tang bypass them and choose Rio Tinto?"
"He did it purely to secure the iron ore transportation agreement with Rio Tinto!"
After a brief exchange, they fell into a heavy silence. Everyone understood Pebble's immense value. Unfortunately, it had fallen into the hands of Rio Tinto—their competitor, not partner.
With a dark expression, Giles seethed, "Alba just made a deal with the devil!"
...
"Catherine just informed us that Li Tang has officially transferred his 70% stake in Cruise Investment Company to Rio Tinto," Christo announced gloomily. He had become the liaison between Li Tang and Freeport Copper & Gold, and it made his life increasingly uncomfortable.
"Has the agreement been signed?" Terrence asked wearily, slumping into a chair.
"It's signed but hasn't been publicly announced yet."
"Li Tang has shown us no respect at all!" Terrence's dissatisfaction was evident. "He didn't even discuss it with us face-to-face—he just sent someone to deliver the message! We're partners, not his subordinates!"
Christo also found Li Tang's behavior distasteful. From their very first encounter, Li Tang had brushed him aside, barely speaking a word before leaving abruptly, making Christo feel utterly insignificant. He worried more deeply for his daughter, Alice. How could she be infatuated with such an eccentric Chinese man, who clearly didn't reciprocate her feelings yet continued exploiting her loyalty?
"He has indeed done exactly that," Christo repeated weakly.
"If he were in America, I'd spare no expense acquiring his entire business and demanding an explanation!" Terrence vented his frustration. He saw Li Tang's actions as blatant betrayal.
"But we have more pressing issues," Christo reminded gently, knowing the real reason for Terrence's irritation. "The Grasberg Mine has suffered a major collapse, and the Indonesian government has vowed a thorough investigation and potential sanctions."
This was Terrence's true headache. Misfortune seldom came alone; problems piled on relentlessly.
"I've already booked flights. We'll fly to Indonesia shortly," Terrence rubbed his temples wearily. "This accident came at the worst possible moment."
"The mine is fully shut down, and without government approval, production can't resume," Christo explained gravely. "Worst-case scenario, Grasberg could face severe production cuts lasting months, possibly a year."
"Our annual results will look disastrous, but what else can we do?" Terrence lamented, anticipating a difficult board meeting ahead.
"Natural disasters and human error—utterly unpredictable," Christo sighed helplessly.
Compared to the Pebble Project, Grasberg was their core business. Mishandling this crisis could permanently cripple Freeport Copper & Gold.
...
In North America, news of Northern Dynasty Minerals halting trading to announce its majority shareholder's equity transfer sparked heated debates. The junior exploration firm had recently discovered the Pebble Project—a rare, world-class mineral deposit promising enormous potential. Investors anticipated further price surges as exploration advanced.
Yet, at this critical juncture, the elusive Li Tang decided to exit Northern Dynasty Minerals, abandoning the Pebble Project completely and walking away with $330 million!
What happened?
Was something suspicious occurring?
Could Pebble Project, like the infamous Bre-X fraud, involve deception?
Such scandals had precedent—another deception seemed impossible. Regulatory approval reassured investors there was no foul play; otherwise, Li Tang wouldn't depart so effortlessly.
The buyer was Rio Tinto!
Rio Tinto was entering the scene?
What were they waiting for? Buy! Invest heavily! Increase positions!
Previously, investors had concerns because Northern Dynasty was indirectly controlled by Li Tang's Shengshi Holdings—a Chinese entity. Now, however, it would be jointly owned by Rio Tinto and Freeport Copper & Gold, two renowned mining giants renowned for vast capital and cutting-edge technology.
Nothing left to fear!
Pebble Project would undoubtedly flourish spectacularly under Rio Tinto's control.
Upon resumption of trading, Northern Dynasty's shares soared once more, its market capitalization even approaching the billion-dollar mark!
The entry of mining giants greatly boosted investor confidence, sending ripples across the ocean to China.
"Did Li Tang really sell Pebble's equity?" Niu Fu was astonished. Li Tang had moved swiftly, finalizing this crucial deal shortly after leaving Yanjing for Australia—$330 million in total!
"Yes, sold," Zhao Hepu confirmed.
"Incredibly decisive—Li Tang always acts with lightning speed," Niu Fu marveled. "If we had Pebble, we'd spend a year in meetings before deciding. Yet he sold it without hesitation!"
"He probably met Rio Tinto in Australia, and they hit it off immediately," Zhao Hepu speculated, grinning broadly.
"But why Rio Tinto, not Freeport Copper & Gold?" Niu Fu puzzled.
"Li Tang's thinking is impossible to guess," Zhao Hepu shrugged. "Even stranger—only $200 million is cash. The remaining $130 million is an advance payment by Lianying Mining for infrastructure usage!"
"He's becoming more unpredictable," Zhao Hepu confessed, unable to fathom Li Tang's reasoning.
"He paved a path to prosperity for Lianying Mining!" Niu Fu applauded. "His strategy is ingenious."
"But iron ore prices remain low," Zhao Hepu worried.
"Li Tang firmly believes iron ore prices will surge with China's economic boom," Niu Fu recalled their conversation vividly. "Prices have risen again this year."
"Only slightly," Zhao Hepu countered. "Experts predict prices will fall due to increased production abroad."
"Li Tang thinks those experts are talking nonsense," Niu Fu chuckled.
"He's betting everything on iron ore," Zhao Hepu acknowledged, admiring Li Tang's courage. "He gave up Pebble solely to ensure Lianying's success!"
Though large copper-gold mines seemed more profitable, Li Tang had proven repeatedly his unique judgment and vision.
"Let's hope he's right," Zhao Hepu concluded.
"He's already succeeded partly. Capital markets and steelmakers now fully trust Li Tang's iron ore project. Production is now virtually guaranteed," Niu Fu remarked, inspired. "We must strive harder, following Li Tang's example."
Recalling Li Tang's departure, Niu Fu felt urgency. "He vowed to create a company rivaling Wukuang Group. I once thought him arrogant. Now, it seems he'll truly achieve it!"
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