Chapter 325: Blinded by the Sparkle
Lin Feiming was genuinely overwhelmed and somewhat uneasy when he saw Li Tang personally waiting at the airport to pick him up.
"You're so busy; there was no need for you to come personally. I know the location of the Yunding Building; I could've just taken a taxi."
"Did your wife not come along?" Li Tang took Lin Feiming's modest luggage.
"I'll carry it myself."
Lin Feiming clearly understood the nature of their relationship.
By blood, they were cousins who'd grown up together, so there was no need for formality. However, he had come to Yanjing today on professional matters, feeling partly apologetic and partly ashamed of his performance.
Standing before him now, practically speaking, was Li Tang—the boss and general manager of Shengshi Holdings.
And after reading recent newspapers, he discovered his cousin had earned another title—the richest man in China.
Li Tang didn't pay attention to that. As they walked towards the parking lot, he casually asked, "I heard you encountered some trouble after taking up your new position?"
When work came up, Lin Feiming instantly deflated. "I attended a board meeting representing your holding company. They talked about plans involving billions, over ten billion even, technical details about molybdenum mining, various development strategies, and all kinds of machinery and equipment..."
Frowning, he shook his head, exasperated. "I didn't understand a single word. I tried to take notes, but couldn't get a single coherent sentence down. Later, they asked my opinion, since I represented you, saying your viewpoint was crucial to the project's progress."
"What did you say?" Li Tang asked.
"I said nothing." Lin Feiming's face flushed deeply. "I directly said I didn't know. It was embarrassing enough for me personally, but worse was losing your face. I really can't handle it."
"What's embarrassing about that?" Li Tang didn't seem to mind.
"They're planning a huge molybdenum mine development, and they'll hold frequent meetings. I'm useless in those meetings—I can't follow or contribute anything meaningful." Lin Feiming was clearly ashamed, but resolute. "I quit this job. I'd rather go back to driving than do this."
"At these meetings, you can just stay quiet. Just nod along and agree with everything." Li Tang had largely exited Shazhai Molybdenum, keeping only 4% ownership.
The reason Li Tang retained a board seat wasn't his own idea; rather, it was strongly requested by Geng Feiran, Xiao Yongyue, Yu Yong, and others. They valued Li Tang's expertise in mining and wanted him on the board for occasional advice.
"Anyway, I don't want to do it anymore. If you still want me to drive, I'll drive. If that's impossible, I have some savings—I'll just buy another truck and haul ore again," Lin Feiming insisted firmly.
"If you don't want it, fine," Li Tang didn't insist further.
Initially, Li Tang had given him the non-executive director position out of consideration—easy work, close to home, only attending occasional board meetings, especially frequent just during the critical construction phase.
Lin Feiming breathed a sigh of relief. "Recently at meetings, I didn't understand anything except one thing—they said molybdenum prices have skyrocketed. Somebody mentioned profits were ten times the cost, that production cost was about four or five hundred per ton, but selling price could reach five or six thousand per ton!"
"Molybdenum concentrate is priced around 5,000 yuan per ton-degree now," Li Tang confirmed.
"Yes, exactly—5,000 yuan per ton-degree!" Lin Feiming expressed pity for Li Tang. "Too bad you sold your shares in the molybdenum mine. They mentioned if the mine starts operating, it could easily generate billions every year."
"That kind of high profit will be short-lived," Li Tang calmly responded. "Molybdenum isn't widely demanded. As soon as other mines ramp up production or new large mines come online, the market price will plunge. Current high prices are due to short supply, but inevitably the market balances itself and prices become reasonable again."
"Really?" Lin Feiming was puzzled.
Listening to Li Tang's explanation felt like attending another board meeting—everything went over his head.
Li Tang nodded and got into the car, changing the subject, "Did you use the 500,000 yuan I gave you last time to buy a house?"
"Yes." Lin Feiming sighed, clearly stressed. "I followed your advice and bought a large apartment. Now, there's mortgage and renovation costs—huge expenses. It's stressing me out."
Realizing his tone, he quickly clarified, "I'm not trying to complain; I can handle the money."
"If you're not staying as a director, what job are you taking next?" Li Tang asked.
"The new general manager at Shazhai Molybdenum offered me a choice of any job. But I felt embarrassed because I don't have skills for most jobs. I told him I'll stick to driving."
"That's fine." Li Tang didn't oppose. "If you want to work in Yanjing, you can join our company. Honestly, our company's benefits are significantly better than Shazhai Molybdenum."
"No," Lin Feiming stubbornly refused. "My mother said I shouldn't always trouble you."
"It's just a matter of a word—hardly trouble."
"Shazhai Molybdenum is seriously investing billions to develop the mine. Recently, they bought new vehicles and asked me to manage the fleet."
"That's good. It shows they recognize your abilities."
"It has nothing to do with my abilities. They're just giving me face because of you." Lin Feiming looked seriously at Li Tang. "I came today just to explain all this clearly."
"As long as you're comfortable," Li Tang reassured him.
"You don't think I'm disloyal by quitting, do you?"
"Stop overthinking." Li Tang laughed, then instructed his driver, "Since the job issue's settled, let's skip the office today and find a good restaurant."
Lin Feiming only stayed two days before returning to Huizhou Province. During those days, Li Xinqi visited, but seeing a guest at Li Tang's place, she didn't stay.
Today, right after work, she waited at Li Tang's office.
"Why are you here so early?" Li Tang had spent the day signing documents—year-end financials, annual plans, endless paperwork.
"Let's go. Dinner's on you tonight." Li Xinqi hooked her arm affectionately through Li Tang's.
Their relationship was now common knowledge at Yunding Building. Employees greeted Li Xinqi warmly as the "Lady Boss."
"I thought you'd come to take me out to dinner," Li Tang joked, picking up the company car keys and driving through the city's bustling streets.
"How about your parents spending Chinese New Year in Yanjing this year?" Li Xinqi suggested.
"Why?"
"I want to meet them officially—show them I'm capable."
"My grandparents live in the countryside and are quite elderly. It wouldn't feel right leaving them alone during the New Year."
"Then invite them too."
"Or maybe you could come home with me for New Year's instead," Li Tang considered. "Is your family going abroad again this year?"
"No traveling this year—foreign countries are all the same. Who you travel with matters most," Li Xinqi gazed warmly at Li Tang.
"After New Year's, maybe I'll invite my parents here for a few days."
"That'd be great!" Li Xinqi smiled, glancing repeatedly at Li Tang's profile.
"What? Are my wrinkles increasing already?" Li Tang teased, catching her look.
"You're now China's richest man. Has your mindset changed at all?" she suddenly asked.
"Richest man?" Li Tang chuckled. "Do I look like the richest man?"
"You don't just look like it; you are!" She nodded emphatically, adding, "But you seem oddly indifferent."
"What should excitement look like for the richest man?"
"If I were the richest, I'd wear the latest outrageous designer clothes—something a fashion model wore, like plastic bags wrapped around me!" She joked. "And your hairstyle can't be this simple. Every strand should be perfectly groomed, shining, preferably studded with diamonds."
Speaking of diamonds, Li Tang casually pulled out an exquisite box from his pocket and handed it to Li Xinqi. "I've never given you a valuable gift. On this trip abroad, I met a diamond dealer who targeted me precisely, realizing immediately I must have a beautiful girlfriend to impress."
Li Xinqi opened the box casually. But just as she did, rays of sunset spilled through the windshield, striking the diamond, scattering dazzling golden reflections that instantly stunned her.
"Beautiful!" she gasped, entranced by the radiant pink diamond.
"I think it's about three or four carats," Li Tang said nonchalantly.
"I love it!" She slid it onto her finger; it fit perfectly. Her heart melted instantly.
She leaned over, gently cupped his face, and kissed him softly.
"I'm driving—save kisses for later!" Li Tang laughed.
"This diamond's stunning—expensive, right?"
"It wasn't too bad, as long as you like it," Li Tang lied smoothly, having spent over ten million yuan on it.
"Definitely expensive!" She wasn't fooled.
"I asked the dealer for a larger one—he said he'd look out. This one's called 'Pink Love,' quite cheesy. Rename it."
She thought deeply. "I'll call it 'Richest Man's Love.'"
"That sounds impressive," Li Tang chuckled.
At dinner, unfamiliar faces awaited them.
"This is my younger brother, Li Zimo, his wife, and their son," Li Xinqi introduced warmly, as the happy young family stood up to greet them.
Li Zimo reached out and shook Li Tang's hand, greeting him politely, "Hello, Brother-in-law."
This greeting delighted Li Xinqi immensely, hitting the sweetest spot in her heart. Her face instantly flushed red, and she playfully protested, "Don't say nonsense—we're not even married yet!"
"It's just a matter of time," Li Zimo responded with a light smile. He was slightly chubby, fair-skinned, and had clearly led a sheltered life without experiencing hardship. After inviting Li Tang to sit down, he eagerly started chatting. "I usually go back to spend weekends with my parents. Unfortunately, every time you visited previously, we missed each other."
"That's indeed unfortunate," Li Tang replied politely, realizing he hadn't brought any gifts for Li Zimo and his family, having not anticipated their presence tonight. Fortunately, Li Xinqi seemed prepared. She took out a toy from her handbag, handed it to her nephew, then some cosmetics for her sister-in-law, and humorously pointed at Li Tang, saying, "These are from him—he just put them in my bag because it was more convenient."
"Yes, exactly," Li Tang quickly nodded, playing along.
After Li Xingchao called the waiter to serve dishes, he turned to Li Tang and asked, "Grandpa didn't come tonight?"
"I invited him, but he said he didn't want to run around, and would just fix something simple at home," Li Xinqi answered promptly.
"How's Grandpa doing since joining your company? Is he doing alright?" Li Xingchao continued, genuinely concerned.
"Grandpa's contributions have been tremendous, especially in our financial dealings. He's saved us a lot of trouble when dealing with banks," Li Tang responded sincerely.
"That's good," Li Xingchao nodded, satisfied, as the dishes started arriving. Everyone was hungry after a long day at work.
Li Xinqi eagerly helped set the dishes on the table, intentionally letting her fingers dance across the surface, displaying her dazzling diamond ring prominently under the bright lights of the room. Anyone with decent eyesight could hardly miss the sparkling jewel on her finger.
Once the dishes were served and the door closed, Zhou Muyun took hold of Li Xinqi's hand, examining it closely. "This diamond is stunning!"
"You noticed!" Li Xinqi's smile bloomed brightly.
"It's practically blinding me!" Zhou Muyun, clearly aware of the quality and cost of the diamond, raised her eyes in astonishment toward Li Tang. "He gave this to you?"
"Of course!" Li Xinqi proudly showcased the beautiful ring, delighted at being the center of attention.
"This ring truly reflects how thoughtful Li Tang is," Zhou Muyun said approvingly.
"A beautiful diamond suits a beautiful woman perfectly," Li Tang complimented warmly.
Li Xingchao, amused, pointed at Li Tang and teased his son, "Your brother-in-law is now the richest man in the country. You need to work harder and learn from him!"
"No matter how fast I run, I doubt I could catch up!" Li Zimo joked lightly, remaining composed and unaffected. After all, becoming the richest man wasn't something just anyone could aspire to. He was content with his role as a mid-level employee at Huatie Group.
"Everyone contributes value in their own position, and there's no hierarchy or superiority about it," Li Tang quickly clarified, smiling genuinely. "I'm looking forward to learning from each other in the future. You work at Huatie Group, which is a strong, technologically advanced company that commands respect."
"If there's ever anything I can do, please let me know," Li Zimo sincerely raised his glass toward Li Tang. "Brother-in-law, let me toast you."
After draining his glass, Li Zimo's face turned red, clearly showing he wasn't accustomed to drinking as heavily as his father.
The dinner progressed with cheerful conversation and frequent toasts. Once everyone had eaten a bit, Li Xingchao fixed his gaze on Li Tang, suddenly serious. "I've heard you've been working closely with Haigang Steel lately, exploring iron ore projects domestically and even traveling together recently to Australia?"
"Yes, that's right," Li Tang nodded casually, slightly tipsy but still coherent.
"Have you forgotten the matter you promised me?" Li Xingchao's expression turned mockingly stern.
Feeling caught off guard, Li Tang rubbed his eyes, trying to recall clearly. "No, I haven't forgotten."
"Regardless of whether you've forgotten or not, let me remind you again—you personally promised me you'd help us find a coal mine!" Li Xingchao pretended to be annoyed. "In business, you should prioritize matters by who came first. Compared with Haigang Steel and Lu Chenyi, who is closer to you?"
"Of course, you are!" Li Tang quickly clarified. "Working with Haigang Steel is purely business, but cooperating with you is an internal family matter."
"As long as you understand!" Li Xingchao finally lost control of his fake anger, burst into laughter, and swiftly downed a drink to mask his smile. Despite Li Tang's success, his sincerity remained intact. This honesty was exactly why he admired Li Tang so much. He realized if he'd spoken so directly to any other wealthy person, he'd probably have gotten a drink thrown in his face. But Li Tang was different—no matter how successful he became, he remained grounded and humble.
Li Xinqi, however, saw Li Tang looking slightly uncomfortable and quickly defended him, punching Li Xingchao lightly. "Dad, stop talking business at the dinner table!"
"Alright, alright," Li Xingchao quickly apologized, pouring another drink.
Li Tang wasn't actually bothered; he'd simply misunderstood initially. Taking the opportunity to continue the topic, he added, "Actually, during my recent visit to Australia, besides investigating iron ore, I specifically asked about Australian coal."
"Most of the tens of millions of tons of coal imported by our country comes from Australia, due largely to favorable maritime logistics," Li Tang elaborated.
Though Li Xingchao had no immediate plan to import coal, he was still interested. "And what did you learn?"
"Australia has total coal reserves of about twenty to thirty billion tons, concentrated primarily in Queensland, which alone has around twenty billion tons—an enormous reserve," Li Tang replied.
"You mentioned before that Queensland has substantial coal deposits," Li Xingchao remembered.
"Indeed, most deposits are inland, in desert basins, around three or four hundred kilometers from the nearest ports," Li Tang sighed. "The biggest obstacle remains infrastructure. Developing mines there would require massive investments in railways. Given current domestic coal markets, such investments are not yet economical."
"Then let's drop it," Li Xingchao responded without disappointment, since he hadn't planned on overseas coal projects anyway.
"But long-term, I still firmly believe imported coal will significantly benefit our domestic industries," Li Tang continued confidently.
Li Xingchao paused, intrigued. "You think developing coal mines in Queensland is still valuable?"
"Not urgently needed right now, but we must keep a close eye on market dynamics—especially policy changes," Li Tang emphasized.
Understanding Li Tang's point, Li Xingchao summarized, "Don't rush, but keep observing closely?"
"Exactly." Li Tang confirmed. "Also, after the New Year, if I travel to Canada, I'll also check coal mining opportunities there. Australia and Canada remain the world's best destinations for investing in mineral resources."
"Excellent! Next time you go abroad, bring me along to see the world!" Li Xingchao joked seriously.
Li Tang laughed, drinking another toast. He didn't get drunk that night, but back at home, he remained clear-headed enough to carefully undress Li Xinqi, who was particularly enthusiastic and assertive that evening.
…
The next morning, Li Tang rose refreshed, enjoying breakfast with Li Xinqi at the company cafeteria. Upon arriving at his office, Dai Yingchi immediately approached with an update. "The university said you're welcome anytime. If you're free today, we could first visit Professor Zhang and see exactly what the school has in mind."
Checking the time, Li Tang nodded. "Alright, let's head to campus now."
Returning to the familiar surroundings evoked nostalgic feelings—the ivory tower of youth always held cherished memories.
"'Warmest Welcome to Our Distinguished Alumnus and China's Richest Man, Li Tang!'" He Runqi read aloud the huge banner above the campus entrance, quickly becoming indignant. "Dai and I are also distinguished alumni—why aren't our names included?"
"Who even knows you?" Dai Yingchi retorted mercilessly.
"I think the banner should include me," He Runqi continued shamelessly.
"Please, stop flattering yourself," Dai Yingchi chuckled, throwing an arm around He Runqi's shoulders as they entered campus.
Sunshine bathed the campus warmly; blue skies and white clouds added charm, though the leafless plane trees lining the path diminished the scenery's beauty somewhat.
He Runqi approached a passing female student, attempting conversation. "Excuse me—do you know—"
Glancing at his round, dark face suspiciously, she quickly hurried away, practically running off.
"You look like trouble," Dai Yingchi teased.
"Runqi always tried chatting up girls during our university days, never succeeding," Li Tang chimed in, laughing.
Frustrated, He Runqi became silent momentarily. But when a graceful, tall, long-haired beauty approached, his confidence suddenly surged again. Boldly stepping forward, he called out shamelessly, "Excuse me, senior—do you know this Li Tang person mentioned on all the campus banners?"
"Of course! He's our alumnus, very young, reportedly handsome—the pride of our university!" the girls immediately replied excitedly.
Glancing sideways at Li Tang, He Runqi pressed further, "Then, have you heard of another distinguished alumnus, He Runqi?"
After a brief pause, one girl cautiously asked, "Are you He Runqi?"
Embarrassed, he shook his head. "No, no—but I hear he's very impressive, working alongside Li Tang!"
"We've never heard of him," the girls shrugged, leaving He Runqi defeated.
Li Tang chuckled and comforted his friend, "Relax—they don't even know me."
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