"I told you! People will die there! Do you understand? People will die there!" Geng Xiangdong almost roared as he spoke, his eyes red-rimmed. "I can't let any more young people go to their deaths!"
"Going to our deaths? We've already taken down the enemy's mine there and captured over a dozen people! What danger are you talking about?"
Upon hearing this, Geng Xiangdong was struck dumb, frozen in place, his lips trembling, unable to utter a single word. He could only repeatedly mutter, "I can't go... I can't go..."
Geng Xiangdong's stubborn attitude was truly baffling, but no valuable physical evidence or information was found in his office or home.
The interrogation reached a stalemate once again.
The next day, the news that Geng Xiangdong had been placed under quarantine for investigation exploded like a bomb in the research institute.
The exploration team's office was bustling with activity.
Fang Da gloated, "I told you! That old stubborn guy was definitely up to something! He always has that long face, like everyone owes him eight hundred strings of cash!"
Another team member chimed in, "That's right! Just because he's the chief engineer, he lectures us like we're his grandsons every day. He's a wolf in sheep's clothing!"
Fang Da: "This is what they call the net of heaven being vast, its meshes wide, yet nothing escapes it! With Geng Xiangdong down, it's time for someone of virtue to take over the position of chief engineer!"
"Of course! Engineer Fang, you have the most seniority and the most experience. This position of chief engineer is definitely yours!"
"That's right! When Engineer Fang becomes the chief engineer, he'll have to mentor us!"
Lin Fan felt disgusted at the sight of these people kicking him when he was down. He picked up his documents and walked out of the office without looking back.
Chen Xue followed Lin Fan out with a worried expression and said, "Lin Fan, I don't believe Engineer Geng is a spy. He just has a bad temper, but his technical skills are undeniable. If someone like Fang Da becomes the chief engineer, and he doesn't think about research all day but only about how to mess with people, our exploration team will be finished!"
The two found Su Tang, who was analyzing the composition of kaolin in the sample room, and explained the situation in the office.
Su Tang listened quietly, but her hands didn't stop moving.
She looked at the pure mineral crystals under the microscope, but her mind was racing.
Geng Xiangdong's anger didn't seem fake; there must be something wrong with it.
She assigned the task of analyzing kaolin to Lin Fan and Chen Xue.
She plunged headlong into the dusty archives filled with yellowed old papers.
When Su Tang flipped to a file containing team members' information, her eyes were drawn to a black-and-white group photo that had been overlooked in a corner.
In the photo, a group of young exploration team members are smiling spiritedly, the sunlight shining on their energetic faces.
One of the young men standing in the center had the brightest smile, and his features bore a striking resemblance to Geng Xiangdong.
Su Tang's heart sank. Pointing to the young man in the photo, she asked Chen Xue, "Who is he?"
Chen Xue leaned closer to take a look: "Oh, I heard it from other veteran team members... He was the captain who died in the accident, named Wang Fei. He was the most talented one in our exploration team over the years, what a pity..."
Wang Fei... Geng Xiangdong...
Is there any connection between these two people?
A bold guess formed in Su Tang's mind.
She took the photo to Deputy Commander Liu and applied to see Geng Xiangdong, who was being held in custody.
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