"Nothing found? How could this be? Wasn't that place where trace elements were found further explored?"
"Since trace elements have already appeared in that place, there should be more in the surrounding area, right?"
The leader only has a superficial understanding of geology, but that's the logical conclusion.
"It was done. No fewer than fifty probes were installed around there, but nothing was found."
"After calculations and evaluations by the team's experts, the conclusion was that there were no rare earth mines in this area, and all our efforts were in vain." Qi Minglin sighed and leaned back on the sofa, looking somewhat dejected.
"How could this happen? Almost two months have passed. Do you know what that means?" The leader's tone was quite grave.
"I know this means that our newly invested 50 billion yuan has gone down the drain again, and time is running out."
"If we can't find a new large-scale rare earth mine, the consequences will be extremely serious," Qi Minglin said, scratching her head.
Moreover, the consequences will only be far more severe than she described.
"Now is not the time for self-criticism. As the team leader, what are your plans for the next step?" the leader asked.
"This can't go on any longer. We've recruited nearly 90% of the geological exploration experts in the country, but it's still the same."
"Even if we increase our recruitment efforts further, the outcome will probably not change."
"I plan to try my luck among the common people, and bring in those folk masters who are on record to see if there's any way to help them," Qi Minglin replied.
"Okay, then we'll do it your way. Just remember, we don't have much time left."
"If you need anything, give me a call, and I'll do my best to accommodate you," the leader said before hanging up.
After hanging up the phone, Qi Minglin reached out and let her slightly curly hair fall loose. She picked up a bottle of baijiu from the table, unscrewed it, and took a swig.
Qi Minglin wasn't a particularly beautiful woman, but perhaps due to years of geological exploration, she possessed a wild beauty that set her apart from those ordinary, pretty girls.
She doesn't particularly enjoy drinking, but lately she's become so anxious that she needs alcohol to fall asleep.
The entire nation's lifeline rests on her shoulders; no one knows just how much pressure she is under.
A few days later, Chen Feng had just finished lunch and was chatting with Xia Yingying on the sofa when a car suddenly pulled up at the door, and four or five people got out.
Qi Minglin was dressed in casual clothes, and she was accompanied by a somewhat overweight middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses.
His name is Zhang Richeng. He is a national geological exploration expert who studied abroad for ten years and obtained a doctorate in geology, as well as many other achievements.
In the end, he resolutely refused the generous offers from foreign countries and chose to return to China to serve his country. He was also a key member of the exploration team and one of its core members, and could even be said to be the number one person after Qi Minglin.
“Why do you think so highly of him? I think even that veteran craftsman who has been dealing with minerals for decades is better than him.” Zhang Richeng frowned and said, feeling that this was inappropriate.
Their first stop on this trip shouldn't have been Chen Feng's house, but Qi Minglin defied everyone's objections and personally went to his house from a thousand miles away, and he was the first person she wanted to see.
"Perhaps it's intuition. Things have developed to this point, and things may no longer be able to proceed according to common sense." Qi Minglin straightened her clothes and led the people inside.
"Hello, is this Chen Feng's house?" Qi Minglin walked in and knocked on the door.
"Yes, who are you?" Chen Feng turned his head to look at the door and asked with some doubt.
"Let me introduce myself. I'm Qi Minglin from the National Geological Exploration Team," Qi Minglin said, extending her hand generously.
"Oh, then sit down." Chen Feng stood up, shook hands with her, and gestured for them to sit down and talk.
"We've called you here today because we have something we want to ask you. I'll get straight to the point: how did you discover this gold mine in your village?" Qi Minglin asked as she sat down.
"What are you doing? Taking it back?"
"I have a certificate," Chen Feng asked, bewildered.
"Uh, no, you misunderstood. We're not here to buy your mine, we just want to ask about what happened," Qi Minglin said with a smile.
"How could we possibly meet? I'm from this village, it was just a coincidence," Chen Feng said, shrugging.
“We are here on behalf of the country. You should be more respectful and stop laughing and joking. Do you know what kind of crisis our country is facing?” Zhang Richeng said with a cold snort.
He couldn't stand Chen Feng's slickness and the way he always spoke his mind.
Upon hearing this, Chen Feng narrowed his eyes and leaned back gently on the sofa.
"Who you represent has nothing to do with me. What do you mean by an improper attitude? How am I supposed to be proper? I'll fucking give you a good marching drill!"
"What does the country's current crisis have to do with me? Do I eat the government's food?"
“You people who eat the government’s rice bowl and have an iron rice bowl every day don’t try to find a solution, but instead you’re babbling at me. Are you useless? You’re acting like the country is in crisis because of me.”
Chen Feng casually picked up a cigarette, lit it, and sneered.
He hadn't intended to speak like that, but this arrogant guy annoyed Chen Feng so much that he was already being lenient by not kicking him out directly.
"You! What did you say? Say it again! The rise and fall of the nation is the responsibility of every citizen. Don't you understand this principle?!"
"How could you say such a thing? Are you even a citizen?!" Zhang Richeng was furious upon hearing this and slammed his fist on the table.
"Go to hell, stop trying to morally blackmail me, don't try to label me, I'm not cold."
"The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen. I'm not a citizen, go find a citizen to talk to about this." Chen Feng said impatiently, waving his hand.
"Alright, what kind of attitude is this? Don't you even know why you came here?"
"If you can stay here, then stay for a while. If you can't, then get back to your car and stop causing trouble!" Qi Minglin said angrily, glaring at Zhang Richeng.
"snort."
As soon as Qi Minglin spoke, Zhang Richeng pursed his lips, suppressed his anger, and sat down heavily, turning his face to the other side, clearly not wanting to look at Chen Feng anymore.
Just as Chen Feng was about to say something, Xia Yingying tugged at him, signaling him to stop cursing and see how things went.
Chen Feng glanced at Xia Yingying, then rolled his eyes, flicked his cigarette ash, and didn't say anything more.
Qi Minglin gathered her thoughts, took a deep breath, and said, "I'm sorry, Chen Feng. I apologize to you on his behalf. He's been quite anxious lately, and I hope you can understand."
"I don't understand anything. How am I supposed to understand? I kindly invited you to come in and sit down to talk, and he just came up and started babbling at me. How am I supposed to understand that?" Chen Feng snorted.
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