Chapter 839 Discovery of Mineral Resources After returning from "Colorful Pool and Jade Pool", Zhou Zhe saw that Lu Qingyang was still full of enthusiasm, so he suggested, "Qingyang, those scenic spots are beautiful, but they always feel a bit distant. I know there is an old forest in the back mountain, the road is a bit difficult to walk, but there is a Wild Dragon Cave inside. The older generation said that it is very deep inside and there is an underground river. Do you dare to explore it?"
This suggestion immediately piqued Lu Qingyang's interest, and he readily agreed.
This time, Zhou Gang insisted on going along, saying that it would be better to have more people to look after them.
On the second day, the three of them, carrying basic equipment, a flashlight, a long rope, a machete, and some dry food, plunged into the remote forest behind the village.
There was no road here, so Zhou Zhe and Zhou Gang took turns using machetes to cut through the tangled vines and bushes, painstakingly clearing a path.
The trees in the forest blocked out the sun, making the light dim. The air was filled with the scent of humus and damp moss. There was a thick, soft layer of fallen leaves underfoot, which made no sound when you stepped on them.
The occasional calls of unidentified birds only added to the serene atmosphere of the deep forest.
After walking for about two hours, we finally saw the cave entrance, half-hidden by weeds and stalactites, on a steep rock face.
The entrance to "Wild Dragon Cave" is not large, and it is dark inside, with a cool, earthy wind blowing out.
"Stay close to me, there are many forks in the road and the ground is slippery," Zhou Zhe instructed, before bending down and crawling inside first.
The beam of the flashlight pierced the darkness, illuminating a vast open space.
The cave ceiling is adorned with stalactites of all shapes and sizes, and the ground is covered with stalagmites, some of which are connected to form huge stone pillars, shimmering with a moist luster under the light.
The rocks underfoot were slippery, and the sound of flowing water could be heard from deep within the cave, an underground river.
They cautiously explored deeper into the narrow rock face along the edge of the underground river.
The surroundings were so quiet that only the sounds of each other's breathing and footsteps could be heard echoing.
At a corner, Zhou Gang slipped, but luckily Lu Qingyang reacted quickly and pulled him back. It was just a false alarm; several pebbles rolled into the underground river with a "plop" sound that echoed in the cave, giving everyone a fright.
"That was close! Thank you so much, Brother Lu!" Zhou Gang said, still shaken.
As they went deeper, they discovered that the rocks on the cave walls had unusual colors, and in some places they reflected a fine, metallic luster when the light shone.
Lu Qingyang's mind stirred, and he leaned closer to observe carefully. He even used his personal key to lightly scratch the rock wall, leaving a clear mark.
“Ah Zhe, look at this rock…” Lu Qingyang focused the flashlight beam on the rock wall. “This texture, this specific gravity, and these associated minerals… If I’m not mistaken, there is likely a relatively rich lead-zinc vein nearby.”
"Minerals?" Zhou Zhe and Zhou Gang were both stunned and leaned closer to look.
They had lived here for generations, only knowing that the cave was dark and deep, never imagining that there might be treasure hidden beneath their feet.
"Yes, but professional exploration is needed to determine the reserves and grade. However, if it is indeed worth mining, it may become an important opportunity to change the economic landscape of the entire township or even the county."
This unexpected discovery instantly added an extraordinary significance to this expedition.
They did not venture any further, but instead cautiously returned along the way, making inconspicuous marks at several key locations.
Stepping out of the cave and seeing the light of day again, recalling the possibly astonishing discovery in the deep, quiet cave, my emotions are still hard to calm.
Originally, he only sought thrills and went on an adventure, but unexpectedly stumbled upon a deeper secret of the land beneath his feet.
On the way back to the village, the setting sun cast long shadows of them.
Looking at the undulating mountains in the distance, Zhou Zhe murmured, "I never imagined that the Wild Dragon Cave, passed down from the older generation, would have such a thing hidden inside..."
Lu Qingyang patted his shoulder: "Keep it a secret for now. When I get back, I'll try to contact relevant experts to take a look. If it really works, the future will be very different with road construction, electricity, and recruitment."
The discovery of a potential mineral vein in the cave left Lu Qingyang deeply troubled. He knew this was of great importance, but the village was almost completely isolated from the outside world. The entire village didn't even have a telephone, and communication with the outside world relied entirely on letters and occasional messages carried by people who went out.
"I have to go to town and make a phone call to Beijing."
Zhou Zhe immediately understood his idea and nodded, saying, "Okay! Tomorrow is market day, I'll go with you, take care of things, and also take you to the market to join in the fun. We can also have some of our local specialty breakfast."
On the first day, while it was still dark, Zhou Zhe and Lu Qingyang set off with flashlights in hand.
The morning breeze in the mountains was exceptionally crisp and cold, and dew dampened my trouser legs. By the time I reached the intersection where the road was passable, the sky was just beginning to lighten with the first hint of dawn.
They, along with several fellow villagers also going to the market, squeezed onto a sputtering tractor with chicken coops and vegetable baskets in the cargo bed.
The tractor traveled for nearly an hour on the bumpy dirt road before dawn.
When they arrived in town, the market was already quite large and bustling with people.
Zhou Zhe led Lu Qingyang through the bustling crowd, first arriving at the town's post office.
This is one of the most "modern" places in town, but there's only one old-fashioned crank telephone.
Lu Qingyang filled out the form, paid the deposit, and waited patiently while the post office staff slowly answered the call before finally hearing the dial tone.
Lu Qingyang first called Professor Qian, briefly explaining that he had made the accidental discovery during a field geological survey, describing the characteristics and approximate location of the rock, and asking for advice on how to make a preliminary confirmation.
Professor Qian's voice was intermittent on the other end of the phone, but you could tell he took it seriously. He told me to make sure the scene was protected and not to make a fuss, and that he would contact his old friends in the geological system as soon as possible to find out what was going on.
Next, Lu Qingyang called Zhou Fang to discuss extending the holiday and the possibility of needing to keep an eye on subsequent mineral information.
The call was not smooth and often required repeating things aloud, but the key information was eventually conveyed.
"Come on, Qingyang, now that things are done, I'll take you out for a delicious meal to reward you!"
Zhou Zhe smiled and put his arm around his shoulder, pulling him back into the bustling, lively atmosphere of the market.
They sat down in front of a stall with a large oil pot. Zhou Zhe ordered generously: "Boss, two bowls of Dan Dan noodles, extra chili oil! Two bowls of Mao Jiezi, and four Juntun Guokui."
When the bowl of fragrant Dan Dan noodles, topped with minced meat, chili oil, bean sprouts, and crushed peanuts, was placed in front of him, Lu Qingyang finally felt hungry.
Mix the noodles and base sauce thoroughly, coating each noodle with the sauce and chili oil. The noodles are spicy, savory, chewy, and smooth, instantly stimulating all your taste buds.
Those plump and flavorful bacon pieces, each bite bursting with juicy goodness.
The freshly baked Juntun Guokui had a crispy, crumbly outer crust and a fragrant, numbing meat filling inside. He ate it until his forehead was slightly sweaty and he exclaimed how delicious it was.
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