Chapter 29: Getting Paid
Following Zhao Hepu's orders, the Mining and Metallurgy Company's office in Jiujiang quickly assembled a professional technical team to carry out a more detailed evaluation of the tailings at Demen Copper Mine.
At the same time, Zhao Hepu and Lu Kanqing took their company's core technical staff to Jiujiang Copper's mine and bioleaching facility for a ten- to fifteen-day inspection and study tour.
Qin Jianshe took Li Tang and the others to rest for three days in the provincial capital of Jiujiang. They ate bighead carp, visited historic sites dedicated to revolutionary heroes, and went boating on the lake.
When they flew back to Yanjing, their return to office life meant the typical 9-to-5 routine—clock in, sit around, clock out—falling into the usual cycle of having nothing important to do.
After Li Tang requested a dorm change from the company's logistics department, he was quickly assigned a one-bedroom unit. It was clearly a significant improvement from before.
At least now, he didn't have to lock eyes with Hu Yangyu every day or endure the deafening snoring that made sleeping at night a nightmare.
During office hours, he had claimed one of the company's few available computers for himself.
At this point in time, computers were slowly becoming more common, but they weren't yet standard for every employee.
The one he used was an old, bulky white desktop with a huge back casing and a small square screen. The configuration was primitive by modern standards, but it was enough for typing.
Taking advantage of the downtime, Li Tang started typing away, compiling articles and research papers about bioleaching that he remembered from his previous life.
Over the next ten to twenty years, bioleaching would become one of the hottest fields in metallurgical technology.
As research matured, the proportion of copper produced through hydrometallurgy in China would steadily rise.
Li Tang aimed to write a general technical overview, listing parts of what he remembered—key research results, process models, and data.
When the time was right, sharing this could potentially help guide development, reduce trial-and-error, and maybe even shorten the research cycle by a few years.
If he got lucky, he might even earn a little money from it.
Because with his current salary, buying an apartment in Yanjing was still a fantasy.
And as time moved on, property prices in the capital would only go up.
Salary increases would never catch up to that pace.
Since he had been given a second chance at life, he had to at least catch a piece of the real estate boom.
Thud—a large hand landed firmly on his shoulder.
Li Tang turned around. It was Qin Jianshe.
"Director Qin, what can I do for you?" he asked.
"You guys from Yanjing University really know your way around a computer," Qin said with admiration. Just a moment ago, he'd watched Li Tang typing rapidly, his fingers flying across the keys, and it left him in awe.
He himself had taken the company's computer training classes—not that it had helped much.
"I'm good at typing, that's all," Li Tang replied modestly, saving his document and standing up.
"High achievers really are good at everything," Qin said with a grin before getting to the point. "Zhao Hepu is back. Prepare the dispatch labor reimbursement forms for all your team members. Get them signed by Director Liu first, then me. After that, take them upstairs for Zhao's signature, and submit everything to the finance department at Mining and Metallurgy."
"Understood," Li Tang nodded.
He hadn't even asked about the reimbursement, but Qin had taken the initiative to remind him—clearly, he hadn't forgotten.
"Oh, and your five-yuan-per-day fieldwork allowance hasn't been submitted either. Bring that along too, and I'll sign off on it so you can submit it to our own finance office."
"Got it."
Li Tang returned to the Resource Department. By now, everyone in the office knew each other, but none were close friends—just a few polite nods in passing.
He walked over to the sixth group's work area.
Hu Yangyu was by the window, lost in a wuxia novel.
Wei Shixing was glued to a handheld gaming console, and He Runqi was watching him play.
"Runqi, grab the forms you prepared and come with me," Li Tang called out.
He Runqi retrieved a set of forms from his drawer and followed.
The other two stayed engrossed in their own worlds, entirely unaffected.
"Is it payday?" He Runqi asked, speeding up in excitement.
He had sent nearly all his salary and probation pay back to his parents and had barely kept any for himself.
Now that the allowances were finally being distributed, he was eager.
Li Tang nodded. "Did you make two sets of forms like I asked?"
"Yes, one for five yuan per day, and one for thirty per person—fifty for you, the team leader," Runqi replied, though his tone turned a bit sour. "Why do you get so much more?"
They first found Liu Kaisheng and got his signature, then went to Qin Jianshe for his. After that, they headed to the finance department.
The department had four staff members: one director, one deputy, one accountant, and one cashier—all women. The door was open, and they were chatting while eating sunflower seeds.
When they saw Li Tang walk in, Director Wu Fang didn't even stop chewing as she waved them over. "Perfect timing—we just bought two pounds of seeds. They're fresh and crunchy!"
Runqi was too embarrassed to take any.
Li Tang, on the other hand, cupped his hands to accept the generous handful Wu Fang poured out.
"Director Wu, we're here to submit our fieldwork allowance forms," he said politely.
"Xiao Wang, handle this," Wu Fang instructed, not even glancing up.
The accountant took the forms from Runqi, reviewed them quickly, made a note, and passed them to the cashier.
"Bank deposit or cash?" the cashier asked.
"Cash," Runqi said immediately.
Catching Li Tang's surprised look, he explained, "I just love the feeling of holding actual money. Seeing it on a screen doesn't do it for me."
"Same for me," Li Tang laughed. "Cash, please."
As they counted the money and processed everything, Wu Fang motioned for Li Tang to sit and started chatting—more like probing.
"Is Director Qin your relative? An uncle or something?"
"No, not at all," Li Tang replied, brushing it off. He didn't want to explain further.
"Do you have connections at Group Headquarters?"
"Also no."
"Come on, Xiao Li, don't treat Wu Jie like an outsider. We're all on the same team. If you ever need help, just come to me."
"Definitely."
"Got a girlfriend?"
"Not yet."
"I know someone—young, beautiful, just graduated like you. Local to Yanjing, parents have good jobs. When you've got time, I'll set up a meeting."
"No, no, that's okay."
Eventually, Runqi collected the full allowances for all four team members, and they said their goodbyes to the finance department.
Just as they reached the door, they nearly bumped into Qin Jianshe rushing in.
"Come to my office. Now," Qin said, his face serious.
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