I accidentally joined a group of charlatans, so I immediately called the police and handed it over t

The Western public opinion arena is like a pot of boiling swill.

The doubts didn't arise gradually, but rather, like a tsunami, instantly overwhelmed all rationality that morning.

Five thousand tons of rhenium?

This is not merely absurdity in terms of numbers; it is an insult to the common sense of Western industry over the past century.

The Washington Post's editorial headline was strikingly red: "[A Magic Show from the East: The Last Struggle Under a Chemical Sleight of Hand]".

A CNN commentator was laughing hysterically in the studio, holding a brick coated in silver powder, doing everything he could to be sarcastic.

"If China really has 5,000 tons of rhenium, I'll eat this brick without any sauce."

Arrogance is the greatest original sin.

But faced with immense fear of losing their interests, capitalists are more sensitive than anyone else.

Even while verbally condemning it as a "hoax," Boeing, GE, Airbus, and even special observers from the Pentagon assembled a large-scale "joint inspection team" in just three days.

It is nominally called "academic exchange and trade verification".

In reality, it was a pack of wolves with bloodshot eyes, ready to tear apart the prey that dared to fool them.

The wind deep in the Qilian Mountains stung my face.

In front of the abandoned mining area of ​​Base 001, Li Guobang looked at the list of the inspection team that had just been faxed to him, his fingers clenching so hard that his knuckles turned white.

"This is absolutely outrageous!"

Li Guobang slammed the list on the table; each name on it represented a giant in Western industry.

"They're here to cause trouble."

"They brought state-of-the-art portable mass spectrometers, and even radioisotope detectors."

Li Guobang turned around and looked at Chen Xi, who was sitting in the shadows, his voice filled with suppressed anxiety.

"Chen Xi, do not flaunt your wealth."

"Are we just going to let them see this?"

"What if they get any bad ideas, or..."

"Or what?"

Chen Xi was holding a piece of deerskin cloth and slowly wiping a rhenium brick that had just been brought out.

The movements were gentle, as if wiping away a lover's tears.

"Or should we just rob them outright?"

Chen Xi raised his head, his eyes shining like burning ice in the dim light.

"Old Li, your vision is too narrow."

"Rob?"

Chen Xi chuckled and casually tossed the priceless metal brick back into the pile, making a dull thud.

"This is China."

"Give them a hundred times the courage."

Li Guobang took a deep breath. He knew Chen Xi was right, but the unease in his heart grew wildly like weeds.

"There's no need to make such a big fuss about it."

"We can provide only a portion of the samples, or..."

"No."

Chen Xi interrupted him, her tone resolute.

"If they want to see, let them see as much as they want."

"We not only want them to see it, but we also want them to remember it deeply."

Chen Xi stood up, dusted off his hands, and walked to the warehouse door.

The blinding sunlight shone on his pale, handsome face, revealing an almost eerie coldness.

"Old Li, find someone to make a banner."

"A banner?" Li Guobang was stunned for a moment, unable to keep up with this leap of thought.

"Yes, bright red, for a festive look."

Chen Xi gestured, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"Write: Warmly welcome the Western joint inspection team to visit and guide our work."

"They'll even lay out a red carpet."

"It stretches from the entrance of the mine all the way to the door of this warehouse."

Li Guobang looked at Chen Xi as if he were looking at a madman.

"Do you want their faces to be swollen enough already?"

"No."

Chen Xi turned around, his back to the light, and his whole body seemed to melt into the shadows.

"I'm going to tell them."

"This door is easy to get through."

"But you need to buy a ticket to go out."

"That was the most expensive ticket they had ever bought in their lives."

……

three days later.

A chartered plane bearing the United Airlines logo landed at a Northwest military airfield.

The hatch opened.

Dr. Smith was the first to get down.

As the chief materials scientist in the West and the head of the inspection team, he wore that characteristic, gentlemanly, arrogant smile.

But his gaze behind his gold-rimmed glasses was as sharp as a hawk's, scrutinizing this barren land.

"It's a really...desolate place."

He shrugged at the French representative next to him, his tone flippant.

"It's hard to imagine that such sophisticated strategic metals would be piled up like potatoes in a place like this."

"Perhaps they mixed aluminum powder and lead together, thinking they could fool our eyes."

The French representative chuckled softly and patted the case of precision instruments he was carrying.

"That's a magic trick for primitive people."

"In the face of science, lies have no place to exist."

The convoy traveled for three hours on the winding mountain roads.

Yellow sand filled the sky, and withered grass rustled in the wind.

This forgotten corner of the world truly shows no signs of any "treasure".

The expressions of disdain on the faces of the inspection team members grew increasingly intense.

Is this the place that claims to have 5,000 tons of rhenium?

Is this what China calls its confidence?

That's a joke.

The convoy stopped in front of the abandoned mine.

Dr. Smith got out of the car, covering his mouth and nose with some disgust to block the dust that was kicked up.

Then, he froze.

Everyone was stunned.

On the dilapidated, weathered gate of the mining area, which looked as if it might collapse at any moment.

A brand-new, brightly colored red banner was hanging there.

A warm welcome to the Western joint inspection team for their guidance.

Those large characters fluttered in the wind, like invisible hands slapping their faces.

"This is a provocation."

Dr. Smith's face darkened, and he said through gritted teeth.

"No, Doctor."

A cool, clear voice came from inside the gate.

Chen Xi, wearing a black trench coat, stood at the end of the red carpet with his hands in his pockets.

Behind him, Li Guobang stood expressionless, like an iron tower.

Chen Xi looked at this group of well-dressed Western elites with a calm gaze, as if he were looking at a herd of pigs and sheep waiting to be slaughtered.

"It's polite."

"After all, guests from afar are welcome."

Chen Xi turned slightly to the side and made a "please" gesture.

The movement was impeccably elegant, yet it exuded a chilling sense of oppression.

"Please come in, everyone."

"The truth is inside."

"I just hope that your mental fortitude is as strong as your arrogance."

Dr. Smith snorted and straightened his tie.

"Young man, it's no use being stubborn."

"I hope you can still smile when my instruments start beeping."

He stepped onto the red carpet.

Step by step, they walked toward that bottomless black hole.

he does not know.

He is approaching the end of an era.

And the young man standing at the door smiling.

They were the gravediggers who buried their own era.