Chapter 35: Solution

After the few of them sat down, Cheng Haitang gave a detailed report on the whole affair and Qin Hao's proposal.

When Cheng Haitang finished, Qin Hao added from his side, "Lao Luo, I'm willing to go, as long as proper protection is ensured, the risk is controllable."

When the words ended, the living room fell into silence.

Lao Luo and Zhang Yunfeng listened quietly, their faces showing no emotional change, neither immediately agreeing nor refusing.

After a long while, Lao Luo finally lifted his teacup, gently blew the steam, and his gentle gaze fell on Qin Hao.

"Xiao Qin, you have this concern for the nation's troubles, that's good; we all feel very gratified."

As soon as he said that, Cheng Haitang let out a half sigh of relief, but his heart rose to his throat again.

"But…"

Lao Luo shifted his tone, still gentle, "Comrade Haitang is right about one thing: your safety is paramount, the top priority above all else.

We cannot gamble the nation's future on that one-in-a-billion chance; the higher-ups would not agree."

Zhang Yunfeng also nodded and took over the conversation:

"Xiao Qin, you may not fully understand our country's current situation. Ying Jiang's recent sabotage on the uranium mine is indeed disgusting, but it's only one of many troubles."

He extended a finger, tapped in the air, and his tone grew a few degrees heavier,

"Our country is vast and rich in resources, yet its population is large, and consumption is huge.

Every year we need to import over one billion tons of iron ore and other minerals from abroad to keep industry running.

More than 70% of our oil is imported, which is the lifeblood of energy, and a considerable portion of high-end chips, precision instruments, even quality soybeans, also depend on others' goodwill."

"Each of these issues, taken alone, is far more severe than the current uranium price hike.

For so many years we've been choked at the throat, struggling forward all the way."

Zhang Yunfeng looked at Qin Hao, "Now, they just want to collect a few hundred billion in Protection Fee; we can still afford that. Compared to sending you on a risky mission, spending that money is worthwhile."

At that point, Qin Hao fully understood.

From Cheng Haitang to the two Lao Luo, their attitudes were surprisingly consistent.

In their eyes, they are the national treasure among national treasures.

Any proposal that might threaten the "national treasure's" safety, no matter how tempting, will be rejected without hesitation.

Qin Hao felt some helplessness, but also a warm current flowed through him.

Being protected as carefully as a national treasure was an unprecedented experience for him, a child raised in an orphanage.

Yet watching the nation being extorted, he simply couldn't swallow that feeling.

The problem stands before them, the optimal solution is blocked, leaving only the path of "enduring in silence."

At that moment, Cheng Haitang, who had been silent, suddenly felt a flash of lightning in his mind.

He abruptly lifted his head, his gaze sweeping between Qin Hao and the two, his expression shifting from tangled to a hint of surprise and excitement.

"Special envoy! I... I have an immature idea!" he blurted, his voice trembling with excitement.

Lao Luo and Zhang Yunfeng both looked at him, signaling him to continue.

"Why must we focus on the uranium mine itself?"

Cheng Haitang's mind cleared, his speech quickening, "Since the risk lies in contacting radioactive material, we can simply bypass it.

Xiao Qin's ability is not limited to replicating industrial goods; he can replicate... anything!"

He paused, took a deep breath, and uttered the word that symbolizes ultimate wealth in human history.

"For example, gold!"

"Let Xiao Qin replicate gold! Gold carries no radiation risk, absolutely safe! Once replicated, we can pay directly with gold; I think they won't refuse.

When the time comes, even at ten times the price, we can still afford it! That way, Ying Jiang's plot would collapse on its own, wouldn't it?"

With those words, the few exchanged glances.

Even Qin Hao himself was stunned.

"Yeah, why didn't I think of this?"

"Is my brain a block of elm wood? I spend every day thinking about replicating high‑tech, how could I forget such a simple, brute‑force method?"

A flash of surprise crossed Lao Luo's eyes, then turned into strong approval.

He glanced at Zhang Yunfeng; the two exchanged a look, each seeing the word "feasible" in the other's eyes.

This plan was practically perfect.

It perfectly avoided all risk points, turning Qin Hao's ability from a "high‑risk strategic weapon" into an "absolutely safe super money‑printing machine."

"Good! This method is good!"

Zhang Yunfeng couldn't help but slap his thigh, "As long as the price isn't absurd, there's still room to maneuver; Comrade Haitang's idea has really helped us a lot."

Cheng Haitang blushed from the praise, scratching his head a bit embarrassed.

He only wanted to keep Qin Hao from risking himself, and unexpectedly hit the mark with this idea.

The oppressive atmosphere in the living room vanished, replaced by a refreshing sense of hope after darkness.

However, Lao Luo's joy lasted only a moment; he then considered other issues.

He lifted the now slightly cool tea, took a sip, and spoke slowly.

"Comrade Haitang, the thinking behind this idea is correct, and the direction is good."

He first gave affirmation, then raised a new, deeper question.

"But have you considered this? A massive, mysterious sum of gold suddenly appearing out of thin air on the international financial market—what do you think Ying Jiang's ubiquitous intelligence agencies and financial sharks would react?"

Lao Luo's voice was soft, yet like a bucket of cold water dousing the excitement that had just flared among them.

"They would swarm like sharks smelling blood, deploying all forces to trace the source of this gold."

"We could certainly fabricate fake mining sources or transaction records to conceal it, but at such a scale, achieving flawless cover is difficult."

He looked at Cheng Haitang, his gaze sharpening.

Once they catch a clue and follow the trail, the ultimate target will still point to us, to this core secret of ours that possesses some kind of 'turning stone into gold' ability.

By then, what we have to face will probably no longer be just a modest increase in uranium ore prices.

Old Luo's words caused the smiles on the faces of Cheng Haitang and Qin Hao, who had just been excited, to freeze instantly.

Yeah.

The physical risk has been avoided, but the strategic risk that has been exposed has not diminished; it has increased.

The last incident in which they managed to build a stealth fighter silently has already put Eagle Sauce on pins and needles.

If they were to find out again that Yanhuang Guo still holds a near‑infinite wealth‑creating ability…

The consequences would be unimaginable!