Chapter 140: You Don’t Understand the Market

Zhou Ming's curse silenced the entire private room. Everyone, including Zhang Heng, Hua Shao, and the four company chairmen, stared at Zhou Ming in shock, unable to believe he had suddenly uttered such a vulgar expletive.

"You... Zhou Ming, how dare you curse me?" Hua Shao pointed at Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming found it somewhat amusing: "Why wouldn't I dare? I'm cursing you, damn it!"

"Are you out of your mind, you red third-generation scion? Or do you have a masochistic delusion that everyone is targeting you? I haven't done anything to provoke you. Everything that's happened is just your own projections onto me. I'm just an advisor on this securities market project. From planning to detailed work, I haven't led any of it. If you're deliberately causing trouble here, you're either out of your mind or completely insane!" Zhou Ming yelled at Hua Shao.

Hua Shao's facial muscles twitched, clearly enraged.

Hua Shao had every reason to be furious. He had gone to great lengths to persuade the potential listing companies, using his connections and various means to get them to reject Zhou Ming's securities market. His entire scheme was a form of revenge against Zhou Ming. Everything had been going smoothly until now, and seeing Zhou Ming's surprised and troubled expression had initially pleased Hua Shao. But now, Zhou Ming's crude curse had completely deflated his satisfaction.

Hua Shao was seething with rage, wishing he could devour Zhou Ming alive.

Looking at Zhou Ming, Hua Shao said, "Well, Zhou Ming, it seems you don't want to back down. I originally intended to just give you a lesson to understand your place, but now it looks like I really need to make your securities company perform a solo act."

"Damn it!" Zhou Ming swore, "It's impossible to communicate with someone like you. I've already said this securities company isn't just my business. And do you really think that if you persuade these company chairmen to avoid listing their stocks, the securities company project will definitely fail?"

"Isn't it? Or do you think you can find other companies?" Hua Shao retorted. "Let me be clear, that's absolutely impossible."

Zhou Ming raised an eyebrow and asked, "So, Hua Shao, it seems you've put a lot of effort into this matter. Your abilities are indeed impressive. Although our domestic shareholding companies are just starting out, there are at least ten or more companies in Nanjing qualified for listing. Some of these are significant enterprises. You must have used considerable influence to persuade all these business owners."

Zhou Ming shifted his tone and continued, "But I regret to inform you that you don't understand the market or securities at all. No matter how much influence you have, some things are beyond your control. Everything you've done is in vain."

Hua Shao laughed, "Is that so? I don't think so. All I see is a beaten dog barking in front of me. Zhou Ming, do you think this dog looks pitiful?"

Zhou Ming ignored the lunatic and turned to Zheng Yi and the others: "Chairman Zheng, Chairman Cui, I hope you believe in the future securities company. Listing your company's stocks there will be of great benefit, not harm."

Zheng Yi chuckled, "Advisor Zhou, if you can't handle Hua Shao, don't come here and try to force or threaten us. That's not very manly. Do you think we're easy to bully?"

"Of course, that's not my intention," Zhou Ming replied. "I'm just trying to remind you that times have changed. Since your company has undergone a shareholding reform, it's now your private company. If you want your company to develop, you shouldn't just listen to others. You should have your own ideas. My conflict with Hua Shao is personal. He's looking for revenge, and you should consider the development of your company rather than worrying about other things."

"Ah, so that's the case. It seems I misunderstood Advisor Zhou," Zheng Yi said. "But I still believe our current decision is correct and doesn't need to be changed."

Zhou Ming nodded, "I understand Chairman Zheng's position. What about the rest of you? Chairman Cui, Chairman Zhou, and Chairman Wang, what do you think?"

When named, Cui Jiang, Zhou Yuan, and Wang Lian shook their heads, saying, "Thank you for your concern, Advisor Zhou. We understand what we're doing."

"Alright then, it seems you've all made your decisions. I won't say more. I just hope you remember what you said today. It won't be so easy to list your companies in the securities market in the future."

As Zhou Ming's words finished, Hua Shao sneered dismissively, "Zhou Ming, you really overestimate yourself. Do you think your securities company is such a coveted prize that everyone wants to flock to? And that listing in the future will be difficult? I think it's you who won't be able to maintain the securities company and will end up begging others to list with you!"

"I told you, Hua Shao, your vision is outdated. You don't understand how terrifying the capital market can be," Zhou Ming said.

"Oh, I'm so scared. Then, Advisor Zhou, please show us what this capital market you speak of is like. Don't end up like a dog with no results and leave Nanjing in disgrace," Hua Shao taunted.

Zhou Ming didn't bother with Hua Shao and left the private room with Zhang Heng. As they closed the door, they heard voices from inside: "Just a worthless advisor with no real power, relying on Du Shao's connections to get where he is, acting all high and mighty in front of us. He actually dares to talk to Hua Shao like that and threaten us!"

Zhang Heng was outraged: "These people are too much, speaking ill of Advisor Zhou behind his back!"

Zhou Ming was indifferent and waved his hand, "Let them talk. Believe me, within a week, they'll come begging us to list their companies in the securities market."

If someone else had said this to Zhang Heng, he would have spat in their face. But since it was Zhou Ming, he felt it was possible. After all, Zhou Ming had created countless miracles from Port City to Nanjing, just as the American expert Norderman had said, "Before hearing about Zhou Ming's achievements, take medicine first, or you might suffer a heart attack."

Zhou Ming told Zhang Heng, "Director Zhang, continue with the preparations for the securities company as planned. Everything should proceed as usual. However, there are some things where I need your help."

...

After leaving the Nanhui Hotel, Zhou Ming went to a tea house on East Gate Commercial Street, where Du Peng and Tang Ran were waiting for him. Zhou Ming had asked Du Peng to pick up Tang Ran from the immigration office.

Upon meeting, Tang Ran immediately asked, "Ming Ge, what happened? Didn't you have dinner with several company chairmen today? Why did it end so quickly? Or did you have trouble with the discussions?"

Du Peng looked at Zhou Ming's expression and asked, "Is it a serious problem?"

Zhou Ming smiled and replied, "It's not so much a problem as it is unexpected. Du Shao, can you guess why those shareholding companies are unwilling to list with the securities company?"

Du Peng thought for a moment and uncertainly said, "Could it be Hua Shao?"

Zhou Ming clapped and praised, "Exactly!"

"Wow, it really was Hua Shao's doing? When did he become so petty?" Du Peng exclaimed. He had guessed randomly and didn't really believe it, but it turned out to be true.

In Du Peng's view, Hua Shao was a significant figure from a powerful faction, much like himself, and should be more sophisticated in his methods of revenge. He was puzzled about why Hua Shao would resort to such tactics and what his true aim was.

Zhou Ming shrugged, "I really can't figure out his thoughts."

Zhou Ming briefly recounted what had happened at the Nanhui Hotel. After hearing the story, the straightforward Tang Ran immediately said, "How can he be like this? It's disgusting. And those chairmen, they're the real short-sighted villains! Now that these companies refuse to list with the securities company, what are you planning to do, Ming Ge?"

Tang Ran, despite her innocent demeanor, asked a pointed question, which Du Peng was also curious about.

Facing this question, Zhou Ming sighed, "There's no good solution. Since they don't want to play with us, we'll just have to play by ourselves."

"So, Ming Ge, you mean we should start our own shareholding company and list it in the securities company?" Du Peng asked.

Zhou Ming nodded, "Yes, but we don't need to start from scratch. We already have a company in real estate and another in the nightclub business. We can merge them into a large company with several million in assets, enough to qualify for listing in the securities company."

"Okay, I can handle that right away," Du Peng said.

At this moment, Tang Ran had a question: "But Ming Ge, aren't you planning to create a securities market? If the securities company only has South Development Bank and your company, won't that be too few?"

Zhou Ming smiled and patted Tang Ran's head, asking, "Do you trust me, Ran Ran?"

"I absolutely trust Ming Ge!" Tang Ran answered firmly.

"Then let me tell you, I have a plan

 to make those companies that refused to list with us regret it and beg us to let them list in the securities company," Zhou Ming said.

Du Peng raised an eyebrow, "Zhou Ming, are you talking about using that plan?"

"Exactly, I'm going to start trading stocks!" Zhou Ming declared.