Chapter 145: The Stock Frenzy That Year

The military hospital in Wukesong, Yanjing, is known for its most formidable medical team and top-notch medical facilities in the country. It is said that many national leaders have been treated here. On December 15, 2017, a CCTV interview vehicle arrived, and the famous CCTV host, along with her interview team, got out of the car.

"Hello to all the viewers at home. I'm your host. Today we've come to the renowned military hospital in the capital. The person we're interviewing today is Mr. Luo Han. I believe you're all familiar with this name, as he is the leader of the Southern Jiang Development Bank and a pioneer in the Southern Jiang securities market and even the national capital market. Let's follow our camera and step into the world of this great figure."

After the opening remarks, the CCTV host and her team entered the hospital, went through identity verification, and arrived at the special care ward to meet Luo Han.

By this time, Luo Han was already ill and lying in bed. Facing the camera, he fell into reminiscence: "I'm old now, so old that I can't remember many things clearly, but I still vividly remember that incredible stock frenzy thirty years ago, and the great figure who pioneered the domestic financial world and truly introduced us to the capital market. His name was Zhou Ming!"

Luo Han's words left everyone in confusion. Finally, the host asked the question everyone was curious about: "Mr. Luo, what exactly happened thirty years ago? Could you please tell us in detail?"

...

In mid-December 1987, the Dongmen District was the location of the South Jiang City Municipal Committee and the South Jiang City Government. It was also the fastest-developing area in South Jiang. The people here were busy every day, leaving early and returning late. They understood the value of time better than people in other places.

Old Wang, whose full name is Zheng Wuzhou, is known as Old Wang by everyone. Every morning, he would wake up early to boil a pot of hot water and then steam pre-made char siu buns in a bamboo steamer. This was the most common breakfast for people in South Jiang. So Old Wang would open his shop early because he knew that people rushing to work would buy his char siu buns. Our current episode of "A Taste of South Jiang" is going to lead...

Before the narrator could finish, Old Wang interrupted, "Enough of that. Didn't we agree to record the stock frenzy in South Jiang today? How did it turn into 'A Taste of South Jiang' again? Did you go to the wrong studio or bring the wrong script? And my name is clearly Zheng Wuzhou, not Wang. How did it become Old Wang in the end?"

Old Wang was taken aback and said, "Wait a minute, I'm from 1987. Why am I complaining about this? And there shouldn't be 'A Taste of South Jiang' at this time, right?"

Narrator: Don't mind the details. Let's keep rowing. Aren't you heading to the securities company later?

"Of course, I'm going to the securities company. Stocks are all the rage in South Jiang now. I don't know how many people have made a fortune from buying stocks. If someone comes to South Jiang and doesn't know about stocks and securities, it's like they haven't been here at all."

Old Wang paused, glanced at the time, and continued, "The securities company opens at nine in the morning every day. I don't know why it opens so late, but it's only at this time that the securities company opens for business, and we stockholders can start buying and selling stocks. I need to head over soon, or I might not even get in. The securities company also has a break from twelve to one at noon, so it's quite troublesome if you arrive late."

Old Wang opened the steamer to check and took a few warm char siu buns from inside, putting them into his cloth bag. Satisfied, he patted the bag and said, "This will be my lunch. Let's go. I'll take you to the securities company."

As soon as Old Wang left, a shout came from behind, "Catch the thief! Someone stole the char siu buns from my shop!"

Hearing this, Old Wang quickened his pace, almost breaking into a run. By the time he arrived at the securities company, he was out of breath.

Catching his breath, Old Wang looked up. As he expected, even though it was not yet eight o'clock, the entrance was already crowded with people. Looking around, it was a sea of black figures, with everyone either sitting or standing, but all eyes were fixated on the closed door of the securities company, as if a deity might appear any moment. This was because there was a huge LED display board above the door showing the previous day's closing prices: "Southern Jiang Development Bank 40 yuan per share" and "Jinpeng Industrial Co., Ltd. 9 yuan per share."

Old Wang also entered the plaza in front of the securities company and found several stockholders he knew, who were discussing stock prices.

"I remember that yesterday, when the market opened, Southern Jiang Development Bank was only 32 yuan per share. I didn't expect it to rise by eight yuan per share in one day. If I had bought a hundred shares yesterday, I could have made eight hundred yuan in one day, which is equivalent to over two years' salary!"

"You can only dream of that. Everyone here is buying Southern Jiang Development Bank stocks. As soon as any stocks are released, they're immediately snapped up. There's no chance for you to buy."

"Even if you can't get the bank's stock, you could still buy Jinpeng Industrial's. I remember it was only a little over five yuan per share when the market opened, and by closing time, it had shot up to nine yuan per share. That's almost a doubling of the price!"

Compared to his friends, Old Wang was more pragmatic: "You guys are just dreaming! Do you think stocks can be bought so easily? There are new rules now. To buy stocks, you need to open accounts at both the securities company and Southern Jiang Development Bank and link them together before you can make purchases. And opening an account? You'll have to wait for a lottery."

At this point, someone next to him curiously asked, "What's a lottery?"

Old Wang and his friends looked disdainful: "You don't know what a lottery is? A lottery means not everyone is eligible to open an account at the securities company. You need to register with your ID at the securities company, and every hour, they draw a batch of people to distribute account opening forms. They only issue two hundred forms a day."

"Two hundred forms isn't a lot!" the person said.

"Not a lot? Do you think it's just us here? I can tell you, every day there are tens of thousands of people queuing here for the lottery. If you get an account opening form, you can sell it on the spot for three hundred yuan," Old Wang said.

Hearing this, the person's eyes widened: "What? You have to spend three hundred yuan just to get an account before you even start trading?"

"Three hundred yuan isn't a lot?" Old Wang said, "I'll tell you, even with three hundred yuan, you might not be able to get an account opening form. And when opening an account at the securities company, you need to pay a deposit of two hundred yuan and a fee of fifty yuan. So you need at least five hundred and fifty yuan to open a trading account."

"Don't be too surprised. Think about why you came here to trade stocks," Old Wang asked.

The person answered, "I heard that my neighbor bought Southern Jiang Development Bank stocks, and they went up in price. He sold them yesterday and made over a thousand yuan, so I want to buy these stocks too."

"What? Your neighbor sold them yesterday?" Old Wang said in surprise, "Your neighbor is really an idiot! How could he sell them? He must have sold them at 40 yuan per share, right? I tell you, he lost big time. If it were me, I wouldn't sell for less than 80 yuan per share."

The person gasped, "You mean the bank's stock price will continue to rise?"

"Isn't that obvious?" Old Wang said, "If it weren't going up, why would I be here early in the morning queuing for the lottery? According to my analysis, the bank's stock will rise to at least 100 yuan per share!"

The person was so astonished that he jumped up: "100 yuan per share? That's a five-fold increase!"

"Five-fold? That's not how stocks are calculated," Old Wang said, adopting a scholarly tone. "According to the stock system of Southern Jiang Development Bank, as the stock price continues to rise, the bank's capital increases, and its shares also increase. For us who bought stocks, the bank will issue even more shares. Based on my estimation, it will at least rise ten times within two months."

"Ten times?" The person's mouth dropped open, big enough to fit two eggs. "If my neighbor hadn't sold, he could have made over ten thousand yuan?"

Old Wang looked at him with a look of disdain: "That's right. That's why I say your neighbor is an idiot!"

The person exhaled and said, "It's true! But the president of Southern Jiang Development Bank is really something. Isn't he named Luo Han? He seems to be

 the president of the securities company too. It's impressive that he thought of this method to help his bank develop."

Old Wang sneered: "You really don't understand anything! Luo Han is just a smokescreen put up for us. The real boss of the securities company is a big shot named Zhou from Hong Kong City. His fortune is in the billions. Not only did he create the securities company's system, but I also heard he bought the entire Southern Jiang Development Bank."

"Is that true? How could someone buy a bank? That Zhou guy is too terrifying!"

Old Wang was about to say more when his friend reminded him, "Old Wang, stop talking. The securities company is opening. We need to make sure we get a lottery number and buy stocks!"

The person suddenly noticed something and asked Old Wang's friend, "Brother, your legs seem a bit inconvenient. Are you going to squeeze in as well?"

Old Wang's friend said nonchalantly, "My legs? I got squeezed yesterday during the lottery. It's no big deal. Compared to my legs, the real issue is whether we can buy stocks. If I can get stocks, even if my legs get crushed, it's worth it!"

Seeing the fanatic expression on Old Wang's friend's face as he talked about stocks, he was speechless, thinking to himself: They've lost their minds. They've completely lost their minds!

Before he could react further, the securities company's door was opened. As soon as the door opened, everyone surged forward like sharks smelling blood, pushing into the trading hall of the securities company. Among the crowd, whether it was Old Wang, his friends, or the newcomer, there was no resistance. They were all pushed forward by the frenzied crowd.