Chapter 150: The Preplanned Script

Zhou Ming, Du Peng, and Hua Shao had little more to discuss, so after their conversation, they left the restaurant. However, since they had consumed quite a bit of alcohol at Hua Shao's dinner, they didn't leave Nanhu Hotel but instead went to the hotel's tea room.

Upon arriving at the private room in the tea room, Tang Ran hurried to greet them at the door. Noticing the strong smell of alcohol on Zhou Ming, she frowned and said, "Such a strong smell of alcohol. Ming Ge, you've had quite a lot to drink, haven't you?"

Zhou Ming smiled and explained to Tang Ran, "It can't be helped. Hua Shao is different from other clients. You can't just casually deal with him. At such dinners, drinking is absolutely inevitable."

Tang Ran didn't say much more and led Zhou Ming back to the private room, where she served them two cups of sobering tea. Zhou Ming felt the warmth of the tea and looked at Tang Ran with some surprise. Tang Ran, feeling a bit embarrassed, said, "I didn't know when you would come back. Too hot or too cold tea isn't good, so I kept brewing it at a warm temperature. If it started to cool, I'd brew it again. Was I too wasteful?"

Zhou Ming affectionately pinched Tang Ran's little nose and said, "What are you thinking? How could I ever blame you? I just didn't expect you to wait so diligently."

Zhou Ming meant his words sincerely. It felt really nice to have a woman back home who cared about him, no matter what happened outside.

After Zhou Ming had some tea and rested for a while, the service staff who had brought them in left. Tang Ran quickly asked, "Ming Ge, how did it go with Hua Shao?"

Zhou Ming nodded, "No problem. He has agreed to open an account at the securities company tomorrow and will start trading stocks."

"Really? Did Hua Shao have any doubts? Although I don't understand much about stocks, given your poor relationship with him, agreeing to let him have a share in the securities market you worked so hard to build seems problematic!" Tang Ran asked.

"Don't worry about that, Ranran. Zhou Ming played a clever trick on him," Du Peng said with a laugh, summarizing to Tang Ran what had happened with Hua Shao.

"That's right. Hua Shao thought we had to bow to him, not realizing he was actually falling into our trap. Our goal was for him to take over the burden."

"So we should affectionately call him the 'bag holder,'" Zhou Ming added with a smile.

Du Peng gave Zhou Ming a thumbs up and said, "Zhou Ming, I'm really impressed with you! I don't even know how you came up with such a plan!"

Everything had been carefully planned by Zhou Ming. After receiving Hua Shao's call at noon, Zhou Ming decided it was time for Hua Shao to take on the burden.

Although the stock market was performing well, Hua Shao wanted to trade stocks, but asking him to invest ten million in the market to take on the bubble was not so straightforward, hence the confrontation at the dinner.

Zhou Ming and Du Peng had even rehearsed for an entire afternoon. To be honest, Du Peng was stunned when he first heard Zhou Ming's plan. It seemed completely outlandish, treating Hua Shao, a Red Second Generation, as an insignificant player. However, once they were at the private room and Hua Shao started talking, everything began to follow Zhou Ming's script.

From the initial sarcastic remarks towards Hua Shao, to Hua Shao using threats and other means to force them to allow him a share, and finally them having to bow down, it was all flawlessly performed.

Zhou Ming shrugged and said, "It can't be helped. People like him are just that shameless. If we had agreed to him directly from the start, he would have been cautious, suspecting there was something wrong. But after this confrontation, he'll think we had no choice but to bow down. There's an old saying: 'What's not earned is often not cherished.'"

Du Peng agreed with this sentiment. Given their previously poor relationship with Hua Shao, if they had easily agreed to his request to trade stocks, anyone would have second-guessed their intentions. But by taking the roundabout approach, Hua Shao was easily misled.

Tang Ran then added, "I don't know Hua Shao well, so I don't know what kind of person he is. But I feel he is completely clueless about the stock market. He doesn't understand the characteristics of stock fluctuations or the nature of stock market bubbles. He just thinks that since stocks have gone up, he can make money, without understanding the underlying principles. This won't work!"

"Knowledge changes fate," Zhou Ming said. "If he understood how stocks work, my tricks wouldn't be effective."

Tang Ran nodded vigorously, "Yes, Ming Ge is the best!"

…

The next morning at nine o'clock, after the Nanjiang stock market opened, Zhou Ming arrived at the securities company as promised, only to find that Hua Shao was already there, chatting with Luo Han, the first vice president of the securities company. Luo Han, who was also the first vice president of Nanjiang Development Bank, had been mainly dealing with matters at the securities company since it opened.

Upon seeing Zhou Ming, Hua Shao put down his teacup, displaying a smug smile, and said, "Advisor Zhou, you're here! But it seems you're not very enthusiastic. I heard from Vice President Luo that you usually arrive before the market opens. Did you oversleep today?"

Zhou Ming knew Hua Shao's comment was deliberate. Due to his frequent visits to the municipal government to report on the stock market, he had no fixed time for coming to the securities company. Luo Han wouldn't have shared this with Hua Shao. Hua Shao's remark was clearly intended to provoke him.

Seeing that Zhou Ming was ignoring him, Hua Shao continued, "Advisor Zhou, I completely understand how you're feeling. But as the saying goes, 'Stretching out your head is a knife, pulling it back is also a knife.' You'll have to face it sooner or later. Why not face it directly rather than being a turtle with its head retracted? Don't you think so, Advisor Zhou?"

"Indeed."

Zhou Ming pretended to be holding back his anger and then asked Luo Han, "Vice President Luo, is Hua Shao's account ready?"

Luo Han nodded, "It's in progress and will be ready soon."

Zhou Ming sat down, and Hua Shao, with a smile, said to him, "Advisor Zhou, you're really something. A stock account that hundreds of thousands of Nanjiang people couldn't get, you managed to get it in no time. Truly impressive! I was thinking, if Advisor Zhou has nothing else to do, opening a small shop in Nanjiang to help people get stock accounts might be a good business!"

Zhou Ming responded with a simple "thank you," and Hua Shao then asked, "Advisor Zhou, how much do you think I should invest in the stock market once my account is ready?"

"That depends on your risk tolerance," Zhou Ming coldly replied. "In other words, how much loss are you willing to accept? As long as you can accept it, you can invest as much as you like."

"Oh! So stocks can lose everything? I'm really scared. What should I do?"

Hua Shao mockingly said to Zhou Ming, "I heard you and Du Peng invested ten million, right? Then I'll invest ten million too."

Zhou Ming looked at Hua Shao coldly and asked, "Aren't you afraid of losing?"

"If you and Du Shao aren't afraid, why should I be?" Hua Shao asked meaningfully.

At this point, the door of the reception room was knocked, and Hua Shao's account was ready. Zhou Ming stood up and said to Hua Shao, "Hua Shao, everything is done. I'm leaving now."

As Zhou Ming was about to leave, Hua Shao grabbed him and said, "Advisor Zhou, don't rush off. I don't know much about operating stocks and need your expertise to help."

"The stock account and bank account are already linked by Vice President Luo. Now you just need to place your stock purchase orders. With ten million in your account, you're a major client. You can tell Vice President Luo how you want to operate, and he will arrange it. Can I leave now?" Zhou Ming asked.

"I said don't rush, Advisor Zhou. Let's sit down and have a proper chat. We'll discuss the stock market situation when it comes out today," Hua Shao said.

This made Zhou Ming realize Hua Shao's true intention: "Hua Shao, are you doubting me? Afraid I'll tamper with the stocks?"

Hua Shao quickly shook his head and said, "No, of course not. I trust your character. But as you've said, the stock market is risky, and one must be cautious when entering. Since you've advised me so, I'd feel more comfortable with you here as my consultant for today's stock operations. Don't you think?"

"What if I say I'm not interested in advising you?" Zhou Ming asked.

"That wouldn't be the case. I believe you'll be a responsible person," Hua Shao replied.

"

Why do you think so?" Zhou Ming asked.

Hua Shao said, "You know I have an aide, Niu Jie? He didn't come with us today. Do you know where he went? He's a bit impulsive. Ever since the incident at the nightclub, he's been looking for trouble with you, always wanting to cause a scene at your nightclub. But I've kept him in check. It's a bit troublesome to handle. What do you think we should do?"

"Hua Shao, are you threatening me?" Zhou Ming asked.

"Not at all. I'm just speaking frankly," Hua Shao said. "Of course, if today's stock market situation is good and we all make money, it would be a happy ending for everyone, wouldn't it?"

Zhou Ming then sat down, "Alright, I'll stay here today. But Hua Shao, you have a reputation to uphold. Keep your promises and don't play any tricks."

"Rest assured, Advisor Zhou. I am a civilized person," Hua Shao said.