Chapter 157: The Transition Period

Zhou Ming and Tang Ran were enjoying morning tea, a traditional habit in Nanjing and the entire Lingnan Province. At the tea table, Tang Ran was drinking tofu pudding and flipping through newspapers, happily telling Zhou Ming, "Brother Ming, you're amazing! Look, so many newspapers are talking about you! They say you're the modern Lu Xun, that your words resonate deeply with people's souls. You're a great person who has opened everyone's eyes to the world!"

Hearing Tang Ran's admiration, Zhou Ming smiled. After the stock market crash yesterday, thousands of stockholders had gathered in front of the securities company's office, causing a major event that even the central government took notice of. Despite his wish to remain low-key, the incident was all over the newspapers today, and naturally, Zhou Ming was at the center of the news for persuading all the stockholders to leave.

Zhou Ming pushed the shrimp dumplings the server had just brought over to Tang Ran and said, "Alright, don't pay too much attention to these newspapers. They're just making things up from their own imaginations in their little dark rooms."

"But I really think what they say is true. Brother Ming, you're really amazing!" Tang Ran said, suddenly becoming a bit dejected. "It's just a pity I wasn't there to see you in person."

"What's the point of being there? It wasn't some temple fair. Those were thousands of angry stockholders! If I hadn't handled it well, it could have turned into a riot. I couldn't risk putting you in such a dangerous situation," Zhou Ming said.

Tang Ran replied, "I believe in you, Brother Ming. As long as you're there, any difficulty can be resolved."

Zhou Ming was momentarily at a loss for words in the face of Tang Ran's unwavering faith. He changed the subject, saying, "Forget about that. By the way, did your parents manage to withdraw from the stock market in time?"

Tang Ran nodded and said, "Brother Ming, as soon as you told me, I had my parents sell all their stocks. At that time, other relatives laughed at us for selling, but now they all regret it deeply!"

Last week, during the final two trading days, Zhou Ming had warned Tang Ran about the stock market crash, advising her to convince her parents to sell their stocks immediately and to inform their relatives to do the same. Although the stock market was booming at that time, her relatives, like the stockholders outside the securities company yesterday, did not believe the stocks would fall and refused to sell. They even mocked Tang Ran and her parents. Now, with the market crashing this week, they deeply regretted their decision.

According to Zhou Ming, although the securities company had to suspend trading for several hours due to the gathering outside, the market had still plummeted by over forty percent throughout the day. It meant that the value of all stocks had nearly halved in just one day. Even though everyone knew this value had been inflated during the stock frenzy, such a sudden drop was still painful.

Zhou Ming affectionately patted Tang Ran's little head and said, "They didn't sell because they didn't understand. Just last week, the stocks were still making money. Who would want to sell? So don't laugh at them."

Tang Ran shook her head and said, "I wasn't laughing at them. I'm very obedient."

"That's good. But I also have a task for you," Zhou Ming said.

"Brother Ming, tell me. I promise I'll complete the task!" Tang Ran said, sitting up straight and resolutely.

Seeing Tang Ran's eagerness, Zhou Ming couldn't help but smile. He understood that Tang Ran felt happy to be given a task, considering she had not been able to help him in the past.

"The task is this: later, go to the Securities Newspaper office and get some of the latest printed stock introduction newspapers. Give them to your parents and other relatives and friends. They will contain basic rules about the stock market and an introduction to stocks." Seeing Tang Ran looking a bit unhappy, Zhou Ming continued, "Ranran, don't underestimate this task. It's the first step in changing everyone's understanding of stocks and it's a very important step!"

Zhou Ming wasn't exaggerating. After the stock market crash, people's understanding of the market would need a period of reassessment. During this period, everyone's minds were relatively clear, and if this opportunity was well utilized, domestic stockholders' attitudes could gradually become normal and mature. However, relying solely on the securities company and government for publicity would not be enough. More would depend on word of mouth, so if Tang Ran could help spread knowledge about stocks, it would gradually make everyone more rational.

After Zhou Ming's explanation, Tang Ran nodded firmly and said, "Alright, Brother Ming, I promise to complete the task!"

"I have full confidence in you. Now let's eat quickly. I need to take you to the newspaper office and then go to the municipal government," Zhou Ming said.

After finishing their meal, Zhou Ming and Tang Ran left the tea house. Zhou Ming first took Tang Ran to the newspaper office to get the papers, and then drove to the municipal government.

As usual, Secretary Peng was waiting for Zhou Ming at the entrance of the municipal government. When he saw Zhou Ming, Peng greeted him and praised, "Advisor Zhou, you're now the most popular person in Nanjing. Your name is all over the headlines of major newspapers."

"Secretary Peng, don't say that. Without the help of the police and other colleagues at the securities company yesterday, I couldn't have done it with just my words. Without the police there, those angry stockholders might have torn me apart the moment I showed up. How would I have had a chance to speak?" Zhou Ming said.

"Advisor Zhou remains as modest as ever," Secretary Peng said. "No matter what, if it weren't for you, yesterday's situation wouldn't have been resolved so smoothly. Governor Chen has spoken highly of you."

"Secretary Peng, please don't flatter me. I might get too proud," Zhou Ming said. "By the way, Secretary Peng, I received a page this morning saying there's a new arrangement for today's meeting?"

Secretary Peng nodded and said, "Yes, originally there was supposed to be a meeting today to summarize the gains and losses from the stock market construction due to the big incident yesterday. However, this morning the central government called to say that Elder Yang and Chairman Dong want to hear the work report. Due to a scheduling conflict, the original meeting had to be postponed, and we'll start with the telephone conference with Elder Yang."

"A telephone conference with Elder Yang and Chairman Dong?" Zhou Ming was surprised. He couldn't help but be astonished; these two figures were too significant. Elder Yang was the chief architect of the reform and opening-up, now the actual core leader of the country, while Chairman Dong was the President, the nominal top leader of the central government.

One was the highest leader in name, and the other was the highest leader in practice. Even Zhou Ming, who was not well-versed in politics, could tell that these were the two giants of the central government, and a conference involving both was bound to be significant.

While chatting, Zhou Ming followed Secretary Peng to the reception room. Secretary Peng said, "The meeting room is currently preparing for the telephone conference. Please wait here for a moment, and I'll come back to get you when everything is ready."

Although Zhou Ming was not a bureaucrat, he knew that telephone conferences with central leaders would be encrypted, ensuring smooth communication and other adjustments. It wasn't as simple as dialing a number and speaking directly.

Entering the reception room, Zhou Ming found another person waiting there, who was the first vice president of the securities company, Luo Han.

When Luo Han saw Zhou Ming, he immediately stood up to greet him. Zhou Ming nodded and had him sit down. Zhou Ming also took a seat and said to Luo Han, "I didn't expect you, Vice President Luo, to be invited as well. It seems the central government takes the securities market construction very seriously and needs you to provide the most detailed information about the stock market crash."

"Yes, Secretary Peng called me this morning and asked me to prepare detailed information about yesterday's stock market crash, including data and other documents," Luo Han said.

Zhou Ming observed Luo Han's nervous demeanor and asked, "Vice President Luo, you seem quite anxious?"

Luo Han, somewhat embarrassed, said to Zhou Ming, "It's embarrassing to admit, but this is my first time participating in such a high-level meeting. Even though it's just a telephone conference with central leaders, I'm very nervous at the thought of talking to national leaders."

"There's no need to be embarrassed," Zhou Ming said. "Talking to national leaders, even in a telephone conference, is an opportunity that not everyone gets. I've only attended one such meeting before, and I was just as nervous as you are. So don't worry about it."

Zhou Ming then patted Luo Han on the shoulder and said, "But you can't be too nervous. Relax a bit, or it will be troublesome if you make a mistake in front of the leaders."

"Yes, Advisor Zhou, you're right. I need to stay calm and relaxed," Luo Han said, taking deep breaths.

Seeing Luo Han's nervousness, Zhou Ming shook his head. It was understandable that it was difficult to relax before such an important meeting with national leaders. Even though Zhou Ming had attended such meetings before, the nervousness was unavoidable.

After about ten minutes in the reception room, Secretary Peng came to knock on the door and informed them that the meeting was ready and they could proceed.