Chapter 224: Zhou Ming is a liar!

On 25 December, there was a lively scene at the entrance of a skyscraper on the east section of Nangang Avenue. Not only were there flower baskets on both sides of the entrance, with a red carpet laid in the middle, but there were also two hot-air balloons floating in the air, pulling up two pairs of festive couplets. In the open space in front of the entrance, there was also a lion dance accompanied by the crackling sound of firecrackers. A banner hung in the centre of the entrance: 'Warmly celebrate the opening of An Guo Securities Company'.

'Congratulations, Mr. Zhou, on the opening of An Guo Securities. This is the first truly specialised securities firm in the new China, and it is truly something to celebrate. Mr. Zhou is once again ahead of the rest of the country.'

A voice of blessing came, and Zhou Ming turned his head. It was a young man in his early thirties. Zhou Ming knew this person. He was Chen Yunfei's secretary, Peng Shengyou, and he had come to congratulate him today.

In fact, after talking with Chen Yunfei that day, Zhou Ming had the idea of setting up his own securities company. However, at first, he considered that if it became known that he was setting up a securities company while also running the stock exchange, it would have a bad impact. But after the failed dinner meeting with the bank, everyone had no choice but to make up their minds. After a few days of preparation, they finally opened for business today.

Originally, the brokerage firm was going to be called Jinpeng Securities Company, because it was wholly owned by Zhou Ming's Jinpeng company, but due to the impact issue, it was renamed An Guo Securities. At least it doesn't sound like it's associated with a listed company, and there won't be any improper transactions.

It was only that the establishment of the country's first securities firm in the true sense of the word should have been an epoch-making event, but the scene now was a bit unsatisfactory. Although it looked lively, all the people attending the opening ceremony were basically people with business contacts or the heads of listed companies. There was no important figure, and all the banks and insurance companies only sent a representative who didn't know anything to attend. Now it was Peng Shengyou's turn, and I suppose his situation was the same.

'Hello Director Peng, thank you very much for coming to the opening ceremony of An Guo Securities.' Zhou Ming also greeted Peng Shengyou, "But Director Peng is wrong to say that An Guo Securities is not my company, Li Hong and Li Yang are the ones in charge of this company.'

Peng Shengyou is a very smart person, and after being reminded by Zhou Ming, he immediately corrected himself: "Look at me, Advisor Zhou, I forgot.'

Peng Shengyou then turned to Li Hong to congratulate him, and Li Hong also exchanged a few polite words with him. They really were just being polite, because they both knew exactly what was going on with An Guo Securities.

After exchanging a few polite words with Li Hong, Peng Shengyou then said to Zhou Ming, 'Consultant Zhou, the boss couldn't come today, and he asked me to apologize to you on his behalf, because he is facing a lot of pressure, and besides, he has been really busy lately.'

Peng Shengyou felt extremely awkward when he said this. Although what he said sounded like a polite remark, as Chen Yunfei's secretary, when had he ever said such a thing in the Nanjiang area? It was even more awkward when he wasn't even talking to himself, but to Chen Yunfei.

Zhou Ming shook his head and said, 'It doesn't matter. The secretary is the secretary of the Nanjiang City government, and there are so many things to do that he can't possibly favour just one side. Besides, the establishment of this Anguo Securities company today is really our own idea. Now that Director Peng has come to support us, it really does honour our humble abode.'

After chatting with Peng Shengyou for a while, it was time to unveil the company's plaque. Zhou Ming invited Peng Shengyou to go up on stage with him.

'Hello, distinguished guests and friends, thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend the opening ceremony of our An Guo Securities Company. I am the general manager of An Guo Securities Company, my name is Li Hong.'

Li Hong walked to the front of the stage and said loudly. Originally, Zhou Ming was supposed to give the speech today, but considering some impact issues, Zhou Ming ultimately decided not to participate in the speech and let the company's general manager Li Hong give the speech instead. After all, it was not expected that there would be any heated scenes today, and it was just an ordinary company opening ceremony, which Li Hong was capable of handling.

'Since the opening of the Nanjiang Securities Company and the listing of Nanfang Development Bank's shares for sale at the securities company, the securities industry in Nanjiang has been around for two years. Although remarkable achievements have been made, there is still a major problem, and that is the lack of a genuine securities company.'

Li Hong said: 'The current securities companies are responsible for certifying listed companies, listing and selling stocks for public listing, and organising stockholder accounts and transactions. This situation is very wrong, it does not conform to market laws, and it is also the easiest way to breed corruption. Perhaps there is no way to do this during the current experimental stage, but it definitely will not work in the long run. That is why there is now An Guo Securities Company.'

Li Hong said proudly, 'An Guo Securities Company is a pioneer in the securities market, and it has created the first securities company in the true sense of the word. This is of great historical significance. We are supporting reform and opening up and the development of the Nanjiang securities market with our actions!'

As Li Hong's impassioned words fell, there was an instant burst of applause from the audience. Amidst the applause, Peng Shengyou on stage also congratulated Zhou Ming, 'Congratulations, Consultant Zhou, it seems that this An Guo Securities Company is very successful and has won the hearts of the people.'

Zhou Ming replied, 'Thank you, Director Peng, but I think I've just done what's most appropriate.'

Then...the applause from the audience gradually died down, except for one person who was still clapping out of the blue, and his applause was still the kind of very disdainful kind, which immediately attracted everyone's attention.

It was a young man, and Zhou Ming recognised him the moment he saw him: 'Isn't that Hua Shao? Why is he here?'

This young man was Hua Shao, the young man who had caused Zhou Ming so much trouble at the nightclub. His real name was Jiang Chunhua, and he was the person in charge of Tan Shao's arrangements in Nanjiang. However, since Tan Shao had fallen, Zhou Ming had not heard from him, but he had run into him here today. He didn't think he had really reformed and come to say thank you, but rather that he had come to settle scores.

Peng Shengyou also recognised the other person's identity: 'Consultant Zhou originally had some issues with him, and I'm afraid his appearance here today is not a good thing.'

Zhou Ming nodded, but this was the opening ceremony, and it was not good to directly expel people. It was not a good sign, especially since it was the opening of a securities company, which was an even worse sign. Therefore, Zhou Ming could only endure it for now and wait and see what happened.

'Congratulations on the opening of An Guo Securities today.'

Jiang Chunhua applauded as he walked towards the stage, and Li Hong walked up to him and said, 'Hello comrade, thank you very much for coming today to send your blessings to the opening of our An Guo Securities Company, but could you please wait below for now?'

Jiang Chunhua's face turned cold with dissatisfaction over there: 'Comrade? Li, I think you should go and see an ophthalmologist. How can you still hang around in Nanjiang if you don't even recognise me?'

Li Hong looked at Zhou Ming blankly, but at this time, Jiang Chunhua suddenly had a fit. He pointed at Li Hong and shouted, 'I'm telling you, I'm Hua Shao. Have you greeted me when you want to open a securities company here?'

After questioning Li Hong, he turned to Zhou Ming: 'Hello, Consultant Zhou, I'm very happy to see you here. It seems that Consultant Zhou is really the founder of our Nanjiang securities market and is known as the person who understands the securities market best. It's true that whenever something related to the securities market happens, you're sure to show up. Consultant Zhou, how can you be so capable?'

Seeing Hua Shao mention himself, Zhou Ming also smiled and said, 'Hello Hua Shao, I'm also very happy to see you here. It seems that you are always at the forefront of trends. When the nightclub was first set up, Hua Shao was number one, and now that the securities company is opening, you are here too.'

'I didn't want to come, but I found that I simply couldn't stay away. My conscience would have been too guilty, because there's a huge liar here.' Jiang Chunhua said, pointing his finger at Zhou Ming, 'Zhou Ming, you are the liar!'

Jiang Chunhua's words caused an uproar in the room. Although when he first came out applauding like that, everyone already guessed that he definitely wasn't just here to congratulate us, and that he was definitely going to stir up something, now that he's actually said these words, everyone is still surprised.

Jiang Chunhua himself enjoyed everyone's surprise. He continued, 'Zhou Ming, you may have fooled everyone else, but you can't fool me. You think I don't know? This An Guo Securities is actually a company invested in by your Jinpeng company. You are the real boss behind An Guo Securities. And you admit that the purpose of the securities company is to take control of the securities market and make fools of everyone!'

As Jiang Chunhua spoke, someone in the audience immediately shouted, 'What makes you say that?'

'Why? I know the securities market!' Jiang Chunhua said, 'First of all, the legal person behind An Guo Securities Company is actually the same person as Jinpeng Company. Everyone can find this out by checking the industrial and commercial system. And this general manager, Li Hong, do you know who he is? He was the marketing manager of the Dongmen Branch of the former Nanfang Development Bank, and was later spotted by Zhou Ming and became the manager of the securities company's marketing department.'

Jiang Chunhua pointed to the young man next to Li Hong and continued, 'This young man, his name is Li Yang, is the vice class president of the Renmin University finance class, and the class president of this finance class is Zhou Ming.'

Jiang Chunhua paused deliberately before finally saying, 'I think it's already very clear after saying this. One is a person promoted by Zhou Ming, and the other is his student. Coupled with a corporate legal person that is exactly the same as Jinpeng Company, how can you say these two companies are not the same?'

'What a nice way of putting it is for the normal development of the securities market, but in reality it is just an attempt to keep the money from account opening in their own hands. How can we trust such disgusting people? Such a securities company must be boycotted and let it go bankrupt!' Jiang Chunhua concluded with a loud cry.

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