Chapter 259: Leaving (Part 1)

'Secretary, this time the situation is special. Our Nanjiang stock market has been rising for two years, and has already surpassed the upper limit of the market. It should have fallen, but it has continued to rise because of the obstruction from the people in Binhai. However, this is very inconsistent with market laws. I know that they plan to sell their stocks at the right time, so I want to burst the stock market bubble before they do.'

Zhou Ming explained in the simplest and clearest way that he was currently in the office of the secretary of the Nanjiang Municipal Party Committee in the Nanjiang Municipal Party Committee Building, and the person he was explaining to was the secretary of the Nanjiang Municipal Party Committee, Chen Yunfei.

Chen Yunfei was sitting opposite Zhou Ming. After listening to Zhou Ming's words, he waved his hand and said, 'Zhou Ming, in fact, you don't need to explain this to me at all, because you have already told me before, and I am not someone who doesn't understand finance and economics. It's just that you grew up in the country, and I'm sure you know very well that many things in the country cannot be explained by just saying whether they are right or wrong.'

Chen Yunfei then held up five fingers: 'Five days ago, you encouraged Luo Han to release the negative news that the Nanfang Development Bank had accounting problems and had lost tens of millions of dollars, causing the stock market to plummet. Although this method of handling the situation was disgraceful, I did not oppose it, after all, it could not have caused a major disaster. However, as of today, our Nanjiang stock market has plummeted for a week in a row, which is inexcusable no matter what.'

Chen Yunfei finally asked Zhou Ming, 'Do you know why I asked you to come to my office today?'

'Is it because the province or the central government has a problem with me?' Zhou Ming asked tentatively.

Chen Yunfei sighed heavily and said, 'Both the province and the central government have a problem with you, especially the central government. I think with your intelligence, you should understand why.'

Zhou Ming nodded and said, 'The Binhai faction has entered the central government. Originally, when we were developing the stock exchange, the boss over there was not happy, so he sent so many entrepreneurs here, with the aim of disrupting our market. Now, for whatever reason, their aim has been achieved, so naturally they will report me and the Nanjiang Stock Exchange to the central government.'

'That's right. The result of the central government's discussions is that Nanjiang is required to restore normalcy to the stock market in the shortest possible time.'

Chen Yunfei's tone was also very helpless, and Zhou Ming also understood his helplessness. After all, in order to cultivate younger successors and give young cadres some opportunities, Chairman Yang and Chairman Du had already retreated to the second line. Therefore, they did not express any opinions on the situation of the Nanjiang stock market this time, which led to such a result. Otherwise, given Chairman Yang and Chairman Du's attitude towards themselves, they would not have been so serious.

'Secretary, how long is the shortest time?' Zhou Ming asked, grasping an important point.

'Three days,' Chen Yunfei replied.

'Secretary, this time is simply impossible, so let the Central Authorities arrest me on charges of disrupting the market,' Zhou Ming said, leaning his entire body back on the sofa and adopting a posture of defiance.

However, Chen Yunfei understood very well that Zhou Ming was not completely acting like a scoundrel in front of him. After all, Zhou Ming had always hoped to return the stock market to its most normal state, but on the basis of the stock market's limit down system, just one week was simply not enough, which was why Zhou Ming wanted to drag his feet.

'Arresting you is not necessary, but your position as Nan Jiang's development consultant will definitely be removed in the future,' Chen Yunfei said.

Hearing this, Zhou Ming perked up: 'Secretary, you mean you don't want me to be the development consultant anymore, right? That's great!'

Zhou Ming's response made Chen Yunfei feel very depressed, because if other businessmen would be happy to take on as many positions as possible in the party and government organs, which one would not be anxious to take back his position? Only Zhou Ming was not worried at all, but instead, he was happy. Does this position in the government organs really annoy you so much? How can you make me feel bad for appointing you as a development consultant?

Zhou Ming also knew that his behaviour had been a bit much, so he continued, 'Secretary, I didn't mean it like that. I just want to say that when things go wrong, someone always has to take the blame. And with the Nanjiang stock market having fallen so much, it's only right that I, as the development consultant, should be the one to take the blame. Besides, I was going to lead the team to the US anyway, so it's not a big deal to be kicked out of the country and take the blame.'

Chen Yunfei was about to say something else, but when he heard Zhou Ming's last sentence, he immediately changed his mind: 'Okay, you've obviously thought of this script for a long time. But it's not like I'm taking advantage of you, there are just some things that need to be done.'

Zhou Ming nodded eagerly, saying, 'Of course, otherwise, with such an outstanding leader as you, how could you make such a decision?'

'Oily tongue!' Chen Yunfei scolded Zhou Ming impatiently, and Zhou Ming laughed heartlessly in response.

Chen Yunfei knew that Zhou Ming had been to Northern Russia, where he had met with the presidents of Northern Russia and the Soviet Union alone, as well as financial warfare experts from the United States. As the executive vice-governor and secretary of the municipal party committee, he simply could not suppress Zhou Ming, the monkey.

In the end, Chen Yunfei could only shake his head helplessly, but he still said sternly, 'Zhou Ming, I know you really hope that your stock market can return to normal, and I really hope that too. But a lot of things don't always turn out the way you want them to. We are the people's government, and we need to be responsible to the people. We can't let the stock market plummet without limits.'

'Zhou Ming, look, many stock investors are using their own savings to speculate in the stock market. Not all of them are malicious speculators. They just want to help themselves lead a better life through the stock market. We should protect their interests,' Chen Yunfei said.

Zhou Ming also became serious and said, 'Secretary, don't worry, I know what I'm doing. This time, not only did I have someone spread the news of the stock market crash at the stock exchange before it happened, I also got some Hong Kong businessmen to come over. They will help invest in the stock market at the right time to stabilise it. I will try to make sure that the losses caused by this stock market crash are placed as much as possible on those speculators in Binhai.'

Chen Yunfei nodded and said that was good, and then Chen Yunfei gave Zhou Ming a few more instructions before letting him leave.

Zhou Ming walked out of Chen Yunfei's office. He habitually took out his mobile phone and turned on the sound. Immediately, a number suddenly called. Zhou Ming didn't have time to look at the number before immediately connecting. There was an immediate cry of grief on the other end: 'Consultant Zhou, you're so great, I finally got through to you!'

Zhou Ming was first stunned, then he laughed: 'From the sound of your voice, I think you're Chairman Li. It really surprises me to get your call. I wonder what you're calling me about?'

'Consultant Zhou, please help me, help me get my money out of the stock market,' said Li Dong.

Zhou Ming was stunned. He didn't expect that Li Dong, who was usually so proud, and even put on airs when he treated him to dinner the last time, would not only remain indifferent in the face of his ridicule today, but would also ask for his help. He thought that Li Dong must really be desperate.

'I said, Mr. Li, you say that all your funds have been locked up, what does that have to do with me?' Zhou Ming said pretentiously.

'Counselor Zhou, please don't be like this. I know that in the past I was a bastard. What I shouldn't have done was try to rig the stock market. Now I'm in such a predicament. It's all my fault. Please, Counselor Zhou, forgive me profusely.' Li Dong said again. His tone was very urgent, and it sounded like he was about to cry.

Zhou Ming could imagine that something must have happened to have driven a proud chairman of a state-owned enterprise in Binhai to such a state, but this was not something that Zhou Ming wanted to get involved in.

'Chairman Li, you are not some kind of bastard, and I am not some kind of big shot with a lot of power. Don't belittle yourself or put a high hat on me. As for the stock market, there are systems in place, and I don't have the power to help you get out of this situation. It's useless for you to beg me...'

Before Zhou Ming could finish speaking, Li Dong gritted his teeth and said, 'Zhou Ming, are you really trying to drive me to the brink?'

Hearing Li Dong's words, Zhou Ming laughed, 'I'm driving you to the brink? Li Dong, you really know how to joke. If I remember correctly, I was the one who kept telling you not to enter the stock market. You were the one who wanted to enter, and now you're stuck, and you're blaming me?'

'Advisor Zhou, I know that I shouldn't have...'

This time, Zhou Ming interrupted Li Dong and said, 'Li Dong, I think we both know what the situation was like at the time, so I won't say any more. There is nothing to be right or wrong about. Since you chose to try to trick me and take advantage of me in the Nanjiang stock market, then you should have expected this result today. Be a man and act with integrity, don't play this kind of rogue with me, it's pointless to throw a tantrum.'

'And,' Zhou Ming thought of something and continued, "I'm no longer an advisor Zhou, because I just came from Secretary Chen Yunfei's office, and I've been relieved of my duties. I have nothing to do with the Nanjiang stock market from now on. Goodbye.'

After saying that, Zhou Ming hung up the phone directly, not wanting to say anything more. But as soon as Zhou Ming hung up the phone, it rang again.

Zhou Ming was hesitating whether to answer it when a voice suddenly came from behind him, saying, "Advisor Zhou is really busy! One call after another. Let me guess, the previous call was from Binhai Li Dong, so this one should be from the other Wang Dong.'

Zhou Ming turned around and saw Chen Yunfei's secretary, Peng Shengyou, walking out. Zhou Ming apologized, 'Director Peng, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to answer the phone here. I'll be right out. And I'm not an advisor anymore, but you know that.'

Peng Shengyou shook his head and said, 'Consultant Zhou, you will always be our development consultant in Nanjiang. Even if you are dismissed for some reason, your role and influence will always be unparalleled.'

Zhou Ming waved his hand and looked at Peng Shengyou and asked, 'Director Peng, you didn't come out just to say that to me, did you?'

Peng Shengyou smiled apologetically: 'I was just listening to you, Consultant Zhou, talking on the phone here, and I spoke on a whim. Of course I didn't mean to say that. I have something else to tell you, Consultant Zhou.'

'Are you delivering a message from Secretary Chen?' asked Zhou Ming.

Peng Shengyou smiled without saying anything, and Zhou Ming nodded: 'I understand. There are some things that can be done but not said. Let's go somewhere and talk.'

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