Chapter 2

After a moment of silence, Menglang felt that this might just be a coincidence. He hesitated and then probed again.

"May I ask what your profession is?"

"Oh! I am a senior investment advisor at Galaxy Securities, working in the Galaxy Building over there. Here is my business card."

Teacher Tony handed Menglang a beautifully embossed gold business card, exuding the air of a business elite.

[Tony (Niubian): Senior Investment Advisor at Galaxy Securities, Phone: XXXXX...]

Is he really in investments?

Menglang looked at the business card in his hand, his expression becoming even more peculiar.

A second coincidence?

He raised his head again to look at Teacher Tony.

"That... I think what Teacher Tony just said makes a lot of sense. I've recently become interested in stock trading. I wonder if Teacher Tony has any advice?"

Teacher Tony's eyes lit up, but he knew that when dealing with a newly hooked fish, one must not pull too hard.

Pretending to hesitate for a moment, he then sat back down.

"Little brother, since I feel a connection with you, let me analyze it for you.

Have you been following the financial news lately? The stock market index has been lukewarm for two consecutive years, but it has risen for three consecutive days, gaining several hundred points.

Especially tech stocks and energy stocks, there have been dozens of stocks hitting the upper limit for several consecutive days. Do you know why?"

Menglang recalled the "Tragic Life" he saw yesterday and looked at the other person uncertainly.

"Because... the retail investors have entered the market?"

Teacher Tony's expression froze.

Why isn't this guy following the script?

"Ha ha, little brother, you're joking. What retail investors have such power? This is the domestic major players and foreign financial institutions buying at the bottom!"

"Oh..." Menglang nodded, seemingly understanding. "Then what?"

Seeing Menglang's naive appearance, Teacher Tony felt even more confident.

"Do you know the saying that as long as you stand at the right place, even a pig can fly? This is the right place!

Now, if you put your money in the bank, it won't keep up with inflation. If you buy a house, you might face macroeconomic regulation, and the real economy is not doing well.

Where do you think the people's money will go in the end?

Based on my 20 years of investment experience, this is the best time to enter the stock market. As long as your luck isn't too bad, doubling your assets every year is easy!"

Teacher Tony then put on a sighing expression.

"In life, there are not many opportunities that can change your fate. In the past, it was the college entrance exam, marriage, and buying a house. In the next ten years, it will be the stock market!

If you miss this, you'll really be working for the rest of your life."

To be honest, Menglang really knew nothing about stock trading.

After all, stock trading requires capital, and Menglang didn't have any.

If it weren't for his concerns, Teacher Tony's well-reasoned and emotionally charged rhetoric would have been very persuasive.

Who doesn't want to earn money while lying down?

However, Menglang's mind was not on this. With "Tragic Life" still floating in his mind, he found the words even more grating and immediately became wary.

"Uh-huh! Listening to your words is like listening to a speech." Menglang nodded humbly, then suddenly changed the subject.

"Then, do you think there might be a stock market crash this year?"

Teacher Tony didn't have time to think about the difference between the two speeches when he heard the words "stock market crash."

"Stock market crash? Ha ha ha..." He laughed as if he had just heard the funniest joke.

"Little brother, let me put it this way. After the 2015 stock market crash, the market index basically hit the bottom. It's only 2018 now. The index has only risen by a few hundred points. How can there be another stock market crash?

Even if you were to cause a financial crisis, it would be a once-in-a-decade cycle. In your lifetime, how many stock market crashes could there be?

When there's no more room to fall, that's now. This is the best time to buy at the bottom! Do you think those big institutions are fools?

Little brother, listen to your big brother. It's good to want to manage your finances, but young people should read more. The stock market isn't something you can understand just by reading a few nonsense public accounts."

Teacher Tony looked at Menglang with a hint of regret.

"Sigh! Looking at you is like looking at my younger self, ambitious but too naive.

How about this, if you really want to learn, find some time, and I can teach you how to play the stock market."

"Um... Can you be more specific? For example, which stock do you think is a good bet?" Menglang feigned interest and continued to probe.

"Sigh! Young people are just too impatient!" Teacher Tony shook his head and sighed. "But I can understand your eagerness."

After a moment of hesitation, he said,

"I've been studying a stock for the past few years. It's a core energy stock under a state-owned enterprise.

After a long period of decline, it recently had a large volume increase, followed by three consecutive upward small gains and doji stars, with trading volume also increasing. This pattern indicates a very high probability of future gains..."

After spouting a series of technical terms, he looked around cautiously and lowered his voice.

"The key is, I have a college classmate who is a senior executive there... I can't say more."

Menglang's breathing became rapid. "So, which stock is it?"

"It's... Huaxia Energy!"

Huaxia Energy?!

When these four words were clearly spoken, Menglang couldn't help but feel a tremor in his heart, his eyelids twitching.

Once might be a coincidence, twice might be a coincidence, but three times?

Menglang's mood was a mix of shock and excitement, a feeling of galloping horses!

On the side, Teacher Tony read the excitement and even the distorted expression on Menglang's face and understood four words—treasure found!

He adjusted his glasses, a bit confused.

Did I just convince him so easily?

When did my "technical analysis" plus "insider information" rhetoric become so powerful?

Those who know think I'm recommending a potential stock, and those who don't think you've already made a few small goals!

They say a single man who hasn't been in a relationship for a long time might even think of a child's name after seeing a woman. Could this guy be that kind of person with an overly advanced imagination?

Though it might be a critical hit, causing some overflow in the skill damage.

But Teacher Tony felt that this month's performance targets should be secure!

He glanced at his "Longines" watch, subtly hinting at his "not lacking money" elite persona.

"Wow, it's so late already. I have a meeting in the morning, so I won't chat more. If you need anything, you can call me anytime."

Teacher Tony patted Menglang's shoulder and walked away confidently.

The bait was laid, and it was just a matter of time before the fish took the hook. Teacher Tony believed that the lost lamb would soon contact him again.

However, Menglang didn't hear what the other person said at the end. He was still completely immersed in the shock and excitement brought by the "magical prophecy" in the autobiography.

Knowing himself so well and accurately predicting certain future events.

Teacher Tony, Huaxia Energy...

Today's events were clearly written in the book he received yesterday.

What else could this be if not a prophecy?

"Calm down! Calm down! Don't jump to conclusions too early. Though if you eliminate all the impossibilities, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

But this conclusion is too unscientific..."

Menglang started to feel a bit anxious again.

"Wait! Could this be a prank show?"

It's said that a man in a foreign country bought a lottery ticket and played a doctored live draw, successfully convincing his girlfriend that he had traveled back in time and won the lottery "jackpot."

Though it ended up costing him his girlfriend...

But this shows that what you see isn't always the truth.

Could someone have deliberately sent me the book and then arranged actors to "direct" a "future" based on the clues in the book?

Menglang immediately put on a calm expression to avoid making a fool of himself.

He carefully observed his surroundings but found no hidden cameras or other recording devices.

The other diners were eating breakfast normally, and the passersby outside were in a hurry, showing no signs of being actors.

He couldn't even finish his breakfast. He went to the owner and asked while paying.

"Boss, I have a question."

"What is it, little brother? Go ahead and ask." The owner, who was familiar with Menglang, said while kneading dough.

"The man who just sat next to me, the one with the briefcase, glasses, and suit, have you seen him before?"

"Oh, you mean that guy? Yes, I've seen him. He comes here for breakfast from time to time. He's quite talkative, like he's friends with everyone.

He even talked to me about stocks, but I'm just a simple man, I don't understand investments."

Since he's a regular and a "serial offender," it's unlikely he was a temporary actor...

Menglang looked at the owner, a straightforward person, who didn't seem to be lying.

If a regular breakfast shop owner hired Oscar-worthy actors and ran a breakfast shop for years, this prank would be too extravagant!

It's not like we're in "The Truman Show."

"Thanks, boss."

Menglang left the breakfast shop, looking at the rising sun, and gradually his lips curled upward...

"Hehehe..."

"Mom, look, there's a fool over there!"

"Quick, let's go! Don't get infected."

...

"Shh~ Shh~" Menglang whistled as he walked into the company building. The elevator door opened, and the figure inside made his cheerful C minor tune come to an abrupt stop.

The most awkward situation when you're late for work is running into your boss in the elevator.

Even more awkward... is when you're the only one in the elevator with your boss...

"Manager Wang, good morning!" Menglang smiled awkwardly and walked into the elevator.

"Menglang, do you know what time it is? Didn't you know there's a morning meeting today?" Manager Wang, with his slicked-back hair, said flatly.

"Oh, I went to meet a client and rushed back as soon as I could."

One of the perks of being in sales is that the reasons for not being in the office are unassailable...

"Is that so? Meeting clients so early, looks like you won't be at the bottom of the performance list this month?" Manager Wang sneered sarcastically.

Menglang looked at him in confusion. Though this guy usually didn't like him, he didn't usually confront him like this. Where's the fake professional smile?

Did he skip his morning porridge and eat gunpowder instead?

But this small matter didn't affect Menglang's good mood at all.

"Um! The early bird gets the worm. I'm learning from Manager Wang."

Only the officials can set fires, but the common people can't light lamps. If the boss can be late, why can't I?

"You..." Already annoyed, Manager Wang's face turned even uglier when he got a soft rebuttal from a subordinate.

Menglang turned away and ignored him.

Just kidding, I won't let you get away with it!

A salary of 100,000 a month, the boss is always right. A salary of 10,000 a month, the boss can say whatever he wants.

A salary of 3,000... how do you talk to your father?