Chapter 33

Time passed swiftly, and before they knew it, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing had already been in Hongcheng for over a month. During this time, Lin Muqing studied intensively, even enrolling in a short-term course at Hongcheng University, striving to meet the goals Zhou Ming had set for her. As for Zhou Ming himself, he spent each day looking at the calendar, waiting for that day to arrive.

With a tear, Zhou Ming tore off a page of the calendar, looked at the date, and sighed, "Finally, the day has come."

"What? What day is it? Is today a special day?"

Lin Muqing's voice came from behind. Zhou Ming turned around and saw her holding a plate, bringing him breakfast.

Lin Muqing had now fully adapted to the urban life in Hongcheng. Dressed in a shirt, skirt, and stockings with high heels, she looked like a typical white-collar worker. Zhou Ming looked her up and down and said, "Sister Muqing, you're starting to look more and more like my nanny."

Lin Muqing smiled, "Is that so? But my young master, if you don't want your nanny to pour a cup of milk on your head, you'd better come and eat your breakfast quickly."

"Alright," Zhou Ming had no choice but to sit down and eat his breakfast.

"Zhou Ming, you said there's something important to do today. Is it the business opportunity you've been waiting for?" Lin Muqing asked while peeling an egg for him.

Zhou Ming nodded, "Yes, as long as nothing major happens in the world, the opportunity I've been waiting for is today, or you could say today is the day to maximize profits."

Lin Muqing thought for a moment and then said worriedly, "But Zhou Ming, the economic situation worldwide has been generally good recently, especially in the United States. Since President Logan took office, Loganomics has successfully resolved the stagflation that has plagued the U.S. economy since World War II, leading to rapid economic growth. I find it hard to imagine any unexpected events happening."

"Sister Muqing, your analysis is excellent, as expected of the smartest and most charming campus beauty at our Hongcheng University!" Zhou Ming clapped and praised her. Since Lin Muqing enrolled in the short-term course at Hongcheng University, Zhou Ming had been praising her, saying she must be the campus beauty of Hongcheng University. Indeed, Lin Muqing was very smart and had mastered the basic rules of the financial market in less than half a month, now able to help Zhou Ming analyze the situation.

Lin Muqing blushed and glared at Zhou Ming, "How old am I to still be called a campus beauty? You really have the nerve to say that."

Zhou Ming disagreed, "What do you mean by 'how old'? To me, Sister Muqing, you are at your most charming now!"

Lin Muqing hurriedly said, "Let's not talk about this. Tell me what you think about the financial situation."

Zhou Ming stopped teasing Lin Muqing and said seriously, "Actually, Sister Muqing, your analysis is correct. Since President Logan took office, the new economics has indeed brought the U.S. economy to a new peak. On the surface, it's true. But there are some things hidden beneath the surface that we can't see. Do you really think the U.S. economy is that prosperous?"

...

Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing went to their usual café and chose a window seat. Soon, Wang Yunlong hurried over.

Before sitting down, Wang Yunlong apologized to Zhou Ming, "Mr. Zhou, I'm very sorry. The company had a meeting just now, so I'm a bit late. I kept you waiting."

Zhou Ming waved his hand to indicate it was fine. After Wang Yunlong sat down, Zhou Ming ordered a coffee for him and said, "I called you here today because I have something to discuss. I want to sell all the stocks I have and withdraw all my funds."

This request stunned Wang Yunlong, "Mr. Zhou, did I do something wrong? Or did I make a mistake in my operations?"

"No, you did a great job. Don't misunderstand. I just have other uses for the funds," Zhou Ming said.

Wang Yunlong suddenly remembered something, "Mr. Zhou, are you planning to trade futures?"

Zhou Ming smiled, "You're quick to react. Yes, I am going to trade futures, and I'm going to short the Hong Kong stock index."

"Hong Kong stock index futures trading has been available since last year, and your information is quite up-to-date," Wang Yunlong said, then continued, "But shorting the Hong Kong stock index? Do you think the Hong Kong stock market will fall in the future?"

Zhou Ming nodded, "And not just a little, but a significant and comprehensive fall."

Wang Yunlong was very surprised by Zhou Ming's judgment, "Mr. Zhou, I don't know where you got this information, but currently, the Hong Kong stock market is in a good growth phase. It's impossible for it to fall. As your account manager, I disagree with your request to withdraw all your funds. I believe if you continue to invest in stocks, you can make more money. Please trust me; I'm not saying this just to keep your funds in the securities account."

At this point, Lin Muqing said to Wang Yunlong, "Manager Wang, we have trusted you for this month, so please trust us."

Zhou Ming also said, "It's because I trust and respect you that I'm discussing this with you today. Otherwise, I would have made the decision myself. Do you understand?"

Wang Yunlong was somewhat displeased, "Mr. Zhou, you're insulting my profession!"

Lin Muqing also looked at Zhou Ming in surprise, not understanding why he was speaking to Wang Yunlong like this.

"I'm not insulting your profession; it's just that your perspective is too narrow, and you can't see some things," Zhou Ming said.

"I don't understand what I'm missing. Is it that the mainland is going to attack Hongcheng? Or is a major Hong Kong conglomerate going bankrupt?" Wang Yunlong asked.

"I don't want to explain too much, but I want to make a bet with you, Manager Wang. If the Hong Kong stock market falls comprehensively in the future, I win, and you will obediently work for me as a trader. If I set up a fund in the future, you will also work for me as a fund manager without interfering with my decisions. If the Hong Kong stock market continues to rise, I lose, and I will entrust all my funds to you and follow your advice completely. What do you think? Are you willing to take this bet?"

"Alright," Wang Yunlong immediately agreed, "Since Mr. Zhou has the interest, I'll take this bet with you!"

...

After leaving the café, Lin Muqing teased Zhou Ming, "Zhou Ming, you're really bad. You actually set a trap for Wang Yunlong. No matter if you win or lose, he will have to work for you."

Zhou Ming laughed, knowing that his little trick couldn't fool the perceptive Lin Muqing. In fact, what he said about winning and losing was essentially the same thing from a practical standpoint, which is why Lin Muqing said he was setting a trap for Wang Yunlong.

But Zhou Ming was not ashamed; instead, he was proud. "Sister Muqing, that's not right. Manager Wang is destined to become a stock market god in Hongcheng. I'm helping him."

"You're just being cheeky!" Lin Muqing rolled her eyes, but she was secretly pleased for Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing went to Fenghui Futures Company and found their account manager, Sun Wei, who was a friend of Wang Yunlong and had initially opened an account for Zhou Ming.

Sun Wei had met Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing before, but he was still stunned by Lin Muqing's beauty, especially her white-collar attire, which made him swallow hard.

After a while, Sun Wei finally managed to look away from Lin Muqing and invited Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing to his office, poured them some water, and said, "Mr. Zhou, Miss Lin, welcome. After a month, I believe you have a good understanding of the futures market in Hongcheng. Are you here to start trading futures?"

Zhou Ming nodded, "Yes, I plan to trade Hong Kong stock index futures."

"Is that so? Hong Kong stock index futures trading is a new contract introduced by the futures exchange last year. I'm amazed that Mr. Zhou, as a mainland Chinese, knows about this new futures model," Sun Wei said.

After a month of interaction, Wang Yunlong no longer had the superiority complex typical of Hongcheng residents and no longer looked down on mainlanders. However, Sun Wei, who had not interacted with them much, still had the typical Hongcheng attitude, looking down on mainlanders and considering them all country bumpkins.

Lin Muqing frowned, "Manager Sun, please be careful with your words. The mainland is not as bad as you think."

Lin Muqing had adapted to Hongcheng in a month, from her attire to her speech, making her indistinguishable from a Hongcheng white-collar woman. After her comment, Sun Wei quickly apologized, "I'm very sorry for my inappropriate words. However, I believe that compared to the closed mainland, people like Mr. Zhou and Miss Lin are still in the minority."

Zhou Ming was repulsed by Sun Wei's constant glances at Lin Muqing and said, "Manager Sun, what the mainlanders are like is none of your business. Both Muqing and I are from the mainland, but we are here to trade futures."

"Alright, no problem. However, Hong Kong stock index futures trading is different from other futures. Based on the current Hong Kong stock index, the margin for one contract is about 10,000 Hong Kong dollars. How many contracts do you plan to trade, Mr. Zhou?" Sun Wei asked.

Zhou Ming held up five fingers, "Fifty-two contracts, all short. I believe the Hong Kong stock index will fall."

"Mr. Zhou, did I not explain clearly, or did you not understand? I said the margin for one contract is 10,000 Hong Kong dollars. If you want to trade fifty-two contracts, you need at least 520,000 Hong Kong dollars in margin, which is not a small amount," Sun Wei said. "Moreover, the Hong Kong stock index is currently growing, and there is no possibility of it falling. If you short fifty-two contracts, you will lose all your money in a week at most."

"Talk as if you control the Hong Kong stock index. I'm telling you, I believe it will fall, and it will be a catastrophic drop," Zhou Ming said.