Chapter 45

(Bowing to thank "Lingbaozi" and "Meikaiwudu" for their support! Two more updates tonight!)

It was another Monday, and early in the morning, when the market in Hong Kong had just opened, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing, along with Wang Yunlong and Cao Haiyang from the business department, came to the entrance of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. There were still many people here as usual. The stock market crash in Hong Kong had already lasted for more than half a month, but the people of Hong Kong still believed it was just an accident. They thought the Hong Kong economy was still robust and that the stock market would quickly return to its previous state under the efforts of the Hong Kong government and the stock exchange. The money they had lost would return to their hands.

Zhou Ming directed Cao Haiyang and the others to set up the tables and chairs and put up the company's banner. As financial professionals, they were quite skilled at setting up stalls, and a temporary booth was quickly established.

During the stock market crash, various securities firms and fund companies had also set up stalls at the entrance of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, but Zhou Ming's guaranteed fund was still very eye-catching. With Lin Muqing, a beautiful white-collar woman, standing there, she was a stunning sight. Many people came over out of curiosity to see what was going on.

"Is this Jinming Fund? I've never heard of such a fund company before. Is it newly established?" A young man with glasses asked Lin Muqing.

Lin Muqing smiled professionally and explained, "Our fund company is not newly established. It was reorganized from Wanhe Fund. Our new Jinming Fund not only inherits everything from Wanhe Fund but also introduces many new services. The most important one now is the guaranteed fund we are promoting."

"Guaranteed fund? What does that mean? Are you saying this fund won't lose principal?" A fat man asked from the side.

Lin Muqing nodded and said, "Yes, a guaranteed fund means that no matter what investments our fund company makes, we can ensure that the principal will not be lost."

Upon hearing Lin Muqing's explanation, the crowd immediately burst into boos. "Miss, you can't deceive people like that! The Hong Kong financial market is in such a mess now. Even the big securities firms and fund companies can't guarantee their investments won't lose money. How can a fund company I've never heard of guarantee no loss?"

"That's right!" someone chimed in. "I don't think even the most profitable fund in Hong Kong, Fenghui Fund, can make such a guarantee."

Another person said, "Miss, from your accent, you're from the mainland, right? Girls like you are easily deceived. Don't let others use you as a pawn and get you into trouble. People from the mainland just like to deceive each other."

Faced with these doubts, Lin Muqing hurried to explain, "It's not like that. I understand the current economic situation in Hong Kong is terrible, but that's precisely why our fund company has introduced the guaranteed fund, to make you feel secure about investing."

Lin Muqing's explanation only made the crowd laugh. "Miss, don't you think your words are contradictory? If the Hong Kong economy is bad, how can you guarantee the fund won't lose money? Or is your company made of springs, bursting with energy in adversity? If so, your company must be a miracle from heaven!"

Lin Muqing was about to explain further when Zhou Ming walked over. Zhou Ming knew that Lin Muqing was doing this for him; otherwise, with her personality, she wouldn't have explained so much to so many people with greedy eyes. Now, under their deliberate questioning, she was so anxious that sweat was forming on her smooth forehead and small nose.

Zhou Ming felt a bit guilty and handed her a pack of tissues, saying, "Muqing, take a break."

Lin Muqing took the tissues and apologized to Zhou Ming, "I didn't explain it well."

Zhou Ming shook his head and said, "You did a great job."

Zhou Ming, being a man, knew that a beautiful woman like Lin Muqing could easily attract men's attention, and men were willing to listen to her. Under normal circumstances, a few people might have believed her, but given the current economic situation in Hong Kong, these people were already afraid of the financial market. They were more interested in teasing the beautiful woman and not really considering investing in the fund.

Zhou Ming stepped forward and said, "Hello everyone, I am the owner of Jinming Fund, Zhou Ming. I know you all have doubts about the guaranteed fund, which is normal given the current environment. However, since our fund company has been established, we have guarantees. We are confident that the guaranteed fund can ensure that your principal will not be lost."

Someone in the crowd asked, "What makes you so sure you can guarantee no loss of principal?"

Clearly, these people took Zhou Ming more seriously than Lin Muqing.

Zhou Ming apologized, "I'm sorry, but the details of the guaranteed fund are confidential as it is our company's latest financial product."

Zhou Ming's words immediately drew a chorus of boos. Some people cursed, "What kind of fund has a confidential plan? Do you think your fund is a treasure? I think your fund is a scam, just here to cheat people."

Others were worried, "If you don't disclose the fund plan, how can we trust that your investment is correct and guaranteed to make money?"

Still, others brought up Zhou Ming's mainland identity, "From your accent, you're from the mainland, right? People from the mainland are always full of tricks, but they have no real skills. They hide everything and don't dare to show it. You should take your tricks back to the mainland. Hong Kong is free and open, not a place for mainland scammers to operate!"

Faced with the intense criticism, Zhou Ming remained calm, "Our fund plan is indeed confidential, but our guaranteed fund is 100% guaranteed by the Hong Kong Stock Exchange not to lose money!"

This statement drew even more boos. "Bluffing without any basis! The Hong Kong Stock Exchange is struggling in this stock market crash. How can it guarantee your fund? You can't even come up with a better story."

However, some people showed curiosity. A young man stepped forward and asked, "How does the Hong Kong Stock Exchange guarantee it? Does it provide the margin for you, or do you have the margin at the exchange?"

"Of course, we have the margin at the exchange. Our fund company has deposited a margin equal to the fund's value at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. This means that no matter what happens to the fund, even if our company goes bankrupt, your principal will not be lost. The market department manager of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Deng Weidong, can vouch for us," Zhou Ming said.

"Is that true? Can I check at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange?" the young man asked.

"Of course, feel free to verify," Zhou Ming said.

The young man then turned and walked toward the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. His companions kept mocking him, "Zhang, this mainland guy is clearly deceiving you. Mainlanders are the least trustworthy. Are you really going to verify it at the exchange? That would be a waste of your time. By the time you verify, he'll be long gone."

Others chimed in, "That's right! I know the situation of Wanhe Fund, the predecessor of your fund company. It was a scam. You can't trust it!"

Seeing the young man hesitate, Zhou Ming said to him, "You're a smart person. Judge for yourself."

Hearing Zhou Ming's words, the young man, Zhang, continued toward the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Zhou Ming turned to see Wang Yunlong and Cao Haiyang looking dejected and asked, "What's wrong? Do you think our fund won't sell?"

Cao Haiyang said, "Mr. Zhou, I admit that the concept of the guaranteed fund is good, but these people don't trust us at all. What can we do? It will be hard to sell our fund."

"Is that your level of mental fortitude? I thought you were with me when we lobbied Deng Weidong," Zhou Ming said, dissatisfied. "We do have an equal margin at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. What are you worried about?"

"I'm just worried that even with that, they still won't trust us," Cao Haiyang said.

"Is that so?" Zhou Ming said. "Then you'll see a miracle happen soon!"

As Zhou Ming spoke, a commotion arose in the crowd. The young man, Zhang, returned, pushing through the crowd to Zhou Ming, out of breath. Zhou Ming smiled and asked, "How did it go?"

"It's true. The market department manager of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Deng Weidong, told me personally that Jinming Fund has indeed deposited six million Hong Kong dollars as a margin at the exchange. If Jinming Fund incurs any unexpected losses, the exchange will use this margin to compensate, ensuring that your principal will not be lost by even a cent!" Zhang said excitedly.

"Then are you going to buy our guaranteed fund?" Zhou Ming asked.

Zhang nodded vigorously, "Yes, I absolutely will. With the current economic situation in Hong Kong being so bad and all funds losing money, your fund can still grow without losing principal. Why wouldn't I buy? I have 20,000 Hong Kong dollars here, and I want to invest it all in the guaranteed fund!"

Zhang's words caused a stir in the crowd. Everyone finally realized that the mainland guy was telling the truth, and his fund really wouldn't lose money.

Led by Zhang, the crowd surged toward Zhou Ming's booth like African refugees seeking aid, each one taking out their money and waving banknotes, shouting, "Mr. Zhou, Mr. Manager, we want to buy the guaranteed fund. I have 50,000 Hong Kong dollars here... I have 70,000..."

Seeing the dramatic change from the earlier skepticism, Wang Yunlong and Cao Haiyang were stunned. Wang Yunlong was a bit better off, having witnessed Zhou Ming's miracle of making millions daily, but Cao Haiyang was completely blank. He couldn't imagine what kind of magician Zhou Ming was, what magic he had used to completely change the attitude of these people who didn't trust the guaranteed fund or Jinming Fund.

Zhou Ming turned to Wang Yunlong and Cao Haiyang and said, "What are you standing there for? Come and help! Don't you want your bonuses today?"

Hearing Zhou Ming's call, Wang Yunlong and Cao Haiyang snapped out of their daze and responded, then enthusiastically joined in to help the crowd with their fund purchases.

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