Chapter 141: Zhang Long: Building a Great Family Is More Rewarding, A New Goal of 300 Million!

Financial and securities licenses are incredibly valuable. Generally speaking, any company or power that holds such a license will not sell it easily. As for the issuance speed and quantity of new licenses, they are extremely scarce, so it is best not to count on them.

However, the good news is that after so many years of a bear market, there are still a few in Shanghai that cannot withstand the attrition: they are either suspending operations or struggling to stay afloat.

"Jiahao, Boyuan, Shengkai..."

Qian Caiying directly named three companies in Shanghai holding financial securities licenses that were poorly managed. If one were to add 'Shengxin,' which is slightly better off, that would make four, though none of them currently have any intention to sell.

"The lowest valuation is 70 million."

Qian Caiying frowned. "The industry predicts that the bull market will start around May Day. Regardless of whether it’s true or not, at this moment, no one is willing to sell everything off in a bundle."

Whether it is 70 million or a higher price, it’s not just about the license; it also includes the venue, staff, channels, and operational branches in other cities—the whole comprehensive package is worth the price.

Of course, the premise is that it can be managed well after purchase. If the business performance continues to crash, then it’s a failure. If sold off again, one would inevitably lose some money.

"A bull market? No chance this year..." Zhang Long’s eyes flashed. "Although it has been a bear market for many years, without absolute favorable policies to boost new stock openings, there is no need to fantasize."

"It’s now February, after the New Year. If policies were going to be issued, January would have been the best time."

"There is a high probability that there is no hope this year."

This statement lacked strong evidence, so neither Ling Zhiqin nor Qian Caiying committed one way or the other. The sentiment was that after years of a bear market, it was bound to turn into a bull market. Companies across the country and the massive number of stocks were all hoping for it; the power of sentiment was already sufficient.

That was why Ling Yushan became very interested after seeing Hongze’s performance gradually improve before the end of the year. One couldn't just wait to snatch something once the bull market arrived; seizing it in February or March would be the perfect time to get familiar with the operations, so that when the bull market began around May Day, they could exert full force and better demonstrate their capabilities.

It was also because Hongze was essentially unsustainable that Ling Zhiqin and Qian Caiying needed to look for another way out. Otherwise, they would have to return to their previous state of idleness, waiting to be arranged by the family. Once they reached a certain age, the first arrangement would be: marriage. This was something both women were currently unwilling to accept.

"Let’s start negotiations for an acquisition in secret."

Ling Zhiqin and Qian Caiying nodded in agreement. Whether the bull market arrives or not, the current priority is to secure a securities financial license first. Without it, there is no venue to stretch their legs, and talking about anything else is useless.

With their goals aligned, they decided to just do it.

...

At the end of April 2011, the stock market fell below 3,000 points and entered a deep winter. After that, it fell to 2,000 points and began to fluctuate horizontally—it was a miserable sight!

By the end of June 2013, it hit 1,850 points!

Until mid-March 2014, it was still at its lowest point, below the 2,000-point mark. Through the ups and downs of mid-July 2014, it still hit lows just above 2,000 points.

Only after that did the market gradually begin to rally.

In mid-December 2014, it broke through 3,000 points, returning above that mark after three years and eight months. At the same time, the stock market began to enter a bull market, surging all the way. By mid-April 2015, it returned to 4,000 points, and in early June, it broke through 5,000 points—the first time it had returned above 5,000 in seven years!

Some basic information about the stock market from his previous life flowed through Zhang Long's mind. Although he didn't remember specific dates, he had a rough impression of the major milestones. At the very least, assuming the two worlds were not significantly different, the transition from bear to bull would only gradually begin in the summer of 2014. It wouldn't be a full-blown bull market until early 2015.

"There is plenty of time."

On his way to the Luo family's house, Zhang Long let out a breath after a brief thought. With his "golden finger," he could achieve great performance even in a bear market. One year was enough to build a reputation in the industry and open successful branches in multiple cities.

If he could achieve results without the bull market, then once the bull market arrived, he wouldn't even need to use any special advantages to win easily; his reputation would already be well-established. And after the bull market ended and the market turned bearish again, his business departments across the country would still be able to flourish.

He would gradually grow and become an industry leader.

"Is my ambition a bit too large?"

Suddenly, Zhang Long laughed at himself. He hadn't even officially opened the company yet, and he was already thinking about becoming an industry leader by next year or beyond. He had to admit he was being a bit arrogant; after all, things might not go too smoothly. How could a business develop without a single bump in the road?

However, he would deal with future matters when they came. Being prepared and seeing the potential for future scale was better. If he had no ambition, why start a financial company at all? After reaching a net worth of two or three hundred million, he could just lie flat. Wouldn't it be great to eat, drink, and travel the world with beauties? It would be great!!

But building his own wealthy dynasty? That would be even better.

...

"Auntie, that's enough, I'm full."

At the Luo family's dinner, Zhang Long waved his hand, truly unable to eat any more. Even if he was going to "exercise" later that night, he shouldn't be too full.

Luo's mother had already quit her job as a domestic caregiver. In a couple of days, she would start working at a fresh fruit and vegetable store to understand the processes of purchasing, displaying, and selling goods. In two or three months, she would have the hang of it, and with Zhang Long's help, she could open her own shop.

During this period, the Luo family would move back to the vicinity of their former address, choosing a mid-to-high-end residential complex. It would be best if there were shops nearby with high foot traffic suitable for a fresh produce store. If there was one that was poorly managed and looking to transfer, that would work too.

The two-to-three-month buffer period was enough for the Luo family to arrange everything without rushing. Zhang Long hadn't calculated exactly how much money it would take, but it wouldn't be too much. Furthermore, he intended to be the Luo family's landlord in secret. Whether it was the new home the Luo family moved into or the shop they opened, Zhang Long planned to buy them in advance and then use an intermediary to rent them to the Luo family. When the time came, it would be included in the dowry list.

He would provide help for the Luo family to open their shop, but he wouldn't let them "lie flat" to win, otherwise, it would be counterproductive. As long as the fruit and vegetable shop was managed well, the income would be very good, making it easy to pay the rent for the shop and the house without pressure, while leaving a surplus to save. If the business was managed well, it would be very possible for them to eventually buy the shop or the house themselves.

In short, things would basically only get better.

"A-Long, thank you."

In the bedroom, Zhang Long was naturally staying the night. Even if he wanted to leave, Luo's mother and Luo Xin would stop him; they had already fully accepted him, so there was no need to be coy.

"Phew, it's the right thing to do."

Zhang Long pulled Luo Man into his arms and whispered with a chuckle, "If you live comfortably, I’ll be happier. Serve your husband well tonight. I didn't let loose enough on Valentine's Day. Don't worry, no one will be eavesdropping."

"I was just shy at home."

Luo Man pouted. Who knew if Luo Xin was eavesdropping at the door? The girl was probably more carefree now that the family's financial pressure had been greatly reduced. She even prepared the "little umbrella" in advance—the sister-in-law was truly bold to the point of being shameless.

"Tonight, shall we unseal it?" Zhang Long seemed to have suddenly thought of something and glanced toward the drawer. Luo Man hesitated for a moment, then shook her head slightly. "It should be fine."

"Three days before and four days after, it's relatively safe."

Hearing this, Zhang Long’s spirits lifted. What was there to wait for? He kissed Luo Man’s red lips fiercely and fell onto the bed.

The spring night was warm, and the dragon danced!

...

"Sister Liu, Happy New Year."

The sun was high the next day. After lunch at the Luo family's, Zhang Long drove to the university town’s shopping street. Liu Yurong’s painting studio was reopening today. Zhang Long presented a large red envelope and a flower basket, wishing her even greater success.

"Thank you, please come in."

Liu Yurong smiled softly. The studio was just reopening, so there wasn't much of a grand ceremony. She had only recalled three of her previously contracted painting teachers and a portion of the students who wanted to continue learning from her. It wasn't busy.

It was mid-February, and Zhang Long had given Liu Yurong half a month to restore operations. Starting next month, he would arrange for professional assessment company personnel to move in, supervise, and audit, and then issue an assessment report to discuss the strategy of "investing through rent" and sign a contract.

Although he could simply buy the studio and let Liu Yurong continue to manage it, it would lose its value. A simple painting training studio had no competitiveness; at most, it would make a little money or open a few branches—annual income would cap out at ten million. As for Liu Yurong's previous plan to switch to animation, she couldn't even think about it without large capital support.

Whether it was episodic animation or an animated film, to do it well required an investment of at least ten million, and there was no guarantee it would make money or sell at a good price. It was even possible to lose everything.

Zhang Long had already helped share enough of the pressure, and Liu Yurong didn't want to let Zhang Long join in—or fall into the trap—before she was absolutely certain of a big profit. The stable model was to run the studio well and then open a few more branches. That was it. It was stable and would increase overall revenue.

"It’s quite standard."

In the third-floor office, Zhang Long looked over the development plan for 'Yumei Painting' for the next year or two. "There are no highlights, but its strength lies in stability. Let’s focus on operating the current headquarters well."

"What I can promise is that if the operations are good and we open branches in the future, I can continue to buy shops for you to move into, reducing your pressure."

"In a word, I invest in the shops and real estate, and incidentally, I’ll take a small stake in the studio. It’s a win-win!"

"Hmm, thank you, Boss Long."

With that promise, it was enough. Liu Yurong’s exquisite face broke into a playful smile as she thanked Zhang Long. Boss Long was generous; it would definitely be a win-win in the future.

...

"Buzz, buzz..."

On the way back from Liu Yurong's, his old phone vibrated frequently. There were stocks, futures, and foreign exchange. Tomorrow was Monday, and the market would open. Today, major players in the industry would essentially contact clients to stabilize trades or connect with those who could add large funds to maintain relationships.

There were also phone calls from the spot trading platforms, but not many—it was estimated that the higher-ups had sent out a notification. Therefore, the mood of several practitioners was a bit low, and it wasn't just due to the post-holiday blues.

"Sister Jing, daydreaming?"

At Huiyin Spot Trading, Wang Jing looked at her client list, which no longer contained the name of Zhang Long—the name that had earned her nearly a million in net profit in two months. Zhang Long had been taken back by the company. There was no specific explanation, but it was said that he wouldn't be trading anymore. The other clients on her list were quite disappointing; few could generate any trading volume. In other words, her high income was cut off.

"Dummy, cheer up."

At the Dingxin trading department, watching the dejected Zou Min, Yu Na reached out and pinched him. It wasn't just that Zhang Long had stopped trading; he needed to continue to work hard to develop other clients. Coaching ability was more important than the income from a sudden windfall. Since Yu Na was secretly seeing Zou Min, she had to consider their future, rather than giving up and changing men just because her boyfriend lost his fighting spirit. Time breeds affection; Yu Na knew in her heart that she was truly attached to Zou Min. It wasn't fake.

"Hiss, I know."

Zou Min shuddered, his waist stinging. He turned around and rolled his eyes at Yu Na. "You know how tired I was last night. Don't worry, I'll be fine tomorrow. I will definitely regain my fighting spirit and rise again."

"Hmph, tomorrow?" Yu Na rolled her eyes and stared back. "You were distracted last night and still said you were tired? Sudden wealth is good, but ability is more important. Don't put the cart before the horse."

"If you remain a failure, then let's stop. I, Yu Na, accept mediocrity, but I do not accept a lack of progress."

Seeing that Yu Na was genuinely angry, Zou Min quickly apologized, knowing she was doing it for his own good. He started making calls to drum up business—it was time to work!

...

"Phew, day after day."

That night at the Bund Dragon Residence, Zhang Long watched the night view of Shanghai after dinner. The phone calls had finally stopped, though he had put it on silent in the afternoon. He didn't want the annoyance.

He would try to contact the coaches from the stock and spot platforms after the new company was operational. Even if Qian Caiying and Ling Zhiqin left Hongze, they wouldn't necessarily hollow out all the staff and take them away. Even if they wanted to, the other three old teams in the marketing department and the analysts might not follow. The ideal state would be to take away half the staff.

Therefore, once the new company was operational, they would inevitably have to recruit. Experienced people were worry-free and efficient. Qin Miaotong from HSBC, Gu Su from UBS, as well as the managers from Jun-Cai, Jin-Chan, and the nine spot platforms he had previously coached—they could all try to poach them. Bringing over as many as possible was "using the familiar rather than the new," which was better than new hires. They were all key personnel who could lead teams.

Of course, the recruitment of fresh blood would not stop. Employee turnover in the financial industry is high. If they don't make money with you, they will leave; if they aren't happy, they will leave. Keeping a constant flow of fresh employees is very necessary for expansion and development.

"Hiss, 20 million?"

The night passed without incident, and morning arrived. Zhang Long deposited 20 million into each of his three stock accounts. The corresponding coaches at UBS, Jun-Cai, and Jin-Chan platforms were pleasantly surprised. Before the New Year, Zhang Long had withdrawn all his funds, and they didn't know how much he would put in after the New Year. They hadn't expected it to be so much.

You must know that his account had only reached a maximum of 17 million before the New Year. Increasing it to 20 million after the New Year meant that the trading commissions would be very substantial. Even at a ten-thousandth commission rate, every round-trip trade would be 4,000 yuan in commission, and the profit-sharing would naturally be significant.

"Hello, Brother Long, good morning..."

At the Bund Dragon Residence, Zhang Long answered the call from Gu Su at UBS. Her charming voice came through. There was no important business; it was just to wish him a flying start on the first day of the market opening after the New Year, predicting a big profit.

"Happy New Year, hanging up."

Zhang Long didn't dawdle. The 60 million yuan in funds across the three stock accounts was the total profit from the stock market before the New Year, including the profits from the Hongze agency account. The net profit from spot trading was 100 million. In other words, Zhang Long had made a total net profit of 160 million in the financial market last year—a very generous figure.

A new year, a new atmosphere, a new beginning: let's set a small goal—to earn a total of 300 million as soon as possible. Two and a half months before May Day. Feasible!