Chapter 71: Takumi Hits the Limit, Old Chen Breaks Down

Morning broke on Wednesday.

Yunfeng Technology’s shares once again opened at the daily limit down. Retail investors holding the stock were plunged into despair, their wails echoing through trading forums. Perhaps, apart from a few institutions, only Zhang Long understood that this ordeal was far from over.

Five consecutive days of limit down this week—who else could manage such a feat?

...

Bang!

The main door of Shengxin was kicked open. Several clients stormed in, demanding an explanation. No matter how much risk management they had done, the platform’s advice to chase Yunfeng Technology had left them with nothing but losses. Losses are losses.

Three consecutive days of limit down, and it looked like the stock would continue to fall for the next two days. Five limit downs would halve their funds.

Even if the price broke support without limit downs, at least they would have a chance to cut their losses and escape. Now, they couldn’t even run if they wanted to. Infuriating.

“How amusing,” Chairman You remarked in the Shengxin conference room, eyeing the five clients who had come together. Especially the two at the center—they’d stirred up trouble last time, and here they were again. He chuckled coldly.

“Perhaps I’ve been too generous,” Chairman You smacked his lips in mock reflection. “When you lose, you come to make a scene at the platform. But when you win, I never see anyone sharing their gains. So, the stock market belongs to you and can only rise, never fall?”

“Let me make myself clear: if you have evidence, take it to court. If not, get lost!”

“Do you really take yourselves for royalty?”

His derision naturally provoked resistance. “Wasn’t it your advice to chase the stock? If you hadn’t suggested it, we wouldn’t have bought it. Now you’re denying responsibility?”

“Denying your nonsense!” Chairman You cut him off sharply. “I said, if you have evidence, sue us.”

“Whether it’s text messages or phone calls, if there’s even a single word promising guaranteed gains or forcing you to buy, I’ll take responsibility. All our suggestions are for reference only; you make your own decisions. Manage your risk, don’t be greedy. We advised you to sell last Friday when you were in profit—did you?”

Chairman You was especially tough today, glaring at the two in the middle. “You wouldn’t sell for a 10% profit. Even if a stock market wizard was here, they’d lose money in a crash. Ridiculous.”

“Investment carries risk. Enter the market with caution. If you only want to win and can’t stand to lose, put your money in the bank.”

“Still want to trade stocks? Go home and sleep on it.”

...

Last time, the compromise was just to avoid losing a batch of quality clients, but there was never any direct compensation. Changing analysts was no cost; refunding a portion of commissions was harmless. The principal and losses were never covered.

But this time, the same clients who already benefited from mediation and commission refunds were back to make trouble, leading the charge. The indulgence had to end. Let them do as they please—if they have the guts, let them sue.

If they actually won, it would be a miracle.

“Zhang Long?”

At the board meeting, Chairman You frowned. “Every time the most agitated clients are always Zhang Long’s. Spoiled by easy gains, they’ve lost their minds. There’ll be no more compromises for this batch. If they’re to be wiped out, let it be thorough.”

“If their mindset won’t accept losses, they’re already done for.”

Some directors nodded in agreement. Not all of Zhang Long’s clients had come to complain, but last time there were more than a dozen, and this time surely even more.

Yunfeng Technology’s trend suggested two more days of limit down. Even if it didn’t, clients wouldn’t be able to exit.

A 50% loss—whether they sell or not makes no difference.

“Layoffs?”

The next topic was streamlining the investment department. When performance was good, they could afford to maintain a large staff, but now it was no longer feasible. As for when the next bull market would come—just rehire when the time comes. The country isn’t short of labor, and the financial markets are no exception.

“Cut half,” the executive vice president said, glancing around the room, pausing on Chairman You, Chairman Guan, and Chairman Zhu. No one could read his thoughts, but his tone was calm. “Other departments should be streamlined proportionally—keep only the elite.”

“Costs must be strictly controlled.”

How to control costs was the HR department’s responsibility: delay what you can, deduct what you must, reassign those who can’t be let go, adjust salaries as needed. For a company, there are always means to persuade or force people out.

With reserves running low, every bit counts.

...

“The boundless frontier is mine…”

In an apartment overlooking the Bund, Zhang Long hummed a cheerful tune as he bought stocks. Yesterday, he’d bought one million worth of Tohai Energy. This morning, the price dropped a bit, but he bought more. If it dropped again in the afternoon, he’d buy again without hesitation.

Three million in total, all in, buying in tranches.

This was his first trade on the JunCai account, and it happened to be the platform’s top recommended stock these days. Of course, he had to cooperate and buy in. See how obedient I am? A self-motivated, aggressive big client falling into JunCai’s lap for free—the trading manager must be thrilled. No need for thanks.

If Tohai Energy rises next week and he’s made enough, he’ll withdraw most of his funds. Don’t be sad.

“Wow, Zhang Long is aggressive!” At JunCai Financial, a trading manager clicked his tongue at Zhang Long’s moves. Buying a million yesterday was one thing, but adding another million this morning after only a slight dip? This guy was bold—no waiting to see what happened.

Was it all about the thrill and the process?

But as long as Zhang Long kept trading and generating commissions, it didn’t matter whether he was reckless. Anyone who could activate a three-million trading account wasn’t short on cash. Rich second-generation clients often traded aggressively—nothing to fuss over.

“Hmm? The turnover is heating up…”

The manager didn’t marvel for long, his eyes on Tohai Energy’s trading volume as the price continued to probe the 1.10 level, only to bounce up again.

Leaving aside the past, in just the last two months a lot of funds had been trapped in Tohai Energy. Miserable.

The acquisition had dragged on without result—a real mess.

Though the platform had been recommending Tohai Energy lately, it was only because the price was low and suited for bottom-fishing. Whether it would rise, or when, was unknown. Zhang Long had put in two million—well, let’s hope he isn’t stuck too long, or worse, wiped out.

No trading means no commission.

...

“Damn!” At the afternoon opening, Chen Youwei muttered a curse under his breath. He’d decided to sell some of his Tohai Energy, but if the price would just rise, who’d want to sell?

It had opened down in the morning and spent the entire session failing to rebound, so he’d waited for the afternoon.

But as soon as the afternoon session began, the price dropped again.

“Unbelievable.” Chen Youwei rubbed his forehead. After half an hour, volatility was intense, but the overall pressure was downward, with the price repeatedly probing 1.10. If it touched, it’d be a direct limit down—how could anyone play this game? A death trap.

He recalled Shengxin’s star analyst, Xu Linfeng, mentioning the possibility of suspension and delisting—eighty percent likely true.

This week could be the last chance to cut losses and run. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, but if he hesitated any longer, he might be trapped for good. A decision had to be made.

“Enough,” he told himself. Indecision leads only to greater chaos.

Chen Youwei took a deep breath, gave Tohai Energy one last look, and chose not to hesitate. Sell everything!

Rather than risk suspension and delisting, leaving his money stuck indefinitely, better to liquidate and free up 2.5 million to fight another day.

So, he began clicking to sell all his Tohai Energy shares, the market locked in fierce battle.

The moment he sold, someone was there to buy.

“Perfect!” Zhang Long exclaimed with delight. Someone had just dumped a large order of Tohai Energy, which he snapped up without hesitation. With that, his last million was fully invested.

Three million in JunCai account, all in!

He glanced at the clock—less than half an hour to close. Soon, the price would surge to the limit up, then continue for the next two days—Thursday and Friday.

“You are the most beautiful on my horizon…”

Zhang Long was humming happily, watching the minutes tick by, waiting for Tohai Energy to hit the limit up so he could finally relax. Though his foresight made him almost certain nothing would go wrong, there was always a chance.

“Holy crap, amazing!”

Zhang Long jolted in his seat as the price chart turned from green to red, and without hesitation or delay, Tohai Energy hit the limit up within a minute.

If that wasn’t awesome, what was?

And Old Chen’s luck—he’d not only recovered but made a tidy profit. Sometimes, stubbornness had its rewards.

Bang! A slap on the table.

“Damn you all to hell!”

In the president’s office at Tengda, Chen Youwei’s face flushed with rage as he slammed his hand on the keyboard, staring at Tohai Energy’s swift surge to limit up, utterly distraught.

“Shengxin, damn you to hell!” he roared, his eyes bloodshot, his voice bestial with fury.