Chapter 24 Employee of the Month!
The end of the month is a time when smiles traditionally appear on the faces of working people.
After all, who doesn't eagerly await the moment their salary arrives after a month of hard work?
This is especially true for traders at Fang Huan Investment.
This is the day they test their results and receive their pay; theoretically, everyone should be overjoyed.
Of course, the thought of having to crawl to work on this damn Saturday inevitably dampened the festive mood, leaving me with a slight sense of unease.
However, the atmosphere was particularly strange today, with an unusually low pressure permeating the office.
"Hey guys, ask around, which department has met its targets this month?"
"Meet the target? What a dream! The market this month has been like a freefall!"
"We should be grateful if we can even make a positive profit! I heard that most departments are losing money hand over fist, all with negative figures!"
As is customary, performance rankings will be released at the end of the month—which team came out on top and which trader was the star of the month.
The company will naturally reward the best-performing teams and individuals handsomely.
If the entire team loses a fortune, or fails to even reach the company's minimum monthly target, even if you're the best among the worst, you'll get nothing.
The company's internal "passing grade" is a monthly return of 5%, while the expected target is between 5% and 15%.
But to be honest, teams that can achieve 15% in a month are extremely rare. Unless there is a once-in-a-century bull market, this goal is basically just a legend.
Moreover, the market trend this month has been entirely volatile and downward, making trading extremely difficult.
Pessimistic speculations have already been circulating in the office: it's estimated that not even one department can reach the 5% passing mark!
"Have you heard? Even those bigwigs in the options department who used to be making money hand over fist have suffered a major setback this time!"
"Hey, those bastards, they're usually so lazy at work, like they're on vacation. But this month, they're all working like crazy, putting in extra hours every day. Why? Because they're in a real crisis!"
"Holy crap, how much did they lose? I bet nobody expected the market to get this volatile."
"Isn't this all because of that recent Nickel saga? I guess this has given them a good taste of the 'risk' of the market!"
"I'm telling you, do we have the time to worry about others? Our own departments are the worst affected! I see, not a single department can complete its tasks!"
So, basically, everyone tacitly agreed to give up.
The "Trader of the Month" award is definitely vacant this month; forget about the bonus.
"Huh? Wait... what is this thing?"
Just then, the company's OA system popped up with a notification for all employees.
The title reads: "Notice Regarding the Announcement of the Best-Performing Team in the Trading Department This Month".
"What the hell?! In a market that's crashed like crazy, how can anyone make money?!"
"They even met their sales targets?! Really? Are you kidding me?"
A group of traders, their faces filled with disbelief, rushed to their computers and clicked on the glaring announcement.
I want to see which amazing team can defy fate and change their destiny in this hellish mode.
Upon closer inspection—
[Monthly Outstanding Team - Trading Department One ]
"One? Wait... one is just..."
" The department that Zhou Yi leads?!"
"Holy crap! Old Zhou Xing! How did this bastard do that? He's usually so quiet, but he secretly developed growth?!"
In everyone's impression, this Zhou Yi is an eccentric person with a low profile.
A group dinner organized by department managers?
I won't go, saying I'm afraid I'll gain weight and affect my muscle definition.
He is usually very quiet and reserved, like a silent gourd.
Who would have thought that while the rest of the department was in dire straits, his department was secretly counting money?
Not a single word has leaked out!
"Wait a minute! Guys, do you think... this might be related to that?" one of the well-informed guys suddenly lowered his voice.
Which one?
"That... ' Crown Prince '! Wasn't he assigned to Lao Zhou's department a while ago?"
"Oh—! Holy crap, you mean...insider manipulation? Resource allocation?"
"That's right! What's even more outrageous is that Old Zhou actually promoted that ' Crown Prince ' to a full-fledged trader in no time! Damn... he's just too lucky to have latched onto someone's coattails!"
Upon hearing this, everyone seemed to have a sudden realization, as if their meridians had been opened.
No wonder!
No wonder Lao Zhou's department was able to stand out even in this market downturn!
This isn't some impressive performance record at all; this is a record of achievements tailor-made for " Crown Prince "!
This is a politically correct award given to Zhou Yi for actively cooperating and supporting the " Crown Prince "!
"Hehe, why not just give the title of best trader of the month to that ' Crown Prince ' too? Let's go all out with the act!" someone sarcastically remarked.
"Holy crap! No way?!" someone nearby suddenly exclaimed.
"Um?"
"He was absolutely right! It's written at the bottom of the announcement! The best trader of the month—that's the ' Crown Prince '!"
"What the heck?! Is this for real?!"
A joke actually came true!
This caused an uproar in the office.
Even if you are a " Crown Prince " and the company wants to promote you, this way of doing things is just too ugly, isn't it?
It's important to know that the announcements for "Best Team" and "Best Trader" were posted on the company's intranet, visible to everyone in the company!
The company's original intention was to set an example and motivate other traders.
They want to show everyone "other people's children," and then they rush into the market to compete with great enthusiasm.
And now?
What kind of motivation is this?
This is like stabbing everyone in the heart; it's a blatant provocation!
"This is just too much!"
"We'd accept it if they gave their department the best award, but this 'best trader' award is based on individual returns! How the hell do you explain that? Does that new ' Crown Prince ' single-handedly beat all of us? That's bullshit!"
This time, the company really crossed the line and acted unethically.
The department managers, already seething with anger over the month's dismal performance, were now even more furious.
They exchanged a glance, their eyes clearly conveying the message: "This is intolerable!"
"We need to talk about this!"
"That's right! As the leaders, we have to step up and represent our brothers! Otherwise, if some newbie parachuted in and they all mess things up like this, how are we supposed to survive? It'll just become a vicious cycle!"
The unwritten rule in the underworld is to avoid messing with those " Crown Princes " or "connections" who have powerful backgrounds.
But these people were all people who had worked hard to climb to the position of department manager. If they united as one, they would have the confidence to complain to their superiors.
Who should I confide in?
Naturally, it was their boss—the department head, Li Jian.
As a result, a group of resentful department managers marched in a large group toward the director's office.
"Hey, looks like everyone's got a lot of free time today? What are you all doing here like you're at a market?"
Li Jian leaned back in his large executive chair, looking at the department managers who were blocking the doorway, a playful smile on his face, clearly having expected them to come.
"Mr. Li, it's Saturday…" a department manager said awkwardly.
"Go home on Saturday! What are you doing at the company? My little office is already cramped, and you're all crammed in here. Doesn't it make you feel creepy? If you're here, get to work! Look at your performance this month, you're all practically broke, and you still have the nerve to stand here?"
Li Jian didn't hold back in his criticism.
Well, it seems the boss isn't in a good mood either.
"Mr. Li… we really can't talk about the performance figures. But, did you see that announcement on the internal network? This… this is just too outrageous!" A bold department manager couldn't help but speak up.
"Outrageous? What's outrageous about it?"
"Just that one... to be honest, their performance is probably about the same as ours, right? And that new ' Crown Prince,' he's been promoted to trader like a rocket, and now he's the top trader of the month? This... this doesn't make sense, Mr. Li!"
Li Jian knew exactly what these guys were up to.
He didn't dare to directly challenge the Director; he wanted the Director to take the blame and relay the message!
Let him, on their behalf, shoulder this banner of "justice"!
"Ah, back in the day..." Li Jian suddenly changed the subject, his gaze drifting into the distance, reminiscing about his bygone years:
"Back then, we had a huge electronic screen in the middle of our office, constantly displaying who made the most money and who lost the most. Wow, that was really exciting, full of the passion of battle! Don't you think?"
Old-school private equity firms do indeed do this.
But times have changed, and cultures are different now.
Real-time performance comparisons are too likely to break traders' minds. Once they get carried away, they're prone to making irrational and reckless moves, and in the end, everyone loses.
"Mr. Li, why did you suddenly bring this up..." The department managers were a little confused.
"What I mean is, if that thing were still here, you wouldn't have needed to block my door today."
Li Jian withdrew his gaze and refocused on the faces of the group of people:
"It saves me from wasting my precious time, and it saves you from making a fool of yourselves here."
"Well?"
Before they could react, Li Jian picked up a stack of documents from the table and slammed them onto the coffee table in front of them.
"I knew you guys would come running here with your eyes wide open. Here, I've already prepared everything for you."