Chapter 26: How about trying to be a team leader?
There's a widely circulated saying in the industry: there's a ceiling to doing business in the domestic market.
"How many times have I told you! Stop fixating on this crappy domestic market. If you want to go, go to the American Stock Market. That's where the stars and the sea lie!"
A voice came from one of the workstations, filled with a frustrated and disappointed tone.
"Forget it, with all the fees, taxes, and transaction costs, you'll end up losing every last drop of blood! You'd be better off spending that time struggling in the quagmire of the A-share market, at least you'd be a seasoned swimmer!"
A colleague next to him promptly poured cold water on his enthusiasm.
"Fine, then you can stay stuck in this lousy pool for the rest of your life! Stick to your pathetic ability to never break 4,000 points, and be a useless piece of trash who stays stuck in the same place! Look at the American Stock Market, there's no limit to how high it can go, the sky is the only limit!"
"Heh, there's no limit to how low it can fall. If you're not careful, it'll knock you straight to the floor, without even stopping in the basement."
"Why don't you short it? You could just double down and live on it, bro!"
"Oh ho, you make it sound so easy! If it were that simple, how come you're still not financially free? By the way, what was your overseas department's profit rate this month? Let me see."
"Uh, well, that..." The guy who was so confident just now suddenly froze, his eyes starting to wander.
As a company grows larger, it will naturally develop into various departments.
Fang Huan Investment is no exception; it's a large and complex company with numerous internal factions.
Therefore, even when working in the same company, people in different departments seem to live in different worlds, each doing their own thing and keeping to themselves.
Some people are obsessed with A-shares, some are venturing overseas, some specialize in bonds, and some are hopelessly addicted to the world of options.
"Sigh, you really nailed the buying point, but unfortunately you missed the selling point and missed the boat at the last minute! If you had executed that deal well, our department's year-end bonuses would have been enough for a pool party!"
A sigh of regret came from a corner of the office, filled with the frustration of "one wrong step leads to another".
As the old saying goes, buying relies on technique, but selling... is purely an art, even a bit of metaphysics.
No matter which market you're competing in, accurately capturing that perfect selling opportunity is as difficult as ascending to heaven.
If you were to ask which department in a private equity firm is most likely to "legitimately" slack off and least proactive in clocking in, it would most likely be the options department, especially the team responsible for sell-side strategies.
To put it bluntly, their daily work doesn't require much technical skill; it's more like running a large "lottery station."
Every day, various options contracts are posted, waiting for "gamblers" in the market who are eager to get rich overnight to come and buy "hope".
Then what?
In the vast majority of cases, about 99% of the time, these "lotteries" end up as worthless paper, with the royalties steadily ending up in the pockets of private equity firms.
All they have to do is sit there, drink tea, watch the game, and wait to collect their money. They are the epitome of easy money.
But! Life is so exciting, there are always a few "buts".
Occasionally, very occasionally, that "big prize day," like the arrival of a black swan, will arrive without warning.
It's like when a lottery shop happens to have someone who's won the jackpot, and even a super jackpot at that. You have to look miserable and give them back all the money you've earned, even the principal and interest.
"Speaking of which, which department made money in this market rally?" someone asked curiously in a low voice in the rest area.
"Yes, there is. Just one. Look, over there, that Trading Department One." The well-informed person pointed in a certain direction.
"Huh? Their department? Didn't they lose almost everything a while ago?"
"Times have changed! I only heard about it myself. Their department achieved an epic victory this time, making a fortune. I heard the rate of return is frighteningly high!"
"How much did you actually earn? Why are you making such a fuss?"
At this moment, a team manager leaned over mysteriously, lowering his voice as if to share some earth-shattering secret:
"According to reliable internal sources... sixty percent."
"Get lost! You think bragging is tax-free? Sixty percent a month? Do you think you're cheating in a game? Even the American Stock Market wouldn't dare to brag like that!" Someone immediately scoffed.
"Not just that! The version I heard is over 60%, I think it's 80%? And supposedly it was done by one person all by himself!" another voice added, its tone even more exaggerated.
"This is just more nonsense, getting more and more outrageous! Use your brain and think about it, does this make any sense?!"
"So that's why. I heard the trading department is setting up a new team just to give him special training!"
This makes things even more baffling.
In this bear market, many traders are under immense pressure and, unable to withstand it, choose to leave the market in despair.
At times like this, it would be a blessing if the company didn't downsize or lay off employees, but instead it's expanding against the trend and starting a new team.
What's going on here?
"So... has the new team leader been decided yet? Who is it?" Everyone was filled with great curiosity.
***
Because they lived in the same city, Su Hao and the chairman, whom he called "Big Brother," would occasionally get together for a meal alone.
Every time they met, they had a tacitly agreed-upon fixed spot—a street-side barbecue restaurant brimming with local flavor.
"I was thinking of taking you out for some French or Japanese food to broaden your horizons and let you experience high society."
Huang Fengwen grinned as he skillfully ate the skewers, his tone slightly teasing.
"Hey, Brother Huang, do you think I don't know your tastes?" Su Hao chuckled.
"Barbecue with ice-cold beer, that's your soulmate, everything else is secondary, right?"
"Hey! You really understand me, kid!" Huang Fengwen was clearly pleased and clinked glasses with him again.
Logically speaking, as the head of Fang Huan Investment with a net worth of over 100 million, he should be frequenting high-end restaurants with an average cost of four figures per person, such as Michelin-starred restaurants, French restaurants, and privately customized Japanese restaurants to match his status.
But what's strange is that Brother Huang's taste is quite down-to-earth, even somewhat...simple and unpretentious, with a fondness for the chivalrous spirit of eating meat and drinking alcohol in large quantities.
"By the way, wasn't Qiang's group supposed to come tomorrow night?"
After a few rounds of drinks, Huang Fengwen changed the subject and returned to their familiar territory:
"If he doesn't come, our raid will be without a main healer! Losing two DPS isn't a big deal, but not having a healer is fatal, it'll definitely be a wipe!"
"Yeah, right. Don't worry, bro, even if I have to tie him up, I'll tie him to the computer!" Su Hao patted his chest and assured him.
"Sigh, but you can't really blame that kid." The eldest brother sighed.
"The game company's planners only know how to nerf support characters all day long, and treat healers like stepchildren. Anyone would get frustrated and want to quit the game."
Whenever the two of them get together, this is basically how things go.
From beginning to end, it was all about the game, from server maintenance to previews of the new version, from dungeon guides to guild gossip.
Su Hao thinks this is fine.
He knows all the proper etiquette when dining with elders or superiors.
It's nothing more than, "Young man, what are your plans for the future?", "What are you planning to do to support your family?", "Let me tell you, back in my day..."
He's heard so many "life philosophies" and "success stories" sharing sessions that he's practically sick of them.
But being with Brother Huang is different. He never mentions those troublesome things in real life, only talks about games, and it's relaxed and stress-free.
This feels... amazing.
Perhaps it was precisely because of this overly relaxed and casual atmosphere that he couldn't for a long time fully equate the " Brother Huang " in front of him, dressed in a casual T-shirt and spouting gaming jargon, with his identity as a financial tycoon.
"Ahem," Huang Fengwen suddenly cleared his throat, his playful expression fading slightly.
"I almost forgot about the important thing. We were so busy talking about games that we almost wasted the whole time chatting."
Su Hao felt a slight stirring in his heart, knowing that what was meant to happen would eventually happen.
Sitting across from him today is not just the guild leader with whom he fought side by side in the virtual world.
He is also the Director of Fang Huan Investment, which wields a vast financial empire.
" A-Hao."
The director was silent for a moment, then tilted his head back and drank the beer in his glass in one gulp. He then put down the glass, spoke in a heavy tone, and his eyes became sharp.
"You little rascal... do you have your own unique investment method?"
Su Hao's heart skipped a beat.
His own investment methods?
Of course there is one, although... I doubt anyone would believe me if I told them the method.
"Hmm, I guess so." He mumbled a reply, thinking to himself: It's all based on feeling, pure recklessness.
This one trick, so far, has been incredibly accurate.
"Just as I thought."
The director nodded slowly with an "I knew it" expression, seemingly unsurprised.
"How did you manage to generate such incredible returns? I won't ask about your specific investment methods. Why? Because even if you told me, I probably wouldn't understand. Not just me, but anyone would be just as clueless."
The director's gaze was deep, as if he could see right through people's hearts:
"You might have a secret algorithm that only you can understand... After all, the returns on your short-term trading are just too outrageous to be explained by mere luck."
An algorithm that only he could understand... Su Hao smiled bitterly to himself.
Nonsense, if he told anyone that he trades based entirely on "intuition," who the hell would believe him?
It's good enough that they didn't send him to a mental hospital as if he were mentally ill.
"I've always valued ability."
The Director continued:
"Over the years, I've rejected all kinds of connections—alumni, fellow townsmen, even relatives—as long as I felt they weren't capable enough. The only exception I've ever made in my life is because of you, kid."
"Really?" Su Hao was somewhat flattered.
"Absolutely true. Of course, it's mainly because you've managed our guild so well." The Director chuckled, his tone softening.
"Especially when those old guys are making trouble for no reason and giving orders haphazardly, you always manage to handle things quietly without a word of complaint. That's what I admire about you."
Su Hao knew perfectly well that if it weren't for Brother Huang, he would probably still be staring at his computer screen, scrolling through job websites and worrying about his bleak future.
Not to mention discovering that he actually possessed this... well, what could be called a "special ability" talent.
"That's why I often eat barbecue, drink beer, and chat about games with my brother!"
"Hehe, this is definitely the most fun. By the way, let me ask you something, have you passed your professional qualification exam yet?"
"I passed the exam. It was alright, not too difficult."
"That's good! Let me tell you, the reason our company has reached such a large scale today, I think, is largely due to this principle: as long as you have the ability, I'm willing to give you resources and promote you relentlessly. And now..."
As the director refilled his beer glass, he abruptly changed the subject, dropping a bombshell:
" A-Hao, how about... trying out to be a team leader?"