Chapter 39 Heroes Emerge in Troubled Times!
"That's why I said it long ago!"
Just as everyone was filled with excitement, Li Huilin said triumphantly, "Following our manager is definitely the right choice! You didn't believe me back then!"
"Hey, Huilin, I've been really curious about this!" Liang Haiyuan's eyes lit up, and his face was full of gossipy smiles:
"What was our manager like before? Was his investment acumen already this abnormal back then?"
"Of course! Otherwise, why would he have been promoted to manager so quickly, like a rocket?"
Li Huilin's smugness deepened.
"Wow! I'm so curious too! Sister Huilin, tell us about it!"
The others immediately swarmed around like a flock of chicks eager for food, their ears perked up and their eyes sparkling.
"Hehe, speaking of our manager... he's really... quite impressive! Hmm~ let me think, where should I begin?"
Surrounded by everyone like a star, Li Huilin's vanity was greatly satisfied. She smiled mysteriously, whetting everyone's appetite before slowly speaking:
"Oh, right! Let's talk about the first time he did a demo account! Back then, he was just a newbie who hadn't been with the company for long, and suddenly, he went all in on a worthless stock called'ST Zhongrun'! Everyone thought he was crazy..."
Listening to Li Huilin vividly recount Su Hao's past "heroic deeds" that seemed to have been granted by superpowers.
The members of Trading Department Seven listened with rapt attention, their eyes wide and sparkling with admiration.
As the ancients said, troubled times produce heroes.
Perhaps, in this turbulent, bloody, and financially chaotic world where one wrong move can lead to financial ruin, Su Hao is truly just a figure in the eyes of these small fry...
That extraordinary hero who appeared out of nowhere, turned the tide, and led them to financial freedom!
***
At the same time, Fang Huan Investment Chairman's Office.
Huang Fengwen rubbed his aching neck, feeling the veins throbbing in his temples, and his blood pressure seemed to be rising uncontrollably.
Damn it! My right eyelid has been twitching since I woke up this morning. I have a feeling that some treacherous person is trying to harm me.
Sure enough! It really came true!
And what came first was terrible news!
"Are you sure? There wasn't a single hint beforehand? Not even the slightest indication that the policy was going to change?"
Huang Fengwen frowned, his tone icy, like a Siberian chill that made the Secretary-General shiver.
"We've deployed so many intelligence networks over there! We've kept so many informants! We've spent so much money! And all of us have just been wasting our time?"
"Yes, Director. We've checked repeatedly. Absolutely no... any warning signs whatsoever."
The Secretary-General, head bowed, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead, answered cautiously:
"In fact... based on some indirect information we've received, it's highly suspicious that the regulators made this decision... as if it were a spur-of-the-moment decision, very suddenly."
This is so unusual!
That makes absolutely no sense!
If they really started planning and preparing this major regulatory policy weeks or even days in advance, given Fang Huan Investment's intelligence capabilities, it's impossible that they wouldn't have caught a whiff of it!
But alas, it just wasn't there!
This can only mean that the regulators have done an extremely thorough job of keeping things confidential.
Or perhaps... they themselves have realized that this stock market bubble has been blown out of proportion.
It has become so large that even they themselves are terrified, fearing that if they do not intervene, it will completely spiral out of control at any moment, causing an irreversible systemic collapse!
So... I gritted my teeth and decided to take action as soon as possible; a short pain is worse than a long one!
Let's fight first and talk about it later!
"Even if it was a last-minute decision, there should have been some leaks! Wait! Could it be... that our intelligence channels are malfunctioning?"
Huang Fengwen tapped his fingers irritably on the expensive mahogany desk, producing a dull thud.
"Or rather, we don't know, but what about other financial companies...? Could they have already received a tip-off and made preparations in advance? Have you heard anything about it?"
In the financial industry, especially for private equity firms at the top of the pyramid, having access to the best information is essential for survival.
Each organization has its own secretly constructed intelligence network, which is intricate, powerful, and permeates every corner.
"Based on the information we have urgently gathered, many of the small private equity firms that used high leverage to bet on this one-sided upward trend have already been liquidated."
The Secretary-General reported, his voice somewhat hoarse:
"Other slightly larger competitors have also suffered heavy losses this time, their vitality severely damaged, and they are probably crying and wailing in their offices."
Hearing that his colleagues had suffered the same fate, Huang Fengwen felt a little better:
"Hmm... that's understandable. Even a leader like Fang Huan Investment, which claims to have the best information channels in the industry, was kept in the dark. How could they possibly get intelligence in advance?"
"Yes, Director, that's theoretically the case. But..."
The Secretary-General hesitated for a moment, seemingly considering his words, but ultimately decided to report the facts:
"There is indeed a very strange rumor circulating quietly in the market right now.
"Strange rumors? What rumors?"
Huang Fengwen's eyelids twitched suddenly, and an ominous premonition rose in his heart.
"It is said that... just three days before this major market crash, a mysterious institution began a buying frenzy in the market!"
They bought a large number of put options! And... they specifically bought put options on stock indices!
It's said that they didn't care about expiration dates or costs; they bought as many as they could find on the market, practically sweeping up every single related option!
"Wh-what?"
Huang Fengwen suddenly stood up from his chair, his eyes wide like saucers, his body leaning slightly forward in shock. An unbelievable horror and anger instantly overwhelmed him!
"Three days ago? Wasn't that when the market was at its most frenzied, when prices were rising the most, and when everyone was rushing in like they were on steroids?"
He almost roared, his voice trembling with excitement:
"At that critical juncture... someone actually went against the grain? And it was with put options, no less? And they were buying them up regardless of cost?"
"Yes, Director. Judging from the scale and methods of the transaction, it is highly likely that it was done by one institution. However, as the other party is extremely secretive in their operations, we have not yet been able to determine which institution it is."
That's so strange!
This is so unusual!
That's fucking weird!
At the height of the bull market frenzy, when market sentiment was at its most euphoric, and everyone was making money with their eyes closed.
Someone actually acted like a spendthrift with too much money, taking out tens of millions of real money to frantically sweep up those put options that were considered worthless and unwanted at the time.
This only means one thing!
Something that sent chills down Huang Fengwen's spine!
"Those sons of bitches! They already knew about it!"
Huang Fengwen practically spat out the words through clenched teeth, his eyes instantly turning cold and sharp, filled with murderous intent.
Unless one has prior knowledge of top-secret insider information that could disrupt the market, it's simply impossible!
Absolutely impossible!
To do something so crazy!
So precise!
Such an incredible feat!
"Are you sure? Confirm with me one hundred percent again!"
Huang Fengwen stared intently at the Secretary-General, his voice low and menacing:
"Really! There was no prior leak of any information?"
"Yes, Director! I've confirmed it repeatedly through the highest levels of channels! Absolutely not!"
The Secretary-General was startled, but still forced a firm answer:
"Based on feedback from all the information sources we have been able to obtain, the regulatory decision was indeed made on the spot and immediately announced to the public! Even many people within the organization only found out at the last minute!"
"What the hell is going on with those guys who are sweeping up 'worthless options' everywhere?"
Huang Fengwen felt his intelligence had been insulted and challenged like never before, and he was almost unable to control his anger:
"Could they be prophetic? Or did they hire a shaman or a feng shui master to divine the stock market crash?"
"This... I really don't know... This is indeed... beyond the realm of common sense."
The Secretary-General was also completely bewildered, his shirt collar already soaked with cold sweat.
There must be someone there!
Someone, or some mysterious force, must have somehow obtained this top-secret information—enough to turn the market upside down—through some unknown channel!
Otherwise, it's simply inexplicable!
That kind of miraculous, textbook-perfect, precise bottom-fishing and short-selling operation!
"You remember this!! In this industry! In this ruthless capital market! Intelligence! Is the lifeline! It's everything! At Fang Huan Investment, our access to information must be absolutely top-notch!!"
Huang Fengwen slammed his fist on the table with a loud thud, his voice trembling slightly—a mixture of extreme anger and...fear.
"This is the foundation that allows us to hold the top spot in the industry! It's our core competitiveness! But now... we've actually been... left far behind in the most crucial intelligence war?"
"..."
The Secretary-General was terrified and didn't dare to even breathe loudly.
Huang Fengwen's sensitivity, even to the point of losing his composure, stemmed from profound reasons.
Because this is the first time Fang Huan Investment has achieved this since it overcame numerous obstacles to become the top private equity firm!
For the first time in history!
In such a significant and pivotal event that could reshape the market landscape, we were out of touch with the information!
Although everyone talks about "value investing," "long-term holding," and "no insider trading," who the hell doesn't understand this in their heart?
What is the ultimate key to surviving and thriving in the brutal capital market and becoming a predator at the top of the food chain?
It's information!
It's intelligence that's one step ahead!
Whose information is faster, more accurate, and more crucial?
"Search every inch of the ground! At all costs! Dig out this rat hiding in the shadows!!"
A cold glint flashed in Huang Fengwen's eyes, like a venomous snake about to pounce on its prey:
"I'd like to see who this guy is! He dares to mess with Huang Fengwen! He dares to touch the cheese of Fang Huan Investment!"
"Yes, Director! I'll get right away!" The Secretary-General, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, quickly responded and withdrew.
Huang Fengwen was the only one left in the office. He slowly sat back down in his chair and rubbed his temples wearily.
The stock market plummeted.
Well, although this happened suddenly, it is ultimately part of the market risk. Although it hurts, it is still within the range of foreseeable risks.
The losses are certainly not small, but Fang Huan Investment is a large and well-established company that has always done risk hedging and management, so it won't be crippling.
but!
What's more terrifying than losing money?
It's that feeling of being surpassed and manipulated by others, while you remain completely oblivious, like a fool—that's fear!
Especially being defeated in the core battlefield of information!
Huang Fengwen, a seasoned veteran of the financial markets who has weathered many storms.
For the first time in many, many years, he felt so clearly a bone-chilling cold, like a venomous snake, silently creeping up his spine and straight to the top of his head!
Beneath this seemingly calm surface, a truly terrifying storm is brewing!