Chapter 53: The Absurd Director You

The risk is considerable.

Zhang Long’s reply was concise. Although all three stocks were at price or technical support levels, the relevant fundamental news was actually more bearish. Proceed with caution.

That was all Zhang Long said, and he had no intention of agreeing to Qian Caiying’s request to become her consultant tomorrow.

Let things play out for a while; there’s no rush.

...

“Damn it!”

Afternoon arrived in a flash at Hongze Financial.

Qian Caiying stared at the three stocks she had asked Zhang Long to analyze that morning; they had all broken through their support and plummeted after the opening, and though they hadn’t hit their limit down, they were close.

The bear market was bad, with hundreds or thousands of stocks dropping daily, but her own picks seemed especially unlucky.

“We have to make a change!”

In the general manager’s office, Qian Caiying was speechless and almost choked, “Their stock selection and analysis skills are terrible, it’s as if they’re cursed—barely any of their recommendations are right. Unbelievable.”

“With such poor skill and luck, it’s a miracle the company’s gotten anywhere with these two analysts.”

“Replace them immediately!”

Qian Caiying was furious. She’d asked Zhang Long for help, and all three stocks had collapsed. Embarrassing. If at least one had held steady, she could have salvaged her reputation.

Anyone with a brain could guess the three stocks had been filtered by her own analyst team. She’d lost big.

“Alright, calm down.”

Ling Zhiqing was equally exasperated, but replacements could only be made once suitable candidates were found. Right now, the daily basic stock recommendation reports still needed the two analysts to compile them. Even if they borrowed from other companies and revised the reports for Hongze, some editing was necessary.

For now, they’d have to act as patchwork analysts.

“Will Zhang Long take the job?”

Ling Zhiqing asked. Qian Caiying let out a breath and shook her head, “Not for now. He’s shrewder than a monkey and won’t agree easily.”

“But it’s fine; I have a plan. I’ll poach Liang Xue from Shengxin. That should work.”

“And if it doesn’t?”

Qian Caiying’s eyes flashed. Glancing at the cool Ling Zhiqing, she showed a mysterious smile at the corner of her lips, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

...

“Less than ten orders!”

Shengxin, Investment and Trading Department.

Not counting the losses from the Monday crash, from Tuesday to Friday, the entire investment department had less than ten new client orders. Pathetic.

The trading department was even worse. Aside from a few clients forced to add funds due to heavy losses, there was nothing.

The lost trust hadn’t been rebuilt, and it wouldn’t be, at least not anytime soon. Only if clients saw hope of profits from stock recommendations could confidence be restored.

But whether cursed or just unlucky, the analyst team’s stock recommendations had been increasingly disastrous these past few days. As soon as they recommended stocks to clients, those stocks broke support and tumbled. Unbelievable.

In such circumstances, what client would dare trade or add funds? All they could do was watch helplessly.

“Manager Liang, you explain.”

Deputy Director Guan’s eyes flashed. “The Blizzard team was top in performance in September and October—why can’t you deliver now? Where’s the problem? Analyze it for me.”

“And don’t tell me it was all because Zhang Long was here, that you relied on his help.”

“Without Zhang Long, you all fall apart.”

Liang Xue pressed her lips together, offering no explanation. With Deputy Director Guan saying so much, what was left for her to say? Accept the criticism and be the target.

“Performance is your own responsibility.”

Deputy Director Guan swept his gaze across the eight team managers. “Sales is about skill, not brute force or hype. How did you develop business before, and now you can’t?”

“Only those lacking ability blame the analyst team. That’s nonsense.”

“Reflect, summarize, improve.”

“Tonight, everyone write a work plan and goals for next week’s orders, and execute them strictly. If you don’t meet your performance targets, you’re on your own. Meeting adjourned.”

...

“These are supposed to be the elite?”

Shengxin Trading Department—eight trading supervisors were being scolded as well. Director You’s face was dark. “If you all rely on the analyst team, what’s the point of having you coach clients? Wouldn’t it be better to give the commission straight to the analysts?”

“When you deliver results, you say it’s your own effort; when not, you blame everything else. Ridiculous.”

Chang Song, Jiang Hao, and the others kept their heads down.

“If you want to make excuses, fine.”

Director You’s eyes flashed and he snorted coldly, “Starting Sunday, the company won’t restrict your initiative. If you see a promising stock, go ahead and recommend it to clients. The analyst team’s stock reports will be issued as auxiliary references.”

This announcement stirred everyone present.

“Of course, risk control must be maintained.”

Director You’s tone was grave. “This freedom comes with my promise to the board. You may act freely, but risk management is paramount. Don’t be too explicit in your calls, and always end texts with ‘for reference only’. Any objections?”

“No, thank you, Director You.”

Chang Song, Jiang Hao, and the other eight trading supervisors responded in unison, their spirits lifted as they exchanged glances.

With this new freedom, they could act boldly, no longer timid.

Risk control was essential; they couldn’t directly or overly clearly instruct clients to buy or sell specific stocks. If losses occurred, it would be easy to leave evidence and get into trouble. For their own sake, they would manage risks well.

Besides, in the recent two months when Zhang Long delivered outstanding performance, he exercised autonomy, not just following the company’s stock recommendations.

Sometimes he used recommendations from days, even weeks ago—it was quite random.

If Zhang Long could do it, so could they.

With freedom in hand, performance would soar!

...

“55,000, 160,000.”

“215,000 plus 35,000, 250,000!”

The scenes unfolding at Hongze and Shengxin were unknown to Zhang Long. At this moment, his eyes were gleaming as he calculated this week’s profits: 250,000 yuan.

He had started with a modest test in his HSBC account, using 500,000 yuan to earn a 7% profit—35,000 yuan.

Then he activated his UBS account, buying in with 1,000,000 yuan, and another 500,000 to purchase HSBC’s recommended stocks. The former yielded a 5.5% profit on 1,000,000, the latter an 8% profit on 2,000,000.

Three trades, 250,000 yuan profit in total.

Just a few days into formal trading, three transactions had already earned more than he did at Shengxin in September and October.

HSBC balance: 1,695,000.

UBS balance: 1,555,000.

(All taxes and commissions are assumed paid and deducted; only net profits are described.)

Looking at the total funds in both accounts, Zhang Long felt every pore relax, as if he’d just enjoyed a sauna followed by a massage. The satisfaction these profits brought was intoxicating.

“Ah—thrilling.”

“Next week, keep up the momentum.”

No need to withdraw funds for now; wait until he doubles his earnings before opening a third account. After savoring the numbers and indulging his eyes, Zhang Long shut down his computer and stood up.

Luo Man’s cold had improved greatly. She’d opened a video call at lunch and was back at work at the bank.

Since she’d taken a day off yesterday, she’d need to make up for it over the weekend by working extra shifts. They wouldn’t have much time to meet, which was a bit disappointing, but it didn’t matter.

Zhang Long had his own pursuits: studying for the financial analyst certificate and preparing for his driver’s license.

Not too boring; they could meet again when he had time.

“Buzz, buzz—”

Suddenly his phone vibrated. He took it out and saw a message from Liang Xue, his gaze sharpening.

“Heh, courting disaster!”

Zhang Long’s eyes flashed. Shengxin’s trading department was now letting Chang Song and the others recommend stocks on their own. Even with risk controls, this approach was a disaster waiting to happen—it was like letting a reckless dog off its leash.

They really thought that copying his style of autonomous stock recommendations would make everyone as successful as Zhang Long? Nonsense.

With their half-baked stock analysis skills, Chang Song and the other supervisors would only create greater calamities.

Director You was clueless. Was everyone at Shengxin clueless?

He must be a mole—utterly ridiculous.