I'm back in 1990

Chapter 724: Come and see the beautiful landscapes of our motherland

Seeing that it was getting late, the couple prepared to take their two children home.

"Mom, Dad! It's getting late, let's go back." Huang Xiaochuan said loudly to Lao Huang and Zeng Lijuan.

At this moment, Yu Xiang called to her two children, "Xiao Dong, Xiao Duo, say goodbye to Grandpa, Grandma, and your brother. We're going home!"

Old Huang patted his grandson's head affectionately and said, "Go back with your dad and mom!"

Huang Zeji nodded: "Goodbye, Grandpa!"

As the family of four left, Zeng Lijuan followed behind, reminding her youngest son, "Come over early on New Year's Eve so we can start the feast early and watch the Spring Festival Gala afterward."

Zeng Lijuan and her generation are quite dedicated to watching the Spring Festival Gala. Although there are more and more entertainment options now, and the effect and quality of the Spring Festival Gala are getting lower and lower, they still have to sit in front of the TV on New Year's Eve to wait for the Gala to start. Perhaps this is a kind of nostalgia for the past and an expectation for the future!

In response to his elderly mother's words of advice, Huang Xiaochuan replied, "I know, we'll come as soon as possible."

Huang Xiaochuan originally suggested going to his brother-in-law's restaurant for New Year's Eve dinner, but Lao Huang and Zeng Lijuan both rejected it, saying that it wouldn't have much of a New Year's atmosphere and insisted on cooking at home. Huang Xiaochuan let them have their way, as long as they were happy, since there were plenty of people at home to help anyway.

The next day, Huang Xiaochuan did not go to the office. After the annual meeting, apart from a few staff members on duty and Huang Xiaochuan's bodyguards, all the other employees were given a holiday. Even Gao Song was given a long holiday. After all, he had been working hard all year round, serving Huang Xiaochuan.

Of course, the employees received substantial year-end bonuses before the holiday. All the hard work of the year was for this moment of joy! Huang Xiaochuan naturally wanted to give the employees as much emotional value as possible, which meant giving them more money, enough money.

After breakfast, Huang Xiaochuan brewed a pot of tea and began reading an economic analysis report.

This is a forward-looking analysis report on the US economy in 2006, issued by the Xiangjiang Economic Research Institute, based on the current US economic situation.

Since the bursting of the internet bubble, the Federal Reserve has implemented continuous interest rate cuts for many years in an effort to stimulate the economy, resulting in persistently low bank lending rates.

Most of these low-interest loans went into the US real estate market, which led to a continuous rise in housing prices. This continuous rise in housing prices created a misconception among ordinary people that housing prices would only rise and never fall. So, what were they waiting for? As a result, ordinary people flocked to invest in the real estate market.

In addition, American financial institutions are driven by a profit motive and a "no man's land" mentality. They actually extend mortgage loans to people with poor credit, low income, and weak repayment ability in order to make high profits, because although these loans are high-risk, they also have high interest rates!

In the current market where housing prices continue to rise, American banks and lending institutions are frantically issuing these so-called subprime loans and have even introduced zero-down-payment loan terms. Remember, these are offered by banks and lending institutions, not by real estate developers. Now, many people who cannot afford to buy a house seem to see a house beckoning to them, and they can finally own their own home.

Ordinary people who couldn't afford to buy a house flocked to banks to sign these high-interest subprime mortgage contracts, and thus got the house of their dreams. But these people didn't know that this was just the beginning of a nightmare.

Of course, this was also the beginning of a nightmare for those greedy financial institutions in the United States.

These American banks, which have always been willing to do anything for profit, have transformed these high-risk personal mortgage loans into a complex financial derivative product called BS, or mortgage-backed securities, in order to quickly recover funds and transfer risks.

Major US investment banks then repackaged and divided these b/s, transforming them into more complex CDOs, commonly known as secured debt instruments.

Then an even more outrageous scene unfolded: world-renowned rating agencies, such as Moody's and S&P, actually labeled these obviously high-risk financial derivatives with an AAA rating. Now, investors all over the world, including pension funds, insurance companies, and Asian and European banks, have started buying these financial derivatives, causing the number of participants in this game of musical chairs to increase.

Of course, the report in Huang Xiaochuan's hands does not fully understand the financial risks currently facing the United States. It is mainly based on optimism about the future of the US economy. The report believes that it is normal for some risky phenomena to occur in the current economic development process.

Huang Xiaochuan was very clear that as soon as the Federal Reserve started raising interest rates, the US financial crisis would not be far away.

After reading the report, he sat by the window, leisurely sipping tea and enjoying the view outside.

It was winter, and the courtyard was desolate, except for the evergreen plants such as bamboo and camphor trees, which still had some greenery. Huang Ruiying was chasing and playing with Ugly Monster in the courtyard.

Just then, the cell phone on the tea table rang.

Huang Xiaochuan put down his teacup, picked up his phone and glanced at it. It was Ding Yi calling. Huang Xiaochuan pressed the answer button.

"You're back?" Huang Xiaochuan thought Ding Yi had come back for the New Year.

Ding Yi on the other end of the phone complained, "Going back my ass! I've only been here for less than six months and I'm already going home for the New Year. Don't I care about the image I project?!"

Huang Xiaochuan laughed and said, "Not bad! Now that you're the county magistrate, you know how to be mindful of your image!"

Then he teased Ding Yi, "Why did you suddenly decide to call me now? It's not even Chinese New Year's Day yet! Isn't it a bit early to wish me a Happy New Year?"

Unexpectedly, Ding Yi didn't care about Huang Xiaochuan's teasing at all, and instead extended an invitation directly over the phone.

"Let me tell you, the scenery here is breathtaking, it's absolutely gorgeous! And in spring, it's even more incredible. It's only because of you that I wouldn't even bother telling anyone else! How about it? Come visit me after the New Year, and I'll show you around the beautiful landscapes of our motherland!"

Huang Xiaochuan immediately became alert. Based on his years of understanding of Ding Yi, this guy was definitely up to no good if he was being unsolicited!

"Old Ding, just say what you want. Don't beat around the bush on the phone. Besides, you want to build roads and small hydroelectric power stations? Didn't I get the foundation to solve your funding problem? Do you expect me to go and dig up the dirt and build the roads for you?"

"How could that be? It would be a huge waste to have you dig and build roads. You have other uses." Ding Yi still let slip the secret.

Huang Xiaochuan immediately yelled into the phone, "I knew you were up to something! I'm telling you, I'm not going!"

"Come on, come on! Come stay with me for a few days. I'll show you around and let's get some local delicacies and have a few drinks. Wouldn't that be great?" Ding Yi racked his brains to entice Huang Xiaochuan to come to his place.

Huang Xiaochuan remained adamant: "Let me tell you, no matter what, I'm not going. I'm busy! I don't have time for you! Besides, we need to keep our distance now. Aren't you afraid people will say behind our backs that you and I are colluding as government officials?"

Unexpectedly, Ding Yi retorted dismissively, "So what if I colluded? My conscience is clear, and I have nothing to fear. My loyalty will be remembered throughout history!"

"Alright, alright! Don't give me that crap. I have things to do, I'm done arguing with you. Contact me after the New Year!" With that, Huang Xiaochuan hung up the phone.

Ding Yi, however, knew that the matter was settled! A smile of triumph appeared on his face.