ryethenovel Chapter 7 First Meeting with Old Zhou
Chapter 7 First Meeting with Old Zhou
With the delivery slip in hand, my heart, which had been pounding wildly in my chest for half a day, finally settled down a little.
Shenzhen Technology, a stock poised to create a legend in the coming months, is already in his possession.
Unlike most novice stock market investors, Ling Yun didn't fixate on the big screen, hoping the stock price would immediately skyrocket. He knew that there was a time for the seeds to ripen and for the harvest to be sown. He carefully tucked the receipt into his pocket and prepared to leave the noisy and lucrative trading hall.
Just as he turned to walk towards the door, a gentle voice sounded beside him: "Young man, please wait."
Ling Yun looked in the direction of the sound and saw a middle-aged man, about forty years old, wearing a neatly ironed white short-sleeved shirt and dark trousers, standing not far away.
His hair was neatly combed, and he wore a professional smile typical of those in a brokerage firm. He held a glass of strong tea in his hand. His calm demeanor stood out from the excited or frustrated retail investors around him.
"And you are?" Ling Yun stopped and asked. He noticed the name tag on the other person's chest—Account Manager, Zhou Shiming.
"My surname is Zhou, and I'm the account manager here. Everyone calls me Lao Zhou." Zhou Shiming walked forward with a smile, his attitude neither overly enthusiastic nor dismissive. "Just now, watching you at the counter, young man, I was truly...amazingly decisive."
His gaze held no doubt, only pure curiosity and admiration. Ling Yun immediately realized that this was a truly knowledgeable person with a keen eye. His "all-in" move on Shenzhen Technology might seem reckless to ordinary investors, but this professional might see something different in his eyes.
"Manager Zhou, you flatter me. I was just trying my luck." Ling Yun remained humble, but his mind was already racing. In a securities brokerage in 96, for a client manager to approach someone who looked like a "student" would definitely not be just for small talk.
"Luck is also part of ability," Old Zhou chuckled, gesturing for us to join him. "It's too noisy here. Would you like to come to my office for a cup of tea? We can chat."
Ling Yun nodded: "Then I'll have to trouble Manager Zhou."
Old Zhou's office was right next to the trading hall, separated by a glass partition. Air conditioning was running inside, making it feel like a completely different world from the sweltering noise outside. The room wasn't large, but it was clean and tidy. A computer and a pile of documents sat on the desk, and stock market charts hung on the wall.
Old Zhou poured Ling Yun a cup of tea, then sat down behind his desk, crossed his hands on the table, and got straight to the point: "Ling Yun, right? I just looked at your account information and the amount of money you have. Two hundred and seventy thousand is no small sum these days. Moreover, you're so young, yet you dare to bet your entire capital on a... well, not exactly a hot stock yet. I've been in this business for quite a few years now, and young people like you are rare."
As he spoke, his gaze was calmly fixed on Ling Yun, with a scrutinizing look and a hint of barely perceptible probing.
Ling Yun picked up his teacup, gently blew on the steam, and showed no sign of panic at having his financial amount mentioned. "The money comes from my family to support a small business, but I think the stock market offers better opportunities, so I'm giving it a try," he explained vaguely but reasonably, neither revealing his fear nor being boastful.
"Using your entire margin just to try it out? That doesn't sound like the mindset of someone just trying it out." Old Zhou leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice with an intimate, almost secret-sharing tone. "Lingyun, I can tell you're no ordinary person. Your composure and decisiveness don't seem like those of a novice. You must have your reasons for choosing Shenzhen Technology. I have some services here... that might make your 'trying it out' even more interesting."
The crucial moment has arrived. Ling Yun remained calm: "Oh? What does Manager Zhou mean?"
"Two things." Old Zhou held up two fingers. "First, the VIP room. You're watching the market in the main hall right now, where there are too many people and the information is confusing. We have a dedicated VIP room on the second floor, which is quiet, has its own computer and telephone line, and you can see more timely and detailed data. Also, the people sitting inside are all friends with considerable funds, and they exchange information with you regularly. Their information channels are much more reliable than outside."
Ling Yun nodded; this was within his expectations. Back in 96, the VIP room was indeed a symbol of status and resources.
"As for the second point..." Old Zhou paused, observing Ling Yun's reaction, and slowly said, "Funding. Would you like to use more money to try and achieve greater returns?"
"Margin trading?" Ling Yun immediately grasped the core of the issue. This term was later strictly regulated, but in the mid-1990s, this kind of private and semi-official stock financing business was very active and was also a driving force behind many get-rich-quick myths.
A flicker of surprise crossed Old Zhou's eyes, quickly turning into deeper appreciation. "Smart! That's exactly what I meant. Looks like you're quite savvy, young man." He cut to the chase. "Based on your current capital, I can help you manage it, providing leverage at a ratio of 1:3, or even 1:5."
1 to 5! Ling Yun's heart skipped a beat. This meant that his 270,000 could instantly become over 1.6 million in workable funds! The profits would increase exponentially, but of course, so would the risks.
"How is the interest calculated?" Ling Yun asked the most crucial question directly, his tone as calm as if he were asking about vegetable prices.
"3.5% monthly interest," Old Zhou quoted a figure, "calculated based on the actual number of days used. Your principal and profits can be settled and withdrawn at any time. Of course, we will also set a liquidation line. If the loss reaches a certain level, we will force liquidation to ensure the safety of your funds."
The monthly interest rate of 3.5% was standard practice at the time and not low, but it was perfectly acceptable given the huge potential profits.
Ling Yun remained silent for a moment, his fingers lightly tapping the table as his mind raced, calculating the relationship between DeepTech's future growth potential and financing costs. The conclusion was—it was worth the gamble! The massive leverage would propel his initial capital to a whole new level in a very short time.
He looked up at Lao Zhou, a genuine smile appearing on his face—the first one he'd shown since entering the office: "Manager Zhou, the terms are very fair. However, I need some time to consider the 1:5 leverage, and I also need to see a more formal agreement."
Upon hearing this, Lao Zhou was not disappointed at all; on the contrary, he was even more satisfied. A collaborator who is easily swayed and blindly impulsive is far less reliable than a calm partner who knows how to manage risks.
"Of course! We have a standard template for the agreement here, it's absolutely professional." Old Zhou's smile widened. "Here's what we'll do: you can experience the VIP room environment first. I'll have someone arrange a temporary seat for you. If you feel comfortable, we can discuss the specific details of the leveraged financing. How about that?"
"Thank you very much, Manager Zhou." Ling Yun stood up and extended his hand.
"Just call me Lao Zhou." Lao Zhou patted Ling Yun on the shoulder, his tone much more friendly. "In the future, I might need to learn a lot from you. This way, please, let me show you your seat."
Ling Yun followed Lao Zhou out of the office and onto the stairs leading to the second floor. He knew that taking this step up was not just about changing the environment for watching the market, but about truly stepping into the inner circle of the capital game in this era.