Power and Wealth

Monday.

Dong Xuebing was having his breakfast at a shop near his workplace when he saw the General Affairs Office, Chief Li Qing. Li Qing was eating a Xiaolongbao. Dong Xuebing did not dare to sit with his leader on the same table. He greeted Li Qing from far and sat at a nearby table. Although Dong Xuebing had only met Li Qing a few times, because of Deputy Bureau Chief Yang’s speech, Li Qing remembered his name. He finished his breakfast and wiped his mouth with a napkin. “Xiao Dong? I heard from Old Zhou about your recent performances. Good. Continue to work hard.” He took out a packet of cigarettes and threw one stick to Dong Xuebing.

Dong Xuebing was surprised and replied: “Director Li, errr…… I don’t know how to smoke.”

Li Qing laughed: “Which man does not know how to smoke? You have to learn.”

“Thank you, Director Li.”

The leader had spoken, and Dong Xuebing could not refuse. But Li Qing giving him a cigarette made him happy. This was a sign that the leader was willing to be close to him. He borrowed the lighter and lights his cigarettes after a few tries. He carefully took a small puff. Maybe it was because he had inhaled a small puff, he did not choke on the smoke. He only felt some giddiness.

Li Qing laughed, patted his shoulders and left for work.

After breakfast, Dong Xuebing did not go to work straight. He went to a small store and bought a pack of cigarettes for 10 RMB.

Dong Xuebing knows that if he were to survive in the government sector, he had to smoke or give out cigarettes. This was why he bought this packet of cigarettes, Hongtashan. The cigarettes he purchased cannot be too cheap. If he brings a pack of cheap cigarettes with him, others will look down upon him. He could not bring a pack of better cigarettes either. The leaders will see that his cigarettes are better than theirs and might be unhappy. Some petty leaders will think that he was trying to make them look bad.

Dong Xuebing entered the office and greeted: “Good morning everyone.”

“Xiao Dong, you are here?”

“Good morning.”

Almost everyone was in the office except for Guo Shunjie. When Dong Xuebing was still wondering if that guy was skiving in the toilet again, Tan Limei pouted towards his back and smiled. Dong Xuebing turned around, and the door opened suddenly. He got a shock and saw Guo Shunjie sweeping the back of the door with a broom.

Dong Xuebing was laughing in his heart. This guy still knows how to clean up the office?

Guo Shunjie stared at Dong Xuebing and said: “We shall wait and see.”

“Oka.” Dong Xuebing shrugged his shoulders and returned to his desk.

Guo Shunjie was wondering why this Dong Xuebing had been so lucky recently. Even Deputy Chief Zhou was looking out for him. If Zhou Changchun were not looking out for Dong Xuebing, he would not scold Guo Shunjie the other day. To try and reverse Zhou Changchun’s impression of him, he came in earlier to clean up the office. He also did not ask Dong Xuebing to do any task.

It was not Guo Shunjie did not want to ask the Political Commissar for help. It was because he could not ask him for help.

As a subordinate who was scolded for saying the wrong things by the leader was normal. It’s impossible for the Political Commissar to interfere with such petty issues. Furthermore, Guo Shunjie was not that close with the Political Commissar. The Political Commissar was close to Guo Shunjie’s father and will help to take care of him in the agency. But he will never support him without principles.

Guo Shunjie had no choice but to keep low and bear with it. He dares not to look for trouble with Dong Xuebing.

Noon.

Dong Xuebing, who was in a good mood, looked at the stock markets. A few days ago, he had helped Zhou Changchun picked a company’s share and had risen a lot. He was also tempted to trade himself. But he can’t buy and sell the same day. His BACK was not useful for this. That day, Daqin Railway shares had risen sharply and reached the daily limits, but today, the prices had plunged. Chief Zhou would be lucky if he did not lose any money.

Dong Xuebing thought for a long time. Was there really no way to trade?

The only thing that could be traded on the same day was that 580027, Changhong CWB1. But the price was always dropping.

……

Dong Xuebing keyed in the code for Changhong Warrants. He wanted to see it’s recent performance.

Dong Xuebing had a shock when he saw Changhong CWB1 warrant price. It was at 0.002 RMB. It had fallen to 0.002 RMB! He immediately searched on the internet and knew that today was the last trading for this warrant. Tomorrow, it will stop trading forever. This was why it had fallen by so much. Based on the past warrants, there were no limits on how much the warrant price will fall or rise on the last day of trading. Most of the warrant prices will drop to 0.001 RMB. Whoever that was unable to sell it, was unlucky.

0.01 RMB more will be at it’s lowest price. It will surely not rise again today.

Dong Xuebing decided to give up the idea of making money through trading.

“Eh, Bing Zhi also trade?” Tan Limei saw his screen when she walked past Dong Xuebing’s desk.

Dong Xuebing laughed. “No. I am just taking a look. Trading is too risky.”

“What shares are you looking at? Huh? Changhong Warrants? How come it had fallen to 0.002 RMB? Is it going to stop trading tomorrow?” Tan Limei knew about the financial markets. “Hahaha. I wonder who issued these warrants. They are just trying to con people. Look, no matter if it’s put or call, the warrant prices had plunged to 0.001 RMB. I think no warrants will be issued in the future. Only fools will buy those.”

“Zhuang Zhi who was listening to their conversations: “That’s right. You can buy anything except for warrants.”

Changjuan also overheard the conversation. “My husband had bought Magang warrants in the past, and he ends up losing all his money. Listen to Sis advice. Don’t meddle with warrants.”

Lunchtime was over, and Tan Limei brought a stack of documents to the copier machine.

The stock market also resumes trading for about 2 minutes. Dong Xuebing took one more look at Changhong Warrant price. It was still 0.02 RMB, and he closes the software. But the next moment Dong Xuebing was stunned. He stood up from his chair. Damn!

0.02 RMB was two cents.

It was not 0.002 RMB!

Was it real? Did Changhong warrant prices increase by 10 times after trading resumes?