Monday.
Dong Xuebing was having his breakfast at a shop near hisworkplace when he saw the General Affairs Office, Chief Li Qing. Li Qing waseating a Xiaolongbao. Dong Xuebing did not dare to sit with his leader on thesame table. He greeted Li Qing from far and sat at a nearby table. AlthoughDong Xuebing had only met Li Qing a few times, because of Deputy Bureau ChiefYang's speech, Li Qing remembered his name. He finished his breakfast and wipedhis mouth with a napkin. "Xiao Dong? I heard from Old Zhou about your recentperformances. Good. Continue to work hard." He took out a packet of cigarettesand 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? Youhave 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 theleader was willing to be close to him. He borrowed the lighter and lights hiscigarettes after a few tries. He carefully took a small puff. Maybe it wasbecause he had inhaled a small puff, he did not choke on the smoke. He onlyfelt 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 thegovernment sector, he had to smoke or give out cigarettes. This was why hebought this packet of cigarettes, Hongtashan. The cigarettes he purchasedcannot be too cheap. If he brings a pack of cheap cigarettes with him, otherswill 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 beunhappy. Some petty leaders will think that he was trying to make them lookbad.
General Affairs Office.
Dong Xuebing entered the office and greeted: "Good morningeveryone."
"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 toiletagain, 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 theback of the door with a broom.
Dong Xuebing was laughing in his heart. This guy still knowshow to clean up the office?
Guo Shunjie stared at Dong Xuebing and said: "We shall waitand see."
"Oka." Dong Xuebing shrugged his shoulders and returned tohis desk.
Guo Shunjie was wondering why this Dong Xuebing had been solucky recently. Even Deputy Chief Zhou was looking out for him. If ZhouChangchun were not looking out for Dong Xuebing, he would not scold Guo Shunjiethe other day. To try and reverse Zhou Changchun's impression of him, he camein earlier to clean up the office. He also did not ask Dong Xuebing to do anytask.
It was not Guo Shunjie did not want to ask the PoliticalCommissar for help. It was because he could not ask him for help.
As a subordinate who was scolded for saying the wrong thingsby the leader was normal. It's impossible for the Political Commissar tointerfere with such petty issues. Furthermore, Guo Shunjie was not that closewith the Political Commissar. The Political Commissar was close to GuoShunjie's father and will help to take care of him in the agency. But he willnever 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 stockmarkets. A few days ago, he had helped Zhou Changchun picked a company's shareand had risen a lot. He was also tempted to trade himself. But he can't buy andsell the same day. His BACK was not useful for this. That day, Daqin Railwayshares had risen sharply and reached the daily limits, but today, the priceshad plunged. Chief Zhou would be lucky if he did not lose any money.
Dong Xuebing thought for a long time. Was there really no wayto trade?
The only thing that could be traded on the same day was that580027, Changhong CWB1. But the price was always dropping.
...
Dong Xuebing keyed in the code for Changhong Warrants. Hewanted to see it's recent performance.
Dong Xuebing had a shock when he saw Changhong CWB1 warrantprice. It was at 0.002 RMB. It had fallen to 0.002 RMB! He immediately searchedon 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 pricewill fall or rise on the last day of trading. Most of the warrant prices will dropto 0.001 RMB. Whoever that was unable to sell it, was unlucky.
0.01RMBmore will be at it's lowest price. It will surely not rise again today.
Dong Xuebing decided to give up the idea of making moneythrough trading.
"Eh, Bing Zhi also trade?" Tan Limei saw his screen when shewalked past Dong Xuebing's desk.
Dong Xuebing laughed. "No. I am just taking a look. Tradingis 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?" TanLimei knew about the financial markets. "Hahaha. I wonder who issued thesewarrants. They are just trying to con people. Look, no matter if it's put orcall, the warrant prices had plunged to 0.001 RMB. I think no warrants will beissued 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 hadbought Magang warrants in the past, and he ends up losing all his money. Listento Sis advice. Don't meddle with warrants."
Lunchtime was over, and Tan Limei brought a stack ofdocuments 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 0.02RMB, 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 10times after trading resumes?