Chapter 119: I Am Their Leader!

It turned out that the burly man who had just made He Kai furious outside was one of Chai Jin’s two hundred team leaders. Outside, there was a massive crowd lined up, and with the sweltering heat, clashes were inevitable. He Kai’s people tried to cut in line but were promptly dealt with. He Kai himself rushed over, throwing a spoiled rich kid tantrum, only to be slapped down by the team leader, losing all his pride.

Just as Chai Jin had said, He Kai’s authority was confined strictly to the Hongchang Electronics Factory. Outside its gates, no one paid him any mind. After driving the troublemakers away, the team leader respectfully reported to Chai Jin, who responded with a perpetual humble smile.

Meanwhile, He Kai’s face grew increasingly sullen. “Who the hell is that bastard? Why’s he mixed up with these lowlifes?” he muttered. “Could he also be some rich kid?” Frustrated yet powerless, he dared not confront them.

An hour later, Chai Jin stepped out with Wang Xiaoli. Through the glass, He Kai saw Chai Jin get into a Volkswagen parked outside. His expression darkened further. “He even has a car now?” jealousy gnawed at him. You’re just a worker in my factory, and yet I can’t stand to see you do well.

After much brooding, a burning desire for revenge tore through his heart. Grabbing the phone, he dialed Chen Ni directly.

As soon as she answered, he blurted, “Do you know the man you’re seeing already has a girlfriend?”

Chen Ni, sitting in the factory office, frowned deeply. “I don’t have time for this. Also, please bring the workers back to resume work as soon as possible. If the orders aren’t fulfilled, it will all be on you.”

He Kai’s anger flared. He didn’t even call her sister anymore. His voice darkened. “I’m doing this for your own good, understand? Chen Ni, I’m warning you, you better not ignore this!” Then he slammed down the phone.

In the office, Chen Ni was nearly in tears from frustration. Sitting quietly at her desk for a long while, she gradually calmed down. Recalling He Kai’s words, an inexplicable sadness stirred within her. The man from the power transformer company had a girlfriend? But she soon forced a bitter smile. “Isn’t it normal to have a girlfriend?”

She didn’t dwell on it. Despite the rumors, she and Chai Jin had always maintained a relationship akin to close confidants.

---

August 8th—the peak of the queue.

The plaza outside a securities firm in Shenzhen was packed to the brim with restless, weary people wherever space allowed. Restrooms, corridors, green belts—all were filled with students, migrant workers, laborers, intellectuals—every kind of person.

The unpredictable July weather in Shenzhen often brought sudden downpours that washed away the oppressive heat. For those who had been waiting in line for two days, it was an unbearable ordeal. Sweat had dried into crusty salt stains on everyone’s clothes.

Chai Jin and Liu Yiqian sat quietly in a car, watching the orderly line outside despite the rain. After a long pause, Liu sighed deeply, “This might be the craziest period since the Huaxia stock market began.”

“Honestly, I regret coming. It feels like a waste of time,” Chai Jin replied.

The “Cultural Square Gang” from Zhonghai had made a poor start—they had arrived too late. Liu had even traveled to nearby cities to collect IDs but hadn’t gotten a single one.

As for the queues, many villages around Shenzhen had emptied out. Where else could they find people?

For a calculating tycoon like Liu, the frustration was overwhelming.

Chai Jin kept his eyes on a reporter carrying a camera, snapping pictures everywhere.

He smiled faintly. “It’s normal.”

“But Liu, I’d really like to know how much money you’ve raised this time.”

Liu noticed the rain had stopped and rolled down the window. The fresh fragrance of rain-washed greenery drifted in, easing the tension.

He lit a cigarette and took a drag. “There are forty investors—people who unexpectedly tasted success through Zhonghai’s subscription certificates.”

“As for the funds, I’ve done a rough estimate. It’s probably no less than 300 million yuan in total.”

“But look at this scene—is this something money alone can solve?”

“We’re now negotiating to buy shares on the secondary market. Even if the price is a bit higher, it doesn’t matter.”

“After all, this time we intend to hold the new stocks, not just speculate on subscription certificates.”

This was exactly why Chai Jin had suddenly called Liu out—to find a buyer for himself, and the speculators from Zhonghai Cultural Square were the perfect candidates.

---

Hearing Liu’s words, a slight smile flickered across Chai Jin’s face. He turned his gaze to a guesthouse three floors up, where a bearded man was observing the crowd below through binoculars.

Calmly, Chai Jin remarked, “The Shenzhen stock market has become a gathering place for fierce players.”

“It’s tough.”

“Liu, if you want subscription record sheets from the secondary market, I can get you a good number.”

“Hmm?” Liu, previously a bit downcast, suddenly straightened up, his eyes sharp. “Mr. Chai, what exactly do you mean?”

Chai Jin withdrew his gaze from the guesthouse, rolled down his window, and pointed at the people in line wearing red armbands. “Those are all my people.”

“What!”

Liu was stunned, barely able to comprehend. Over the past two days, at more than three hundred sales points in Shenzhen, no matter where you were, you’d see those wearing red bands.

They were organized and disciplined. Some took turns going to the restroom; others delivered food. There was always someone maintaining order, swiftly slapping down anyone attempting to cut in line.

They had become an unchallengeable presence.

Occupying the best spots with such neat formation, it was impossible they went unnoticed.

Eventually, people realized that every point had these groups, and they became the hottest topic among investors.

They were called the “Red Band Gang.”

As for their boss, no one had ever appeared, and no one knew who was behind them.

Now that Chai Jin openly admitted they were his people, Liu’s shock was immense.

It took Liu a long moment to recover, looking at Chai Jin with a shiver running down his spine.

What kind of background did this eighteen or nineteen-year-old boy have?

After years navigating the stock market, Liu had never before felt such an eerie chill from someone so young.

Chai Jin pointed toward the guesthouse he had been watching. “Look who’s upstairs.”

“Wasn’t there talk recently about someone bringing in several trainloads of migrant workers from Xinjiang to wait in line?”

“If I’m not mistaken, that’s him. I’m not the only one orchestrating these grand scenes here.”

“There are many others like me.”