Chapter 41: Like a Vast and Tumultuous World

At the first bank, Chai Jin managed to take away over six hundred certificates.
Then they moved on to the second bank.
By the end of the day, their total haul exceeded two thousand certificates.
Of course, they dared not draw too much attention to themselves; being too conspicuous would inevitably attract notice from others—especially with black market informants lurking everywhere.
After a full day of running around, the two of them sorted through their gains back at the guesthouse, but Liu Qingwen felt increasingly uneasy.
“Jin, what’s the use of these things anyway? We should be putting all our money into stocks.”
“We ought to hire a few local old men and women, have them line up at the exchange overnight—that’s the real way forward.”
Liu Qingwen wasn’t just nagging; this was the prevailing attitude in every corner of Zhonghai at the time.
No matter where you went, the only topic people discussed was stocks. Even the elderly sunning themselves at the alley entrance could accurately quote today’s price movements.
As for subscription certificates?
Whenever the subject came up, it was met with scorn—people said they were a scam.
Unlimited issuance, thirty yuan apiece—more expensive than new stocks, and buying them didn’t guarantee a win. Only a fool would buy them.
Hearing this so often, Liu Qingwen’s faith began to waver.
It was only natural.
Chai Jin spoke evenly: “If everyone in the streets knows something will make them rich, then that thing is bound to collapse.”
“The ones who truly profit are those who seek opportunities early and act decisively.”
Chai Jin had wanted to explain that the fewer people who bought, the higher the chance of winning, but ultimately held his tongue. The main reason: Liu Qingwen’s mouth was too big—he couldn’t keep anything to himself.
Given a few days, if he discovered a hair salon in some alley, he’d burst in, and before long, every girl in that place would know there was money to be made.
Then the course of events from his previous life would certainly change.
With this thought, Chai Jin spoke more sternly: “Monkey, you must keep this strictly to yourself. Remember, those who quietly make their fortune here are the ones who last.”
“This isn’t Yuanli County. If something happens, you can’t just find someone to help. Understand?”
Liu Qingwen nodded, half-understanding: “Alright, I get it.”
“So shall we continue tomorrow?”
“Let’s rest for a day—continue the sweep the day after. At this pace, we have time. No need to attract unwanted attention.”
After Chai Jin finished, he lit a cigarette and gazed at the bustling street outside, as if facing a vast underworld.
He knew that in this world, there were other hunters just as skilled as he, calculating the odds of winning with subscription certificates through their own network of information.

Those who had sensed the approaching wave of fortune would surely be making their preparations as well.
They must not be provoked; if they were, they’d pour in frantically.
If too many bought in, the odds of winning would plummet, and the certificates would lose their value.
Behind him, Liu Qingwen scratched his head, still only half-comprehending.
…
Another night passed. The following day, they roamed the city, gathering information from various quarters.
Suddenly, Chai Jin remembered the restaurant next to the Jing’an Exchange.
So, at noon, they headed there.
But the place had already become a clothing shop.
Finding it odd, they settled into another nearby restaurant.
Once they’d ordered, Chai Jin asked the waiter, “I remember that place was a restaurant last year. How come it’s a clothing store now?”
The waiter glanced around, lowered his voice, and replied, “Don’t talk about that shop here. It still hasn’t cleaned up its mess—you don’t want to get involved.”
“What happened?” Chai Jin asked, puzzled.
The restaurant was empty, so the waiter quickly recounted the story.
At the end of last year, authorities began a crackdown on the black market for stocks, shutting down many illegal trading spots. That restaurant was one of them.
Rumor had it a whole truckload of people were hauled away from the place that night.
To this day, everyone was still on edge.
Best not to say too much.
Chai Jin’s brow furrowed as he listened.
In the end, these certificates would have to be sold through the black market. If the black market had already been taken down, cashing out would be problematic.
He found the meal hard to swallow.
Suddenly, he thought of Cai Weiqiang—the man who’d given him a business card at the restaurant across the street.
After eating, he hurried back to the guesthouse, rummaged through his bag for a long while, and finally found the card.
He located a public phone in a nearby alley.
After queuing for over ten minutes, his turn finally came. He dialed the number.
No answer the first time, but the second call was picked up.
The voice was listless, but that Cantonese-accented Mandarin was unmistakable: Cai Weiqiang.
“Who is this?”

Chai Jin replied, “We met at the Xin’an Restaurant last year. You gave me your card.”
“Hello, Mr. Cai.”
Click—beep, beep, beep…
Chai Jin had barely finished speaking when the line went dead.
He didn’t give up, immediately redialing.
This time, when Cai Weiqiang answered, his tone was less than friendly: “Sorry, I don’t recall anything like that. I don’t know who you are, and I didn’t share any meal.
“I just want to live quietly as a good citizen who doesn’t burden society. Don’t call me again, thank you.”
Chai Jin frowned, quickly guessing the reason.
The man clearly had been caught up in the crackdown and was now jumpy as a startled bird.
He probed, “What if I can help you turn things around?”
People in line behind Chai Jin grew impatient at his lingering, grumbling, “Can you hurry up? How long does one phone call take?”
“Don’t you see how many people are waiting?”
Chai Jin glanced back—a young man with a perm, looking tough, grumbled, “Sorry, it’ll just be a moment, please lower your voice.”
Turning back to the phone, he continued, “Can we meet in person?”
There was a long, weary sigh on the other end, and silence; clearly things were not going well for him, and he was hesitant to answer.
The young man grew more agitated, “What’s wrong, someone die in your family and you’re calling to report it? Why are you dragging out a phone call like this?”
“If you’ve got something to say, just say it and get off the phone! Stop hogging it—so annoying!”
With someone leading the complaints, the elderly folks in line started to chime in, voicing their own displeasure.
Chai Jin said nothing, just waited for a response.
After more than ten seconds, Cai Weiqiang finally sighed deeply. “I remember you now—you’re the young man who sold 135 shares before the New Year, right?”
“Come to the clubhouse at the intersection of Xishan Road and Zhangyang Road in Fudong District tonight. My friend owns the place. Eight o’clock sharp.”
“If you’re late, don’t bother coming.”
With that, the line went dead. Only then did Chai Jin finally exhale in relief.
Seeing that Chai Jin ignored him, the young man with the perm figured he was an easy target and started mouthing off again, “If someone died in your family, just go home. Don’t stand here wasting everyone’s time.”
Without a word, Chai Jin hung up the phone, then turned and grabbed the young man by his permed hair, dragging him aside.