Chapter 46 The Tide of Wealth Has Emerged
In the days that followed, Chai Jin began to act more boldly. With only two or three days left until the first lottery draw, there was no longer any point in keeping a low profile. While scanning subscription certificates, he also accumulated a vast network of contacts within the banks. From their mouths, he learned about the sales situation of the certificates—just as in his previous life, the sales figures fluctuated little.
However, these insiders had finally caught on. Less than two million certificates had been sold in total, while the number of new shares issued was so high. Even a fool could calculate the odds of winning. So, on March 1, the thresholds of the major sales points for subscription certificates were trampled flat! Many of the braver insiders also began to buy like mad.
On this day, Chai Jin made no move at all. He sat in his small apartment, carefully sorting the subscription certificates in his possession. A total of eleven thousand eight hundred certificates!
Perhaps now they could be described as ordinary, since no one had yet gone crazy speculating on them. But a few months later, the value of each certificate would be worth tens of millions, even hundreds of millions! Forget about this small apartment—these certificates could easily buy the entire block!
Chai Jin locked the door and quietly went downstairs. Even though he only needed to wait a few months to become a billionaire overnight, his mood remained calm.
As he descended, the shop owner downstairs stopped him. “Young man, did you buy any subscription certificates?”
“Ah, let me tell you, we’ve all made a mistake. We should have bought subscription certificates!” The shopkeeper slapped his thigh furiously, regretting his earlier choices. Clearly, he had caught wind of rumors circulating in the neighborhood.
Chai Jin smiled, “I’m not interested in stock speculation. Finding a proper job is far more important.”
“Ah, how come a young man like you is even less open-minded than me?” The shopkeeper shook his head. “Listen to me—go line up and grab a certificate. You’ll make more money than working any job!”
The old man grew more restless. Throwing aside his calculator and pulling at his coat, he shouted, “I’m off to buy a certificate!” He had barely run a few steps when a young man emerged from their building and accidentally bumped into him.
The old man looked up, “Ah, Xiao Yi, is that you?”
“Uncle, where are you rushing off to?” The young man was not tall, rather slender, wore glasses, and had dark skin.
The old man hurriedly replied, “Off to buy subscription certificates—can’t wait any longer. Come by my place for dinner tonight. I bought extra groceries this morning, everything’s ready.” With that, he dashed off down the alley, vanishing from sight.
Chai Jin studied the young man carefully, guessing that he was the fellow the old man had mentioned—the one dabbling in stocks. He offered a friendly smile and extended his hand. “Hello, Chai Jin, from Jiangnan Province.”
The young man adjusted his glasses, his gaze sharp and shrewd. Without any pretension, he shook Chai Jin’s hand. “Fang Yi.”
“I have something to do—let’s talk next time.” Chai Jin nodded. Their first meeting was uneventful, but years later these two would stand side by side, shaking the world.
...
No sooner had Chai Jin returned to the guesthouse than Liu Qingwen burst into the room, visibly thrilled. He paused, then shut the door tight. Turning around, he could no longer contain his excitement. “Damn, Jin, you’re incredible!”
“Do you know what? I just asked around outside—there are people collecting subscription certificates everywhere!”
“The buying price is skyrocketing. In just one morning, someone outside offered a hundred for one!”
“It’s tripled! The certificates I bought for two thousand are about to make me a ten-thousand-yuan household!”
Liu Qingwen paced the room, overwhelmed by excitement. Suddenly, he remembered that Chai Jin had bought certificates worth hundreds of thousands. Glancing at the iron box in the corner, his scalp tingled. “Jin, you bought so many—doesn’t that make you a millionaire?”
“Damn, Yang Millionaire is nothing compared to you—you’re the real millionaire now!”
Chai Jin looked at him coolly. “Can your voice get any louder?”
“Do you want everyone in the guesthouse to know we have a mountain of certificates?”
Liu Qingwen quickly shut his mouth. “Right, right. Keeping quiet and getting rich is the real way.”
“I’ll sell my certificates tonight—turning them over will get me thousands in no time.”
Chai Jin interrupted him. “Don’t be stupid. The certificates are nowhere near their true value yet.”
“Monkey, listen to me—I have two things to tell you.”
“First, from now on, keep your mouth shut. No one must know we have a large stash of certificates.”
“Otherwise, trouble will come knocking, maybe even worse—understand?”
“Wealth can make people lose their minds.”
“Second, stay in the guesthouse as much as possible. Don’t interact with anyone unnecessary. Whatever you do with that mysterious woman in your room is your business, but stop meeting other people.”
“Third, no matter how crazy the prices outside get, keep your desires in check.”
“If I don’t sell, don’t you dare sell either!”
At this moment, Liu Qingwen was utterly convinced by Chai Jin. His fevered mind cooled down considerably.
Just then, someone knocked at the door. The two fell silent at once. Liu Qingwen called out, “Who is it?”
Outside, Xiong Dan’s seductive voice rang out, “It’s me. You took the room’s lighter. I’m here for the lighter.”
“Two grown men locking themselves in a room—surely you’re not up to anything weird?”
Chai Jin frowned and said nothing.
Liu Qingwen laughed awkwardly. “I’ll get it.”
He went to the door, but Xiong Dan pushed right past him, entering without waiting for permission.
“What are you two doing, so mysterious?” Xiong Dan was bold enough to greet Chai Jin stark naked, so it was clear she was uninhibited. In broad daylight, she wore only a nightgown Liu Qingwen had bought for her days earlier. Her chest was half exposed, the peaks standing tall, hinting at what lay beneath.
She sat on Chai Jin’s bed, her thighs opening and closing, whether intentionally or not—a powerful allure.
Chai Jin, with decades of life behind him, easily saw through her intentions. He grabbed the lighter from the table and tossed it to her. “Monkey, please escort your woman out of my room.”
He then gazed indifferently out the window.
“Still so distant? No need for that—we’ve known each other for days now.” Xiong Dan lit her cigarette, making no move to leave. Her curious gaze swept the room, landing on the big iron box.
“How odd, taking a big box everywhere. Is it full of gold and jewels, or what?”
“Let me have a look.” With that, she stood and walked toward the iron box.