Chapter 50: The Subscription Warrants That Sent the Market into a Frenzy

Cai Weiqiang was quite perplexed. "It's already ten times higher—you could start flipping now."
Chai Jin grabbed a cigarette from the table and lit it. "Alright, old pal, but don't even think about flipping what I have in hand just yet."
"No rush. I just came by today to have a look and sit for a bit. Go on, tend to your business," Cai Weiqiang said, seeing Chai Jin's resolute attitude and could only shake his head. "Alright then, but you should still get yourself a brick phone; otherwise, I won't be able to reach you."
"This way I can update you on the latest buying price in the market at any time."
Chai Jin instinctively glanced at the brick phone sitting on the table.
He felt a tingling on his scalp. "Can I hold this thing?"
"Of course," Cai Weiqiang replied cheerfully. "Cost me over ten thousand!"
Chai Jin smiled, picked up the brick phone from the table.
For some reason, holding it in his hand gave him the same bold feeling as gripping a brick, as if he could take on the world.
After fiddling with it for a bit, he set it back down.
Cai Weiqiang said proudly, "Well? This is the latest model."
Chai Jin was troubled, wondering to himself if he'd really have to carry such a thing around every day from now on.
Or perhaps he should hire a pretty secretary to follow him around and carry it for him.
Just as he was about to make some comment on this antique in his eyes, a few people suddenly walked in at the door.
The man leading them wore a stoic expression and had a buzz cut, followed by several men in suits.
The buzz cut man called out as soon as he entered, "Where's the boss?"
Seeing this, Cai Weiqiang, who had been chatting with Chai Jin, quickly said, "We'll talk later. That's a coal boss from up north."
"Alright, you go ahead," Chai Jin replied.
Cai Weiqiang grabbed the brick phone from the table and greeted them with a beaming smile. "Mr. Qi, it's an honor to have you here!"
Buzz Cut forced a smile and shook hands with Cai Weiqiang.
The two of them talked quietly on the other side for a while, until Cai Weiqiang's expression suddenly changed.
"Mr. Qi, are you sure about this price?"
"That's right. Same old rules from the stock days—help me with this and you'll get ten percent commission."
"Alright, you can have a seat over there; I'll take care of it for you."
Cai Weiqiang waved excitedly, and soon two of his men came over to warmly invite Buzz Cut to sit down.
Then Cai Weiqiang stood in the middle of the hall and bellowed with his booming voice, "Four hundred! Bulk purchase! Anyone with some in hand, come here to process the paperwork!"
He glanced at Chai Jin, signaling that he could make his move now.
But Chai Jin just smiled, shook his head, and calmly sipped his tea.
The hall erupted at the shout of "four hundred," and several people stood up to process their so-called paperwork at the front desk.
As for the man with the heavy gold chain, who had just been buying at three hundred, he slammed the table and gestured.
Cai Weiqiang walked over, and before long shouted excitedly, "Latest price—four hundred fifty!"

Have you ever witnessed the scene of an auction?
Even when it comes to buying, people could drive prices up with such reckless abandon!
Especially when several heavy hitters with money to burn collide.
The atmosphere became even more explosive, and the already bustling hall was now in complete uproar.
This was the spectacle of sudden wealth in '92!
Ordinary people would never know that here on Zhonghai Beach, a group of people was playing with fortunes like this.
Chai Jin remained as calm as ever. Who would have guessed that this unremarkable young man, clutching his subscription certificates, held enough in his hand to drive any of the big players here mad with envy?
His gaze swept steadily across each person present.
As he looked around, his attention was caught by a thin young man.
"Is he also speculating in subscription certificates?"
Chai Jin pondered for a moment, then stood up with his teacup and walked over.
The young man looked surprised to see Chai Jin, adjusted his glasses, and reached out his hand. "You're here too?"
Chai Jin shook his hand. "I heard from a friend that there's a good place here in Zhonghai, so I came to have a look."
"Are you in on the subscription certificates as well?"
The young man was Fang Yi, the one who had brought local aunties into the stock market.
Fang Yi smiled. "I bought a few out of curiosity at first. I never imagined that in less than a week, the black market price would skyrocket more than tenfold."
"It's even crazier than stocks."
"And you?"
Chai Jin took a sip of tea. "Same as you, bought a few, and I'm just as surprised."
"You—"
"Beep beep beep..."
Chai Jin was about to continue when the beeper on the young man’s belt went off.
Fang Yi took it off, glanced at it, and apologized. "Sorry, I've got something to take care of."
Chai Jin gave a wry smile. "Sure, go ahead."
Fang Yi stood up, smiled apologetically, and walked over to Cai Weiqiang.
A moment later, he left with a stack of subscription certificates from Cai Weiqiang.
Then Cai Weiqiang announced a new price, "Latest deal—five hundred thirty!"
The hall suddenly fell silent, all eyes on Fang Yi as he walked out.
The man with the heavy gold chain, who had first bought at three hundred, swore under his breath in frustration. "Where did this guy come from? Buying a few just to drive up the price—what’s his game?"
"Must be doing it on purpose!"
But Fang Yi didn’t even look back.
Chai Jin sipped his tea, his gaze deep and thoughtful as he watched Fang Yi through the glass.

He had assumed Fang Yi would sell once the price had risen more than tenfold, but to his surprise, the man had bought in even more.
This was definitely someone with real skill.
Suddenly, Chai Jin felt the urge to recruit him.
…
All day long, Cai Weiqiang’s shop was in an uproar.
Astonishingly, by the time the shop closed that evening, the black market price for subscription certificates had soared to eight hundred!
In a single day, it had shot up to eight hundred—never in the history of China had anything been speculated on so frantically.
After having a few drinks with Cai Weiqiang, Chai Jin left.
During this time, Chai Jin also advised Cai Weiqiang to stockpile some subscription certificates for himself.
Don’t be satisfied with just collecting the commission.
Cai Weiqiang took his advice.
Another day of coming and going from early morning to late at night.
Upon returning, Chai Jin stopped by Liu Qingwen’s door.
There was no sound from inside; he figured the two of them must have gone out.
Otherwise, if they were in, he would have heard Xiong Dan’s voice.
He thought nothing of it and went to his own room to rest.
The price of subscription certificates was still being driven up.
But it wouldn’t reach the astronomical levels of his previous life in just a single day.
The price peak wouldn’t come until the second lottery in May.
When the share price of Yuyuan after the second drawing broke ten thousand, the subscription certificates would skyrocket to an unthinkable price!
There were still two months to go, so Chai Jin could only wait at the guesthouse.
He also had time to plan his next move.
Lying in bed, he found it hard to sleep, tossing and turning.
For a long stretch afterward, Chai Jin spent most of his days at the guesthouse.
Of course, he would occasionally go out to make a few phone calls.
Mostly to Wang Xiaojin.
They talked about everything under the sun.
As for Liu Qingwen, ever since that night, he hadn’t shown up again.
No idea what he was up to.
It wasn’t until April 14th that Chai Jin went to meet someone at a rather nice restaurant in Zhonghai.