Chapter 74 - 74: Information on the Market
Modu Hongqiao Airport, parking lot.
“Boss, you’re back.” Lin Wu swiftly took the luggage from Zhou Chao’s hand and placed it in the trunk.
“Let’s head straight home.” Zhou Chao sat in the back seat, pinching his brow as he felt a hint of fatigue. Lin Wu drove towards The Palms Residence.
“Boss, we’ve arrived.” Lin Wu looked at Zhou Chao, who was already asleep in the back seat, and gently called out.
Zhou Chao jolted awake from his slumber, seeing Lin Wu calling him. He rubbed his face, shaking off the remnants of drowsiness.
These past few days had left him sleep-deprived, and being back home now felt incredibly relaxing.
“Lin Wu, I’m going to rest for a while. Call me in the evening.” After speaking, Zhou Chao turned and went upstairs to his room to sleep.
It was only around 5:30 in the evening when Zhou Chao emerged from his room, spotting two individuals sitting on the living room couch.
“Ling Chen, when did you arrive?”
“Brother Ling came over in the afternoon. Seeing you were resting, he had been waiting here for you.”
“Ling Chen, what’s the matter?” Zhou Chao turned to Ling Chen.
“My esteemed Boss Zhou, do you not care about your own company? What if 1 run away with all the money?” Ling Chen’s feigned grievance was met with a chuckle from Zhou Chao.
“Get straight to the point.” Hearing Zhou Chao’s prompt, Ling Chen handed over a folder.
“Boss, these are various reports and financial statements from the company recently.”
Without hesitation, Zhou Chao took them and began to read. Thanks to his previous study of management concepts, reading the reports was a breeze. Meanwhile, his mind ignited with a brainstorm of ideas as various data swirled around in his head.
In less than half an hour, Zhou Chao had organized all the data in his mind.
“Very well.” Placing the folder back on the table, Zhou Chao looked at Ling Chen.
The company’s current account balance had reached over 340 million, apart from the initial 220 million Zhou Chao had invested. The rest was accumulated under Ling Chen’s guidance.
Nearly 80 million had been earned by Ling Chen through stock market futures trading, utilizing 200 million as capital. This demonstrated his capability. The remaining profits were generated through investments facilitated by Tencent and All’s channels and networks.
“Boss Zhou, there are a few more files that need your personal attention.” Ling Chen handed over a few more documents. Zhou Chao quickly reviewed them, thinking about them as he did so. He swiftly dealt with them, signing wherever necessary.
“Alright, that should be settled.” Zhou Chao looked at Ling Chen.
“Boss, there’s one more thing. The game we invested in earlier is ready now. We’ve utilized Tencent’s platform for promotion, but we’re wondering if you have more channels for additional publicity.” Ling Chen candidly shared, hoping to leverage Zhou Chao’s network to promote the game, knowing his boss wasn’t petty.
“I understand. I’ll make arrangements when the time comes.” Zhou Chao was astute too; he understood Ling Chen’s intention. However, he didn’t say anything since he knew Ling Chen was dedicated to the company’s growth.
“It’s getting late. Ling Chen, let’s have dinner here. Lin Wu, contact the community clubhouse to have a table of dishes brought up. I’ll talk to Ling Chen about something.” Lin Wu immediately got up and left to arrange the dinner.
“Boss, is there anything else?” Ling Chen wasn’t sure what his boss wanted to discuss with him.
“Start gathering more information about the international stock market from tomorrow. If there are good opportunities, don’t let them slip away. Of course, don’t be too greedy; exit when things are going well. Be cautious.” Zhou Chao handed a cigarette to Ling Chen and lit one himself.
Zhou Chao seemed to recall something, suddenly straightening up, surprising Ling Chen who was beside him.
“System check-in.”
“Check-in successful. Congratulations, host, for obtaining a stock market message: Coca-Cola’s market value will drop by at least 1.6% in two days.”
Zhou Chao clicked on the message and discovered that Coca-Cola’s stock had plummeted due to an action by Cristiano Ronaldo. Seeing this news, Zhou Chao was shocked; he had encountered a similar incident in his previous world. Could this be the influence of parallel dimensions? He shook his head, deciding not to dwell on it further.
Quickly, Zhou Chao checked online and found that Coca-Cola’s current market value was around $200 billion. He roughly calculated that 1.6% amounted to $3.2 billion. His heart raced at the prospect.
“Boss, what’s the matter with you?” Ling Chen’s voice broke Zhou Chao’s contemplation.
“Ling Chen, can we trust our traders?”
“Boss, rest assured. They’ve always followed my lead for many years. They are dependable.”
“The company will have a three-day holiday starting the day after tomorrow. No one is allowed in the company except for the traders. Can the company accounts be used for trading U.S. stocks?” Zhou Chao’s demeanor exuded a hint of dominance.
“Yes, all our accounts have been granted permission to trade U.S. stocks. We can ensure buying and selling as needed.”
“Good. Concentrate all the company’s current liquid funds. You go ahead and make the arrangements.” Ling Chen could sense the seriousness in Zhou Chao’s expression and his commanding aura. He quickly got up and left.
Zhou Chao looked over at Lin Wu on the observation deck. “Lin Wu, come over here.”
“Boss, is there something you need?”
“Do you have any former comrades who are trustworthy?”
“I have a few.” Lin Wu pondered for a moment before answering.
“Contact them and ask if they’re interested in joining me here. Start with a monthly salary of 20,000 yuan. 1 have only two requirements: they must be reliable and able to reach Modu before the day after tomorrow.” Upon hearing Zhou Chao’s words, Lin Wu turned to reach out to his former comrades.
Zhou Chao furrowed his brow in deep thought. At the moment, he possessed a little over 1.1 billion yuan in liquid assets. Coupled with the company’s 300 million yuan, even after converting to U.S. dollars, it would barely exceed 200 million. To capitalize on this prime opportunity, it appeared that he needed to pay a visit to Huaxia Bank in Modu City.
He took out his phone and dialed President Guo’s number. After some brief pleasantries, Zhou Chao got straight to the point.
“President Guo, I’m interested in getting a loan from your bank. I wonder if President Guo would be receptive to this.”
“Of course, Mr. Zhou, you’re welcome. May 1 ask how much you intend to borrow?”
“Five billion, to be credited by the day after tomorrow. 1 wonder if President Guo can make this happen.”
“Five billion might pose a challenge, Mr. Zhou. After all, it’s quite a substantial sum, and I’m afraid it might be too short notice.”
“President Guo, I can offer 3% of Ali’s shares as security. If that’s not feasible, I’m open to exploring other banks.” President Guo was taken aback by Zhou Chao’s suggestion for a moment, but he regained his composure after a few seconds.
“Mr. Zhou, please rest assured. We’ll definitely be able to arrange the funds by the day after tomorrow.”
“Very well. 1’11 see you tomorrow.” Zhou Chao tossed his phone aside after ending the call.
Just then, Lin Wu walked in. Seeing Zhou Chao looking tired, he said, “Boss, I’ve contacted three people. They can all arrive in Modu by tomorrow evening.”
Sure. When the time comes, you can organize their accommodation in the old villa area. Check if there are any additional requirements, and feel free to purchase whatever is needed.
“Boss, what should we do about the dinner reservation we made earlier?”
“Let’s just have it ourselves..”