Ghost Stocks

Chapter 6

Professor Song smiled: "This child is teachable!"

Qin Xiaoya suddenly seemed to have thought of something and asked Feng Junzi, "Didn't you always support Zhou Song in carrying out the original plan? Why are you now helping him discuss how to abscond with the money?"

Feng Junzi: "It was just something said in the heat of the moment."

At this moment, Professor Song seemed to realize something: "I didn't come here today to help Qin Xiaoya analyze who would target her. Why are we talking about asset restructuring?"

Zhou Song: "Yes, let's get down to business. I'm almost certain now that the person who sabotaged these five thousand pairs of leather shoes is Wei Boxi. That's right, it must be him."

Qin Xiaoya: "Then what should I do?"

Zhou Song: "Wei Boxi wants to have both wealth and beauty, but it won't be that easy. Xiaoya, don't worry. Before, you didn't know who the other party was and didn't know what to do. Now that you know who you're dealing with, it's much easier. At worst, I'll help you buy back those five thousand pairs of right-foot leather shoes at a high price, or you can just ignore those five thousand pairs of left-foot leather shoes."

Qin Xiaoya hesitated, wanting to say something but remaining silent.

Feng Junzi comforted Qin Xiaoya: "Xiaoya, don't worry, there's always a way out."

Part 1: Deceitful Deception, Chapter 19: Beauty Like a Snake

Besides Zhao Dongshan, Wei Boxi has now become a source of worry for Feng Junzi, making things seem increasingly complicated, but life must go on. Feng Junzi hasn't been to work for a week, but he feels that even if he went back, it wouldn't make a difference, as the stock market has been in a continuous decline for over a week. Since the "624" surge in June, people were initially elated, but then discovered that the stock market had been falling steadily. By the time Feng Junzi returned from Gwangju, the Shanghai Composite Index had already fallen below 1400 points.

However, during this time, another major event occurred. The incident took place in Gwangju, which Feng Junzi had just left. No one knows the exact time, but Feng Junzi later deduced from news reports that the incident probably originated when his Luoyang shovel touched a mysterious underground artifact.

Shortly after Feng Junzi left Gwangju, two items sold out in the markets of Gwangju and the surrounding areas: Banlangen (a traditional Chinese medicine) and white vinegar. As time went on, masks became another item in the market. In this day and age, masks are probably only used by doctors and sanitation workers, but this obviously outdated work safety item suddenly became a hot seller, saving several factories that were on the verge of closure and contributing a small amount to GDP growth. Feng Junzi felt he had witnessed the enormous purchasing power of the RMB and finally understood why real estate prices had risen so rapidly.

To say that a plague had broken out in Gwangju was clearly an exaggeration; at least no one dared to say that publicly. To be precise, a highly contagious respiratory infectious disease had emerged in Gwangju, posing a serious risk to life if not treated promptly, with hospital staff being the first to be affected. Feng Junzi saw reports about the epidemic online and was thankful he had left early. Thinking about how many life-or-death situations still existed in the world, he felt that Qin Xiaoya and Zhou Song's predicament wasn't so bad, at least it was something that could be solved by human effort, and his mood calmed down considerably.

After returning home from the market close, Professor Song was already there. He greeted Feng Junzi, saying he was going to the supermarket to buy some personal necessities and some food, and then left. It seemed he really considered this place his home, ready to set up camp. Feng Junzi suddenly felt that Professor Song's hiding here wasn't simply about avoiding a romantic relationship; there was probably another reason. Just then, the doorbell rang.

The person who came was Zhou Song. Feng Junzi thought Zhou Song had something to discuss with him, but he didn't expect Zhou Song to come to see Professor Song. Feng Junzi asked him what his purpose was, and Zhou Song said, "People in the South, especially in Gwangju, are very superstitious. Perhaps they learned this from Hong Kong. There are also many famous feng shui masters in Hong Kong who are very influential in Gwangju. These feng shui masters are not quacks; they are folklorists like Professor Song from the mainland. I think Professor Song may have connections with them. I would like to ask the feng shui masters from Hong Kong to help me with some indirect publicity. Let's see if Professor Song can help."

Feng Junzi thought to himself that Zhou Song was quick-witted, and this was a solution only as a last resort. He told him that Professor Song had gone out and might not be back for a while. Just then, the doorbell rang again. Feng Junzi muttered to himself, "Why is Old Song back so fast? Did he forget his wallet?" He got up to open the door.

Feng Junzi opened the door and suddenly froze.

Standing outside the door was a woman with a charming smile, but it wasn't Professor Song; it was a beautiful young woman. Feng Junzi wasn't the type to stare blankly at a woman, but upon seeing this one, he couldn't help but pause, his gaze fixed on her, which seemed somewhat impolite.

The woman wore a pure white cashmere coat, open at the front, revealing a fiery red two-piece suit underneath. The seaside weather was already quite chilly, but the bright red suit seemed surprisingly thin. It was so thin that it perfectly accentuated her stunning figure, and Feng Junzi did indeed think of the cliché phrase "devilish figure." The colors of her clothing were strikingly contrasting, yet on her, they were dazzling without being jarring, like a flame dancing in the snow.

The other woman kept smiling at Feng Junzi, seemingly used to men looking at him like that. It was the woman who spoke first: "You must be Teacher Feng Junzi. You look much younger and more handsome in person than in the photos."

Her lips were slightly full, giving them a gentle quality. When she spoke, Feng Junzi noticed her teeth were very neat and white. Her features weren't typical of a Central Plains beauty; her eyes weren't large, but they appeared slightly deep, making her nose bridge seem high, yet also very straight. The small tip of her nose turned slightly downwards, which, in physiognomy terms, was called "like a hanging gall bladder," quite beautiful. Feng Junzi noticed her skin was very delicate, but not absolutely pure white; rather, it had a sheen close to ivory, adding to her alluring charm. Feng Junzi was wondering if the skin beneath her skirt was the same, but her question interrupted his thoughts.

Feng Junzi could tell from the accent that the other person was from the South, specifically the Southeast. He was slightly surprised that the other person called him by his name so directly, and asked, "How do you know my name, Miss? Where have you seen my picture?"

The other person was still smiling as she spoke, seemingly always maintaining that approachable expression. She said, "Of course it was online. I really like Teacher Feng's articles, and meeting you in person today confirms that your writing reflects your personality." Then she pouted, "Does Teacher Feng not want me to come in? Are you just going to stand at the door and talk to me like this?"

Before Feng Junzi could even say "please," she slipped aside and squeezed through the half-open door. Feng Junzi, still holding onto the door, felt her firm, full breasts softly brush against his elbow, and his face flushed.

Zhou Song, who was sitting in the hall, was surprised when a beautiful woman suddenly walked in. The woman didn't seem surprised to see a stranger and instead nodded and smiled at him generously. Zhou Song thought she was Feng Junzi's friend and quickly got up to offer her a seat. He wondered to himself when Feng Junzi had such good fortune with women. But then he saw Feng Junzi also following in with a puzzled look on his face.

The young woman took the initiative after entering the room, taking off her coat first. Zhou Song quickly took it and hung it up. She found the most comfortable spot on the sofa and asked Feng Junzi, "Where is Song Zhaonan? Where did he go? I've been looking for him for so long."

Zhou Song was confused, but Feng Junzi suddenly understood, guessing the young woman's background and purpose. He thought she was probably the "vixen" Professor Song was hiding from. Thinking this, he quickly said, "Miss Hu, who told you Professor Song is at my house?" In his haste, he almost blurted out "vixen," but thankfully he corrected himself.

The "vixen" frowned, seemingly displeased, and said, "Who is Miss Hu? Does she often come to see Professor Song? I am not Miss Hu."

Feng Junzi quickly changed his tone and asked, "May I ask your surname, Miss?"

"Fox Spirit": "My surname is Qin, the Qin of Qin, Han, Tang and Song."

"You also have the surname Qin?" Feng Junzi and Zhou Song asked almost simultaneously. After asking, they were both slightly surprised, knowing that the other was thinking of Qin Xiaoya.

"Of course my surname is Qin. Would I lie to you? Who else has the surname Qin?"

This time, Zhou Song felt he couldn't explain it clearly, so he continued, "May I ask Miss Qin's name?"

"My name is Qin Wuyi."

"Qin Wuyi?" Zhou Song asked, "Is it the 'Yi' in 'no one to rely on'? Why did Miss Qin choose such an endearing name?"

"It is the 'wu' in 'no one to rely on,' but not the 'yi' in 'no one to rely on,' it is the 'yi' in 'clothes.'"

"Qin Wuyi!" Zhou Song asked in surprise, "Miss Qin's name is quite unique." At the same time, he thought to himself that this name was too lethal. When men see a woman like this, they often associate her with "no clothes." Giving her this name is practically a direct suggestion.

“Miss Qin’s parents are truly learned people,” Feng Junzi said. Not wanting Zhou Song to have too many misunderstandings about the name, he said in a serious tone, “There is a poem called ‘No Clothes’ in the Qin Feng section of the Book of Songs. Miss Qin’s name must be based on this story, right?”

"Oh? There's such a saying? I don't know anything about the Book of Songs. All I know is that women often look at their wardrobes and worry that they have nothing to wear. I guess that's what my parents meant when they named me this?" Qin Wuyi said, looking at Feng Junzi. "Teacher Feng is so knowledgeable. I admire you so much. You must come from a scholarly family, right?"

"You guessed right." Feng Junzi secretly shook his head. Most beautiful women were just pretty faces with little substance, and this "vixen" was no exception. At the same time, he suddenly remembered that Zhou Song came from a poor mountain area and had always been very sensitive about people discussing his background in front of him, so he didn't continue the conversation.

At this moment, Feng Junzi realized that he hadn't introduced Zhou Song yet, so he quickly introduced Zhou Song to Qin Wuyi. Qin Wuyi seemed to have heard of Zhou Song's name before, and when she heard that the person in front of her was Zhou Song, her eyes lit up. Instead of pestering Feng Junzi, she said to Zhou Song in a coquettish voice, "So you are Mr. Zhou, an elite in the Binhai real estate industry. I have heard of your great name before, but I did not expect you to be such a young and promising person."

A little embarrassed by Qin Wuyi's words, Zhou Song replied, "I'm just dabbling in this. Where does Miss Qin make her fortune?" As he spoke, Zhou Song suddenly looked up at Feng Junzi, who was standing behind Qin Wuyi with a strange expression. Feng Junzi winked at him, pointed to the door, then pointed at Qin Wuyi, gesturing for her to leave. Although Zhou Song didn't quite understand, he knew Feng Junzi meant to lure Qin Wuyi out.

At this moment, Qin Wuyi was answering Zhou Song's question in a sweet voice: "I can't compare to you people, who are either big experts or big bosses. I'm just a small employee working in the investment promotion office of Jianjiang Municipal Government."

At this moment, Zhou Song saw that Feng Junzi's expression was getting more and more anxious, so he stood up with great style and said to Qin Wuyi, "Today is the first time I have met Miss Qin, and I feel that we get along very well. Tonight, I will host a dinner party for us all to go out and have a chat. I wonder if Miss Qin would do me the honor of joining me?"

Qin Wuyi: "I'll wait for Professor Song. Let's go together when he gets back."

Feng Junzi finally spoke up: "Professor Song has a dinner engagement tonight and will probably be back very late. We can't wait for him on an empty stomach, can we? We can eat while we wait. Tonight, please invite Miss Qin to try the local seafood specialties of Binhai."

Qin Wuyi seemed to realize that Feng Junzi didn't want her to stay here and wait for Professor Song, so she could only say, "Then thank you both," and then smiled at Zhou Song and said, "You mustn't force me to drink, I'm most afraid of getting drunk."

Part 1: Deceit and Deception, Chapter 20: The Poisonous Straw Mat

The location was still the Binhai Mingzhu Hotel, and even the private room was the same one from yesterday. Even Feng Junzi was puzzled as to why Zhou Song had become so generous—just to treat an unrelated woman to a meal? Sitting there, Feng Junzi felt a pang of emotion. It seemed that most things in this society happened over drinks; daytime work was merely a prelude and cover. Most of the important things he could remember seemed to be related to some kind of dinner party. He couldn't help but recall Professor Song's so-called paper, "Banquets and the Culture of Ancient Chinese Officialdom."

Qin Wuyi said she was most afraid of getting drunk, and Feng Junzi indeed shared this thought, wanting her to drink a few more cups. Feng Junzi had a decent alcohol tolerance, and he knew Zhou Song's tolerance was much better than his, so it wouldn't be too difficult for the two of them to get a young woman to drink a few more cups. However, after three cups, he gave up on the idea. He realized that in terms of alcohol tolerance, he and Zhou Song combined probably couldn't beat Qin Wuyi.

Although Qin Wuyi feigned weakness and claimed she couldn't hold her liquor, only drinking a few cups before saying she was a bit tipsy, Feng Junzi carefully observed her posture while holding and returning the cup, and the subtle expressions on her face as the liquor entered her mouth and went down her throat. He realized this woman was no ordinary drinker. Unless someone has never drunk alcohol before, they generally have their own sense of alcohol and a certain understanding of their own tolerance. Over time, they can roughly tell a lot from a person's actions and expressions while drinking. Feng Junzi could even tell what kind of person would get drunk and how long it would take. But now, Feng Junzi knew he probably wouldn't see Qin Wuyi drunk today.

Feng Junzi abandoned his idea of having Qin Wuyi drink a few more cups before getting down to business and asked, "Miss Qin, you are truly resourceful. How did you know that Professor Song was staying at my house?"

"Want to know? Unfortunately, it's my secret, I can't tell you." Qin Wuyi's answer used the trick women are best at—playing the rogue. Feng Junzi had no way to resist this. At this moment, Zhou Song also became curious and asked Qin Wuyi, "What does Miss Qin want with Professor Song? Is it business or personal?" When he mentioned "personal business," Zhou Song clearly emphasized the words.

Feng Junzi couldn't help but feel a little worried. Although he had heard Professor Song mention the "vixen," it was Professor Song's private matter, and he hadn't told Zhou Song. He was afraid that this woman might inadvertently reveal her affair with Professor Song, causing embarrassment later. However, Qin Wuyi's answer reassured him considerably.

Qin Wuyi said in a serious tone, "It's official business. I've been entrusted by the Jianjiang Investment Promotion Office and Jianjiang Cultural Industry Co., Ltd. to invite Professor Song. First, to invite Professor Song to serve as an independent director of Jianjiang Cultural Industry Co., Ltd., and second, to ask him to revise the expert research opinions he gave on a municipal project in Jianjiang during his last visit to Jianjiang."

This time it was Feng Junzi's turn to be surprised. He didn't know so much about the inside story and quickly asked, "Jianjiang values Professor Song so much. I know Jianjiang Culture is a listed company. Why did they insist on having Professor Song as an independent director? And what does Professor Song's opinion matter if your city is undertaking a project?"

Qin Wuyi sighed and said, "Perhaps Professor Song himself thinks it doesn't matter, but the provincial leaders in charge don't think so. They believe that such a large investment project needs expert review, and they specifically asked to hear Professor Song's opinion. They also hinted that they hope Professor Song can participate. Now this project is being led by the Investment Promotion Office and Jianjiang Culture Company, a municipal enterprise. If we can bring Professor Song in directly, everything will be much easier."

"Why did the provincial leaders specifically ask for Professor Song's name?" Zhou Song also found it strange.

"Professor Song is very important. He is not only an authoritative expert on folk culture, but his brother-in-law is a leader in the province in charge of this matter and above him," Qin Wuyi explained simply.

Zhou Song glanced at Feng Junzi with a reproachful look, as if asking why Feng Junzi hadn't told him about Professor Song's background. Feng Junzi smiled wryly. He knew about Professor Song's background, but it was also a source of anxiety for Professor Song. In the past, when Professor Song and his wife had disagreements, Mrs. Song would always bring up things like, "Look at how my brother is, and what about you now?" This was probably what Professor Song hated most. His wife said he couldn't do anything about it, but in public, Professor Song really didn't want others to mention his powerful brother-in-law. This was Professor Song's family matter, and Feng Junzi didn't want to discuss it with Zhou Song in front of Qin Wuyi, so he pretended not to see Zhou Song's gaze.

Zhou Song was clearly following up with a question that interested him even more: "Miss Qin, what project are you talking about? I wonder if there's any chance for a small business like mine to get involved?"

Qin Wuyi: "The main project is to build Asia's largest World Culture Park next to the World Cultural Heritage site in our city, leveraging the advantages of natural scenery, cultural landscapes, and historical sites to drive the development of tourism, commerce, and investment." Qin Wuyi's words sounded like something he had recited from a book, probably because he was used to saying them so often.

"The largest in Asia? That's quite a boast. Other places are doing the same project. So who is the biggest?" Zhou Song asked.

Feng Junzi answered for Qin Wuyi: "Our motto is not 'best,' but 'biggest'!" Qin Wuyi glared at Feng Junzi.

Zhou Song then asked, "What about the supporting projects?"

Qin Wuyi: "The supporting facilities also include a business center, a five-star hotel, and a golf course."

Zhou Song: "Where is the project at now?"

Qin Wuyi: "It's just the beginning. We're currently in the land planning stage."

Feng Junzi spoke again: "What land planning? Did they circle farmland in red and turn it into urban construction land? Zhou Tuhao, you'd better get closer to Miss Qin, maybe your chance to make a fortune is coming again. I don't know how this project will turn out in the end, but this land is definitely going to appreciate in value now."

Qin Wuyi: "Teacher Feng, you call him Zhou Tuhao?"

Zhou Song: "That's a joke. I also call him a hypocrite. How much do you plan to invest in this project?"

Qin Wuyi: "The preliminary estimate is around 3 billion yuan. The municipal finance will contribute part of the funding for supporting facilities, Jianjiang Culture will use the funds raised from its IPO to invest part of the funding, and bank loans will cover part of the funding. We are currently working on attracting investment to help us cover the remaining amount."

Feng Junzi then asked, "Where does the municipal government's money come from? Jianjiang City seems to be quite wealthy."

Qin Wuyi: "The municipal finance can raise some funds by selling land. Our main task now is to attract investors. Moreover, our city's economy is still good, and the municipal finance still has money."

Feng Junzi: "I know your city is a major export-oriented city, mainly to Japan. I think the straw mat I sleep on in the summer is also made in your city."

Qin Wuyi said with a hint of pride, "You're talking about rush mats, which are one of the main economic pillars of our city. They've only developed in the last few years, and it's a significant achievement of our investment promotion office. Did you know that Jianjiang's rush mats have the number one market share in Southeast Asia, especially in Japan?"

Zhou Song also became somewhat interested and interjected, "Isn't it just a straw mat? How big is the market for it?"

Qin Wuyi: "Mr. Zhou is unaware of the situation. Mats are a necessity in daily life in Japan and Korea. Many of their tatami mats and cushions are made of rush grass. The market is quite large."

Feng Junzi said, "If I'm not mistaken, most of the investors you've brought in are Japanese, right?"

Qin Wuyi: "Yes, we have many preferential policies in terms of land, taxation, and employment, which is why we attracted them here."

Feng Junzi sneered, "Even if you don't offer discounts, these Japanese won't produce domestically. I don't know if you're trying to attract investment or inviting wolves into the house."

Zhou Song asked, puzzled, "What do you mean by that, hypocrite?"

Feng Junzi: "Mats are very important in Japanese tradition. If Professor Song were in Japan, he might even have created a special feature on mat culture. Unfortunately, mats, though good, are also poisonous."

Zhou Song: "You still sleep on a poisoned mat?"

Feng Junzi: "While mats for human use are naturally non-toxic, rush mats are toxic during processing, producing a lot of toxic dust. For workers, doing this job is practically a form of slow suicide. Therefore, the environmental control costs, labor costs, and compensation costs in the production process are extremely high. Under Japanese law, it's probably unaware that they can't afford to produce them. Miss Qin, you must know that some local workers suffer from silicosis, right?"

Qin Wuyi seemed a little embarrassed by what Feng Junzi said: "That's true. Our municipal government also attaches great importance to it and regularly organizes physical examinations for workers. We have indeed found some workers with lung lesions and have taken timely treatment measures. Previously, our city organized a major safety inspection of rush processing enterprises and found that eight percent of the workers were no longer suitable for this job. We also made corresponding arrangements in a timely manner."

Zhou Song: "Eight percent? That's no small number!"

Feng Junzi: "Eight percent? But someone told me that the possibility of workers developing lung disease in the production environment of those factories in Jianjiang is one hundred percent. Moreover, this person has also gone to the local factories to conduct on-site investigations. He said that even if some people do not have any problems now, their lung function will inevitably be affected in the future. However, these are all migrant workers recruited from other places, and their future affairs are probably no longer under the jurisdiction of your Jianjiang City."

Qin Wuyi: "Who told you that? Why would you believe someone like that?"

Feng Junzi: "It's not anyone else, it's Professor Song. I think Miss Qin also accompanied Professor Song to visit the local economic pillar industries in Jianjiang. Professor Song investigated very carefully. I don't know if you understand now why Professor Song is not very willing to participate in your Jianjiang projects. This is called hating the bird because of the crow."

Qin Wuyi was surprised that Feng Junzi would mention Professor Song, and she was speechless for a moment. Seeing that the atmosphere of the conversation was a bit tense, Zhou Song quickly smoothed things over: "These things can't be blamed on Miss Qin. She's just a gofer. Let's not talk about these unpleasant things."

When Feng Junzi mentioned Professor Song, he realized he needed to quickly find a way to inform Professor Song that the "vixen" had come knocking. He excused himself to go to the restroom and went out to contact Professor Song.

Part 1: Deceit and Deception, Chapter 21: How Can We Say We Have No Clothes?

As soon as Feng Junzi stepped out, Zhou Song quickly explained to Qin Wuyi, "Miss Qin, please don't mind what Teacher Feng just said. That's just how he is; he says whatever comes to mind. It wasn't directed at you."

Qin Wuyi smiled, seemingly unconcerned: "What he said is the truth. How could I mind? I admire people like you who have such clear likes and dislikes." Then she leaned down and whispered to Zhou Song: "Liu Bang used the excuse of urinating to escape at the Feast at Hongmen. Teacher Feng used the same trick just now. Do you know what he was doing?"

Zhou Song: "Miss Qin is overthinking it. I know he needs to go to the bathroom every time he drinks beer."

Qin Wuyi laughed and said, "How could I be wrong? He must have made an excuse to go out and inform Professor Song that I've arrived. Actually, Professor Song doesn't need to avoid me. I've only come to invite him sincerely, not to do anything to him."

Zhou Song asked, "Did Professor Song raise negative opinions about your project in his report?"

Qin Wuyi: "That's about right. Professor Song didn't deny the feasibility of the project, but he suggested that the city should use the investment elsewhere, such as to popularize compulsory education and improve the working conditions of workers. These suggestions are good, but they don't align with the city's goals of developing the economy and increasing GDP. Things have to be done step by step. Since you are friends, you can help me persuade him."