Chapter 84: Margin Call
Ten o’clock, city government press conference.
Fu Xiao’an did not announce at first that Gu Yansheng would attend, so when Gu Yansheng entered together with Fu Xiao’an, it caused a burst of chasing shots from the reporters.
Although the matter had already been settled internally between Gu Yansheng and Fu Xiao’an, the outside world did not know, and it was rumored that Fu Xiao’an was going to step down, so Fu Xiao’an’s current speech credibility was just so-so.
But Gu Yansheng was different.
The reporters clearly knew that Gu Yansheng had just solved a big problem for the Japanese, and the goods shortage problem in the Shanghai urban area had now eased, so Gu Yansheng could not possibly step down too.
Gu Yansheng’s words can be trusted.
Fu Xiao’an knew he was not the protagonist today, said a few official words, and then gave up the position.
Gu Yansheng went on stage, nodded in greeting to the reporter friends below the stage and to Hase Jinagawa who came to watch.
“Welcome everyone, I am attending today’s press conference on behalf of the Judicial Department to report a situation to all parties.
In recent days, under the efforts of the city government.” Gu Yansheng raised his hand, pointing in the direction of Fu Xiao’an.
“The Judicial Department has held friendly consultations with multiple foreign merchant institutions on Shanghai’s judicial issues and economic issues, and just yesterday afternoon, some foreign merchant institutions have taken the lead in paying 20% deposit for goods transportation, clearly stating they will support the construction of the Shanghai Special City Government’s judicial system.”
Wow, just this achievement of reaching the agreement is enough for the reporters to ask questions, immediately a bunch of people raised their hands and couldn’t help but speak.
But Gu Yansheng pressed his hand and continued:
“As for the price rise problem and resource shortage problem troubling Shanghai citizens, I believe the reporter friends who follow the market should know that just yesterday, this situation has been completely alleviated.
The Judicial Department has noticed the recent market rumors that the Japanese Army is going to forcibly requisition in Shanghai, I can clarify here that this is completely unfounded.
Mr. Hase from the consulate is sitting here, I have had in-depth talks with him, for Shanghai’s development, first is stability, second is peace, this is also Mr. Hase’s expectation for Shanghai.
Gu Yansheng raised his hand toward Hase Jinagawa, and Hase Jinagawa very cooperatively nodded repeatedly, welcoming the reporters’ clicking photos.
“The Judicial Department will be committed to cracking down on factors affecting Shanghai’s peace and stability, and for those spreading rumors, we will also investigate to the end.
Below is the display of the deposits paid by foreign merchant institutions to the customs department.”
As soon as Gu Yansheng finished speaking, immediately members of the Inspection Department brought a British person on stage, holding two suitcases, opened full of pound sterling and US dollars.
Of course, the British person was hired for 100 pound sterling to play a British vagrant, the Jewish boss in the concession couldn’t afford to lose this face, no negotiation.
As long as the meaning is about right, Gu Yansheng didn’t mind.
If the British nobles saw it and were unhappy, felt it was embarrassing, go trouble the Japanese, he would raise both hands in approval.
Finally found a free moment, piles of money so eye-catching, printed in the newspaper with foreign merchants giving money, absolutely can affect newspaper sales, the reporters immediately raised hands to start asking questions.
Take people’s short hands, Gu Yansheng simply said a few words and gave the opportunity to Hase Jinagawa and Fu Xiao’an.
And while Gu Yansheng was speaking, Zhongye Public Office.
These days the stock futures that had been beaten to the floor could all be violently rallied, market makers operating the market cooperating with positive news release, futures rallying up completely unlike the dawdling at opening.
Directly jumping up in price by several dollars at a time.
The stockholders at Zhongye Public Office immediately went crazy, stocks are not afraid of falling, afraid of slow falling, endless falling, but this kind falls fast, rises fast too, full board pull, no matter what the reason, buy is right!
“Quick, bottom fishing!”
“Found the reason, Gu Yansheng said Japanese Army forced requisition is rumor, Japanese also came out to clarification!”
“Then what are we waiting for? Buy! Right, who is Gu Yansheng?”
“Deputy Division Chief of Judicial Department, you stock trading and don’t even read newspaper news, what stock are you trading?”
“Who cares, as long as it can make my stock rise, he must be a good person.”
“I guessed it was rumor, made it through, hahahaha! I bottom fished at twenty bucks, hahahaha!”
The stockholders were excited, watching the staff in the distance busily changing price numbers on the blackboard, shouting hard ‘rise rise rise.’
A scene of fiery red.
After the press conference, Hase Jinagawa was all smiles.
“Recently the city government’s work advancement is not bad, Mayor Fu, Director Gu both have indispensable merits, tonight at six o’clock Gendarmerie Headquarters has a dance party at the expatriate club, interested in joining together?”
As a pro-Japanese official, of course such opportunity would not be declined.
“Good.” Gu Yansheng and Fu Xiao’an exchanged a glance and immediately agreed.
“We will definitely arrive on time then.”
“Good, I’ll send someone to deliver invitations to you later, I’ll go first.”
“Mr. Hase, take care.”
The two saw him off for a while, waiting until the figure was far away, Fu Xiao’an turned back and joked: “Mr. Hase was talking about Director Gu, looks like Mr. Gu’s title that deputy character will soon be removed, congratulations.”
Don’t be sour, didn’t he just snatch your person’s position. Gu Yansheng said seriously: “Mr. Hase just said it casually, besides, even if I get promoted, am I not still your Mayor Fu’s division chief, I submit the report, you sign.”
“Hahahaha.” Fu Xiao’an had good self-cultivation, usually could hold back from laughing, but this signing remark really made him unable to help laughing, “You ah. Then I’ll go first, you be busy.”
“Hey, Mayor, take care.”
Gu Yansheng smiled and nodded to see him off.
Thought about the evening banquet matter, banquet at six, Lu Bowen sending telegram at eight, he might not make it.
But at this time the concession is actually quite safe, no big problem.
Liu Xiaolou needs to be diverted.
“Xiao Lou.”
“Yes, Division Chief.” Liu Xiaolou pushed the door in.
Gu Yansheng said: “Recently the Judicial Department’s work is going well, Inspection Department made meritorious service, the court side approving the release list of over two thousand people was also hard work, today Mayor and Mr. Hase both praised our work, you pick a position, venue a bit larger, hold a wine party banquet or something, let everyone in the department go, relax.”
“Okay, thank you Division Chief.”
“I guess they won’t relax either, just right tonight Gendarmerie Headquarters side I also have a banquet, might not make it, so let them relax and play.”
“Understood, then nothing else I’ll go out first.”
“Wait, one more thing, tonight I’m not there, eating and drinking they will speak more relaxed, you be my ears, listen to what demands they have, no need to mind badmouthing me, mainly what can be improved, and things they usually dare not say.”
Liu Xiaolou listened and sneered: “Okay okay okay, I’ll definitely take good notes.”
“Go.”
Ring ring, ring ring.
“Hello.” Gu Yansheng picked up the phone.
“Gu Yansheng! You didn’t notify me before clarifying the rumor?!” Wu Sibao’s roar came from the phone: “Do you know how much I lost?”
Gu Yansheng held the receiver a bit farther, even a pig squeal wasn’t as loud as him.
Frowned and said: “What’s wrong? Lost money?”
“My cotton yarn futures blew up!!” Wu Sibao was no longer roaring, although speaking loudly, but toward the end already full of heartbroken grievance, almost crying.
“Forty thousand ah, my forty thousand silver dollars saved through hard work gone.”
Pfft, Gu Yansheng couldn’t hold back.
“Who told you to trade futures, you who doesn’t even know stock terms, aren’t you asking for trouble?”
“How would I know it could blow up so fast, and also, if not for you announcing it’s a rumor, I blew up once yesterday, today’s definitely wouldn’t have blown up!”
“You even blew up twice in a row? You can do it? You’re more powerful than a landmine.”
Gu Yansheng looked at him with new eyes:
“But Wu Sibao, this needs to be made clear, I announce is my business, I have no obligation to notify you in advance right? How would I know you’re trading futures?
And didn’t I remind you before, don’t touch futures, play stocks at most, at least you’d still have a ticket left.”
Wu Sibao for a moment surprisingly couldn’t think of rebuttal words, but still stubbornly said: “Why don’t you need to notify me in advance?
You didn’t know I’m trading futures but I always sent people to seal warehouses right? You clarified the rumor, and I’m still sealing what’s that about? Isn’t that wasting manpower?”
“Where wasted? Precisely because your people are still sealing, it shows you’re not cooperating with our Judicial Department’s confiscation, did you forget, your original intent was to catch spies ah, what’s wrong with me calling later?”
“I fucking…” Wu Sibao thought and surprisingly was speechless, really no flaw.
Simply cried, “I lost forty thousand ah… saved for a long time.”
“No problem, can’t still earn on cotton yarn side?”
“That’s extra, can’t count together.”
Gu Yansheng sighed: “Sigh, forget it, help you one more time, last time ah, buy rise, cotton yarn futures now how much?”
“Cotton yarn how much? Asking you, cotton yarn how much?… Oh oh, cotton yarn already almost 80 bucks.”
“Listen well ah, buy rise, Fu Xiao’an’s news cotton yarn to rally above 100, say in advance, if problem don’t come to me ah, I also heard from him.”
“Dad, you’re my real dad!”
“Don’t be glib, one minute late is one dollar gone.”
“Have time invite you to eat and bathe, all on me!”
Snap, hung up the phone in one second.
Being your dad, ancestral grave would get dug up.
Gu Yansheng really hoped Fu Xiao’an gave false news, that would be fun.
