Chapter 28: Became the team leader?

The weekend had just ended, and the team leaders in Fang Huan Investment's trading department were practically spitting fire, frantically searching for one name.
Su Hao.
Where on earth is that kid Su Hao?!
This guy isn't just a favored relative of the chairman; he's a veritable money-making machine who can magically boost a team's returns!
However, Su Hao didn't show up at the company once all weekend.
"Ha, yeah. To generate those terrifying returns, and then expect people to work overtime on the weekend? His team must be crazy."
In the office, someone whispered amongst themselves, a hint of smug satisfaction in their voice.
"Isn't it the same here? The top performer of the week gets the weekend off. It's an unwritten rule."
This is a silent tradition, or rather, an inviolable law in this industry.
Seniority?
In this battlefield of chasing money, that's nothing!
Only profit matters!
Naked, cold-blooded profit is the sole measure of everything!
Whether you're a newly qualified newbie, a seasoned veteran, or even a powerful team leader…
In the face of numbers that bring in real money, everyone is equal!
'When Monday comes back to work, I'm definitely going to…'
'First come, first served! I have to get him before the other hungry wolves!'
The team leaders in the trading department all had the same plan in mind, their eyes like those of wolves eyeing a piece of meat.
They were eager to use every trick in the book to lure this powerful and influential "god of wealth" into their ranks.
"Are you kidding me?! A mere five trading days, and he's achieved an 80% return!
Is he even human?!
He's a stock market money-maker!
If we could get this monster into the team, would we even have to worry about performance targets for the foreseeable future?
It's practically like counting money while lying down!
However, just as they were eagerly anticipating Monday, ready to unleash their full potential,
a bolt from the blue struck without warning through the internal system, leaving everyone stunned:
"Su Hao... he's... he's the team leader?!"
Everyone had heard about the "nickel mine storm" that caused one team to collapse and disband, and the company forming a new team to fill the vacancy.
But who would have thought that the leader of this new team would be that new recruit—Su Hao?!
After a brief silence, the office erupted in chaos.
"Wow! The chairman's really going all out this time, determined to promote him!"
This was a look of utter amazement.
"Absolutely! He was a natural-born powerhouse, and now he's proven himself with tangible results. He's like a bulldozer charging forward, who can stop him?"
This was admiration tinged with envy.
"Damn it, I got up super early today, just waiting to ambush him and snatch him away! And... he's become the boss?"
This was a look of utter frustration.
"Ha, as if he actually thinks highly of you."
This was merciless sarcasm.
The team leaders clicked their tongues, their faces filled with the regret of "a sure thing slipping away."
But upon calming down, the appointment... seemed perfectly reasonable.
Who stood behind him?
The Chairman!
What did he hold in his hands?
The most impressive and explosive short-term trading profit record in Fanghuan Investment's history!
And it was created by a newcomer!
In a company that so highly values ​​ability and is solely driven by profit, wouldn't such a talented individual with connections and the ability to rake in huge sums of money be quickly promoted to a higher position? Why keep him around for the holidays?
A higher position means greater authority, the ability to mobilize more resources...
And naturally, more profits!
This logic, simple and brutal, is undeniably true!
"Manager."
"Oh? Liang Haiyuan, you're here?" Zhou Yi looked up.
Liang Haiyuan's face showed obvious confusion and a hint of barely perceptible frustration as he clutched the newly printed personnel transfer order in his hand.
"Um... what's going on with this sudden personnel change this morning?"
Zhou Yi raised an eyebrow slightly upon hearing this:
"Ah... what? You... you've been transferred to that newly formed team?"
Liang Haiyuan's mood was a jumble of emotions.
He'd barely stepped into the company that morning when a transfer order was slapped in his face.
A new team... fine, that's not a problem.
The key issue was that the head of that new team was none other than Su Hao, someone he'd previously had a falling out with!
Although he'd later frantically flattered him, and their relationship had improved somewhat, how could he possibly accept having Su Hao as his superior?
He tried to maintain a calm facade, tentatively saying,
"Hmm... I've heard some rumors too. I heard that Su Hao is a 'connected' employee, right? And the chairman personally arranged for him to get in."
"Oh? That's all you've heard?" Zhou Yi asked with interest.
"Uh?"
"I mean, besides the 'connected' label, haven't you heard anything else?"
"You...you mean...?" Liang Haiyuan was even more confused.
"Heh, never mind if you don't know."
Zhou Yi waved his hand, changing the subject:
"Actually, it's quite good. Going there, at least in the short term, means no more pressure to meet performance targets. It's a good thing!"
Liang Haiyuan, of course, knew that their department had just been named "Best Team of the Month."
Not only that, Su Hao himself had also won the title of "Best Trader of the Month"!
Because of this, rumors about the chairman forcibly boosting the performance of connected individuals had begun to quietly spread within the company.
And then, right at this crucial juncture, he was transferred to work under that newcomer!
Could it be… that Zhou Yi thought the company would allocate resources heavily to that new team, which was why he said he wouldn't have to worry about performance if he went there?
Hmm… a higher performance bonus is certainly a good thing, but…
The thought of himself, a seasoned trader, being assigned to work under a "connected" employee who had only been with the company for a little over two weeks, serving a young man who might know nothing but was arrogant and domineering…
made Liang Haiyuan's scalp tingle.
That frustration, that potential hardship… how was he going to get through it?
“Looks like… quite a few people still believe that this ‘connected person’ really got something for nothing through connections?”
Zhou Yi seemed to read his mind, or perhaps he was just talking to himself, his voice low:
“Tsk tsk, what President Li said before was absolutely right… Looks like we really need to consider doing what we used to do, installing a big screen with a real-time performance ranking in the trading hall, doing something ‘retro and romantic,’ just to wake some people up?”
“…” Liang Haiyuan’s pupils contracted slightly.
Zhou Yi, as if ignoring his reaction, continued:
“Do you think our company is such a bottomless dumping ground? Being rated the best is naturally because they genuinely contributed the most profit in the entire department! Real money! Understand?!”
These words struck Liang Haiyuan’s heart like a hammer blow.
He felt his breath catch for a moment, and he asked incredulously, his voice even trembling slightly:
"You mean... Su Hao... he really won the best trader award based on his own merit?!"
"That's right!" Zhou Yi affirmed decisively, then looked at him with a "you're a promising student" gaze.
"So, when you go over there, keep a low profile, observe and learn. Remember, in our line of work, it's never about seniority or connections. In the end, profits always speak for themselves!"
Seniority is far less valuable than money.
This is the ultimate truth of this cruel world.
Liang Haiyuan stood there blankly, watching Zhou Yi pat him on the back and turn away, his mind a jumbled mess. He subconsciously tilted his head.
"...Su Hao... really has such amazing investment skills?"
It seemed the only answer to this question could be found by him personally visiting the newly established Seventh Team and seeing it for himself.