Chapter 42: All stock cleared out!

The atmosphere in the Trading Department's office area was somewhat strange.
It appeared calm on the surface, but undercurrents were swirling.
"Sister Huilin, what did the manager say? Is he still telling us to hold on?"
A young trader, seeing Li Huilin emerge from the manager's office, immediately leaned over and whispered.
"Hmm? Yes, the manager seems... to be planning to continue holding."
"Sigh, that's true. With this upward trend, it might still go up a bit more."
The traders in Trading Department Seven were all on edge, their hearts pounding, unable to sit still.
Even though the air conditioning in the office was blasting, many of their palms were uncontrollably sweating.
Several were even trembling slightly with their fingers holding the mouse, shaking like Parkinson's patients.
It was incredibly exciting!
Because the profits in their respective accounts had reached the highest point in their history as traders!
The long string of zeros that followed was more than they'd ever dreamed of in their lives!
The number was enormous, so enormous it made their hearts race, even causing a sense of panic!
But the problem was, paper profits weren't real money!
Only by selling their holdings, locking in the profits, and converting them into actual RMB could they truly say they'd made a profit!
So, they were now both excited and tormented.
It felt like two little devils were fighting inside them:
A little devil was screaming frantically, "Sell! Sell now! If you don't sell now, the cooked duck will fly away! Secure your profits!"
While another little angel was desperately warning, "Stay calm! Don't be reckless! Listen to the manager! The manager hasn't given the order yet, so it's definitely not the best time!"
This feeling of extreme contrast finally made them forcefully suppress the almost bursting trading impulse.
"When exactly does the manager plan to let us sell? This constant anxiety is agonizing..."
Someone couldn't help but mutter under their breath.
“Who knows? How can we mere mortals fathom the thoughts of gods?”
The answer came from Liang Haiyuan, a long-time employee.
As he spoke, he picked up his coffee cup, slowly took a sip, and his face displayed a calm and detached air of someone with experience:
“We should just obediently follow orders and not worry about anything else.”
“…” Everyone else looked at Liang Haiyuan with the eyes of someone looking at a rare animal.
This Liang Haiyuan, when Su Hao had just been promoted, was practically screaming, “I don’t like you!”
Later, he went to Su Hao and provoked him in various ways, even having a big argument with Su Hao and Li Huilin.
But not long after, Liang Haiyuan’s attitude underwent a bizarre 180-degree turn!
He practically became Manager Su Hao’s number one fanboy and die-hard supporter!
Her attitude was practically screaming "The manager is brilliant and resourceful, with flawless strategies!"
The speed of her change of heart was astonishing.
"They say 'buying is easy, selling is hard.' The manager is probably waiting for the perfect moment, since it affects our department's performance."
Li Huilin tried to calm everyone's anxiety with rational analysis.
"Yes, judging from the current technical indicators and market sentiment, there doesn't seem to be any clear bottoming signal in the short term. Holding on a little longer might yield even higher returns."
Another trader with a technical analysis background chimed in.
However, if indicators were truly that reliable, there wouldn't be so many retail investors losing everything.
Isn't this recent crash the best example?
Just recently, countless experts and institutions, armed with seemingly perfect technical indicators and macroeconomic data, confidently predicted that the market would rise by at least 300%, with optimistic expectations flying everywhere.
And the result?
A sudden regulatory policy crashed down without warning, and with a snap, the bubble burst.
Those who were slow to react were all buried high on the mountaintop, unable to even find a tune to cry for help.
"So, let's just wait patiently. Based on our limited experience, now's not the best time to sell anyway."
"I understand the logic, but... this is fucking too much free time! I've never had such a leisurely job in my life! All I do is look at my phone and eat snacks, occasionally glancing at the charts to see I've made a fortune... This isn't a trader's job, it's like living the life of a retired old cadre ahead of time!"
Someone started complaining in a Versailles-like tone, but their voice carried an unbelievable, dreamlike quality.
"Hey, be content, kid." Liang Haiyuan put down his coffee cup and glanced at him:
"This easy money-counting life is only temporary. When the manager actually gives the order, you'll be busy then..."
"—Bang!"
Just as everyone was chatting and joking around, the atmosphere gradually becoming somewhat lazy.
The door to the manager's office, which had been tightly closed, was suddenly slammed open from the inside with an almost violent force!
"Bang!"
A loud crash echoed as the door slammed against the wall, producing a deafening sound!
Everyone in the office jumped in fright from the sudden noise, turning their heads sharply to look at the doorway!
Standing in the doorway was their manager—Su Hao.
However, he was completely different from his usual gentle, calm, and sometimes even somewhat languid demeanor!
His eyes were sharp as knives! A chilling light seemed to emanate from them!
He was like a drawn sword, exuding a chilling, undeniable aura of decisive ruthlessness!
"M-Manager...?"
Li Huilin instinctively stood up, her voice trembling slightly, overwhelmed by his imposing presence.
Su Hao's gaze, sharp as lightning, swept across the room like a scanner. In a resolute, unquestionable tone, he issued the order:
"Now!"
"...Huh?" Everyone was stunned, not quite understanding.
"All our positions! All our options! All our holdings! Immediately! Sell them off! Leave nothing! Liquidate everything!!!"
"!?"
The office fell into a deathly silence for a second.
Then...like an ice cube being thrown into a pot of boiling oil, it exploded instantly!
This was the instruction they had longed for, yearned for day and night, and even rehearsed countless times in their dreams!
No! This was practically a divine decree!
Of course, among mortals, there are always one or two whose brains haven't quite caught up, actually questioning the divine at this crucial moment!
"Manager! Now...now? But...but the account is still making a killing!"
A young trader couldn't help but raise his hand, his face filled with confusion and reluctance.
"Yes, Manager! Just wait a little longer, even just a few minutes, and we'll definitely make even more..."
Another trader echoed softly, clearly blinded by the current enormous profits.
"Shut the hell up!!!"
Before Su Hao could speak, a roar like a thunderclap boomed, slamming the two questioning voices back!
The one who roared was none other than Liang Haiyuan, who had been leisurely sipping his coffee just moments before!
He abruptly jumped up from his chair, eyes wide with rage, pointing at the two talkative fellows, spitting as he roared:
"Damn it! Since when did it become your place to have your own ideas? Brains are for following orders! Do what the manager tells you to do! Execute orders! Understand? Have your own ideas at this crucial juncture? Do you even deserve it?"
Liang Haiyuan's shout was like a thunderbolt, instantly waking the two still hesitant men, blinded by greed!
That's right!
A hundred pieces of bullshit data, ten thousand expert analyses, could they compare to the miraculous actions and judgments of Manager Su Hao that they had personally witnessed?
Whom to trust? Was there even a question?
Of course, they'd trust the manager!
"Ah...right!"
"Yes! Understood! We'll sell right away! Sell immediately, Manager!"
The office, which had just been listless, slow, and even somewhat lifeless, instantly erupted like a bombshell!
The clatter of keyboards exploded like a storm!
The frantic clicking of mice blended seamlessly with the noise!
Rapid breathing, occasionally punctuated by short gasps of tension or excitement...
Completely replaced the previous chatter and silence!
Everyone was like a wound-up war machine, their eyes gleaming with fanaticism, executing with their fastest speed and without regard for cost the simple yet earth-shattering final order from their "god-like" manager—
Sell!
Clear out the stock!
At all costs, realize all profits at this moment!!!
The battle, in this instant, began with its most ferocious fury!
***
"Ugh, they don't even give us a chance to catch our breath!"
The financial markets after the tsunami were a scene of utter devastation, a landscape of despair.
Those traders in other departments who were lucky enough to survive the storm had no time to lick their wounds.
Just being able to barely stay afloat was a miracle.
Want to return to their former glory?
Forget about it. Everything has to start from scratch, all over again.
"What else can we do? Everyone get moving, try to pick up some short-term opportunities! We need to at least make some money, otherwise we'll be starving next month!"
"Yeah, right! Last month I almost lost everything because of that damn nickel, and now this... I'm just incredibly unlucky!"
As the saying goes, "We're all in the same boat, why bother with past acquaintances?"
Seeing others in the same or worse situation seems to offer a sliver of morbid comfort.
These overwhelmed traders are currently struggling to maintain a semblance of psychological balance through this collective comparison of misery.
"By the way, what's the situation in Department Seven? Still no movement at all?"
"Yeah, the trading volume is consistently zero, like it's frozen solid. The whole department is eerily quiet."
You see, in this situation, people in other departments are going crazy. Even knowing how incredibly difficult it is to operate in a bear market, they have to grit their teeth and push forward.
Even if it's just picking up a few pennies, they have to get moving.
Why? For next month's performance bonus!
Traders live on performance-based pay.
No performance, no pay.
So they're all working themselves to the bone, their trading windows flashing, the keyboards clattering incessantly.
But amidst this chaotic, tumultuous scene, the Trading Department 7 is a completely different world.
Sunny and peaceful.
It's like everyone else is struggling through a mudslide, while they're leisurely vacationing on a newly excavated island of gold and silver, enjoying the sea breeze and cold drinks.
This stark contrast is infuriating!