Chapter 169: The Doubling Myth Is About to Begin, Traders Stunned by Sky‑High Commissions

At 5:30 p. m., the trading session at the Far East Exchange ended.

Lu Qingshan and Lu Qingjun waited for Ye Ning at a cha chaan teng near the exchange.

The cha chaan teng was packed with financial workers just off duty, Cantonese, English and Mandarin mingling together like a little United Nations.

Lu Qingjun fidgeted nervously with the sugar packet on the table, his fingers nearly tearing the wrapper, and kept glancing toward the door.

"Second brother, are we really going to hand all our money to a complete stranger?" Lu Qingjun asked in a lowered voice.

"It's not a stranger; it's a professional trader recommended by Manager Huang," Lu Qingshan said, while observing the expressions of the other patrons.

The traders wore the fatigue of a day's dealing on their faces, yet their eyes still glittered with a hunger for money.

A few people were still murmuring about today's market, their calculators clicking clack-clack.

"Old Zhang, how are you today?"

"Don't even ask. The long position I bought this morning rose two points by the afternoon."

"Ha ha, I told you earlier that now is a good time to enter the market."

Lu Qingshan listened to the conversation and became more certain of his own judgment.

These people are too short‑sighted to see where the real opportunity lies.

Soon after, Ye Ning arrived.

She swapped her red work vest for a simple white T‑shirt and denim trousers, looking clean and tidy.

To Lu Qingshan's surprise, she looked younger than she did in the exchange, with a hint of student‑like freshness on her face, lacking the shrewd, cutting edge he had imagined in a female trader.

"Mr. Lu, hello," Ye Ning extended her hand, her voice crisp. "Manager Huang said you were looking for a trader to act as your agent?"

"Yes." Lu Qingshan shook her hand and noticed the girl's hand was strong, with a few ink stains on her fingers. "Manager Huang said your performance is excellent and your Mandarin is very good."

Lu Qingjun, standing nearby, discreetly sized up Ye Ning, thinking that she looked younger than Xiao Fang from the village; could she really make them money?

Ye Ning sat opposite them, waved a waiter over and said, "One lemon tea, thank you." Then she turned to Lu Qingshan, "Thanks for the compliment. However, I must first state that the stock market carries risk; I can't guarantee profit every time. Especially now the market seems favorable, but I expect future volatility to be large."

Lu Qingjun grew even more nervous upon hearing this. He whispered to Lu Qingshan, "Second brother, did you hear that? Even the professionals say it's unstable."

"I understand that," Lu Qingshan replied, ignoring his brother's worry, "Could you elaborate on your trading style?"

Ye Ning took the lemon tea the waiter brought, sipped it, and answered, "I tend toward medium‑short term trades, usually holding positions for one week to a month. I combine technical analysis with fundamental analysis to pick stocks with potential. Yesterday I just helped a client on the Heji stock, earning an eight percent return, and have already sold."

At that point, a flash of pride crossed Ye Ning's eyes, but she quickly returned to professional composure.

"A three‑year average return of 55 % is indeed impressive," Lu Qingshan acknowledged, while his mind was already calculating other matters.

In his previous life, his own self‑taught stock‑trading returns were about the same, but that was in a relatively mature market environment.

The Hong Kong Island stock market is now in a relatively chaotic stage, offering more opportunities.

"How much capital are you prepared to invest?" Ye Ning set her cup down and asked directly.

"Five hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars," Lu Qingshan did not conceal.

Ye Ning paused mid‑sip, the tea cup hanging in mid‑air before she slowly lowered it.

Five hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars among Hong Kong Island retail investors is definitely a large account.

For a commission‑based trader like her, that means a substantial income.

Lu Qingjun nearly choked on his own saliva beside him.

Five hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars—how much could that buy back home!

"Regarding commission, I usually take ten percent of profits. For a capital of five hundred thousand, I can offer you a reduced rate of eight percent," Ye Ning tried to stay calm, though her voice still trembled.

"Ten percent is acceptable," Lu Qingshan nodded, then shifted tone, "But I have a special request."

"What request?" Ye Ning asked alertly, thinking that such a big client must have some special needs.

"I want you to serve only me for the next half month. As compensation, in addition to the normal commission, I will give you an extra service fee of one hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars."

Ye Ning nearly choked on the tea, hurriedly grabbed a napkin to wipe her mouth: "One hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars?"

The other patrons in the cha chaan teng turned their heads, thinking something had happened.

An uncle eating ho fun paused his chopsticks, looking on curiously.

Lu Qingjun also jumped, elbowing Lu Qingshan: "Second brother, are you crazy? One hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars could build how many houses back home!"

Lu Qingshan glared at his brother, signaling him to stay silent.

Then he turned to Ye Ning: "Of course, I have conditions as well. First, absolute confidentiality; you may not disclose my trading activities to anyone. Second, you must follow my instructions strictly, without any independent decisions."

Ye Ning set the napkin down, her mind racing. One hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars equaled more than a year's earnings for her; the temptation was huge.

But she also realized that someone able to put up that much for commission could not be an ordinary retail investor.

"Mr. Lu, may I ask why you want to do this?" Ye Ning asked tentatively, speculating about various possibilities.

"Because I am confident I can multiply the capital several times within half a month," Lu Qingshan said calmly, though his eyes burned with unprecedented Confidence.

Ye Ning felt a jolt in her heart.

Doubling in the stock market is not impossible on Hong Kong Island, but it requires excellent luck and precise judgment.

What gives this mainland‑born young man such confidence? Could he have insider information?

"What if we lose?" Ye Ning asked, her professional habit forcing her to consider the worst case.

"If we lose, it's on me, but the one hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars service fee is still yours," Lu Qingshan replied without hesitation.

Lu Qingjun panicked: "Second brother, this is too risky! If we lose everything, how will we go home to see our parents? Dad would beat us to death!"

"Qingjun, do you believe your second brother?" Lu Qingshan turned to his brother, his gaze containing a reassuring strength.

Lu Qingjun looked at his brother's eyes; that unhurried demeanor reminded him of childhood, when every time he was bullied, his second brother stepped in to protect him.

Although his brother later went astray, now he seemed to have returned to the all‑capable figure of his youth.

Ye Ning remained silent for a moment, her fingers lightly tapping the tabletop.

The lure of one hundred thousand Hong Kong dollars was huge, and the other party didn't even seem like a swindler.

Most importantly, Manager Huang's recommendation should be trustworthy.

"Okay, I agree. But I also have a condition: if I discover the operation carries major risk, I have the right to refuse to execute it." Ye Ning finally made up her mind.

"All right." Lu Qingshan reached out his hand, "Then it's settled. Miss Ye, starting tomorrow, we officially cooperate."

When Ye Ning shook his hand, she felt a strange power.

This young man from the mainland had an indescribable demeanor, possessing both the boldness of a northerner and a composure beyond his years.

"Pleasant cooperation." Ye Ning said, but in her heart she thought: these half a month are destined to be unsettled.

Lu Qingshan held Ye Ning's hand, and a previously unknown excitement surged in his heart.

Hong Kong Island's stock market—he was finally about to officially enter!