Chapter 284: Li Ye Is an Old Silver Coin

An international long-distance call came to the office of the Economics Department of Beijing University.

"I am Wave Literature Publishing House in Hong Kong, and I have a close relationship with the Lonely Army Literature Society of your school. Please find Li Ye, a student of the '82 grade of the Economics Department, to answer the phone immediately. It's very urgent, really very urgent."

"Where are you? What Hong Kong society?"

The international long-distance in '83, the sound was somewhat distorted, and the teacher who answered the phone suspected he had heard it wrong.

"Wave Literature Publishing House in Hong Kong, the magazine that serializes *Looking Homeward: The Lonely Army*..."

"Oh, oh, oh, I know this. You want to find student Li Ye, right? What is the matter with you?"

"I am this teacher, I really have a very, very important matter. Please call student Li Ye immediately, okay?"

"Okay, okay! Then I'll go call someone for you, you call back later!"

"Don't hang up, I spent ten minutes to transfer to you here. Please."

"Okay, okay, wait a moment!"

The teacher who answered the phone put the receiver on the table and ran out of the door in a hurry.

The colleague next to him laughed: "It seems Li Ye has contacted Hong Kong, and I don't know if *Looking Homeward: The Lonely Army* can have a turning point. Sigh... a group of young people have no experience!"

"That's right! They shouted an exorbitant price of 300,00

Several teachers had heard about the matter of "The Lonely Army of the Distant Homeland," and at this moment, they couldn't help but chat about it for a few sentences.

Unexpectedly, a cold reprimand suddenly came from the other side of the office: "Even if the students lack experience, aren't they generating revenue for the school? Over the past six months, the Lonely Army Literature Society has contributed over ten thousand US dollars; how did it become so unbearable in your mouths?"

"I'm sorry, Professor Zhang, that's not what we meant."

Several teachers hurriedly lowered their heads and shut their mouths. Having just gotten caught up in gossiping, they had forgotten that Li Ye's "mentor" was sitting on the other side. Fortunately, they hadn't mentioned any names, otherwise, they would inevitably have been sprayed with a scolding.

Ten minutes later, Li Ye ran into the office, greeted the teachers, and then picked up the receiver on the desk, speaking in Cantonese.

"Hello, Boss Pei? This is Li Ye."

"This is Luo Luo Runbo, A-Cong is right here beside me,"

Luo Luo Runbo on the other end of the line was extremely anxious, shouting at the top of his lungs: "Mr. Li, the Hong Kong dollar to US dollar exchange rate has now fallen to 9.58. If it drops another six cents, we're going to be liquidated."

"Keep your voice down," Li Ye frowned, saying with great dissatisfaction: "You rushed to call the school just to tell me this trivial matter?"

"I'll your—"

Luo Luo Runbo barely managed to hold back a "I'll your mother" from exploding out.

Damn it, this is a matter of life and death, and you actually call it "trivial"?

Just yesterday, the mainland and Britain concluded the fourth round of talks regarding the Hong Kong issue. The huge differences between the two sides were not resolved at all, leading to panic in the Hong Kong market. Today, the Hong Kong dollar to US dollar exchange rate suddenly fell to 9.6:1.

Because he trusted Li Ye's prediction, Luo Luo Runbo, who had laid an ambush in advance, successfully settled his short positions and then, with astonishing courage, went all-in on the Hong Kong dollar.

However, after Luo Luo Runbo bought long positions at around 9.55, the exchange rate couldn't stop sliding. Seeing that liquidation could happen at any moment, Luo Luo Runbo, despite his solid professional training, was also paralyzed and wanted to cut his losses immediately to survive.

But Pei Pei Wencong strictly stopped Luo Luo Runbo, determined to trust Li Ye even if it meant losing all seven million US dollars of his own money.

Helpless, the two of them urgently dialed the number to the mainland.

Usually, when they contacted Li Ye, they had to call the Pengcheng Seventh Factory's Beijing office first and let Jin Peng go find Li Ye.

But at this moment, there was no time for that, so they just dialed straight to Beijing University and then transferred to the Economics Department.

Unexpectedly, after finally getting through, they were coldly reprimanded by Li Ye.

"Mr. Li, I know you are a genius, but it's really too dangerous. I have to be responsible for the client! Can we wait until the exchange rate turns around before going long?"

Luo Luo Runbo looked at the constantly falling exchange rate quotes, feeling like he was about to have a heart attack, and could only earnestly try to persuade Li Ye.

"No," Li Ye said decisively: "You guys withdraw, I won't. I hope you uphold your professional ethics and don't do anything wrong."

"Mr. Li, it's 9.59 already!"

"That's it, we'll talk tomorrow."

Li Ye hung up the phone and saw several teachers around him pricking up their ears to listen.

However, Li Ye and Luo Luo Runbo were speaking Cantonese, and the sound from the receiver couldn't travel very far, so everyone just listened in vain.

"Li Ye! Is the talk not very optimistic?"

Professor Zhang waved his hand, called Li Ye to his side, and said: "Don't put too much pressure on yourself, you've already done very well.

Even if the movie doesn't get made, don't you still have one or two thousand US dollars in royalties every month? If anyone gossips behind your back, tell them to donate a few thousand dollars to the school first."

During the summer vacation, Professor Zhang took Teacher Lu to stay at his son's house for a while, and only learned about the matter of "The Lonely Army of the Distant Homeland" after he returned.

At the time, he wanted to go to the school to reason with them, but Li Ye told him not to worry and to wait and see.

But looking at the tone Li Ye used on the phone just now, the situation was likely not very optimistic.

"It's okay, Teacher. Hong Kong should support us, but as for the extent of that support, we'll have to wait a few days to know."

"Oh?"

Professor Zhang looked at the calm Li Ye and liked this responsible disciple even more.

It's just that Professor Zhang didn't know what Li Ye meant by "a few days."

Hong Kong.

Luo Luo Runbo looked at the final closing exchange rate and finally swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

1:9.60, the lowest exchange rate in Hong Kong's history.

"A-Cong, this time... I have abandoned the professional ethics of a professional trader and trusted you, a charlatan. If..."

"There are no 'ifs'."

Pei Pei Wencong, sitting beside him, was also parched; he hadn't eaten or drunk for a whole day, and was similarly so nervous he was about to collapse.

Everything had been predicted by Li Ye, except for a small accident at the very last moment, but the problem... wasn't big.

"Let's go! Let's go to my place first. I'll pick a room for you so you have no worries."

Pei Pei Wencong picked up his water glass, drank the water inside in one gulp, and pulled Luo Luo Runbo toward his residence on Mount Taiping.

This is the confidence of having a home. Even if he lost all his cash, didn't he still have a little nest to shelter from the wind and rain?

After dinner, Pei Pei Wencong and Luo Luo Runbo couldn't sleep no matter what, so they simply drove to the top of the mountain and stared blankly at the stars in the sky.

"A-Cong, your luck has been too smooth these past two years, but it's better not to take risks in the future. You know how hard it is for people of our background to climb up. Seven million US dollars!"

Luo Luo Runbo and Pei Pei Wencong were both graduates of prestigious schools, but both had wasted ten years at the bottom without being able to climb up. Pei Pei Wencong had been lucky these past two years and earned some money, but today Luo Luo Runbo felt it was too risky.

If they lost it, he would feel sorry for Pei Pei Wencong.

This is also one of the reasons why many people say Luo Luo Runbo is unprofessional; he is too sentimental.

If a client's money is lost, what does it have to do with the trader?

But Pei Pei Wencong drank his beer, looked up at the starry sky, and said: "Do you think my luck has only been smooth these past two years?"

"Hmm?"

Luo Luo Runbo looked at Pei Pei Wencong, not knowing what he meant.

Pei Pei Wencong smiled and threw the beer can far away.

"Master Huang told me that I have forty years of great luck!"

"Pfft~ cough cough cough cough~"

Luo Luo Runbo spat out a mouthful of beer.

"Isn't Master Huang... sigh..."

That night, Luo Luo Runbo and Pei Pei Wencong sat on the top of Mount Taiping without sleeping all night, and didn't go home to eat until the sun was high in the sky.

Then they saw important news on the television: the British Hong Kong government issued a series of control statements, clearly stating that refusing to accept Hong Kong dollars was not allowed in the market.

"..."

Pei Pei Wencong and Luo Luo Runbo were stunned for a full twenty seconds, then hurriedly left the house and drove straight to the exchange.

"Do you think it can rise today?"

"Rise, it will definitely rise, but I don't know how much."

"If it rises by ten cents, how much do we earn?"

"If it rises by ten cents, we earn double."

"Damn, we're rich!"

After the market opened, the two of them, with bloodshot eyes, watched the exchange rate climb all the way up, unable to even grab it, and were dumbfounded once again.

In the blink of an eye, the exchange rate rose from 9.6 to 8.9, and countless people trying to grab orders couldn't even get them.

"A-Cong, what do we do now?"

"You're the trader, you're asking me?"

"Then should we ask Mr. Li?"

"Just wait to be scolded!"

In the afternoon, Li Ye's call finally came through, and he only said one short sentence to Pei Pei Wencong.

"October 1st, come to Beijing to celebrate National Day."

Which country's National Day?

Does that even need to be said? His own luck is in the mainland!

"Liu Xiaohui, Liu Xiaohui, pack up, come with me to the mainland."

"Brother, I have school!"

"Let's go, Brother will get you a better school."

Late September, Beijing.

Wu Wu Jinyuan was in the Beijing University debate team's activity room, communicating with everyone for the last time.

The national debate tournament was about to begin, and Wu Wu Jinyuan felt that she should also give the Lonely Army Literature Society a chance.

These past few days, the Lonely Army Literature Society had been under great pressure, and Li Yang Huaisheng and Yang Yang Yumin were visibly much more haggard.

But just as Wu Wu Jinyuan wanted to have a showdown with Li Ye, she saw Pei Pei Wencong.

"Ms. Wu, why are you at Beijing University? Oh my! I really didn't expect to meet you again."

Pei Pei Wencong "coincidentally" met Wu Wu Jinyuan at Beijing University. He was first surprised and happy, then walked over with a smile and shook Wu Wu Jinyuan's hand vigorously.

Wu Wu Jinyuan knew that "shaking hands vigorously" was a way for mainlanders to show enthusiasm, but Pei Pei Wencong, a Hong Konger, what are you being so enthusiastic for?

"Mr. Pei is asking me why I'm at Beijing University; shouldn't I be surprised that you appeared at Beijing University?"

Wu Wu Jinyuan pulled back her palm and smiled, revealing her white teeth: "I heard that the situation in Hong Kong has changed a lot recently. Why did Mr. Pei come to the mainland at this time?"

Pei Pei Wencong laughed heartily: "I'm not a politician, why would I care about those things? I came to Beijing this time because 'The Lonely Army of the Distant Homeland' has finally finished. Since it earned me so much money, I have to come and express my gratitude, right?"

Wu Wu Jinyuan's eyes narrowed, a sharp gaze flashed by, and then she smiled and said: "Mr. Pei doesn't care about politics, but you should care about life, right? I heard that Hong Kong citizens have started panic-buying supplies these past few days, and the panic in the market is intense. Aren't you worried about your home?"

"This... I'm also a little worried, just a little."

Pei Pei Wencong stretched out his palm and used his thumb and index finger to gesture a gap of a few millimeters, expressing his worry and concern for what had happened in Hong Kong these past few days.

Wu Wu Jinyuan looked at that gap of a few millimeters, and the faint smile on Pei Pei Wencong's face, and felt that something was very wrong.

The pessimism in the Hong Kong market was heavy, but this Pei Pei Wencong seemed very happy, very pleased.

It would be strange if Pei Pei Wencong wasn't happy!

In just a few days, he had earned over eighty million US dollars, equivalent to over six hundred million Hong Kong dollars, successfully entering the ranks of "billionaires."

"Mr. Pei, how are you going to express your gratitude this time?" Wu Wu Jinyuan still asked the question in her heart.

"Oh, a friend of mine just happened to have some spare money and wanted to find investment opportunities, so I told him, isn't 'The Lonely Army of the Distant Homeland' a ready-made opportunity?"

"..."

Wu Wu Jinyuan looked at Li Ye, who was smiling gently not far away, and finally realized that this handsome young man, who was five or six years younger than her, was actually a deep-scheming old fox.

She thought she had everything under control, but who knew she had been calculated by this kid.

I wrote several hundred words less today; I will try my best to make it up with three chapters tomorrow.

(End of chapter)