I'm in the county town, and you say I'm a big shot?

Chapter 310 Qiao Yongfeng makes a surprise visit to Nanxin

Fang Qingye knew perfectly well that Shi Guangrong hadn't come to Nanxin to show off his gardening skills.

After working for a while, Fang Qingye invited Shi Guangrong to his office to rest and have tea. The two sat on the sofa, and at this time Shi Guangrong said, "Lin Guangmao and the others will be punished by the China Securities Regulatory Commission."

Fang Qingye was not surprised by the news and asked, "What kind of punishment will be given?"

"The three individuals have been placed under a suspension of new trading positions because their accounts under their actual control exceeded the trading limits set by the exchange for relevant Zhengzhou Cotton futures contracts. In accordance with Article 30 of the 'Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange Futures Trading Risk Control Management Measures' and other relevant regulations, the exchange has decided to suspend the opening of new positions for relevant futures contracts for these three clients for a period of six months."

After hearing Shi Guangrong's words, Fang Qingye smiled slightly, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said with a smile, "On the surface, the punishment doesn't seem very severe, but I estimate they've suffered a huge loss."

"Yes, I've heard that the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has given the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange (ZCE) so-called 'window guidance' to strictly investigate speculative activities in Zhengzhou cotton futures. These three are being used as scapegoats, which will inevitably lead to capital flight and price declines. Since all three of them are heavily invested, they won't be able to get out at all," Shi Guangrong said with a smile.

"Furthermore, with the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange issuing a penalty order, they are unable to open short positions to hedge. As a result, it would be quite good if they could even break even and make a profit."

"Don't forget about the spot market!" Fang Qingye said, "They have 30 tons of cotton on hand. Let's see how they sell it off, and who will buy it at the high prices?!"

Shi Guangrong disagreed with this view: "In fact, cotton is indeed in short supply in China, and all major cotton mills are experiencing shortages."

"Really. The country won't use its strategic reserves to import from abroad?" Fang Qingye scoffed.

Just as Shi Guangrong was about to speak, he suddenly heard Fang Qingye's phone ring, so he stopped talking.

Fang Qingye picked up her phone and looked at the number on the screen. A slight look of surprise appeared on her face. She paused for a few seconds but still pressed the answer button.

Shi Guangrong noticed Fang Qingye's strange expression and said in a low voice, "Shall I go out and leave for a bit?"

Fang Qingye shook her head and said into the phone, "Hello, President Qiao."

"Oh, I'm in Nanxin."

"Great, welcome, welcome."

"Okay, let's talk when we meet. Goodbye."

After Fang Qingye finished her call, Shi Guangrong asked curiously, "Who's coming?"

"Qiao Yongfeng, the CEO of Bangcheng International Trade."

"Him?" Shi Guangrong looked surprised. "What does he want with you in Nanxin?"

"He said he finalized a deal with a company in Jinghai and since he had nothing else to do, he came to Nanxin to chat with me. I guess he's just as bored as you are," Fang Qingye said with a smile.

"Huh? Then I need to leave?" Shi Guangrong asked.

Fang Qingye shook her head: "What's there to avoid? It's not like he hasn't heard of you before."

“But I always felt that Qiao Yongfeng’s sudden visit to Nanxin to see you wasn’t just for a simple chat,” Shi Guangrong said.

"Oh?" Fang Qingye glanced at him. "Don't overthink it. Let's talk about tea when he arrives." Fang Qingye raised her teacup.

The two chatted over tea, and an hour later Fang Qingye's phone rang again. Fang Qingye picked it up and put it to her ear.

"You've already entered the city? Okay, I understand."

Fang Qingye hung up the phone and said to Shi Guangrong, "Qiao Yongfeng will be here soon. Let's go to the main gate."

The two arrived at the entrance of the nursery. Less than two minutes later, a black Mercedes-Benz S500 drove up from a distance and stopped by the roadside in front of the entrance. Qiao Yongfeng, wearing a black overcoat, emerged from the car.

"Welcome, Mr. Qiao." Fang Qingye walked up with a smile and extended her right hand. The two shook hands, and Fang Qingye introduced Qiao Yongfeng: "This is my friend, Shi Guangrong."

"Mr. Shi, hello. I've heard your name but have never met you in person." Qiao Yongfeng shook hands with Shi Guangrong: "I didn't expect to see you here."

"I had nothing else to do, so I came to Nanxin to chat and have tea with Qingye," Shi Guangrong said with a smile.

"Haha. Looks like we're all free." After chatting for a few minutes, Fang Qingye invited them inside.

Upon entering the nursery, Qiao Yongfeng looked around and said, "Is this the nursery you run? It's very nice; it's still lush and green even in the dead of winter."

"Actually, it's mainly run by my grandfather. I'm just a figurehead. I'd rather be doing the pruning than doing the pruning," Fang Qingye said with a smile.

"Mr. Shi also has a nursery? It seems I'll have to find a plot of land in Huijing to grow some seedlings and live the life of a gardener in the future."

The three of them chatted and laughed as they entered Fang Qingye's office. Fang Qingye brewed a fresh pot of tea, and they resumed their casual conversation.

"Mr. Qiao, you said you were doing business in Jinghai? Are there any companies in Jinghai that produce high-tech products?" Shi Guangrong asked.

His words were somewhat presumptuous.

Clearly, he had some doubts about Qiao Yongfeng's motives.

Qiao Yongfeng laughed and said, "President Shi, you are ignorant. There is a company in Jinghai called Zhongtian Technology that specializes in producing optical fiber cables. It is a leader in this industry in our country. I have signed a contract with them worth 1.2 million yuan to export to the European Union."

"Oh? I heard your company deals in electronic products and non-ferrous metals, but I didn't expect you to be involved in fiber optic business as well," Shi Guangrong said with a smile.

"My company does more than just fiber optics; we also deal in cotton!"

cotton?!
Upon hearing this word, Fang Qingye and Shi Guangrong exchanged a glance. He vaguely sensed that Qiao Yongfeng's visit to Nanxin was definitely not just for casual conversation.

Qiao Yongfeng seemed oblivious to their expressions and continued, "Some time ago, my company imported a batch of cotton from Brazil, about 100,000 tons, which will be delivered to Shanghai in a couple of days."

"Mr. Qiao, I never expected you to be in the cotton business," Shi Guangrong exclaimed.

"This time, I was commissioned by Shencheng Textile Holding Group to solve the urgent problems of some of its subsidiaries," Qiao Yongfeng explained.

Fang Qingye had heard of Shencheng Textile Holding Group, one of the largest textile companies in China, whose brands include Sanqiang, Feima, and Juhua.

"It seems that the situation of persistently high domestic cotton prices will soon be broken," Shi Guangrong said.

“Yes, cotton is a national strategic material. How can we let certain people act recklessly? Especially with spot goods!” Qiao Yongfeng said calmly.

Shi Guangrong didn't say anything more, picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"Come on, let's not drink tea anymore. Mr. Fang, let's go take a look at the orchids. I heard from Xia He that you've planted a lot of orchids." Qiao Yongfeng said and stood up.

“Yes, there are quite a few varieties. What, Mr. Qiao, are you also interested in orchids?” Fang Qingye asked.

"One becomes fragrant by being near orchids, and those who are careful in their conduct will naturally understand."

Fang Qingye accompanied Qiao Yongfeng to the orchid greenhouse, and Shi Guangrong naturally followed. Fang Qingye explained the various orchids to him, and Qiao Yongfeng listened with great interest.

"Mr. Fang, could you sell me one?" Qiao Yongfeng asked.

"Look at what you're saying. Why would you need to buy one? I'll give you whichever one you like, take your pick!" Fang Qingye said with a smile.

After hearing Fang Qingye's words, Qiao Yongfeng looked at Shi Guangrong beside him.

"Mr. Shi, I heard you also grow orchids. Which one do you think is the best?"

"If we're talking about rarity, then the Golden Diamond Phalaenopsis and Lotus Petal Orchid are the most precious." Shi Guangrong pointed to the orchids in the greenhouse as if listing his treasures: "But if we're talking about the gentleman among flowers, then the Cymbidium goeringii is the best, with its long-lasting fragrance and the title of the gentleman among flowers."

"Then I'll take a pot of Cymbidium goeringii. I'm just a commoner who has acted like a gentleman, so I'll use flowers to console myself, haha."

Qiao Yongfeng took a pot of Cymbidium goeringii and left, staying at the nursery for less than an hour.

(End of this chapter)