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

Chapter 356 "Don't make me ask about these things anymore, it's risky!"

Standing by her office window, Li Lei watched Fang Qingye leave the lobby and get into her car before sending Liu Shuai a text message.

She works in the futures regulatory department. Although the investigation team is responsible for investigating the suspected illegal market manipulation of the Shanghai rubber RU1107 contract, this work was transferred from the futures regulatory department. So she roughly knows the situation, which involves Liu Shuai's college classmate, Fang Qingye.

The inspection team conducts dozens of such preliminary checks every year, so there's no need for much secrecy. Strict confidentiality is only required when the next step—the case filing and investigation—is initiated.

That would not just be a matter for the inspection team alone. With him in charge, a professional investigation team would be organized, which would include relevant personnel from the futures exchange, as well as experts in securities and law, and even economic crime investigation personnel from the public security bureau.

Based on the materials initially transferred by the Futures Regulatory Department to the Investigation Detachment, Fang Qingye was not suspected of market manipulation; this inquiry was merely a response to market news.

Otherwise, some people will say that there are rumors flying everywhere, but your regulatory department is doing nothing. You must take action, even if it's just to make a gesture.

Having worked here for several years, Li Lei has gradually come to understand these principles.

But she didn't know what the investigation team's conclusion was or whether they would conduct a further detailed investigation.

But she needed to know that this was Liu Shuai's instruction to her.

After thinking for a moment, Li Lei picked up her water glass, left the office, and headed towards the inspection team's office.

They work on the same floor as the branch office. In recent years, the number of investigations and cases filed in the futures market has been increasing year by year, so the two departments often communicate and have a relatively good relationship.

Li Lei walked slowly with her water cup in her hand. She passed a room with a sign that read "Investigation Room" and saw Ma Ming sitting alone at his desk writing something. So she went inside.

"Hey Ma Ming, did you arrange for someone to investigate? Is it over already?" Li Lei asked, pretending to be unaware.

Ma Ming looked up at Li Lei, who came in with a water glass, and said, "What's there to investigate? It's just a few simple questions. Your futures management department is really something. You investigate every little thing that's rumored, and then you transfer it to us. Isn't that just increasing our workload?"

Ma Ming wrote while complaining.

“Ma Ming, this is a big case. Look at the news article written by that reporter; it involves several prominent figures in the futures market,” Li Lei quickly argued.

"Bullshit! What leader? According to our investigation, Fang Qingye has no dealings with those people at all, let alone colluding with them to manipulate the market."

"Really?" Li Lei seemed somewhat incredulous.

"I'm asking you, do you know about what happened with the Zhengzhou cotton futures market last year?" Ma Ming looked up at her.

"Of course I know. In the end, the company even provided guidance through the window to bring down the skyrocketing Zhengzhou cotton prices," Li Lei replied immediately.

“During the Zhengmian scandal, Fang Qingye and Lin Guangmao were mortal enemies. I heard that Lin Guangmao hated Fang Qingye so much that he threatened to have someone teach him a lesson! How could two people like that possibly make up quickly?!” Ma Ming said.

“That’s true.” Li Lei nodded, then asked, somewhat puzzled, “Then why did we find during our investigation that they were all simultaneously holding long positions in the Shanghai rubber RU1107 contract?”

"Captain Li said it was probably a coincidence, but there's also the possibility that Lin Guangmao and his group found out about Fang Qingye's holdings through illegal means and went long as well. You know, people in society are calling Fang Qingye the new generation's futures king these days." Ma Ming laughed as he finished speaking.

"Oh, that means Fang Qingye is alright," Li Lei emphasized as a final statement.

"Yes, whether Lin Guangmao and his group are still engaging in position-sharing, insider trading, or other similar activities still needs further investigation. In any case, we haven't found any such behavior from Fang Qingye."

Hearing Ma Ming's words, Li Lei couldn't help but let out a soft sigh of relief.

"Hey Li Lei, why are you so concerned about Fang Qingye? Is he your classmate or a relative or friend?" Ma Ming asked, somewhat puzzled.

"How could that be? I participated in this survey too, so I was just curious about the results to see if our investigation was worthwhile!" Li Lei quickly tried to cover it up.

“It’s completely worthless!” Ma Ming muttered, then went back to his work.

Li Lei didn't disturb them any further. After leaving the investigation room, she didn't go back to her own office. Instead, she went downstairs, out of the courtyard, and to the roadside. She then called Liu Shuai and told him everything she knew. "I understand. Thank you on Qingye's behalf."

"Liu Shuai, don't make me ask about these things in the future. It's risky!" Li Lei complained at the end.

"I know, Fang Qingye and I are very close. I wouldn't have done that to anyone else. Besides, he didn't do anything wrong this time, so there won't be any bad consequences," Liu Shuai comforted him with a smile on the other end of the phone.

"I know Fang Qingye is inviting you to dinner tonight, but I won't go. It's a special time," Li Lei said again.

"clear."

"Drink less alcohol!" Li Lei added.

"Don't worry, I'll drive there, and I won't drink."

"No, I still need to use the car so I can get off work early and go home to see my mom," the girl explained.

Last year during the National Day holiday, Liu Shuai took out a loan to buy a Camry.

When he heard that his girlfriend needed the car, he could only say, "Okay, okay, you can use it. Getting home is more important. I'll take the subway."

Fang Qingye and he agreed to have dinner at Jin Xuan Chinese Restaurant on the 53rd floor of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, which has an outdoor terrace restaurant.

It is said that this place was used as a filming location for movies and TV series such as "Tiny Times" and "Old Boys", but neither of these movies has been made yet.

Fang Qingye insisted on inviting Liu Shuai, the one who made the phone call after she left the China Securities Regulatory Commission building.

Although the phone call didn't seem to make much of a difference, it served as a token of the sentiment.

Besides, Liu Shuai and his girlfriend Li Lei are just ordinary employees at their company now, but what about in the future?

I'll still be involved in the stock market in the future, and I might need his help someday.

Besides, Liu Shuai and I were classmates in college, and this friendship is something to cherish.

Fang Qingye sat alone at an empty table, leisurely watching the night view of Lujiazui. In front of her was the unobstructed river view of the Oriental Pearl Tower, overlooking the Bund's international architectural complex, which was magnificent.

Just then, he saw Liu Shuai, dressed in a T-shirt and casual pants, walk into the terrace looking very energetic, so he stood up to greet him.

"Qingye, you've chosen a great spot," Liu Shuai remarked, sitting at the table and admiring the surrounding scenery.

"Yes, so let's have a couple of drinks tonight, since your girlfriend isn't here," Fang Qingye said with a smile.

Liu Shuai laughed when he heard this: "Oh my, Fang Qingye, who always avoids alcohol, is actually drinking today? Great! Let's have a couple more drinks today!"

"OK! Miss, bring the menu." Fang Qingye called out.

The restaurant mainly serves French oyster set meals, Indonesian fried rice, and specialty cocktails. The two of them each ordered a French oyster set meal, a grilled seafood platter, and two Negroni cocktails, and chatted while they ate.

"It's so nice to be rich. People like me, who are just working-class, wouldn't dare to come here easily," Liu Shuai sighed.

"Really?" Fang Qingye smiled slightly: "Having money also has its troubles. I was invited for tea."

"Oh, I almost forgot about that. Li Lei found out some information today." Liu Shuai then told Fang Qingye everything Li Lei had said on the phone.

(End of this chapter)