Reborn in 2012, building a new energy empire

As everyone toasted each other, Wang Hao poured another round of drinks and began to talk animatedly about the recently concluded Premier League pivotal match, with Li Zhenyu chiming in.

The conversation quickly took off like a runaway horse, turning to Li Zhenyu's newly mentioned Ferrari, Cheng Yirou's long-talked-about Swiss skiing, and Chen Zi'an's casual mention of the latest auction results for a certain limited-edition watch.

Jiang Haoran listened with a perfectly appropriate smile. Under the encouragement of the crowd, he unknowingly drank a few more cups, his face slightly flushed, but his eyes remained clear.

Zhou Mingyu watched calmly, and when he felt the timing was right, he lightly tapped the table with his finger.

Upon receiving the signal, Li Zhenyu immediately changed the subject, took out his BMW car keys, and sighed dramatically, "Hey, why talk about this? These are all money-burning things. I just bought a new car recently, and my allowance is almost gone. To put it bluntly, I still don't have enough money to spend."

He looked at Jiang Haoran and asked, half-jokingly, "Brother Jiang, we've all heard that you've made quite a bit of money on your investments lately!"

Wang Hao immediately slapped his thigh, his voice rising several notches, filled with undisguised envy: "Brother Jiang, I've heard about this! It's all over the school, saying that you recently turned tens of thousands of yuan into dozens of times your initial investment in the futures market in a short period of time."

He paused deliberately, making a suggestive gesture with his hand, his eyes fixed on Jiang Haoran. "This is real skill! It's practically turning lead into gold! If we don't pass on some of our secrets, the brothers won't let you go!"

"Hey, we're all brothers, it's no fun keeping things to ourselves." Zhao Rui refilled Jiang Haoran's empty glass, half-jokingly complaining, "We're afraid our pocket money will depreciate if we keep it, and it'll be a waste if we invest it. Brother Jiang, can you give us a more practical suggestion? What should we buy that will allow us to... 'feel more at ease' and listen to what's going on?"

Zhou Mingyu held his wine glass, simply smiling as he watched how Jiang Haoran would respond.

Jiang Haoran picked up his glass, but didn't drink immediately. He lightly tapped his fingertips on the cool glass twice, as if organizing his thoughts: "I wouldn't presume to speak definitively, but here are some preliminary thoughts. Let's start with the Federal Reserve. In fact, the round of interest rate cuts they implemented in 2011 was an attempt to subtly suppress long-term interest rates and give the market a shot in the arm. Why?"

"Because the data isn't good. The debt crisis in Europe is looming, and our economic growth is also slowing down. They're in a bind now, and this liquidity injection is being forced out of them by circumstances."

He paused, observed Zhou Mingyu's expression, and seeing that the other was listening attentively, continued, "So the money will continue to find places to go. The current level of A-shares (the Shanghai Composite Index is currently fluctuating around 2300 points) is definitely a low point in the long run, but at present there is a lack of clear upward catalysts, and the bottoming process may take longer than expected."

It's more suitable for patient people who can withstand volatility to slowly build a portfolio of high-quality companies. Trying to get rich quick is unlikely.

"So... in your opinion, for those of us with average patience who want to make sure our money doesn't sit idle, where should we look?" Zhou Mingyu leaned forward slightly, his tone sounding like a casual question, but his eyes held a hint of seriousness.

Jiang Haoran knew the main point was coming. He met Zhou Mingyu's gaze without flinching: "Since there's a lot of money and concerns about currency devaluation, the natural destination for large sums of money is still commodities. However, it needs to be considered in different ways."

"Oh? How does it differentiate?" Zhou Mingyu pressed.

"Industrial metals, such as copper and aluminum, are inseparable from China's urbanization and infrastructure development in the long term, but in the short term, they are suppressed by the slowdown in domestic real estate investment, weak downstream demand, and high inventory. They will probably have to fluctuate at low levels for a while, and there is no need to rush."

Jiang Haoran's analysis was methodical: "Agricultural products follow a different logic, depending on the weather. This year, the climate in North America has been somewhat abnormal, and the weather risks in the main producing areas need to be continuously monitored. Once there is any disturbance, the fluctuations will be significant."

"What about energy? Like... crude oil?" Zhou Mingyu asked the most crucial question, which was also most likely related to his family's business.

Jiang Haoran didn't answer immediately. He picked up his glass and took a sip, seemingly choosing his words carefully. When he put the glass down, his tone was more certain: "Crude oil is a different story. Putting aside the black swan events of geopolitics, let's look at the most basic supply and demand."

"OPEC's spare capacity is already low, and non-OPEC supply growth is limited, but global demand, especially in emerging markets, is resilient. This creates a tight balance."

"Therefore, I personally believe that oil prices will likely remain at a relatively high level for some time to come, fluctuating more easily than falling. The downside potential is being supported by costs and some rigid demand."

After he finished speaking, the booth was silent for a few seconds.

Chen Zian subconsciously pushed up his glasses, and Wang Hao and Li Zhenyu exchanged a glance.

Zhou Mingyu gave Jiang Haoran a deep look, then revealed a subtle, slightly surprised understanding.

Jiang Haoran's logic and conclusions regarding oil prices were remarkably similar to a brief report he had recently heard at home from the chief analyst, who earned millions annually, during an internal meeting.

How could a college student see this level based solely on publicly available information and their own analysis?

The scales in Zhou Mingyu's heart tilted heavily in Jiang Haoran's direction once more.

A sharp glint flashed in Zhou Mingyu's eyes. He didn't speak immediately, but instead picked up the wine bottle and slowly filled Jiang Haoran's empty glass.

The amber-colored liquor swirled within the glass, producing a subtle, pleasant sound. This action itself was a silent form of approval and elevation.

"A single conversation with you is worth more than ten years of study," Zhou Mingyu said, putting down the wine bottle with a more genuine respect in his tone.

"Brother Jiang, you can discuss the macro picture, industry details, and geopolitical risks with ease and clarity. I truly admire you."

The atmosphere in the booth subtly changed. Wang Hao and his companions became even more enthusiastic in their flattery, their curiosity almost overflowing.

Jiang Haoran wore a faint smile, slightly flushed from the alcohol, but he knew perfectly well: the time was right, but it still needed a final burst of fire.

He needed a gust of wind to fan the flames and completely transform the image of the "armchair strategist" into a real person who could "turn stone into gold."

You can't wait for the other person to ask for it; that would be a bad idea. You have to give it yourself, and you have to give it as if it were an unintentional mistake, something you did on a whim.

The opportunity soon arrived. Chen Zi'an adjusted his glasses and pressed for details regarding a specific aspect of the logic surrounding crude oil.

Zhao Rui also joined in the conversation, mentioning a dubious rumor he had heard. The discussion became somewhat disorganized.

Jiang Haoran rubbed his temples at the opportune moment: "We still need to check the specific data and current price anchors in real time."

His words sounded like a mild summary of the debate, and also like a casual explanation of his next move.

Naturally, he reached for the phone lying face down on the table, unlocked it, opened Futures Connect to check, and then inadvertently revealed his holdings interface.

Chen Zian, who was sitting next to him, was the first to be attracted by the light and glanced at it subconsciously.

At that one glance, his body froze instantly, as if pricked by an invisible needle. He swallowed the words he was about to say, his eyes fixed on the screen, his pupils contracting sharply.