Sharpening the Blade Against the Red Wall: From Hong Kong to Handong

In January 1996, before the winter chill had faded in Kyoto, a personnel appointment notice was quietly issued in the office area of ​​the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Zhou Jin was promoted from the position of chief clerk to a full section chief for his outstanding performance in the research on the reform of state-owned enterprises in Handong and for promoting the implementation of national standardized policies. He was then responsible for coordinating economic policies.

According to the cadre appointment policy at the time, a doctoral graduate would be assigned the rank of chief clerk (a non-leadership position at the section chief level) upon joining the workforce. Zhou Jin, based on his solid achievements during the research trip to Handong, was promoted to a substantive section chief, which not only conformed to the policy direction but also reflected the organization's recognition of him. Upon receiving the appointment, Zhou Jin remained low-key, simply thanking the leaders calmly before throwing himself into his new work, as if the promotion was just a natural progression.

Meanwhile, China's capital market is experiencing a period of rapid development. The Shanghai stock subscription certificates purchased in 1993 have seen their prices rise dramatically with the gradual maturation of the stock market—the price of a single subscription certificate has soared from the initial 10 yuan to 600 yuan, and the market value of the 5 consecutive subscription certificates held by Zhou Jin has reached 3000 million yuan.

Zhou Jin closely monitored the capital market. Combining his memories from his previous life with his professional judgment, he predicted that the stock market would enter a period of volatility and adjustment, making it the best time to cash out. Instead of acting rashly, he first approached his father, Zhou Chengbang, and briefly explained the situation: "Dad, the subscription certificates I bought in 1993 have appreciated in value. I want to cash them out now to avoid future risks."

Zhou Chengbang knew his son's financial acumen well, so he didn't ask too many questions about the details. He only instructed him: "It's okay to liquidate the assets, but it must be done in accordance with the law. After deducting taxes, manage the funds properly and don't make a fuss to avoid attracting unnecessary attention."

Afterwards, Zhou Jin paid a special visit to Professor Shen Mingyuan. After listening to his plan, Professor Shen Mingyuan's eyes were full of approval: "Your prediction is very reasonable. The stock market is currently very hot, and there is indeed a risk of volatility. Taking profits is a prudent move. Fund management should balance safety and public welfare; don't let this opportunity of our time slip away."

With the approval of her father and teacher, Zhou Jin used her weekend to travel to Shanghai again. The Shanghai stock market was no longer as deserted as it had been years before; the trading hall was bustling with people, many inquiring about subscription certificates, hoping to seize the opportunity to buy them. Zhou Jin kept quiet and, through the channels she had used to obtain the subscription certificates in 1993, contacted legitimate institutions to liquidate them in bulk.

The entire process was smooth and discreet. The 5 consecutively numbered, unopened subscription certificates were in high demand and quickly sold out. After deducting all taxes and fees, Zhou Jin actually profited 2800 million yuan. When he received the transfer voucher, he felt nothing—this wealth was never his ultimate goal, but rather capital for realizing his ambitions and supporting national development in the future.

Upon returning to Kyoto, Zhou Jin meticulously allocated the 2800 million yuan:

The first part involved depositing 1000 million yuan into a fixed-term deposit account at a state-owned bank. He specifically chose a special fixed-term product that supports the real economy, just as he told his father: "By depositing money in the bank, the bank can support enterprise development through credit, which can also be considered as indirectly supporting national construction."

The second part, 1000 million yuan, will be used to purchase long-term government bonds. Government bonds are low-risk, stable-return investments that can both ensure the safety of funds and support the national treasury, aligning with his philosophy of "prudent investment and giving back to the country."

The third part, 800 million yuan, was deposited into a current account as working capital, with plans to use it for future financial planning. He predicted that in the next few years, the private economy and emerging industries would usher in development opportunities, and this fund would be used to support high-quality private enterprises and participate in public welfare projects, so that the wealth could play a greater role.

After processing the funds, Zhou Jin only briefly informed his father and Shen Mingyuan of the results, and kept it a secret from others. At work, he remained the same calm and pragmatic Section Chief Zhou, dressed in a simple suit, working overtime to handle his tasks. When he was with Chen Panpan, he never revealed his financial situation, and the two continued to stroll around campus and talk about their ideals as usual, their relationship stable and pure.

He knew that "the tallest tree in the forest catches the most wind," and that exposing his enormous wealth could not only attract unnecessary suspicion and trouble, but also deviate from his original aspiration of "serving the country and the people." Only by maintaining a low profile and transforming his wealth into a driving force for development could he best repay this opportunity of the times.

As spring of 1996 quietly approached, Zhou Jin stood by the window of the General Office of the Central Committee, gazing at the street scene gradually turning green in the distance. The position of section chief was a new starting point, the 2800 million yuan in funding was a solid backing, and the blueprint in his heart was unfolding step by step with the tide of national development.

He knows that there will be more opportunities and challenges on the road ahead, but as long as he stays true to his original aspiration and moves forward steadily, he will surely be able to contribute more tangible strength to the country's economic development and the people's well-being in his own position.