Back to 2008: I Helped My Dad Become the Richest Man

"Since you understand, that makes things easier." Luo Xiyuan composed herself and decided to stop trying to fool her younger brother like a child and confront him directly.

"That's right, I'm going to start investing in stocks. But my parents definitely won't agree; they think it's too risky and unreliable."

"That's outdated thinking," Luo Wen shook her head, looking like a little adult. "Money kept in the bank won't even keep up with inflation; it'll definitely lose value. Only through proper asset allocation and investment can you preserve and grow your wealth. Sis, I support you!"

The words "inflation" and "asset allocation" that Luo Wen uttered made Luo Xiyuan realize once again that her younger brother could not be measured by the standards of an ordinary nine-year-old child.

"Great! With you saying that, I'm relieved!" Luo Xiyuan's heart stirred. "Then now, we're allies! Our first task is to find a way to get Dad's ID card and open a stock account."

"That's easy." Luo Wen's eyes lit up, and he immediately had an idea.

That evening, Li Minxia was preparing dinner in the kitchen when Luo Wen ran over.

"Mom, our teacher assigned homework today. We need to learn about our family's basic situation and make copies of our household registration book and family members' ID cards," Luo Wen said earnestly, looking up at her.

"Oh? There's this kind of homework?" Li Minxia was chopping vegetables and didn't think much of it. "Your dad's ID card is in his black wallet. Go get it yourself. The household registration book is in the bedroom drawer. Remember to return it as soon as you've made the copy."

"Okay, Mom!" Luo Wen replied and ran off like a gust of wind.

Luo Wen ran to his parents' room and, with practiced ease, pulled the old wallet from his father's coat pocket. Inside, sure enough, was his ID card. Luo Wen then rummaged through the drawer and found his household registration booklet.

Holding these two key items, Luo Wen ran back to Luo Xiyuan's room.

"Sis, all done!" Luo Wen handed over her ID card and household registration booklet like a treasure.

Luo Xiyuan took the ID card and looked at her father's slightly serious face on it, feeling a little guilty.

"Hey bro, isn't what we're doing a little inappropriate? It feels like we're lying to our parents."

"Sister, we're doing this for our family's good! When we make a lot of money, we'll surprise them, and they'll be overjoyed! It's called a white lie!" Luo Wen argued vehemently.

Luo Xiyuan was persuaded by Luo Wen's words.

The next day was Saturday. Luo Xiyuan made an excuse that she was going to the Xinhua Bookstore in the county town to buy tutoring books, and dragged Luo Wen along with her to take the bus to the county town.

Upon arriving in the county town, the siblings went straight to a securities company branch located in the city center.

The brokerage office was rather deserted, with few people around. The stock market in 2009 was still in a slump, and investor enthusiasm was far from what it would later be.

A client manager dressed in a suit, who looked like he had just graduated from university, greeted them.

"Kids, what are you doing here? This is a securities company." The account manager asked curiously when he saw the two teenagers.

"Uncle, we're here to open an account." Luo Xiyuan took out her father's ID card and household registration book from her schoolbag and handed them over.

"Open an account? For whom?" The account manager was stunned.

"It's for my dad." Luo Xiyuan pointed to the photo on the ID card. "My dad raises pigs in the countryside and is very busy, so he doesn't have time to come over. He asked the two of us to handle it for him."

"Handle it for him?" The account manager frowned. "That won't do. According to regulations, opening an account requires the account holder to be present in person and undergo video verification. We can't process it for you like this."

Luo Xiyuan's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected there to be such a step. When she opened her account in her previous life, it was already the internet age, and she could do it directly on her phone without any of this trouble.

"Uncle, please make an exception for me." She started to take advantage of her young age and naivety, blinking her big eyes and putting on a pitiful look. "My dad really can't leave. There are hundreds of pigs in the pig farm waiting for him to feed them. We've come all this way, please help us out."

Luo Wen chimed in, "Yes, Uncle. We're hoping that if we learn how to trade stocks, we can go back and teach my dad, and lead our whole village to prosperity!"

The siblings sang in harmony, their words filled with genuine emotion.

But the account manager was clearly a young man who had only recently started in the industry and was extremely strict about following rules and regulations. The account manager shook his head repeatedly: "No, no, rules are rules, and no one can break them. You should have your father come by himself."

Seeing that the first step was about to fail, Luo Xiyuan was getting anxious.

Just then, a voice came from the side.

"Xiao Zhang, what's going on?"

A middle-aged man who looked to be in his forties and was somewhat balding walked out of the inner office, carrying a teacup. This middle-aged man appeared to be the manager here.

The account manager, Xiao Zhang, quickly stood up: "Manager Wang, these two kids want to open an account for their father, but I told them it's against the rules."

Upon hearing this, Manager Wang also walked over out of curiosity. He glanced at the ID card and household registration book that Luo Xiyuan handed over.

When Manager Wang saw the words "Luo Xinde" written in the "Head of Household" column on the household registration booklet, and the family address listed as "Luojia Village, Qinghe County," his eyes flickered slightly.

"You... are from Luo Family Village? Your father's name is Luo Xinde?" Manager Wang asked Luo Xiyuan with some surprise.

"Yes. Uncle, do you know my dad?" Luo Xiyuan was somewhat surprised.

"It's more than just knowing him!" Manager Wang suddenly laughed, his attitude becoming unusually enthusiastic. "Your dad is a celebrity in our county now! He's the owner of Luo's Farm, and the county magistrate himself has inspected it! Just a couple of days ago, our county's internal bulletin even published an article calling on all entrepreneurs in the county to learn from your dad!"

Luo Xiyuan never expected that her father's fame had grown so much.

"So you're Mr. and Mrs. Luo, the young master and his daughter! My apologies for not recognizing you!" Manager Wang's attitude immediately became enthusiastic. "Come, come, please have a seat! Xiao Zhang, what are you standing there for? Go and pour some water for our two distinguished guests!"

Manager Wang then turned to Luo Xiyuan and said, "Miss Luo, in principle, opening an account does require the person to be present. However... rules are rules, but people are flexible! Since it's Mr. Luo who wants to open an account, supporting our county's star entrepreneur is supporting our county's economic development! I'll make an exception for this!"

Manager Wang took the documents from Luo Xiyuan and said to Xiao Zhang, "Go, open an account for Boss Luo right away! I'll sign all the paperwork! I'll take responsibility if there are any problems!"

"This...Manager, this isn't in accordance with the rules..." Xiao Zhang was still a little hesitant.

"What's wrong with the rules!" Manager Wang glared. "Who is Boss Luo? He's an entrepreneur the county magistrate specifically wants to support! His business is the business of the entire county! If we tell you to do it, then do it! Stop with the nonsense!"

"Yes, yes, yes!" Xiao Zhang didn't dare to say anything more and quickly took the documents to complete the procedures.

Luo Xiyuan watched everything unfold before her, her mind filled with a myriad of thoughts.

She realized once again how useful power and fame are at any time.

The reputation her father had painstakingly built now presented her with a crucial opportunity for her secret operation.

Soon, the stock account was opened. Manager Wang even personally taught Luo Xiyuan and Luo Wen how to operate it on the computer.

"Ms. Luo, which stock would you like to buy? Our company has recently recommended several good stocks, all of which have restructuring potential and are sure to surge in the short term!" Manager Wang enthusiastically promoted them.

"Thank you, Manager Wang, but we already have a target," Luo Xiyuan politely declined.

She and Luo Wen went to an empty computer.

Luo Xiyuan took a deep breath and typed the numbers that were deeply etched in her mind onto the keyboard—600519.

On the screen, four large characters appeared: Guizhou Moutai.

At this moment, the stock price of this stock, which is expected to attract much attention in the future, is 105.6 yuan.

Luo Xiyuan glanced at the 20,000 yuan of New Year's money that she and her brother had pooled together in the account.

Without the slightest hesitation, she entered "100" in the quantity field and then pressed the "Buy" button heavily.

"Sis, why do we want to buy this?" Luo Wen asked curiously. "This place sells alcohol, and it doesn't seem as impressive as those high-tech companies."

"Brother, remember this." Luo Xiyuan stared intently at the red candlestick on the screen, his eyes deep. "In China, there's one type of business that rarely loses money: saving face."