344: Stock market is risky

Lin Zifeng and Zhang Chinglei walked into the cafeteria together. The Party School cafeteria operated on a buffet model, with what looked like a dozen dishes and several soups, providing a balanced mix of meat and vegetables.

Each of them took a tray, got their lunch, and sat across from each other at a dining table to begin eating.

"Zifeng, did you see him? The man with glasses sitting to our side is Wang Li, the Deputy Director of the Highway Administration Bureau under the ministry of Transport.

He has visited Yuquan City before, and I met him once. He didn't notice me, so it's impossible for him to remember me.

He's only thirty years old this year, yet he's already a Deputy Department-Level Cadre in a ministry.

Local Cadres like us really can't compare to those in the ministries!

Only you are an exception, being able to promote to a Deputy Department-Level Cadre before the age of thirty.

I'm already thirty-five this year, and I only just got promoted from Division Chief to Organization Minister last year. I barely caught the last train to attend this training session at the Central Party School."

After spending the morning together, the two had stopped addressing each other by their formal titles.

"Brother Zhang, you shouldn't belittle yourself. You're only a few years older than me. After accumulating enough experience, your future promotion speed might not necessarily be slower than mine.

A thirty-five-year-old Deputy Department-Level Cadre is also a rarity in our Huanan Province.

If you feel this way, how are the other department-level Cadres in Huanan Province supposed to feel?"

"You certainly have a way with words! In front of people like you, that's the only way I can comfort myself."

The two chatted quietly while eating and soon finished their lunch.

Leaving the cafeteria, they agreed to chat again later and returned to their respective dormitories.

Back in his room, Lin Zifeng started a video call with Chen Yuxi, and Chen Yuxi's pretty face immediately appeared on the screen.

They had spoken on the phone the night before, so Chen Yuxi said with a smile, "Hubby, are you all settled in at the Party School?"

"Settled in. I've already had lunch and just got back to the dorm to rest, so I called you.

Wife, where's Ningning? Let her talk to me."

"Ningning is taking a nap. It's just me and Sister sitting in the Living Room. Haotian is also asleep."

Just as Chen Yuxi finished speaking, Chen Yuqing also appeared on the screen, smiling and waving a greeting.

"Zifeng, what's the living environment like at the Central Party School?"

"It's quite good. All kinds of facilities are available, and I have a single-room dormitory."

After saying this, he panned the camera around the room to show everything before pointing it back at himself.

He then continued, "A single dorm offers better privacy and makes it more convenient to stay in touch with you all.

The food standards are also very high. The conditions here are a level above the Provincial Party School, so don't worry!"

"That's good, then we won't worry," Chen Yuxi said.

Lin Zifeng chatted with The two sisters for over half an hour before hanging up the video call.

After ending the call with Chen Yuxi, Lin Zifeng started a video call with Jiang Yufei. Soon, Jiang Yufei's pretty face appeared on the screen.

"Zifeng, where are you? The environment looks so unfamiliar."

"I'm in my single dorm at the Central Party School! I just finished lunch and wanted to see what you were up to."

Lin Zifeng spoke as he lay down on the bed.

"You've already reported to the Central Party School. How does it feel?"

"It's alright! I'm re-experiencing life as a student. I even need to ask for leave and have a leave slip just to step out of the front gate."

"Isn't that great? Student days are the most nostalgic. Focus on absorbing knowledge at the Party School and don't worry about me.

I've already settled in Shen City. Over the past two days, those two classmates of mine helped me get everything sorted. We're even going out for dinner together tonight!"

Jiang Yufei said with a smile.

"Then I'm relieved. You're pregnant, so you must be extra careful with everything. Take a nap; you'll have more energy for tonight."

Seeing that Jiang Yufei looked a bit drowsy, he knew that pregnant women tend to be sleepy, so he intended to end the call.

Jiang Yufei, who could barely keep her eyes open, gave a word of agreement and hung up the call.

Lin Zifeng also took a nap for over an hour. After getting up and washing his face, he sat at the desk and opened his laptop.

He logged into his account and began checking the stock market trends.

Time soon reached evening. A knock sounded at the door. Lin Zifeng got up and opened it to find Zhang Chinglei standing there.

"Zifeng, the cafeteria is about to open for dinner. I came to get you so we can go together."

"Make yourself at home, Brother Zhang. I'll wash my hands, and then we'll head to the cafeteria."

Lin Zifeng spoke as he walked toward the bathroom.

Zhang Chinglei agreed. Seeing Lin Zifeng's laptop screen was still on, he walked over curiously.

When he saw Lin Zifeng coming out of the bathroom, he straightened up and said with a smile, "Zifeng, so you're interested in stocks and have studied the market?"

"I just study it a bit when I'm free. It's just a small hobby to earn some pocket money and increase my side income.

Our salaries aren't low, but expenses are also high, so I found this side hustle to make some money."

"That's a good way. The income is legitimate and legal, so you don't have to worry about anyone investigating it.

When you have time, give me some pointers! I've had similar thoughts a few times before, wanting to earn some extra cash through stocks.

But the stock market is risky, and I'm afraid of losing the private savings I worked so hard to accumulate."

Zhang Chinglei said with a laugh.

"Brother Zhang, the stock market is indeed risky. The hardest thing to control is one's own desires. If you trade with a gambler's mindset, you'll lose everything sooner or later.

First, you shouldn't take gains and losses too seriously; you have to approach it with a playful attitude.

The total capital I put into the market is only a hundred thousand yuan. When I make a profit, I sell the profitable portion to recover the funds.

I planned it out when I first entered the market: if I ever lose that initial hundred thousand yuan of principal, I'll stop trading.

Fortunately, that hasn't happened yet.

So I advise you to be cautious regarding the stock market."

Lin Zifeng shared some of his experience for Zhang Chinglei's reference.

Zhang Chinglei nodded and spoke again, "Let's go, Zifeng. Let's head to the cafeteria; we can talk on the way.

I was just speaking off the cuff. My private savings are less than fifty thousand yuan. I need to think it over carefully. If I lost it all at once, it wouldn't be easy to save up that much again.

In our house, your sister-in-law is the one in charge of the finances!"

The two talked as they walked out of the room and headed toward the cafeteria side by side.