"By the way, what's the point of Old Man Buffett throwing this party?" Boss Huang asked curiously, looking at Buffett, who was surrounded.
"This is an opportunity for young fund managers to communicate with each other, provided by Mr. Buffett. He has always been so friendly and kind to us young people! Gatherings like this have been held for over 10 years," Bill Ackman said as he came uninvited and joined Huang He.
Bill Ackman was naturally speaking in English, but he was accompanied by a translator who looked Chinese. It seemed that Bill Ackman had come prepared this time, even bringing a Chinese translator to connect with Huang He.
"Mr. Buffett hosts such gatherings every year, bringing together young fund managers from all over America, giving them and himself a chance to interact, imparting some experience and knowledge, and basically answering any question. As long as you ask Mr. Buffett, express your doubts, you will definitely get a satisfactory answer!"
"It is said that every year, many young fund managers go to Mr. Buffett with investment problems that trouble them, receive a lot of advice, and then achieve great success, becoming industry newcomers, or simply becoming famous and becoming big figures like Mr. Bill Ackman, renowned on Wall Street!" Little Swift, standing beside them, couldn't stand by and let his work be snatched away. Although his investment skills were not great, he was good enough to be a commentator.
"Yes!" Bill Ackman added, "Those who can attend this dinner are carefully selected and invited by Mr. Buffett, all under the age of 35. These individuals may not have mature skills, or are in a state of confusion, or simply lack an opportunity. But they all undoubtedly have one characteristic: considerable ability and talent. They are the future of Wall Street."
"Over the past 10 years, hundreds of managers have been invited by Mr. Buffett, and they have now become the backbone of Wall Street. Mr. Buffett's contribution to Wall Street and the industry is undeniable. He is truly a great and noble person!" Bill Ackman said with admiration, showing that this magnate genuinely admired Buffett from the bottom of his heart.
"So that's how it is!" Huang He nodded thoughtfully. No wonder Buffett's reputation in the entire industry was so resounding, so bright, and so good. Even after more than a decade, he had basically faded from frontline operations, only holding some stocks occasionally, but he was still famous on Wall Street. No one in the world could surpass him, and the entire circle praised him in every way.
It seemed the source was these young people in front of him.
"So you have to be under 35 to receive an invitation. But I recall you, Mr. Bill, were born in '66?" Little Swift said somewhat sarcastically from the side.
"I am not attending as a young investor!" Bill Ackman said with some pride. "I am attending today as Mr. Buffett's assistant. After all, Mr. Buffett is getting older and his energy is not as robust, so he cannot handle too many questions, and many matters require my assistance!"
"Oh!" Little Swift's attempt at mockery backfired, making his expression even more uncomfortable.
"Mr. Bill, I truly have no intention of changing fund managers. Someone as talented as you can find a better future!" Huang He said proactively.
"Don't be so quick to say that!" Bill Ackman revealed a faint smile. "How about this, I have a piece of news, news related to your country. After you hear it, you can decide whether you need my help!"
"What news?" Huang He was slightly taken aback. News related to China was something Huang He had to take seriously.
"I know that the funds under your management have always been involved in oil futures. However, your managers seem to have overlooked that besides oil futures, the futures prices of another product are undergoing drastic changes, presenting infinite opportunities! And it is also related to some important industries in China!" Bill Ackman said.
"What futures?" Boss Huang's expression changed slightly, while Bill Ackman, standing beside him, smiled and said, "Why don't you ask Mr. Little Swift beside you? He is the god of finance, and I believe with my hint, he should be able to react quickly."
"..." Little Swift immediately broke out in a cold sweat. This Bill Ackman really wanted to suppress him at every opportunity, not even missing this chance.
But the problem was, this guy was actually quite accurate. He couldn't see what else existed in the futures market with significant opportunities and an inseparable connection to China.
At this moment, quite a few people had already started to gather around. After all, Bill Ackman, Little Swift, and Huang He were the focus of attention for all the young fund investment managers. The fact that the three of them were sitting together again naturally attracted a lot of attention.
In fact, even Buffett kept glancing in their direction.
The attention from everyone made it impossible for Little Swift to evade. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "Sir, I'll go get my laptop to check the futures data for the past few days!"
"A good fund manager should keep all futures data in their head, not wait until the last minute to seek divine intervention," Bill Ackman said unexpectedly, causing Little Swift to sweat profusely again, feeling extremely embarrassed.
"Go get your laptop!" Huang He said lightly, letting Little Swift leave. A few minutes later, Little Swift returned with his laptop, opened the futures data center, and was about to speak when Huang He suddenly asked, "Mr. Bill, what was the closing price of banana futures today? Since you are so excellent, you must have all the futures data memorized, right?"
"..." Bill Ackman opened his mouth. As satisfied as he felt bragging just moments ago, he was now equally awkward. He did have a good understanding of the overall futures market and could roughly estimate the current price range for bananas, but asking him to state the exact price was sheer nonsense; he couldn't possibly remember it.
And since Bill Ackman couldn't bring himself to casually report a fake data point, the atmosphere became stiff. The arrogant aura he had exuded moments ago vanished without a trace.
There was a complete silence for several minutes. No one dared to speak until Huang He said to Little Swift.
"Mr. Swift, I think you should be able to tell which futures are problematic now. You can whisper it to me!"
Little Swift was stunned. He had been looking for a few minutes but still couldn't figure out what was wrong. However, he couldn't refuse Huang He's request, so he quietly leaned in and whispered to Huang He, "I'm sorry, sir, I can't tell."
After saying that, Little Swift felt so ashamed that he wanted to jump off a building and commit suicide.
"Oh, I see!" Huang He nodded, then wrote two Chinese characters in the laptop and handed them to Bill Ackman, saying, "Sir, you're referring to this, aren't you?"
Bill Ackman first had his translator look at the two Chinese characters. After understanding their meaning, his expression changed drastically. He looked at the rigid-faced Little Swift in surprise, and after a long while, he said, "It seems I have indeed underestimated you."
"Thank you for the compliment!" Little Swift had also regained his composure and nodded faintly, but in his heart, his admiration for Boss Huang was unparalleled.
Because he knew that it wasn't him who had identified soybeans as problematic, but Huang He.
"Sir, I only hope you give me an opportunity to demonstrate my value. Especially this time, by utilizing soybeans, I can bring you unexpected returns!" Bill Ackman said.
"What do you plan to do?" Huang He asked in return.
"Although the current situation is very complex, as long as you can grasp the prevailing trend, you can achieve victory, and I am the one who can grasp the trend!" Bill Ackman said with great confidence. "You only need to give me control of 1 billion US dollars, and I can bring you at least a 50% return within half a year."
This promise astonished the onlookers. Guaranteeing a 50% return rate within half a year, and at the scale of 1 billion US dollars, wouldn't that mean at least 500 million US dollars in profit?
Was this a temptation that humans could refuse?
"Never mind then!" Huang He shook his head.
"Why?" Even though Bill Ackman was prepared to beg and humble himself, being so ruthlessly rejected twice by Huang He, and still being rejected after presenting his trump card, Bill Ackman finally couldn't help but stand up and question him, "Mr. Huang He, what am I inferior to you in, that you are so unwilling to give me an opportunity?"
"I told you, because I believe Little Swift has abilities no less than yours, and I am very optimistic about him!!" Huang He said.
"A mere black person..." Bill Ackman said dismissively, causing Little Swift to clench his fists. The contempt generated by his race was the most infuriating.
Well, Bill Ackman should be grateful that it was currently 2004 and not 2014, otherwise, if this mockery of his were uploaded to social media, he would probably be unable to breathe in the US.
"A black person's 'm' is also an 'm'!" Huang He stood up and uttered a classic line. "Black people's intelligence is no less than that of any other race. Black people, like us Chinese, like any other race in the world, are equally great races and beings. I always believe that Mr. Little Swift is one of the most outstanding financiers in the world, just like the great nation behind him!"
"Clap clap clap!" A reporter seized this exciting moment and captured it with a camera.
Well, who knows how this reporter managed to get in.