Chapter 12

  The number of people who can attend the meeting is getting smaller and smaller, even Fu Andong, who had promised to come before, cannot appear on time. I have been busy setting up the venue and hearing this news makes me want to scold someone, so I said to Zhang Qiu over the phone: "You immediately call each department head now and tell them that no matter what they must send one person over for me. If they don't send anyone today, then in the future they shouldn't come asking us for people either."

  An hour later, Zhang Qiu called me out of breath: "Manager Xu, where is the place?"

  "Didn't I send you all an email before? The tiered classroom in the Economics College Teaching Building."

  I hung up the phone and saw a suit-clad Lu You standing at the classroom door, followed by Zhang Qiu and two other colleagues.

  I didn't have time to greet Lu You, and turned to ask Zhang Qiu: "Are these three all that came?"

  He said with difficulty: "Fu Zong can't come, Zhang Zong of the brokerage department said they won't be hiring this year... Ren Zong said that Lu Zongjian is also a graduate of B University, so he will definitely be able to help when he comes over. Also, two colleagues from finance and law can introduce the company's situation..."

  I turned around and took a look at those two colleagues, on their foreheads was written in big letters: We are here to get soy sauce.

  "Do you think Director Lu is someone who can help?" I said in a low voice. Lu You originally didn't talk much, if he went on stage the whole scene would definitely be cold enough to produce white mist.

  Zhang Qiu took a look at Lu You and said with certainty: "Yes. General Manager Lu is indeed low-key, and he has such rich experiences, which can also be used to discuss career planning with these students."

  I sighed, "It's already like this now. Let's wait and see how things go after the rally starts."

  To avoid an awkward atmosphere, I introduced the company's campus recruitment plan and graduate training program for the first half of the presentation. When time was almost up, I let Lu You introduce the situation and working methods of the investment banking department to everyone.

  Lu You's affinity is much higher than I imagined. He took off his jacket, wearing only a white shirt, and shared some experiences and insights from his years in the financial industry in an orderly manner.

  Perhaps it's because investment banking is so popular now, everyone wants to get in on the action; or perhaps it's because Lu You still has a bit of an intellectual air about him that makes these college students feel like they can relate. The atmosphere at the scene was quite lively, with more and more people lining up to ask him questions.

  A male classmate stood up and asked him: "Lu Shixiong, hello. I want to ask you a question: Most people go into investment banking for the money, which is where I'm hesitating, because I want to make a lot of money, but I don't want to make money just for the sake of making money. Can you talk about your original intention for joining this industry, and besides money, what else can this job bring you?"

  Lu You picked up the mineral water beside him and took a sip, hesitated for a moment, and replied slowly: "If you ask me why I do investment banking, I can tell you very clearly that it's for the money. As for other values this job brings to me, there are many, such as connections, status and a sense of accomplishment."

  There are many schools of thought abroad that criticize investment banks, calling them "financial bubble makers". I don't disagree with this view. But there's one thing I'd like to emphasize: without bubbles, there would be no dreams.

  Although in some market environments, investment banks are indeed creating financial bubbles, it is these bubbles that have created a "get rich overnight" dream for many investors and entrepreneurs.

  "So usually, I often use 'weaver of dreams' to comfort myself. It can be said that our work is similar to Disney's, the difference being they create dreams for minors, while we create dreams for adults."

  He paused for a moment, then added: "But we earn much more than they do."

  The scene was amused by him, and there were one or two voices in the crowd: "Then how much can you earn in a month?"

  He seemed to think for a moment, then smiled and said: "I'm afraid our HR manager, Ms. Xu, is present, so it's not convenient to reveal too much. Otherwise, after I go down, my rice bowl might be taken away by her. If you have any questions about salary and benefits, you can consult with our HR colleagues after the presentation. Of course, we also welcome each of you to come to our company to experience it for yourself."

  Zhang Qiu chuckled beside me and said: "I told you that General Lu has a good student relationship, the effect is very good today."

  I looked at Lu You on the stage, and this feeling was both familiar and strange. It seemed that he was still the diligent student who excelled in his studies as a senior, but had completely shed his former introversion and awkwardness, replacing them with smoothness and ease.

  A young female classmate stood up and asked him, "Senior, I want to ask you a private question. Many people say that working in investment banking is very tiring, with almost no personal space, so it's difficult to balance work and family life. How do you view this issue? Um... are you married?"

  This question seems more like a private issue for Lu You, he really stole the show this time, and the second half of the press conference was basically his personal interview.

  He thought for a moment, pushed his glasses and said: "I'm a negative example in this matter. But the situation varies from person to person, and there are not a few colleagues in the company who have happy families. The colleague next to me in the legal department just had a baby, please ask him, it would be more suitable." After finishing speaking, he handed over the microphone to other colleagues in time, and he himself took his coat and walked aside to rest.