At the end of December, after international crude oil futures prices broke through $99 a barrel, Yi Anguo decisively closed out his positions.

He started going long when international crude oil futures were at $70 a barrel and held until they reached $99, a total increase of $29. The first purchase of 50,000 contracts yielded $50 million for every dollar increase, netting a profit of $1.45 billion.

The second purchase of 50,000 contracts, made when the price was $75 a barrel, earned a profit of $1.2 billion.

The third purchase of 50,000 contracts, made at $80 a barrel, earned a profit of $950 million.

The fourth purchase of 50,000 contracts, made at $85 a barrel, earned a profit of $700 million.

The fifth purchase of 50,000 contracts, made at $90 a barrel, earned a profit of $450 million.

The sixth purchase of 50,000 contracts, made when the price was $94 a barrel, earned a profit of $250 million.

Six purchases totaling 300,000 contracts resulted in a total profit of $5 billion. Once he had cleared all his positions and transferred the funds out, Yi Anguo let out another long sigh of relief.

Throughout 2007, Yi Anguo made $9.15 billion in the international crude oil futures market, on top of the $1.888 billion he had made in 2006.

Yi Anguo believed he would earn even more in 2008. After transferring his funds, he left $100 million in his account and immediately shorted 50,000 contracts.

Although international crude oil futures prices would surge to an all-time high of $147 a barrel in July 2008, the rise was not a straight line.

In January 2008, at the start of the new year, international crude oil futures prices began to plummet. By late January, they had dropped to a low of $86.69 a barrel before starting to rise again, reaching $107 a barrel by mid-March.

Subsequently, a fierce battle ensued between the bulls and the bears. Daily market fluctuations were quite large, and a rise or fall of five to six dollars within a single day was a normal price swing.

For example, the price might close at $107 a barrel today, drop to $101 tomorrow, and rebound to $106 the day after, reflecting a constant tug-of-war.

However, these were all matters for after the holiday. The previous year, they had planned to go back home for the New Year, but they couldn't make it because Ding Jing had her baby.

They had planned to return for the New Year this year, but the weather was too extreme, making it completely unsuitable for travel.

Before the 2008 Chinese New Year, the weather was bitterly cold with a mix of rain and snow. The entire country was experiencing widespread storms, hardly suitable conditions for traveling home for the holiday.

Driving back would be a huge risk; they could get stuck on the road for a week.

A bowl of instant noodles cost twenty yuan, using the restroom was ten yuan, and even a cup of hot water for baby formula was ten yuan.

Flying was no better, with flight delays and airport closures.

Taking the train was out of the question. The train station in Yangcheng had 400,000 people stranded, and two million more were waiting to board. A single bottle of mineral water was selling for fifty yuan.

Even if one managed to overcome all these difficulties and make it back to their hometown, it would be much colder there than in previous years, possibly with power outages and sold-out candles. Just thinking about it was terrifying.

Adults might handle it better, but the children would suffer in such weather. It would be easy for them to get sick from the cold.

The weather in Yue Province wasn't great either; it was gloomy and drizzly every day, and also quite cold.

"We won't be going back for the New Year. This cursed weather is just awful," Yi Anguo said helplessly.

The TV was broadcasting news about the holiday travel rush and the disaster relief efforts for the cold wave.

"If we don't go back for the New Year, my mom might get so angry she'd chase us all the way to Shenzhen," Fu Huanhuan said with a laugh.

"Do you think your mom could even make it here if she wanted to? Just look at the news. Many people have been stuck on the highways for a week," Yi Anguo said, glaring at his older niece.

"You two have been on winter vacation for a while now. I told you to go back early, but you wouldn't listen, insisting on going back with us.

"Now look, we can't go back, and you're happy about it."

"If we can't go back, so be it. I've never celebrated the New Year in Shenzhen anyway! This year I can finally experience it here," Fu Huanhuan said nonchalantly.

His two nieces were his biggest headache. It was one thing for him not to go back for the New Year; at most, his older sister would just grumble a bit. But for his two nieces to also stay in Shenzhen for the holiday… that would leave a sour taste for his sister and brother-in-law. It would completely ruin their New Year's spirit. However, going back at a time like this was genuinely risky.

Biting the bullet, Yi Anguo managed to call his older sister. As soon as she picked up, she asked, "Where are you now? Have you set off? If you haven't hit the road yet, then don't come back.

"I saw on the news that the roads are covered in ice, and there are traffic jams everywhere. Many people have been stuck for days without moving an inch.

"Chen Jianjun from our village has been stuck on the highway for a week, right at the border between Yue Province and our Xijiang.

"He's been cold and hungry. It's been a bit better the last two days since the police started delivering free meals and water. But he said that a few days ago, a bowl of instant noodles was selling for over a hundred yuan, and you had to fight just to get one. If you were too slow, you'd miss out."

"Older sister, this is exactly what I was worried about! I want to come back too, but I'm terrified of getting stuck on the road. The adults might be okay, but it would be miserable for the children to be trapped with nothing to eat or drink," Yi Anguo hastily replied.

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