Chapter Fifty: The Rift Has Been Formed

Director Wang Chenliang’s office.

Hu Mingyuan, flanked by Li Longhui and several others, marched in with a menacing air.

“Director Wang, that Shen Guodong has gone too far! He actually wants to fire all my sales department staff. Who does something like that? You can’t just stand by!” Hu Mingyuan exclaimed furiously.

“Director Wang, you have to stand up for us! We were just following your instructions to give Shen Guodong a taste of his own medicine, to show him who’s really in charge of this factory!” another chimed in indignantly.

“That brat has no respect for you at all. We even invoked your name, but he ignored us completely, saying that no one could save us!”

“You should just remove him and let Brother Hu take over. Shen Guodong is utterly worthless. If you let him stay in that position, he’ll ruin the whole factory!”

“If he can fire long-serving workers so easily, who’ll feel safe working here? Everyone will be trembling with anxiety every day. And now, most employees are under his department!”

“He’s not just the head of the sales department—he’s also in charge of the production workshop. At least fifty percent of the staff report to him. If this goes on, the entire workforce will be in turmoil!”

The group pleaded their case tearfully.

Wang Chenliang frowned, visibly displeased. “If you were fired, it must be because you failed to satisfy Director Shen. Why are you coming to me? And when did I ever tell you to give him a hard time? Out! Do as Director Shen says. If you want to keep your jobs, go and beg him for forgiveness!”

Li Longhui and the others were on the verge of tears, hoping to stir up sympathy and provoke Wang Chenliang into confronting Shen Guodong on their behalf. Yet they were stunned—he simply shrugged off any involvement.

How could this be?

The group stared in disbelief, unable to comprehend why Wang Chenliang would abandon them so readily, as if he were sending them to their doom with his own hands.

“Director Wang, you can’t do this! We only acted on your orders. Now our livelihoods are at stake—you can’t just wash your hands of it! If you won’t help us, we’re finished. Our entire families depend on these jobs!” Li Longhui, now desperate, pleaded frantically.

With a sudden slam of his palm on the desk, Wang Chenliang roared, “Out!”

These fools. Did they really think he’d go out on a limb for them at such a critical moment? Laughable. Utterly naive! If they let themselves be used as pawns, they had only themselves to blame.

The men slunk out of Wang Chenliang’s office.

Wang’s face darkened instantly. That Shen Guodong clearly held him in no regard—as if the village head was no leader at all! Even if those men were mere lackeys, Shen knew they were his people, yet still showed him no courtesy.

Crash! The cup on Wang’s desk flew across the room, hurled in a fit of rage.

That man—one day, he would utterly destroy him.

“Shen Guodong, your arrogance won’t last long!” Wang Chenliang trembled with fury, his wrath like a lion’s, ready to devour at any moment.

…

After leaving Wang Chenliang’s office, Li Longhui and his companions realized their most powerful backer was unreliable. They went to seek out Shen Guodong once more.

“Director Shen, we were misled by villains before. We know we were wrong. From now on, we’ll work diligently and won’t let you down,” Li Longhui said obsequiously, a sycophantic grin stretched across his nearly fifty-year-old face, making him appear almost repulsive.

The others swallowed their pride and followed suit.

Circumstances dictated their humility. Shen Guodong, young as he was and not someone they respected, was still the leader. Their fates were in his hands—they had no choice but to bow their heads.

“Director Shen, we were in the wrong before—please, have mercy on us.”

“Wang Chenliang is a petty man. He incited us but now refuses to intervene!”

“Director Shen, we’re sorry—please, just spare us this once. We have families to feed, children and elders relying on us. If you dismiss us, our households will have no way to survive!”

They pleaded piteously.

Shen Guodong sipped his tea, utterly at ease.

Typical of small-minded men: emboldened in power, now groveling in defeat. If only they’d known this day would come. He sneered coldly.

“Go collect your wages. Your family’s bread has nothing to do with me. Weren’t you all very bold just now? When you were so arrogant, did you give a thought to me, your Director Shen?” he replied icily.

A decision, once made, would not be changed. That was beyond question.

Though they’d prepared for this outcome, Shen’s unyielding stance stung with bitterness and regret. If they’d known Wang Chenliang would abandon them, they wouldn’t have offended Shen Guodong—after all, they’d had no real feud with him before. That much was obvious.

Realizing they couldn’t sway him, the group left, defeated, their bitterness theirs alone to bear.

As they departed, Shen Guodong’s easy smile faded, his expression hardening. He knew this was only the beginning.

From any angle, the real conflict between Wang Chenliang and himself had only just begun. Even if these men were mere pawns, his actions were a resounding slap in Wang’s face—something Wang Chenliang could never tolerate. He would not forget, and so the enmity between them was only just unfolding. Who would ultimately prevail remained to be seen.

Shen Guodong understood clearly that even with the advantage, he had to remain vigilant. A single misstep could spell disaster.

Wang Chenliang was no pushover. In his previous life, Wang had reached the position of factory director through sheer cunning, while Director Xu, though a good leader, was ultimately too kind-hearted.

Who sat in the director’s chair would have a vital impact on Shen Guodong’s future plans.