Chapter Seventy-Two: The Fall of the Ten-Thousand-Yuan Household

Wang Fujing simply could not believe it—how had Shen Guodong suddenly become so wealthy? It was truly inconceivable. The thought left him in a foul mood. This was the most infuriating part! When he was dismissed from the factory, he had believed it was a tremendous loss for them; how could such an outstanding talent as himself be cast aside while they kept someone like Shen Guodong, a useless nobody? Yet now, reality had come back to slap him in the face.

Time and again, Shen Guodong proved through his actions that he was far more capable—something Wang Fujing found almost impossible to accept. In that moment, his expression changed as he gazed at Shen Guodong. Wang Fujing had expected Shen Guodong to at least utter some mocking or derisive words, but the man did not—this, more than anything, left him feeling a sense of utter despair.

Shen Guodong did not even bother to ridicule him, showing just how little regard he truly had for Wang Fujing; realizing this, Wang Fujing wished he could simply disappear. He did not fear his opponent’s mockery—in fact, it would only make him stronger—but this man did not even consider him worth mocking. It was clear, then, how insignificant he had become in Shen Guodong’s eyes. The thought of it made Wang Fujing want to die.

Soon, all was arranged, and a truckload of household appliances was loaded onto a three-wheeler. The cargo’s value, even if not exceeding ten thousand, could not have fallen far short. Wang Fujing’s envy was overwhelming. Once so proud of being better than Shen Guodong, he was now gripped by a sense of absurd impotence. This man had become his nightmare, pressing down on him so heavily he could barely breathe.

The thought nearly drove him mad.

Shen Guodong had never seen Wang Fujing as a rival—or perhaps, not even once. He smiled lightly and said, “I’ll be going now.” No mockery, no derision, no further words.

But that single smile wounded Wang Fujing more deeply than any words could. He had always seen Shen Guodong as his adversary, yet in the other’s eyes, he was not even worthy of being called an opponent. This was true despair. Especially since Shen Guodong was accompanied by a stunning woman, whose every glance could stir a man’s heart—Wang Fujing was consumed by envy, yet felt utterly powerless.

“Don’t be so arrogant, Shen Guodong. You’re just a ten-thousand-yuan household, what’s there to show off about? I’ll definitely become wealthier than you,” Wang Fujing muttered through gritted teeth, steeling his resolve.

This man could only be arrogant for a while—did he really think he could lord it over him forever? What right did he have to boast like this? No one willingly accepts their own incompetence or admits defeat, and Wang Fujing was no exception. He believed Shen Guodong’s success was nothing more than a fluke. Would he stay on top forever? What a joke!

The two of them left Dongbai Department Store.

Zhou Meiniang asked curiously, “Guodong, who was that? He seemed to have a grudge against you—showing off at first, then becoming jealous later?”

“Just an idiot. I’ve never considered him a rival, but he insists on seeing me as his nemesis. What can I do? It’s truly hopeless,” Shen Guodong shrugged, sounding a bit exasperated.

Zhou Meiniang laughed. Yes, that was the cruellest blow. If Shen Guodong had at least taken him seriously as an opponent, even defeat would have been easier to bear. But what could be more miserable than seeing someone as your lifelong enemy, while they never once considered you as theirs? Who could accept such a thing?

But Zhou Meiniang didn’t give it much thought—Wang Fujing, to her, seemed like a fool. How could someone like that ever be worthy of being Shen Guodong’s rival?

“Did you talk to Wang Weihua about it?”

Shen Guodong’s curiosity was piqued.

“No. That day, when I went home, he wasn’t there, so I just packed my things and left. But I doubt he’ll come looking for me,” Zhou Meiniang replied with a bitter smile.

That was the saddest thing—no matter how you looked at it, there’s a saying that even a single day of marriage grants a hundred days of affection, yet things with Wang Weihua had reached this point. It was he who, step by step, pushed her out the door.

“I’d better go with you,” Shen Guodong decided after a moment’s thought. He couldn’t rest easy letting Zhou Meiniang handle this alone. After all, Wang Weihua was barely even human—more like a beast. Who knew what he was capable of if left unchecked? If something serious happened, regret would come too late—Shen Guodong was well aware of this.

Wang Weihua was someone you couldn’t judge by normal standards. He could, for money, push his own wife into someone else’s arms to be toyed with; yet, if Zhou Meiniang were to willingly betray him, Wang Weihua would likely be unable to bear it. The thought made Shen Guodong chuckle—truly, that man was pitiable in his own way.

Zhou Meiniang did not refuse Shen Guodong’s offer; she could tell he was genuinely concerned for her, and her heart was filled with warmth and happiness.

Afterward, the two bought some daily necessities and furniture.

By the end of their afternoon shopping spree, most of the money Shen Guodong had made was gone; he had only a few hundred left for daily expenses. If Liu Yueru were to learn that he’d spent his entire fortune in a single afternoon, she would surely be heartbroken.

After all, in these times, earning money was no easy task! But spending it—just a few appliances, and you could burn through years of savings in minutes. Still, Shen Guodong wasn’t worried; soon, he would have a large sum coming his way.

There was the commission from securing the Fengtian Zhonggang order, as well as the factory’s bonus. Even if it wasn’t ten thousand, it would still be several thousand. Zhou Meiniang would get a share, too—enough to cover their travel expenses for business trips.

And business trips weren’t costly anyway. Even without factory reimbursement, if the order went through, Shen Guodong would never lack for money. He understood this perfectly.

Those who fret too much over gains and losses will never amount to anything.