Chapter Seventy-Seven: The Bald Hero Steps Forward!

Once Shen Guodong set his mind to something, he would devote himself to it wholeheartedly. That was simply the way things were.

Wang Weihua was a lingering threat. Shen Guodong had dealt with him before and knew all too well what kind of man he was. So he had no choice but to take the initiative.

He went to the Bald Brother’s video parlor.

“Brother Guang!” Shen Guodong didn’t even know the man’s real name—only his street nickname.

“Brother Shen, you’re here! Have a seat.” Bald Brother greeted him warmly, acting as though they were old friends.

“Thank you, Brother Guang.” Shen Guodong smiled and sat down, though he didn’t dare let his guard down. Bald Brother might look friendly now, but Shen Guodong understood perfectly well what kind of man he was dealing with. At present, Shen Guodong still had value in his eyes. If Bald Brother ever decided otherwise, it would be almost impossible even to get an audience with him.

Wasn’t that obvious?

“So, Brother Shen, what brings you here today? Need another favor?” Bald Brother’s tone was casual, but Shen Guodong could already sense his displeasure. Shen Guodong had used his reputation and connections for a number of things, but he never mentioned any of this when he came asking for help. Now, Bald Brother was beginning to suspect that Shen Nanfeng had been deceiving him, and seeing Shen Guodong today, he wanted to give him a warning. His tone alone made that much clear.

Shen Guodong was perfectly aware of this but didn’t let it show. “I do need a favor this time, Brother Guang, but I also bring good news.”

Without that last sentence, Bald Brother might have exploded. But the promise of good news made him swallow his irritation. Shen Guodong had calculated this perfectly—he knew Bald Brother’s patience with him was wearing thin.

Given the situation, Shen Guodong had to be more restrained. Luckily, he had good news to share, which eased Bald Brother’s mood.

“Oh? What good news? Tell me, Brother Shen,” Bald Brother asked with interest.

“Remember what I promised you, Brother Guang? Well, the opportunity has come. Start preparing your funds—by the end of the year, the new policy should be announced. When that happens, barring any surprises, I’ll take responsibility and run things under your name. I’m confident I can help you become a legitimate businessman—clean as a whistle.”

It was the 1980s, and the crackdown on organized crime was fierce. Many former underworld bosses had been brought down. Bald Brother was a small-time leader himself, and he was growing anxious. He’d been looking for a way out, but once you were in this business, it was hard to break free. Even with wealth beyond most people’s imagination, Bald Brother couldn’t sleep peacefully at night—one misstep and everything he’d fought for could be gone.

Shen Guodong arrived at just the right moment. Bald Brother needed a way out; Shen Guodong needed money. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement—why not take it?

Bald Brother was visibly interested. “Has the directive come down yet? Will all the factories need to be restructured, or what?”

Shen Guodong smiled. “Not yet, but I have exclusive information. This time, I’m heading to Shencheng to negotiate a business deal for the factory. If I can close the deal, I’ll be put in charge. So I’ll need your help, Brother Guang. Only then can I accomplish the task, and then the project will be handed to me.”

“I see. Don’t worry, brother. Just tell me what you need—my men are at your disposal. Hell, I’ll go with you myself, how about that?” Bald Brother was excited. This was his chance to escape the underworld and live a comfortable life. The thought of a peaceful future filled him with anticipation.

That was the very reason Shen Guodong had sought him out. Only by working together could they seize the opportunity ahead.

Each had something to gain—their interests were perfectly aligned.

For Shen Guodong, it was a chance to double his wealth and lay the groundwork for the next step—a win-win situation. He was well aware of the challenges ahead. Competing with other factories without any advantage would be tough, but with Bald Brother’s support, things would go much more smoothly. If even Bald Brother’s intervention couldn’t turn the tide, then perhaps fate itself was against him, and no effort would make a difference.

That was just the way things were.

“So, what exactly do you need me to do?” Bald Brother was eager.

Shen Guodong replied, “For now, nothing. I just want you to come along as a precaution, in case I run into trouble. If that happens, you step in. This is too important for me to take any chances.”

He paused, then continued, “But there is one small matter I could use your help with.”

“Say the word, Brother Shen. Here in Fengcheng, I won’t claim to rule the skies, but unless you’re planning to poke a hole in heaven itself, I can handle it for you,” Bald Brother boasted, pounding his chest for emphasis.

Shen Guodong didn’t hide the truth. “Here’s the thing—I’ve taken a liking to a woman, but she’s married. The thing is, she seems to have feelings for me too, so I’ve made the same mistake any man might. I plan to negotiate with her husband for a divorce, but I’m worried something unexpected might happen. That’s where I hoped you could step in and make sure things go smoothly.”

Bald Brother laughed heartily. As a man, how could he not understand? “For a woman who’s caught your eye, she must be a real beauty. When do we go? I’ll come with you. With me there, that guy won’t dare cause you trouble. If he tries, I’ll deal with him myself!”

“Brother Guang, just send a couple of your men. There’s no need to trouble you personally,” Shen Guodong said quickly.

Bald Brother was displeased. “What, you think I’m an outsider? If I go myself, it’ll have more impact. I don’t trust my men with something like this. Besides, I’ve got nothing better to do—let’s go together.”

At that, Shen Guodong had nothing more to say. With Bald Brother involved, things couldn’t go better.