Chapter 87: Could You Please Be Quiet?

Chen Longhui was utterly stunned; did such people truly exist in this world? Even when given opportunities, they were useless! This fellow was destined to remain a pauper for life. Yet he couldn’t understand what qualifications this man possessed to win the favor of a woman like Zhou Meiniang.

Wherever Chen Longhui went, he was treated exceptionally well—ordinary passersby, upon discovering his identity, would greet him with utmost respect. But now, this man before him made him thoroughly uncomfortable, and the displeasure was written plainly across his face. Were it not for Zhou Meiniang’s stunning appearance, which instantly struck the deepest chord in his heart, Chen Longhui would never have stooped so low. Usually, a minor figure like Shen Guodong would have to await Chen Longhui’s mood even to speak with him; yet now, this man was flaunting arrogance right before his eyes?

What a nerve!

“Young man, who do you think you are? How dare you speak such words to me? Do you have any idea who you’re offending? You’ll regret this,” Chen Longhui sneered, then turned to Zhou Meiniang. “Miss, I believe you’re perfectly suited for the prospects of our canned goods factory. Why are you heading to Shencheng? Would you consider working at my factory? I guarantee your income will double if you join us—I stake my reputation on it!”

His words were blatant, leaving little to the imagination. Judging someone’s ability purely by their appearance? That was nonsense! Anyone in the carriage who wasn’t a fool could tell exactly what Chen Longhui meant by his invitation.

“I’m sorry, I’m not interested. Besides, when you marry a chicken, you follow the chicken; when you marry a dog, you follow the dog. My husband wouldn’t agree, so you’d better ask his opinion first,” Zhou Meiniang replied with a smile. This was the genuine sentiment of many women: marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog. Of course, Zhou Meiniang had her own thoughts—this was her chance to play the role of Shen Guodong’s wife, even if just for a moment, and it was an immense pleasure for her.

To devote herself entirely to this man, even if she gained only a little, even if it was merely a verbal advantage, felt to Zhou Meiniang as though she had won the whole world. It was all too obvious.

Zhou Meiniang’s answer left everyone around her dumbfounded. The woman’s appearance suggested a seductive vixen, and they had expected her to fall easily for Chen Longhui, yet reality proved otherwise. It was surprising, not least to Chen Longhui himself.

He wanted to say more, but at that moment, Shen Guodong, who had been resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them. His gaze was sharp as a blade, radiating a fierce light that made Chen Longhui and the others instinctively step back.

Who was this man? Why did he have such terrifying eyes?

In truth, Chen Longhui was unprepared for this.

“Director Chen, I don’t care who you are, but you’d better stay away from my woman. I know exactly what you mean! But if you think your status gives you license to show off before me, you’re very much mistaken. You’re just a factory director—how much do you earn a month? Do you really think you’re someone powerful and wealthy? Honestly, with your three or four hundred yuan a month, I don’t even consider you. Our perspectives differ, so I won’t bother arguing. Even the most docile clay Buddha has a temper—so if you’re trying to play the big shot here, you’re barking up the wrong tree!” Shen Nanfeng said coldly.

His icy gaze was almost predatory, so intense that no one could meet his eyes directly. In that instant, everyone was stunned. They could not believe the situation unfolding before them.

The entire carriage fell silent in an instant.

Everyone was shaken by Shen Guodong, as if the man possessed a certain magic that made it impossible to fathom what kind of person he truly was. Yet, as they regained their composure, a sense of absurdity crept in.

Then, one by one, people burst into uproarious laughter.

“Good lord, who is this guy? Such big talk—did he eat garlic or coriander for breakfast? It’s unimaginable!”

“Tsk tsk, what nonsense he’s spouting. A factory director earning a few hundred yuan a month—and he claims not to care? Then tell us, how much do you have in savings? Are you a ten-thousand-yuan household?”

“You’re mistaken; ten-thousand-yuan households are nothing… He doesn’t even take a factory director seriously! Didn’t you hear him—three or five hundred yuan a month isn’t enough to be arrogant in front of him!”

“People these days, lacking real ability but speaking with such swagger—isn’t that the truth?”

Though it had little to do with them, the crowd spared no effort in mocking Shen Guodong, as if ridiculing him elevated their own status. This was human nature. Life’s pressures demanded a bit of entertainment.

Yet, as they laughed, they didn’t realize that Shen Guodong found the whole situation just as amusing.

They laugh at me for being mad; I laugh at them for not understanding.

In the eighties, a factory director’s income was considerable, but not much higher than the workers—about two hundred yuan, which was already quite good. To truly make money, one had to leave the system and venture into business. Otherwise, within the system, your entire life would stagnate, with no room for breakthroughs. Take Zhong Qingqian, who built his fortune on beverages, and Wang Jianlin, who made his mark in real estate—they both resigned from secure jobs and plunged into business, realizing their dreams like riding a rocket. By the nineties, both had held the title of the country’s richest man for a time.

Only through entrepreneurship could one achieve financial freedom. As for those within the system, by the nineties, the wave of layoffs had begun—the “golden rice bowl” everyone envied was not so secure after all. Especially all sorts of factories; in recent years, they would undergo reform, becoming privately owned, because for the nation, enriching the people meant enriching the country.

Thus, this wave of reform shattered countless long-cherished dreams of job security.

Now, these people were flaunting arrogance before Shen Guodong—it was enough to make one laugh out loud!