Chapter Ninety-Seven: Success at Last

He fell into thought and said, “Director Lu, you can rest assured on that point. Since I came to see you, I certainly won’t make things difficult for you. I’m confident. If need be, I’ll add more investment. And if, because of me, you lose your job, then I promise you here and now that I will arrange for you a position ten times, a hundred times better than the one you have now.”

The moment those words were spoken, Lu Zhigang had no more worries at all.

It was precisely that promise from Shen Guodong that he had been waiting for.

“Director Lu, do you need me to put this in writing?” Shen Guodong offered again.

Lu Zhigang waved his hands repeatedly. If he had Shen Guodong write something down, wouldn’t that mean he did not trust him? That would be absolutely unacceptable. To lower his standing in the other man’s eyes was the truly fatal mistake.

“Mr. Shen, you flatter me. I do trust you. After all, with your standing, there would be no need to deceive someone as insignificant as me,” Lu Zhigang said calmly.

Only then did Shen Guodong nod in satisfaction. “Director Lu, once this is done, I certainly won’t shortchange you. And if you trust me, you can take a share in the Fengcheng factory reform this time as well. Let it be a reward for you this time.”

Lu Zhigang was overjoyed.

Shen Guodong was actually planning to let him take a share?

That was entirely beyond his expectations.

At that moment, Lu Zhigang was utterly convinced that his chance had truly and completely arrived.

He was so excited he was nearly ready to jump, but soon he said, somewhat embarrassed, “Mr. Shen, my pockets are rather shallow. I may only be able to put in a few tens of thousands at most. Any more than that and I won’t have it. I don’t know if…”

“No problem! Director Lu has helped me so much. Taking a share is just a formality. When the time comes, I can give you a little more, and that’s nothing,” Shen Guodong said, growing more outrageous by the second. “Money means nothing to me. It’s just a string of numbers. I have no interest in money. I have never even touched money!”

“That won’t do. We must take a share. Mr. Shen, let’s settle this matter properly. But… how should I get in touch with you then?” Lu Zhigang asked, both fearful and respectful.

Only then did Shen Guodong continue. “Just contact my bodyguard. Baldy… leave your contact details. Director Lu can call him directly then. If anything comes up, my bodyguard will notify me.”

Baldy had never been so speechless in his life.

This man’s skill at showing off was truly first-rate.

At that moment, there was almost nothing left to say about how he felt. Still, being able to fool people was also a kind of ability.

At the very least, from their point of view, they absolutely could not have done something like this.

“All right.”

Shen Guodong also settled the matter, then said, “That’s it, then. Do not reveal our cooperation afterward, especially do not let it spread. Otherwise, if Old Master says I’m taking shortcuts, it’ll be trouble.”

“Understood, Mr. Shen. Tonight we’ve prepared a banquet. You’ll come, won’t you?” Lu Zhigang asked again.

Shen Guodong gave a slight nod. “I will. But remember, at the banquet, treat me like everyone else. Do not give me special treatment. Otherwise, you’ll only be adding to my trouble.”

“Of course I understand that,” Lu Zhigang said repeatedly.

Only then did Shen Guodong finally relax. Looking at the man before him, a bright smile also appeared on his face.

After shaking Lu Zhigang’s hand, he left.

The group came quickly and left just as fast.

Lu Zhigang watched Shen Guodong’s departing figure and sighed endlessly. For him, today had been like a dream; he had never imagined such a thing could happen.

Why had it turned out this way?

A radiant smile spread across his face.

A fortune teller had once said that when he reached middle age, he would have a chance to make a great deal of money. Looking at things now, it really was exactly so. It had all been inevitable.

That Young Master Shen truly must have been sent by heaven to help him get rich. Otherwise, why would such a chance have fallen to him?

Thinking of this, Lu Zhigang was filled with energy from head to toe. Was there any happier thing than this?

In that instant, the smile on his face needed no further description. At this moment, no matter how one looked at it, this was the only conclusion.

Shen Guodong and the others returned to the car and soon left.

Baldy was drenched in sweat.

He took off his suit.

Hurriedly, he bought a bottle of Arctic Ocean soda from the roadside to drink.

The others were much the same.

The few of them sat in the shade.

Baldy said, full of admiration, “Brother Shen, to be honest, I really admire you. You can make things that do not exist sound as if they were completely real. I still can’t believe it. How did you do that?”

The woman named Zhou Meiniang also looked at Shen Guodong with languid, seductive eyes.

“Didn’t you see it yourself?” Shen Guodong replied, looking puzzled.

Zhou Meiniang quickly said, “That’s not what I mean. I mean… you just made things up so casually, with no groundwork at all?”

“Of course not. Family trusts and the like are all real things to begin with,” Shen Guodong said with a smile. “First, you need to judge from Lu Zhigang’s words whether he believes you. If he does, then just keep following the thread, and that’s enough. And if Lu Zhigang doesn’t believe me, I’d give him a show of force and make him believe completely. In truth, Lu Zhigang still had doubts earlier, but I precisely saw through that point, so I directly threw out the passbook and dispelled his doubts with money.”

“And what if we secure the order and then the lie is exposed? Or if Lu Zhigang tells others, what will you do? You know our factory’s situation. It’s a bit difficult to swallow this order. If the matter is exposed and Lu Zhigang resigns out of guilt, didn’t you promise him you’d provide work ten times or a hundred times better? Then what will you do?” Zhou Meiniang asked in surprise. “You wouldn’t be fooling him too, would you? Surely not to that extent?”

“Of course not! If I say I can provide it, then I absolutely can. That is not something I’d make false. And don’t look down on me so much,” Shen Guodong said.

Zhou Meiniang nodded. She had complete faith in Shen Guodong’s character. This time, he had not only fooled Lu Zhigang, but also gotten him to invest.

It was truly killing two birds with one stone.

At that thought, Zhou Meiniang felt nothing but admiration for this man.

One could say that even if someone else were given the method, they might still not be able to make Lu Zhigang believe it so thoroughly. Only Shen Guodong could pull it off.