Chapter Twenty-Five: The Family of Ten Thousand Yuan

The taste of wealth is truly something else!

Shen Guodong treated himself to a pack of premium cigarettes, bought a small table, and picked up dishes such as braised pork knuckle, making for an abundant meal. Just this one dinner cost several yuan—a sum that used to cover a whole month’s expenses for the two of them.

Naturally, Liu Yueru felt a pang in her heart at the extravagance. Yet, when she thought it over, she realized that Shen Guodong was no longer the same man as before. If he could keep earning money at this pace, what could their family possibly lack? Wasn’t that obvious?

With that, Liu Yueru let go of her worries.

Shen Guodong carried the groceries in one hand and held Liu Yueru’s delicate hand in the other, strolling along in high spirits. She, on the other hand, was mostly nervous, her cheeks flushed with shyness. After all, she was carrying a fortune with her—what if such a large sum was lost?

Countless astonished gazes followed them, making her all the more uneasy. In this era, holding hands in public was considered bold, even a little rebellious. The people around them pointed and whispered, but Shen Guodong didn’t care in the slightest. What did the norms of society matter to him? He only needed to be himself.

Having money was the ultimate truth.

He had lived through the more open times of the future, and such things no longer bothered him.

Before long, the two of them arrived home at last.

Liu Yueru, sweating profusely, let out a long sigh of relief as she opened the door, hastily hiding the money away. “That was terrifying! This is the first time I’ve ever walked around with so much cash!”

“Look at you—so easily flustered. Just wait until you become a ten-thousand-yuan household. Who knows how you’ll react then?” Shen Guodong said with a hint of exasperation. That day wasn’t far off—it could come at any time. He believed it with all his heart.

A ten-thousand-yuan household!

Liu Yueru was stunned.

Once upon a time, she too had dreamed of a better future. But reality had defeated her, and the dream of becoming wealthy was buried deep within her heart—or rather, it was Shen Guodong himself who had torn up that dream.

But now, it was this very man who rekindled the flame, making her yearn once more to be among the ten-thousand-yuan households.

Everyone has dreams—Liu Yueru was no exception. But life had crushed them, forcing her to return to reality.

“Is it really possible?” she asked, gazing at Shen Guodong with a dazed, almost disbelieving look.

“Yes, it is,” Shen Guodong replied with unwavering certainty.

He rarely made promises in his life, but once made, he would always keep them. Besides, the goal wasn’t all that lofty—becoming a ten-thousand-yuan household was only a matter of opportunity. The moment one appeared, he was certain he’d soar.

Were there few opportunities in the 1980s? On the contrary, there were plenty!

“I’ll go cook,” Shen Guodong said, not wanting to dwell on the topic. The more you say, the less believable it seems. Time would prove everything.

Liu Yueru wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, then broke into a giggle and hugged him from behind. “I used to have big dreams too. But now, I don’t think about those things anymore. As long as you work hard and live well, that’s enough for me.”

It was a tender, heartwarming scene.

Dinner consisted of braised pork knuckle and a fresh fish—two meat dishes, one vegetable, and a soup. In those days, such a meal was the height of luxury.

By the end of supper, both of them were stuffed, a deep sense of satisfaction lingering.

Liu Yueru went to wash the dishes while Shen Guodong sat on the battered stool, smoking and pondering the future. The situation was clear: in this era, Fengcheng was a heavy industry city, its economy among the nation’s best. Many northern cities dominated half the country’s wealth—some built fortunes on coal, others on steel. The biggest car manufacturers, like First Auto Works and Second Auto Works, were all rooted in the north. But in recent years, the country would shift its strategy, and southern cities would soon overtake the north.

By the turn of the millennium, most of the country’s leading cities would be in the south.

The future’s direction was obvious.

As a rising city in the south, Kunpeng City showed immense potential. What Shen Guodong needed now was to amass his fortune quickly and then head south to seek his fortune.

In the 1980s, home appliances were a luxury, beverages were few and far between, and the entertainment industry was just beginning—all routes to wealth. These were the paths he had chosen.

The 1990s would bring the internet and a real estate boom. After 2010, mobile internet and electronics would take off.

He had already charted a path for every era. If he followed his plan step by step, Shen Guodong was certain his future wealth would surpass that of any tycoon who came after him.

Generations of talent rise and fall; each dominates for a hundred years.

For now, the leader was still Li Jiacheng, followed by Wang Jianlin, who made his fortune in real estate. Then came Ma Huayun, Ma Teng, and the others in succession.

Shen Guodong knew well—he wanted to dominate all these eras, so that the title of the richest man in the country would no longer change hands so often. He wanted only one name to appear at the top: Shen Guodong.

Unshakable.

But now was not yet the time.

Ma Huayun was still a teacher in the south. Ma Teng was still in high school, not even in university yet. Wang Jianlin was still in the system, not yet having left his enviable iron rice bowl for entrepreneurship...

To be reborn in this era was a blessing from the heavens, and Shen Guodong was determined to make the most of it, so as not to waste this gift.

As he thought, a bright smile spread across his face.

“What are you thinking about?” Liu Yueru came over and embraced him from behind.

“The future,” Shen Guodong replied calmly.

“What about the future?” Liu Yueru asked with curiosity.

Shen Guodong gave a mysterious smile. “Our future, of course. Thinking about how I can give you endless wealth, so you can live a life of luxury every day.”

“Nonsense! I don’t even care about that kind of life. The rich aren’t necessarily as happy as you imagine. That’s not what I want!” Liu Yueru gave him a playful slap, scolding him for being glib.

“Are the rich not happy? No, their joy is beyond your imagination,” Shen Guodong said, his spirits high as he held her tight.

She struggled for a moment, but seeing his determination, she shyly closed her eyes.

What followed was only natural.

Outside, darkness settled in. But inside their humble home, the night was filled with warmth and intimacy.