Chapter Thirty-Five: Man Proposes, Heaven Disposes

Those who had once mocked and ridiculed Shen Guodong were now thoroughly regretful. His status was enough for them to look up to—let alone being favored by Brother Bald, even simply knowing such a person was something they could boast about for ages!

Brother Wang with the crew cut knew well that the fault lay with his uncle. If Shen Guodong decided to act, his uncle would be finished for good.

“Brother Shen, regarding your mother-in-law’s situation, we’re prepared to offer compensation. Whatever you require, just tell me. If it’s within my power, I won’t refuse you.”

Shen Guodong glanced at Brother Wang. From his perspective, he needed to be reasonable and not demand too much; after all, Brother Wang had followed Brother Bald for countless years and surely had emotional ties with him. In truth, Shen Guodong was simply a tool—a means for Brother Bald to cleanse his reputation. Shen merely wanted to leverage Brother Bald’s resources to rise quickly.

“Since even you, Brother Wang, have spoken up, I’ll accept your gesture. I have only two demands. First, my mother-in-law is incapable of working, so our household has lost a laborer. During the busy autumn harvest, Old Wang must send two people to help us with the farmwork.

Second, I want two thousand yuan for medical expenses. That’s the price they named after I broke their door—if a wooden door is worth so much, how much more for a living person? Don’t you think it’s fair? As for the door, I’ll take responsibility for fixing it.”

Shen Guodong spoke calmly.

Old Wang’s family was considered one of the wealthiest in the village. Two thousand yuan wasn’t a huge sum—painful, perhaps, but still acceptable.

“Very well, I agree to your terms,” Brother Wang replied.

With that settled, Shen Guodong said no more.

His words stunned everyone around him, especially the Liu family. This was the mark of real capability: with a single sentence, Shen Guodong settled the issue, simply by accepting a favor.

Not only would they have help during the autumn harvest, but also two thousand yuan in compensation—a sum approaching the annual income of a four- or five-person household. How much could a farmer earn in a year? And all this came from the so-called useless son-in-law who had previously survived by borrowing money.

Chen Gantian’s face was dark as night.

He didn’t even dare meet Shen Guodong’s gaze, as if terrified to be targeted. But avoiding Shen Guodong wouldn’t solve the matter. Chen Gantian had stabbed Shen in the back; though he hadn’t caused real harm, Shen Guodong couldn’t simply let it pass as if nothing had happened.

“Cousin, now that this matter is settled, shouldn’t we properly account for what you did behind my back?” Shen Guodong said with a cheerful smile.

Chen Gantian’s expression was stiff; he had anticipated this, and now it was coming true. “Shen Guodong—no, brother-in-law—we’re family. I was wrong before, and I’m willing to make amends. Are you really going to push all your relatives away?”

“You overestimate yourself. You don’t have the power to make everyone avoid me because of you. In fact, the others are likely to draw closer.

And let me be clear: I’m not acting against you because of your recent backstabbing. The real reason—no one knows it better than you.”

Shen Guodong spoke coolly.

The truth was, Chen Gantian had entertained thoughts he never should have had. That was Shen Guodong’s bottom line; anything concerning Liu Yueyu, he would never compromise. Chen Gantian’s life, therefore, was thoroughly ruined.

“Brother Wang, I’ll leave this man to you. I trust you’ll do me this small favor?” Shen Guodong looked to Wang, smiling.

His seemingly calm tone sounded devilish to those present, sending chills down their spines.

Brother Wang squinted in amusement. Since Shen Guodong asked him for help, it meant Shen wouldn’t pursue his uncle’s case further. He was happy to oblige. He rotated his neck and flashed a bright, ferocious grin at Chen Gantian, whose body went cold.

Chen Gantian knew all too well what kind of person Brother Wang was. If Wang set his sights on you, the consequences could be dire.

“Shen Guodong, please, spare me this time. I know I was wrong—whatever you want, I’ll do! I promise never to have any thoughts again.” Chen Gantian was truly panicking now.

He was filled with regret, his flustered appearance almost comical. Seeing Shen Guodong unmoved, he finally grew desperate.

He fell to his knees with a thud, banging his head on the ground.

“Shen Guodong, you heartless brute! When you had nothing, my son lent you money. Have you forgotten how you grovelled before us? Now that you’ve made it, you bully him. If you dare lay a hand on him, I’ll fight you to the end! Ailian, are you just going to watch your son-in-law bully my boy?”

Chen Gantian’s mother, Zhang Xuelian, stepped forward in fury, shaking with rage as she pointed at Shen Guodong.

“Guodong, maybe let it go. We’re all family, after all. She’s my own sister; you don’t have to be so harsh. Gantian was wrong, but there’s no need for outsiders to get involved,” Zhang Ailian pleaded.

This was her nephew, after all, and she couldn’t bear it. If this group laid hands on him, who knew what disaster might follow.

“Heartless brute! Giving you face was a mistake! Try touching Gantian today. Little sister, I told you long ago your son-in-law was no good, but you wouldn’t listen. Now look—he’s got power and he bullies his own kin.”

Zhang Xuelian grew more excited as she spoke, basking in the attention.

Shen Guodong grinned, “Heh, you really have the nerve to say that. Do you think I don’t know all your family’s dirty secrets? Last time, the state subsidy meant for my mother-in-law—didn’t you claim it for yourself? When my father-in-law’s construction business failed years ago, wasn’t it your family that sabotaged him from behind the scenes? My elder brother raised a few ponds of prawns—weren’t they poisoned by your own hand? Your family’s wrongdoings are hardly few. Just because I haven’t exposed them doesn’t mean they don’t exist. People may act, but Heaven is watching.”