Chapter 51: Opportunity!

There was no need to elaborate on Zhou Meiniang’s competence. Not long after, good news arrived—several clients had agreed to visit the factory. Since they were willing to come, chances were high these clients could be won back. Still, Shen Guodong couldn’t afford to let his guard down. The wager he had with Yuan Junfeng stipulated that sales must double within a month. To achieve that, he’d need at least a million in revenue—just a few clients would never suffice. He needed the big clients to have a change of heart.

But in truth, once those large factories made up their minds, they rarely changed them. “Let’s first stabilize the smaller companies and win them over one by one,” Shen Guodong thought, rubbing his forehead. For now, that was all he could do.

Soon, the workday ended. Most people had already left when Zhou Meiniang entered Shen Guodong’s office, savoring the joy of a brief reunion. She was becoming increasingly attached to this man. “Guodong, I don’t want to go home,” she said softly. That was her nature—when she cared for a man, she gave herself to him completely. Now, even being apart from Shen Guodong for a quarter of an hour felt unbearable. Earlier, she’d only been away for a short while before she felt compelled to return to his office. Otherwise, she simply couldn’t find the energy to carry on.

“Be good. Go talk to Wang Weihua first and see what terms he wants. As long as they’re not excessive, agree to them. I’ll look around here for a suitable place to live in the next few days. That way, I can visit you often,” Shen Guodong said.

She nodded gently, her meaning clear beyond words. Shen Guodong didn’t stand on ceremony—he quickly took advantage of the moment.

When the two finally parted ways, they were reluctant to say goodbye.

Back home, Liu Yueru had already returned. There were lesson plans on the table, and she was busy in the kitchen. “What’s for dinner tonight?” Shen Guodong asked as he entered.

Liu Yueru was suited for family life—a born model of a virtuous wife and loving mother. She would never be much help in his career, nor did she have any particular ambitions herself.

“My father caught a few fish and had my brother bring them to the school. We also have some vegetables from our own garden, so I didn’t buy much else,” Liu Yueru replied with a smile.

“Only one dish with meat? Why didn’t you buy more? Haven’t I told you there’s no need to save money?” Shen Guodong said. “Your husband is very capable—you don’t have to scrimp and save!”

“We should be frugal if we can. It’s just the two of us; there’s no need to go overboard. If we can’t finish the food, it’ll just go to waste,” she answered.

Shen Guodong could only smile helplessly. He reached over and fondly ruffled her hair. “Alright, do as you see fit. But there’s really no need to be so thrifty. When I have time, I’ll see about getting some appliances for the house—a refrigerator, for example.”

With the heat these days, a refrigerator would let them buy a bit more fresh food.

“Appliances are expensive—let’s just make do for now. When you start earning big money, then we’ll buy some for the house,” Liu Yueru said.

But Shen Guodong knew well that she longed for those things. Once, at a school event, a teacher won a refrigerator in a raffle, and Liu Yueru was visibly envious. She was always frugal by nature; whenever food spoiled in the heat, she felt a deep pang of regret. Shen Guodong never mentioned it, but he saw it all. She used to go to colleagues’ homes to watch TV, but lately, for reasons unknown, she’d stopped. Still, it was clear she liked such things. Buying appliances was no small expense—a new refrigerator would cost at least a few thousand. As for second-hand goods, Shen Guodong wasn’t keen, so for now, he could only set the idea aside and look for ways to make more money.

Soon, dinner was ready. Liu Yueru remarked, “Even rice is getting expensive. It used to be thirteen cents a pound, now it’s fifteen. I heard people in the south love Northeastern rice, so most of our local rice is being shipped there, which has driven up the price even here.”

“It’s getting more expensive?” Shen Guodong narrowed his eyes. Prices were determined by supply and demand.

With rising demand from other regions, local rice prices could only climb higher. If it was already over a dime here, it would be even more expensive down south. Speaking of the south, Shen Guodong couldn’t help but yearn for it. At present, among the country’s top ten cities, seven or eight were in the north, with only a few from the south—Magic City and Flower City—making the list. The rest—such as the Imperial Capital and Fengtian—held most of the positions, mainly due to the current industrial model. Most heavy industries were concentrated in the north—even the rare automobile factories were there—making the northern economy especially strong.

But the future would belong to light industry, with the economic center gradually shifting southward. Indeed, ten years later, the north would slowly lose its dominance in the top ten cities. Thirty years from now, only one or two northern cities would remain at the top—a dramatic reversal.

If Liu Yueru hadn’t mentioned rice, Shen Guodong wouldn’t have considered these things. Now, his curiosity was piqued. The 1980s were a time of boundless opportunity—especially in Kunpeng City in the south. It was the era of reform and opening up. In just a few decades, Kunpeng City had transformed from a small fishing village into an international metropolis, ranked third among all cities in the nation. This meteoric rise was so astonishing that it became a global phenomenon known as the “Kunpeng Speed”—a term denoting the city’s breathtaking development.

“I asked the grocer—lately, the south is buying huge shipments of rice from us. Our prices might rise even further,” Liu Yueru said with a sigh. “This year’s weather hasn’t been good, so the harvest is down, and that only makes this situation worse.”

But hearing this, Shen Guodong’s eyes lit up. Prices were dictated by supply and demand. When demand soared and supply dwindled, prices would inevitably rise. With the poor harvest of Northeastern rice this year, the price was sure to surpass previous years—it was a golden opportunity for profit.

Excitement surged within him. He quickly put down his chopsticks and pulled out his small notebook to start jotting down calculations.

“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to eat? You can write later!” Liu Yueru said, half amused and half exasperated. What was this man up to, skipping dinner?