Chapter Fifty-Six: Wang Zhongshan's Solution

Shen Guodong didn’t regard Yuan Junfeng as anything special. If they wanted to raise the stakes, all the better. He possessed immense confidence in himself—victory was assured. He always liked to hold the reins of triumph in his own hands; only then did he feel truly secure. To bet on whether Yuan Junfeng would succeed—he would never do that. That was not Shen Guodong’s way.

This time, if he won, he would gain the land from Yuan Junfeng’s family without paying any price, and the other would have to resign. Naturally, Shen Guodong agreed without hesitation. It had to be said—Yuan Junfeng, driven by jealousy, was about to ruin himself in the process.

“Guodong, Guodong! Wang Zhongshan is here to see you. He said he wants to tour our factory.” Suddenly, Zhou Meiniang came running from afar, her graceful figure trembling with every step, drawing all eyes to her. Because she’d run over, strands of hair clung to her face, making her particularly alluring. Her cheeks were flushed, tempting one to take a playful bite.

Hearing this, Shen Guodong’s lips curled into a faint smile. “Tour the factory? That’s probably just an excuse. He’s here to negotiate with me.”

“You’re amazing. You said before that, after those inspectors returned, Wang Zhongshan would definitely come in person—and it happened just as you predicted.” Zhou Meiniang spoke with admiration.

With every encounter, she noticed the man’s charm only grew stronger—a fact that needed no further explanation.

Shen Guodong laughed. “Isn’t it obvious? I know Wang Zhongshan’s greatest secret. He has to silence me; otherwise, his life is finished.”

Not just now—even in the future, in a far more liberal society, if an executive’s scandal was exposed, their career would be utterly ruined.

So Wang Zhongshan would never let that happen. Of course, he understood that Shen Guodong had told him not to destroy him, but to get something he wanted—to secure the greatest benefit. Therefore, Wang Zhongshan had to follow Shen Guodong’s terms to protect himself.

“Let Director Wang wait in my office, and prepare some tea. I’ll be there shortly.” Shen Guodong commanded swiftly, and Zhou Meiniang agreed, turning away.

It wasn’t that Shen Guodong had any pressing matter; he simply wanted to give Wang Zhongshan a taste of intimidation. He wanted him to know that the secret he held was like gripping Wang Zhongshan’s most vulnerable spot. In front of him, it was best not to play any tricks. At worst, Shen Guodong might lose some money—nothing serious. But for Wang Zhongshan, his entire life would be destroyed.

That was unquestionable.

He left Wang Zhongshan waiting for about half an hour before finally appearing. “Director Wang, my apologies for keeping you waiting. Things have been busy at the factory,” Shen Guodong said as he entered.

Wang Zhongshan’s expression was not pleasant, but he pretended nothing was amiss. When he’d arrived, Zhou Meiniang had said Shen Guodong was free, yet now he’d been left waiting for half an hour—the intention was obvious. The worst part was, he couldn’t do anything about it.

“Director Shen, you’re always so busy. I envy you. Now, shall we talk about our cooperation?” Wang Zhongshan glanced around, signaling his people to leave. Zhou Meiniang, ever perceptive, also exited.

“Director Shen, we’re both clever people, so I’ll be direct. What will it take for you to keep my secret? And I want to know—how did you discover it?” Wang Zhongshan asked, not without a hint of hostility.

Shen Guodong shrugged. “How I found out is not your concern, Director Wang. Whether I reveal your secret depends on the terms you offer.”

In his previous life, Shen Guodong hadn’t achieved much, but he enjoyed reading the news in his spare time. Many incidents that made headlines remained in his memory. Especially in this industry, he’d dealt with many people—Wang Zhongshan among them. In his previous life, this man was arrogant, caring little for anyone. If you wanted to meet him, you had to bring business—or gifts. In short, one word described him: greedy.

Seeing Shen Guodong’s attitude, Wang Zhongshan was furious, but he had no recourse—the leverage was in the other’s hands.

“Director Shen, I can restore our cooperation between Fengtian Steel and your factory. The remaining orders can continue with you, but I’m worried whether your factory can meet our needs. If you can deliver, the orders are yours.” Wang Zhongshan said.

Seeing Shen Guodong hadn't responded, he took out his briefcase.

He slowly handed Shen Guodong a bankbook. “This is an account registered to a shell company. There’s ten thousand yuan in it—you can withdraw it. There won’t be any trace.”

Shen Guodong calmly accepted the bankbook. Most of Wang Zhongshan’s money was ill-gotten, so there was no need to be squeamish—just take it. Shen Guodong knew this was Wang Zhongshan’s style, which is why he waited. He hadn’t expected Wang Zhongshan to lose patience so quickly. Ten thousand yuan was no small amount—and he happened to be short of funds.

So why refuse?

“Director Wang, I’m not sure what you mean. Let’s talk about the cooperation first. Our production line has been upgraded, so rest assured—no matter how many orders you have, we can meet them. We won’t hold you back.” Shen Guodong smiled as he spoke.

On hearing this, Wang Zhongshan relaxed. It was always easier to deal with smart people; since Shen Guodong acted as though nothing had happened, it was clear he’d gotten what he wanted and wouldn’t easily reveal the secret.

That was inevitable.

“The quality of your products—our inspectors have reported—is the best among all suppliers. I’ve already applied to have all orders given to you. There shouldn’t be any problem. The only concern now is whether your production capacity can keep up.” Wang Zhongshan continued.

“Director Wang, see for yourself before making a decision,” Shen Guodong replied, making a gesture.