Chapter Nine: The Commendation Ceremony

Deputy Director Wang Chenliang’s office.

In this era within state-owned enterprises, even if someone was only a deputy director, you still had to address them as “Director.” Adding the word “Deputy” was extremely taboo—it could easily arouse the leader’s displeasure, as if you were mocking him, implying that he’d never be promoted to the full position in his lifetime.

Before you learn to do things, you must first learn how to be a person.

Those who were clever and skilled at flattery always found themselves more likable.

Hu Mingyuan was just such a man. He didn’t possess any real capabilities, but he knew how to please his superiors. That was how he managed to curry favor with Wang Chenliang and attain the position of Production Supervisor.

Now, having just been dismissed by Director Xu, he rushed nonstop to Wang Chenliang’s office to complain, tears practically streaming down his face. “Director Wang, you must stand up for me! That man Xu actually dismissed me and told me to go back to the production line as a regular worker. After being a leader for so many years, how could I have the face to show myself on the line again? How will people look at me?”

Wang Chenliang sat behind his desk, silent. Seeing Hu Mingyuan still had the nerve to come complain to him, his expression grew increasingly sour.

“You still have the cheek to come and whine to me? Are you truly unaware of what you’ve done?” Wang Chenliang was a middle-aged, portly man with a receding hairline—a man who looked every inch the leader when he stepped outside.

He possessed a certain aura—one who could command respect without anger.

At this moment, he was visibly furious.

That man Xu had actually managed to resolve the production line issue. Originally, with the old director retiring, Wang had been leading in the competition for the top post. Now, he was falling behind. How could he possibly be happy about that?

At most, the old director would retire this year.

After waiting so many years, was all his effort to be wasted because of Shen Guodong? How could he be content?

“Director Wang, it’s not as if we’ve actually lost. All we need to do is pin the blame on Xu. The production line did indeed have issues before. If we shift the credit to Shen Guodong—say it was his technical expertise that saved the day—then Xu’s contributions will be negated. If I get no recognition, he doesn’t get any either. We’ll be back to square one.

If Shen Guodong gets all the credit, surely he’ll be satisfied? When you take the top spot, you can deal with that kid then!”

Hu Mingyuan had no real skills, but his mind was full of cunning.

As he spoke, Wang Chenliang’s eyes lit up. Indeed, that was precisely the situation!

All he had to do was convince Shen Guodong. As long as there were still issues with the production line, Xu would get no credit. And with greater credit going to Shen Guodong, what would he have to complain about?

Wasn’t this a perfect solution?

Wang Chenliang looked as if he’d discovered a new continent; his expression changed. What Hu Mingyuan said made perfect sense: as long as Xu didn’t get the credit, he still had a chance to become director.

As for Shen Guodong—the man who had disrupted his plans—he could deal with him later!

…

Director Xu’s office.

Shen Guodong sat across from Director Xu.

“Go on, you’ve made a huge contribution to the factory this time. What kind of reward do you want? I’ll have a word with the old director—so long as it’s not excessive, he’ll agree to it!” Director Xu was thoroughly satisfied as he looked at the young man before him.

Shen Guodong’s heart stirred. In the next six months, a great opportunity would come to the factory. If he could seize it, he could transform himself overnight and become a millionaire.

What did that mean? At this time, the average worker’s monthly wage was barely a hundred yuan or so.

Being a “ten-thousand-yuan household” was already synonymous with wealth in this era. Their purchasing power was even stronger than a million in later years.

So the notion of being a millionaire in this age was almost unimaginable.

He very much wanted to bring up that matter, but now was not the time—it would seem too impatient, too eager for quick success. He had to wait until he had earned the approval of most people in the factory before taking on such a task.

Now was not the moment.

Shen Guodong smiled. “Director, this is only what I should do—it’s no big deal. As for a reward, there’s no need.”

Director Xu nodded to himself.

Unassuming, undemanding—a fine young man indeed.

Leaders always played this game, and Shen Guodong was well-versed in it. In his eyes, Director Xu was still a novice.

If the leader wants to reward you, you can’t refuse; if he doesn’t, you can’t ask for it. So let him handle the matter—if you bring it up yourself, it loses all meaning.

“Very well, I’ll make the arrangements. I’ll discuss it with the old director. The factory will also hold a commendation meeting—you can bring your family to attend,” Director Xu said.

The factory had been on the verge of abandoning this production line, yet Shen Guodong had miraculously saved it. The economic loss averted amounted to at least a hundred thousand yuan.

So the factory wouldn’t let his efforts go unrewarded—not even a little.

Hearing this, Shen Guodong replied, “I’ll leave it up to you, Director.”

Even a reward as modest as a kilo of pork could improve his family’s lot.

His life before had been difficult, to say the least.

Liu Yueru, as a teacher, only made a few dozen yuan a month, all of which went to help pay Shen Guodong’s debts. Thinking of all he’d done to that woman over the years, his heart ached with guilt.

He had truly been a beast.

In this life, he would ensure that gentle woman lived well.

He would let down neither the world nor her.

“Director, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way,” Shen Guodong said, bowing slightly.

Director Xu nodded, full of praise—this was a promising young man. With proper cultivation, the director’s post would surely be his one day!

That nearly made Shen Guodong stumble. Director? Was his ambition really so limited?

Impossible.

The position of factory director was far from enough for him—his aspirations lay in the vast world beyond. Even the likes of Jiangnan’s Ma Huayun, the richest man thirty years hence, would not be Shen Guodong’s ultimate goal.

It was men like Bezos, Musk—those were the ones Shen Guodong aimed to match.

They were of similar age to himself, yet their wealth far surpassed even Ma Huayun.

With this opportunity of rebirth, Shen Guodong intended to seize every turning point for himself—and that was indisputable.

He could hardly wait to hurry home and share news of the upcoming commendation meeting with Liu Yueru.

His transformation was not empty talk; it was proven by his actions.

He was certain that Liu Yueru would be delighted to see the changes in him.

Of this, there could be no doubt.