Chapter 98: The World's Richest Man

Shen Guodong was not entirely bluffing to Lu Zhigang; that was only part of it. Aside from his identity being a fabrication, everything else was true. Investing and making money were things he genuinely intended to do. His financial resources were limited, but, to be honest, the more money involved, the better. Shen Guodong was extremely confident that he could achieve this. In the end, he would not be breaking his promise. As long as he led Lu Zhigang to profit, that would suffice—an inevitable outcome.

“Brother Shen, after all these years as a bald-headed gangster, you’re the one I admire most. You started with nothing, carefully plotted each step, and convinced everyone to believe in you! In ancient times, I’d have believed you could have become a founding strategist, the equal of Zhuge Liang or Liu Bowen!” The bald-headed man spoke with deep admiration.

He once thought Shen Guodong was merely deceiving him. But as events unfolded, he became utterly convinced that Shen Guodong was like a dragon—a dragon yet to rise! This man’s future achievements would be beyond his comprehension; his limit was the sky itself. All he needed was to seize this opportunity, and then his success was assured, his wealth would surge to terrifying heights.

Now, this conviction was unshakeable in the bald man’s mind—he believed it utterly. If anyone now dared call Shen Guodong a fraud, he would be the first to stand up and denounce them. Shen Guodong had started from nothing, yet convinced Director Lu and himself, among others, to trust him; that was a skill indeed!

There are people who, even when investing vast sums, cannot inspire confidence in others. Yet there are such people—who, even with nothing at all—instill inexplicable trust and confidence, as if making money were an inevitability.

The bald man looked at Shen Guodong, his eyes almost sparkling like stars. Shen Guodong smiled, saying little more, for this was all expected. His past life had endowed him with a mysterious charm. Whether it was Zhou Meiniang, the bald-headed brother, or Director Lu, people of all backgrounds and status were gradually drawn to him.

After returning to the guesthouse, Shen Guodong lay on the bed, narrowing his eyes as he began to contemplate the future. As long as no major changes occurred, there would be no further trouble from Director Lu's side.

Thus, the order would surely go to his First Machine Tool Factory. Next would be production, which would require careful planning upon returning to Fengcheng. And then, the matter of that letter—he would have to uncover its details. Once he obtained it, he could topple the adversary and drive him out, if he chose to. It all depended on his mood.

To be an employee of the First Machine Tool Factory and yet act against the factory’s interests was catastrophic for anyone; those above would never tolerate it. It might even lead to prosecution and prison, as it amounted to leaking commercial secrets.

Yet, for Shen Guodong, that was not so important. If he grasped the opportunity, what awaited him was the challenge of implementing reforms. How to do it, how to manage it well, would require careful planning. Otherwise, from any perspective, success could not be achieved in one stroke. Shen Guodong did not have absolute confidence in making money. For him, it was simply a matter of missing an opportunity.

But the bald-headed brother had invested everything he owned. If there were losses, the consequences would be severe. Though he now admired Shen Guodong and followed his every word, should other issues arise, Shen Guodong believed the bald man would turn hostile without hesitation.

Gangsters like the bald-headed man, when ruthless, would be formidable opponents—there was no doubt. Shen Guodong narrowed his eyes, gazing at the ceiling. This reform would hand most operations over to private management. Such factories were too burdensome for the state, hampering competitiveness.

State-owned enterprises favored comfort and stability, while private companies could unleash greater competitiveness. People are inherently selfish; if allowed to work in comfort, they grow complacent. Thus, this opportunity, if Shen Guodong seized it, would ensure the bald-headed brother obeyed him completely. With the man's influence in Fengcheng, there was much to be exploited, and Shen Guodong had already calculated this thoroughly.

“What are your plans next?” Zhou Meiniang asked.

Shen Guodong replied, “Everything is essentially settled now. Barring any surprises, we can return to Fengcheng with the contract, and finalize matters. As for Yuan Junfeng’s plot of land, I intend to use it to build a factory for beverage production. The funds from the bald-headed man and the others will be used for reform, and my initial capital comes from here.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Meiniang offered her opinion. “There’s a big market for beverages. People here have never tasted them. Foreign Coca-Cola is far too expensive—three yuan a bottle—only foreigners can afford it, it’s beyond our reach! As for Arctic Ocean, the taste can’t compare, and its variety is too limited.”

“You’re right,” Shen Guodong said. “I’ve long planned for this, which is why I intend to produce beverages.”

People always crave novelty. Now, everyone enjoys drinks because they’ve never tasted them before. Decades later, even mineral water will have a vast market.

Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation—these are essentials. Thus, this market has enormous potential. With the large population in Xia, the dividend period will last at least several decades. If Shen Guodong focused his efforts in this direction, whatever he pursued in the future would have the capital to support it.

Shen Guodong’s dreams were grand. Whatever he set his mind to, he would endeavor to do it best. Relying on a single industry, one might succeed, but never become the legendary tycoon. Shen Guodong’s ambition was not merely to be the richest in Xia, but to be the richest in the world. From industry and layout, he would eventually move into the Internet.