Chapter 3: The Triumphant Chen Dazhu and His Son? Trouble Strikes...

With this thousand yuan, even if he lost his job at the factory, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to start something new. Li Junsheng clearly remembered that not long from now, the machinery factory would be singled out for criticism by the higher-ups for "optimizing production capacity." The warehouse would be piled high with obsolete lathes and copper coils, all to be sold to private contractors at scrap iron prices!

Those rusty chunks would be melted down and recast, and whoever bought them could turn a tenfold profit in no time! According to the timeline, Section Chief Zhou should already be secretly moving to deal with the goods, troubled by his inability to find a buyer.

This was the perfect opportunity for Li Junsheng to use his money to pressure Zhou and take over the goods at a bargain, then resell them for a hefty profit.

With this plan in mind, Li Junsheng headed toward the machinery factory.

Now, he had to abide by the agreement and hand over his job to Chen Zhiyuan, just as they wished. Let those two get their moment of triumph!

If even an experienced technician like himself was being let go, did they really think a clueless young man like Chen Zhiyuan could keep his position? When Chen Zhiyuan was eventually dismissed, he’d get to watch the real show unfold!

Especially when the thousand yuan couldn’t be returned, would Chen Dazhu still be able to maintain his facade of kindness and decency toward Ma Yulian?

Chen Dazhu was a smiling tiger, one face for the world and another in private. Behind closed doors, he beat his wife, driving her to divorce him, yet played the victim in public, garnering sympathy and causing his ex-wife to be slandered.

In his previous life, Li Junsheng had only learned of Ma Yulian and Chen Dazhu’s affair as he lay dying; the two had deliberately told him then, intending to wound him in the deepest way possible.

Chen Zhiyuan was no better, entirely his father’s son—selfish, lazy, and ignorant. He couldn’t hold down a proper job or even find a wife.

They deserved whatever was coming to them.

Meanwhile, at Chen Dazhu's house...

As soon as Li Junsheng left, Chen Zhiyuan became unusually excited, looking forward to working at the machinery factory.

“Great, Dad! Once Li Junsheng finishes the paperwork, I’ll be a state factory worker. Let’s see who dares look down on me then!”

Ma Yulian smiled, echoing his sentiment. “Exactly! When you’re working there, you’ll have your pick of young ladies.”

Compared to Chen Zhiyuan, Chen Dazhu wasn’t overly enthusiastic. He felt something was off today—Li Junsheng seemed unusually difficult, paid less attention to Ma Yulian, and acted as if she wasn’t his priority.

“Sigh, what’s gotten into Li Junsheng today? He’s so hard to talk to. That thousand yuan, once he has it, will we ever get it back?”

“That’s the money for Zhiyuan’s wedding, my life savings—enough for a house!”

Ma Yulian patted Chen Dazhu’s chest and reassured him confidently, “Don’t worry, Old Chen, I’m here. Tonight, I’ll go get that money back. Li Junsheng might need some for greasing the wheels, but whatever’s left for Zhiyuan’s wedding, I’ll make up for it!”

Hearing this, Chen Dazhu finally relaxed, though he still felt unsettled.

“I really don’t know what’s gotten into Li Junsheng today—arguing with you like that.”

In front of Chen Zhiyuan, Chen Dazhu pulled Ma Yulian into his arms, gently patting her back. Ma Yulian basked in his affection, and Chen Zhiyuan was used to the sight.

“Dad, Aunt Yulian, I think Li Junsheng just got drunk and bold today. Normally, he wouldn’t dare say a word.”

Ma Yulian and Chen Dazhu agreed—people were different when drunk.

Chen Dazhu didn’t dwell further. Ma Yulian looked at Chen Zhiyuan, chuckled, and said, “No matter what, Li Junsheng is going to the factory to get you certified. Zhiyuan, how does Aunt Yulian treat you?”

“Nothing to complain about, right? I promised you a decent job, and you’ve got it. You just wait for the good days ahead.”

Chen Zhiyuan nodded with a smile, his gaze wandering between Ma Yulian and Chen Dazhu.

With Ma Yulian saying so much, Chen Dazhu felt he should express his gratitude.

“Yulian, you’re wonderful—so much better than the woman who divorced me and ran off. You’re worlds apart. I’ve wronged you; I regret it deeply. If only I’d married you, we’d be a happy family now.”

Ma Yulian had liked Chen Dazhu since she was young, but he’d married another woman. In anger, she wed Li Junsheng, and though it was her own impulsive choice, she still blamed Li Junsheng and Chen Dazhu’s ex-wife.

“Sigh, why bring up the past? If it weren’t for Zhiyuan’s mother and Li Junsheng meddling, we’d have been together long ago.”

Ma Yulian gave Chen Dazhu a flirtatious look, and Chen Zhiyuan, grinning, said, “Aunt Yulian, why not just divorce Li Junsheng and marry my dad? Be my mother—I’ll be good to you.”

At this, Ma Yulian blushed, secretly wishing to divorce Li Junsheng, though she pretended otherwise.

“Zhiyuan, what are you saying?”

Chen Zhiyuan pressed on, “I mean it, Aunt Yulian. You and my dad care for each other.”

His words left Ma Yulian feeling sweet and elated. She exchanged meaningful glances with Chen Dazhu.

Chen Dazhu cleared his throat, turned to Chen Zhiyuan, and said, smiling, “Finished eating? Go for a walk. Tell that young lady you’re about to get a good job—see if she still looks down on you.”

Chen Zhiyuan straightened up, eager to boast. Getting into a state-owned factory meant securing an iron rice bowl!

“Alright, I’m off.”

He rushed out, and Chen Dazhu immediately pulled Ma Yulian aside for a private talk.

…

Meanwhile, Li Junsheng had arrived at the factory.

The breeze along the way sobered him up, and he went straight to the director’s office to arrange the transfer of his job.

Next, he visited the personnel director to get the necessary certification.

The process went more smoothly than he expected.

After obtaining the documents, he prepared to leave. He had worked at the machinery factory for twenty years, and after being reborn, returning here felt like a lifetime ago. He was overwhelmed with emotion.

He had come back only to leave again. There was a sense of reluctance and nostalgia, but he wasn’t confused or worried about the future.

Because, having been reborn, he knew what a golden era of opportunity was about to unfold!

Even if he hadn’t sold his job, it would soon be gone anyway! Better to venture into business and forge a new path!

A few colleagues, hearing he was transferring his job, hurried over to ask him.

“Old Li, you were doing fine here, almost at retirement. Why hand your job over now?”

Looking at old friends like Yang and Zhang, Li Junsheng sighed heavily, hesitating to speak.

They didn’t know about the looming layoffs; their names were on the list too.

Should he warn them, so they could prepare?

After considering, he chose not to say more.

He had more important matters ahead and couldn’t afford distractions.

“I’m just quitting and giving it to someone else,” he said, leaving only those words, then turned to walk out of the factory, his steps unusually heavy.

Yang and Zhang exchanged glances, discussing the situation.

“Is there something behind Old Li’s decision? Just a few days ago, he said he’d hold on until retirement.”

“I think something’s off. Who’s getting Old Li’s job?”

“Couldn’t be an outsider, right? If it were one of his sons, he wouldn’t look so troubled.”

“Should we ask around? Maybe Old Li is facing some difficulty?”

Li Junsheng ignored the chatter behind him. Just as he reached the factory gate, he was stopped by a familiar neighbor, who hurried over.

“Old Li, bad news! You need to go home right away—something’s happened at your house!”