Chapter 72: No Money, Why Pretend to Be Wealthy

Swish—
With that sound, everyone's attention was instantly drawn.
Who was that?
At such a moment of celebration, when the factory was rejoicing and the company was thriving, who would dare to make such a public, mocking remark?
Did they not realize that this young man was the boss's honored guest?
He was the savior who had rescued them from the crisis of unsold stock!
If he heard such words and left in anger, the consequences would be unimaginable.
After all, they had already shown him a cold face earlier that afternoon!
But as they caught sight of the speaker—
“Oh, it's Chief Accountant Mo! No wonder. Who else would dare show such disrespect to the young man at a time like this?”
Everyone quickly spread out, avoiding her.
Chief Accountant Mo.
It’s said that men change when they become wealthy.
Lan Yaoming, already past forty, owned his own factory.
A millionaire.
At this age, in this era, that was the mark of a highly successful man.
He was not immune to the restlessness that came with it.
When Chief Accountant Mo, a woman in her early thirties with a seductive charm, made advances, he resisted less than fifteen minutes before surrendering completely.
And he was quite happy about it.
The affair had caused an uproar in the factory; everyone knew.
Pity his wife, who had started the business with him, enduring hardship side by side.
Later, she became a housewife to raise their child.
She had no idea about any of this.
“Hmph! Am I some sort of plague? Is that why you all act like you can't bear to see me? The moment you see me, you scatter?”
Seeing everyone's reaction, Mo's shiny face clouded over, her anger barely concealed as it flashed from her eyes.
When she first joined the factory, she was older and single.
Rumors ran rampant.
They said she didn’t marry because no one dared to take her.
Too many men outside, they said.
Wherever she went, she received cold stares.
But ever since she got involved with Lan Yaoming, those whispers faded.
People simply stopped talking to her.
They avoided her completely.
She knew it was because they missed Lan Yaoming’s wife, and refused to have anything to do with her.
“Just you wait! When the factory is mine, I’ll see to it that every one of you is laid off and unemployed!”
The thought of these grievances made Mo’s rage surge uncontrollably.
Greed glinted in her eyes, burning fiercely now.
Three hundred thousand.

This was the real root of her dissatisfaction with Wu Ya!
With her looks, she had compromised herself for a middle-aged man—
Why?
For money, of course.
Because Lan Yaoming never treated her harshly, her ambition had grown.
Taking advantage of her position in finance, she had already embezzled a considerable sum.
But the appetite for greed is insatiable—
The more one reaches, the deeper it grows!
With Lan Yaoming’s indulgence and trust, he never checked the accounts.
Her confidence inflated further.
Eventually, under the encouragement of another lover,
She began plotting to take the factory for herself.
And the plan was progressing—
Quite smoothly, in fact!
Lan Yaoming was sinking into trouble,
Facing cash flow issues and severe product backlogs.
Soon, he would be forced to sell the factory to cover debts.
Then, they could use the embezzled funds—
To buy it at a bargain.
Who could have predicted Wu Ya’s arrival?
Not only did he disrupt her plans, he even saved the grand enterprise from disaster!
Outrageous!
“Ah Lan, watch my signals. In front of everyone, you must question that brat! Best to use the pretext of caring for the factory, provoke him, and make him leave. Ruin the deal completely.”
With her fury at its peak, Mo turned her head
And ordered the female cashier behind her in a tone that brooked no refusal.
“Sister Mo, isn’t that too much? If we drive him away, won’t everyone in the factory turn on us?”
Ah Lan’s face betrayed clear anxiety.
Even if they claimed it was for the factory’s sake, they would ultimately sabotage its future.
It would surely provoke everyone’s wrath!
“What? Not going to listen to me? Don’t forget—only if the factory goes under will your embezzlement of five thousand be erased! Otherwise, if it comes to light, you’ll end up in prison!”
At Ah Lan’s reply, sparks flashed across Mo’s cloudy face.
What was this?
A timid, petty fool dared to defy her?
“Fine, fine, Sister Mo, don’t be angry! I’m just worried, not unwilling.”
Seeing Mo turn hostile and threaten her once more,
Ah Lan dared not argue.
She forced a smile, her eyes full of helplessness.
Her family was poor, so she’d always had a weakness for money.
Because of that, she’d fallen into Mo’s trap.
Lured into embezzling five thousand, which became a tool for Mo’s threats!
She had no support, while Mo was the factory manager’s woman.

If Mo exposed her, with the manager’s connivance, Mo would be safe.
But Ah Lan would bear everything, even face jail!
Thus, with no way out, Ah Lan could only obey.
Repeatedly helping Mo steal from the factory.
“Let’s go! Remember, if you listen, as long as I have meat, you’ll never have to eat noodles!”
Mo nodded in satisfaction,
Swayed her hips,
Scattering perfume as she entered the Grand Universe Hotel.
This was the largest hotel in Xiangzhou City,
A nearly four-star establishment by the standards of the time.
In that era, only the rich or influential could enter.
“Hmph! Shameless hussy, vile woman, a whore for all! Using your looks to seduce the factory manager, you lord it over the factory! You made me commit a crime, then turn around and threaten me. Heart as poisonous as a snake—you’ll pay for it one day!”
Watching Mo’s back, Ah Lan ground her teeth.
But there was nothing she could do.
Her job was hard-won.
For the sake of her family’s well-being, she could only swallow her grievances and obey.
“Hahaha, come, come, Boss Wu, let me offer you a toast to celebrate our successful cooperation today!”
In the hotel’s private room,
Once everyone was seated, the dishes were quickly served.
Lan Yaoming, in high spirits,
Was the first to rise with his glass, clinking it with Wu Ya’s.
Downing two shots in one go.
“Factory Manager Lan has quite the capacity! Alas, my drinking skills are modest, so I can only sip. Still, let’s wish for ever closer cooperation.”
Wu Ya also stood politely, greeted everyone,
And took a small sip.
Not because he couldn’t drink, but because it was wise not to overindulge away from home.
“Hahaha, Boss Wu, you’re too kind! Come, another toast. I must apologize for what happened this afternoon. Please don’t hold it against us!”
“Boss Wu, let me toast you as well, and sincerely apologize for today.”
“And me! Boss Wu, you are generous—we must know our place. Boss Wu, please forgive us.”
With everyone raising their glasses,
The atmosphere quickly reached its peak.
Only Chief Accountant Mo sat motionless,
Her eyes locked on Wu Ya, burning with rage.
“Hmph! No money, pretending to be rich!”
Her sudden words plunged the room into silence.
Every gaze shifted toward her.
Their faces were blank with confusion.
What was she saying?
What was wrong with this woman?
Their minds were thrown into disarray...