Emotional Blackmail? Not a Chance!

"Just for that, we owe him! Forget about a job—if he asked for a life, we'd have to give it!"

Ma Yulian's self-righteous emotional blackmail only fueled Li Junsheng's anger. The more she brought it up, the more it infuriated him.

In his past life, she had repeatedly used this very excuse to cover up her illicit affair with Chen Dazhu!

Bang!

Li Junsheng slammed his glass onto the table with such force that Ma Yulian flinched.

"You know damn well Chen Dazhu saved you, not me!" he snapped coldly.

"That job at the machinery factory—why wouldn't I give it to my own son? Am I out of my mind to hand it over to him for free?"

"You're so quick to defend Chen Dazhu, siding with outsiders. Anyone would think Chen Zhiyuan was your son!"

His words struck a nerve, leaving Ma Yulian frozen—guilty and shaken.

"Yulian, Old Li, stop fighting over something so trivial. Old Li's right—a thousand yuan for a job like that is a steal."

"Let's not bring up the past. I'll go get the money for Old Li right now. Let's settle this and all calm down."

Chen Dazhu pressed a hand on Ma Yulian's shoulder, urging her to sit.

Li Junsheng watched him closely. The man appeared amiable, agreeing to the thousand yuan without hesitation.

But his shifty eyes and sly expression betrayed his scheming mind.

Hypocrite.

Li Junsheng sneered inwardly. No doubt Chen Dazhu assumed the money would end up back in his own hands—through Ma Yulian.

Just like last time.

Even though he worked at the state-owned machinery factory, his salary was never enough.

Because Ma Yulian took most of it—straight to Chen Dazhu and his son.

Not this time.

Chen Dazhu smoothed things over with a smile before retreating to his room to fetch the cash.

Moments later, he returned with a thousand yuan—a staggering sum in the 1980s.

Li Junsheng's monthly wage was only thirty-three yuan.

After twenty years of marriage, he had handed every paycheck to Ma Yulian. How much of this thousand had his hard-earned money funded?

In the end, he was merely reclaiming what was rightfully his—if anything, he was letting them off easy.

But at least he was recouping some losses.

"Here, Yulian, take this thousand yuan. Hold onto it carefully."

Chen Dazhu approached—but deliberately handed the money to her, bypassing Li Junsheng entirely.

"Ah—right."

Ma Yulian hesitated, exchanging a glance with Chen Dazhu before understanding his intent.

Just as she reached for the cash, Li Junsheng snatched it away.

The move instantly darkened her expression.

Chen Dazhu tensed—there was no way he could let Li Junsheng keep that money.

Ma Yulian's sharp eyes bore into him. "Li Junsheng, what do you think you're doing?"

"Going to the factory to discuss this with the director," he replied flatly, playing dumb.

"Why grab the money like that? What if you lose it? You're so clumsy—even the good cigarettes the factory gave you went missing! I should hold onto it!"

As if she had any right to say that.

Those cigarettes? She had stolen them—straight into Chen Dazhu's hands.

These two leeches had been living off his blood for years.

In his past life, he had scrimped and saved—only for them to live lavishly at his expense.

Li Junsheng shot her a cold look. "It won't get lost. This job transfer isn't something we can arrange on a whim. Since you're in such a hurry, I'll need to pull some strings."

Chen Dazhu quickly intervened. "Right, right! Old Li makes a good point. Connections cost money, and since he's going now, it shows he's taking Zhiyuan's matter seriously."

He shot Ma Yulian a warning glance, silencing her protests before they could form.

She swallowed her words and changed tack.

"...Fine! But don't overspend! No unnecessary purchases!"

"Since when do I need your advice?"

Li Junsheng stuffed the money into his pocket and stood, ready to head to the factory.

The alcohol in his stomach churned, making the room spin for a moment.

Now Ma Yulian played the devoted wife, steadying him and even escorting him out of Chen Dazhu's house.

"Hurry back. I'll be waiting for good news."

Her eagerness was palpable.

Li Junsheng didn't even glance back.

Fingers curled around the cash in his pocket, he smirked coldly as he walked away.

Just you wait.

This was only the beginning...