Chapter 2 — 8 Million Dividend Does Not Include Me, No One Knows I Own Tens of Millions of Yuan

The sound of water flowing from the faucet is very loud. I washed each bowl, then neatly placed them in the cupboard. At that moment, the phone vibrated. It's a message from Tran Loi, my personal assistant.

"General Lam, Thinh Hang's contract extension after Tet has been prepared. Would you like to continue signing it?"

I dry my hands on my apron. Then type two words.

"Don't sign."

After sending the message, I turned off the faucet. The kitchen immediately became quiet. The sound of laughter and joy outside the living room still echoed through the wall. I stood there looking at the wall for a long time. Then take off the apron. Fold neatly. Place on the kitchen counter. This will be the last time... I wash dishes for this family. On the morning of the 30th day of Tet, I was awakened by a series of footsteps. To be more precise... The door to my old room was pushed open. The eldest sister-in-law brought her six-year-old son and stood at the door.

"Tri Y, it's great that you're awake. Mom said this room of yours has good light, so let Dau Dau use it as a study room. I've moved your things to the storage room for you."

I sat up and saw several bags of pineapples piled up on the ground. Inside are the books I've accumulated since childhood, certificates of merit, and some old photos. Everything was haphazardly stuffed into a bag. Some photos even have bent corners.

"I don't come home very often anyway. I only stay a few days a year during Tet. Sleeping in the storage room is just the same."

The eldest sister-in-law's voice was superficial, as if she was talking something that had nothing to do with her.

"Mom also agrees."

I looked at those pineapple bags. Including the Mathematical Olympiad gold medal I won in high school, being crushed under a stack of old newspapers. There is a photo taken with classmates on the day of college graduation, the edge of the photo is folded so hard that it has white marks. There is also an old iron box. Inside I used to keep my lucky money savings books before I turned eighteen. Of course, that money has long since been withdrawn by my mother. Only the empty shell remains. I took a deep breath. I put on my coat. Then take out the cloth bag from under the pillow. Then pick up the iron box in the pineapple bag and put it with the cloth bag. The rest... I only glanced once.

"No need anymore."

"Everyone throw it away."

The eldest sister-in-law's eyes moved slightly.

"Is your certificate of merit no longer needed?"

"No need."

"What about those books..."

"There's no need."

I slung the canvas bag over my shoulder. Step out of the room that no longer belongs to you. At the top of the stairs, Mom poked her head up from downstairs.

"Tri Y? What are you doing so early in the morning?"

"Mom, I'm home."

Today is the Thirty Years of Tet!" Mom's voice immediately rose.

"What do you mean? It's Tet and you're not at home?"

"I have something to do."

Mom rushed forward and grabbed my arm tightly.

"If a girl runs around outside on Tet, letting people know, what kind of system is there?"

I stood in the middle of the stairs. Bowed his head to look at his mother's hand. She used very strong force. So tight that my arm hurts. When she was a child, she was often like that. Every time I teach, I pinch my arm. I removed her fingers one by one.

"I'm leaving."

"There will be no coming back after this."

Mom was completely stunned. Immediately after that, her expression changed from surprise to anger.

"What are you talking about?"

"Isn't it only 500,000 yuan? You don't like it much, right?"

"Parents raised their children like this..."

"I don't care less."

I interrupted her.

"Italy I'll pay dividends in the future and don't need to count my share anymore."

"In this house..."

"There's no need to leave a position for me either."

Having finished speaking, I went straight downstairs. From behind, my mother's voice rang out, becoming more and more shrill.

"Lam Tri Y! Please stop for me!"

"You're good, right? Are your wings stiff?!"

"If you step out of this door today..."

"Then don't come back anymore!"

I put on my shoes. Open the big door. The cold winter wind immediately rushed in. So cold that it keeps people awake. The door closed behind him. But it's also the last time. Returning to my apartment in the city from my old house, I placed the canvas bag on the table. Pull the zipper out. Six bank cards are neatly arranged inside. Next to it is the contract for control of Thinh Hang Trading and several sets of books to compare the factory's books. I started collecting those reconciliation tables last year. Not for today. Just because I've been investing for a long time, I have a habit of storing data. But now... They have new uses. I picked up the phone and called Tran Loi.

"The cooperation contract between Thinh Hang and Kien Quoc Plastic Company officially ended after Tet. We bear the compensation fee for breach of contract."

The other end of the line was silent for two seconds.

"General Lam, from Kien Quoc Plastic Company... are you sure? That's more than 60% of their revenue source."

"I'm sure."

"Then they will most likely..."

"I know."

I hung up. Standing in front of the ground-level glass door, looking at the bright lights of the city at night. Today is New Year's Eve. Other people's families are having New Year's Eve dinner. My New Year's Eve meal is just a bowl of instant noodles. But when I ate that bowl of noodles... I felt reassured. More reassuring than any meal ever eaten in that house. The phone rings. It's my mother calling. I don't listen.