Chapter 14 — After Divorce, I Made My Husband's Family Bankrupt

I took my uncle's phone. Top hot search: #The spice factory owner forced her ex-mother-in-law to jump off the building# In the video, Trieu Le stood close to the edge of the rooftop, messy gray hair, wearing a hospital gown. She doesn't jump. Just standing there, screaming down.

"Diep Thanh! You have no fate! You forced my whole family to die! My husband is in the hospital and you don't worry! My child was harmed by you and sent to the police station! How can you let us live!"

The ground was crowded with people. People advised me, people took videos, people cursed me. Fire trucks and police cars have arrived, air mattresses are spread out. I returned the phone.

“Go into the workshop.”

"General Manager Diep... won't you go to the hospital?"

I walked in and changed into work clothes. The new line operates 24/24. The machines roared steadily, white steam rose from the steamer, and the familiar herbal smell spread throughout the space. I stood in front of the inspection table, picked up the sample that had just come out of the oven and smelled it. Cinnamon, anise, cardamom, cloves, star anise... Thap Tam Fragrance formula, with my eyes closed I can still recognize each layer of flavor. When I was eighteen, I was in the family workshop, tweaking this formula for thirty-nine consecutive nights. One time I was so tired that I fell asleep, hit my head on the lab table, and had to get three stitches. The next day it continued. Someone asked, why do girls have to take such risks? I said, the Diep family has been making spices for three generations, and it cannot be faulted with me. At the age of twenty-five, I brought the formula to register for a patent. The appraisal expert said, this girl has real power. The day he received his certificate, my father drank a small cup of wine. He said, in the future, our family will depend on you. Three months later, I married into the Chu family. On the wedding day, Trieu Le held my hand and said, from now on we are family, my recipe also belongs to the Chu family. At that time, I found this sentence a bit strange, but didn't think much of it. Now that I think about it, she had it planned from day one.

“General Manager Diep?”

Uncle Tran called from behind.

"General Manager Vuong called and said he saw what happened online. Asked if Dinh Vi needed to come out and help her speak up."

"No need."

I put the sample down.

"At the press conference, I said enough. Those who believe believe it, if they don't believe it, there's no point in saying more."

“And Trieu Le…”

“Just let her act.”

I walked out of the factory. The sun has turned west. The phone rang again, strange number.

“Miss Diep Thanh, right?”

“I am a reporter for the program ‘Law Today’, about your ex-mother-in-law standing on the rooftop—”

"You're not that program. You're a freelance blogger, right?"

The other side stopped.

“…I am a local food review channel, want to catch trends, do you find it convenient?”

“Inconvenient.”

I hung up and turned on airplane mode. Then drive to Tu Huong Cac. Truong Khai Son is trying a new dish in the kitchen. After listening to me, he put down his spoon.

“Sure not to go to the hospital?”

“What if she really jumps?”

“She won't jump.”

I pour tea.

"People like Trieu Le value their lives more than anyone else. She did this to force me into the water. Once I appeared, she would immediately change her tone and start dictating conditions."

Truong Khai Son was silent for a few seconds.

“Those five years… how did you live in the Chu family?”

"Nothing. That's all."

He looked at me, then said slowly:

"This afternoon, Bach Tung Dao called me. When Chu Khai destroyed his company, he said something... quite unpleasant."

“He said, the five years you spent in the Chu family… is not even as good as a dog.”

My hand holding the cup of tea paused for a moment.

“He said it himself?”

"Yes. There is a recording."

I Take a sip. The tea has cooled.

“He's right.”

I put down the cup.

“Those five years… I survived less than a dog.”

"When a dog meets its owner, it still knows how to wag its tail, at least it has something to eat. As for me, every day I finish taking care of the spice factory, and when I get home I still have to cook for the whole family. Trieu Le said I put in too much oil, which was a waste. Chu Dinh criticized me for not washing her silk dress by hand. Chu Khai said I didn't make enough money, making him lose face."

Truong Khai Son frowned.

“So why didn't you get divorced then?”

“Because I was stupid then.”

I smiled slightly.

“I think as long as I do the recipe well and help him expand the restaurant, then one day they will truly consider me family.”

I stopped for a moment.