Chapter 4 — After Divorce, I Made My Husband's Family Bankrupt

I hung up. Right after that, the phone rang again. Chu Khai's voice was hoarse, like he hadn't slept all night:

“Diep Thanh, let's talk.”

"You name the price. I'll pay whatever the ingredients are."

“It's not about money.”

"So what's the matter? Tell me! I can answer!"

"Chu Kai, remember what I said the other day? Three thousand yuan of car fare, give alms to beggars."

The other end of the line was silent.

“…What do you want?”

"I don't want anything. I'm just telling you, I don't need that three thousand anymore. You keep it."

I hung up the phone, took a picture of the sign in front of the factory gate, and posted a post online:

“The Diep spice factory has restored full capacity, new products will be launched tomorrow.

Welcome culinary businesses to exchange and cooperate. In particular: the factory holds the exclusive right to use the national patented formula, any unauthorized copying or use will be prosecuted. The attached photo is the quality inspection report that just came out. In less than two minutes, the comments section exploded. Patrons of Chu's restaurant, suppliers, and even a few competitors who had animosity with Chu Khai all sent private messages to ask questions. I don't answer to anyone. In the evening, Truong Khai Son texted:

"General Manager Diep, Dinh Vi's first batch of goods has arrived on the bus, leaving tomorrow morning at seven o'clock. Tu Huong Cac's goods will also go along."

“Okay, I will let the logistics department coordinate.”

I answered and was about to go down to dinner when the hotel room phone rang. The receptionist said there was a guest named Chu in the lobby. I went down and saw Chu Dinh and Luu Loi sitting on the sofa. As soon as he saw me, Chu Dinh jumped up, his face red:

"Diep Thanh! What do you want! Believe it or not, I'll sue you in court! How can you cut off my family's supply of goods!"

The voice was high-pitched, and the surrounding guests all turned to look. I stepped forward.

“Chu Dinh, what crime are you suing me for?”

"Sue... sue me for unfair competition! Sue me for defamation!"

“What law?”

Chu Dinh was speechless. Liu Loi pulled her hand:

“Ding, lower your voice—”

"What's small! She's bullying the Chu family!"

Chu Dinh shook his hand and pointed straight at me:

"Diep Thanh, don't think I'm good! Ms. Bach Anh said, her family knows someone in the market management department, you can check out my ragged factory at any time!"

I looked straight into her eyes.

“Then just check.”

"Is there anything else? If not, I'll leave."

I turned and walked towards the elevator. Behind him, Chu Dinh was still screaming and was pulled back by Liu Loi. The elevator door closed, I heard the security guard advising:

“Miss, please stay calm…”

I leaned my back against the wall and gently closed my eyes. On Wednesday, Chu's restaurant was closed. News reported by Truong Khai Son.

"This morning I went to the East area and saw that all seven of their stores were closed. There was an A4 sheet on the front door, saying 'kitchen maintenance, temporarily closed for business'."

He sent the photo over. The paper has a simple print, black letters, no stamp.

“Has Dinh Vi's goods arrived this morning?”

"It's out, the refrigerator just left the factory. By the way, last night at Bach Anh's side they found someone to ask about your factory, wanting to see if they could buy it back."

I laughed. The Bach family has money, I know that. Bach Anh's father works in real estate, top of the city. But want to buy Diep's factory?

“What do you answer?”

"I refused. Frankly, the Diep family name is a hundred-year-old brand, not for sale."

I hung up the phone, opened the computer to check my debt. Their restaurant Chu owes a total of 1,830,000 yuan. The most recent account was early last month. At that time, Chu Khai called and said he lacked money for the apartment deposit and asked me to advance the payment and pay at the end of the month. At the end of the month he didn't pay. Then he kicked me out of the group. I took a photo of the detailed table and sent it to the head of the legal department.

"Mr. Ngo, send a lawyer letter according to this list. If you don't pay within seven working days, you will sue."

“Yes, General Director Diep.”

In less than half an hour, Chu Khai's phone called.

"Diep Thanh! Are you crazy? A lawyer's letter worth 1,830,000 yuan? Do you want to put me on the road to death?"

"You have to pay your debt. The moral is as simple as that."

"That's the restaurant money I owe you! We've been married for five years—"

“Divorced two days ago.”

There was a loud banging sound on the other side. Then Trieu Le's voice intervened, sharp as a knife:

"Diep Thanh! You ungrateful person! If it weren't for the Chu family to raise you, would you be where you are today? After the divorce, you turned around, a woman like you will sooner or later face retribution!"

"Ms. Trieu, the lawyer's letter clearly states the payment deadline. It's overdue, see you in court."

I hung up and conveniently blocked Chu Khai and Trieu Le's numbers. In the afternoon, I went to Tu Huong Cac to meet with Truong Khai Son. Mainly allocating output to Dinh Vi's orders. Dinh Vi's seventeen stores, plus six from Tu Huong Cac, require about 90 tons of base material each month. The new line of Diep's factory produces 10 tons per day, just right.

“General Manager Truong, if we expand production, I would like to invite you to contribute capital.”

"I have the formula, you have the distribution channel. We turn the ingredients into standard consumer products, put them into supermarkets and e-commerce platforms. General Director Vuong also has this idea."

Truong Khai Son squinted his eyes.

“What scale?”

“Conservatively speaking, the market in the province is at least 1,000,000,000 yuan each year.”

He patted the table.

"That's it. Let the law make the stock plan."

After finishing work, Truong Khai Son drove me back to the hotel. Passing by the East area, I saw a crowd gathered in front of the Chu restaurant. Not a guest. As a supplier.