Chapter 1 — After I was fired, the company immediately went bankrupt

After I Was Fired, the Company Immediately Went Bankrupt The day my son had a high fever of nearly thirty-nine degrees was also the day the company fired me. At nine o'clock in the morning, I just rushed back to the company from the hospital. In the bag there are still fever-reducing medicine and hospital bills. The phone shows a message from the homeroom teacher:

"Baby Hua's mother, he still has a slight fever. If it still doesn't go down by the afternoon, you should come pick him up early."

I answered with one word: "Yes." As soon as he sat down at his desk, HR Luu Na was standing right next to him. She was holding a file, her tone was polite as if she was announcing food delivery.

"Miss Thanh Hoa, boss Chu invited you to the meeting room."

The whole office suddenly fell silent. The sound of typing on the keyboard is also much quieter. I raised my head to look at her.

"What now?"

"That's right."

Liu Na smiled.

"Hurry, don't miss your work."

I glanced at the computer screen. The final price quote of the Nam Thanh Shopping Center project is still open. At three o'clock this afternoon, the customer will finalize the final plan. I stayed up three nights in a row to optimize the entire cost, supply chain and deployment schedule. Only the final confirmation step remains. I saved the document and stood up. The meeting room is located inside. The glass door was closed, and there were three people waiting inside. Owner Chu Khai Minh. And... To Man. To Man wore a new dress, with a glass of iced Americano next to her. She has only been in the company for eight months, her position has gone from assistant to deputy project manager. Of course... Everyone in the company knows that what helped her get promoted was not her ability to do projects. It's Zhou Kaiming's car. Along with the "convenient" times to take her home after work. I pushed the door and walked in. Chu Khai Minh didn't bother looking at me, just lowered his head to scroll through his phone. Liu Na pushed a file in front of her.

"Ms. Thanh Hoa, recently the company is restructuring its organization. Your position... needs to be optimized."

Adults talk cleverly. Even the sentence "you've been fired", must be used in a polite expression. I sat down, not in a hurry to pick up the documents. Luu Na seemed to have prepared in advance.

"As you know, the market has not been good for the past two years. The company needs to cut costs and improve efficiency."

She paused for a moment then continued:

"Furthermore, my side also has many family problems. Sick children, sick adults in the family... more or less affect the project progress."

I looked straight at her.

"Isn't the Nam Thanh project in charge of me?"

"It's true that you're in charge."

Luu Na smiled faintly.

"But after evaluation, the company believes that your work can be divided among the whole group."

At that moment, To Man spoke up.

"Miss Thanh Hoa, don't misunderstand."

She placed a printed plan on the table.

"I've seen everything you did before. The rest... you can take over."

I glanced at the file. Right on the cover it clearly states: Supply chain reform plan for Nam Thanh Trade Center Person in charge: To Man I burst out laughing. She took the plan I spent three months creating, sat across from me, and said she could take over. Really interesting.

"Where did you get this plan?"

To Man blinked, her expression innocent.

"In the project's shared folder."

"In the shared folder there are only old versions."

I looked straight at her.

"This final cost calculation model, last night two I just finished it this morning. Haven't had time to upload to the system yet."

The smile on To Man's face immediately stiffened. At this time, Chu Khai Minh raised his head.

"Thanh Hoa."

His voice was low.

"The company's documents are not your personal property. The project belongs to the company, the plan is also the company's."

I nodded.

"You mean, the company just fired me and took my final plan to sign a contract with the customer?"

Zhou Kaiming frowned.

"What attitude are you having?"

Luu Na quickly stepped forward to mediate.

"Ms. Thanh Hoa, everyone is an office worker, there's no need to speak so harshly."

"The company also considers your actual situation."

She pushed the file towards me again.

"This year I'm thirty-eight years old, my child is only in first grade. If you keep risking your life like that, can your health bear it? Returning to take care of your family is not a bad thing."

I bent down to look at the file. Application for voluntary resignation. Not a dismissal decision. Nor is it a compensation plan. But forced me to leave voluntarily. I raised my eyes.

"Voluntarily?"

Luu Na's face did not change color.

"The company also agreed to pay me an extra month's salary, which is already a great favor."

To Man gently continued:

"Actually, I really admire you."

"You have children, you have a family. Unlike us who are young, we still have to fight hard."

It sounds gentle. But every sentence and every word is like a knife stabbing into people's hearts. Young people strive. Middle-aged women should go home. I looked at Zhou Kaiming.

"Is this also your idea?"

He placed the phone face down on the table.

"Thanh Hoa."

"The company is not a nursing home."

"Your ability is really not bad."

"But in recent years... you really don't have the same enthusiasm and resilience as young people."

Chu Khai Minh glanced at To Man.

"To Man has good qualifications, quick response, customers also like young faces."

I calmly asked:

"So General Director Ly of Nam Thanh project also likes her?"

Zhou Kaiming paused. Mr. Ly did not like To Man at all. Last time she went to report the project, even the payment term and discount policy in the contract were indistinguishable. When Mr. Ly asked a few questions, his face turned pale. In the end, it was still me who stood up to speak and saved the entire meeting. But Chu Khai Minh will of course not mention that. He just coldly replied:

"Then customers will get used to it."

I laughed.

"Customers really have a hard time."

To Man's face immediately turned red.

"Miss Thanh Hoa, why do you need to say such cool things?"

I looked at her.

"I'm just reminding you."

"The Nam Thanh project is not something you can take over just by knowing how to make PowerPoint."

She bit her lip.

"I know you're not satisfied. But the company must also give young people opportunities."

I nodded.

"Just give it a chance."

"But if something happens, remember to take care of it yourself."

The meeting room fell silent again. Afraid the atmosphere was too tense, Luu Na immediately brought the pen over.

"Ms. Thanh Hoa, please sign."

"Your child is still sick today, right? Resolve this soon and then go home and take care of the children."

I looked at the pen in her hand. A black ballpoint pen with the company logo printed on the cap. I have worked here for twelve years. From a group of just five people... To a company with more than two hundred employees today. The first customers were myself run one by one. The process system is what I stay up all night building. I will negotiate the payment term with the supplier. Every time a project problem occurs, the first sentence Chu Khai Minh always says is:

"Thanh Hoa, help me fight."