Chapter 10 — After Taking Mother Away, We Changed Our Lives

After they left, I looked at that black and white piece of paper and felt like my whole body was drained of strength. Mother leaned against the wall, her body wobbling, her face pale. Aunt Tran also had red eyes.

“They… they want to force people to death!”

Suspension of business. Sales are prohibited. Fine of 5,000 yuan. For a small factory like us that has just started to prosper... Each of these things is a fatal blow. Bach Vi Giai... They don't even need to come out themselves. Just move a finger, make a few phone calls... You could easily crush us to death. This is the power of money and capital. I sat on a small chair, looking at the wall that had just been painted white... Looking at the jars of chili sauce that had just been labeled with new labels. For the first time… I felt confused and scared about the future. Have we really lost? Could it be that everything my mother and I exchanged with blood and sweat... ended up in smoke like that? Despair is like cold ocean water, layer by layer engulfing me. That whole night I didn't sleep a wink. Suspension of business. Supplies are cut off. Director Vuong's polite but fierce face lingers in my mind forever. He was like a hunter standing high... Calmly enjoying the desperate struggle of his prey. Mom and Aunt Tran also couldn't sleep all night. The next morning when I woke up, both of my eyes were red and swollen. The small workshop was engulfed in dead silence. The air that was once filled with the strong scent of soy sauce is now filled with only stuffiness and oppression.

“Nguyet Nguyet…”

“Or… let's just leave.”

Mother spoke with a hoarse voice.

“I'll return this…”

“Take the remaining money…”

“It's okay to go back to your hometown, it's okay to go somewhere else.”

“I don't want to see you continue to suffer like that anymore.”

Her tears fell again. She was really scared. Afraid that everything we have saved with great difficulty will be lost. Afraid to see me return to washing dishes and handing out flyers for food and clothing. I looked at her old face and white hair, my heart ached like needles. I shook my head.

“Can't quit.”

“If I admit defeat now…”

“There's really nothing left.”

“They just want to see me give up.”

“We cannot let them have their way.”

My voice is not loud. But extremely steadfast. It means admitting we are wrong. Based on what? We use our skills to make a living. No theft. No robbery. On what basis are they being oppressed like that? I'm not committed. Aunt Tran also gritted her teeth and said:

“Can't give up like that!”

“At worst, I won't get paid anymore, let's get through it together!”

I looked at the two of them, a warmth welling up in my heart. I don't fight alone. I took a deep breath, forced myself to calm down, and began to analyze the situation at hand. Suspension of business is mandatory. Administrative orders cannot be challenged. Fines are also required to be paid. Otherwise, bad records will be kept. The most important thing now... Is the raw materials and production license. The raw material source in Dung Thanh has been manipulated by Bach Vi Giai... Then I will go to another province to find it! I don't believe they can buy out all of the country's chili peppers. As for the food production license... It is a barrier that cannot be avoided. This small workshop is definitely not qualified. If we want to keep going... We must find a qualified factory standard. But renting a factory... Renovating a production line... Applying for a license... Anything that doesn't require money? All the money in our account combined... After paying the fine... There was just over 10,000 yuan left. It's like salt in the ocean. I was almost driven crazy by that word. Just when I was completely stuck, a phone call came. Is the representative company that registers the brand.

“Hello, may I ask if you are Ms. Ly Nguyet?”

“Her application to register the trademark ‘That Ly Huong’ has been rejected.”

My mind went "buzzing" and went completely blank.

“W… why?”

"Looking up the system shows that, a week before she submitted her application, a company named 'Bach Vi Giai Dung Thanh Food Company' registered the entire 'That Ly Huong' brand portfolio."

“So your application is invalid.”

"In addition, we would like to remind you that if you continue to use the name 'That Ly Huong' for business activities, the other party has the right to sue you for trademark infringement."

The other end of the line said something else... But I didn't hear any more words. The brand has been stolen. Bach Vi Giai. They not only want to block our way of life... They also want to steal our name. I can even imagine Director Vuong's smug and disdainful expression when he heard this news. They won. Completely won.