Chapter 17 — After Taking Mother Away, We Changed Our Lives

First contact with investors... Much more favorable than I thought. Maybe because lawyer Truong always comes with me. Maybe... I now have enough confidence to have an equal conversation with them. The person in charge of the Youth Startup Support Fund is a very kind sister. She held my mother's hand and listened to us recount the arduous journey of starting a business. I heard it so many times that my eyes turned red.

“Good child…”

“You guys have really suffered.”

“This society really needs young people with strong will like you.”

“Interest-free loan of 300,000 yuan…”

“We will handle it specially.”

“Within a week, disbursement can be made.”

“We only have one request.”

“Later when you have the ability…”

“Let's also help other startups.”

That warm trust touched me deeply. As for the meeting with Thanh Son Capital... It was a completely different style. Their office is located on the top floor. From the glass window, you can look down at the entire riverside night scene of Dung Thanh. The person who welcomed us... was the founder himself. A man named Lam Phong. You are very young. Looking at most, it's just over thirty. Wear simple casual clothes. But he has a temperament that others cannot underestimate. He didn't say many social words. As soon as he opened his mouth, he went straight to the point.

“I saw your story.”

“I admire your courage.”

“I also highly value your product potential.”

“1,000,000 yuan in exchange for 20% shares…”

“Just our initial offer.”

“What we can give you…”

“It's not just about money.”

The assistant behind him immediately turned on the projector. An extremely detailed PPT appears on the screen. The title is:

“Strategic plan for developing the brand ‘Mother's Chili Sauce'.”

They even prepared a future map for us. The first step… Is to solve the factory problem. They have a cooperative area in a food industry park on the outskirts of Dung Thanh. Can provide us with a modern factory of 500 square meters... All equipment meets SC certification standards. We just need to move in and we can operate. The second step… is re-branding. They have a professional design team. It is possible to redesign the entire logo and packaging for "Mother's Chili Sauce". Making our products... Truly step onto a bigger stage. The third step... Is to expand distribution channels. They have strategic partnerships with many large supermarket chains and fresh food sales platforms nationwide. As long as our production capacity can keep up... They can immediately deliver products nationwide. The fourth step… Is expanding the product line. They suggested that in addition to the main spicy sauce... We could also rely on mother's skills to develop many different spicy versions. You can even make beef sauce, mushroom sauce and many other new product lines. I looked at each plan clearly on the screen... My heart churned violently. That's the future I once vaguely thought about... But I didn't know how to do it. As for them... Using their professionalism and strength... They laid out that path clearly right before my eyes.

“General Manager Lam…”

“Why are you guys willing to do so many things for us?”

I couldn't help but ask. Lam Phong laughed light.

“I see the image of myself from that year in you.”

“I was also empty-handed.”

“Ever been looked down upon by others.”

“Then step by step, I desperately crawled up.”

“A good product.”

“A good story.”

“Plus the power of investment capital…”

“Miracles can be created.”

“What we invest in…”

“Not just your chili sauce.”

“But also who you are…”

“The same spirit you represent.”

He stood up and reached out his hand to me.

“Ly Nguyet.”

“We don't want to control you.”

“But I want to become wings…”

“Let you fly higher.”

When I stepped out of that skyscraper... My mind was still lightheaded as if in a dream. Truong Vi patted my shoulder.

“Does it feel like a dream?”

I nodded... Then shook my head again.

“I just didn't expect…”

“It turns out that investment capital…”

“Can also bring warmth.”

“That remains to be seen what kind of capital it is.”

Truong Vi smiled and said.

“In the investment world…”

“Lam Phong is famous as the 'dream investor'.”

“A lot of projects he invests in…”

“Not the most money-making thing.”

“But it's the most emotional.”

“Ly Nguyet.”

“The choice is in your hands.”

“No matter which side you choose…”

“I also support.”

That night… I couldn't sleep. I spread the two options out on the table and looked at them again and again carefully. It's a steady step by step. Self-reliance comes up. But the road ahead is very long. The other side... Is flying up with the wind. One step to heaven. But it can also be swept away by the capitalist flood. I asked my mother.

“Which side do you think we should choose?”

Mom is sitting under the light... Carefully tasting the newly arrived chili sample. She used a spoon to scoop a little and put it in her mouth. Close your eyes. Meticulously feel. A long while later... She opened her eyes, a satisfied smile on her face.

“Nguyet Nguyet…”

“This type of chili number three…”

“Just the flavor we need.”

“Even more fragrant than the previous one.”

She didn't answer my question. On the contrary, just talk about chili. But at that moment... I suddenly understood everything. No matter which path you choose. No matter how big the factory is. How beautiful is the packaging? Our most core thing... Forever is craftsmanship. The most authentic flavor... The most impossible to copy... In this jar of chili sauce. As long as that root still exists... We will never lose our way. I have made a decision. I picked up my phone... Send Lam Phong a text message.