Chapter 5 — Before Retirement, I Was Demoted to Work as a Laborer

La Thien's lips moved slightly. But couldn't utter a word. Tham Trieu An picked up the regulations page.

"Continue."

I calmly read each thing.

"Transfer to a job at a different level must be confirmed by the employee, must be reported to the union, and for the first three months must maintain the salary and allowances of the old position."

I pushed the confirmation in front of him.

"But they only asked me to sign a job offer."

"There is no salary confirmation."

"There are no union reports."

Phan Minh's fingers curled slightly. That small detail... Can't escape Tham Trieu An's eyes.

"Phan Minh."

Phan Minh was startled and raised his head.

"Dear Chairman Tham, I am only in charge of reviewing financial records."

"Review what?"

Phan Minh's forehead began to sweat.

"I... I reviewed her retirement plan."

"By what standards?"

Phan Minh instinctively looked at Trinh Hoai Nhan. Trinh Hoai Nhan replied in a low voice:

"Up to the standards of regular employees."

Tham Trieu An laughed softly. But that smile... There was no warmth at all.

"Tan Ngoc Tran worked at Vien Thai for thirty-two years."

"Held the position of department head for twenty-six years."

"And yet you guys settled her benefits as a normal employee?"

La Thien gritted her teeth and replied:

"But her last position was... janitor."

The entire meeting room immediately fell silent. I also clearly heard the sound of someone installing the cup lid incorrectly. Tham Trieu An slowly raised his eyes to look at La Thien.

"Who taught you to do that?"

La Thien's face turned pale. Trinh Hoai Nhan immediately interjected:

"Dear Chairman Tham, this is just a discussion plan, not officially implemented yet."

I placed the phone on the table.

"If it's just a discussion..."

"So everyone listen to that discussion."

Trinh Hoai Nhan's face immediately changed. I opened the recording. His voice rang out clearly.

"Wait until she finishes it today, then tomorrow just handle the procedures at the lowest level. The allowance will be kept temporarily."

Immediately after that was La Thien's voice.

"What if she complains?"

Trinh Hoai Nhan's sneer rang out.

"What kind of trouble can an old lady about to retire make?"

No one moved. Even the sound of the air conditioner... Seems to have disappeared. Tham Trieu An placed his hand firmly on the table. The knuckles... Turned white from squeezing too tightly. The recording hasn't finished playing yet. Ma Thanh's laughter also echoed.

"For a long-time employee, her biggest fear is losing her honor when she gets old. She certainly wouldn't dare make a fuss."

I turned off the recording.

"In the background, there's only the sound of me cleaning up cigarette butts. If President Tham wants to listen, I can continue playing."

Ma Thanh sat at the end of the conference table, his face red. He didn't expect... I was also dragged into this. Tham Trieu An did not look at him. His eyes only stopped on Trinh Hoai Nhan.

"Is this what you call 'optimizing organizational structure'?"

In the end, Trinh Hoai Nhan could no longer stay calm.

"Dear Chairman Tham, I admit that what I said was a bit harsh. But that was only an internal communication and cannot be used as official evidence."

I calmly said:

"Official evidence... I also have it."

I opened the old register.

"Book No. 7 2021."

"Ma Thanh's family members came to the company but did not report according to regulations determined."

Next, I took out a stack of receipts.

"In 2019, an unusual sample shipment from the Purchasing department was warehoused. The person who signed the receipt was Dinh Loi, and the person who approved the temporary storage was Deputy General Trinh."

Dinh Loi jumped up from the chair.

"Tan Ngoc Tran! Don't slander me!"

I turned to another page.

"In 2022, the Administrative Center temporarily sealed old records on the twenty-ninth floor. The person in charge is La Thien, the supervisor is Trinh Hoai Nhan."

La Thien's face turned pale. There was no more blood left. At this moment, Tham Trieu An's eyes really fell on her.

"The old file on the twenty-ninth floor... who gave you permission to seal it?"

La Thien opened her mouth to speak. But Trinh Hoai Nhan interrupted first.

"The President's Office has not had anyone working for many years. We seal it only to facilitate management and ensure safety."

Tham Trieu An asked coldly:

"Where is the list of sealed records?"

Trinh Hoai Nhan was silent. At that moment, the middle-aged man pushed the door open and walked in. In his hand was a camera inspection report that had just been printed.

"Chairman Tham, the filing cabinet on the twenty-ninth floor is missing a box of sealed documents."

Tham Trieu An's eyes immediately became cold as ice. The middle-aged man turned to look at Trinh Hoai Nhan.

"According to the tracking book, the last person to sign to take that box of documents away... was Deputy General Trinh."

All eyes in the meeting room turned to Trinh Hoai Nhan. He slowly stood up.

"I have never received any boxes of sealed documents."

The middle-aged man placed the report on the table.

"The system recorded that three months ago, at ten forty-six p.m., you used the authority of the Administrative Center to open the internal area on the twenty-ninth floor."

Trinh Hoai Nhan smiled faintly.

"System access rights can be completely copied. Can't rely on that record alone."

Tham Trieu An calmly asked:

"So... who do you think... copied the access?"

Trinh Hoai Nhan glanced at me. Just a quick glance. But like that... La Thien immediately continued.

"Tan Ngoc Tran has managed administrative keys for many years. She is the person who understands the process best."

In the conference room, the sound of someone gently pulling a chair was heard.