Chapter 19 — Female Lawyer and Torn Will

Two months after taking over the group's leadership position, Anh Vu faced the first big challenge in his new role - an unusual meeting of the largest raw material supply partners, who are deeply concerned about the group's stability after a series of recent fluctuations, and considering switching to cooperation with competitors.

"If we lose these key supply partners, the group's entire production chain will seriously stagnate, directly affecting thousands of employees who depend on their jobs here," the group's operations director, a middle-aged woman with many years of experience named Vu Thi Lan Huong, reported to Anh Vu in an emergency meeting. "We need a convincing plan to reassure them, otherwise the consequences will be extremely serious."

Mr. Vu decided to personally meet each major partner, not through formal, distant meetings, but through frank, sincere conversations about the actual situation of the group and specific commitments for the future. Tue Minh, although no longer the official lawyer of the inheritance dispute, was still invited by Anh Vu to participate as a legal advisor for this important negotiation process.

"I know, many of you have cooperated with this group since Mr. Vinh Thanh was in office, and recently have witnessed serious fluctuations that may make you worry about the long-term stability of the cooperative relationship," Anh Vu said during a meeting with Mr. Le Dinh Son, owner of one of the group's largest cotton suppliers. "I can't promise that everything will be perfect right away, but I am committed to leading this corporation with absolute transparency, which I believe will bring about far greater stability than has existed before."

Mr. Son, an older man with the sharp eyes of an experienced businessman, silently observed Anh Vu for a long time before speaking. "You're young and inexperienced, there's no denying that," he said frankly. "But I've been in business long enough to know the difference between someone who talks and someone who really cares about his work. I'll give you a chance, but I'll be watching very closely over the next six months."

Before Anh Vu and Tue Minh left Mr. Son's office, the older businessman lingered with one more unexpected question. "Do you know why I'm still considering it, even though many of my colleagues decided to leave as soon as news of the scandal broke?" he asked, his eyes examining Anh Vu one last time. "Because I met you once, three years ago, when you were still a warehouse manager, coming to my factory to personally inspect a defective batch, instead of just calling to complain like other senior managers do. You bent down, personally inspected each roll of fabric, sincerely apologizing to me for the inconvenience, even though the error was absolutely not your fault. I still remember that."

Mr. Vu was stunned for a moment at that unexpected memory, then smiled slightly, a smile that was both surprised and touched. "I didn't expect you to still remember that," he said. "For me, it's simply the way I've always worked, no matter my position."

"That's exactly why I believe you will lead this corporation in a different way," Mr. Son replied, nodding with satisfaction. "I will stay, Mr. Vu. Please prove that my belief is correct."

The meeting ended with a temporarily extended cooperation agreement, a small but important victory in the series of challenges that Anh Vu had to overcome. However, not every meeting goes so smoothly. Some smaller partners decided to terminate contracts and switch to competitors, causing first quarter revenue under Anh Vu's leadership to decrease significantly compared to the same period last year.

"I don't know if I'm making the right decisions," Anh Vu confided to Tue Minh one late evening at the office, his eyes filled with fatigue and self-doubt. "Perhaps, I was too naive to think that honesty and good will alone were enough to overcome all these difficulties."

“There is no way to rebuild trust without experiencing some temporary loss,” Tue Minh replied, her voice firm but filled with sympathy. "The important thing is that you are building a foundation for a more sustainable future, based on true transparency, instead of continuing to hide problems like before. Partners who truly value long-term cooperative relationships, like Mr. Son, will recognize the value of this approach, even if it takes time."

Just as Tue Minh predicted, in the following months, when Anh Vu's transparent financial reporting and management reform measures gradually proved their practical effectiveness, the confidence of the market and partners began to gradually recover. Second-quarter revenue showed signs of stability, and some partners who had left have contacted again, expressing their desire to re-cooperate after witnessing positive changes in the group's management.

Besides the challenges at work, Anh Vu also faces pressure from public opinion and the media, who constantly monitor and comment on every move of the "unexpected heir" of the Dam family. Some articles were skeptical and even satirical about the leadership ability of a person who came from a warehouse manager position, while others honored him as a symbol of fairness and transparency in the business world.

"I try not to let those comments affect me," Anh Vu shared in a rare interview that he agreed to do with a prestigious business magazine, under careful legal and media advice from Tue Minh. "I focus on what I can control — how I treat my employees, how I make business decisions, and my commitment to transparency. For the rest, I let time and actual results speak for themselves."

That interview, when published, received unexpectedly positive feedback from the public, especially from the group's frontline staff, who felt the rare sincerity and understanding from a senior leader. Many employees began sharing positive stories about the change in work culture under new leadership, about feeling heard and respected more than ever.

Witnessing these gradual positive changes, Tue Minh felt a deep pride, not only for his role in helping Anh Vu regain his legal inheritance, but also for witnessing him grow up and find his own leadership path, completely different but no less effective than what the previous generation had pursued.

One weekend evening, when work had calmed down, Anh Vu invited Tue Minh and Duy Bach to have dinner at his small apartment, a gesture to repay everything they had done for him during the past journey. The meal was simple but cozy, with dishes that Anh Vu himself cooked, learning from recipes that his mother once recorded in an old notebook.

"This is the sour soup that my mother often cooks, according to the little memory I still have from my childhood," he said, placing the bowl of soup on the table with special respect. "I found her handwritten recipe in a tin box, and I thought, this is how I can keep her in my life, even through little things like that."

Tue Minh tasted it and felt the rich, authentic flavor of a dish cooked with all his heart. "It's delicious," she said, smiling warmly. "I believe your mother will be happy to see that you still keep these recipes, as a link between you and her."

Duy Bach, sitting next to him, also contributed sincere compliments, and the three of them spent the entire evening chatting, sharing everyday stories, temporarily putting aside the stress of work and responsibilities. That was one of the rare moments when Tue Minh felt the full meaning of friendship, intimacy, and connection that had been built from a journey full of hardships but also full of meaning.