Chapter 17 — Fire the Wrong Person, the Whole Company Pays

After Phuong Dinh told me this story, he couldn't help but laugh.

“From research director to working for a dishwashing liquid factory…”

“It literally fell straight from the clouds.”

I don't laugh.

“Tran Hao is no longer worth worrying about.”

“Next…”

“There's still one person who hasn't been dealt with yet.”

“Isn't she already profiled by the industry association?”

“Record…”

“It's just the beginning.”

“To Dao has built a network of relationships in the industry for ten years.”

“You can't just be completely exposed because of one exposure.”

“She still has a way out.”

“What is the way out?”

“Among the people she knows…”

“Some people don't care about the truth.”

“They only care about profits.”

“As long as To Dao still brings value…”

“There will always be someone willing to help her.”

Phuong Dinh frowned.

“So what to do?”

“Let her…”

“There is no more benefit to give to others.”

That evening, I called Ha Van.

“General Manager Ha.”

“You said the other day…”

“If I need Thinh Hoa to speak up for help, just say so.”

“Um, tell me.”

“To Dao before leaving Hoa Nhan…”

“Brought along part of the customer data and distribution channel information of the marketing department.”

“Now she's using that data…”

“To contact some distributors again in my personal name.”

“Are you sure?”

“Phuong Dinh helped me confirm.”

“To Dao has at least contacted three former distributors of Hoa Nhan.”

“What she used…”

“It is the customer database accumulated during my time working at Hoa Nhan.”

“This is an act of commercial information infringement.”

“But I don't intend to use the law to handle it.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“Thinh Hoa's distribution channel coverage is much larger than Hoa Nhan's.”

“If those distributors knew Thinh Hoa, they could offer better cooperation conditions…”

“They have no reason to continue to work with someone who has been profiled by an industry association.”

Ha Van was silent for two seconds.

“Let Thinh Hoa directly contact those distributors?”

“To Dao's final retreat…”

“Help me block it too.”

“Understood.”

“I will arrange it tomorrow.”

Hanging up the phone, I sat quietly on the sofa for a while. The lights outside the window light up one by one. Everything... It's almost over. Thinh Hoa's speed is amazingly fast. In just three days... The three distributors that To Dao contacted simultaneously signed a new letter of cooperation with Thinh Hoa. Attractive conditions. Clear framework for cooperation. No one hesitated. To Dao's last retreat... Completely blocked to death. When the news reached her ears... To Dao was at home packing her luggage. Her husband has officially filed for divorce. Savings money. Everything must be divided. Nhuan Cam lost two big customers because of her case. Her husband puts all the responsibility on her. Phuong Dinh didn't know where she heard it from, saying that recently To Dao had become ten pounds thinner. The whole person aged several years.

“Is she looking for Tran Hao?”

I casually asked a question.

“But Tran Hao didn't answer the phone.”

“As expected.”

“Now To Dao has almost no place in the industry anymore.”

“There are records from the association.”

“And Thinh Hoa directly appeared.”

“No one wants to cooperate with her anymore.”

“I heard that even when she goes to her hometown, she doesn't dare to return.”

I didn't reply. That afternoon... To Dao appeared for the last time near Hoa Nhan. She stood across the street. Quietly looking at the office building where I worked for five years. Standing for a long time. Old Chu came out of the company to buy water just when he saw her. Two people across the street looked at each other for a second. Then Mr. Chu turned around and walked into the convenience store. No greetings. To Dao bowed his head. Slowly leave.