Chapter 4 — Forty Billion And People Only Ask For A Kitchen

Thao was the first person to know I had money.

She is a college friend who used to work as a chef for an office restaurant chain. Six years of working in the kitchen made her wrists ache, but her dishes always have their own flavor: simple, hot and remind people of a home meal.

I took Thao to a 90 square meter space in a street near the train station. The front is narrow, with a skylight at the back, enough to build a small central kitchen.

“You want to open a shop?”

“No. I want to open a brand of boxed lunches and home-delivered dinners.”

Thao looked at me.

“You just lost your job.”

“I just got some money.”

I don't say numbers. I just showed her the signed lease and an operating capital account. Thao sat down on the doorstep, it took a few minutes to realize she wasn't being comforted.

“Are you serious?”

"I contribute capital. You contribute skills. Divide clearly on paper."

We named the brand Moc Bep. I rented a minimalist design, chose an economical electric stove, and bought ingredients from small farms instead of chasing imported products. I want everything to be controllable, from cash flow to the quality of a lunch box.

In three weeks, Moc Bep started trial sales. A portion of grilled ribs rice, a portion of braised fish with turmeric, sour soup and stir-fried vegetables. Reasonable price, delivered within a five kilometer radius. Thao is in charge of the kitchen, I am in charge of operations, contracts and promotion.

First week revenue was just over 20 million. The second week, an office booked 120 seats. The third week a food blogger posted, the number of orders tripled.

Minh Khang still thinks I'm your assistant. Every night he asks:

“Is the interview okay today?”

I replied:

"It's okay. They told me to wait more."

I don't regret it. He only transferred me half of that month's salary so I could have travel expenses.

I looked at the 2,000,000 VND transfer message for a long time. In my own account, I have more than 38 billion. But the money he gave felt much heavier.

That afternoon, I stopped by the bank to sign a private property agreement. Lawyers remind that lottery tickets purchased during marriage can lead to common property disputes. I haven't asked Minh Khang to sign, because I don't want to make him the person who has to choose between me and my family.

I just want to prepare a safe door before everyone knows I'm behind Moc Bep.