Chapter 8 — Healing After Days of Neglect

"My salary is 3,500, how can I save up to open a company? Do I know some bad people?"

“Dad, I'm busy—”

“Come here and tell Dad clearly!”

“I'm not coming back.”

“What did you say?”

"I said I wouldn't go back. It's my company, my business, I don't need to report it to anyone."

“I am your father!”

“I'm dad, but I'm not your boss.”

I hung up. But no regrets. Phuong Vien walked over and placed a cup of hot water in front of me.

“It's begun.”

“What will they do next?”

"Either come to demand money, or come to cause trouble. Sometimes both."

“Are you going to handle it?”

“Where to go is what happens.”

“What do you need me for?”

“Do me a favor.”

“Investigation of Tran Hao Vu's material store, the situation in the last half year.”

“Why investigate him?”

“I have a feeling… he's going to target my company.”

“Do you think he will—”

“Loss of 140,000, compensation almost gone, now seeing me making money… do you think he will be at peace?”

Phuong Vien was stunned.

“I'll go to work now.”

The investigation results were worse than I thought. The store not only lost 140,000, but is still losing money. He borrowed 200,000 with an interest rate of 3% per month. Only profit is 6,000 per month, while revenue is only about 10,000. In other words, he is on the brink of collapse.

“No wonder why they rushed to find you to borrow money.” Phuong Vien gave the report. “He is cornered.”

“4,200,000 in compensation, buying a car 450,000, opening a branch 800,000, loss 140,000, spending a year at least 200,000.

The remaining more than 1,000,000, plus the loan, can only last half a year at most.”

“So what will he do?”

“He will come find me.”

“Asking for money?”

“Not just money.”

Three days later, Tran Hao Vu actually arrived. This time alone. Still wearing the Canada Goose shirt, but the eyes are different. No more arrogance. Just worry.

“Van Van, brother-in-law wants to talk to you.”

“What?”

“Your design company is doing quite well… I want to ask, do you lack partners?”

I leaned back in my chair, looking at him.

“I have a partner.”

"I mean... do you need more capital? I can contribute capital to your company."

“What do you want to contribute?”

"I have connections and resources. I'm familiar with the field of construction materials. If you're designing, you definitely need to build with the material supply chain. I can help you connect."

"Tran Hao Yu, your store's monthly revenue is 100,000 yuan. How much have you paid off the high-interest loan?"

His face immediately turned white.

“You… you know—”

"My brother's situation is very clear. He didn't come to contribute capital, he came to ask for help."

"4,200,000 yuan in compensation money, in less than two years, you burned most of it. You opened a branch without doing market research, imported fake goods without checking suppliers, hired a bad lawyer to the point of losing everything. Now you still borrow high interest to cover the loss, 3% profit per month... are you afraid that you will die too slowly?"

Tran Hao Vu stood still, his face turning blue and red.

“Lam Van, don't be too harsh.”

“Am I too much?” I looked straight at him. “What did you say last Tet? ‘A person's monthly salary is 3,000 yuan, even if you give him 4,000,000, you can't keep it.’ Remember?”

An expression flashed across his face that I had never seen before.

“I… I heard that?”

“I heard every word.”

I stood up and walked in front of him.

"Tran Hao Vu, the 4,200,000 in your hand in less than two years is almost gone. I didn't take a penny, half a year to create a 50,000,000 project.

Tell me... who Is it the one who can't keep the money?" His lips trembled, unable to say a word.

“The door is over there. If you don't have anything to do in the future, don't come."

He turned and left. This time, the door was not smashed. Just gently close it. Phuong Vien walked out from inside.

“Are you happy?”

“Because I shouldn't have had to go to this step. If they had treated me fairly from the beginning… I wouldn't have become like this.”

“What is this?”

Phuong Vien was silent. After a while, she said: "Someone is looking for you."

“Co Tham. He's been standing outside for ten minutes."

I wipe my face.

“Let him in.”

Co Tham walked in and looked at me.

“Are you okay?”

“There are water stains on your face.”

I reached out and touched it lightly. It's still really wet.

“It's okay, I just cut onions.”

“Do you have onions in your office?”

"What is up?"

He placed a file on the table.

“The creative fund advisory contract, last time I said I would think about it.”

“I'm done thinking. Sign."

“Didn't see the terms?”

“Your contract… still need to be seen?”

“Anything to eat tonight?”

“What do you want?”

Eat hot pot, I drink some beer. Not much, two bottles. But my alcohol tolerance is really poor, two bottles has already started to make me dizzy.