Chapter 10 — I Am Bigger Than The Hurts

My mother came. No prior notice. One workday afternoon, around three o'clock, I was sitting in the office looking at the contract when the door was pushed open. My mother stood there. She had become much thinner, her hair had turned white, wearing a dark gray coat, carrying a small bag, standing in the middle of this thirty square meter space, looking so out of place that she almost didn't belong here.

“Tieu Dao.”

Her voice is no longer the same as before. There is no longer an imposition that makes people unable to refuse. All that remains is... the fatigue of someone who has lost.

“Mom, why did you come here?”

I stood up. Trinh Vien was very observant, brought in a glass of water and then quietly left, closing the door. My mother sat down and looked around the small room.

“Do you work here?”

“How many people are in the team?”

“Two people, me and an assistant.”

“…Is it hard?”

“It's not difficult, you choose yourself.”

My mother bowed her head. Silence for a long time.

"Tieu Dao, mom came... to say a few words to you."

“Mom, tell me.”

"Ding Huy... can't hold it anymore."

“The management agency has concluded that there was audit fraud, profit inflation, and debt concealment.”

“Mom is permanently banned from the market.”

“Company assets will be handled according to the law.”

"Shen Gia has resigned as vice president. He has gone to Hangzhou to find a job."

Her voice was monotonous, as if she were telling someone else's story.

"Your father built it all his life... destroyed it in your mother's hands."

I looked at her.

“You came to Singapore… just to say these things?”

She looked up.

“Mom came to apologize to you.”

“Not because I have evidence, nor because Dinh Huy collapsed.”

“It's because… Mom finally understood something.”

“What?”

“Before your father died, he always said—you two must be treated fairly.”

“Mom nodded, but in her heart she never heard it.”

"Mom always thinks that Tham Gia is the eldest sister, the successor, so she must be given priority in everything."

"As for me, I'm smaller, more obedient, more talented, you don't need to worry about me."

“So… I really don't worry about you.”

“Not worried at all.”

Her eyes turned red.

“By the time mom wanted to worry… you were already gone.”

“No longer need my mother.”

I sat there. Listen to these words. Five years ago— This was the first time I heard her speak to me in such a tone. But I don't cry. Not even moved, he rushed to hug her. I just sat still.

“What you said, I heard.”

“But I won't say 'it's okay' or 'it's over'.”

“Because it's not a small thing.”

“Forging signatures, appropriating trust funds—each is no small matter.”

"I don't pursue it anymore, but that doesn't mean I've forgiven."

“Forgiveness… may take a long time, or it may not be possible in a lifetime.”

“But there is one thing I can do—not hate my mother.”

“That was the last kindness I showed you, Mom.”

My mother looked at me.

“That… is enough.”

She stood up. Pick up your bag. Take two steps and then stop.

“What is the name of the subsidiary?”

“Yuen Thach Consulting.”

“Uyen Thach…”

She repeated once.

“Just like how my dad named me.”

Then she opened the door and left. I don't chase. Don't hold back. Just standing by the window, watching her walk out of the building, slowly walking away. The back is bent down. Completely different from the woman who stood in the president's office years ago. Like two different people. Six months after Uyen Thach Consulting was established, I received eleven projects, no project lost money, no customer complained. At the end of the year, when reviewing, I Recalculating once, half-year revenue reached 4,800,000 Singapore dollars, net profit was about 1,700,000, the team increased to five people. This result cannot be called shocking, but for a company that has been established for less than half a year, it is enough to exceed everyone's expectations. After reading the report, Tran Kien Quoc only said two words, his voice was low but firm.

“If my father was still alive, he would probably laugh.”

General Director Tham also called, his tone was half-joking, half-serious but could not hide his assessment.

“I heard you do eleven projects in half a year?”

"The person you pulled from my side is probably not just Trinh Vien, right?"

“…You two.”

“The next time I come to dig someone again, I will really turn my face.”

“General Director Tham, they asked for leave themselves.”

He laughed and scolded, then his tone turned serious.

“There's a project you might be interested in.”

“What project?”

“Dong Cang, Hai Thanh development area, three core assets that once belonged to Dinh Huy—Dong Thanh area, riverside line and an industrial land area—have been sealed by the court, and are about to be put up for public auction.”

“Starting price—18,000,000 yuan total.”

My hand tightened on the phone.

“Why are you telling me this?”

“I do consulting, I don't buy assets, but you can do it for others.”

He stopped for a beat.