Chapter 8 — I Am Bigger Than The Hurts

"The first option, mother proactively returns 8,000,000 yuan from the trust fund, plus the 5% actual converted shares of 3,500,000 yuan, total 11,500,000 yuan, both sides sign an agreement through lawyers, everything ends here."

“The second option, if you refuse, I will submit all the evidence to the prosecution, forging signatures, appropriating inheritance, illegally changing trust funds—each crime is enough to put you in front of the dock.”

“Mom, choose.”

My mother looked at me for a long time.

“Tham Dao… do you really want to treat your mother like that?”

My voice was so flat it was almost cold.

“It's not like I want to treat you like that.”

“But mom treated me like that first.”

Less than an hour after the call ended, Hua Nhien sent me a link. When I clicked on it, Hai Thanh local news appeared with the title Dinh Huy fell into financial crisis, many suppliers simultaneously sued, accompanied by an image in front of the company headquarters of a group of workers wearing blue clothes holding banners demanding wages. Hua Nhien's messages immediately followed, saying that the Dong Thanh project had officially collapsed, the supplier was claiming more than 20,000,000 yuan, Dinh Huy's bank loan was also due and could not be repaid, his mother and Tham Gia were blocked at the company almost every day, and even the independent directors joined forces to request an urgent board meeting to question Co Boi Lan's management ability. I put down the phone. I know better than anyone else how big the hole in the Dong Thanh renovation project is. From the moment I signed the contract, I knew that the cash flow of this project was extremely tight. If just one link broke, the entire system would collapse. When I was there, every step was monitored by myself, every money in and out, every approval button, I controlled it so tightly that there were no gaps, almost not allowing any risks to have a chance to happen. After I left, there was no one else to do those things, Tham Gia couldn't do it, and my mother despised it and didn't bother to do it, so the end result was that it collapsed sooner or later. Two days later, lawyer Ma called back.

"Dinh Huy's legal department has contacted."

“What did they say?”

“Co Boi Lan agreed to reconcile.”

"Condition?"

“She agreed to return 8,000,000 yuan from the trust fund, but the 3,500,000 yuan share conversion was to be paid in installments over three years.”

“Yes, she said the company's cash flow is very tight and cannot be paid in one lump sum.”

I thought for a few seconds.

“8,000,000 yuan from the trust fund, must be transferred within two weeks.”

“The remaining 3,500,000 yuan, I give her six months, divided into two installments.”

“After six months, I sued.”

“Okay, I'll go negotiate.”

That evening, Tham Gia texted me a line on WeChat.

“Tieu Dao, the company may not be able to keep it anymore.”

I looked at the message for a long time. Then answer in four words.

“It doesn't concern me.”

Then turn off the machine. Yes, it doesn't concern me. That company, that house— I've already let go. Dinh Huy's crisis was even more serious than I thought. A week later, Hua Nhien sent me a financial investigation article, the title clearly stated the suspicion of reporting fraud, many years of profits were inflated by more than 30,000,000 yuan, assets were falsely valued, debts were hidden, and in fact there may have been negative capital. An "insider" source is quoted, but I don't need to guess to know that it is definitely the supplier or the bank that is being charged. After hiring someone to investigate, the things my mother had been hiding for so many years could finally no longer be hidden. Three days later, Tham Gia made a video call. This time there was no more screaming, no more questioning, no more arrogance. Her makeup was smudged.

“Tieu Dao…”

His voice was hoarse to the point of almost breaking.

“Something happened to Mom.”

“What?”

"The audit fraud case was revealed, Hai Thanh market management agency has announced an investigation, mother... may be prosecuted for criminal liability."

"I beg you... can you help me? I know a lot and have a lot of connections. See if I can find my mother a good lawyer."

I leaned back in my chair, looking at her through the screen.

“Sister, the person you wanted me to help—five years ago forged Dad's signature and took his shares.”

“Take the 8,000,000 yuan you left me.”

“Used me as a tool for five years, then kicked me out.”

“Now you asked me to help you.”

Tham Gia's tears fell.

“I know… I know my mother did wrong.”

“But she is our mother after all…”

“It's your mother.”