Chapter 14 — I Stopped Meeting Clients After Work

The news spread the following Monday. Friday afternoon. I officially submitted my resignation in writing to Hang Dat Thuong Thuong. The content is very simple:

"For personal reasons, I would like to resign from my position as Sales Director for East China Region.

Thank you to the company for training and supporting me over the past six years. According to labor law regulations, I will officially terminate the labor contract after one month." Zhou Kien Quoc read that application three times. Then he did something that even I didn't expect. He tore it up. Right in front of me. Tear into pieces.

"Not approved."

Tough and cold.

"Director Chu."

"Labor law stipulates..."

"Don't bring up labor laws to me."

He suddenly stood up. Both hands rest firmly on the table top. The body is slightly tilted forward. I am so familiar with this position. Previously, every time I criticized an employee, I made a mistake. He used that position all the time. But never used it with me. It's the first time.

"Luc Vien."

"Do you know if you leave Hang Dat..."

"Will the company turn into anything?"

"I know."

I replied very calmly. He immediately shouted:

"You still went knowing that?"

"Because what will become of Hang Dat..."

"It's not my responsibility."

The corner of Chu Kien Quoc's face trembled slightly.

"What about your customers?"

"What contracts are you in charge of?"

"There are debts that have not yet been collected."

"I have prepared the handover documents."

"It's all saved on the company's server."

"The data in the CRM system is also complete."

"In terms of process."

“There is no longer any backlog.”

Chu Kien Quoc gritted his teeth.

"What about those customers?"

"People who only accept you."

"Only work with you."

I looked at him. Calmly ask back:

"Isn't that exactly why I was denounced?"

My voice is not loud. But every word is as solid as a nail.

"What you said was right."

"Clients shouldn't just accept one person."

"But you should accept the whole team."

"So..."

"This is the time for the team to prove its capabilities."

Chu Kien Quoc slowly sat down on the chair. Like a balloon punctured by a needle. Little by little. There's no strength left. He was silent for a long time. Then he asked in a low voice:

"You... went to An Nhuan, right?"

I have no reason to hide. There's no need to pretend either.

"Lam Tri Vien personally came to dig you out?"

"Last Friday?"

"...What conditions did he offer?"

"Deputy General Manager."

The moment those two words were uttered. Chu Kien Quoc's eyelids twitched. Very clear. It's the type that anyone can recognize. Deputy General Manager. He strived to reach this age to be able to hold the position of General Director. Just one step to become Deputy General Director of the largest competitor. He was silent for nearly a minute. The office is so quiet that you can hear people calling in the hallway. A long time later. He just spoke up. The voice was very quiet. Carrying something that I had never seen on him in the past six years. Condescension.

"Luc Vien..."

"Can you please not go?"

He opened his desk drawer. Take out a file. Then pushed towards me. Is a completely new compensation plan. It clearly states: Deputy General Director of Sales for East China Region. Basic salary increased by 50%. Full bonus and KS contract commissions are fully refunded. There are also year-end dividends.

"What happened before..."

He spoke with great difficulty. It was as if every word had to be squeezed out from between my teeth.

"It's because I'm not thinking carefully."

"About the bonus..."

"I will reschedule."

I picked up that plan. Look for five seconds. Then raise your head.

"Director Chu."

"What about Trieu Bang and the others?"

He was stunned.

"What do you mean?"

"The complaint against me."

"How do you plan to handle it?"

Chu Kien Quoc paused. Obviously he had never thought about this problem. Or do you think. But don't want to face it.

"That..."

"Wait until your work is finished and then move on..."

I nodded.

"So that means they won't be subject to any form of action."

That's not a question. It's confirmation. Zhou Kien Quoc did not answer. But his silence was the clearest answer. I pushed the compensation plan back.

"Director Chu."

"Thank you."

"Think more..."

"No need."

I stood up.

"Six years ago."

"When I entered Hang Dat."

"The company only has thirty employees."

"The first customer was won by me and you."

"After that the company grew bigger and bigger."

"I also had a great sense of accomplishment."

When saying those words. I am extremely calm. Not trying to act calm. But it was really calm.

"But what happened this time made me understand something."

"At this company..."

"Ability is not as good as relationship."

"Contribution is not as good as standing on the right side."

"What you care about is not who can do the job."

"But who makes you less troublesome?"