Chapter 4 — Mom's Real Chess Game

Lawyer Truong spent two hours presenting all the documents in front of me. Three drug testing reports: The unanimous conclusion is that it contains trace lead compounds. It does not cause immediate death, but continuously consuming it for 5 to 6 years will lead to irreversible chronic liver and kidney failure. Vuong Que Hoa's bank statement: Every month receives 8,000 yuan "service fee" from "Thuy Ham Health Management Company" - a company in the name of Trieu Bang Trinh. Clinic profile: Trieu Bang Trinh's representative is Tong Minh Chau's cousin. Opened in 2018 but since then there has only been one "customer". The chain of evidence is as tight as an iron chain, without a single loophole.

“My mother endured this for three years.” Truong Duy Vien's voice lowered. "She told me, she knew she couldn't last much longer. But she said: 'I'll try to investigate one more day, Niem Niem will have one less difficult step in the future'."

I gritted my teeth to keep from crying.

“Report the case immediately.”

“No rush.”

I was stunned.

“My mother also told me something.” Truong Duy Vien looked at me, "Just report the case. But she wants you to do one thing first."

“Let Luc Vien Chau know who you are.”

I frowned.

“When he learns that you are his biological daughter and holds 8.3% of the company's shares, he will become your ally.” Truong Duy Vien emphasized every word, "I need him. Not because he is the father, but because he holds 35% of the shares. The two of them combined is 43%."

“This number surpasses the total shares of Tong Minh Chau and Luc Canh Tham.”

I got it. My mother didn't just want to sue her. She wanted to uproot Tong Minh Chau from the Luc family.

“There's more.” Truong Duy Vien took out a USB, "My mother asked someone to investigate something about Luc Canh Tham."

“That young master?”

“He is not Luc Vien Chau's biological child.”

The air seemed to be drained. The USB is plugged into the computer. A DNA assessment appears. Comparison samples: Luc Canh Tham and Luc Vien Chau. Conclusion: Exclude paternity. I held my breath.

“My mother… investigated to this extent?”

Truong Duy Vien smiled slightly: "My mother once said: 'Tong Minh Chau thought I was an ant, if I wanted to step on it, she would step on it. She didn't know that the ants would dig a hole right under her feet'."

“So whose son is Luc Canh Tham?”

Truong Duy Vien turned to the next page. The second comparison with Co Minh Vien. Co Minh Vien, Chairman of Thien Khai Group, Luc Thi's biggest rival. Conclusion: Paternity is established. My fingers tapped lightly on the table. Tong Minh Chau married Luc Vien Chau, but gave birth to a child with her husband's deadly rival. That child now sits as Deputy General Director of Luc Thi, running loss-making projects to transfer money to his biological father's pocket. A terrible game of chess.

“Lawyer Truong, do Luc Vien Chau know about this?”

"Don't know."

“My mother said, leave this card for you to play.”

I spent three days reading all the documents carefully five times. Then I did one thing: Call Luc Thi Group. I'm not looking for Luc Vien Chau. I'm looking for Tong Minh Chau.

"Hello? Who is it?" The secretary answered the phone.

"My name is To Niem. Please tell Mrs. Tong that the woman you beat up at the textile factory eighteen years ago, her daughter wants to meet you."

The other end of the line was silent for ten seconds then hung up. Twenty minutes later, an unknown number called back.

"Bowl Reciting?” The voice was as sweet as an announcer's, but underneath it was cold.

“What do you want?”

“Let's meet and talk.”

Three seconds of silence.