Chapter 7 — Respect Has No Price

James moved his eyes away from him and looked at me. The expression softened a bit, but remained extremely serious.

“Van, I need to apologize to you.”

“For something like this to happen is a failure of our management.”

“I pledge to personally handle the entire incident.”

“All involved, from store managers, employees to senior management…”

“Someone I won't let go of either.”

“As for the trauma you and your mother suffered…”

He took a deep breath.

“I will book a plane ticket now.”

“Tomorrow I will fly to China and personally apologize to you two.”

“James, you don't need to…”

He interrupted me.

“I had to come.”

“This is not good manners, Van.”

“When our brand needed professional support the most, she chose to cooperate with us.”

“And yet we let your mother be humiliated right in the flagship store.”

“This is not just a failure of management.”

“It's also a failure in how to be human.”

“I must personally apologize.”

I won't refuse any more. After the video call ended, the whole store fell silent for a long time. Director Tran stood frozen in place, as if he had lost his soul. He turned to look at me, his voice hoarse.

“Miss Tong Van… I…”

Suddenly he bent down. A ninety degree angle. Low stance to the ground.

"It's my dog's eyes that can't recognize Mount Thai Son!"

“It was me who handled it incorrectly!”

“Please… please help me say a few words in front of James…”

He was almost begging to the point of wanting to kneel.

"Up above, there are old parents, below there are young children..."

“House payments, car payments, the whole family depends on this job of mine…”

“Please, please show compassion…”

My mother stood behind and looked at the man who was so noble and noble just now, but now he was so humble, her eyes were a bit unbearable. She gently pulled my sleeve and said in a low voice:

“Or… just let it go?”

“He's pitiful too…”

I turned my head to look at my mother. Her eyes were red. Not because of self-pity anymore. It's because of softness. Someone like my mother who has been teaching for thirty years... Looking at everyone is the same as looking at her students. Always want to give others a chance to correct mistakes. I spoke softly.

“Mom, listen to me.”

I pointed towards Director Tran.

“He is not pitiful.”

“He's just scared.”

“When you gave me that bit of ‘compensation’ just now, did you feel any remorse from him?”

“Not at all.”

“He just thought he and his mother were the type of people who could use a little advantage to cover their mouths.”

“It's because his superiors knew about it.”

“It's because his rice bowl is about to run out.”

“So he started to become 'pitiful'.”

My mother was silent.

“Mom, think carefully.”

“What if standing here today was not me — someone who just learned to appraise luxury goods — but just an ordinary customer?”

My mother's eyes changed slightly.

“If today were a normal retired teacher, taking her daughter to a brand-name store…”

“Falsely accused.”

“Threatened.”

“Forced to pay 300,000 yuan in compensation.”

“So what will happen to that person?”

I stopped for a moment.

“That person doesn't know how to do appraisals.”

“There are no relationships in the brand world.”

“They can only cry and grit their teeth to pay.”

“Borrowing at high interest rates.”

“Then maybe the next half of your life you live in debt and fear.”

“Until then…”

“Who really is that pitiful person?”

My mother looked at me intently. Her lips pursed tightly, then slowly nodded.

“You're right.”

“Girl… you're right.”

She turned to look at Director Tran.

“Director Tran, what she said is not wrong.”

“If the people you are bullying today are not me and me, but someone else…”

“Maybe an entire family has been destroyed by you guys.”

“You probably understand this principle better than me.”

Director Tran's face was as gray as ashes. My mother didn't look at him any more. She turned and took my hand.

“Girl, let's go home.”

“If you need to protect your rights, protect them.”

“If you need to investigate, then investigate.”

“Mom supports you.”