Chapter 1 — Selling the Shop for Two Million Yuan, I Made Them Go Bankrupt

My grill shop is located right in the city center, each year it earns 1.8 million yuan, it's always full of customers, I never worry about lack of visitors. My uncle was so hungry that his eyes turned red, and every Lunar New Year he would ask around, trying to get in the way. This time, my cousin didn't beat around the bush anymore and directly turned over the cards:

“2,000,000 yuan, sell or not?”

I almost didn't need to think and immediately nodded. The contract was signed so quickly that even the lawyer was surprised. My uncle happily accepted, smiling and saying that I was a reasonable nephew who valued gratitude. Exactly 2 am. My phone was bombarded with 99 voice messages. His voice went from excited, gradually turned to panic, and finally almost collapsed:

“Why didn't you say it earlier… this shop was originally…”

My grill shop is called "Nguyet Ban Loan". Located right on the busiest walking street in the city center. Each year the net profit is 1.8 million yuan. Never had to worry about lack of customers. My uncle, Vuong Duc Phat, more than once at the dinner table, half-jokingly and half-seriously said:

“Tieu Nguyet, you should let me do this shop, why is a girl like you working so hard?”

My mother passed away early. Over the years, your family has truly been my only relative. But I never answered him. Today, cousin Vuong Thien directly blocked me right in the shop. She wore elaborate makeup, wore designer clothes, stood there with her arms crossed, her eyes carrying an undisguised superiority.

“Tham Nguyet, stop pretending.”

“What I mean to my father, do you still not understand?”

I wiped the meat skewer I had just finished grilling without raising my head.

“Understand what?”

“This shop.”

Vuong Thien raised his red-painted finger and circled it in the air.

"You're a girl, why do you earn so much money? Sooner or later you have to get married."

“My dad is old and just wants to find a job.”

“He saw your shop.”

I stopped and finally looked at her. Vuong Thien burst out laughing, as if she had just heard the most ridiculous thing.

“So that's the price.”

“Consider it a family member, we won't let you suffer any loss.”

“2 million yuan.”

She held up two fingers.

“Bought this shop from you, including the recipe.”

"One price. Sell or not?"

The staff in the shop all stopped working and looked at me nervously. A year's profit is 180,000 yuan, but I only want to use 200,000 to buy it out. This is no longer about taking comfort. This is blatant robbery. I looked at Vuong Thien's face confidently grasping victory. Remembering over the years, your family used the name "for my good" to take away so many things from me. The old house my parents left behind, they said I could live in temporarily and "keep" it for me. They said they would hold on to my university living expenses and "invest" for me. I endure each and every thing. Because before my mother passed away, she told me that you are my only relative and must know how to be tolerant. But now… They have targeted something for my survival. The air seemed to freeze. The smile on Vuong Thien's face became more and more proud. She was sure I wouldn't dare turn around. Surely I'm still a soft persimmon even if they squeeze it. I took the towel and slowly wiped my hands clean. Neat and decisive. The smile on Vuong Thien's face immediately stiffened. My uncle, Vuong Duc Phat, walked out from behind the door, a joy on his face that he couldn't hide.

"Tieu Nguyet! Do you really agree?"

“You know, I'm a good kid, I always listen to you.”

I looked at him.

“But I have one condition.”

Vuong Thien immediately Beware:

"What conditions? Do you want to increase the price? I said first, 200 thousand is the highest!"

“No price increase.”

I shook my head.

“My condition is, you must sign the contract today and transfer enough money.”

“If not, pretend I never said it.”

Vuong Duc Phat and Vuong Thien glanced at each other. The joy in his eyes almost overflowed. They are afraid I will change my mind.

"Okay! No problem!"

Vuong Duc Phat immediately responded.

“Let me call lawyer Truong right away!”

I picked up the phone and called my lawyer.

“Lawyer Truong.”

“Please prepare the shop transfer contract.”

“Yes, sign today.”

"Price? Just what they said, 200 thousand."

I saw on his and his cousin's faces a smile of relief mixed with sarcasm. It's like saying: This idiot, finally took the bait. I also laughed. Smile even brighter than them. 02 Signing the contract Lawyer Truong worked very quickly. At three o'clock in the afternoon, we were sitting in his office. On both sides of the large desk, my uncle and cousin and I sat facing each other, the boundary so clear and cold. Lawyer Truong gave me the printed contract, then gave a copy to them. His eyebrows were always furrowed.

“Miss Tham, are you sure you want to transfer this shop for 200,000 yuan?”

He lowered his voice and asked me.

“Have you thought about the risks in this matter?”

“I thought it over.”

I replied very calmly. Opposite, Vuong Thien chuckled softly.

“Lawyer Truong, we are one family, family members, so why are we talking about risks?”

“This is my cousin volunteering.”

“Don't interfere in the division.”

Vuong Duc Phat also nodded continuously.

“That's right, Tieu Nguyet is the most understanding person.”

“How can we let him suffer?”

Lawyer Truong glanced at them, contempt flashing in his eyes. He looked back at me, still wanting to give one last advice.

“Miss Tham, according to the market price, the transfer fee for this shop must be at least over 500,000 yuan.”

“Not to mention your exclusive formula.”

“200 million… is almost given away for nothing.”

“Are you really not reconsidering?”

"No need."

I picked up the pen and flipped straight to the last page of the contract.

“Lawyer Truong, just do as they say.”

My decisiveness made him and his cousin pause for a second. Immediately after, their eyes burned with the heat of satisfied greed.

"Sign quickly! Sign quickly!"

Vuong Duc Phat urged, as if afraid I would change my mind. He almost snatched the pen and signed his name on the transferee side firmly. Vuong Thien immediately took out his phone to transfer money.

“2,000,000 yuan, transfer it to you immediately!”

“You should check.”

Very quickly, my phone made a "ting" sound. A bank message appears: 【XX Bank: Your XXXX account received 2 million yuan on X month X, current balance...】 Money has been deposited. I also put down my pen. The two words "Tham Nguyet" are signed clearly and definitively. Contract printed in three copies. I have one copy, they have one copy, and the law office keeps one copy. Lawyer Truong looked at me, sighed, and stamped the notary. Vuong Duc Phat grabbed his contract and looked at it over and over like he was holding a treasure.

"Okay! From now on, 'Nguyet Ban Loan' is mine!"

He slapped the table, his voice filled with excitement. Vuong Thien stood up and looked at me from above.

"Tham Nguyet, where is the key? There are also shop papers and formulas."

“Just hand it over.”

"No problem."

I Take out a prepared document bag from your pocket. Inside is a business license, a rental contract, all employee information, and a recipe book. I took off the heavy set of keys in my hand and pushed them all towards them.

“It's all here.”

"I've paid the rent until the end of the month, there's half a month left."

“I have also paid my staff salaries.”

“From this moment on, this shop no longer has anything to do with me.”

Vuong Duc Phat hugged his keys and file bag, laughing until he couldn't close his mouth.

"Okay! Okay! Okay!"

"Don't worry Tieu Nguyet, you've taken over, business is definitely better than me!"

He patted his chest in assurance. Vuong Thien picked up the recipe book, flipped through a few pages, the corners of her lips curled up in contempt. They stood up, unable to hide their eagerness to leave. At the door, Vuong Duc Phat turned around and looked at me like a winner.

“Tieu Nguyet, when you have free time in the future, remember to go home and play.”

He emphasized that word "home" very heavily. It means the old house that my parents left behind. I said nothing. Just looking at their proud backs, slowly raised the cup of tea in front of them. The door closed. The law office became quiet. Lawyer Truong finally couldn't hold it in anymore.

“Miss Tham, I really don't understand.”

“What did you do that… for?”

I gently blew hot air over the rim of the cup.

“Lawyer Truong, have you ever heard this sentence?”

“There are relationships that require money to be severed.”

“This 200 thousand… is not a transfer fee.”

"It's the burial fee for the so-called 'friendship' of my uncle's family over the years."

Lawyer Truong was stunned. Eyes full of surprise.