Chapter 14 — Selling the Shop for Two Million Yuan, I Made Them Go Bankrupt

20 Final Battle The birth of the Tinh Tam Alliance did not cause any noise. But underneath… The current has begun to roll. My two stores became the perfect showcase. Handmade tofu melted in your mouth. Pork retained its natural flavor. Clean vegetables were crisp and sweet. Each dish won customers over through its quality. Business not only held steady; it surged even more strongly. Fame spread like a snowball. Customers started asking directly about the source of our ingredients. That was what made Lam Phong unable to sit still. He began to realize that I was not merely opening a shop. I was building a new ecosystem—one that could threaten his supply chain. The storm came faster than expected. Dinh Thinh announced its opening date: three days from now. At the same time, a smear campaign erupted. The internet filled with sensational headlines and malicious claims.

“Hot restaurant turned out to be an underground factory!”

“Organic vegetables are actually grown next to the landfill!”

“The Tinh Tam Alliance is an emotional scam!”

They photographed the farm as a dirty place. They turned the farmers into fools. They use malicious words to trample on everything we are proud of. Public opinion reversed. Guests started to get suspicious. Fear spreads. The alliance members panicked. Some people began to want to withdraw. In Lam Phong's office. It must have been a laugh of triumph. He thought he had hit the weak spot. To think that these barefoot people would crumble under the pressure. But he is wrong. Wrong about one thing. He underestimated me. I immediately convened all members of the alliance and held an emergency meeting at my old house. Faced with faces full of worry and insecurity, I only said one sentence: "If you're upright, you're not afraid of the shadow. They say we're dirty, they say we're chaotic, then we expose everything, letting everyone see for themselves what we really are." The next day, in front of my two stores, as well as in front of the factories and farms of each member of the Tinh Tam Alliance, large electronic screens were simultaneously set up, twenty-four hours live streaming the entire production process, from animal husbandry, cultivation to processing, without hiding anything. At the same time, on behalf of the alliance, I sent an invitation to the entire city: "A hundred words of hearing is not as good as one of seeing, a hundred of seeing is not equal to one of tasting. Three days later, on the day Dinh Thinh opens, we will organize an ingredient experience festival right at the walking street square, all ingredients are transported directly from the place of production, all dishes are prepared on the spot, free of charge without limit, whether it is real or not, how good or bad it is, please invite everyone to come and see for yourself, taste for yourself, and judge for yourself.” That public letter was like a declaration of war, pushing everything to a climax. Three days later, the entire pedestrian street was filled with people, never before had it been so bustling. On one side is Dinh Thinh's grand opening ceremony with famous stars, loud music and a lavish stage. On one side are our simple long tables, where the bean maker directly grinds the beans with a stone mortar, the herder directly cuts the meat on the spot, and each person in the alliance stands in front of their booth, bringing out the things they are most proud of. No stage lights, no performances, just good smells the originality of the food and the genuine smiles of the workers. At first, the crowd was attracted to Dinh Thinh, but then each step began to move towards us. A child tasted a piece of freshly made tofu and his eyes immediately lit up. An old man drank a bowl of bone soup and was moved to tears. More and more people flocked to the alliance, their faces showing genuine satisfaction when they tasted the true natural flavor. On the other side, the splendid stage gradually became deserted. Lam Phong stood on the second floor, looking down with a pale face. He looked at the people he once despised, using the simplest, most clumsy methods, but won the trust of everyone. He knows, this match, he lost. Completely lost. The next day, news of the "pedestrian street confrontation" filled the newspapers. Tinh Tam Alliance became famous in one battle. Our spirit of respecting quality and preserving tradition receives strong support from society. Phone calls for cooperation are pouring in non-stop, from restaurants wanting to join, supermarkets wanting to cooperate, to agricultural support projects. I truly opened a door to the world for forgotten workers. As for Dinh Thinh, he had to pay the price for his arrogance, the newly opened flagship store lost money, his reputation plummeted, it was said that senior leaders were angry, Lam Phong was dismissed overnight and left the city as a failure. His fight is over. As for my story, it's just begun. I used the money I got back from my old family, plus the profits from two stores, to establish a new company. Its name is “Tinh Tam”. And I, became the CEO. Black Panther, under a generous contract and ten percent of the company's shares, finally let go of his past and stepped into the light, becoming the person in charge of my entire logistics system, and the brothers who followed him also had decent jobs and stable income. More than once, under the influence of alcohol, his eyes turned red and he told me, "Tam Nguyet, you are the lady of my life." I just smiled, because we were meant to achieve each other together. Over the next year, the scale of Tinh Tam Alliance grew so quickly that even I was surprised. We built a standardized production system, a complete cold shipping chain, and our own online sales platform. The two words "Tinh Tam" gradually became a golden brand, synonymous with safety, quality and reliability. Another winter has come. New Year's Eve. I didn't go to the store but returned to my parents' old house. This place has now been completely renovated by me, warm, peaceful, truly like a home. Uncle Vuong, Black Panther, and the first people of the Tinh Tam Alliance were all invited by me. We gathered like a family, wrapped cakes, watched the New Year's Eve program, and laughter wiped away the last remaining darkness in this place. On the TV screen, a local news broadcast was playing. The frame shows a dilapidated old house, the reporter is interviewing a couple who make a living by picking up trash. The man sitting in a wheelchair, mouth twisted, unable to say a word, is Vuong Duc Phat, who after the shock of debt and a series of events had a stroke. Woman with white hair and hollow face Next to her, was Luu Que Hoa. She looked into the camera and talked, her eyes empty and desperate. As for Vuong Thien... I heard that she is still in the mental hospital, sometimes awake and unconscious, often standing alone and muttering in front of the wall.

“The store is mine…”

“I am the master…”

I looked at the news, then quietly changed the channel. I felt no pity, but I was not gloating either. In my heart, there is only a transparent calmness left. Each person has to pay the price for their choice. Their story has ended. Outside the window, fireworks bloomed in the night sky. The New Year bells are about to ring. I took the glass of wine and walked to the door. Looking at this city, where I once resented, but also loved. Finally, I am truly standing here. In my own way. Take it all back. And keep the people I want to protect. I raised my glass, facing the bright sky. Respect the past. To rebirth. And the road ahead... Wide open, just beginning.