Chapter 14 — Seven Years of Silence, One Life of Freedom

Just after nine o'clock in the morning, Wei Nhien called me.

"Five suppliers, including Thinh Dat, this morning simultaneously sent an official dispatch announcing the termination of cooperation."

"As expected."

"But there's one more thing."

Her voice tightened.

"They don't have to wait for the contract to expire and then not renew it."

"It's unilateral termination of the contract ahead of schedule."

"According to the terms of the contract, both parties have a thirty-day buffer period."

"They require within 30 days to pay the entire remaining amount of the orders in progress."

"Then..."

"Will stop supplying goods."

"Thirty days..."

I repeated softly.

"The four backup suppliers you just signed yesterday."

"At the fastest, it will take two weeks to complete the eligibility appraisal and deliver the first shipment."

"In between there will be a gap of almost two weeks."

I was silent for a few seconds.

"That gap..."

"Can it be shortened?"

"I asked Due Hang Technology."

"They said they could open an emergency channel."

"But need extra priority fee."

"About 1,200,000 yuan."

"Approve."

"Tell the legal department to prepare breach of contract claim letters for all five suppliers."

"Contracts all have provisions for penalties for violation."

"They unilaterally stopped."

"We have the right to demand compensation."

Just hung up. The second call came immediately. It's Tran Thieu Quan.

"The five suppliers have all cut off supplies."

"I know."

"You know but you're still so calm?"

His voice was no longer calm.

"Next month we have to deliver 300 sets of equipment."

"Now the component is powered off."

"What are you going to do?"

"Fine for violations against customers..."

"How do you pay?"

"Alternative plans have been developed."

"The first shipment will arrive in two weeks."

"The current inventory is enough to sustain production for fifteen days."

The other end of the line was silent for a long time.

"When did you prepare these things?"

"Three months ago."

There was another silence.

"To Niem..."

His voice changed. Become lower. In it comes an emotion that I very rarely hear. Confusion.

"The past three months..."

"In the end, how many things did you do..."

"And you didn't know?"

"So many."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Because Lam Hieu San is always by my side."

Tran Thieu Quan did not say another word. More than ten seconds later. The call ended. Two o'clock in the afternoon. There were changes within the company again. Shopping department manager Han Loi submitted his resignation letter. Right after that. Head of commercial department Luu Vy also applied. The reasons for both are exactly the same.

"Adjusting personal career development orientation."

Four o'clock in the afternoon. Tham Minh called me.

"Han Loi and Luu Vy have both retired."

"The two of them hold about 30% of Thua Thinh's supplier list and customer records."

"Have the documents been handed over yet?"

"Han Loi has handed over part of it."

"And Luu Vy hasn't yet."

"I heard she even made an electronic copy to take away."

"What does the legal side say?"

"They're testing her non-compete clause."

"Before tomorrow."

"Send me the results."

Tham Minh hesitated for a moment.

"One more thing."

"This afternoon."

"Trinh Khai took General Director Tran to the bank to deliver the documents."

"On the way home."

"He stopped by the building of the Teng Due Investment Fund."

"There were about forty there minutes."

I tightened my grip on the phone. Trinh Khai. Tran Thieu Quan's personal assistant.

"Who did he meet?"

"After entering Dang Due's reception desk, we could no longer monitor him."

"But in the whole building..."

"Only Dang Due rents an office."

"Does Tran Thieu Quan know about this?"

"It has not yet been determined."

I thought for a long time.

"Continue to monitor."

"Don't let Tran Thieu Quan know."

"We are investigating this."

Two days later. The first batch of sensor modules from new supplier Due Hang Technology arrived earlier than expected. Tham Tue led the entire technical team for acceptance testing. Took a whole day. By ten o'clock at night. She sent me a text message.

"All meet standards."

"The stability is a bit higher than Thinh Dat's products."

I only answer in two words.

"It's been hard."

Tuesday morning. When I come to the company. Below the building is parked a black Maybach. The license plate number is very strange. I have never seen it. Enter the hall. The receptionist seemed a bit stressed.

"There's someone waiting for you in the office."

"He said..."

My steps stopped. I went to the top floor. Push open his office door. Chu Dinh Van is sitting in my chair. Cross your legs. On the table was a glass of water that had never been touched. Saw me coming in. He stood up. Give up your seat.

"Sorry for coming so suddenly."

"I said it last time."

"I have no intention of cooperating."

"I didn't come to discuss cooperation."

He smiled. Then he took out an item from his pocket. Place on the table. A USB.

"What is this?"

"A recording."

He calmly replied.

"Recording the conversation between your husband..."

"And Lam Hieu San."

I looked at the USB. But he never raised his hand to touch it.

"Very interesting content."