Chapter 9 — Seven Years of Silence, One Life of Freedom

Eight o'clock that evening. I arranged to meet Tham Tue at a quiet tea shop near the company. Upon arrival. She wore a loose cotton shirt. Her hair was just tied into a ponytail. Completely different from the usual serious R&D Director at the company. Just sat down. She is not social at all.

"Boss gave me an appointment..."

"Is it because of something from the technical department?"

I poured a cup of tea and pushed it towards her.

"I want to ask you something."

"You just ask."

I looked at Tham Tue. Speak slowly.

"Currently..."

"The core module of Thua Thinh's diagnostic equipment..."

"How much left..."

"Built on the foundational architecture developed by my grandfather's team in the past?"

Tham Tue's fingers stopped on the rim of the tea cup.

"You want to hear the truth?"

"More than eighty percent."

"The core algorithm framework has never changed."

"For the past seven years, all the upgrades have been just adding floors on top of that foundation."

I nodded slightly.

"If all of Chu Dinh Van's suppliers withdraw simultaneously..."

"Will research and development be greatly affected?"

"Hardware will be greatly affected."

Tham Tue said.

"There are three lines of devices that are using sensor modules manufactured by a proprietary supplier."

"In a short time it is very difficult to find a replacement unit."

She put down her teacup and looked at me.

"But the software and algorithms are all ours."

"No one can take it away."

"If you give me three months..."

"I can switch all hardware options to a domestic supplier."

"Performance will be slightly reduced."

"But it doesn't affect core functionality at all."

"Three months?"

I asked again.

"At most four months."

I looked at her.

"If I give more resources."

"How about forming a separate group just to handle this?"

Tham Tue's eyes immediately lit up.

"Two months is enough."

I nodded.

"Tomorrow I will officially sign the budget approval for the special research project."

"The group you founded."

"Personnel is your choice."

"There's still a budget..."

"I don't set limits."

Tham Tue picked up the cup of tea, took a sip and put it down.

"I want to say one more thing."

"General Manager Tran."

"The past seven years have really been good."

"The market segment was truly built by him."

"But technically..."

"He has never been in charge."

"And I can't manage it either."

She paused for a moment then continued.

"Maybe that year your grandfather gave him control..."

"It's because he believes he can do well."

"It's just..."

"It's been a long time."

"He's starting to think he's the real master again."

I said nothing. Tham Tue stood up and picked up his coat.

"What needs to be said..."

"I said it all."

"I support you."

She walked to the door and suddenly stopped. Turn around and say one more sentence.

"Ah yes."

"Before leaving the company."

"Lin Xiaoshan deleted a series of documents from the computer."

"I told the technical department to partially restore it."

"Inside there are several price quotes from outside companies."

"The price is ridiculously high."

"What do you mean?"

"For several years now."

"When we buy components from Chu Dinh Van..."

"It's very possible that Lam Hieu San always eats the price difference in the middle."

She pushed the door open and walked out. I sat back in the tea shop. Quietly drank the remaining half of the teapot. Thursday. Ten o'clock in the morning. Official human resources department broadcast Lam Hieu San's resignation notice. In the company's internal chat group, everything was unusually quiet. No one openly discussed it. But how many messages are being silently forwarded back and forth... No need to guess. I received a message. The sender is Lam Hieu San.

"To Niem, do you think sending me away is enough?"

"Half of Thua Thinh's customers are brought in by me."

"I'm gone..."

"Customers will follow too."

"You just wait and see."

I don't answer. One o'clock in the afternoon. Wei Nhien sent a message.

"This morning Lam Hieu San met the person in charge of three customers."

"It's Ton Xuong Ha of Dinh Thinh Health."

"Pho Man of Trung Hoa Health."

"And Ngo Quoc Luong of An Duc Diagnosis."

"What did they talk about?"

"It has not yet been determined."

"But all three are big customers."

"Their contract expired last year."

"This year is in the extension period."

I put down the phone. Think for a few seconds. Then call Tu Nhien.

"General Manager Tu."

"You just say it."

"What is the contract renewal progress of Dinh Thinh, Trung Hoa and An Duc?"

Tu Nhien was silent for two seconds.

"You want to hear the truth?"

"Dinh Thinh and Trung Hoa had already agreed to the extension orally."

"But this morning."

"Both called together."

"Said he wanted to postpone the signing of the contract."

"As for An Duc..."

"At first I was still hesitant."

"Now directly request a quote again from the beginning."

"What did Lam Hieu San tell them?"

"I don't know specifically."

"But she must have hinted that there was a problem within Thua Thinh."

"The leadership is no longer stable."

I stood up.

"Help me arrange."