Chapter 15 — Shrimp Street Without Name

Three days after the unexpected meeting with Mr. Son at the restaurant, Hai Yen received a call from Ms. Hong, head of Dai Duong's quality department, requesting a private meeting to "discuss the possibility of long-term cooperation between the two sides". This time, the meeting did not take place at a factory or a luxury restaurant, but at Hai Yen's temporary office in a small hotel near the port, in accordance with her request to keep everything within the official framework, with recording possible if necessary.

Ms. Hong arrived on time, carrying a hardcover file with the company logo printed on it, and placed it on the table with a solemn look. "Miss Yen, today I came not to discuss the DH-0417 shipment anymore, but to propose another direction of cooperation that can benefit both sides in the long run."

“I'm listening,” Hai Yen replied, keeping her tone neutral.

"Dai Duong is planning to expand its market to a number of European countries in the next two years, requiring traceability certification at a higher level than currently. We want to sign a long-term contract with your Certification Center, turning you into a regular technical consulting unit for our entire supply chain, not just case-based audits as currently." Ms. Hong opened the file and pushed a draft contract towards Hai Yen. “The contract value is estimated at about three billion VND per year, lasting five years.”

Hai Yen glanced through the draft, the number written there was large enough to make any organization seriously consider it. "This proposal should be sent directly to the Center's board of directors, not to me. I am only the auditor in charge of a specific audit, and do not have the authority to sign organizational-level contracts."

“We know,” Ms. Hong said, her voice gentle but with clear intent. "We have already sent the official proposal to your board of directors. But we also want you to know in advance, because your audit conclusion on the current shipment, although it does not directly decide the signing of the contract, will certainly affect the general atmosphere of cooperation between the two sides in the upcoming negotiation period."

That statement, although skillfully expressed in neutral business language, was actually a naked suggestion: if Hai Yen gave a gentle conclusion for the DH-0417 shipment, a contract of three billion VND per year would easily be signed, bringing a large source of revenue to the Center and possibly promotion opportunities for herself. On the contrary, if she reaches an unfavorable conclusion, contract negotiations may break down, and it is not difficult to imagine who will be blamed within the Center.

“I understand what you want to convey,” Hai Yen said, her voice steady even though she felt a new heavy pressure on her shoulders. "But I must be clear, my audit conclusions will be based entirely on technical evidence, and have nothing to do with any contract negotiations taking place in parallel. If the Center decides to sign a long-term contract with your company, that is the decision of the board of directors, completely separate from the professional work I am performing."

Mrs. Hong nodded, not showing surprise at that answer, as if she had expected Hai Yen to react this way. "I understand your point of view, and I respect it. I just want to make sure you get the big picture, so there aren't any surprises later." She stood up, leaving the file on the table. “You just keep the copy This star is for reference. We look forward to receiving the final audit conclusion from you soon.”

After Ms. Hong left, Hai Yen sat quietly in front of the file, feeling like she had just witnessed a carefully calculated move: not a direct threat that could be considered a violation of the law, but an indirect pressure, legal on paper, but strong enough to make anyone in her position falter if not brave enough.

She immediately called her superiors and reported the entire content of the meeting, this time more proactively and completely than before, as a way to protect herself with transparency. After listening, the superior was silent for a long time before responding.

“I received a contract proposal from Dai Duong this morning,” he said, his voice somewhat tired. “The board of directors is meeting to discuss this. I don't know what the outcome will be, but I promise you one thing: whether the contract is signed or not, I will not let it affect your audit conclusion. Just keep doing what you do professionally.”

“Thank you,” Hai Yen replied, although she was not entirely sure that promise would stand up to the pressure of three billion dong per year if the board of directors was truly convinced by that number.

In the evening, she told Kien the whole story over the phone, her voice unable to hide the fatigue after a long day of dealing with pressure from many sides.

“It sounds like they are using both tactics at the same time,” Kien commented after listening. “Both the implicit warning through Mr. Son, and the enticement with a big contract through Mrs. Hong. Fighting both sides, whoever is soft-hearted will consider them the winner.”

“I know,” Hai Yen sighed. “But what worries me most is that, if they are willing to make such a large investment just to influence a single audit, then what they are trying to hide is certainly much more valuable than what I have discovered so far.”

“What are you going to do next?”

“I will continue to do exactly what I told Ms. Hong: keep audit conclusions based entirely on technical evidence.” Hai Yen looked out the apartment window, the streetlights shining in, creating dim streaks of light on the wall. "But I also think it's time for me to find another channel, other than the Center, to preserve evidence, in case the pressure from the contract makes my organization no longer strong enough to protect me."

“Who are you thinking of?”

“I don't know for sure yet,” she said, her voice thoughtful. “But I think I need to start finding out if there are any independent press agencies or watchdog organizations in the area that are reputable enough to trust, in case all official channels are disabled.”

The conversation ended, but that question still lingered in Hai Yen's mind all night: if her own organization, where she had trusted and devoted herself for four years, could also be bribed by a large enough sum of money, what else could she trust to ensure that the truth would eventually come to light, instead of being buried again like what happened to her father ten years ago.

The next morning, she decided to act according to the intention she told Kien. She recalled the name of a local newspaper that published a series of investigative articles about water pollution in a neighboring district two years ago, the article was signed by a young reporter named Minh Khang, who had a unique writing style. frankly, not avoiding naming the wrong enterprise even though they faced considerable pressure afterwards.

She found his phone number through an old friend who worked in the same media industry, called to introduce herself as an auditor who had some questions about the process of posting business investigation information, and did not dare to clearly state the real purpose from the beginning.

Minh Khang agreed to meet her at a small cafe in Ca Mau city, far away from the Nam Can area to avoid being noticed. He was about the same age as her, thin, wearing thick glasses, carrying an old tablet but with the sharp eyes of someone used to working with sensitive information.

“You said on the phone that you had questions about the process, but I guess it's not that simple,” he started as soon as he sat down, his voice straightforward. “No one would make an appointment to meet a reporter at a strange restaurant like this just to ask about the process.”

Hai Yen smiled at his acumen and decided not to beat around the bush anymore. She told part of the story, retaining the most sensitive details related to her true identity, focusing only on unusual signs in Dai Duong's audit records that she could prove with documents.

“I can't provide the information for you to write right now,” she said. "The evidence I have is still not solid enough, and if I announce it too soon, it might alert them to erase the traces before I collect enough. I just want to ask, if in the future I need an independent channel to ensure the truth is not buried, are you willing to cooperate?"

Minh Khang pondered for a moment, lightly tapping his fingers on the table. "Dai Duong is one of the biggest advertisers of the newspaper I work for, you know? If I write an article investigating that company without solid evidence, not only will I lose my job, but the entire editorial office could get into legal trouble." He looked at her, his eyes becoming serious. "But if you have strong enough evidence, I'm ready. I'm tired of writing safe, innocuous articles for too long."

They further discussed safe communication methods, agreed not to use official channels to talk about this incident, and Minh Khang promised to quietly learn more about Dai Duong through his own sources in the press and local government, as long as it did not reveal that he was coordinating with Hai Yen.

Leaving the meeting, Hai Yen felt a little more relieved, as if she had just found another link in the network of people willing to stand for the truth, even though that network was still too fragile compared to the power and money of the other side.