Chapter 8 — The Promise of a Demobilized Soldier

The retaliation came faster than Thanh Phong expected, and more devastating than anything he could have anticipated.

The morning after the party, when Thanh Phong arrived at the company, the chief accountant was waiting at the office door with a pale face, holding a stack of faxes he had just received that night. "Mr. Phong, there's a big problem. My three largest distribution partners, Thanh Phat supermarket chain, Dai Viet clean food company, and the export processing factory in the industrial park, simultaneously sent notices to terminate the supply contract, effective immediately."

Thanh Phong held a stack of papers, skimmed through each line, his hands clenched until they turned white. All three contracts cite reasons that seem reasonable on paper, such as "restructuring the supply chain", "not meeting new quality standards", and "redirecting strategic cooperation". But Thanh Phong doesn't need to think much to know the real reason behind those beautiful words.

"All three of these contracts account for nearly seventy percent of our company's revenue, Mr. Phong." The chief accountant said, his voice trembling. "If you lose everything at the same time like this, within just one month the company won't have enough money to pay your salaries, not to mention the loan from the bank to invest in a new chain last year that hasn't been paid yet."

Thanh Phong sat down on the chair, holding his head with both hands, trying to calmly think. He immediately called each partner, trying to find out the real reason, but the answers he received were all similar, polite but firm apologies, no one willing to say the real reason.

Only when he called Mr. Le Hoang Vinh, director of a smaller distribution business that had cooperated with Binh Minh since the early days, and who still retained some old friendship, did he hear the naked truth.

"Mr. Phong, I'm telling you the truth out of many years of friendship, but don't let it show that I said it." Mr. Vinh's voice lowered over the phone, full of guilt. "All three companies that just cut contracts with you have capital contributions or strategic partnerships with Dong Thinh Group. It is said that the other night, after the business association party, Mr. Chan Vi personally called the leaders of all three companies, asking them to immediately terminate their contracts with Binh Minh, if they did not want to affect other existing cooperation agreements with Dong Thinh."

After hearing this, Thanh Phong felt as if a large rock was crushing his chest. He didn't expect Chan Vi to act so quickly and fiercely, just because of one word of refusing to give up at the party. This was not simply retaliation because his younger brother was humiliated, but a calculated deterrent, aimed at extinguishing in the bud anyone who dared to challenge Dong Thinh's power in the Tan Hoa region's agricultural market.

"Mr. Vinh, what about you?" Thanh Phong asked, his voice heavy.

The other end of the line was silent for a long moment, then sighed. "Mr. Phong, I really want to continue to cooperate with you. Binh Minh's orders are of good quality, reasonable prices, I don't want to cut them. But you also understand, my company is small, if Dong Thinh puts pressure on my other raw material suppliers, it will be difficult for me to survive. I'm sorry, I need more time to think."

Thanh Phong hung up the phone and sat silently in the office all morning, not wanting to eat or drink anything. Ben and Toan dropped by one after another, bringing less positive news. Not only were large contracts cut, but even some suppliers of packaging materials and packaging began to hesitate, citing "reconsidering the terms of cooperation" when they heard that Binh Minh was having difficulties.

The news spread quickly throughout the company that afternoon. The factory atmosphere, which was always bustling with laughter and talk, was now completely quiet, everyone worked in heavy silence, their eyes flickering at each other filled with worry. A few young workers, who had not been on the job for long, began to huddle together and chat, fearing about the future of their jobs.

Late that afternoon, Thanh Phong convened an emergency meeting with the entire company management board. In the small meeting room, a tense atmosphere prevailed, everyone looked towards him, waiting for a direction, a word of reassurance.

"I know everyone is worried." Thanh Phong opened his mouth, trying to keep his voice calm even though his heart was equally confused. "I'll say it frankly, the current situation is very serious. We just lost nearly seventy percent of our revenue overnight, because I dared to stand up against an act of unfair oppression against the family of a deceased teammate. I don't regret that decision, but I also don't hide it from everyone, the road ahead will be very difficult."

The whole meeting room was silent, everyone looked at each other, feeling the weight of every word he said.

"I will try my best to find new partners and manage cash flow to ensure my brothers' salaries are not delayed." Thanh Phong continued, his voice still steadfast. "But I also want everyone to understand clearly that this may be the most difficult period since the company's founding. If anyone feels they cannot continue to accompany, I completely respect your decision, there will be no blame."

A long silence enveloped the room. Then Ben, who had always stood next to Thanh Phong since the first and most difficult days, stood up, his voice firm. "Mr. Phong, I've been following you since the company didn't even have a decent warehouse. Now when it's so difficult, you tell me to leave, do you think I'm that kind of person? Just calculate, say whatever you need, let's get through it together."

Toan, sitting in a wheelchair in the corner of the room, also spoke up, his voice still containing a bit of familiar humor despite the tense situation. "That's right, Mr. Phong, we have survived the battlefield, what's wrong with this battle? You just worry about the big things, let me leave the matter of encouraging our brothers."

Thanh Phong looked around the meeting room and saw familiar faces, people who had been with him through many ups and downs, and now remained steadfast despite knowing that the road ahead was full of thorns. His heart was filled with an indescribable feeling, both touching and determined. He knew that no matter how strong Chan Vi was, no matter how powerful Dong Thinh was over the entire Tan Hoa region, he could not let down the people who trusted him and followed him.

The meeting ended, everyone left the room one by one, only Bao Chau lingered, still holding the stack of books that had just been assigned the additional task of reviewing the entire financial situation of the company. She sat quietly throughout the meeting, listening to every word. Her face could not hide her worry, but her eyes shone with a clear determination.

"Mr. Phong, can you show me all the financial statements for the last three months?" She spoke up when there were only two people left in the meeting room. "I want to assess the situation myself, see if there is any room to maneuver, before things go too far."

Thanh Phong looked at her, a bit surprised by that initiative. "Miss Chau, let me and the chief accountants take care of this matter. You don't need to carry this extra burden. The company is having difficulties. I don't know if we can maintain the salary for your position long term."

"Mr. Phong." Bao Chau interrupted with a rare resolute voice. "You didn't hesitate to stand up and protect my mother and me in the face of danger. Now it's your company's turn to face difficulties. I can't stand by and watch. I used to work as a professional financial accountant before quitting my job to take care of my husband. I believe I can help in some way, no matter how small. Give me a chance to try, okay?"

Thanh Phong looked into the steadfast eyes of the woman in front of him, feeling an inner strength that he had never seen so clearly since the day he met her. He nodded, pushing the thick financial report towards her. "Okay, I believe you. But remember, don't take on too much. If you have any difficulties, just tell me. Don't shoulder the burden alone like what you did before."

Bao Chau smiled slightly, the first smile in that heavy afternoon, then hugged the file to his desk, starting a long night of staying awake to review each number, looking for any gaps that could help Binh Minh company overcome this life-or-death period.

That night, when Thanh Phong passed by the accounting office at nearly eleven o'clock at night to lock the factory door, he could still see Bao Chau's desk lamp on. She sat there, her hair tied in a quick bun, her eyes focused on the computer screen, surrounded by stacks of papers neatly arranged in careful categories. He stood outside the door for a while, not wanting to bother him, secretly grateful for the devotion of the woman who just a few months ago had resolutely refused all help from him. Now, she was the one who did not hesitate to stay up all night to find a way to save his company, as a silent reward for the sincere love he had given to her family.