Chapter 6 — Thirty Million And One Man's Worth

She rolled her eyes and chuckled softly.

“So what am I, an employee?”

“As a partner, split in half, your name is on the business license.”

I said it as if it were obvious. Her eyes turned red again.

“Say it again and I'm really crying.”

“After you cry, help me clean the table.”

I didn't raise my head, just gently teased. She was silent, but her lips still curled up. Bakery "Kang Nho" opens next Monday. I didn't tell Chu Minh Vien, I just called him to "help move things". He thought it was my friend's shop, but he didn't know it. That this place was built by me from numbers you've never seen. On opening day, he arrived. Looking at the brand new facade, his eyes were a bit bewildered.

“Whose shop is it?”

He asked, his voice a bit curious. I stood behind the cashier, answering as softly as the wind. To Dinh poked his head out from inside, smiling brightly.

“Mr. Minh Vien, come help us carry the bags of flour at the door!”

He didn't ask any more questions, rolled up his sleeves and got to work right away. After finishing, stand in the middle of the shop and look around.

“Nice decoration, your friend must have a lot of money.”

He smiled, his voice full of sincerity. I said nothing. To Dinh stood next to him, trying not to laugh until his shoulders shook slightly. On the first day of opening, there were many customers, most of whom were To Dinh's regular customers, plus the number of people I brought in from promotional programs. First day revenue 3,200 yuan, second day 2,800, third day 4,100. One week, total revenue is 24,000, minus expenses and more than 7,000 profit. To Dinh's cake was videotaped by a food blogger, with views exceeding 100,000 per day. The second week, sales doubled. I started thinking about opening a second store. But all of this, Chu Minh Vien did not know. In his eyes, I'm still "looking for a job". Every day when he comes home from work, I'm home. Cook, wait for him, answer a few questions "interview is fine, wait a little more". He said don't rush, just take it slow. Then we eat, watch TV, wash dishes, and go to bed. Just like any normal couple. The only difference is, your money is more than ten thousand, and mine is more than thirty million. I don't know how long I can keep this secret. During the third week, something unexpected happened. Chu Minh Vien's logistics company cuts staff. It wasn't that he was cut, but his immediate superior left, leaving behind a whole bunch of problems. The company assigned him to temporarily take over the position of chief coordinator, the salary increased to 12,000, but the workload tripled. He started leaving home at six in the morning and returned at ten at night. Some days I still have to answer the phone in the middle of the night to troubleshoot problems. The dark circles under his eyes became more and more obvious, like streaks of ink that couldn't be wiped away. For the first time, I want to tell you everything. But the words reached my lips and were swallowed back.

“You don't need to try so hard.”

I stood next to him, watching him open a can of beer. He sat down on the sofa and let out a long breath.

"If you don't try, you won't be able to. The company is evaluating you. If you do well, you will be promoted to official status. Your salary may increase to 15,000."

He is using all his strength to chase that number. The investment in my card, the monthly interest alone, is 37,000 yuan. A light number, but enough to turn a whole life around.

“Minh Vien.”

I called out to him, my voice slowing down. He looked up, his eyes still a little tired.

“If one day you don't need to go to work anymore... what do you want to do?”

I asked, as if asking a dream that had been taken away too long. He thought for a moment, then smiled lightly.

"Maybe I should open a small noodle shop. My father used to cook delicious minced meat noodles. He taught me."

“How much money is needed?”

I continued asking, my voice calm.

"I don't know, two or three hundred thousand yuan... but I guess I can only think about it for the rest of my life."

He shrugged, took a sip of beer, as if talking about something far away. I looked at him. Two or three hundred thousand—his lifelong dream. As for me... I only need less than one percent of the money I have.

“Minh Vien.”

I called again. He turned.

“If you open a noodle shop, I will be your cashier.”

I said, half joking and half serious. He looked at me, his eyes slightly surprised.

“Don't you want to find a good job?”

"What's better than selling noodles with me?"

I smiled, light as the wind. He also laughed. This time it was a real smile, not the forced one due to fatigue. The corners of his eyes had a few more wrinkles, but they were much brighter than before.

“Okay, then it's decided.”

“It's decided.”

I nodded. In my heart, I quietly recorded one thing. Minced meat noodles. Chu Minh Le disappeared for nearly a month. I thought she was at peace. I was wrong. That day I was taking inventory in the store and the phone rang.

“May I ask, is this Ms. Chu Hieu Hieu?”