Chapter 20 — When I Stop Being Invisible

"I heard that I'm applying for a job. But the story has spread throughout the industry, no one dares to accept it."

I picked up a piece of goat meat.

“That's good.”

“Don't you feel gloating?”

"Is gloating going to help? I'm busy."

He shook his head, smiled helplessly and turned away. Vu Tieu Man squeezed closer.

"Miss To, boss Trinh from Thanh Nguyen fund sent me a message to make an appointment for your next precious meal."

“Schedule next Friday.”

"Also, Tran Loi from Hang Vien asked if his business version supports customization. He wants to deploy the entire Gian Chu system."

"Yes. Tell Tieu Ly to discuss."

“Last thing, there is a magazine that wants to interview you, called 'Startup Life'.”

“Not accepted.”

“Why is that?”

“Doesn't like appearing in public.”

“But being a brand requires coverage.”

“The product is good enough, it automatically has coverage.”

Vu Tieu Man gave up. That night, when I got home, To Niem was already waiting in the living room. On the table there is a cake.

“Mom, congratulations to Gian Chu on turning one year old.”

I looked at the cake. On the top of the cake, write a line in cream:

“Mom is the most powerful.”

I sat down.

“How do you know today is an anniversary?”

"The day Mom registered the company, she posted it on her friends circle. I remember."

This girl… I cut a piece of cake. Strawberry flavor. Sweet to the bottom of my heart. Gian Chu Technology's B round of funding was completed when the company turned eighteen months old. The leading investor is a leading venture fund in the country, followed by Thanh Nguyen Fund and two corporate VC funds. Amount raised: 60,000,000 yuan. Valuation: 300,000,000 yuan. I hold 38% of the shares. Tham Dich holds 18%. The ESOP fund for the core team is 15%. On the day of signing the contract, Tham Dich rarely drank to the point of intoxication. He leaned against the sofa in his office, his glasses tilted to one side.

"To Van, 300,000,000 yuan. When you left Hang Vien, did you ever think that one day you would sign a contract valued at 300,000,000 yuan like this?"

“So what did you think at that time?”

“Just thinking about finding a job to support both mother and child.”

“And then what happens in the end?”

“In the end, I ended up with a job that was even more difficult than working as an employee.”

He laughed so much that he couldn't stop.

“To Van, you know, you are the best investment of my life.”

“I didn't spend any money.”

“I invest with faith.”

I poured him a glass of water.

“If you're drunk, stop talking.”

That week, I did something I had been looking forward to doing for a long time. I bought To Niem a house. Two bedrooms and one living room, near the university, facing south, very good light. But it's a new house. Previously, my mother and I always lived in a rented house. The day she moved in, To Niem walked barefoot on the wooden floor in the bedroom, walking back and forth a few times.

“Mom, this is my own house.”

“The floor is really warm.”

“There is floor heating.”

The girl stood by the window, looking down at the street. Sunlight fell on her hair.

"When I was little, my mother used to say that when I have money, I will buy you a room where you can dry in the sun."

“Yes, mom said.”

“Mom, I did it.”

I walked over and stood next to it. The ginkgo tree outside the window has turned bright yellow. Autumn is here. The day I was fired… was a spring day.

"That year when your father left, I had nothing. No money, no house, no one to help. Only you."

“I know.”

“It's been fourteen years… I can finally say something to you — from now on, just let me protect you.”

The child did not come back. But shoulder it trembled slightly. A moment later, it turned around. Red eyes, but still smiling.

“Mom said these things… so cheesy.”

“Then why are you crying?”

“Mom just cried.”

“Mom doesn't have it.”

Mother and daughter stood in front of the window of their new house, under the autumn sunlight, quietly wiping their tears. By the second anniversary of the establishment of Gian Chu Technology, the number of customers exceeded 1,500. Annual revenue exceeds 40,000,000 yuan. The team reaches 60 people. In the field of SaaS operations management for small and medium enterprises, our product is in the top 3. An industry forum invited me to speak. I refused three times, and the fourth time, Tham Dich forced me to accept. The topic you choose for me:

“The Operational Methodology of an Administrative Professional.”

On the day of the speech, there were more than three hundred people in the audience. Most are business owners and operations managers. I stood on stage, without any manuscripts.

"Hello everyone. I'm To Van, forty-five years old. Two years ago, I was fired. I worked at that company for twelve years, the position was an administrative specialist, salary 140,000 yuan a year. I was responsible for eight departments, no one knew, no one cared. On the day I left, I received the N+1 compensation package, signed, packed my things and left in three minutes."