Chapter 19 — When I Was Forced to Quit My Job at the Age of 40, I Became the President of a Hundred Billion Company

Her eyes opened as wide as possible.

"So you knew it already?"

I smiled.

"Two years ago."

"I've already started preparing."

"Then why do you..."

"Why didn't you say it until today?"

Tieu Tran nodded.

"Because Tien Duc Minh must be the one to strike first."

"If he hadn't acted, there would have been no evidence to prove the theft of trade secrets."

"I'll let him have it."

"Let him sell."

"Let him express himself."

"Only then, when reporting to the police, will the chain of evidence be complete."

Tieu Tran stood there stunned. It took a long time but I was still speechless.

"Miss To..."

"You're really scary."

I glanced at her.

"Call me sister."

Half a year later. Hoa Thuy Biology's stock price increased from 35 yuan at the time of listing to 62 yuan. After the third generation Thanh Le was successfully approved, the market share increased from 35% to 48%. The first phase of the national key project also published research results in the journal Nature Medicine. First time. My name appeared on the cover article of a leading scientific magazine in the world. At the company's year-end party. Zhou Kien Quoc announced the new appointment decision. I officially became Deputy General Director in charge of research and development. Also joined the Board of Directors. Remuneration policies have also been adjusted. Annual salary increased to one million eight hundred thousand yuan. Stock options are increased. The research center was given a budget autonomy of fifty million yuan. When standing on stage to receive the appointment decision. The entire auditorium echoed with endless applause. I don't say touching words. Just say one sentence:

"Thank you everyone."

"Tomorrow, we will start studying the fourth generation Thanh Le."

The applause was immediately louder than before. After the year-end party ended. Tieu Tran followed me out.

"Sister To... No, I should call you General To!"

"Let's go eat tonight?"

"I'm going home to my children."

"Alright."

"One more thing..."

"Wish you a happy new year!"

"Happy New Year."

I walked out of the company gate. Raise your head to look at the starry sky. Forty years old. I was forced to take a thirty percent pay cut. Cornered. At forty-one years old. I am Deputy General Director of R&D of a listed company. There is a national project in hand. Name appears in leading scientific journals. The phone suddenly vibrated. It's a message from a girl.

"Mom, how was the year-end party today?"

"Mom got promoted."

"Yeahhhhh!!!"

"Mom is so super!!!"

I laughed.

"On the way home, mom bought you a cake."

"Strawberry cake!"

I started the car. Drive home. An old song sounded on the radio. Outside the glass window are the bright lights of the city. Since the afternoon when I was forty years old. My life has taken a completely different path. On that road there was self-pity. There is outrage. There is despair. But more than anything... Is alertness. It's a strong will. It is the spirit of not giving in to fate. Tien Duc Minh was sentenced to three years in prison, suspended for four years. Tien Dat Pham was permanently blacklisted by the entire industry. It is said that he went abroad and never came back. Tu Bac sat in a detention camp for a year. After being released, he completely disappeared. Still doing what I do best. Still moving on on the path of your own choosing. Two years later. Fourth generation Thanh Le successfully researched. The core breakthrough lies in precisely targeted extracellular transport technology. It is also the most complete application of the three patents that I registered in the past. Right in the first month of launch. Product sales have surpassed the eight hundred million yuan mark. Hoa Thuy stock price exceeded 100 yuan. Market capitalization exceeds 30 billion yuan. As for the stock options in my hand... They are worth more than 200 million yuan. I used part of that money to buy a large apartment in the city center. Four bedrooms. Two living rooms. The ceiling-to-ceiling glass door looks straight out to the river. Moving day. My mother stood in the middle of the living room. Gently stroke the balcony railing. Red eyes.

"I have never seen such a beautiful house in my whole life."

"This is what mom deserves."

"What is it worth?"

Mom wiped the corners of her eyes.

"It's all because I earned it myself."

"I've been carrying this burden alone for so many years."

"It's been so hard."

"Not difficult."

I mean it honestly. The most difficult days have long passed. My daughter got into a very good university. The field of study is biotechnology. She said she wanted to do research like her mother. The son has gone to middle school. Academic achievement is only at a good level. But he is especially talented at computers. I invite my children to have the best tutors. It's not to force your children to become dragons and phoenixes. But for when standing at the crossroads of life. The children have enough confidence. And free enough to choose. Because that's what I lacked the most in the past. Right to choose. And now. I already have it. I can continue to stay in Hoa Thuy. Do research that you love. You can also leave. Build a career that is completely yours. Words of Academician Tran. I'm always thinking. Start your own business. That thought became increasingly stronger. But not yet. Right now, Hoa Thuy still needs me. National key projects also need me. Wait until everything is done... That will be the right time.