Chapter 20 — When I Was Forced to Quit My Job at the Age of 40, I Became the President of a Hundred Billion Company

One year after the fourth generation Thanh Le launched, the capitalization value of Hoa Thuy Biology officially exceeded the 50 billion yuan mark. Zhou Jianguo announced his retirement. He handed over the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors to the professional management team. On the day he left the company, he invited me to drink a cup of tea.

"I'm about to leave."

"Chairman Chu..."

"Just call me Mr. Chu."

The hair has turned white.

"I sat in this position for twenty years."

"It's worth it."

"What do you plan to do later?"

"Grow flowers."

He looked out the window.

"I'm old."

"Time to rest."

I nodded.

"There's something I've always wanted to tell you."

He turned to look at me.

"That year, when she submitted her resignation letter."

"I tore up that application."

"It's not because I'm afraid you'll leave."

"But because I feel sorry for you."

I quietly looked at him.

"The year you joined the company."

"I knew you were a talent."

"But all these years."

"Did I give you what you deserved?"

"Until Qian Dat Pham appeared."

"I just realized how stupid I was."

"Chairman Chu..."

"Let me finish."

He raised his hand to stop her.

"Hoa Thuy got it today."

"Seventy percent of the credit belongs to you."

"Today I say this."

"From now on, we won't mention it again."

"But you must remember."

"You deserve all of it."

I was silent for a long time. Finally, he said softly:

"Thank you."

He stood up. Pat me on the shoulder.

"Take care."

"You too."

I watched his back walk out of the meeting room. Gradually disappears at the end of the hallway. Twenty years of companionship. There is respect. There are also debts that have never been put into words. But after all. Our relationship is something very complicated. Not perfect. But not bad. I turned around and returned to the office. Outside the glass door. The sun is slowly going down. Another year has passed. What happened when I was forty years old has become an industry legend.

"A female scientist who was forced to reduce her salary counterattacked spectacularly and became a core leader of a hundred-billion corporation."

The media loves headlines like that. I don't care what they write. What I care about is another matter. The national key project has been officially accepted. The research results were published in three of the world's leading scientific journals. Training five postdoctoral fellows. In the project summary report. Academician Tran looked at me and said:

"She is the best topic leader I have ever met."

I just smiled. After the conference ended. He pulled me aside.

"Remember what I told you last time?"

"What's going on?"

"Do it yourself."

I looked at him.

"Now you have the technology."

"Patent."

"There's a team."

"There is a reputation."

"If you start your own company."

"Three years is enough for listing."

"Academician Tran, I..."

"I know."

"Now you live very well in Hoa Thuy."

"But have you ever thought about it?"

"This whole life..."

"Do you just want to work for someone else?"

That sentence was like a needle piercing my heart. Over the years. Everything I do is to prove my worth. But who am I proving to? For Tien Dat Pham? For Tien Duc Minh? For Zhou Jianguo? Or for myself? If it's for myself... Then should I do something that truly belongs to me? Are not? That evening. I returned to my new apartment. Sitting alone in the living room for a long time. Mom is busy in the kitchen. The girl is in the room editing her thesis. The boy sat outside the living room playing games. That is my current life. Have money. There is respect. But deep in my heart. There is still a fire that has never gone out. The fire was lit when I was forty years old. When cornered. All these years. It's always burning. Not out of anger. Nor is it because of hatred. It's a desire to prove yourself. I want to know. If you rely entirely on yourself. How far can I go? I took out my phone. Send Academician Tran a message.

"Academician Tran."

"I've thought it over."

"I want to do it myself."

Two minutes later. He answered with exactly one word: Three months later. I submitted my resignation to the Hoa Thuy Board of Directors. This time, no one forced me to leave. This is my own choice. Zhou Jianguo has long since retired. The new chairman is a professional manager, and his attitude towards me is always very polite.

"Mr. To, do you really want to go?"

"That's right."

"Hoa Thuy's side will give you the best conditions to quit your job. If you have any requests, just say so."

"I just have one request."

I looked at him.

"Hoa Thuy continues to have the right to use the Thanh Le product line. I will carry with me my personal patents and the right to transfer the research results of the national project."

The resignation procedure went smoothly beyond expectations. The day I left the company, Tieu Tran cried until his eyes turned red.

"Sister To... are you really going?"

"I don't have to die."

I laughed.

"The new company is less than twenty minutes' drive from here. If you miss me, just come find me."

"But..."

"Tieu Tran."

I looked at her.

"You've followed me for so many years. It's time to shoulder everything on your own."

"I'll leave the research room to you, okay?"

Tieu Tran was stunned.

"Sister To... what you mean..."

"R&D Director Position."

"I recommended you to the Board of Directors."

More tears fell from her eyes.

"Miss To..."

"Okay, stop crying."

I patted her shoulder.

"Try to do well."

"Wait until my company is listed, I will send you an invitation."

I turned around and walked out of the research area. Behind were the goodbyes of more than a dozen people. I didn't look back. When I stepped out of the Hoa Thuy building, the afternoon sun was shining brightly. I stood on the steps and took a deep breath. Forty-three years old. Leave Hoa Thuy. Start again from the beginning. But actually, I didn't start from scratch. I have technology. Patent. There is a team. Have capital. There are relationships. Most importantly, I have a heart that has never given up. The phone suddenly rang.