Chapter 5 — When I Was Forced to Quit My Job at the Age of 40, I Became the President of a Hundred Billion Company

Revocation of powers. Move office. Deprivation of project management rights. What does that prove? Proving that Chu Kien Quoc was completely unable to control Tien Dat Pham. He didn't want to restrain him. The so-called “one week” is nothing more than a buffer period. Waiting for me to obediently hand over all the formulas and then get kicked out of the company. If that's the case... Don't blame me for not remembering my old love. Six thirty at night. Tu Bac, the study abroad expert highly recommended by Tien Dat Pham, led two newly recruited young employees into the research area. His voice was so loud that the whole floor could hear it.

"According to General Tien's arrangements, from tomorrow all work related to the third generation Thanh Le formula will be taken over by me."

“Would you mind handing over the core parameter sheet and technological process diagram for me to study first?”

All employees in the research area stopped working. They all looked towards me. I raised my head. Calmly glanced at him. Thirty-five years old. Claimed to have done postdoctoral research at a university in California. I've seen his profile. The number of academic citations can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The main research direction is protein folding. Completely unrelated to the stem cell field.

“The parameter table is in the system.”

“I remember you were granted permission.”

“See for yourself.”

“I looked, but there are some data that don't match…”

“If it doesn't match anywhere, create a list and email it to me.”

“I will answer.”

“Total Money requires us to hand it over directly.”

“Did Tien Dat Pham tell you to come?”

I close the computer. Stand up and pack your bag.

“Then I'll go find him.”

“I'm out of work today.”

I carried my bag and walked past him. The entire research floor was silent. Until I stepped into the elevator. Behind him, Tu Bac's angry grinding of teeth was heard.

“What kind of attitude is that…”

I don't bother to pay attention. Just let him go find Tien Dat Pham. Just let them hold those forty-seven files and study them. Even if I flip through every page. They won't find out either. The real secret... Just in my head. Wednesday afternoon. I took half a day off. Go to a hotel cafe in the city center. The person sitting across from me is Luu Ham, a headhunter at Thien Hop Pharmaceutical. Next to him was a man in his forties. Ha Van Xuyen. Deputy general director of Thien Hop Research and Development Center. Just sat down. Ha Van Xuyen got straight to the point.

“Dr. To.”

“Thien Hop has been following your research direction for a long time.”

“This year, our stem cell field has just completed two consecutive funding rounds and is preparing to enter round B.”

“What we lack the most right now is someone capable of building a complete research and development system.”

I took a sip of coffee.

“What are the conditions?”

“Annual salary two million yuan.”

“Contract signing bonus of five hundred thousand yuan.”

“1.5% stake.”

Ha Van Xuyen stopped for a moment.

“And everything can still continue to be negotiated.”

Two million yuan. While my current salary in Hoa Thuy is seven hundred and twenty thousand yuan a year. If the salary is reduced according to Tien Dat Pham's plan... It won't even be six hundred thousand.

“I have a non-competitive clause.”

“We did research saved.”

“Hua Thuy's standard terms only last one year.”

“Thien Hop can wait.”

“Or directly bear the related costs incurred.”

Ha Van Xuyen looked straight at me.

“Dr. To.”

“Honestly.”

“What we value is not just experience with the Thanh Le project.”

“We know you have been quietly researching exocrine cells in depth for the past two years.”

“That's what Thien Hop really cares about.”

I didn't answer right away. Research on exocrine cells is a personal project that I have been quietly pursuing for two years. Not yet announced. No article posted yet. Haven't filed a patent yet. People in Hoa Thuy were completely unaware. Ha Van Xuyen's information network is more powerful than I thought.

“General Ha, give me more time to think.”

“Of course.”

Ha Van Xuyen stood up and shook my hand.

“No need to rush.”

“But Dr. To, good opportunities won't wait forever.”

“Thien Hop's capital raising round B is expected to be completed within the next three months. By then, the core team must be built.”

I nodded. Say nothing more. On the way home, I received a call from President Zhou's secretary.

“President To, President Zhou would like to invite you to a private meal tomorrow.”

“Is something wrong?”

“I don't know.”

“The president just told me to arrange time with you.”

“Noon.”

After hanging up the phone, I smiled softly. It seemed that Chu Kien Quoc was starting to get impatient. The week he promised hasn't ended yet. Yet he heard movement. Or maybe the story of Tien Dat Pham constantly causing trouble for me has reached your ears. Or the news that I went out to meet other people had already spread. Whatever the cause is, it's no longer important.