Chapter 6 — When I Was Forced to Quit My Job at the Age of 40, I Became the President of a Hundred Billion Company

The game has reached the middle of the match. It's time to show your cards. After putting my son to sleep. I sit alone in the office. From the drawer, I took out the encrypted USB that I had kept hidden for many years. Capacity eight gigabytes. Inside is stored all of Thanh Le's core data from first generation to third generation. Specifications. Preparation recipe. Production process. Device parameters. And there's... A document that has never been revealed to anyone. Fourth generation Thanh Le formula option. Currently only in the idea stage. But the theoretical framework is complete. If the previous three generations were only considered excellent products... Then the fourth generation is what can change the industry. That's my biggest card. Chu Kien Quoc did not know. Tien Dat Pham didn't even know. I put the USB back in the safe. Noon the next day. Chu Kien Quoc and I sat opposite each other in a private room of a restaurant near the company. He personally poured tea for me.

“You've been at a disadvantage these past few days.”

I did not accept that courtesy.

“Chairman Chu.”

“You invited me out here today, probably not just to say these words.”

Chu Kien Quoc sighed softly.

“Dat Pham is still young.”

“The correct way of doing things is not mature enough.”

“I talked to him already…”

“Yesterday he just stripped me of my position as project team leader.”

Chu Kien Quoc paused.

"I know."

“I will fix that.”

“…This week.”

I put down the teacup.

“Chairman Chu.”

“Let me be frank.”

“You said you would give me an answer within a week.”

“It's been five days now.”

“My office nameplate was taken down.”

“Seats were moved.”

“Powers are reduced.”

“Position stripped.”

“Is that what you call management and constraints?”

For the first time, an awkward look appeared on Chu Kien Quoc's face.

“You also know Duc Minh's side…”

“I know.”

I directly interrupted him.

“Tien Duc Minh holds 18% of the shares.”

“Tian Dat Pham is his man.”

“You can't move.”

I looked straight into Chu Kien Quoc's eyes.

“So today you invited me out here.”

“Not to comfort me.”

“But to confirm one thing.”

“Am I really planning on leaving or not?”

The private room suddenly became quiet. A while later. Chu Kien Quoc just spoke up.

“Tell me the truth.”

“Has someone been in contact with you?”

I admitted immediately. There's nothing to hide.

“I'm not at liberty to reveal it.”

Chu Kien Quoc's fingers lightly tapped on the table.

“For the past twelve years, you have been with Hoa Thuy.”

“Thanh Le is her passion.”

“It is also the foundation of the company.”

“Do you really want to leave?”

I looked at him.

“Of course I can't bear it.”

“But not being able to bear it and being respected are two different things.”

“I don't ask Qian Dat Pham to be respectful to me.”

“I only ask for one thing.”

“A company should not, because of one person's personal ambition, force someone who has created more than two billion yuan of value for the company to leave.”

“This morality is very simple.”

Zhou Kien Quoc was silent for a long time. Finally said:

“Give me one more month.”

I laughed.

“Has a week turned into a month?”

I stood up.

“Chairman Chu.”

“Out of respect for you, I'll repeat it one last time.”

“My patience has limits.”

Having finished speaking, I turned around and left. As soon as I walked to the door. A voice rang out from behind by Zhou Jianguo. I stopped walking.

“Next month the company will start an introduction program with investors before listing.”

“The underwriter requires the core technology team to be stable.”

“If you go…”

“This listing is considered a failure.”

“Just say whatever conditions you want.”

I didn't turn back. Just leave one sentence.

“My conditions from beginning to end have never changed.”

“Basic respect.”

“And a normal work environment.”

I pushed the door open and walked out. Just took a few steps in the hallway. The phone vibrates. It's a message from Secretary Wu from Beijing.

“Dr. To, academician Tran will come to your city the day after tomorrow.”

“We have arranged a meeting at 3pm.”

“The specific location will be sent later.”

Everything is speeding up. Three o'clock on Friday afternoon. VIP reception room of the City Science Museum. The person sitting across from me surprised me greatly. Academician Tran. He is considered one of the founders of the domestic stem cell research industry. Over seventy years old. White hair. In the academic world, his status is almost that of a living monument. Academician Tran smiled friendly and motioned for me to sit down.

“The last time I saw you was at an academic conference five years ago.”

“The report on exocrine drug delivery technology that you presented at that time made a very deep impression on me.”