Chapter 1 — 19 Lakhs 2, Buying Out a Family

Every month, I transfer 7,000 yuan (about 24 million VND) of living expenses to my mother on time. Yet today, in the family group, my mother choked up and lamented:

“I'm about to starve to death. I can only eat white noodles for the day.”

The younger brother immediately jumped in, his voice full of sarcasm:

"Sister, no one can say filial piety. If you're good, give real money."

I didn't say another word and directly threw the 24-month transfer photo into the group. Mom sent back a voicemail, her voice both pitiful and confused:

“The account number is correct… but I haven't seen any money yet.”

A full 190,000 yuan (about 660 million VND)... just evaporated without a trace. I immediately booked a high-speed train ticket for the night trip back to my hometown. Where did that money... end up going? The 25th of each month is a fixed transfer date that has never changed. I regularly transferred exactly 7,000 yuan to my mother's bank account - Truong Tu Mai. The rain and sun did not stop, lasting for two years. Today, the family chat group suddenly exploded. The first thing that appeared was a photo. A bowl of bland broth, a few strands of white noodles floating around, not even a green onion. Immediately after that was the voice of Truong Tu Mai's mother, her voice choked up as if she was about to cry.

“I can't live anymore… I'm about to starve… I only eat this every day…”

The voice track is not long, but the feeling of self-pity and despair seems to penetrate through the screen, suffocating people's hearts. The group was silent for exactly three seconds. After that, my younger brother - Chu Hao - was the first to jump out. He tagged me directly.

"Sister, if you live happily in the big city, don't forget your mother in the countryside!"

"It sounds good to say filial piety, but how much money can you send back each month?"

“Mom is about to have nothing to eat, don't you feel guilty as a child?”

An "unfilial" hat was placed directly on my head. Immediately after that, relatives began to compete with each other to speak up. Auntie Ba: "Tieu Tinh, you can't be like that, your mother raised you very hard." Aunt Nam: "That's right, you should at least send a little more each month. Everyone in the hometown knows you make a lot of money." Chu Hao's wife - Ly Mai - also chimed in.

“That's right, sister-in-law, my mother hopes for you every day, misses you, but…”

At the end of the sentence is a sigh icon. I stared at the phone screen, my fingertips clenching until they turned white. It felt like there was a rock pressing down on me in my chest, heavy and suffocating. I don't answer any questions. Just quietly open the banking app and find the entire transfer history of the past 24 months. Each amount is 7,000 yuan. Recipient: Truong Tu Mai. Receiving account: extension 6228. I took each photo one by one, no cropping, date and amount clear. Then, one by one, throw them all into the family group. No explanation included. But each of those photos are the most resounding slaps. The group chat fell into dead silence again. The people who were so boldly condemning just now no one said anything anymore. Five minutes passed. Truong Tu Mai's mother sent another voice, this time her voice was full of confusion and innocence.

"Tieu Tinh, the account number is correct, it's my card."

“But… I've never really seen any money.”

One sentence, like a thunderbolt stronger than before. Chu Hao immediately followed.

“Sister, you didn't edit these photos yourself right? What technology can't do now?

"There's not a single penny in my mother's card. What's the use of sending these photos?"

“19 thousand 2, you said you transferred it, so where is the money? Did the money grow wings and fly away?

Disappeared without a trace. I tightened my grip on the phone, my knuckles cracking. I won't argue another word in the group. All the anger, sadness and doubt, at this moment, turned into a cold decision. I opened the ticket booking app. Buy a high-speed train to go home at night. You can arrive at ten o'clock at night. This family, this play, I must return. See clearly for yourself. Where did that money go? The speedboat tore through the night and rushed away. Outside the window, the city lights flashed by in patches, streaked like streaks of tears. I leaned back in the chair, closed my eyes, but my mind was never at peace. That 190,000 2 yuan... is the amount of money I saved for two years. I don't dare to buy expensive cosmetics, I don't dare to go to fancy restaurants with colleagues, I even have to hesitate about calling a car. All... just so that my mother and younger brother in the countryside can live a little more dignified. I used to think that they understood everything I did. What about the results? In front of the whole family, I was labeled an "unfilial child". My heart... little by little cooled and hardened. At ten o'clock in the evening, the train arrived at the station on time. I dragged my small suitcase, walked out of the station, and caught a taxi.

“Driver, take me to Thanh Ha area.”

The driver glanced at me in the rearview mirror, then started the car. The old apartment building didn't have an elevator, so I climbed all the way to the fifth floor. Standing in front of the familiar door, I was in no hurry to get the key. The lights were bright in the house, faintly echoing the sound of TV and laughter. No matter how it sounds... it doesn't sound like someone who is about to "starve to death". I took a deep breath and rang the bell. The bell rang for a long time before Chu Hao's angry voice rang out inside.

“Who is it? Last night.”

Chu Hao saw me, the unpleasant look on his face immediately turned into shock.

“Sister? Why did you come back?”

He instinctively wanted to close the door, but I leaned right in. In the living room, Truong Tu Mai's mother was leaning on the sofa, biting melon seeds and watching a family movie. Her daughter-in-law - Ly Mai - brought out a plate of pre-cut fruit from the kitchen. On the tea table there were also half-eaten roasted chickens and cold foods. Is there anything like having to eat white noodles to slow down? As soon as they saw me enter, the laughter in the living room immediately stopped. The smile on Truong Tu Mai's face froze, the melon seeds in her hand fell to the ground.

“Tieu Tinh… you… why did you come back so suddenly?”

Her eyes avoided, not daring to look at me. Ly Mai placed the fruit plate firmly on the table, her voice full of sarcasm.

"Oh, sister-in-law is really filial. When she heard that mother didn't have food to eat, she quickly ran back at night."

Chu Hao closed the door and walked in front of me, with a sarcastic smile on his face.

“What, don't you believe what I said? Did you come here specifically to check the books?”

I didn't respond to any of the taunts. I placed my suitcase at the door, took off my coat, and walked into the middle of the living room. My eyes calmly scanned each person one by one. Truong Tu Mai awkwardly avoided eye contact and quickly grabbed the remote to turn off the TV.

“Tieu Tinh, have you had dinner yet? Mom, will you cook me a bowl of noodles?”

The corners of my lips curled up slightly, so cold no more heat.

"No need."

I pulled out a chair and sat down across from them. That posture... doesn't look like a girl coming home. Which is more like an interrogation. The air in the living room instantly froze. I looked at them, one by one. Finally, my eyes stopped on the face of my mother, Truong Tu Mai. I just said one word.

“Let's talk about that money.”