Chapter 10 — 19 Lakhs 2, Buying Out a Family

Can't get it back. The money… is gone. The only thing left... Is the car in front of me. The value is now only 130,000 5. Manager Vuong now gives back the contract and pen.

“Miss Chu, then…”

Everyone... held their breath and looked at me. Truong Tu Mai. Their eyes were full of despair… but still a little pleading. Wait for me… verdict. I took the pen. I didn't immediately sign the car sales contract, but turned around and took out another piece of paper from my pocket. It was a piece of paper I had prepared last night on my phone and then went down to the convenience store to print it out, a loan note. I gave the paper and pen to Chu Hao, looking straight without avoiding it. "My car may not be sold, but this amount must be calculated clearly today, 19 thousand 2, not a penny missing, write it down for me in black and white."

"From today, you - Chu Hao - owe me Chu Tinh 19 thousand 2. When I pay it off, I will return the car and house documents." I spoke slowly, each word nailed into the air.

Chu Hao knelt on the ground, his whole body as if exhausted, Ly Mai and Truong Tu Mai stood behind, their faces as gray as ash. The people around held their breath, as if waiting for the final verdict of a trial. I brought the paper and pen in front of Chu Hao, his eyes slowly moved from me to that thin piece of paper. But in his eyes, it was heavier than anything.

“Do you… really have to do that?” His voice trembled, as if holding on to the last bit of hope. I didn't answer, just held the paper towards him a little more.

My silence is the answer. Manager Vuong standing next to him was also a bit surprised, perhaps he thought we were going to sign a contract to sell the car, but he didn't expect it to be a debt paper. Chu Hao trembled, he knew that if he signed down, his life would be bound by this number. 19 thousand 2 will no longer be money, but chains. He raised his head to look at Truong Tu Mai, his eyes asking for help. "Mom..." Truong Tu Mai moved her lips but couldn't say anything, her eyes gradually turned from pleading to desperate. Finally, she slowly shook her head. That shake of the head... was the end. The last light in Chu Hao's eyes completely disappeared. He reached out to receive the pen.

“I… I write.”

He spread the paper on the hood of the car and bent down, like a man waiting to be sentenced. I stood next to him, my voice cold, reading each clause.

"Write: Loan note. The borrower is Chu Hao. Due to personal expenses, he borrowed from Ms. Chu Tinh the amount of 19 thousand 2."

I read a sentence, he wrote a sentence, his handwriting was shaky and crooked like crawling worms.

“Continued: from next month, the 25th of each month is the payment deadline, each month must pay no less than 5,000, until paid in full.”

"Overdue, I Chu Tinh has the right to use all legal measures to recover, including handling collateral assets."

When he wrote here, his hand shook violently, drawing a long line on the paper.

“Collateral…” he muttered.

“The collateral is this car, and house number 501, Thanh Ha area.” I looked straight at him, also at Truong Tu Mai.

Truong Tu Mai was shocked and her voice trembled. “Tieu Tinh, that house is…”

“We are all heirs to the property our father left behind.” I interrupted, my voice not wavering at all.

"I have a legal share, and I use that part to secure my money. When it's paid in full, the rest will belong to you."

“Before that, the house documents will be in my hands.”

All retreats... were completely blocked. Chu Hao bowed his head and did not respond resisted anymore, quietly wrote the rest. Finally, he signed his name and wrote the date. I took out the small red ink box and handed it over. He was like a machine, pressing his finger down, a red mark was printed on his name. I picked up the paper again and blew gently to dry the ink. But it's not done yet. I turned the paper towards Truong Tu Mai.

“Mom, it's your turn.”

Truong Tu Mai was stunned. "Mom…?" I pointed to the empty space under the paper.

"Guarantor. Sign your name, get your fingerprints here."

"What?" Truong Tu Mai shouted, "It's his debt, it has nothing to do with me!"

“Because you are his mother.” I said coldly, "Because my mother tolerated me, protected me, and even tricked me with her, we both have to bear this responsibility."

"I won't sign! Even if I die, I won't sign!" she started rioting.

I didn't look at her anymore, but turned to the surrounding people, my eyes stopped at the gray-haired Mrs. Vuong, the most vocal person in this area.

"Miss Vuong, you've seen it too. This is a debt note written by my sister. My mother is the guarantor. I don't want to make a big deal out of it, but if she doesn't sign, I will report it to the police."

“At that time, the police came and the neighbors were all unsightly.”

Ms. Vuong sighed and walked next to Truong Tu Mai.

"Okay, sign it, Tu Mai, what else can you do at this point? Tieu Tinh has already given her face. If you really sell the car, your family will lose both money and people."

There was also someone accompanying her, each look seemed to weigh heavily on Truong Tu Mai's shoulders. She knew... there was no way back. With trembling hands, he picked up the pen and signed. Then reluctantly fingerprinted.