Chapter 15 — 19 Lakhs 2, Buying Out a Family

“At that time my mother was young, working at a textile factory in the district.”

“Mom knows a man in the city, his family has the means.”

“I thought he was going to get married, so… I gave it all to him.”

“Then… mom got pregnant.”

“Mom went to look for him, his family beat her out, saying she was a country girl who wanted to climb high.”

"He also ran away and never saw his mother again."

"An unmarried girl with a big belly... my family felt embarrassed and kicked me out."

"Mom had no choice but to rent a dark room and secretly give birth."

“It's a boy.”

Speaking of this, on Truong Tu Mai's face... a motherly gentleness appeared.

“When it was born… it was tiny and wrinkled like an old man.”

“But when I look at it… I feel like my life has meaning.”

“Mom named him Truong Vong... I hope he has a future.”

"But my mother has no job, no money... I can't even support myself, how can I support her?"

"That year the winter was very cold, he had a high fever, my mother had no money to treat him... I could only watch him die."

“At a time of desperation… I met your father.”

"Your father works at a construction site. Seeing your mother's pitifulness, he bought medicine and food."

“It was him… who saved you and your mother.”

“After that, he said he liked mom, didn't criticize her, and wanted to live with her.”

“But… his family did not accept Truong Vong.”

“They said they could accept a mother… but absolutely would not accept a stepchild.”

“On one side is the starving child… on the other side is the road to life.”

Her whole body trembled violently.

“I chose your father.”

"Mom... give Truong Vong to someone else."

“My mother gave him up for adoption to a pair of infertile distant relatives.”

“When mom left… he was just over a year old and had just learned to call mom.”

"He looked at his mother... cried until he was hoarse, calling for his mother, calling over and over..."

Truong Tu Mai couldn't speak anymore, she hugged her face and sobbed. The whole living room... was silent. Chu Hao and Ly Mai... were dumbfounded by the secret that had been buried for more than thirty years. My heart felt like it was being squeezed. Finally… I get it. Understand why she respects men and despises women. Understand why she tolerated Chu Hao to the point of being sick. It's not because she loves her son more. But because she... is making amends. All the guilt she felt for her abandoned child... she put it all on Chu Hao. A daughter. Right from birth... he was a sacrifice. It's ridiculous. It's wild.

“What happens after that?”

My voice was hoarse.

“Mom let me go… won't we see each other again?”

Truong Tu Mai lowered her hand, her face full of tears.

“After marrying your father, life got better, so I secretly went to visit him.”

“Give money, give things.”

“But… his adoptive parents don't treat him well, often scolding him.”

"He's hated his mother since he was little... he hated his mother for abandoning him."

“He doesn't recognize his mother, he considers her a cruel woman.”

"He didn't finish middle school before leaving and struggling in society."

“Infected with all sorts of bad habits, stealing, fighting, doing everything.”

“Even… went to jail several times.”

"Three years ago, I don't know how, he found my home address and went to the door."

“As soon as I opened my mouth… I asked for 200,000.”

“He said, that's what I owe him.”

“Saying I ruined his whole life… I have to compensate.”

“If I don't give money... he will spread this story, let everyone know.”

“Let your father, you, Chu Hao… know what kind of woman I am!”

Truong Tu Mai's voice trembled, full of fear.

"I'm afraid... your father was already sick at that time. If he knew, he definitely wouldn't be able to bear it."

“I have no choice… I can only agree.”

“But where do I get so much money?”

"I I can only collect every bit of pocket money he gives me, save it up and give it to her."

“Then… your father died.”

“I started depositing money every month.”

“I saw that money… I had a bad feeling.”

“I think… this is the only chance to pay off this debt.”

"So every month my child sends 7,000, I don't keep a penny... it's all transferred to him."

“For two years… 19 thousand 2.”

“I give it all.”

“I thought after paying... I could make up for my mistake.”

“I thought... after giving me the money, he would let me go, this family.”

“But I was wrong…”

Her eyes looked at me...desperately.

“It is a bottomless pit!”

“If you run out of money, come back and ask for it!”

“This time he got involved in gambling again, people threatened to cut off his hand!”

“It forced me… forced me to earn another 10 thousand!”

“I really had no other way… so I listened to Chu Hao and performed the play in the group.”

“I think… if you just soften your heart and send more money, you can fill the hole.”

"We were afraid that our child would go to the bank to check... so we lied."

“We are afraid of the lawsuit... because he has threatened that if things break out... he will drag the whole family to hell!”

The truth… finally comes out. All the absurd things... have solutions. I looked at the woman in front of me. My mother. But it's as strange as if we've never known each other. I'm not angry. Doesn't hurt either. Only left... a vast void. At that moment, Chu Hao made a "thud" sound and knelt down in front of me. He raised his head, his eyes bloodshot.