Chapter 5 — 19 Lakhs 2, Buying Out a Family

Finally, just as I was about to hang up, she spoke. The voice is hoarse and cold.

“Chu Tinh.”

“If you dare to sell that car today…”

“Then I die right in front of you.”

Having finished speaking, as if she had used up all her strength, she fell straight back. The body hit the cold cement floor heavily. Chu Hao and Ly Mai shouted and rushed forward. My hand holding the phone... stopped in mid-air. Truong Tu Mai lay motionless, eyes closed, face pale, foam at the corners of her mouth.

"Mom! Wake up, Mom!"

"Call an ambulance! Quick!"

Chu Hao hugged her and turned to scream at me. I stood there... my mind was blank. Reason tells me… this could very well be an act. But… what if it's not? What if it's true? Anyway… that's my mother. The one who gave birth to me. The cold block of ice in my chest... seemed to crack. Hesitation crept in from that crack. I took a deep breath and said into the phone:

"Mr. Vuong, I'm sorry, I have an emergency at home."

“About tomorrow… I will contact you again.”

Having finished speaking, I hung up the phone. Seeing me hang up, Chu Hao was leaning over his mother and crying, his movements suddenly stopped for a moment. He raised his head, a ray of joy flashed in his eyes, then immediately bent down, hugged Truong Tu Mai and cried even harder.

"Mom! My mom! Why are you thinking like this!"

Looking at that clumsy performance, the last bit of wavering in my heart disappeared. I didn't help them up, nor did I call an ambulance. I just coldly returned to the car, opened the passenger seat compartment, and took out the entire stack of car purchase documents. Then, I walked in front of Chu Hao. Under the stunned eyes of him and Ly Mai, I reached into his pocket and took out another key. Spare key. I gathered both keys and all the documents and put them all in my pocket.

“If you want your mother to live, that's fine.”

I looked at them, each word falling as cold as ice.

“Car, I won't sell it tonight.”

“But the keys and all the car documents… are in my hand.”

"Tomorrow morning at eight o'clock, prepare 190,000 in cash."

"If you give me money, I'll return the items."

“One penny short, I will drive this car away and sell it right in front of you.”

“At that time, your mother will live or die... it's up to you to decide.”

Having finished speaking, I didn't look at them again, turned around, and went straight to the stairs. I dragged my tired body back to the room on the fifth floor. Pushing open the door, a long-standing musty smell rushed straight into my face. Small, simple room. A single bed, a peeling painted cabinet, and a desk full of miscellaneous items. During the two years I worked away from home, this place was clearly turned into a storage room. They never thought... I would return. I don't turn on the light. Just sit down in the dark, back against the cold wall. Downstairs, the sound of Chu Hao screaming, the sound of Ly Mai screaming, mixed with the sound of Truong Tu Mai moaning... still echoed faintly. The play… is not over yet. I hugged the bag tightly to my heart. Inside are all my "cards". Car keys. Bill. Certificate. I closed my eyes, my mind was chaotic. Twenty years of memories, like a fast-forward movie. From childhood to adulthood, my mother always said: "You are the older sister, you must give in to your younger siblings." So my little brother can wear my new clothes. My brother can take my pocket money anytime he wants. I passed the entrance exam to an important university, but my family said they had no money and forced me to study pedagogy for free. That same year, Chu Hao graduated from middle school, not wanting to After studying again, they spent tens of thousands of yuan to buy him the latest computer and phone. I used to think... that was just the idea of respecting men and looking down on women. I am patient. I accept. I tried to work, risking my life to make money, just to prove... girls are no worse than boys. I want them to live better. Want to receive a statement of recognition. But what do I get in return? A carefully prepared deception. A public humiliation. And her mother's words: "I will die in front of you." It turns out, in their eyes, I am neither a daughter nor a sister. I'm just a money-making machine. A breathing cash machine. When that machine wanted their money back... they used their love as a weapon and their lives as hostages. My heart... grew cold little by little. I don't know how much time passed, but downstairs gradually became quiet. The sound of doors opening and closing rang out. They're back. In the living room, suppressed sounds of arguing rang out.

"What to do now! That girl took all the keys and documents!"

Ly Mai's voice was harsh.

"He really dares to sell it! That's our car!"

"What are you crying for? It's not because you persuaded me to buy it!"

Chu Hao snapped.

"Now you're turning to blame me? Who was it that stood in front of your friends showing off in the first place? Who took the money to go to the showroom and couldn't close their mouths laughing?"

“Shut up!”

Truong Tu Mai's voice rang out, full of strength, completely unlike someone who had just "got sick".

"There's no use in arguing! Thinking is what matters!"

The living room was silent. After a while, her voice lowered.

“Hao, go look and see if there are still house papers in the house.”

“Mom, what are you going to do?”

"That girl is stubborn, she can't talk. The only way is to use the house to force her!"

"This house was left by your father, he also has a share. If he dares to sell the car, I will say... his share of the house is also not allowed!"

“See if it's scared!”

Hearing that, I smiled slightly. That's right my mother. Calculation... is really too accurate. Using my father's legacy to force me to give up my own money. It's just a pity... she miscalculated one thing. There was a sound of rummaging in the living room again.

“Mom, no, I don't see the house book.”

“Why don't you have it… Mom, remember to put it in the drawer…”

Truong Tu Mai's voice began to panic. I listened silently. Of course it couldn't be found. Because three years ago, when my father just passed away and went through inheritance procedures, I kept a way out for myself. I know clearly what kind of people my mother and younger brother are. So at that time, I used the excuse that I needed to change household registration and had to use the house book, so I took the original from my mother's hand. After that, I always said I was busy and didn't have time to do it. The house book... is still in my hand. I left it, along with my college diploma, locked in the safe in my rented room. That place... is where I belong. And this place... It's just a cage, draining my blood every day.