Chapter 1 — 20 Million Yuan Buys Freedom, Not Marriage

When my father called, I was having dinner at Tran Hao's house.

"Nian Niem, dad transferred 20,000,000 yuan to your card, as a dowry. You can arrange it yourself."

I paused for a second, put down my chopsticks, and went out to the balcony.

“Dad, you don't need that much…”

"Take it. Your mother passed away early, and all these years I still feel sorry for you. Once you're married, you have to have money in hand."

The phone was hung up. I looked at the notification from the bank on the screen. That number lies quietly, coldly but clearly. 20,000,000 yuan. Back at the dining table, Tran Hao's mother was serving him food. Seeing me, she asked a question:

“Who's calling?”

"Ah, in-laws. What are you talking about?"

I smiled slightly and didn't answer. Tran Hao leaned closer and lowered his voice:

“Is something wrong?”

“Nothing, talk later.”

After eating, I helped clear the dishes. Tran Hao sent me downstairs. At the gate of the apartment complex, I spoke frankly.

“My father gave me 20,000,000 yuan as a dowry.”

His steps stopped.

"How much?"

“20,000,000 yuan.”

He turned back to look at me, his expression very complicated.

"Where does your father get so much money? Doesn't he just open factories in the countryside?"

“Probably just accumulated over the years, I didn't ask carefully.”

Tran Hao didn't say anything else, but I clearly saw his hand tighten. The next day, I made a decision. In the south of the city there is a school district house, 136 square meters, total price 19,800,000 yuan. I followed for three months. I called the broker directly. One-time payment. The name transfer procedure takes place very quickly. After signing the papers, walking out of the real estate transaction center, I texted Tran Hao a message:

“I bought a house.”

He replied immediately: I sent the address. Ten seconds later, the phone rang.

“To Niem, did you buy an apartment in the southern school district?”

“All the cash?”

“You used the 20,000,000 yuan your father gave you to buy a house?”

The other end was silent for five seconds.

“Why don't you discuss it with me?”

"My father gave me the dowry money, I still have to discuss it with you when I buy a house?"

“To Niem, I already have a plan for that 20,000,000 yuan.”

My hand stopped on the phone.

“What are your plans?”

"You know the old house my parents live in. It's dilapidated, has poor soundproofing, and the elevator is always broken. I plan to use this money to buy them a decent house to retire in. I also want to keep a part to pay off my car loan..."

I interrupted.

“Tran Hao, this is the dowry money my father gave me.”

"If you marry me, my money is your money, my money is also yours, isn't it natural? Is it wrong for you to use that money to buy a house for your parents? Is it easy for them to raise you?"

I said nothing. He continued:

"What about you? If 20,000,000 yuan is spent, it's spent, whose name is the house papers in?"

The other end was silent for a few seconds.

"To Niem, what do you mean? Don't you consider yourself a member of the Tran family?"

I leaned against the car door, looking up at the gray sky above.

“Tran Hao, we're not married yet.”

"Aren't you about to get married? Can't you wait a few months? You have to spend all your money right now? You're doing it on purpose, right?"

“You think I did it on purpose?”

"If not, what's the point? 20,000,000 yuan, you don't say a word to me, you buy a house directly - do you really have me in your heart? Do you have this family?"

I hung up. Returning to the motel room, I put the red book in the safe. Looking at that small red notebook, my mind suddenly became unusually alert. Three In the years we've known each other, every time money is mentioned, Tran Hao's expression is always the same. His eyes did light up, but that light... never directed towards me. The phone vibrates continuously, filled with messages from him.

“Don't be angry, I said too much just now.”

"But To Niem, we still have to live together. You spent such a large amount of money, shouldn't you at least say something?"

“If you don't like the southern area, let's change to another apartment and I'll go see it with you.”

Last message:

"Let's talk about the house again, later add your name to the book."

I turned off the phone. The next day was Saturday, I went to the new house to measure the dimensions and think about how to renovate it. The doorbell rang. Opening the door, Tran Hao's mother stood outside. She wore a dark red coat, carried a bag of fruit, and a warm smile on her face.

“Nien Niem, I came to see your new house.”

I let her in. She walked around, touched the window sill, and looked out at the balcony.

"Oh my, this area is really beautiful, the trees are good, the management is also good. This school district is Experimental Primary School No. 1, right? In the future, it will be very convenient for children to go to school."

I poured water and gave it to her. She took it, sat down on the sofa, patted the seat next to her signaling me to sit.

“Nien Niem, let me tell you some sincere words.”

I sat down.

"You and Tran Hao have known each other for three years, I have always considered you as my own daughter. The dowry money your father gave me is his heart, I understand."

She took my hand.

"But you also know, it's really bad for me and Tran Hao's father in that old house. He has a backache and has trouble climbing the stairs every time. I think, your house is this big, it's not enough for the two of us to live, or should we let the two of you move in with us..."

I withdrew my hand.

"Auntie, this is a school district house, I bought it so that I can send my children to school in the future."

Her smile remained the same.

"The children are a matter of later, you two are still young. I'm old, I'll only stay for a few more years. Later, you two have children, I'll take care of them, and the whole family will live together for fun."

“Auntie, Tran Hao and I are not married yet.”

Her expression changed slightly, then she smiled again.

"It's almost here, Tran Hao said we'll get married in October. By the way, Niem Niem, wouldn't it be better to add Tran Hao's name to the house book? After we're husband and wife, it's normal for both of us to have our names on it."

I stood up.

“Auntie, let me see you off.”

She was stunned for a moment.

“Nem Niem?”

"Today I still have to measure and contact the designer. I'll continue talking another time."

The smile on her face finally disappeared. Standing up, she muttered one sentence:

"If you buy a house for 20,000,000 yuan, even your parents-in-law won't let you live in it. How did your father teach you?"

I opened the door but didn't answer. She walked out and turned to look at me.

"To Niem, I tell you, if you want to continue living with this family, you must be reasonable. Marrying into the Tran family, you are a member of the Tran family. The Tran family's business is also your business."

The door closes. In the evening, Tran Hao arrived. As soon as I entered the door, he grabbed my hand, his attitude softer than yesterday.

"Don't take what my mother said today to heart. She's just like that, she doesn't keep her mouth shut."

I said nothing. He sat down on the sofa, took out his phone, scrolled for a while and then showed it to me.

"Look at this project, Phi Thuy Hoa Phu, right next to the area where my parents live, newly built. 148 square meters, three bedrooms, fully furnished, total price 6,500,000 yuan."

I glanced at the screen.

"What do you mean?"

"I think... you probably still have some money left in your hand, right? 20,000,000 yuan Buying a house costs 19,800,000 yuan, leaving 200,000 yuan. I see if I can—”

“200,000 yuan to buy a 6,500,000 yuan house?”

He scratched his head.

“I mean… can you tell your dad more? He said he was short on deposit money, so he asked for a little more support. After all, it's about preparing a nursing home for the in-laws..."

“I'm Niem, listen here.”

"Your nursing home, can't you buy it yourself?"

The expression on his face stiffened.

“My monthly salary is 15,000 yuan, my monthly car loan payment is 4,000 yuan, my credit card debt is 20,000 yuan — To Niem, it's not like you don't know my situation.”

“I know your situation. But what does it have to do with my father?”

“You are my girlfriend, your father will be my father-in-law in the future, how about a little help?”

I looked at him. Three years ago, we met at a gathering of friends. At that time, he wore a white shirt, smiled cleanly, and spoke politely. He said his house's conditions were normal, but he would try. I believed.