Chapter 16 — 30 Years of Stolen Identity

Hair cut short. Wrists still have handcuff marks. The reporter said to the camera:

"This case once again reminds everyone to be careful when meeting online..."

I turned off the TV. Saturday afternoon, I went to visit To Phan. In the meeting room, he was wearing a prisoner's outfit, no makeup, and looked ten years older.

“What did you come for?” it's cold.

“Come see me.”

“See how pathetic I am?”

“It's possible.”

It laughed.

“To Nghenh, I won.”

“I didn't win.” I said. “I just don't lose.”

“What's the difference?”

"Other." I looked at it. "Winning is defeating others. Not losing is preserving yourself."

To Phan was silent.

“How are your parents?” it asked.

"Not good. Dad has high blood pressure, mom has a heart attack. They want to sell the house to pay off my debt, but the house is too old and there are no buyers yet."

It bowed its head.

“What about Tieu Bao?”

"I got expelled from school. I stay home and play games all day. My dad can't handle it."

“The victim's family…”

"Still putting pressure on. Yesterday he came to my door, splashed paint, and wrote the three words 'murderer'."

Its shoulders trembled. It calls me.

“If you hadn't stolen my identity card that year, if you hadn't hung your child in my name... what would it be like now?”

I think a bit.

"You can marry a normal person, have children, live a normal life. You can still complain about lack of money, still be jealous of others... but at least, you won't sit here."

He laughed, tears falling.

“Unfortunately, there are no ifs.”

“Sister, I hate you.”

"I know."

“But I'm also jealous of you.” It wipes its face. "From childhood to adulthood, you have always been better than me. You study well, you are beautiful, you have a good job, you make a lot of money. You are not equal to me in anything."

“So you took my things?”

"Correct." It looked up. “Because I want to be you.”

"Stolen things, never belong to me."

“I know.” It spoke softly. “But I can't stop.”

Visiting hours are over. The warden stepped forward. To Phan stood up, walked a few steps and then turned back.

“If… if I go out, will you still accept me?”

I don't answer. It smiled slightly.

"I got it."

It follows the warden. I left the detention camp. The phone has more than a dozen missed calls. They are all my mother. I called back.

"Welcome! Go to the hospital now! Your dad fainted!"

I rushed to the hospital. In the emergency room, my father lay on the bed, his face pale. My mother sat next to me crying.

“What?”

The doctor said:

"Sudden brain hemorrhage. Delivered in time so it's not life-threatening. But it needs to be monitored, it can leave sequelae."

“What sequelae?”

“Hemiplegia, loss of speech... are all possibilities.”

I turned to my mother.

“How did it happen?”

"Tieu Bao... argued with you..." she choked. “He asked for money to play games, my father wouldn't let me… he pushed him… he fell and hit his head on the edge of the table…”

I walked out the door. Chu Tieu Bao sat in the hallway, wearing headphones, playing games.

“Zhou Xiaobao.”

It looked up.

“You pushed grandpa?”

“I didn't mean it.” He bent down to the phone. “You just can't stand on your own.”

I walked over and took off his headphones.

“Look at me.”

It reluctantly raised its head.

“Do you know that grandpa can be paralyzed?”

“So what?” it replied coldly. “I don't have any more money for you to spend.”

I looked at it. Thirteen year old face, but cold eyes like an adult.

"My mother is in detention. So is my father. My grandparents are old and sick. No one takes care of me anymore."

“I still have an aunt.”

“I think I'll take care of it grandchildren?"

Chu Tieu Bao looked at me and suddenly burst into laughter.

“You hate me very much, don't you?”

“Because you look like your mother. Only knowing how to demand, not knowing how to be grateful.”

“That's because the adults owe me.” It replied bluntly. “If I hadn't given birth to you, I wouldn't have become like this.”

“The person who gave birth to you is your mother, not me.”

“But you are my aunt.” It's said as a matter of course. “Auntie has to take care of you.”

I nodded.

“Okay, I'm worried.”

Its eyes lit up.

“Really.” I said. “From now on, you follow me home. I will send him to boarding school. Or... take him to a reformatory. You choose.”

Its expression immediately changed.

“Auntie… what right do you have to put me there?”

“I caused injuries to others, causing serious injuries to my classmates. This behavior qualifies for being sent to a reformatory, even though he is not yet old enough for full criminal responsibility."

“I didn't mean to…”

“But the consequences are real.” I said. “If you do it, you have to accept it.”

It stood up.

“I'm not going!”

“So where do you want to go?”

“I… I'm going to find dad!”

“My father is in custody.”

“Then I'll find you!”

He rushed into the hospital room, holding my mother's hand tightly.

“Grandma! Auntie said she would take me to camp!”

My mother quickly hugged it.

“Welcome! Why are you scaring children?

“I'm not threatening.” I said. “I gave him a choice.”

"He's only thirteen years old, what can he choose?"

“I'm thirteen years old, I should know.”

Suddenly, Chu Tieu Bao pushed my mother away and pointed straight at her.

“It's all because of you! If you hadn't spoiled me since I was little, I wouldn't have become like this!”

My mother was stunned.

“Bao… what are you saying?”

“I said it was because of you!” It screamed. “If you didn't pamper me, I wouldn't hit people! Don't get expelled! It's all because of you! You are a useless old thing!”

My mother stood dumbfounded, as if she no longer recognized this grandchild. My father lay on the bed, his fingers shaking slightly, his throat making a choking sound. Like crying.