Chapter 1 — 6 Days to Clean Up Your Estate Then Divorce

Married ten years. My husband and I diligently saved, penny by penny, building up a considerable fortune. However, exactly when I was 35 years old, my husband's parents suddenly adopted a 7-year-old boy. They said, doing so is to "add another layer of old age insurance". I don't make a fuss. I understand very well, there is no use in making noise, only in exchange for an unfilial sentence. So, I spent six whole days. Silently, step by step, transfer all possible assets to the daughter's name. Waiting until everything was completed, the husband's parents also came to the door.

"I've adopted your younger brother, so let him worry about taking care of his old age in the future. Consider your burden lightened."

I looked at my husband standing next to me, from beginning to end, still silent like a shadow. Then I placed a divorce agreement in front of him.

“Now, my whole family… is relieved.”

When my mother-in-law's phone call came, I was watching my daughter practice the piano. The sound of the piano echoed in the room, and her voice was slippery, carrying a contentment that made people uncomfortable.

“Tieu Tinh, your mother and father have finished discussing, our family is about to have a new member.”

I didn't answer, I just listened quietly, the sound of Niem Niem's guitar interspersed in the receiver, like broken breaths.

"We adopted a seven-year-old boy named Tu Ngang. He later became Van Bac's younger brother and Niem Niem's uncle."

“This child is smart and intelligent, we like it very much.”

My fingers gently tapped on the cool red wooden lid, the sound was so small that it was almost non-existent. I only responded briefly. Perhaps dissatisfied with my too calm reaction, my mother-in-law cleared her throat, as if wanting to steer the conversation back to the trajectory she wanted.

"What my dad means is, adding a son means adding old age insurance. We're still young, work is busy, and there's a lot of pressure."

"We don't want to become a burden. In the future, Tu Ngang will take care of us and we will also be relieved."

Old age insurance. It sounds so pleasant, as light as a harmless sentence, but as heavy as a knife stabbed straight into one's heart. Chu Van Bac and I have been married for ten years, starting from a cramped rented room in a suburban slum, he worked as a designer, I ran business, the two of us were like two old gears, spinning until the edges were worn out. We drank until our stomachs hemorrhaged, stayed up until our hearts pounded, and exchanged our youth for each step forward. In ten years, we have three houses, two cars, a company that barely stands in the middle of this city, and our daughter Niem Niem is eight years old, so obedient and understanding that it makes people feel sad. I thought my life was finally free from the days of hardship and began to taste the sweetness of achievement. But it turns out that in their eyes, all of those things are not as good as a "son", not as good as that vague so-called nursing home.

“Does Van Bac know?” I asked, my voice so calm that even I felt strange.

“Of course, mom told him first, he was very happy, and said he wanted a younger brother for a long time.”

The mother-in-law's voice suddenly rose, as if she was boasting good news worth celebrating. I hung up. Don't cry, don't ask, don't argue, simply end the conversation like cutting a rotten wire. I walked to my daughter's side and gently stroked her hair, each soft strand like clouds. Niem Niem raised her head to look at me, her eyes as clear as spring water after the rain.

“What's wrong, Mom?”

“It's okay, mom will play with you.”

I smiled, my smile was as light as nothing. In the evening, Chu Van Bac returned, his body still smelling of alcohol, his face carrying the fatigue of long communication sessions. He changed his shoes and walked closer, out of habit wanting to hug me like always. I leaned away. He paused, his eyes slightly stunned.

“Mom called me.”

His eyes wavered a bit, then quickly pulled up a forced smile.

"Ah, that's it. Mom is old and has old-fashioned thinking. Don't take it to heart. It's good to have a younger brother. Our family will be happier in the future."

He tried to use a gentle tone to remove the thorn stuck between us, as if just saying a few words would make everything return to normal. He's always been like that. Every time my husband's parents and I have a conflict, he only says one sentence.

“Mom, it's not easy.”

“She's just a sharp-tongued person with a soft heart.”

“Give her a little time.”

Ten years, my heart has been sharpened by those words, there is no longer any clear pain, only a layer of lingering numbness remains. I looked at him. Looking at the man I've loved for ten years, giving birth to his children, and accompanying him from nothing to today. On his face there was no anger, no guilt, only the desire to settle the matter. He even felt this was a good thing. The house will be more bustling. Yes, it's really bustling. Using the past half of the couple's life to raise a "younger brother" who is not related by blood, then letting him and his adoptive parents, who are also my husband's parents, walk into my house with their own name and dignity, spending my money. Even after I die, I can stand on equal footing with my daughter and compete for property.

“Van Bac.” I called softly.

“Do you think our money is enough to support such a family?”

He clearly didn't expect me to ask like that, he was momentarily stunned and then burst out laughing, the smile carrying unconscious confidence.

“What are you talking about, why isn't it enough? Our company is doing well. Besides, how much does it cost to raise a child? My parents also have a pension.”

He thought I was worried about money. I won't say anything more. I entered the office, closed the door, as if closing a part of my old life. The night was very quiet. I clearly heard my heart beating, beat by beat, heavy and cold as if falling to the bottom of water. The heart that has burned for ten years for this family, tonight, finally extinguished. The greatest pain is not when shedding tears, but when the heart no longer wants to hurt. I opened my computer and looked at the company's cash flow table. The numbers that once made me proud were now left with only quiet irony. I picked up my phone and searched for a name I hadn't heard from for a long time. The note appears: Ly Tuyet – Kim Bai lawyer. She was my best friend from college, the only person I can trust right now. The call is connected. Her voice was still as neat and decisive as ever.

“Hua Tinh, calling so late, has something happened?”

“Yes, I want a divorce.”

On the other end of the line, Ly Tuyet was silent for three seconds, the silence was short but as heavy as a cut.

“Is Chu Van Bac having an affair?”

“It's more disgusting than that.”

I tell you everything, Not a single detail was left out, his voice was calm and cold. From the other side came the sound of Ly Tuyet grinding her teeth.

"Are you crazy? What's wrong with this house? When did you still play the game of 'raising a son to raise your old age', and even taking someone else's child to raise for you to grow old?"

“Have you thought carefully, do you really want a divorce?”

“I thought it over.”

“From the moment he automatically let his parents use our assets to raise another child.”

“So it's over between me and him.”

Ly Tuyet took a deep breath.

“Okay, I support you.”

“But we can't let them go that easily.”

“Companies, houses, cars, savings, all are marital assets.”

“In a divorce, he still gets half the share.”

“I know, so I need time.”

“What do you need?”

“Six days.”

“I need six days to turn everything… into my daughter's personal property.”

On the other side, there was the sound of rapid keyboard typing.

“It's difficult, but not impossible.”

“Company shares can be transferred by donation, but your signature is required.”

“He won't sign.”

“Then go the other way, set up a trust fund that you control, with your daughter as the beneficiary.”

"Then, in the name of the company, through debt repayment or project investment, legally transfer cash flow into the fund."

"Real estate purchased after marriage is common property and cannot be moved."

“But I have an apartment I bought before marriage, my parents bought it for me, that can be transferred.”

"There's one car in your name, sell it and the money goes to the fund."

"As for savings, it's the most troublesome. If a joint account transfers a large amount, he will receive a notification immediately."

I looked at the financial report on the screen.

“Our company has an advance payment to the supplier, 3,000,000 yuan.”

“The actual controller of that side is a distant relative of mine.”

Ly Tuyet immediately understood.

“Tell them to refund the money, but not return it to the company account, transfer it directly to your trust fund.”

“You have changed.”

“Before, you had a headache when calculating accounts.”