Chapter 1 — 7 Fingerprints Found In My New Home

After 3 days of moving into the house, I discovered that the door lock had 7 fingerprints - My mother-in-law led them all to occupy the house, I directly returned the house and kicked them all out. On the third day of moving into the new house, I discovered a truth that sent chills down my spine. In my home's fingerprint lock system, there are seven fingerprints registered. My husband Chu Canh Xuyen and I are only two people in total. So whose remaining five fingerprints are?

“Canh Xuyen, come over here and see this.”

I pointed to the number on the door lock screen, trying to keep my voice low. Chu Canh Xuyen was sitting in the living room watching football, not even bothering to raise his head.

"What's going on? If you don't know how to use the new lock, read the user manual."

“Come over here and see.”

I turn up the volume. He stood up impatiently, his slippers dragging on the floor making a harsh rubbing sound.

“What again?”

“Look at this place.”

I pointed at the screen.

"It shows that seven fingerprints have been registered here. There are only two people in our family, whose five fingerprints belong to them?"

Chu Canh Xuyen paused for a moment, raised his hand a few times. The screen immediately displayed fingerprint records numbered from one to seven. Behind each entry is clearly stated the registration time. Fingerprints number one and two were entered on the day we moved. That belongs to me and Chu Canh Xuyen. As for numbers three through seven... They were all registered yesterday afternoon. Yesterday afternoon, I was at the bakery checking the books. Chu Canh Xuyen is at the company. So who actually registered these fingerprints?

“Canh Xuyen, did you come home yesterday afternoon?”

I looked at him. He shook his head.

“No. I'm at the company all day.”

“So where did these fingerprints come from?”

Chu Canh Xuyen frowned and thought for a few seconds, then suddenly slapped his forehead.

“Ah yes.”

“Yesterday my mother said she wanted to come see the new house, so I gave her the temporary password.”

My throat felt like it was stuck to a fish bone.

“You gave the password to your mother?”

“That's my mother.”

He looked at me with a matter-of-fact expression.

“What's wrong with telling her?”

“How many people is your mother going with?”

“I guess it's just Mom.”

Speaking of this, his eyes slightly avoided.

“You didn't ask carefully.”

I tried to suppress my anger.

“There are five new fingerprints registered here.”

“How can your mother register five on her own?”

At this time, Chu Canh Xuyen took out his phone to call his mother-in-law. The phone is quickly connected. The mother-in-law's voice rang out loudly from the other end of the line.

“Canh Xuyen, do you miss your mother?”

Chu Canh Xuyen turned on the speakerphone.

“Mom, did you come to my house yesterday?”

“Aren't you allowed to see the new house?”

“Who are you bringing with you?”

The other end of the line was silent for about two seconds.

"It's just your sister, your brother, and your aunt and uncle's family. Bring them over to meet them."

I stared at the seven numbers on the screen. The palm of my hand was pressed against the edge of the door frame until it was numb.

“Mom... did everyone register their fingerprints?”

Chu Canh Xuyen asked. The mother-in-law responded very gently.

"I'll come visit you two later for convenience."

"Your sister has to take care of you every day. If you two aren't home, she can come in and rest."

“My younger brother will have a place to stay in the city to work in the future.”

"We're all family, why do we have to be so polite?"

I grabbed the phone.

“Mom, how could you register your fingerprints without asking? us?”

The mother-in-law's voice immediately rose.

“Lam Van, I don't like hearing you talk like that.”

“I'm Canh Xuyen's mother.”

“If you want to go to your son's house, do you still have to apply for permission first?”

“This is my house and Canh Xuyen.”

“What is your house and Canh Xuyen?”

Mother-in-law smiled faintly.

"The name Canh Xuyen is in the red book, right?"

“He is my son.”

“His house is also his mother's house.”

I turned my head to look at Chu Canh Xuyen. He avoided my eyes and reached for the pack of cigarettes on the tea table. I continue to ask:

"So why do his sister, his younger brother and his entire family have to register their fingerprints?"

There was a popping sound on the other end of the line. Like someone just slammed the table.

“Don't talk so harshly.”

“Once you marry into the Chu family, you won't be able to accommodate even the family that comes through your door?”

“It's not like I can't handle it.”

“I need boundaries.”

"Boundary?"

Mother-in-law laughed coldly.

“A cake seller like you still wants to talk about boundaries with me?”

"Who paid the deposit to buy the house? Don't you know in your heart?"

“I put in half the deposit.”

I calmly replied.

“That half of you still has the face to tell about it?”

The mother-in-law said contemptuously.

“Canh Xuyen earns more money than me.”

“Wouldn't the installment payment still depend on it?”

“Don't think that after moving into a new house, you will be the boss.”

"This Chu family, it's not yet the turn of an outsider with a different last name like you to make a decision."

Before hanging up, she coldly threw back a sentence:

“Do not erase fingerprints.”

“If you dare to delete it, tomorrow I will bring my relatives to your shop to ask you why, in the end, do you still want to live peacefully with the Chu family or not?”

The phone is disconnected. Chu Canh Xuyen picked up the phone again. The words "troublesome" were clearly visible on his face. I looked at him.

“Erase all their fingerprints.”

He twisted the cigarette pack in his hand and then let it go.

“Can you please stop causing trouble as soon as you open your mouth?”

“My mother was originally like that.”

“What if relatives come to the house to take a look?”

“I haven't lost anything from you.”

“They have already registered their fingerprints.”

“If you register, just register. In the future, if it's not convenient for us to open the door, what's wrong with them coming in and playing for a while?"

I looked around the living room. The plastic layer covering the new sofa has not yet been peeled off. On the dining table is a set of white porcelain plates I just bought yesterday. There are also two pots of mint on the balcony that I moved from my old rented room. This house... I saved for six years to get it. The wedding was not a lavish party. Don't buy diamond rings. Save every penny to collect half of the deposit. Yet now, five unfamiliar fingerprints are in the door lock system. It's like five keys are quietly inserted into the slot of my door. I just say one thing: