Chapter 1 — After All, We All Learn How to Be Better People

When my grandfather announced that he would leave the entire 200 million yuan (~700 billion VND) inheritance to Diep Minh Huy, our whole family was gathering for dinner in the dining room of the old house. The pot of spicy boiled fish was still boiling, but the atmosphere on the dining table had cooled little by little.

“You have thought carefully.”

Grandpa Diep Thua An put down his chopsticks, his voice was not loud, but every word was like nails.

“Everything in his name — house, savings, factory shares — totaled about 200 million yuan (~700 billion VND), all left to Minh Huy.”

He glanced around.

“The others… no one got a dime.”

My mother's hands trembled slightly. The hot bowl of rib soup tilted, the soup spilling over half the table. When my grandfather announced that he would leave the entire 200 million yuan inheritance to Diep Minh Huy, our whole family was gathering for dinner in the dining room of the old house. The pot of spicy boiled fish is still boiling.

“You have thought carefully about this.”

Grandpa Diep Thua An put down his chopsticks, his voice was not loud, but each word seemed to be nailed to the table.

“Everything in his name — the house, savings, shares in the factory — totaled about 200 million yuan, all of which was left to Minh Huy.”

He stopped for a moment, his eyes scanning around.

“The others, no one gets a dime.”

My mother's hand holding the bowl of soup trembled slightly. A bowl of hot rib soup spilled out, covering half of the table, but she didn't seem to feel the heat at all. My father's lips moved slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he bowed his head and picked up the piece of bean in front of him that he didn't want to eat. The only thing left in the dining room was the sound of the refrigerator's compressor buzzing. Cousin Diep Minh Huy sat on his grandfather's right hand, trying to press down the corners of his lips, but his eyes could not hide his satisfaction. He coughed lightly, pretending to be awkward.

“Grandpa, this… isn't very good, our eldest uncle…”

“What's not good?”

Grandpa immediately interrupted.

"Your father's health deteriorated a few years ago, and your mother supported this house alone. Was it easy? This year you passed the civil service exam again, making the Diep family famous. This money should have been yours."

He said while patting Diep Minh Huy on the shoulder.

“You are a child with a future, I believe.”

I put down my chopsticks. There was still more than half left in the bowl of rice, but suddenly I couldn't swallow it. I spoke up. His voice was calmer than his own imagination.

“So what about you?”

The entire table's eyes turned to me. Grandpa looked at me, his eyes cold. He lifted the cup of tea and took a sip.

"Aren't you opening your own small studio? You earn around ten thousand or twenty thousand a year so you don't starve to death. Why keep so much money?"

“But nothing else.”

Uncle-in-law Tien To Phuong continued, putting meat into a bowl for Diep Minh Huy.

"Tieu Thanh, my aunt-in-law doesn't have to tell you. You're a girl, what's the use of keeping so much money? It's better to find a good family when you're young and get married. Look at Minh Huy, civil servant, iron rice bowl, open future. The money you give her is valuable."

She said it as a matter of course. It's like talking about tomorrow's weather. My mother suddenly raised her head, her eyes were red.

"Sister-in-law, what do you mean by that? Why is Tieu Thanh useless? That studio is not big, but it built itself step by step. How much money has it brought home these years? When dad was in the hospital for surgery, who ran? back and forth? Who pays for the nurse's rental?

“Oh, have you started calculating?”

Tien To Phuong put down his chopsticks and his voice shrilled.

“How much is the nursing fee worth? Can it be compared to 200 million yuan? Besides, that's what it should do! Do you have to take credit for doing even a little bit of your duty?"

My mother was so angry that she was shaking. My father held her hand and shook his head.

“Stop saying a few words.”

His voice was very low, carrying fatigue and helplessness. Grandpa frowned and used his chopsticks to gently tap the bowl.

“What are you arguing about? This house is still owned by me! I can give it to whoever I want!”

He looked at me, his voice seemed softer, but his words became sharper.

“Tieu Thanh, don't feel sorry for yourself. It's not that he doesn't love you. But look at yourself, you're twenty-seven years old, you don't even have a lover. Just worrying about that design studio all day long, what kind of future can it have? Minh Huy is different, he earns a government salary, his future path is wide. When you give him money, you can feel secure."

The two words "peace of mind" he emphasized very heavily. Diep Minh Huy spoke at the right time, his voice was so sincere that it was fake.

“Sister and grandfather are just for the whole family. Rest assured, if anything happens in the house in the future, I will definitely not stand outside. One family, mine is everyone's."

He even turned to smile at me. That smile... was so sincere that it made people shiver. I did not respond. Just look at grandpa. The person I've been calling "sir" for the past twenty-seven years. When I was little, he used to put me on his shoulders and take me to the river bank to fly a kite. When I was first in my class in elementary school, he gave me a reward of 100 yuan and bragged to my neighbors that I was the smartest child in the Diep family. In eighth grade, my parents almost separated, and he was the one who banged on the table and shouted: "As long as I'm alive, this house cannot be allowed to fall apart!" Later, I insisted on studying design and refused to take the civil service exam. He was angry with me and didn't talk to me for three months. But the day my studio opened, he still secretly let my grandmother give me 20,000 yuan.

"Your grandfather gave it to you, don't say it out loud."

Grandma said so, her eyes filled with sadness. But she passed away four years ago. The "pride" in his heart... also changed people. I called again.

“My studio made a profit of 400,000 yuan last year, not more than ten thousand. Your heart surgery last year, 280,000 yuan, I paid for. Party to celebrate Minh Huy's civil servant pass, six tables, 57,000 yuan, you pay. He said the old house needs to be waterproofed, 48,000 yuan, I'll transfer it.”

I tell each story one by one. Voice monotonous. It's like reading a balance sheet of income and expenditure.

“I don't want to reason with you. I just want to say, I have never considered spending money on you as a burden. Because you are my grandfather.”

The dining table was so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard. Elder Diep Thua Nghiep was a bit awkward. Tien To Phuong tried to interrupt, but was stopped by his eyes. Grandpa's hand clasped the teacup tightly. But very quickly, he returned to his appearance that no one could refute.

“What do you mean? Are you here to collect my debt?”

His voice was cold.

“I raise my grandchild's father, send him to school, get married, how is that money calculated? Now you're trying to figure out these odd amounts with me?"

“Dad, I didn't mean that…”

My father hastily explained. Grandpa waved his hand.

“That's enough! The will has been notarized. Today is just to inform you, not to discuss!”

Grandfather stood up, looking at me from above.

"Tieu Thanh, if you still consider me your grandfather, then stop talking about random things. We're family, don't make it unsightly."

It turned out that I only said a few words for myself... but ended up embarrassing my family. I nodded and stood up.

“Okay. I understand.”

I turned around and walked out the door.

“Tieu Thanh!”

My mother called from behind, her voice choked. I don't turn around. Go to the door, change your shoes, and open the door. Diep Minh Huy ran after him, his face full of concern.

"Don't be angry. Grandpa has such a temper, you know. Don't worry, wait until the inheritance procedure is finished, I will definitely not let you lose. Don't you want to change your computer? When the time comes, I'll buy you a good one."

Sounds extremely sincere. As if he really thought about me. I looked at him and suddenly felt very tired.

"No need."

"That 200,000,000 yuan, keep it for yourself. Just do a good job as a civil servant, your future is wide open."

I closed the door, blocking that face from inside. The old house is located in the villa area in the south of the city, it takes more than ten minutes to get to the gate. It was completely dark, the street lights cast long shadows. When I got to the gate of the area, I remembered that the car was still in the garage of the old house. But I don't want to go back. Pull out your phone and call a car. While waiting, I opened WeChat. The group "The Diep family" has more than forty unread messages. I clicked. The latest news is Tien To Phuong's voice message.