Chapter 1 — After Being Kicked Out of the Retirement Party, I Went to Germany for 50 Days

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW HAD A RETIREMENT PARTY BUT DIDN'T INVITE ME, I IMMEDIATELY FLYED TO GERMANY FOR A 50-DAY TRAVEL, BY THE TIME I RETURNED MY HUSBAND WAS DECREASED. My mother-in-law organized a retirement party, and in the family group posted a long guest list. There were cousins, cousins, cousins, cousins, seven aunts and eight aunts, and even the maid who had worked at home for two years was present. Only without me. My husband hesitantly explained:

“Maybe mom was just momentarily negligent…”

After five years of marriage, I served her from food to sleep, and took care of her wholeheartedly when she was sick. Could she be so negligent as to forget her daughter-in-law? I don't make a fuss. That evening, I turned off the phone and immediately booked a plane ticket to Germany. Fifty days there, I drank coffee in Munich, watched the snow at Neuschwanstein Castle, blocked all acquaintances from my circle of friends. The day I returned home, as soon as I stepped out of the airport, I saw my husband standing at the exit with red eyes.

“Mom is gone.”

His voice trembled.

"The legacy of 9,000,000 yuan (about 32.4 billion VND) she left behind was all written in the will for the maid."

I pulled my suitcase and turned to leave. He quickly grabbed me, almost collapsed and shouted:

“In the will it is also written that…”

At three o'clock in the afternoon, the phone on the desk vibrated. In the chat group "The Phuong family", a long message appeared. The sender is my mother-in-law, Tu Phuong Tien. That's the guest list for her retirement party. I stared at that list, reading from top to bottom, then from bottom to top. For twenty minutes. The light from the screen makes my eyes sting. Cousins, cousins, cousins, cousins, and all seven aunts and eight aunts back home, their names filled the screen, not one was left out. Even Aunt Liu, the maid who has worked at my house for the past two years, is on the list. I zoomed in on the screen, looking for each letter one by one. Only without me. Diep Tri Thu. The daughter-in-law has been married to this house for five years. A colleague next to me leaned over to look:

“Tri Thu, what are you looking at so intently?”

I immediately turned off the screen, showing a perfect smile:

“My mother-in-law is having a retirement party, I'm looking to see who she invites.”

"Then you must definitely prepare carefully. This is a big occasion."

The colleague's tone was full of admiration. I smiled and nodded, saying sure. After that, my hand under the table trembled uncontrollably. At six o'clock in the evening, I returned on time to the place called home. Phuong Vu Hang, my husband, was lying on the sofa watching football. I placed the bowl of chicken soup that I had just finished stewing in front of him. The edge of the bowl was so hot that my fingertips hurt.

“My mother is throwing a retirement party, what do you need to prepare?”

My voice was calm as if I was asking about the weather. He paused for three seconds, his eyes avoiding looking towards the TV.

“Well... it's time to figure it out.”

I didn't move. Still holding the bowl of soup standing in place.

“In the guest list, why isn't your name on?”

He finally sat up straight from the sofa. He angrily opened the refrigerator to get a drink, turning his back to me.

"Maybe mom was just careless for a while, don't think too much."

Those two words are like a dull knife. Cutting back and forth in my chest. Five years ago, we got married. My mother-in-law criticized my family's normal background, saying I was not worthy of her son graduating top university, working in her state-owned enterprise. Three years ago, she had a cerebral infarction and had to be hospitalized. I took unpaid leave to stay at the hospital to take care of her for three months. From personal hygiene to meals and activities, everything is taken care of by me. As for Phuong Vu Hang and his beloved sister Phuong Vu Tinh, each day they only visit for less than half an hour at most. Last year, my father-in-law had to have heart bypass surgery. I ran back and forth to do the procedures, sign the papers, and also advance 50,000 yuan in hospital fees. When Phuong Vu Tinh was in labor, I, my sister-in-law, took care of her for forty days. Cook soup, feed rice, do laundry and clean up. Could you carelessly forget those things? Phuong Vu Hang turned on the TV louder. He tried to use the sound of football commentary to drown out this stuffy, suffocating atmosphere. I turned back to the kitchen. Turn off the smallest flame burning on the stove. A drop of hot soup splashed onto the back of my hand. Immediately leaves a red mark. Sharp burning pain. I looked at the area of skin that was quickly becoming red and swollen. Suddenly burst out laughing. The laughter was very soft. So quiet that only I could hear it. At nine o'clock at night, I stepped out onto the balcony and called my best friend An Kha. She is working in Munich, Germany.

“An Kha, help me book the nearest plane ticket to Munich, business class.”

"Are you crazy? Why are you suddenly going to Germany?"

“Go entertain yourself.”

Perhaps Phuong Vu Hang heard the movement. He poked his head out from the bedroom, his expression filled with caution.

"Who are you calling? What are you doing?"

I hung up and turned off the phone.

"Going on a business trip. The company suddenly arranged it."

I looked at him with an expressionless face. Then start packing your luggage. This twenty-eight inch suitcase was something we bought when we first got married. By now it's somewhat outdated. Open the wardrobe. I pulled down family photo albums from the past five years. Photo taken to celebrate mother-in-law's seventieth birthday. I was squeezed to the edge of the photo, half of my body still outside the frame. Photos of family meals. I can always see my faint back carrying dishes or busying myself in the kitchen. Last year's family trip to Sanya. More than a hundred photos. There isn't a single picture of my face. Because I'm the one holding the camera. One o'clock in the morning. I have booked my flight ticket. From the drawer, I took out a note. Write a few words:

“I'm going to Germany, don't look for me.”

There is no address. Also don't sign. I placed it in the most visible position at the door. When dragging the suitcase to the door. I instinctively turned my head and looked towards the master bedroom. Through the crack in the door, bright and dark light shines out. Accompanied by the sound of combat effects in the game. He's still playing the game. I closed the door. The door lock made a very soft "click" sound. It sounded like a sigh. Just like a verdict.