Chapter 5 — After My Cousin Moved In, My Family Almost Destroyed

The next morning at breakfast, looking at Trieu Tieu Nha's innocent and harmless face, my stomach kept churning with discomfort. She drank porridge and "accidentally" reported her study plan to my father.

"Eldest uncle, our teachers said that the most important thing in learning English is the feeling of the language."

“So I plan to wake up early every morning and read for half an hour.”

“Not bothering you and your aunt-in-law, right?”

"Don't mind! Don't mind!"

My father kept waving his hands.

“What a good habit!”

“Van Van, you must learn more from Tieu Nha!”

I put down my chopsticks and looked at Trieu Tieu Nha.

“My cousin is so studious, he must have many phones that he uses to look up documents, right?”

The atmosphere at the dining table immediately fell silent. Trieu Tieu Nha's hand holding the spoon shook, and the porridge fell onto the table. She raised her head, her eyes quickly covered with a layer of water vapor, looking at me with an extremely puzzled expression.

“Miss Van Van…”

“You… why do you say that?”

“I only have one phone, it's an old phone my dad used a few years ago.”

“I gave it to my uncle-in-law last night…”

Her voice was very small, carrying an air of self-pity as if she had been terribly wronged. My father's face immediately darkened.

“Trieu Van Van!”

"What are you talking to me like? Who are you teasing?!"

My mother also looked at me, her eyes carrying a questioning look. I looked straight at her.

“Last night I heard her talking in her room.”

“She is calling Uncle Hai and Aunt Hai.”

“You talk nonsense!”

Trieu Tieu Nha immediately objected, tears began to fill her eyes.

“I don't have it!”

"I gave the phone to my aunt-in-law last night at ten thirty, so how could I call?"

“Miss Van Van, I know you don't like me here…”

"But you can't slander me like that..."

Speaking of this, her tears began to fall drop by drop, patting onto the table. My father slammed on the table.

“Trieu Van Van, quickly apologize to your brother!”

"Why should I apologize? I'm telling the truth!"

I responded stiffly.

“You still dare to argue?!”

My father was so angry that he stood up.

"Sit down."

My mother spoke coldly. Her voice is not loud. But carrying pressure does not allow anyone to resist. My father and I both sat down silently. Trieu Tieu Nha's crying also gradually subsided, turning into sobs full of self-pity. My mother pulled out two pieces of paper and gave them to her, then looked at me.

“Are you sure you heard me?”

“I'm sure.”

“Are you sure he's calling?”

“I'm sure.”

My mother nodded, then turned to Trieu Tieu Nha.

“Tieu Nha.”

“Bring out all the things in your room.”

“Right here in the living room.”

“Let's check it out.”

Trieu Tieu Nha's face immediately turned pale. She asked for help and looked at my father. Just as my father was about to open his mouth, my mother glared at me and immediately swallowed his words back. Trieu Tieu Nha's voice trembled violently.

“Uncle… you don't believe me?”

“It's not that I don't believe you.”

My mother's voice remained calm.

“It's to give you back your innocence.”

"Also let my sister Van Van be convinced."

“If I find a second phone…”

“I will leave here immediately today.”

“If you can't find it…”

My mother turned to look at me.

“Van Van, I will apologize to Tieu Nha in front of everyone.”

“At the same time, this month's pocket money is reduced by half.”

I nodded without hesitation. I know I didn't hear wrong. Million Tieu Nha is betting. I bet that my mother will still respect her relatives and not do things too cruelly. But she bet wrongly. In my mother's dictionary, there have never been four words "let it go". Trieu Tieu Nha slowly stood up, took three steps and looked back at my father once. But this time, my father avoided her eyes. A few minutes later, she walked out holding her school bag and pillow. Furniture is not much. Flip for a while and you're done. Textbook. Exercise books. Some clothes changed. No phone. My father's face clearly showed "as expected". The eyes looking at me were filled with disappointment. As for Trieu Tieu Nha, she gradually straightened her back. When she looked at me, in addition to feeling sorry for herself, there was also a hint of triumph in her eyes. My mother said nothing. She walked into Trieu Tieu Nha's room herself. I also followed. The room is very small. A bed. A wardrobe. A study desk. Just look and you'll see it all. My mother didn't search any obvious places. She went to the window, pulled back the curtain and carefully examined the door frame. Then knock on the wall again, check the bed board. Her eyes stopped at the old teddy bear placed at the head of the bed. That bear was very large, almost taking up half of the pillow. My mother walked over and picked it up. Much heavier than normal teddy bears. She gently squeezed the bear's belly, then pulled open the zipper on its back. The hand reached inside. When she pulled it out... In her hand appeared the latest iPhone. The phone screen is still bright. On it clearly shows the WeChat call that has just been disconnected with the note: