Chapter 13 — After the Divorce, Please Get Out of My House

It's so naive. I logged into my email and sent the entire lawyer's letter drafted by lawyer Vuong along with all the evidence to the most famous local media units. In the email body, I wrote only one sentence:

“I take full legal responsibility for the veracity of any evidence I provide.”

The participation of professional media... caused the heat of the case to continue to climb to a new peak. It's no longer a matter of gossip on the forum anymore. Which became a public topic of domestic violence, marital debt and online defamation. Television reporters even went to the old unit where Truong Lan used to work. Facing the camera, the leader's face was extremely unsightly. It can only be emphasized repeatedly:

“This is her personal behavior, not related to the unit.”

Truong Lan and Tran Hao... Completely became "celebrities" of the whole city. Even when I go out to buy a bunch of vegetables, people point at me and talk. Their social relationships... In just a few days, they completely collapsed. On the morning of the third day, I received a text message from Tran Hao. Just three words:

“I agree.”

He was talking about the three conditions I gave. They couldn't resist anymore. I sent him an address back at the same time. A tea shop near my house. Three o'clock in the afternoon. I also intentionally added one more sentence:

“Remember to bring your household registration book and house certificate.”

That afternoon... I arrived at the tea shop earlier than the scheduled time. I don't choose to sit in a private room. But deliberately chose a seat next to the window in the middle of the hall. I want everything... to happen in broad daylight. At exactly three o'clock in the afternoon, two figures appeared in front of the tea shop. It's Truong Lan and Tran Hao. It's only been a few days since we last saw each other... But they feel like they've aged ten years. Truong Lan's hair has turned nearly half of her head white, her back is bent, and her face is full of haggardness and resentment. As for Tran Hao, his eyes were lifeless, his beard was stubbled, and his whole body exuded a feeling of extreme depression. Two people walked up to my table. Truong Lan's lips trembled slightly. She looked at me, with both hatred and fear in her eyes. Tran Hao pulled her hand. Truong Lan knelt down straight in front of me. At that moment, all eyes in the tea shop turned to our table. Truong Lan knelt on the ground, her whole body trembling. She didn't cry. Didn't say anything either. She just bowed her head low, her silver hair falling down to cover her face. There was a commotion all around. The waiters and tea guests all looked back, pointed, and whispered. I lifted the cup of tea in front of me and gently blew on the hot air. Didn't tell her to stand up. I just watched silently. Let her feel every curious, scornful, and scrutinizing look around her. Let her taste the feeling of doing it herself. Tran Hao stood next to him, clenching his fists, his face red. He wants to say something. But as soon as he met my cold eyes, he ended up swallowing it all back inside. Time passes minute by minute. About five minutes later, I felt like I had enough. Only then did I put down the tea cup and leisurely opened my mouth:

“No need to apologize anymore.”

“You're not kneeling because of me.”

“But because of what you have sown all these years.”

“Stand up.”

My voice is not loud. But enough for her to hear every word clearly. Truong Lan's body shook slightly. Below With Tran Hao's help, she trembled and stood up. Not daring to look at me again, he just pulled up his chair and sat down like a soulless corpse.

“Has the food arrived yet?”

I turned to ask Tran Hao. Tran Hao opened the old cloth bag next to him, took a few items and placed them on the table. Household registration book. House certificate. And a bank card.

“The house... we have already contacted the broker.”

His voice was hoarse.

“This is a deposit, 50,000 yuan.”

"The rest will be paid to me once the house is sold."

I picked up the house book and looked through it. It's a very old notebook. The address is located in an old apartment complex in the city center.

"Insufficient."

I put it down. Tran Hao was stunned.

“Just selling this house is not enough.”

I looked straight at him.

“You owe me 628,000 yuan.”

“In addition, according to the divorce agreement, all debts incurred during the marriage are your sole responsibility.”

“You borrowed that 200,000 yuan gambling debt during your marriage, right?”

Tran Hao's face immediately turned white.

“Bh… but that's a loan at high interest!”

“The mother's interest and the child's interest are now more than 200,000 yuan!”

“That's your problem.”

I pushed the house book back.

“Other than this house…”

"The group house divided into units after marriage will also be sold."

“The two apartments combined should be almost enough.”

Truong Lan suddenly raised her head. Bloodshot eyes stared at me.

"That's the house assigned to my son's unit! On what basis do you ask?"

“Based on the terms in the divorce papers.”

I opened my phone and showed the photo of the agreement in front of her.

“Even though that dormitory house is in Tran Hao's name…”

“But it is still common property during the marriage.”

“I have the right to request half of the property value.”

“I won't take half right now.”

“I just asked to use it to pay off debt.”

“That is already too merciful.”

Truong Lan's lips trembled violently. But couldn't utter a word. All her weapons… In front of me are now useless. What's left... Just helpless anger. In the end, Tran Hao still signed another debt payment agreement. He agreed to sell two houses. Priority is given to paying me the full 628,000 yuan and the other gambling debt. From today... We have completely fair payments between us. After signing, mother and son left the tea shop in a daze. I still sat in the same place. Quietly looking at the traffic outside the window. Strangely calm inside. I don't win. Because from the beginning... This was not a war about winning or losing. I only take back what belongs to me. Including money. And self-esteem.