Chapter 24 — Behind the Door is Still Home

"And you guys are behind his back, calculating some assets in his name."

Tri Tinh was speechless.

"If you are not convinced, you may not accept this relationship anymore."

As soon as the words came out, even my mother was scared.

“But you are the mother…”

"I can't stand by and watch one of my children being pushed out by the other."

After saying that, she couldn't hold back her tears. Dad reached out and patted her shoulder.

"Alright."

He lowered his voice.

“Stop crying.”

The atmosphere in the living room became increasingly heavier.

“Third story.”

I continue.

“It's about Chu Hao's company and the money that year.”

“What's the point in repeating the past?”

Chu Hao interrupted impatiently.

"It's been so many years since I brought it up."

“For you, it's old news.”

I looked straight at him.

“But for me, it is a thorn that has not been removed for many years.”

I opened the notebook. It clearly states each loan disbursed that year, each repayment... The entire history of transferring money from my account to home.

“When your company was at its most difficult…”

“In addition to helping you mortgage your house, I also took out all my savings.”

“It's written very clearly here.”

“Twenty thousand yuan.”

Chu Hao paused. He frowned.

“Why don't you remember?”

“Of course you don't remember.”

I laughed coldly.

“At that time, all he could think about was borrowing money from everywhere.”

“Whoever saves your company, you cling to that person.”

I took a deep breath to stay calm.

“I'm not coming back today to ask for that money.”

“I don't intend to ask anymore.”

Chu Hao almost immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

“I just wanted to tell you.”

I looked at him.

"You always think that I'm a 'girl who marries out', and when I have my own family, I'll leave my mother's family alone."

“But when you were most desperate…”

“The person you call 'the daughter who marries out'…”

“Used the only house in my name and all my savings to pull you back from the brink.”

My voice is not loud. But every word hit everyone's ears hard.

“From now on, every time I mention it…”

“Even if you complain a few times in front of others, why don't you blame me for not buying you a house or a car…”

“It's okay.”

“I just hope you remember this one thing correctly.”

Chu Hao opened his mouth. A red embarrassed look appeared on his face. He seemed like he wanted to argue back... But in the end, he couldn't say a word. Tri Tinh sat next to her, biting her lips tightly, her face pale. Dad sighed.

“Forget about money.”

“The past few years have not been easy for my brother.”

“House payments, children, cars... every month there are a lot of expenses.”

“I told you.”

I repeat.

“I don't intend to ask.”

“I just want everyone to understand…”

“What I have spent all these years…”

“It's not as simple as 'sending some money home' as people say.”

In the living room, the gentle sound of the heater rang out. Everyone was silent for a long time.

“So what do you want anyway?”

Tri Tinh finally couldn't help but ask. I looked at her, my voice calm.

“What I want is very simple.”

“First, the house is in my parents' name, no one is allowed to look in.”

“Second, in the future, don't use 'who will take care of your parents when they get old' as a condition anymore."

“Don't keep labeling me as an 'outsider' behind my back.”

I stopped for a moment.

“You guys might not like me.”

“You might feel like I'm cold, rarely home, not close enough set.”

“You can complain to me in your own home, blaming me for not understanding things.”

“Just don't keep moving your hands and feet behind my back…”

“I can accept it all.”

Tri Tinh opened her mouth, as if she wanted to say "everyone is like that"... But she was blocked by my last sentence.

“You act like we're all bad people.”

Her voice trembled.

“What about you?”

“Aren't you at fault?”

“Of course I do.”

“I left too decisively, came home too little.”

“A lot of things, I choose to open one eye and close one eye.”

“I thought I just needed to send money, make phone calls, and ask questions during Tet…”

“It seems like I've fulfilled my responsibility.”

I took a deep breath.

“But responsibility…”

I said softly.

“It doesn't count like that.”

“For all these years, I always thought I had done enough.”

“That's why I feel like everyone owes me more or less and should have treated me a little better.”

“And everyone here thinks…”

“Because I live quite well outside, I have to shoulder the burden for my family a little more.”

I smiled faintly.

“We are all holding our own accounting books.”

“Everyone silently weighs the odds.”

“But we never really sat down and talked to each other clearly.”

When I said these words, my tone was not reproachful. Only a kind of tired alertness remained.

“So today…”

“I brought out my notebook.”

“Everyone also brought out everyone's books.”

“Let's take a look…”

“Where is the disadvantage?”

“Where is giving away too much?”

“Where should we make up for it?”

“Where should we stop?”

I looked at everyone.

“I don't expect just one conversation…”

“Being a whole family will instantly turn into the ideal type of family.”

“All humans are selfish.”

“Everyone has their own calculations.”

“We're just trying…”

“Don't let those self-proclaimed smart calculations continue to hurt each other.”