Chapter 5 — Bringing Children to Find a Husband

“If she continues to block the door and affect business, you can report to the police.” “I will not let the agency have to bear this dirty name for me.” The manager's voice lowered a bit. “Xuan Hoa, please send it here first.” “I will handle it depending on the situation.” I sent all the recordings of Ma Thuy Anh cursing, photos of the dormitory, screenshots explaining the project office's registration. After sending it, I didn't cry. I just feel like I've been so stupid all these years. I always think bad things at home should not be spread outside. But they had already sharpened their knives a long time ago, just aiming at the place I was most afraid of and stabbing. Fear of losing your job. Fear of impact on children. Afraid of being laughed at by the neighbors. I'm afraid my parents will feel upset. It was because I was afraid that they dared to put their heads on my neck over and over again. But this time, I'm not afraid anymore. I called my dad. As soon as the phone connected, I couldn't open my mouth and tears were falling. My father heard me crying and his voice immediately became frantic. "Xuan Hoa, what's going on?" I briefly recounted the incident. I don't add salt and fish sauce. But when it came to the part where Duong Duong stood at the door asking if that child was her and her older brother, my father's line went silent. A long time later, he said: "I'll bring you two back here." "Let's get a divorce." Just one word, like a pillar supporting me. My mother grabbed the phone, cried and cursed Chiang Minh Loi for nothing. After cursing, she said: "Don't worry about the house." "The prepayment was lent to you, we still have the bank transfer statement." "My parents are not dead yet, I won't let you be bullied by them." I hugged the phone tightly, my eyes burning so hot that they blurred. Over the years, I have lived like an outsider because of the Chiang family. In the end, the person who can protect me is still the person who gave birth and raised me. Early the next morning, I took my two children to the appointed tea shop. I don't go alone. Doan Man came with me. She said she asked for leave in the morning because she was afraid that Tuong Minh Loi's dog would come to the fence. I thank her. She just said: "It's not easy for women to go out, any help would be great." At nine fifty, Chiang Minh Loi arrived. He looked like he hadn't slept all night, his beard and whiskers growing rough. Seeing Doan Man, his face was very unsightly. "We were talking, why did you bring an outsider here?" I said: "Since you brought an outsider into the dormitory, there is no longer any privacy between us." He gritted his teeth and sat down opposite me. "Xuan Hoa, I was thinking last night." "This matter is because of my confusion." "Le Na's side, I will arrange it." "You take the children back to the countryside, life will still go on as before." "From now on, I will give you eight thousand each month." He pushed a piece of paper over. On it were written three words *Commitment*. Commit to providing living expenses on time in the future. Commit to going home twice a year. Pledge not to bring foreign women back to your hometown. I looked at those words and almost burst out laughing. "Do you think I came here to ask for money for living expenses?" Tuong Minh Loi tried to suppress his anger. "So what do you want?" I clearly said each word: "Divorce." "The children belong to me." "The house belongs to me." "Division of common assets during the marriage." "The money I transferred to Phung Le Na must be collected back." His face immediately darkened. angry. "Ha Xuan Hoa, don't be too harsh." "The house is the root of the Tuong family, are you planning to swallow it all by yourself?" I took out a copy of the down payment loan paper from my pocket. "This root was lent to me by my parents." He stared at that paper, a flash of panic flashing in his eyes. The next second, the sound of high heels rang out outside the tea shop door. Phung Le Na carried the baby and walked in, holding a middle-aged man in worker clothes. She tilted her chin back

towards me. "Don't you want to talk?" "Then let the person who can decide talk together." Tuong Minh Loi stood up. "What did you call him for?" Phung Le Na sneered. "What are you afraid of?" The middle-aged man slammed a file on the table. "This is Ms. Ha, right?" "Tuong Minh Loi owes Le Na twenty-eight thousand." "If you want a divorce today, that's fine." "Acknowledge the debt first."I bent down to look at that piece of paper called a loan note. Signed date, three years ago. As for the loan purpose, write *buy a house*.06I stared at that loan paper, not in a hurry to speak. Sweat was pouring down Tuong Minh Loi's forehead. Phung Le Na sat very firmly again, as if she had finally grasped the thing that could crush me. She placed the baby on her lap, her voice softening. "Sister Xuan Hoa, I don't want to make this unsightly." "But that year Minh Loi told me, he was not living happily in the countryside." "To compensate me, he borrowed money to buy a house for me." "Now that you want to check the assets, this debt cannot be ignored." I looked at her. "Where is the house?" Her eyes flashed. "It has nothing to do with you." I smiled. "Miss said he owed her twenty-eight thousand, but didn't dare say where the money was used." "You said it was a loan, there was no transfer document on the loan document."