Chapter 1 — Dad's Wishes

The Saturday after my father was buried, the bank told me that he left me 7.8 million. I was afraid that my mother would be stalked by my grandmother, so I just said: "Mom, dad only has 180 thousand left, enough for us to hold on for a while." My mother choked and patted her chest: "Daughter, I understand, I absolutely won't say it out loud." As a result, the next day, before I even woke up, there were loud greetings from many people outside the door. As soon as the door opened, eight relatives blocked the entire hallway. The little aunt carried the ribs, the aunt held the blanket, and their brother-in-law held a loan note in his hand. My mother cowered at the back of the crowd, her eyes red, not daring to look at me. I just said one sentence, everyone stiffened in place. “My dad just passed the first week, have you guys come to divide the money for his coffin?” The hallway was immediately quiet. The bag in little aunt Tham Van Chau's hand was still dripping with blood. Droplets of red water fell onto the carpet in front of my house along with the plastic bag. Luu Xao Tran's aunt was holding an old cotton blanket, half of her body squeezed into the crack of the door. The hand holding the loan note of Trieu Khai's brother-in-law stopped in mid-air, the smile on his face stiffened to an unsightly degree. Grandmother Dieu Que Phan was the first to react. She held onto the wall, rolled her eyes, and spoke in a high-pitched voice: "Hua Thanh Hoa, what are you talking to the superiors like? Your father is dead, your mother only has her grandmother's house to rely on, do you still want to close the door and not let her in?" My mother Tham Van So stood at the end, her eyes swollen like walnuts. She grabbed the corner of her shirt and said in a low voice: "Thanh Hoa, don't be so hot, they are only worried about us." Worry. I was worried that the 180 thousand my father left behind would run away. I held the doorknob, not giving a single step. "If you're worried, you can call and bring blankets and loan papers here. Are you planning to stay at my house to collect the debt?" Mr. Tham Kien Quoc coughed, showing the appearance of a homeowner. "Thanh Hoa, this child speaks so harshly. Your father passed away, the house loan, car loan, funeral fees, can a little girl like you bear it? We came to help you and your mother rearrange the books." Trieu Khai brought the paper before my eyes. "That's right, first figure out the debt clearly. When he was alive, your father once borrowed 60 thousand from me, on black and white paper. Today, while everyone is here, pay it forward." On the paper, write a loan note. In the borrower column is my father's name. But the last stroke of the word "Bach" is written like a hook. My father has written lesson plans for half his life, he has never written like that before. I reached out to hold it, but Trieu Khai immediately retracted it. “It's okay if you look at it, don't tear it.” The little aunt quickly continued: "Thanh Hoa, don't blame your brother-in-law for being impatient. Recently, his family registered for classes for their child, and money is tight. Your father only has that little money left, everyone is a relative, we must give priority to those in urgent need first." “So my mother isn't in a hurry?” As soon as this sentence fell, everyone's eyes drifted towards my mother. Tham Van So's lips moved slightly, tears fell first. "I'm not in a hurry, as long as the whole family is peaceful, I can eat rice husks and swallow vegetables." Grandma immediately patted her thigh. "Have you heard? How understanding your mother is! Unlike you, at such a young age, money is more important than love." The upstairs neighbor opened the door and stuck his head out. There were also people stopping by downstairs. Dieu Que Phan's voice became even louder: "Everyone, decide. My daughter has been married to the Hua family for more than twenty years, serving the elderly and raising children. Now her husband is gone, and her biological daughter is guarding her grandmother's house like a thief!" Luu Xao Tran took advantage of the chaos and entered the house. "Don't block the door anymore, go inside and talk. Van So cried all night last night, today I'll stay and take care of her." The old cotton blanket carried the smell of mothballs, almost brushing my face. I raised my hand to block it. “Whoever comes in, I will call the police.” Dieu Que Phan's face darkened. "You report it! When the police come, you have to talk about filial piety." Trieu Khai slapped the loan note on the door. "If you owe money, pay it, that's heaven. If you dare not pay, I will come to your unit and make a fuss." I didn't say anything, took out my phone and dialed three numbers. Before calling out, Tham Van So suddenly rushed over and pressed my hand. Her fingertips were cold, but their strength was terrifyingly great. “Thanh H

Hey, don't make trouble anymore." She begged in a low voice: "Your father just left, don't let people laugh at you." At that moment, I looked at her red and swollen eyes, her throat felt like it was covered with cotton. From childhood to adulthood, I have seen her like that so many times. His grandmother said he didn't have money to buy a house, so she secretly took the savings book from the house. My little aunt got divorced and didn't have a place to live. She moved out of my room and let me sleep in the living room. My cousin got married and lacked 100,000 dowry money. She knelt in front of my father and cried, saying it was not easy for her mother's family to raise her. Each time, she said this was the last time. Each time, my father sighed and compromised. I put down the phone. A victorious smile appeared on her grandmother's face. “That's the way it should be.” The next second, Luu Xao Tran hugged the blanket and walked across the threshold. I let go of the door handle and leaned away. As soon as the cotton blanket fell on the sofa, the little aunt went into the kitchen to search the refrigerator. “Oh my god, only a few eggs left? Sister, your life is so miserable." Trieu Khai sat at the dining table, spreading out the loan paper. “Transfer money first, 60 thousand.” He held the apple in front of my father's picture and took a bite. "Don't hesitate anymore, everyone is still waiting for dinner." Tham Van So stood in the mysterious gate, tears hanging under his chin. She looked at me, as if begging me to be patient. I put my hand down and heard my dad's old phone in the bedroom suddenly ring. The screen lights up, showing an unread message. "Master Hua, has Thanh Hoa received the document you asked me to keep?" That phone was brought home from the hospital the day my father was buried. He left so quickly, he didn't even leave the last sentence for me. The message came from someone saved as “Lao Chu”. I stared at that line of text, but before I could open it, Luu Xao Tran's voice came from the living room. “Thanh Hoa, take out your phone, don't hide in the money transfer room.” She came in very quickly, her slippers stepped on the carpet that my father had washed until it was discolored, leaving two black marks. Her eyes fell on the old phone in my hand, and she reached out and snatched it. “Your dad's phone definitely has money in it, you know the password, right?” I leaned away. “This is my father's relic.” Liu Chaozhen snorted. "Relics are also the common property of husband and wife. Your mother hasn't said anything yet, what does a girl like you keep?" Outside the door came the sound of my grandmother scolding me. "Van So, look at the good daughter you raised, even your own aunt is wary." Tham Van So followed in, his face pale to pale. “Thanh Hoa, give the phone to mom. I want to keep your father's things as souvenirs." She spoke very softly, but her eyes were staring at the screen. The message is still on. I turned off the screen and put my phone in my pajama pocket. “Dad said when he was alive, let me clean up his things.” Tham Van So's eyes flashed. “When did your father say? Why don't you know? This question is asked too hastily. It was so hasty that even Liu Xao Tran looked at her. In the living room, Trieu Khai started knocking on the table. “Do you pay in the end? I still have to go pick up my child this afternoon.” Little aunt poked her head out from the kitchen. “Sister, where do you keep your rice? Cook rib soup at noon. Thanh Hoa, I'm going to buy some vegetables and withdraw money by the way." Grandma sat in the middle of the sofa, as if sitting in her own home. “180 thousand is not much. Kien Quoc side is 60 thousand, Van Chau side is 30 thousand, your cousin's child goes to school 50 thousand, the remaining 40 thousand is for your mother to keep for medical examination. “Leave me 40 thousand?” Tham Van So's voice trembled. Dieu Que Phan glared at her. “You grow up drinking my milk, can I still harm you? Money left in your hands will sooner or later be coaxed away by this brat." Tham Van So bowed his head. Her shoulders trembled. The fire that was about to flare up inside me was suppressed by her appearance. For many years she was controlled by her mother's family, it's not like I didn't see it. When I was young, my grandmother came to my house, and the first thing she said when entering the permanent door was, "A girl who has lost money still gets to eat delicious food." My mother never dared to argue back, just picked up the largest piece of meat on the plate for her grandmother. Later, when I passed the university entrance exam, he said it was useless for girls to study too much, and told my father to let my cousin borrow my tuition money to buy a car. Mom t

Oh, I cried and begged me not to hate her. She said she owed her mother's family money. I believed then. “The money is with me.” I went out to the living room and lowered my voice. “No one should touch it.” Trieu Khai stood up, his face close to mine. “Hua Thanh Hoa, your father owes me money, if you don't pay, I'll make your father die and you won't be able to rest in peace.” As soon as this sentence ended, I picked up the glass cup on the table and threw it on the ground. Debris flew out, the soup bowl also shook. The house was silent for two seconds. Grandma hugged her breasts and shouted: "Treason! Treason! This brat wants to kill people!" Tham Kien Quoc pushed his chair out and shouted at me: "You dare to throw things? What did your mother teach you?" I don't avoid it. When he raised his hand, Tham Van So rushed forward to block me. The slap fell on her shoulder, making a dull sound. “Brother, don't hit her.” She cried until she couldn't breathe. "I will find a way to spend money, don't force it." He retracted his hand and smiled coldly. “Isn't it okay to say that from early on?” Grandma immediately continued: "You must give me a firm word today. The 180 thousand will be withdrawn tomorrow, you can bring it to your uncle's house." Tham Van So nodded. "Okay." I suddenly looked at her. "Mom." She didn't dare look at me. "Thanh Hoa, just agree first. Later, I will slowly return you." The soft piece of meat in my heart felt like someone was twisting it hard. Trieu Khai patted the loan paper in front of me. "Just point it out, I won't let you down." The edge of the paper brushed the back of my hand. A red streak appeared. At this moment, a knock was heard outside the door. Neighbor Uncle Chu stood at the door, holding a kraft paper bag in his hand. He looked around at the people in the room, his face darkened. “Thanh Hoa, your father told me to wait until after the first week to give this to you.” Tham Van So suddenly raised his head. On the kraft paper bag is my father's handwriting. “Only Thanh Hoa is allowed to open it personally.” Uncle Chu is my father's old school colleague. After retiring, he lived in the apartment complex next door. He is a slow-moving person and normally doesn't go back and forth much. But the last half month my father was in the hospital, he came three times. Every time I came, Tham Van So always found a reason to push me away. Buy porridge, pay hospital fees, get medicine. At that time I didn't see anything wrong. Now that the kraft paper bag was in Uncle Chu's hand, Tham Van So's face had lost all color of blood. Grandma spoke first. "What is such a mysterious thing? Take it out for everyone to see." Uncle Chu hid the paper bag behind his back. "Master Hua told me very clearly, only give it to Thanh Hoa." Tham Kien Quoc blocked the door. “Old Chu, this is our family matter, an outsider like you should stop meddling.” Uncle Chu frowned. "When he was alive, Master Hua was most afraid of you guys coming to cause trouble, now it seems he was rightly afraid." Dieu Que Phan immediately became angry. "Who are you scolding? When my son-in-law was alive, he didn't dare talk to me like that!" She rushed forward and wanted to steal the bag. I took a step forward to receive it. The seal was covered with transparent tape, and on the tape was the date my father wrote with a fountain pen.