Chapter 3 — Dowry Melted

That ring, is only 8 grams. Tien Que Phuong is right, he can't do anything big. But that was the wedding ring my mother had worn for thirteen years. It's the last warmth she left behind on this world. When I was eleven years old, I used a red string to thread it through it and wear it around my neck. When I grew up, I put it in a jewelry box and locked it deep in the closet. Every year on the anniversary of my mother's death, I take it out to look at it and clean it a bit. Now it has turned into Trieu Dinh Dinh's golden earrings. I don't cry. I want to cry, but my eyes are so dry and painful. I opened my phone and sent Phuong Due a text message. "My mother also melted down your mother's wedding ring." Fifteen minutes later, he replied. "I'll tell you when I'm home." Again, "I'll tell you when I'm home." In the evening, when Phuong Due came home, he had just changed his shoes at the door and spoke up. "This is mom's fault, but don't get too excited." "8 grams of gold isn't worth much money, I'll buy you a new one—" "Phuong Due." I interrupted him. "Can you stop saying 'buy a new one' every time?" "Do you think it's enough to buy a new one for five hundred thousand pieces of gold?" "Do you think buying a new one from my mother's wedding ring is enough?" "You're a bit—"I am. don't finish the sentence. Because I saw the expression on his face. No guilt, no heartache. It's about impatience. "Giang Hoa, can you stop causing trouble?" "Tieu Vien is about to get married, at this time you bring up old things, do you want the whole family to be uneasy?" "Bringing up old things." Last month's story is called bringing up old things. My mother's relics, called bringing up old stories. I looked at this man. After three years of marriage, I thought I understood you. "Okay." My voice was very calm. "I won't cause trouble anymore." Phuong Due breathed a sigh of relief. "That's right." "Wait until Tieu Vien's wedding is over, we'll discuss it properly, I'll definitely give you an explanation." I nodded. Turn around and go upstairs. Close the bedroom door, turn on the computer. The Excel file has recorded up to the eighty-ninth item. I created a new page, named it — “Exit plan.”06 A week before the wedding, Tien Que Phuong organized a family meal. Phuong Vien brought Trieu Dinh Dinh. On Trieu Dinh Dinh's wrist, he wears a pair of dragon and phoenix bracelets. Iridescent gold, lotus and vine patterns under the lights radiate a soft light. Tien Que Phuong held Trieu Dinh Dinh's hand, constantly boasting. "Look at this, look at this! Skilled workers do it, outside money can't buy this type of craft." "This is the handicraft of the Phuong family, the pattern has been passed down for many generations." Passed down for how many generations? That's something passed down from our Giang family. Trieu Dinh Dinh smiled sweetly: "Mom, it's so precious, I'm afraid to wear it." Tien Que Phuong smiled and couldn't close her mouth: "Oh, I'm the daughter-in-law of the Phuong family, what shouldn't I wear?" Phuong Vien hugged Trieu Dinh Dinh, looking proud. "Mom, sister-in-law's earrings are also beautiful." Trieu Dinh Dinh reflexively touched the gold earrings on his ears. Small, beautiful, delicate, golden color. Inside was my mother's wedding ring, which had been melted down. Phuong Due used his chopsticks to gently touch my hand. I mean don't say anything. I bowed my head to eat. Tien Que Phuong began to arrange tasks for the wedding day. "Hoa Hoa is in charge of the reception desk and distributing wedding candy." "Tieu Due that day helped my younger brother welcome guests at the groom's family." "Old Phuong, you are in charge of serving drinks." Phuong Kien Quoc said yes. Tien Que Phuong looked at me again. "Ah yes, about twenty-eight thousand times as mentioned before, has it been transferred yet?"