Chapter 1 — Du An's Store

On the night of my father-in-law's sixtieth birthday, my sister-in-law, who had only been married for half a year, placed a bunch of old keys in front of me. "Eldest sister-in-law, three shops on the street have signs belonging to my parents, but every day I use the rent money to buy handbags. Today, all my relatives are present, so let's settle the accounts." The entire table of relatives stopped chopsticks. The mother-in-law bowed her head and crumpled the lucky money envelope. The father-in-law was just busy toasting the next table. Someone said in a low voice, these past few years I have been living in the Chu family, using the Chu family's things, I should have known better a long time ago. I looked towards my husband, Chu Nghien Bach. He avoided my eyes and pushed the glass of wine to my hand. "Du An, don't make this unsightly. Just hand over the store and delivery truck first, so your parents can rest assured." I smiled and took the set of keys, then took out an old accounting book from my pocket, the cover was worn white. The sister-in-law still didn't know that the day the Chu family's first store opened, the name of the recipient had never been from the Chu family. Tan Hoa's sister-in-law stared at the notebook and was the first to laugh. "Eldest sister-in-law, you're not planning on using a torn notebook to deceive everyone, are you? Who recognizes handwritten notebooks anymore?" She pushed the keys towards the table. The silver key collided with the ceramic plate, the sound was deafening and painful. "Your parents are old and afraid to tear their faces at you, so let me be the villain. Today, you hand over all the rent for three stores, the keys to the delivery vehicle, and the warehouse seal in the house." Finally, the mother-in-law also raised her head. Her eyes wavered between me and Tan Hoa. "Du An, Tieu Hoa also wants to be good for this family. You have been married here for seven years, our family has never let you lack food or clothing. Now Tieu Tu is also married, if you are my sister-in-law, give her a little more." I asked her: "Mom, what kind of clothes did the Chu family give me?" The wrinkles on the mother-in-law's face gathered together, as if someone had lifted the lid of a pot right in front of everyone. Chu Nghien Bach coughed softly. “Du An, today there are many relatives, don't count these small things.” “Small items?” I opened the first page of the notebook. The edges of the paper have been turned to the point of being ruffled. “The first rent is thirty-two thousand, who pays?” Tan Hoa reached out to steal. “Stop pretending to be an accountant here.” I held the notebook tightly, looking up at her. "Don't you want to settle the account? Don't shake your hands." The second aunt sitting at the main table put down her chopsticks. "Nghien Bach's wife, what you say is so harsh. Tieu Hoa just got married and already knows how to love the elderly, but you keep holding on to things and refuse to let go. Is it okay for others to say it?" Third uncle also followed suit. "That's right, it hasn't been easy for the Chu family to open a store these past few years. Nghien Bach runs errands outside, Tieu Tu watches over the store, and the old couple also have no free time. You're a woman, you've been managing money for so long, do you really think you're the boss?" I closed the notebook. "If everyone feels like I'm in charge of too much, then just do what Tan Hoa said, divide it up clearly today." Tan Hoa's eyes lit up and he immediately took out a piece of paper. "I have finished listing. The three stores on East Street are returned to my parents. The delivery vehicle belongs to Tieu Tu. The warehouse is managed by me. The rent you have taken over the past few years is calculated at twenty thousand per month, one million six hundred and eighty thousand must be refunded first." Chu Tu sat next to her, even his ears were red. "Sister, no, sister-in-law, Tieu Hoa spoke a bit hastily, don't take it to heart." Tan Hoa pinched him. "What are you afraid of? Your own brother has already opened his mouth." Chu Nghien Bach held a glass of wine, his fingertips rubbing twice on the rim of the glass. "Du An, please sign first. When I get home, I will explain to you." I looked at him. Seven years ago, his father broke his leg, his mother worked as a dishwasher, his younger brother owed money from gambling, and the whole family was crowded together in an old house that leaked from the rain. He knelt in front of my shop and said that as long as I would give him a hand, everyone in the Chu family would remember my gratitude from now on. That day it rained very heavily. In his hand, he clutched a returned import order, the paper was also soaked in water until it was rotten. I believed. I rented the Chu family's first store, bought their first small truck, and taught them how to display their products

How to compare books, how to talk to neighbors. I pushed Chu Nghien Bach from a poor guy who had to bow his head and beg people to let him import goods, to become the boss Chu with the best future in the mouth of his relatives. Now he asked me to sign. I picked up Tan Hoa's paper and slowly tore it in half. …… “If you want to share, that's fine.” The shredded paper fell into the bowl of soup, the oily layer rippled out. “Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, at store number one on East Street, in front of all the employees and the owner, clearly divided.” Before the birthday party was finished, Tan Hoa sent a message to the group of relatives. “The eldest sister-in-law agreed to deliver the store tomorrow.” Below, a series of relatives sent their congratulations. The mother-in-law sent three envelopes of lucky money, noting that the family is in peace and prosperity. I sat in the car looking at the screen. Driver Mr. Pham looked at me through the rearview mirror. “Director Tran, are you going home?” I turned the phone face down. “Go to Dong Street warehouse.” Old Pham did not ask further. He turned the wheel and the car left the back door of the hotel. Chu Nghien Bach chased after him and knocked on the car window. “Du An, open the door.” I lowered the window to a slit the width of a finger. He lowered his voice: "Do you have to make a fuss about family matters and go to the store? Tieu Hoa doesn't understand what's going on today, I've already said it." “It doesn't make sense, I understand.” Chu Nghien Bach's face darkened. "Don't talk shit like that. My parents are getting older and want to have something in their hands. I don't want your money, I just want you to give them a sense of security." I asked, “What about my sense of security?” He stopped for two seconds. “I have you.” I looked at his face red from the alcohol, suddenly unable to smile. “Chu Nghien Bach, it's been seven years, you still dare to use this sentence.” He frowned. “What do you want in the end?” “Tomorrow morning at nine o'clock, don't be late.” Before the car window was raised, I saw him crush the bag of cigarettes in his hand. Pho Dong warehouse is located behind the old residential area. The iron door's paint is peeling off, and the wall still has red paper from the first year of opening. Storekeeper A Tran is inventorying rice and noodles. Seeing me come in, she quickly patted her apron. “Miss Du An, isn't tonight a party to celebrate your father-in-law's life?” I gave the notebook to her. "Find all lease contracts, import orders, and vehicle payment documents from seven years ago until now." A Tran was stunned. “Is the Chu family causing trouble again?” “This time I want to divide the house.” A Tran said a local phrase and threw the gloves on the rack. "Do they still have the face to demand a share? The first year the cold warehouse failed, I stayed up all night until dawn to watch here. At that time, Tieu Tu secretly took money from the goods to pay off his gambling debt, and I also made up for his losses." I said: "Find all the bills, no need to argue tomorrow." A Tran pulled two boxes out from the bottom floor of the iron cabinet. "What are you arguing about? Hit them in the face with the documents." As she turned over the bill, there was a pounding on the door outside. Chu Tu stood at the door, behind was Tan Hoa. Tan Hoa changed into a red dress, looking like she still couldn't escape the feeling of victory at the longevity party. “Eldest sister-in-law, coming to the warehouse this late, do you want to move things?” A Tran blocked the box behind her back. "Who are you? The warehouse is an important place, unauthorized people are not allowed to enter." Tan Hoa raised his chin. “Tomorrow this place will be managed by me.” “Miss?” A Tran looked at her from top to bottom. “You can't even differentiate between regular rice and sticky rice, what are you storing?” Chu Tu awkwardly pulled her. “Tieu Hoa, don't cause trouble.” Tan Hoa shook his hand away. "I made a mess? You Chu family are spoiling her too much that's why you let her consider the warehouse as private property." She passed me and raised her hand to open the box. I grabbed her wrist. "Tan Hoa, today at the hotel I saved your face. There is a camera in the warehouse, you can move one more thing, tomorrow what has to be shared is not just the books." Tan Hoa inhaled in pain, but still refused to back down. "Who are you scaring? At best, call the police, I also want to see who the police will help." I let her go. “Okay, tell me.” She took out her phone. Chu Tu was in such a hurry that his forehead was sweating. “Don't report, really don't report.” Tan Hoa glared at him. “Are you afraid of her?” Chu Tu looked at the other two boxes, his lips turned white. I know what he remembered

. Seven years ago, the debt paper he secretly took money for was stuck in the book page of the first box. At nine o'clock the next morning, the front of store number one on East Street was filled with people. Tan Hoa arrived earlier than me. She invited two local bloggers who specialize in filming clips to explore the store, and called more than ten relatives to come. Even the mother-in-law wore a dark red coat that she could only wear on New Year's Day. The store's rolling door was half open. The staff stood inside, no one dared to say anything. Tan Hoa held up the phone and smiled at the camera. "Today it's not about causing trouble, it's about helping the elderly get their retirement money back. Many women, after marrying into their husband's family, hold a tight grip on the family's property, to the point where their husband's parents still have to live by looking at her face." The blogger asked: "Has the eldest sister-in-law you mentioned arrived yet?" A white minivan stopped on the side of the road. I got out of the car, behind were Mr. Pham and A Tran. Chu Nghien Bach was standing at the door, his face very unsightly. “Du An, why did you let A Tran come?” A Tran rolled her eyes. "I've been looking after the warehouse for seven years, sharing the books and if you don't call me, then who will you call? Call someone who only knows how to record videos?" Tan Hoa expressed self-pity towards the camera. “Everyone saw it, the people next to her are all so stubborn.” I didn't pay attention to her and walked to the front of the store. “Is the landlord here yet?” Behind the crowd, an old lady wearing a blue cloth carrying a cloth bag squeezed in. "It's here. Miss Tran, you said you had to check the rental contract today. I brought the original copy." Tan Hoa's smile stopped. The mother-in-law quickly spoke first: "Miss Ho, the store is rented by the Chu family, why do you call it Miss Tran?" Uncle Ho looked at her. "That year, the person who signed the rental contract was named Tran. If I don't call Ms. Tran, then who will I call?" People watching immediately whispered. Chu Nghien Bach frowned. "Auntie Ho, the first year Du An helped advance the money, from then on the rent was paid by the store." Uncle Ho took out a stack of papers from his cloth bag. "Advance money? Seven years of rent has never stopped, the person paying is Tran Du An. When you people from the Chu family came to ask me for a discount, you said you were one family." Tan Hoa's face changed. She turned her head to look at Chu Tu. Chu Tu bowed his head, the tip of his shoe rubbing against the ground. Tan Hoa was not satisfied and pointed at the store sign. “But the sign says Chu Ky Department Store!” I nodded. "I wrote it. At that time, my parents said that the Chu family was poor for half their lives and wanted a sign with the word Chu." The mother-in-law's face was unbearable. "Du An, what do you mean by that? We are not forcing you." I looked at her. "Mom, today we won't say who's forcing who. If everyone wants to share, I'll show the books." A Tran carried the folding table out and spread out the documents one by one. First sheet, rental contract. Second note, car fare. Third note, money for renovations. The fourth bill, the first batch of money. After the name of the payer on each sheet are the three words Tran Du An. The blogger's lens slowly moved from Tan Hoa's face to the documents. Tan Hoa immediately blocked it.