Chapter 11 — Eighteen People, One Meal, One Divorce

“Vu Ninh, if you want to divorce, then just follow the steps to do it.”

“Do whatever the law says.”

"Whatever is yours, not even a penny is missing."

"It's not mine, I don't need it either."

Each of his sentences was slow but steady, like a fulcrum placed in my heart. Trieu Khai's face changed from blue to white, then gray.

"Okay." he gritted his teeth.

“What you say makes sense.”

“Today I make it clear.”

“You want a divorce, okay.”

"After Tet, I'll find a lawyer and we'll go to the civil service agency to complete the procedures."

“This is what you said yourself, when the time comes, don't regret it.”

“If you don't come back today, you won't have a chance in the future even if you want to.”

He threatened again with the word "regret", as if one day I would have to kneel down and beg him.

“Then let's wait until after Tet.”

I said, my voice calm.

“After the seventh day, the civil service agencies will work.”

“Let me know in advance when you are free.”

“I will come.”

I've even calculated the date in my head.

“And now, please stay away.”

“I'm still boiling water in the kitchen.”

“Later, the dumplings will be cooked and still have to be cooked.”

Having said that, I intend to close the door. Trieu Khai suddenly raised his hand to stop and hold the door tightly.

“Are you really that heartless?”

His eyes were red and his voice was hoarse.

"We've been together for two years, and in your eyes, it's only worth one meal?"

“Just because your mother said a few words and your father stood up to defend you, you want to end it?”

“Don't you think about our days?”

What he said sounded like a reproach. I was silent for a while. Don't want to bring up the old story. But he kept forcing me to talk.

“Trieu Khai, last New Year's Eve.”

I slowly opened my mouth.

“Do you remember what you said to me?”

He stopped.

“I said, ‘wife, you are really capable’.”

“‘Next year I will still have to rely on you’.”

I smiled softly. That night I sat by the bed, my back hurt so much that I couldn't stand up straight, my hands were wrinkled from being soaked in dishwashing water. He hugged me and said those two sentences. At that time, I still felt sweet. Thinking back now, it was just a word that paved the way for the years to come.

“When you said ‘next year it will still be thanks to you’.”

“You thought I would always do this, right?”

“My mother also thinks it's natural for daughters-in-law to do those things.”

“My sister also thinks it's just a small thing.”

“You never asked me if I wanted it or not.”

"If I don't say it, it will be considered that I volunteered."

“If I say it, you guys say I'm overdoing it.”

“So you asked me if I still remember these two years.”

“Remember when I stood in the kitchen until I couldn't breathe, and he sat in the living room laughing so happily.”

"Remember when my sister finished eating, stood up and said 'it's been hard', not even touching her chopsticks."

“I remember your mother's voice telling me to boil water to make tea.”

"Remember when you threatened me with the word 'divorce'?"

“All of that, combined, is our two years.”

“I don't want to argue anymore.”

“If you really feel it's unfair, after Tet, we can sign the papers and we can go to the mediation room.”

“There are recordings, there are records.”

“You say your part, I say mine.”

“There's no need to be afraid of others hearing.”

“And today, standing here arguing, nothing can be resolved.”

“It just makes the neighbors look at it and laugh.”

“If you care about your face, you should leave early.”

“Stop standing in front of my house.”

My father cooperated, gently pulling the door in a little more. Trieu Khai wanted to say something, but his mother pulled him back.

“Go back and figure it out.”

The second sister also looked uncomfortable.

“You, you made a big deal out of it today.”

“Staying here any longer will only make you lose face.”

“Go first, make arrangements and talk later.”

The eldest sister said nothing, just pulled the child downstairs. The child rubbed his eyes, not paying any attention to the adults' struggle. Trieu Khai gritted his teeth and finally let go of the door. He glared at me.

“Remember what you said today.”

Having finished speaking, he turned around and went down. Before leaving, his mother looked back at me. Those eyes were filled with hatred, unwillingness, and even a bit of panic.

“Don't regret it.”

I didn't reply. Just stood there watching their silhouettes gradually disappear down the stairs. The hallway became quiet again. The sound of footsteps gradually faded away, then disappeared completely. My father closed the door and turned the lock.

There was a "click" sound, like an ending ceremony.

My mother let out a long breath and leaned her whole body against the wall. She raised her hand to wipe her forehead, which was covered in sweat. I walked over to help her.

"No problem."

She smiled slightly, but her smile was still a bit tired.

“It was just that I was so angry just now.”

“They're gone now, it's okay.”

She looked at me, her eyes red.

“Vu Ninh, the road ahead... may not be easy.”

“Have you thought it through?”

Her voice was very light, both worried and sad. I nodded.

“I've thought about it carefully.”

“I don't want to go back anymore.”

“Even if I followed them downstairs and back to that house today…”

"Next year, the year after that, every year on New Year's Eve, I will still stand in front of the kitchen."

“Eighteen people, twenty people, then thirty people, more and more food, more and more people.

They take it for granted, but I just feel my heart getting colder and colder."

“I don't want to be like that, that's not living, that's wasting my whole life.

After saying these words, I felt strangely calm, as if I had released something that had been weighing me down for two years."

“There was no feeling of disruption like I thought, on the contrary, I just felt relief.

Like a door had just opened, the wind rushed in, bringing with it alertness." My father put the pack of cigarettes in his pocket, walked to the dining table, sat down, picked up a cup of cold tea and took a slow sip.