Chapter 9 — Eighteen People, One Meal, One Divorce

I asked so many questions that the whole hallway was silent for a few seconds, so quiet that the sound of fireworks downstairs suddenly became unusually shrill. No one answered immediately, only eyes fixed on me, heavy and uncomfortable.

“Vu Ninh, you were brainwashed by my family, right?” Mother-in-law suddenly spoke, her voice was bitter, deliberately prolonging each word.

"Back then, I was so obedient. When I got married, I knew how to love my husband and how to cook for my parents-in-law. Why did a trip to my mother's house turn out like this?"

“I told you, women shouldn't go to their mother's house a lot.” she continued, her eyes filled with scrutiny.

"After returning home a lot, I no longer consider my husband's house my home anymore."

My mother stood straight behind the door, previously allowing me and my father to stand first, but now she couldn't hold back anymore.

“Ms. Vuong.” she spoke, her voice was not loud but not soft.

“Please talk more clearly.”

“How many times has my daughter come home in the past two years? Don't you know in your heart?”

“It came back this time, didn't your son call first?”

“If we say 'brainwashing', it's also your side who started it first.”

The mother-in-law was stopped, her face turned blue and white, and the words she spoke were pushed back.

"Well, I don't have time to argue with you." She waved her hand and turned to look at me.

“Lam Vu Ninh, I ask directly, are you going home with Tieu Khai today?”

“Not coming back.” I answered decisively, without hesitation.

"Not only won't I come back today, but I won't go back to that house again in the future."

“Your son just asked for a divorce, I agreed.”

“If you say I am part of your family, then follow your family's rules.”

“I don't want to do it anymore, your family, give it back to me.”

The air seemed to freeze in that moment. Trieu Khai's eyes briefly wavered, then were immediately covered by anger.

“Don't stay here pretending to be strong.” He gritted his teeth, each word coming out heavily.

“Divorce is not as simple as you think.”

"How are assets divided, how are responsibilities calculated, who wrote the agreement?"

“Do you think you can just say ‘I don’t need anything’?”

The three words he said, property, responsibility, agreement, were like three nails hammered down. Not only on me, but also on his own calculations.

“Don't worry.” I said, trying to keep my voice steady even though I was trembling inside.

“I will find a lawyer.”

“How to divide it, the law decides.”

“What the responsibility is, the law also decides.”

“Agreement, the lawyer will write it.”

This is the first time I have said words like "lawyer" and "law" so clearly. Two years before registering my marriage, I didn't even know what the concept of joint property was. And now, at least I understand a little better, and am a little more alert. Trieu Khai laughed contemptuously.

“A lawyer?”

“Where do you get the money to hire a lawyer?”

"Your bank card is at my mother's place. Isn't it all there that you've accumulated over the past two years?"

“Now you have to use your parents' money to take a taxi, right?”

His words were so rude that they sent chills down my spine. I reflexively touched the crossbody bag on my side, inside was my marriage certificate and several hundred thousand in cash my mother gave me. That's all I have on hand right now.

“Trieu Khai.” My father spoke up, this time his voice was very deep.

“Dad say it again.”

“My daughter is you People."

“Not your family's 'free labor'.”

"He doesn't want to continue, he wants a divorce, we don't stop him."

“But don't stay here and talk nonsense.”

“Your mother's salary card is your business.”

“The money is earned by my daughter, every penny is hers.”

“If your mother doesn't pay, we can report it to the police.”

“It can also be handled according to the law.”

“If you think using money can keep it, then you underestimate it.”

“Also underestimate our family.”

I've never seen my dad talk so much, every sentence and every word was as heavy as a falling stone. Trieu Khai's face turned pale in the blink of an eye because of the sentence "report to the police". The mother-in-law immediately exploded.

“Report to the police?”

She took a step forward, her finger almost poking the crack in the door.

“Do you want to force us to the end?”

“That card was given to me by my filial son.”

“What if I keep it?”

“Your daughters are married and still think about their mother's house?”

“How much money does he earn that he wants to talk?”

“Do we eat from it, do we drink from it?”

"I'll just keep it for you, later to buy a big house for the two of us!"

She spoke more and more agitatedly, saliva flying out with each sentence. My mother smiled coldly, her eyes sharp.

“Sister Vuong, do you believe what you said yourself?”

“That card has been in your hand for two years. Have you ever bought them a roll of paper?”

“Have you ever bought a kilo of rice?”

“Have you ever bought a bunch of vegetables?”

“Do you know how much money your son gives each month?”

Each question was a blow, making her face more and more unsightly. The eldest sister gently pulled her hand and reminded her in a low voice.