Chapter 3 — For 5 Pounds of Shrimp

The so-called "family together oppressing" me was actually tacitly agreed to by him from the beginning.

“That means... you blame me for not giving birth early and not quitting my job to stay home and take care of the child, right?”

Luu Bang didn't bother hiding it anymore: "Yes! I'm almost 30 years old, I only go to work all day, I don't even cook rice for you! So don't blame my family for not respecting you anymore!" I'm completely exhausted. Before, I thought I had married "the phoenix that flew out of the countryside". Unexpectedly, feudal ideology is deeply rooted and can never be changed.

"Okay, enough talking. Tomorrow we go to the civil affairs department to get a divorce."

"What, Chau Tinh? Just because of 15 kilos of crayfish, do you want a divorce?"

“At this point, you still think this is just a crayfish story?”

"How has your mother been treating me for so long? Are you not sure?"

"Come on, Chau Tinh, there's no need to do that. Or... you pack the shrimp and bring it back to me, I'll help you say a few words to mom, you apologize to mom and two sisters, can you just let this matter go?"

Hearing me ask for a divorce, Luu Bang started to panic.

“Never.” — I answered coldly.

“Wife, you can't treat me like this!” — he was about to say something when my younger brother pushed him out the door.

His voice was blocked behind by the slamming door. I thought my parents would say I acted impulsively. Unexpectedly, they completely supported my decision. During the meal, everyone deliberately changed the subject, talking and laughing happily as if nothing had happened. That night, I slept in my old room before I got married. Everything in the room is still the same as before. This is the true feeling of "home".

7

The next morning, I returned to the other house. As soon as I opened the door and walked in, the scene before my eyes left me speechless. The floor was a mess, full of fruit peels and trash thrown out by the two grandchildren yesterday — intact as when I left. I have nothing to complain about anymore. My mother-in-law heard the sound of the door opening and immediately rushed out from the room and scolded me directly in my face:

"This woman has lost her manners, and now she knows how to come back? This lady didn't eat until nine o'clock last night, you know?"

“What does it have to do with me?”

“Oh, you still dare to argue with me!” — as she said, my mother-in-law was about to swing her hand and slap me.

I immediately raised my hand to block it.

"That's enough. Because you're an elder, I won't move your hand. Now quickly pack your things and leave my house."

My mother-in-law saw me blocking her hand and immediately screamed:

"My child, come out quickly! Your wife is going to hit your mother!"

At this time, Luu Bang slowly woke up and rushed out without even putting on proper clothes. Looking at that disheveled appearance, I really don't understand why I chose him in the past.

"Chau Tinh, if you have any problem, say it kindly, how can you lay a hand on my mother?" — Liu Bang looked at me angrily.

"That's enough! I'll give you two half an hour to move your stuff out of my house. After time, I'll throw it all out at the trash collection place."

I don't bother to say more, I just want to get rid of this annoying family soon.

"What's your house? This is my son's house. If you want to go, you can go!" — the mother-in-law said viciously.

"Huh, you still don't know? This house is the property my parents gave me before marriage, it has nothing to do with your son."

I smiled coldly.

“What? My child, what's going on? You didn't say this house was your money Why don't you save up and buy it?"

“Based on his meager salary of three piles and three dong?” — I said sarcastically.

Looking at my sarcastic attitude, Luu Bang couldn't bear it anymore:

“Chau Tinh! You really deserve it! I do not agree to divorce!”

“What?! Divorce? I also disagree! Unless you return all the money I spent on my son!”

When I heard it, I almost burst out laughing. Luu Bang's monthly salary is only about 5 million, and he still has to give his mother 2 million each month. The mother-in-law said it was to go to the market to buy food. When she first moved in with my husband and I, she always bought wilted vegetables and spoiled items because they were cheap. I couldn't eat it, but I was afraid to mention it out of respect for the adults. In the end, I still had to go to the market by myself every day. But that 2 million, Luu Bang still regularly transferred it to his mother every month. My mother-in-law said she would help us save money. The rest — 3 million — Luu Bang deposited into a joint account, saying he would save it to buy a house for his children later. All living expenses in the house are my responsibility. Every month I also regularly deposit 3 million into a joint account. During the two years of marriage, there was a total of more than 140 million in the account. My mother-in-law told me to return the money her son spent on me? Really ridiculous. Thinking back, other than the bride price and a few pieces of wedding jewelry, I have never taken another penny from their house. As for the house, my parents gave it to me before marriage!

“You want a fair calculation, right? Okay, so now I'll make it clear."

“The house is the property my parents gave me before marriage, of course it belongs to me.”

“The savings during the marriage were 140 million, divided into 70 million for each person. Now go to the bank to withdraw and divide assets.”

Unexpectedly, her mother-in-law and Luu Bang suddenly showed very strange expressions. I felt something was wrong, then saw Luu Bang gently tugging his mother's hand to signal. Right after that, the mother-in-law again switched to the role of "naughty woman":

“You are an unfortunate woman, married to my son for two years and have not given birth to a single child! I don't care, give me the bride price and wedding gold!"

“Okay, so should I return the dowry I brought back?”

“That doesn't make any sense! A daughter gets married and still wants her dowry back?

“What? I can ask for a bride price, but not a dowry?”

“Go! Let's go to the civil affairs department and let them decide clearly!”

The mother-in-law grabbed Luu Bang's hand and boldly led the way straight to the civil affairs department.

8

At first, Luu Bang was hesitant, looking like he still wanted to hold on to me. When he went downstairs, he received a phone call. After the call, his expression suddenly became excited. From being pulled away by my mother, I now proactively walked forward. On the way to the Civil Affairs Department, we traveled separately. Anyway, right now I don't want to hang out with that family any more. Arriving at the door of the civil affairs department, I don't know what Liu Bang said to his mother-in-law. The mother-in-law immediately raised her head high and pushed open the door of the civil affairs department with full vigor. Luu Bang also looked confident, not forgetting to smooth his hair neatly. Then he turned to look at me with regret:

“Chau Tinh, I still have feelings for you. If you will apologize to my mother and beg a little, then I can 'reluctantly' continue to be your husband."

I just curled my lips and smiled coldly:

“You think you are a treasure that everyone wants to keep? After getting divorced, remember to move your things out of the house."

“Okay, don't regret it!”

I really want to know what he thinks he has make me regret? Why did you change your face so quickly? Maybe… I won the jackpot? But even if I really win the lottery, it has nothing to do with me anymore. Actually, yesterday I planned to tell them at dinner about getting promoted and receiving rewards. But after their ridiculous drama, I don't feel like sharing anything anymore. Now that I think about it, it's better if they don't know. In the civil affairs department, when the mother-in-law made a request, the receptionist was also bewildered and did not understand.

“Auntie, we've been married for two years, why do you still want to pay the bride price?”

"I don't care! This woman hasn't given birth to any children yet, so can't I get her back?"

I felt embarrassed for her, so I quietly walked away a bit. Seeing my disdain, my mother-in-law shouted even louder:

"You cruel woman! My son is so excellent, after divorce, he can immediately marry a child more beautiful than you! As for you, you're a hen who can't lay eggs at nearly 30, just wait and regret it!"

It's true that she doesn't know her own strength. Her son was very lucky to have me marry him! The civil affairs department staff also began to feel annoyed. At this time, Luu Bang leaned closer to his mother and whispered something. She immediately changed her expression, appeared happy, no longer asked for bride price, and urged the procedure to be done quickly. I also have no reason not to cooperate. When it came to property division, the mother-in-law - who often calculated details - remained silent and did not say a word. Today is Sunday, the bank where we deposit money is closed. So we agreed to go to the bank tomorrow to withdraw 140 million, splitting 70 million each. After completing the divorce process, I felt light as if a burden had been lifted from my body. I was about to call my parents to tell them the news. Then she saw her "ex-husband" Luu Bang eagerly dragging her mother-in-law straight to the nearby bank. I don't understand what's going on, but I don't care anymore. After all, yesterday was International Women's Day, but I didn't really get to enjoy anything. So I decided to treat myself to a rose essential oil massage at the spa. When the staff's hands started massaging, I relaxed and sighed softly. In the two years of marriage, I endured too much resentment from my mother-in-law. What my ex-mother-in-law liked most was taking my things and acting generous as if she were giving them to someone else. Before getting married, I often went to the spa for beauty treatments and even recharged a membership card of more than ten million.